Master of Leadership and Management

Location:

Online

Start dates:

Mar,

May,

Jun,

Aug,

Oct,

Jan

Scholarships:

50% scholarship to students in emerging markets

Overview

More than ever, organizations in all sectors need versatile leaders with high management acumen. The Master of Leadership and Management (MLM) is designed to deliver mastery in 21st-century leadership and management principles and practices. It prepares leaders to take on additional managerial responsibilities in global organizations or to make a career change across industries or sectors. This management program focuses on cross-cultural communication, finance, data analytics, marketing and working in diverse, global teams. The real-world curriculum combines Thunderbird’s prestigious tradition of graduate education with cutting-edge technology to deliver a transformative graduate degree.

Designed to empower graduates with well-rounded, future-ready skill sets, this transformational master's degree provides a strategically choreographed progression through every facet of international management. Courses span the gamut of Thunderbird's online offerings, from accounting and data-driven decision-making to global finance and marketing. Students also receive hands-on, experiential learning opportunities in practical, real-world situations through elective courses that allow them to apply their full range of professional skills acquired during their studies, preparing them to lead in all sectors: government, private enterprise, non-governmental organizations and nonprofits.

DOWNLOAD BROCHURE

Credit hours

50% scholarship

for qualified students in emerging markets

12-24 months

Duration

Graduation

In-person Commencement

Master of Leadership and Management

Degree confered

Who should attend?

Leaders who want to drive growth and proactively respond to social, political, regulatory, and natural forces that impact their business and workplace.

Mid-level managers who support and lead teams who are looking to gain advanced skills in leadership in order to achieve a promotion.

Functional managers in HR, finance, marketing, supply chain, and operations who want to be more involved in their global business strategy.

Professionals from the public and nonprofit sectors who want greater knowledge of global business and leadership development.

Student testimonials

Curriculum

Program curriculum

The Master of Leadership and Management's one-of-a-kind cutting edge curriculum features 30 credit hours and provides students with the flexibility to choose from a variety of instructional courses, as well as applied learning opportunities, including: Global Organizational Consulting and a Global Field Seminar.

Course

Credits

TAM 505 Navigating Global and Regional Business Environments

(Offered asynchronously online or one-week in-person in Phoenix)

TAM 511 Global Accounting: Managing with Numbers

TAM 521 Financial Value Creation for Leaders

TAM 530 Data Analytics and Digital Transformation in a Global World

TAM 541 Strategy in a Competitive World (Capstone Course)

TAM 542 Global Leadership and Personal Development

TAM 557 Global Marketing in a Digital Age

TAM 582 Communicating and Negotiating in a Dynamic Global World (Core Course)

TGM 586 Global Entrepreneurship and Sustainable Business

Thunderbird Applied Learning (Choose 1)

TAM 589 Global Field Seminar

TGM 507 Global Organizational Consulting

TAM 534 Global Venture Creation

Specialization in AI, Analytics and FinTech Innovation in Business

The MLM program offers a specialization in AI, Analytics, and FinTech Innovation in Business designed to propel your career to new heights. This unique program equips you with the essential skills to harness the power of artificial intelligence, master data-driven decision-making, and drive innovation in the financial technology landscape. Learn from world-class faculty and gain hands-on experience with the latest AI tools and strategies. Whether you're looking to lead a startup, manage a global enterprise, or transform the public sector, our AI specialization prepares you to navigate and shape the future of business.

View Curriculum

Career opportunities

The Master of Leadership and Management prepares leaders to take on additional managerial responsibilities in global organizations or to make a career change across industries or sectors. This management program focuses heavily on cross-cultural communication and working in diverse teams. T-birds work in multinational companies and transnational enterprises in all sectors.

Recent graduates have been hired by top organizations in the following roles:

Chief of Global Sales
Global Marketing Manager
Global Product Manager
Cross-Cultural Communication Officer
Innovation Manager

Top global organizations recruiting Thunderbirds include:

Adidas
American Express
Amazon
The Boeing Company
US Department of Defense
US Air Force
Starbucks
Peace Corps
UBER
Ford Motor Company
Google Inc.
IBM
Intel
Microsoft
Northrup Grumman
Verizon Wireless

A thunderbird student stands in a cocoa drying center while on a Global Challenge Lab consulting trip overseas

Global Field Seminar

During this course, students experience an intensive one-week immersion in-country. Students enjoy a hands-on learning experience in a focused region of the world, comprising company site visits, high-level meetings and presentations with business, government and cultural leaders, as well as Thunderbird alumni. Through these interactions, students learn the challenges and opportunities that make doing business in the region unique.

Financial aid and costs

Financial aid

Scholarships of 50% of the total tuition costs are available for students from emerging economies.

There are many different options available to help you finance your graduate education at Thunderbird. More than 96% of Thunderbird students receive financial assistance through loans, scholarships or other awards. Arizona State University’s Financial Aid team works with you hand-in-hand to find the financing solutions for your unique situation.

Program Costs

Scholarships of 50% of the total tuition costs are available for students from emerging economies.

TUITION ESTIMATOR

Fees

USD$

Application fee

$70

Program deposit

Not required

Program cost (Resident)

$38,800

Program cost (Non-resident/International)

$40,900

Faculty highlights

Roy Nelson

Senior Associate Dean of Undergraduate Programs and Associate Professor

Lena Booth

Deputy Dean, Thunderbird Academic Enterprise and Finance Professor

Seigyoung Auh

Professor of Global Marketing

Euvin Naidoo

Distinguished Professor of Practice in Global Accounting, Risk and Agility

Tom Hunsaker

Executive Director, Global Challenge Lab and Clinical Professor

Sophal Ear

Associate Professor

Mansour Javidan

Najafi Chair Professor in Global Mindset and Digital Transformation and Executive Director of Najafi Global Mindset Institute

Uyen Tran

Assistant Professor

Joshua Ault

Assistant Professor of Global Management

David Slocum

Professor of Practice

Ziru Li

Asst Professor of Global Transformation

Online learning

Our custom-designed degree programs and courses are delivered online by the same award-winning faculty who teach on campus. These eminent professors design the courses using state-of-the-art technology and instructional tools, providing you with a direct connection to the knowledge and expertise of our renowned faculty. The degree awarded is the Master of Leadership and Management. Our diplomas don’t specify whether you earn your degree online or in person.

Requirements and deadlines

Application requirements

Resume/CV documenting work experience.
Proof of English proficiency if you did not graduate from an English-speaking university in a native English-speaking country (TOEFL of 80, IELTS of 6.5, Pearson Test of English of 60, Duolingo 105).
Official transcripts from all previously attended undergraduate and graduate institutions, validating the completion of a four-year bachelor's degree. Sent directly to the Graduate Admission Services department at ASU.

At least two years of work experience is preferred.

Application deadlines

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. Recommended application processing time is 6 weeks.

Deadline

Dates

January start

December 15

March start

February 20

May start

April 30

June start

June 10

August start

July 31

October start

September 20

Connect with our admissions team

Thunderbird student ambassador welcomes prospective student

Learn more about Thunderbird and the admissions process by attending an upcoming virtual information session.

CONNECT

Apply to this program

Two Thunderbird School of Global Management students smiling while looking at a laptop together.

Need help finding the right program?

Answer a few brief questions and allow Thunderbird's virtual assistant to find the right program for you.

Find Your Program

FAQ's

The Master of Leadership and Management (MLM) program at Thunderbird is open to applicants from diverse backgrounds and industries who aim to enhance their leadership and management abilities. Regardless of their functional area or industry, individuals seeking to refine their skills are encouraged to apply for this comprehensive program.

The Master of Leadership and Management (MLM) program at Thunderbird requires the completion of 30 credits, consisting of 10 classes, each worth three credits.

Thunderbird's Master of Leadership and Management (MLM) program features rolling deadlines for various start dates as outlined below:

January start: Application deadline is December 15.
March start: Application deadline is February 20.
May start: Application deadline is April 30.
June start: Application deadline is June 10.
August start: Application deadline is July 31.
October start: Application deadline is September 20.

Thunderbird's Master of Leadership and Management (MLM) program has specific requirements: A resume or CV outlining work experience, official transcripts from all prior undergraduate and graduate institutions confirming completion of a four-year bachelor's degree (to be sent directly to ASU's Graduate Admission Services department), and proof of English proficiency if the applicant did not graduate from an English-speaking university in a native English-speaking country (TOEFL of 80, IELTS of 6.5, Pearson Test of English of 60, Duolingo 105).

The Master of Leadership and Management (MLM) curriculum is delivered 100% online, but also offers in-person opportunities
through global field seminars and challenge labs abroad, plus a 4-day on-campus
course (TAM505) where students complete approximately 50% of this course.

Thunderbird's Master of Leadership and Management (MLM) program typically spans 12 to 24 months, with the majority of students completing their studies within 16 to 20 months.

Thunderbird's Master of Leadership and Management (MLM) program, coursework consists of eight required courses, one elective, and one capstone course.

Thunderbird's Master of Leadership and Management (MLM) program is an immersive educational experience designed to cultivate adept leaders equipped with 21st-century management principles. It prepares individuals to excel in global organizational settings or transition seamlessly across industries by focusing on cross-cultural communication, finance, data analytics, marketing, and collaboration within diverse teams. Integrating Thunderbird's renowned graduate education tradition with cutting-edge technology, the program offers a transformative journey, empowering graduates with comprehensive skill sets necessary to thrive in governmental, private, and nonprofit sectors. Through a diverse curriculum and hands-on elective opportunities, students gain practical insights and leadership prowess to drive impactful change in today's dynamic business landscape.

Request more information

First Name	Last Name
Email Planned Enrollment Year	Mobile Phone Planned Enrollment Term
Country of Residence	Work Experience (Years)
Program of Interest	Zip Code

By providing your mobile phone number, you agree to receive text messages from Thunderbird School of Global Management. Message and data rates may apply. Message frequency varies. Reply HELP for help and STOP to cancel. By clicking "Submit" I consent to Thunderbird School of Global Management using the information above to contact me regarding my programs of interest and provide any other information I request. If you are in the European Union or another country or state that has adopted the GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) or similar privacy protection, please also read the ASU European Supplement to ASU's privacy statement

Your Rights Under GDPR