Strategy

Business schools say managing job cuts with clarity, fairness and empathy is now a core leadership skill.

As time pressure grows, professionals are opting for shorter, skills-focused executive education programs that deliver immediate value.

After the pandemic push toward fully online formats, in-person learning has reasserted its value. But hybrid formats that blend online modules with face-to-face teaching are finding a growing audience among time-strapped, geographically diverse executives and companies.

Resolving disputes and building partnerships is a central part of doing business but can be tricky. Executive courses are teaching students how they can improve their skills with hands-on experience and adapting to new scenarios, such as virtual negotiations.