What is Organizational Leadership?
Oklahoma is a sparsely populated state that is known for its history of homesteading and oil production. It's a state of ranchers and cowpokes who are simultaneously supporting a diverse and technological economy. Where once Tulsa was considered the oil capital of the world, now the state's mining, quarrying, and oil/gas extraction industry ranks second in the nation, with nearly $30 billion in annual revenue. Thus, the Oklahoma economy surely feels each movement in the price of oil, perhaps more than other states.
Oklahoma's business schools and management degree programs then use the funds to support a curriculum which focuses on organizational leadership. With ample budgets, they can attract the best scholars in organizational leadership from top business schools. They can also retain those brilliant minds with robust compensation packages. Meanwhile, business leaders from the Oklahoma economy who hold master’s degrees can join faculties, where they can bring Oklahoma's students keen insights from the local economy.
Organizational leaders are management professionals who approach business and management from a bigger picture point of view. Where most managers and leaders address their employees on a day-to-day basis, moving from task to task, organizational leaders look to the future. They analyze economic and business data to determine where their company needs to go. They also may help to set a general tone for morale.
For instance, in Oklahoma, an organizational leader may look to the future of the mining and petroleum industry and see where new technologies need to be implemented. They may see that a company needs to diversify into sustainable resources or perhaps into new manufacturing processes for their products. This information is then passed to the management team, which creates the plans and protocols to make the vision a reality.
Thus, organizational leaders are business professionals who are also highly aware of economic, technological, and financial realities.
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Online Organizational Leadership Education in Oklahoma
Oklahoma also finds great economic strength in its #2 industry, real estate. The land-grab campaigns of the past may be over, but newcomers to Oklahoma surely find the land plentiful and well-priced. The Oklahoma real estate sector is the 33rd largest in the nation, with $19 billion in annual revenue. Close behind is the Oklahoma manufacturing sector, which generates nearly as much in annual revenue, and which is ranked 34th nationwide. Much of that manufacturing is also tied to the mining and gas extraction industry.
The fourth largest sector in Oklahoma is known as professional and business services. This is a very broad category that covers three industrial classifications including professional, scientific, and technical services. That sector covers legal services, architectural firms, advertising, and accounting firms, among many others. Management firms are also a part of this sector, a classification that may hold securities for others, own a controlling interest in firms, or provide consulting services for a variety of companies. This sector also covers firms that provide administrative support, as well as waste management and remediation services.
Inherent in those professional and business services is a need for organizational leaders who can help steer their organizations and, by association, the state of Oklahoma to greater and greater success. To that end, Oklahoma's political leaders help the state's colleges and universities in their quest to train the organizational leaders of tomorrow. They do this by funding the state's public schools.
Online Associates (AS)
Oklahoma students who are interested in an organizational leadership program may want to consider starting with an associate degree. Even if that specific degree isn't available at their accredited community college, they can begin the path to a career in organizational leadership by earning a degree in economics or business. In fact, students who choose one should look to the other as their go-to choice for their elective credits.
A two-year degree is a terrific option for a few reasons. Not only can students find management degree programs that boast nationally recognized, program-specific accreditation but they can complete an organizational leadership program at this level at a discount. Oklahoma's community colleges charge far less per credit hour than most four-year institutions. Thus, when they graduate with an associate degree, students will have a much lighter financial burden than those who enrolled in four-year institutions for those first two years.
National Rankings - Top 10 Associate Leadership ProgramsOnline Bachelors (BS)
A bachelor’s degree in organizational leadership is where the rubber meets the road. Four-year degrees allow students to dive deep into their subject matter. They can discover more about the world of business and leadership in general, thus facilitating a deeper understanding that may spark a lifetime passion. Furthermore, organizational leadership students will appreciate that they can use the time a four-year degree affords to pursue a secondary, minor concentration in a related field. This will help them learn leadership skills.
Bachelor’s students can enhance and enrich their education with studies in fields such as sociology, economics, computer science, or statistics, to name a few. These enriching courses are not simply for personal edification, either. Students who can add nuance to their academic background can begin to hone a career path that is uniquely theirs. Further, since organizational leadership professionals are expected to have a broader view of business and the economy, additional coursework will only bolster a student's prospects.
National Rankings - Top 25 Bachelors Leadership ProgramsOnline Masters (MS)
For success, students should consider a master’s degree. Since organizational leaders are often in upper management, if not the C-suites, a master’s level degree is imperative. For this level of academic achievement, there are two general routes: either a Master of Business Administration (MBA) or an MS degree in organizational leadership. In these programs you'll learn financial management, leadership theory, leadership ethics, and more.
An MBA may be the optimal route to that coveted corner office. After the first year of general business courses, MBA students choose a concentration area for their final year. This concentration will determine their subsequent work, so aspiring organizational leaders should choose accordingly.
Alternatively, some students choose an MS in Organizational Leadership, if not a dual MBA. The dual MBA is for those who can take three years away from work and dive into an intensive academic environment. That's because dual MBA programs combine the MS in Organizational Leadership with an MBA into an intense three-year course of study. Even an online degree program might be difficult to complete while working.
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Online Doctorate (PhD)
While the business community isn't well known for seeking PhD candidates for its upper leadership positions, organizational leaders may be an exception. Since organizational leadership demands such a broad base of knowledge and a multi-level approach to problems, doctorate degrees are sure to be sought. For an organizational leader, a PhD in a subject such as economics or even sociology may be preferred. Students should also have a proven track record that demonstrates high level analytical ability and superb insights.
Doctorate degrees are frequently sought by those who want to start their own consulting firm. The top academic credentials will help to attract clients who will see a PhD as a strong indication of expert research skills. A PhD will also be able to attract top talent to their firm, business experts with master’s degrees will be attracted to a leader with a doctorate.
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Since there is no specific degree required for a career in organizational leadership, the path to success is murky for most. However, students can start their path to success very early. This may take the form of not only top marks in high school, but also a dedication to creating a broad base of knowledge. Students are urged to cultivate a love for learning, but learning that is focused on matters pertinent to business and economics will aid you most.
High school students should also start seeking leadership positions. This may mean student council, but it can also mean attaining leadership roles in student clubs and organizations. This way, students can begin to gain insights into how to allocate human resources. They will also find that these activities pay off when applying to colleges.
When looking for a college with the best program, students should look for those with the best accreditation. That means a CHEA-approved regional accreditation as a minimum standard. However, students should seek out degree programs that boast credentials from AACSB, ACBSP, or IACBE. These agencies confer accreditation exclusively on business and business-related programs. Thus, their approval is widely respected and highly regarded. Employers from coast to coast will be honored to interview graduates from these programs.
During the college years, aspiring organizational leaders should seek to earn the most well-rounded education possible. This means earning a minor concentration or double major with business and some other related discipline. Economics is a popular choice, but other options can include sociology, statistics, or even computer science. Some students even choose mathematics or philosophy. They should also investigate any opportunity to complete an internship.
Internships can help undergraduate students gain insight into the day-to-day workings of functioning Oklahoma businesses. During this time, they can see where their mentors have earned their master’s degrees and gain insight into the business world and the best paths to success. Students should also start considering an MBA or MS in Organizational Leadership by the time they start their third year of their undergraduate program. Those who investigate the possibilities in graduate school can start to focus their undergraduate studies accordingly. That may mean ensuring that certain prerequisites are completed or that they are gaining knowledge in the topic areas they want to focus on for their graduate studies.
Careers for Leadership Graduates
- Project Coordinator/Manager
These business leaders oversee the execution of projects for their firm. They ensure that the project team has the resources they need to succeed and that they are staffed with the skilled professionals necessary to get the job done. Project coordinators often work for consulting firms where they focus on one project at a time. They may also need to attract new business, which earns them a commission on the fee. - Politician
This leadership position can be earned by literally anyone able to garner enough votes from their community. Many politicians start their career with a law degree, though. This is a natural starting place since politics relies on the making and enforcement of law. Politicians also need to find ways to raise funds to support their political campaigns. - Business Management Analyst
Management analysts often work for consulting firms where they audit and analyze the management structure of their client firms. A good background for this position is a master’s management degree, but some study accounting at the master’s level. - Chief Information Officer
This C-suite position is often the capstone of a successful career in information technology. CIOs oversee their firm's information infrastructure and seek new technology solutions for the firm's present and future. Professionals in this position should have a master’s degree in information technology or an MBA with a concentration in IT. - Chief Marketing Officer
Larger firms, often those with multiple brands or product lines, need a chief marketing officer to oversee all the firm's marketing. CMO's typically have a long track record of success in marketing, a degree in marketing, and an MBA with a concentration in marketing.
- Chief Executive Officer (CEO)
The CEO is the very top of every firm's organizational chart. They oversee the entire firm including marketing, finance, operations, and IT. To earn this spot, most need an MBA and extensive experience in business. CEOs aren't all cut from the same cloth though, and each CEO brings their own special twist to the position. They are all great leaders who have a broad vision for their firm and even industry. - Chief Financial Officer
A CFO oversees the lifeblood of every business operation: the money. CFOs usually come from an accounting background, though many have an MBA and a focus on corporate finance. Like CEOs, there is no specific route to this C-suite position, and each CFO will have their own perspective on business and finance. - Fundraising Manager
This is typically a position reserved for the non-profit sector. Non-profit organizations typically rely on fundraising to generate their revenues. Even non-profits that have a revenue generating model, such as healthcare systems, can receive donations garnered by means of fundraising.
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