Leadership and Skills Development Trends in Global Business Schools

Abstract

This study looked at leadership and skill development trends highlighted by top global business schools, using publicly available documents. It also explored how these trends connect to a local School of Business and Management in Northern Mindanao, Philippines. The research used a qualitative comparative document analysis, reviewing official materials from ten internationally recognized business schools chosen based on the 2025 Financial Times Global MBA Ranking, international accreditation, and document availability. Data were analyzed using a mix of deductive and inductive content analysis, guided by Institutional Theory and Human Capital Theory. The study found eight main leadership and skill categories: ethical leadership, strategic and critical thinking, global and cultural competence, innovation and entrepreneurship, digital and technological skills, communication and collaboration, sustainability and social impact, and career and professional skills. Global institutions show strong similarities, but differences in focus reflect their unique positions and local needs. When compared to the local institution, there is strong alignment in ethical leadership and career readiness, local adaptation in global competence and entrepreneurship, and a growing need to better define digital and technological skills. The study shows that global business education trends balance the need for institutional legitimacy and employability, while still allowing for local adaptation. These results provide a starting point for strategic planning and suggest areas for future research on curriculum design and digital skill development in business education.