Master of Leadership and Management: Global Creative Industries
Location:
Los Angeles
Start dates:
Aug
Scholarships:
Available
Overview
The Master of Leadership and Management with a concentration in Global Creative Industries (MLM-GCI) is for creatives seeking management training and managers who lead creative teams. It is designed for individuals pursuing global leadership and management careers within film-television-new media, music, gaming, design, architecture, fashion, dance, theater, fine arts, themed entertainment, sports, e-sports, advertising, branding, as well as the Metaverse economy which ranges from Web 3. AI, and Blockchain to Extended Reality (XR) inclusive of immersive technologies like Augmented Reality (AR), Mixed Reality (MR) and Virtual Reality (VR). The program is a unique collaboration with ASU's Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts.
This 11-month graduate degree program delivers leadership and management fundamentals for success across sectors (business, nonprofit, and government) as well as a digital Global Mindset and holistic approach to the global creative industries.
In this program, students will gain the hard and soft skills needed to navigate and thrive in the Fourth Industrial Revolution (i.e. finance, accounting, marketing, data analytics, negotiation, cross-cultural communication, etc.) and gain an understanding of how creativity really works. Students attain a comprehensive set of practices that fosters generative and sustainable innovation and implementation geared towards opportunity recognition within tomorrow’s increasingly cross-border and trans-industry marketplace. The program prioritizes industry immersion in every class and focuses on the nexus of art and commerce, emphasizing creativity for managers and management for creatives.
The MLM-GCI course schedule is a hybrid mix of in-person class sessions and asynchronous online learning modules that students can take at their own pace. Nine of the ten courses take place at the ASU California Center, located in the historic Herald Examiner Building in downtown Los Angeles, and one course is conducted at Thunderbird’s new, most technologically-advanced Global Headquarters in downtown Phoenix, Arizona.
In partnership with the Herberger Institute
Built on a dynamic combination of disciplines unlike any other design and arts school in the nation, Arizona State University's Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts connects, fuses and merges fields. The future is technology-driven, transdisciplinary, global, bold, and just. Master the skills you need for emerging careers and industries at ASU's Herberger Institute—skills like augmented reality and experience design, machine learning and artificial intelligence, game design and virtual production, combined with innovation and entrepreneurship, creative practice and civic impact. Learn more here.
Who should attend?
- Early to mid-stage professionals pursuing careers in the global creative industries and seeking professional advancement, next level training, and employment opportunities.
- Creative-minded individuals looking to accelerate their careers by acquiring business acumen and attaining a global management mindset.
- Business-minded individuals looking to leverage a deeper understanding of creative practices or shift to a creative career.
- Aspiring leaders in the global creative industries, including arts organizations, public and nonprofit, who seek practical skill sets (finance, accounting, marketing) to advance professionally.
Student testimonials
Curriculum
Curriculum
This one-of-a-kind program boasts an innovative 30-credit curriculum designed for creatives interested in refining their management skills, or management professionals interested in the creative fields.
| Course | Credits |
|---|---|
| TGM598: Creative Industries Career Boot Camp | 3 |
| TGM506: Communicating & Negotiating Across Cultures in Global Creative Industries | 3 |
| TGM549: Leadership in the Global Creative Industries | 3 |
| TGM586: Entrepreneurship & Sustainable Business in Global Creative Industries | 3 |
| TGM598: Metaverse & Global Extended Reality | 3 |
| HDA598: Creativity & Design Thinking in Global Creative Industries | 3 |
| HDA521: Counting Arts & Culture in the Global Creative Industries | 3 |
| TGM503: Marketing in Global Creative Industries | 3 |
| TGM517: Finance & Accounting in Global Creative Industries | 3 |
| TGM541: Strategy in a Competitive World | 3 |
Career opportunities
Capitalize on the explosive growth of the global creative industries. In California alone, this sector delivered $650B in total creative economic output, 2.7m jobs, and $209B in labor income.
Thunderbird graduates have been hired some of the best companies in the Global Creative Industries in the following roles:
- Manager, Strategic Marketing Partnerships at The Walt Disney Company
- Corporate Social Responsibility Manager at Riot Games
- Digital Media Manager at Walmart
- CFO at OH Partners (advertising agency)
- Senior Technical Producer at Activision
- Director of Marketing at Ubisoft (Gaming)
- CEO at Advertising Partners
- EVP and CFO at Warner Bros. Entertainment
- Global Marketing Campaign Development Manager at Autodesk - SVP International C…
- Partner, Brand Consulting & Head of DE&I North America at Ogilvy
Financial aid and costs
Financial aid
Scholarships
Program costs
Average program scholarship (USD): 10%-15% of total program costs.
This program is currently not eligible for federal financial aid or veterans’ benefits.
| Fees | USD$ |
|---|---|
| Application fee (domestic) | $70 |
| Application fee (international) | $115 |
| Program deposit | $500 |
| Program cost | $60,000 |
Faculty
Faculty highlights
Requirements and deadlines
Application requirements
Overview
Transcripts
Global leadership and management potential
English proficiency requirements
Application deadlines
Apply early for priority admissions and scholarship consideration.
| Deadline | Dates |
|---|---|
| Early consideration | October 30 |
| First-round | November 30 |
| Second-round | January 30 |
| Third-round and international student deadline | March 30 |
| Final | June 30 |
