The future of work is hybrid and it involves collaboration between teams across different locations, time zones, cultures, and languages. MBA graduates can learn to thrive in such environments by developing remote leadership skills, embracing digital tools, cultivating adaptability, and gaining practical experience through MBA coursework.
Why Hybrid Work Is Reshaping the MBA Agenda
The workplace looks a lot different nowadays than it did just a couple of decades ago. Organizations worldwide today have more and more diverse teams and embrace flexible work arrangements such as remote work. As a result, MBA graduates too have to be able to manage both physical and virtual environments equally well in their post-graduation career journeys.
Business schools continuously shape their MBA curricula to reflect trends like these and equip their students with the skills and awareness to thrive anywhere. The pandemic served as a catalyst, but hybrid work has proven to be far more than a temporary adjustment. Research from CIPD indicates that “the vast majority of employers (91%) say they offer some kind of flexible working arrangement”. So, remote leadership capabilities are essential rather than optional. MBA programs must now prepare graduates for a professional setting where physical presence is just one dimension of leadership.
Consequently, business schools are integrating hybrid work competencies into their core curricula as they recognize that tomorrow’s executives will spend their careers managing teams that rarely occupy the same space.
Skills MBAs Need for Hybrid Leadership
Team management carries great responsibility for leaders in charge of physical offices, but matters can get even more nuanced when hybrid teams are involved. It means having to synchronize the work of people in different locations or even different time zones. The bigger the team, the more complicated this can get for a company or leader without much experience managing remote teams. According to Harvard Business Review, remote leadership needs to fulfill three main criteria to succeed: conscious planning, tech-driven performance monitoring, and proactive listening.
Still, the world of work is always in flux. Things can change drastically in less than a year, which means adaptability is one of the key qualities a leader should be able to wield. Especially in a hybrid professional environment, executives need to know how to “recognize, react, and adjust to burgeoning trends, new innovations, and industry shifts,” as explained by Forbes Magazine.
As much as leadership is held up by soft skills such as emotional intelligence, clear communication, and agility, technical literacy is also paramount for the success of remote and hybrid teams. Managers would not be able to practice their strong communication skills unless they can also work effortlessly with the technology that transmits them. According to Kaplan Business School (Australia), improving digital literacy requires actions that can be as simple as:
- Practicing collaborative document editing or project management tools such as Asana, Notion, and Trello
- Engaging in online communities (e.g. LinkedIn groups, forums)
- Following reputable blogs on digital leadership, safety, privacy, and ethics
- Taking short courses (e.g. Coursera, LinkedIn Learning)
How MBA Programs Are Responding
Leading business schools have recognized the need to prepare students for hybrid work. Courses on leadership may address remote leadership, while courses on team dynamics and workplace management may discuss examples from the digital realm. Their aim is to go beyond theory by suggesting practical ideas and solutions for managing dispersed teams. At the University of Pennsylvania: The Wharton School (US), examples of such courses include “Leading Across Cultural and Relational Differences”, “Navigating Difficult Conversations”, and “Work and Technology: Choices and Outcomes”.
Case studies too have evolved to reflect contemporary challenges. Students analyze real-world scenarios involving companies that have successfully transitioned to new models. How have successful leaders of the past maintained productivity and preserved company culture? Case studies can provide valuable lessons on what has worked well and what pitfalls to avoid.
The internship is another opportunity for MBAs in flexible work environment settings to gain firsthand experience in hybrid and virtual work. They have the chance to develop practical skills in digital collaboration and remote project management before re-entering the job market after graduation.
Alumni Perspectives: Leading in Hybrid Workplaces
An international MBA program is in fact a perfect opportunity to get used to a highly diverse, day-to-day environment. As Zubin Chagpar, MBA Class of 2011 at IE Business School (Spain) found out, its team projects and collaborative assignments accurately mirror the contemporary hybrid workplace:
“The small intricacies of working with different cultures, learning how to work together and get output and value, that’s probably the biggest thing that IE taught me, how to work together, how to build together. [I]f you can’t work across borders and you can’t work across time zones, you’re going to have a hard time in many companies, many organizations, and many initiatives.”
Although an MBA can teach professionals a lot about managing dispersed teams, being a good leader is a journey of lifelong learning, as this MIT: Sloan School of Management (US) alumna discovered:
“Personally, I am still working on how to leverage IT tools and best practices to create an inclusive environment, particularly for hybrid work. As a leader, I think we need to be role models in how to use technology efficiently and show our employees how they can leverage it to their advantage and the advantage of their work,” says Dannielle Appelhans, MBA Class of 2011 at MIT: Sloan School of Management.
Simply taking care to organize all meetings digitally when remote team members are involved is a huge step in the right direction. All meeting participants should be on individual screens, whether they are in the office or remote, so that everyone can equally engage in a productive way.
How Students Can Future-Proof Their Careers
While MBA programs are evolving to meet hybrid work demands, students must also take proactive steps to future-proof their careers. It’s a smart investment to get fluent in working with collaboration platforms and project management tools, but it may be even more important to stay current with emerging technologies.
AI-powered systems, data analytics software, and virtual reality are just some of the latest developments that are dominating many industries and workspaces. Students should seek out certifications and workshops that demonstrate their commitment to digital fluency.
Cultivating a flexible mindset is just as critical. Leaders must be able to pivot quickly and stay open to new ways of working. This attitude develops through practice. Don’t underestimate the opportunity to take on leadership roles in diverse teams or to embrace sudden challenges. Students who view change as a positive development rather than disruption will be better positioned to thrive.
Networking remotely can involve its own intricacies as well compared to traditional in-person networking. MBA students should actively participate in virtual industry events and sustain meaningful digital relationships with peers met throughout their MBA journey. Building a remote network both during and after the MBA program creates valuable connections that only strengthen hybrid and remote work practices.
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