EDITOR’S LETTER
ritical thinking, empathy and authenticity – these qualities were all singled out by the panel recently convened by Ambition to discuss the importance of teaching soft skills in business schools. Given the increasing interconnectedness and complexity of the business world, management education must recognise that technical acumen alone no longer guarantees leadership effectiveness. To cultivate graduates who can truly thrive, institutions must prioritise the development of crucial soft skills such as communication, resilience and the ability to collaborate. In our debate, panellists also highlighted the importance of ethics and the need to possess a strong moral compass, particularly in the context of the rapidly growing and seemingly ubiquitous new-gen technology. Emotional intelligence and flexibility will be essential too, according to our panel participants, who pointed out just how vital these skills are in a world where managers need to lead diverse global teams – neurodiverse and generationally diverse, as well as being situated in diverse locations. Our cover story this issue, an interview with ESMT Berlin president Jörg Rocholl, echoes many of these sentiments. Today’s leaders must be more than efficient and productive; they need to drive transformation with courage, foresight and adaptability. MBA graduates require strategic insight in order to navigate today’s geopolitical and economic disruption effectively – a point also made by our CEO Andrew Main Wilson in his column. The role of business schools in this scenario is vital: an MBA degree equips graduates with the leadership and problem-solving abilities needed to address complex business challenges. Beyond academic excellence, an MBA offers access to a global network of peers, alumni and industry leaders. Such a network opens doors to new opportunities, career advancement and invaluable mentorship, helping graduates drive impact across industries. Employers also recognise the distinct value of an MBA, not just for the technical knowledge it imparts, but for the strategic mindset and resourcefulness that it fosters too. In a world where companies seek leaders who can think innovatively and drive growth, the MBA remains a powerful differentiator. NEW FACES: THE LEADERSHIP HORIZON As the business world continues to evolve, soft skills and strong ethics will be vital attributes for graduates C
EDITORIAL Head of editorial Colette Doyle c.doyle@amba-bga.com Content editor Tim Banerjee Dhoul t.dhoul@amba-bga.com
Art editor Sam Price Sub-editor Heather Ford
Insight, content and PR manager Ellen Buchan e.buchan@amba-bga.com CORPORATE Membership director Victor Hedenberg v.hedenberg@amba-bga.com
Head of membership Debbie Kemp d.kemp@amba-bga.com
Commercial relations director Max Braithwaite m.braithwaite@amba-bga.com
Head of marketing and communications Leonora Clement
Senior marketing executive Edward Holmes
Head of IT and data management Jack Villanueva
Colette Doyle , Editor, Ambition
Head of events Carolyn Armsby
THIS MONTH’S CONTRIBUTORS
HR and employer relations manager Aarti Bhasin Finance and commercial director Catherine Walker
Chief executive officer Andrew Main Wilson
ANTHONY BRABAZON
RAQUEL CAMPOS FRANCO
JEAN-LUC CASTRO
FABRICE CAVARRETTA
NICOLAS CHEVROLLIER
Executive assistant to the CEO Amy Youngs a.youngs@amba-bga.com ACCREDITATION ENQUIRIES accreditation@amba-bga.com
NA FU
HELENA GONÇALVES
JÖRG ROCHOLL
VASU SRIVIBHA
Copyright 2025 by Association of MBAs and Business Graduates Association ISSN 2631-6382 All rights reserved. Material may not be reproduced without the permission of the publisher. While we take care to ensure that editorial is independent, accurate, objective and relevant for our readers, AMBA accepts no responsibility for reader dissatisfaction rising from the content of this publication. The opinions expressed and advice given are the views of individual commentators and do not necessarily represent the views of AMBA. Whenever an article in this publication is placed with the financial support of an advertiser, partner or sponsor, it will be marked as such. AMBA makes every opportunity to credit photographers but we cannot guarantee every published use of an image will have the contributor’s name. If you believe we have omitted a credit for your image, please email the editor.
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Ambition • ISSUE 2 • 2025 7
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