What Can You Do with a General Business MBA?

Imagine having a versatile toolkit that opens up exciting career opportunities across several industries. That’s precisely what a general business MBA offers — a pathway to diverse roles where your expertise in leadership, strategy, and business acumen is highly coveted. So what can you do with a general business MBA? We’re sharing some of the best career options you can pick from when getting a general business MBA.

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What Can You Do with a General Business MBA?

A general business MBA equips you with versatile skills that are desirable in various management and executive roles. You’ll find opportunities across different sectors, from healthcare to technology, where your expertise in leadership and strategic thinking is highly valued. The program’s focus on leadership and managerial skills helps prep you for high-responsibility positions.

Your MBA may open doors to roles such as a business operations manager, overseeing company processes’ efficiency, or a management consultant, providing expert advice to improve business performance.

An MBA degree can also be your stepping stone to high-level roles like a CEO, where strategic decision-making skills are paramount. The potential for leadership positions and the ability to navigate complex business environments are significant takeaways from your MBA journey.

As a general business MBA holder, you have a versatile toolkit that prepares you for leadership roles, none more influential than that of a Chief Executive Officer (CEO). In this role, you’re at the helm of an organization, tasked with setting strategies, shaping policies, and overseeing the company’s operations.

The average annual salary for CEOs is approximately $258,900, with top earners in the field reaching impressive six-figure sums, reflecting the high level of responsibility that the role demands.

Some of the key responsibilities of a CEO include:

• Crafting and executing company policies
• Providing strategic direction
• Coordinating high-level operational activities

Here are a few industries you might consider being a CEO in:

• Management of companies: Typically has higher earnings with mean annual wages around $390,710
• Computer systems design: Offers lucrative opportunities with salaries averaging $249,860 annually
• Scientific and technical consulting services: Where your comprehensive business expertise is highly valued, with mean annual wages of $274,920

Financial Manager

As a financial manager, your role is pivotal to an organization’s financial health. With your general business MBA, you possess a strong foundation in business management along with the analytical skills necessary to oversee financial operations efficiently. This expertise makes you an asset whether you work in banks, investment firms, insurance companies, or any industry requiring financial oversight.

With an MBA, you’re positioned to get an excellent salary. As of May 2023, financial managers earned a median wage of $156,100 annually. People in this position often have 5 years of work experience in related fields, guaranteeing that your prior roles, combined with your advanced education, solidify your expertise.

The demand for financial managers is projected to soar by 16% from 2022 to 2032, signaling robust job security. You will play a key role in helping organizations formulate and reach long-term financial objectives, positioning this as a career path that capitalizes on your strategic thinking and leadership abilities.

Marketing Manager

As a marketing manager, you’ll create campaigns to spark interest in products or services, a vital function for any business looking to thrive in today’s market.

Typical responsibilities include:

• Developing marketing strategies to effectively promote products or services
• Collaborating with creatives to craft compelling advertising materials
• Analyzing market trends to stay ahead of the curve
• Coordinating with sales teams to maximize the impact of campaigns

Coupled with your MBA, your knack for leadership and strategic thinking will serve you well as you navigate the complexities of consumer behavior and market dynamics. Your business acumen will be key in all facets of the job, from managing budgets to innovating new approaches to reach the target audience.

You’ll likely find yourself in a dynamic office environment, potentially traveling to meet clients or teams, contributing to the role’s diverse and engaging nature. While this can be fun and exciting, we highly recommend making sure that you’re up for this type of role, as it often requires you to be more outspoken and extroverted compared to other roles.

Operations or General Manager

If you’re holding a general business MBA, stepping into the role of an Operations Manager or a General Manager might be a natural and lucrative progression for your career. These positions place you in the heart of a company’s daily activities, where your broad knowledge of business practices enables you to oversee and improve various operational aspects.

Expect the salary to vary based on the company size, industry, and location. However, the average salary for operations managers is $129,330. Remember, years of experience and proven efficiency in the role can positively influence your earning potential.

Here’s what you can expect to do in this role:

• Oversee daily operations of the business unit or organization
• Lead the production, procurement, and planning processes
• Implement operational strategies aligned with the company’s goals
• Be responsible for budgeting, resourcing, and risk management
• Manage a team, fostering a productive and positive work environment

What we love about this role is that it offers the opportunity to significantly impact an organization’s success through strategic decision-making and leadership. We’ve also seen that when operations managers excel and go “all in” on their job, they have the potential to earn a C-suite role in their current or future company.

Sales Manager

With a general business MBA, you’re well-prepared to embark on a career as a Sales Manager. This role capitalizes on your comprehensive understanding of business principles ranging from management and marketing to accounting and finance. In 2023, the average sales manager had a median salary of $135,160 per year.

Some key responsibilities include:

• Leadership: You’ll recruit, hire, and train your sales team, assigning territories and quotas
• Strategy: Developing sales plans and setting goals will be integral to your role
• Analysis: Interpreting sales data to inform strategies is important
• Customer engagement: Resolving customer complaints and maintaining key relationships will be part of your daily narrative
• Collaboration: Working with marketing and research departments can lead to expansive growth opportunities

Your MBA equips you with analytical skills to decipher market trends and communication abilities to effectively lead teams and engage customers. Your customer service skills will help with client satisfaction, while your leadership talent will steer your sales force toward success.

Public Relations Manager

As a Public Relations Manager, your role is central to shaping and maintaining the public image of organizations. You can expect an engaging career that blends strategy, communication, and brand management.

An MBA provides a robust foundation for this role, offering insight into consumer behavior, strategic management, and ethical business practices—tools helpful for creating a strong public image. Furthermore, a general business MBA can give you a competitive advantage in leadership roles within this field.

Key responsibilities include:

• Strategizing: Deploying your MBA’s analytical skills, you’ll craft communications plans that align with your employer’s vision
• Media relations: Become the bridge between the media and your company, ensuring a consistent and positive message
• Branding: Use your marketing acumen to manage and enhance the corporate identity
• Crisis management: Demonstrate leadership by steering the company through challenging public relations crises with poise
• Team leadership: Guide and mentor a team of professionals to implement your strategies effectively

Your expertise in public relations can command a median salary of approximately $130,480. This career is not just financially rewarding; it also offers a growth rate of 6%, indicating a thriving future.

Product Manager

With your general business MBA in hand, you’re well-equipped to excel as a product manager. Blending your business acumen with leadership capabilities, you can oversee product lifecycles from conception through launch. Your MBA’s emphasis on strategic thinking, marketing, and finance provides a well-rounded foundation for making sound product decisions.

Typical responsibilities as a product manager include:

• Crafting product strategy and vision alongside a cross-functional team
• Managing and tracking product development timelines and budgets
• Collaborating with marketing, sales, and support to make sure of product success

As a Product Manager, you may begin in a role focused on specific product features or areas and evolve towards overseeing multiple product lines or even entire product categories. Your business MBA provides a powerful leverage point, enhancing your ability to understand and navigate market complexities, customer needs, and the operational intricacies of producing successful products.

An MBA can significantly impact your earning potential. As of 2023, the median annual wage for Industrial Production Managers, a role closely related to Product Managers in scope and responsibility, was approximately $116,970. Your exact salary could vary based on factors such as industry, company size, and location, and your MBA provides a competitive edge to command a higher pay grade.

Business Intelligence Analyst

As a Business Intelligence Analyst with a general business MBA, your potent combination of business acumen and data analysis skills positions you uniquely in the marketplace. Your MBA equips you with a holistic understanding of business operations, which is really important when translating complex data into actionable business insights.

With your MBA, your deep understanding of business foundations enhances your ability to analyze data and grasp the broader business context. This enables you to make data-driven recommendations that resonate with executives and stakeholders.

A bachelor’s degree is the foundation, and your MBA, especially with a focus on analytics, greatly strengthens your candidacy. Some employers might prefer additional qualifications such as a certification from the Institute of Management Consultants USA (CMC).

Typically, you can expect a competitive salary in this role. As of May 2023, the median annual wage for management analysts, a broader category encompassing Business Intelligence Analysts, was $99,410.

Human Resources Manager

As a human resources (HR) manager with a general business MBA, you manage the administrative operations related to a company’s workforce. Your responsibilities include planning and coordinating the use of employee talents, linking management with staff, and overseeing benefits programs.

With your MBA, you can expect to find opportunities across various industries, with a median salary of around $136,350. The role of HR managers is growing, aiming to fill an estimated 15,500 openings annually due to workforce changes and retirements.

Some of your key duties as an HR manager include:

• Workforce planning: You’ll strategically use your expertise to align the workforce with the company’s business goals
• Talent management: Your role will involve recruiting, interviewing, and hiring new employees, maximizing their potential within the company
• Policy development: You will draft and apply workplace policies, ensuring compliance with labor laws
• Employee relations: From handling disputes to conducting disciplinary procedures, you’ll manage the relationship between the staff and the organization

Career Advancements with an MBA

Pursuing a Master of Business Administration can enhance your career by offering greater job prospects, higher earning potential, and the flexibility to switch industries or career paths.

Leadership Positions

With an MBA, you become a strong candidate for management positions. Employers often prefer MBA graduates for executive roles because they bring a comprehensive understanding of business operations and strategy. This could lead to quicker promotions, as seen in MBA professionals who advance into roles like Chief Executive Officer or Chief Financial Officer.

Earning Potential

An MBA can significantly increase your salary compared to only having an undergraduate degree. This makes it possible to secure some of the highest-paying MBA jobs across various industries.

Career Shift Opportunities

An MBA equips you with a versatile skill set, allowing for career shift opportunities to sectors like consulting, healthcare, or technology. The degree helps you build transferable skills, broaden your career horizons, and help you achieve your career goals. Making a transition may seem daunting, though many find that an MBA supports their journey to a new field or specialization.

We’ve also seen that earning an MBA puts you in close contact with a diverse network of peers compared to students who only received their bachelor’s degree, since you spend additional years in school. Plus, you’ll likely attend grad school at a different university, naturally expanding your network.

Related Questions

Navigating MBAs can be complex, so you’ll find clarifications to some common queries below to aid in your decision-making process.

Is a general business MBA good?

Yes, a general business MBA is good. It provides you with a broad understanding of business principles, which can be critical for career flexibility. With this degree, you’re likely to develop a versatile skill set that’s applicable across various industries and managerial roles.

What is the difference between general and executive MBA?

A general MBA focuses on offering a comprehensive business education suitable for individuals in early or mid-career. On the other hand, an executive MBA is tailored for experienced professionals who wish to continue working while studying, often including leadership and strategic management at a senior level.

Is an MBA worth it if you own a business?

If you own a business, pursuing an MBA can equip you with advanced business knowledge and strategies to grow your enterprise. The network and insights gained can be particularly valuable, as they help to spot opportunities and avoid common pitfalls.

Conclusion

Pursuing an MBA opens a wealth of career possibilities. You’ll enhance your business acumen, strengthen leadership capabilities, and gain specialized knowledge. A general MBA can be particularly beneficial, as it equips you with comprehensive skills that are valuable across diverse industries.