Overview
A Master in Strategic Management is a graduate-level program designed to equip students with the skills and knowledge necessary to formulate, implement, and evaluate business strategies. This program focuses on developing strategic thinking and leadership abilities, emphasizing areas such as competitive analysis, corporate strategy, innovation, strategic decision-making, and organizational change. Students learn how to assess external environments, leverage internal resources, and drive long-term business success. This degree is ideal for those who wish to pursue careers in consulting, or to take on leadership roles in corporate management, and entrepreneurship.
Career Pathways
A graduate of the Master in Strategic Management program could pursue either of the following careers,
- Strategy Consultant: Identify business challenges within the company and in the external landscape, develop strategic initiatives, and implement solutions to drive growth and efficiency. Consultants also provide expert advice to C-suite executives on organizational structure, operations, and strategy to improve business performance.
- Corporate Strategy Analyst: Develop and propose strategic plans to achieve corporate objectives, conduct market analysis, and drive business development initiatives. Work on mergers and acquisitions (M&A), joint ventures, and strategic investments to enhance the company’s market position.
- Business Development Consultant: Identify and pursue new business opportunities, partnerships, and markets to expand the company’s reach and revenue.
- Entrepreneurship and Start-ups: Leverage strategic management skills to launch and grow a new business, focusing on innovation, market entry, and competitive positioning.
- Innovation and Change Consultant: Drive innovation initiatives within the organization, manage product development processes, and foster a culture of continuous improvement. Advise organizations on managing change, implementing new strategies, and ensuring successful transitions during periods of transformation.
Schools
The top ranked schools for the Master in Strategic Management program are,
- HEC Paris
HEC Paris offers a 1-year Master in Strategic Management program that allows students to gain an understanding of core strategy coursework that includes business and corporate strategy, negotiation, strategy mobilization. Furthermore, in electives, students can choose coursework across themes such as industry specific strategic management, CSR and sustainability, and AI and data analytics. Moreover, the introduction of business simulations and projects further facilitates a holistic learning experience on campus.
- Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University
RSM’s MSc in Strategic Management offers students the opportunity to study core courses such as corporate and competitive strategy followed by a consultancy project that enables hands-on practical learning. Thereafter, student’s choose electives that include management consulting, corporate governance, strategic leadership, strategic decision making, and managing innovation among others. The opportunity to write a thesis independently or at a company further allows students to tie theoretical learning and research with real-world challenges related to strategic management. RSM is also widely known in Europe for its student association (STAR) that organizes consulting workshops and projects that involve consulting firms such as Deloitte, Simon Kucher, Roland Berger.
- ESSEC Business School
ESSEC’s Master in Strategic Management and International Business (SMIB) offers a comprehensive program with a focus on strategy, operations, and organizational behaviour within the realm of global business. Students can opt to pursue this degree in France or Singapore and study courses related to corporate strategy, geopolitics, sustainable development, and data analytics. In addition, students also engage in business simulations and projects that expose them to real world challenges corporates face related to strategy development and implementation.