Employers aren’t just hiring MBAs for the letters after their name — they’re looking for people who can lead with impact. Eighty-one percent (81%) say these grads can thrive in their organisations, and 83% see them as future senior leaders. But a degree alone isn’t enough. What matters is how you apply your learning — leading diverse teams, thinking strategically, and solving complex problems with confidence. Skills like data analysis, clear communication, and the ability to drive real, measurable business outcomes are top of employers’ wish lists too.
These are precisely the kind of competencies Copenhagen Business School (CBS) prioritises nurturing. Located in Denmark and Triple Crown accredited, CBS stands out not only for its academic reputation but for effortlessly cultivating a global, practical mindset organisations value. With over 300 partner universities in over 50 countries and a strong international network, this business school can prepare you to navigate and lead in today’s global business environment.
Take Zeke Shepherd, Class of 2024, for example. Originally from the US, he was first hesitant about pursuing an MBA. The programmes he initially explored seemed overwhelming — often filled with large cohorts of hyper-entrepreneurial, finance-driven extroverts. It didn’t seem like the kind of environment he could thrive or feel seen in. The CBS MBA, however, offered something different –– something that better matched Shepherd’s values.
“The focus on sustainability, the diversity and maturity of the average class, as well as the smaller class size drew me in,” he says.
That decision paid off. Shepherd would go on to gain life-changing experiences and lessons. His professors were not only “extremely passionate” but kept him “focused and inspired.” From his “Managing Sustainable Corporations” professor, he would get fresh news about ESG in the real world. From his “Macroeconomics” professor, he learned that humans today are better off than they were 50 years ago in almost every metric.
Another takeaway was the understanding that Danish culture is a big part of working in Denmark. “For one, you’ll hear very often of the ‘flat hierarchy,’ where every employee should feel empowered to speak up no matter who is in the room,” he says. “Danish society is also highly trusting, which has led to a much shorter onboarding process for my classmates and me. The mentality seems to be ‘we hired you because we think you can do it, so go do it!’. Thankfully I was fresh out of school, so all my learnings were top of mind.”
The CBS MBA has a proven track record of helping candidates achieve their career goals with measurable, positive outcomes. Source: Copenhagen Business School
After completing his MBA, Shepherd joined Novo Nordisk, one of the world’s largest pharmaceutical companies, as a Project Manager in the manufacturing expansions department. “The MBA has allowed me to have a more informed perspective on strategic decisions and ultimately gave me the skills I needed to make the jump from strictly technical roles to ones with more high-level and longer-term decision-making,” he says.
Stories like his are common among CBS MBA graduates who land roles in start-ups, multinationals, and everything in between.
These outcomes make it easy to understand why CBS’s reputation is on the rise. For the second year running, its MBA ranks among the world’s top 100 MBA programmes in the Financial Times Global MBA Rankings 2025. It’s also the only full-time MBA in Scandinavia to make the cut. It holds the 24th spot in the QS Global MBA Rankings 2024 and places 13th Bloomberg Businessweek’s European Business Schools list for 2024–2025.
These results are powered by standout faculty and a curriculum that goes beyond the conventional. For Shepherd, the difference was clear. “Each of our professors integrated sustainability into their lessons to some degree,” he says.
This integration is anything but an afterthought –– it’s part of the “Nordic Nine”, a framework of nine key capabilities embedded into every MBA student’s journey. Alongside the business fundamentals, you’ll learn to lead with empathy, think long-term, and make ethical decisions. It’s a philosophy that mirrors Scandinavian business culture: inclusive, reflective, and purpose-driven.
CBS ranks #8 globally for “International Mobility” and #27 for “Value for Money”. Source: Financial Times Global MBA Rankings 2025. Image source: Copenhagen Business School
That same sense of purpose is what drew Navneet Brar, Class of 2023, to CBS. She chose to specialise in digitalisation as it aligned best with her undergraduate degree in computer science engineering. “It was logical to deepen my understanding of decision-makers’ perspectives on the strategic implementation and adoption of technologies and platforms within the tech sector,” she says.
That made her the only woman in the digitalisation specialisation. But this being CBS, Brar did not feel isolated. Instead, she found it “empowering and thought-provoking.”
To Brar, this was expected. In fact, it was CBS’s small class size and diverse mix of students that made her join the school in the first place. “I sought a learning environment that fostered psychological safety and encouraged active participation from all students, as this approach enabled me to gain valuable insights from varied viewpoints that I might not have otherwise encountered,” says the Senior Business Analyst with Danish multinational Falck’s Digital Technology Unit. “Furthermore, the programme’s strong emphasis on Sustainability, coupled with the opportunity to experience Nordic culture, significantly distinguished CBS for me.”
One of the most defining parts of that culture? The Leadership Discovery Process — a core part of the curriculum that runs throughout the programme. Unlike traditional leadership courses, this one is built around immersive simulations and personal mentorship from Implement Consulting Group. You’ll go beyond theory, tackling real-life leadership challenges in a controlled, yet realistic setting.
CBS also embeds practical experience into its DNA through the Strategy Project — a four-month consultancy-style project where you’ll partner with Danish or international companies to solve complex, live business challenges. Whether it’s launching new products, navigating global supply chains, or scaling tech solutions, expect to move from classroom theory to boardroom strategy through such opportunities.
The Strategy Project was a game-changer for Jayraj Pandya, from the Class of 2024. He’s now ESG Manager at European Energy in Copenhagen, strengthening the sustainability reporting systems in the company and ensuring effective reporting on sustainability areas for stakeholders.
Pandya credits his project experience for helping him get his foot through the door. “The opportunity to pursue a Strategy Project as a part of the MBA programme enabled me to get the practical exposure of working in an organisation in Denmark,” he says.
But Pandya knows that is by no means the only impact of his time at CBS. When asked to name three takeaways that he now leverages as a professional, he says: “The first major takeaway would be the core knowledge about sustainability. The second would be the lessons from the leadership sessions, especially those regarding managing differences while working in teams and leading people. The third takeaway would be the experiential learnings that I received through interactions with my fellow participants, the alumni members and the expert speakers who engaged with us on a wide variety of subjects.”
Simply put, what companies want from MBA graduates is exactly what CBS delivers. Learn more about growing into a globally minded, ethically grounded, and strategically sharp leader.
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