Business and Leadership Career Planner

The COVID-19 pandemic caused great suffering and disrupted everything about how we live. But it also inspired millions of people to rethink the direction of their lives, assess whether they were doing work that matters and seek new ways to make a difference in the world. 

Millions of workers quit their jobs in 2021, and a whopping 55% of the workforce said they were planning to switch roles. If you’re among the millions rethinking everything and searching for a brighter tomorrow, then a career in business and leadership could help you make your dreams a reality. 

Careers in business and leadership are rapidly growing, so you can count on the excitement of personal growth. However, there are other more important reasons why pursuing a career in business and leadership may be right for you:

High Earnings 

Business or leadership degrees offer some of the highest earning power, even right out of school. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported an annual median wage of $72,250 for business and finance occupations in 2020. 

For management or leadership occupations, the median annual wage was even higher at $109,760. 

Note that the median annual wage for all occupations is $41,950. 

The skills you master in school will serve you well in any career, lending credibility and authority to your work no matter where you go. 

Flexibility and Transferable Skills 

Some degrees limit you to a handful of occupations. That is not the case with leadership and business training. 

You can choose from hundreds of roles. Work for someone who can help you make the most of your career, or start your own business and blaze your own trail. You can even move in and out of the business and nonprofit worlds. There are countless options available to you. 

Every type of organization needs business leaders, including:

• Nonprofits
• Churches
• Governments
• Schools

Choosing a career path that is right for you takes planning, both in requirements and personal interest. Requirements often include education, like having a bachelor’s degree. 

The Power of a Bachelor’s Degree

A bachelor’s degree is a great way to begin or accelerate your career in just a few years. It also offers a direct path to graduate training, opening up opportunities for advancement. Whatever your motivations are, find the path that fuels your passion.  

Next-Level Goals: Graduate Degree

If you want to command top earnings, a master’s degree in business administration or leadership can support that goal. Drawing on data from Payscale.com, Monster identified these seven areas as the most lucrative and high-demand career paths for MBA graduates: 

• Strategic Roles: With average annual compensation of about $127,000, these roles include management consultant, senior product manager and finance manager.

• Technology Management: With average annual earnings of $113,000, these roles include information technology director, senior project manager and vice president of IT. 

• Entrepreneurship: How much you make owning your own company varies, but the overall average is $106,000 per year. Common roles include management consultant and software product manager.

• Finance: Finance jobs boast annual average earnings of about $103,000, with roles such as finance manager, chief financial officer and senior financial analyst. 

• General Business: Earn an average of $99,900 per year with roles such as operations manager, director of engineering or business development director.

• Economics: Economics roles earn an average of $97,400 annually, with diverse positions including senior financial analyst, finance director and finance manager. 
  
  
• Marketing: With careers averaging $95,500 annually, there are plenty of options, including marketing director, marketing manager and vice president of marketing. 

The careers you qualify for will depend on your experience and level of education. The right education can open career doors, especially when you already have on-the-job experience.

Take a look at some of today’s most promising roles:

Financial Analyst

If you have a passion for data or numbers, a role as a financial analyst may be for you. At the highest level, the goal of a financial analyst is to guide businesses and individuals in decisions about spending money to make a profit. You may find yourself forecasting budgets, tracking operational metrics and creating financial models. 

Financial analysts earn an average of $83,660 annually. Some of the skills needed to be successful in this role include: 

• Possession of a bachelor’s degree.
• Additional licensing from the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) or as a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA), depending on the role.
• Skills in analysis, communication, computing, decision-making, math and attention to detail.

Marketing Manager 

A marketing manager is responsible for leading the marketing efforts for a business, service or product. They often estimate market demand, lead a marketing team and develop strategies to drive consumer interest. Although this role requires a passion for data, it is also a great fit for those looking to be creative.

Marketing managers earn an average of $141,490 annually. Some of the skills needed to be successful in this role include: 

• Possession of a bachelor’s degree.
• Experience in advertising, marketing, promotions or sales.
• Skills in analysis, business, communication, decision-making, organization and interpersonal relations.

Computer and Information Systems Manager

Pursuing a career as a computer and information systems manager offers great flexibility and makes you a high-demand candidate. This role is primarily focused on planning, directing and coordinating activities such as electronic data processing, systems analysis and computer programming. 

The average earning potential for someone getting into this role is $151,150 annually. Some of the skills needed to be successful in this role include: 

• Possession of a bachelor’s degree, although some jobs may require a master’s degree.
• Skills in analysis, business, communication, decision-making, organization and leadership.

Accountant or Auditor

Although these are two different roles, they function very similarly. If you are financially savvy and love spending time on numbers, one of these roles may be a good fit for you. 

Accountants are responsible for:

• Preparing financial documents
• Monitoring day-to-day bookkeeping
• Filing tax forms

Auditors are responsible for:

• Verifying the accuracy of financial statements and tax filings
• Conducting research for numerical data
• Finding areas of opportunity to improve risk management

Accountants and auditors earn an average of $73,560 annually. Some of the skills needed to be successful in this role include: 

• Possession of a bachelor’s degree, although some jobs may require a master’s degree.
• Additional licensing as a certified public accountant (CPA) for certain roles.
• Skills in analysis, critical thinking, communication, attention to detail, organization and math.

Human Resources Manager 

If you have a passion for helping others but still want to be in a business setting, a role in human resources may be the right path for you. Human resources (HR) teams play many roles in organizations, depending on their size. Most commonly, they lead recruiting, candidate selections, compensation and benefits. In some cases, individuals in this role will also lead company culture initiatives and employee development. 

The average earning potential for someone in this role is $121,220 annually. Some of the skills needed to be successful in this role include: 

• Possession of a bachelor’s degree, although some jobs may require a master’s degree.
• Certification with the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) for some roles. 
• Skills in communication, decision-making, interpersonal relations, leadership and organization.

Industrial Production Manager 

Industrial production managers oversee the daily operations of manufacturing plants. They plan, direct and coordinate the necessary work activities and resources per cost, quality and quantity specifications. If you have a passion for being hands-on and making improvements for the betterment of many, this may be a career path for you. 

Industrial production managers earn an average of $108,790 annually. Some of the skills needed to be successful in this role include: 

• Possession of a bachelor’s degree, although some jobs may require a master’s degree.
• Additional certification in Lean Six Sigma for certain roles. 
• Skills in interpersonal relations, leadership, problem-solving and time management.

Some business leaders are born, but most are made. And, in most cases, even those with natural leadership skills work to develop specific skill sets and find success in their field.

Hard Skills

In addition to a bachelor’s or master’s degree, business leaders and managers must build a foundation of hard skills.This includes technical skills, certifications or additional education required to grow in your role.

Soft Skills

Soft skills are just as essential as hard skills.In the business world, you need critical thinking, problem-solving and decision-making abilities. You should also have solid time management and a strong work ethic. Additionally, clear written and verbal communication skills are a must. 

Those working with or for people every day will also need to develop empathy for coworkers and find ways to address a variety of working styles. 

Motivation

It’s essential to have a career path that matches your desires. Whether it is a personal aspiration to improve processes, boost the bottom line or help others grow, those who find self-motivation are better equipped to succeed in their career.

A degree in business or leadership is versatile. Upon earning your degree, you will have many potential career paths. The key to long-term success is choosing a role in an industry that excites you and caters to your passions and talents. These questions can help you determine which role might be the best fit for you:

Interests

Ask yourself, "What are my interests?" "What drives me?" "What challenges allow me to thrive?" "What makes me look forward to a workday?" When you're passionate about what you're doing, you will never "work" a day in your life.

Past Work Experiences

Education at the bachelor’s or master’s level builds a foundation, but nothing will prepare you like real-world experience. How can you leverage past work experience to inform the day-to-day tasks you would be responsible for? 

Long-Term Career Goals

For some, earning a bachelor’s degree in a field they are passionate about is the final destination. For others, it may serve as a stepping stone to future goals. What are your long-term career goals? What are the steps you will take to get there?  

Personal Life Goals

Aside from your professional goals, what do you hope to achieve personally? What do you want for your life and family? Whatever you hope to achieve, make sure you align your personal and professional goals with that mission. 

No matter where your career takes you, SNU is here to help. SNU offers bachelor’s and master’s programs for those aspiring to move into a leadership role.

Perhaps the most crucial decision you can make about your future career is which school you attend. SNU is deeply committed to the success of adult learners, with a variety of innovative programs that will help you excel and graduate on time, even when you’re juggling a host of other commitments. 

Each program listed below offers a theoretically grounded approach and real-world practical training. Our accelerated tracks give you credits for prior learning and allow you to focus on just one class at a time, helping you graduate quickly. We want to see you get the most out of your degree, and that means shortening your path to graduation and a career. 

• Bachelor of Science in Business Administration
• Bachelor of Science in Organizational Leadership 
• Bachelor of Science in Healthcare Administration
• Master of Business Administration
• Master of Business Administration: Healthcare
• Master of Science in Management
• Master of Leadership

We know that the right support is key to helping students learn. Our flexible schedules, online courses and innovative cohort model all support you to thrive in school and beyond. We also offer resume workshops, career counseling, mentoring and access to our exceptional job boards.

SNU is here to help you get started.

Whatever obstacles you face, we can help. Apply now. 

To learn more about how we help you afford school, check out The Complete Guide to Financial Aid.