How Thunderbird builds future-ready graduates with in-demand skills

By Travis Leybeck, Senior Director, Student Engagement and Professional Services 

As someone who works closely with employers and students every day, I can confidently say that the skills defining career success have not fundamentally changed, but the environment in which those skills are applied has. Communication, critical thinking, teamwork, and adaptability have always mattered. What has changed is how quickly these skills must be demonstrated, across cultures, technologies, and global markets.

The difficulty graduates face in launching careers is reflected in numbers from the National Association of Colleges and Employers 2026 Job Outlook. Employers are projecting a 1.6% increase in hiring for the Class of 2026 compared to the Class of 2025. Overall, 45% of employers say the job market for the 2026 class is merely “fair.”

These employers still list hard skills on job postings, but most hiring decisions ultimately come down to durable human skills. Leadership, professionalism, emotional intelligence, and collaboration are often what separate a strong candidate from an average one. These qualities are also harder to evaluate on a résumé, which is why they tend to surface during interviews, group exercises, and applied projects.

At Thunderbird, developing these skills is not incidental. It is intentional, embedded, and reinforced throughout the student experience.

Closing the skills gap employers talk about most

From a U.S.-centric perspective, employers frequently request technical competencies upfront, but they interview and hire based on soft skills. Data analysis, adaptability, cross-collaboration, innovative thinking, and emotional intelligence consistently rise to the top of employer conversations.

One of the ways Thunderbird helps students grow in these areas is through early self-awareness. Students engage in assessments such as the Global Digital Mindset Inventory and other leadership assessments that help them understand how they show up in teams, how they communicate, and where they have opportunities to grow. This foundation matters, because improvement starts with understanding.

That development continues in the classroom, where teamwork is the norm rather than the exception. Students regularly collaborate across cultures, personalities, and worldviews. They learn how to navigate disagreement, align on goals, and communicate clearly while applying critical thinking to complex business problems. These are exactly the dynamics they will face in the workplace.

Cross-cultural competency is no longer optional

In today’s digital-first economy, cross-cultural competency is no longer a “nice to have.” It is a baseline expectation. Many organizations now operate with teams distributed across time zones and continents, which has expanded global hiring but also increased the need for cultural intelligence.

Employees must be able to communicate clearly in writing, understand social cues, and appreciate that professional norms vary widely across cultures. These skills are essential not only for internal collaboration but also for client-facing roles in global organizations.

Thunderbird’s student body itself is one of the most powerful learning tools we have. Students are immersed in a truly global environment from day one, learning alongside peers with different cultural, professional, and geographic backgrounds. That daily exposure builds competence, confidence, and perspective in ways that cannot be replicated through theory alone.

The value of multilingualism in a global career

Multilingualism plays a critical role in global business success. Speaking with someone in their native language builds credibility, strengthens relationships, and creates trust. Beyond the practical benefits, learning another language expands a person’s worldview and deepens cultural appreciation.

There are also cognitive advantages. Language learning strengthens problem-solving, memory, and mental flexibility because of the sustained effort required to develop fluency.

At Thunderbird, all students must demonstrate proficiency in more than one language to graduate. These skills enhance their résumés, their career prospects, and their ability to operate effectively in global organizations.

Technical skills for a technology-driven economy

If you look at job postings from a decade ago, tools like Excel, PowerPoint, and Google Suite were often listed as preferred qualifications. Today, they are assumed. Employers expect deep familiarity with these platforms and are instead focused on emerging technologies.

AI, data analytics platforms, basic programming, and cybersecurity awareness are now baseline expectations, even for non-technical roles. These tools are already embedded in daily workflows across industries, and they will only become more central as technology continues to evolve.

Thunderbird ensures students regularly use tools such as Power BI, SQL, and a range of AI platforms throughout their coursework. AI is also integrated into our Career Management Center, where it supports résumé development and job-market preparation. As part of Arizona State University, Thunderbird was an early adopter of AI in higher education, including ASU’s partnership with OpenAI, which reflects a long-term commitment to innovation and relevance.

Why applied learning makes the difference

Classroom learning is essential, but it is not enough on its own. Students must be able to apply concepts in real-world settings, where ambiguity, time constraints, team dynamics, and organizational expectations all come into play.

That is why applied learning is a required component of the Thunderbird experience. Through internships, corporate projects, study abroad opportunities, and particularly the Global Challenge Lab, students activate what they have learned.

The Global Challenge Lab is an eight-week experience that includes three weeks on site with a corporate client. Students apply their academic foundation while navigating real organizational environments. They manage deadlines, respond to leadership expectations, collaborate across teams, and deliver value under real-world conditions. These experiences accelerate skill development in ways traditional classroom instruction cannot.

What Thunderbird graduates say about their experience

Graduates acknowledge the strong benefit of a Thunderbird degree. They agree that what they learned in the classroom has given them an edge in the real world.

Lavany Jadhav, data and analytics engineer at Align Technology, says his Thunderbird experience helped give him a strong foundation in corporate accounting, finance management, and leadership.

“Thunderbird courses helped me understand how financial statements, performance metrics, and strategic priorities come together to drive business decisions. I have applied this knowledge in my current role,” he said. “Thunderbird helped me bridge the gap between technical execution and business strategy, which has been critical to my workplace readiness.”

Nicole Spreitzer, field operations consultant at McDonald’s Corporation, says her Thunderbird experience shaped her into a globally minded, impact-driven professional.

“Consulting in Indonesia on public transportation and collaborating in Japan on sustainable AI gave me firsthand experience solving complex challenges across cultures and industries. On campus, leadership roles and serving as a Campus Ambassador helped me connect with students worldwide and strengthen skills I apply every day,” she said. “Today, I draw on those experiences to assess restaurants, uphold brand standards, and partner with operators to drive results. Thunderbird taught me that saying yes to unfamiliar opportunities expands both perspective and confidence.”

What employers say about Thunderbird graduates

Employer feedback consistently reinforces the value of the Thunderbird experience. Organizations recognize the hands-on, transferable skills students gain through internships and the Global Challenge Lab. Many employers who recruit at Thunderbird return to sponsor future projects, and a significant number extend job offers to students they have worked with directly.

Technical skills in data analytics and AI stand out, but so do durable skills such as critical thinking, innovation, communication, leadership, and teamwork. Over time, many Thunderbird alumni advance quickly into leadership roles and return as hiring managers, seeking candidates with the same strong foundation they received.

A strong signal in a challenging hiring market

The current hiring environment for new graduates is one of the most challenging we have seen in years. Many traditional business programs are reporting difficult employment outcomes. Thunderbird, however, continues to see growth in engaged employer partnerships and strong results for graduates, who reported a 5% improvement in job acceptance in 2025. This promising trend is not typical for most graduate business schools.

That contrast speaks volumes. Employers are looking for future-ready talent, and specialized programs with the infrastructure to support real-world skill development stand out. Thunderbird’s curriculum, student body, and applied learning model are aligned with where the global economy is headed, not where it has been.

For students entering today’s marketplace, durable human skills combined with technical fluency and global perspective are no longer optional. At Thunderbird, they are the foundation.

Get the global business skills you need at Thunderbird.