It takes the right skills to be a great leader. Some of these skills come naturally, but many of them can (and should) be learned with the proper education and experience. For example, team management and change management. Or, budget planning and data-driven decision making. Once you have the right skills mastered, you can find careers in corporate, non-profit, education, and a variety of other organizations.

Pursuing a Master’s in Organizational Leadership (MSOL) is a great educational route to become an effective and impactful leader across many different industries and careers. Within the field of leadership, especially with a master’s, there are countless paths you can pursue – all of which come with high growth potential, earning potential, and a high return on your investment in a master’s degree. Here are four Master’s in Leadership careers to think about as you consider a graduate program:

1. Higher Education Administration:

The success of any educational institution is dependent on the quality of the teachers, strength of the curriculum, available resources for staff and students, a safe and conducive learning environment, and student involvement – among many other factors. Most importantly, it takes a skilled group of higher education administrators to ensure each of these important elements are effectively in place. There are a variety of leadership roles that one can pursue in higher education, like a director or coordinator of a particular department (think: Student Affairs, Career Services, or Alumni relations). Higher education administrators can also have management roles in Admissions and Enrollment, or take on an Academic Advising role. A career in higher education administration is one of the most imperative Master’s in Leadership careers, because the work done on the job affects the next generation of students who will soon enter the workforce.

2. Healthcare Administration:

Healthcare – we all need it regardless of our race, gender, age, and socioeconomic background. But we don’t need access to any old healthcare systems; we need access to quality healthcare in a variety of different environments, such as hospitals, doctor’s offices, outpatient facilities, nursing homes, schools, and clinics. Healthcare administrators are leaders in the healthcare systems, whose work impacts the quality of patient care across  different healthcare environments and all types of patient populations. Some Master’s in Leadership careers specific to healthcare include: Chief Executive Officer, Chief Operations Officer, Practice Administrator, Clinic and Facilities Manager, and Nurse Manager or Director. With the healthcare system constantly evolving new policies and medical advancements, it’s important to have skilled healthcare administrators in place to navigate these changes.

3. Business and Corporate Leadership

Whether it’s a small business or large corporation, solid leadership is imperative for any organization’s success and bottom line. A business leader can obtain many different roles at all levels of an organization including careers as a Manager, Director, Vice President, and C-level position like Chief Executive Officer or Chief Operations Officer. In many of these leadership roles, a key responsibility is managing a company’s most important asset – it’s people. A Master’s in Leadership program provides students with necessary skills like problem-solving, conflict resolution, and communication to create a positive work environment and motivate employees or departments to increase productivity. Pursuing one of the leadership careers mentioned above in the business world is a great career path for any ambitious professional looking to have their hand in direct business success.

4. Manufacturing Management

The manufacturing industry is crucial for our economy. It not only creates goods that add value to our economy, but also provides jobs for people nationwide. Manufacturers around the country have processes and systems in place to create whatever end product they are manufacturing. Those systems, however, don’t just run themselves. They need employees with management and leadership skills to keep production running smoothly and efficiently. A leader in the manufacturing industry can take on a Production Manager role, overseeing daily operations like scheduling, managing workers, and handling any production issues that arise. Leadership professionals can also pursue leadership careers in manufacturing at a higher level, such as Plant of Facilities Manager, Distribution Manager, or Chief Manufacturing Executive. A leader with the right experience and education could obtain all of these roles.

There are many Master’s in Leadership career options across all industries that can be pursued with an MSOL degree. If you are interested in learning more about Goodwin College’s Master’s in Leadership program and the different career paths available to graduates, contact Goodwin College today at 800-889-3282.