4 min read

Being a leader means evolving—constantly. You might be hitting a ceiling in your current role, eyeing a pivot to a new industry, or ready to scale something of your own. Wherever you stand, career progression today demands clarity, momentum, and intent.

These seven grounded moves draw on real-world insight from Lucia Egea, former CEO, company founder, and now Vice Dean at IE Business School.

1. Redefine what leadership means

You’ve earned your title, but it no longer feels enough. Leadership now requires agility, empathy and vision that cut across hierarchies and time zones.

As Lucia says, “The Global MBA is about empowering people across time zones and perspectives.” Every module is designed for people who lead through collaboration and shared purpose.

Try this: Audit your leadership week. How much time do you spend solving versus listening? How often do you ask questions that unlock other people’s ideas? Influence begins where control ends.

2. Build digital agility into your DNA

You’re fluent in strategy, but the digital layer moves faster every day. Leaders who thrive understand how technology amplifies human potential.

Lucia explains, “It’s about leading by connection, not proximity. Digital leaders have to translate vision into motivation across cultures and time zones.”

Try this: Take one digital workflow your team struggles with and redesign it for simplicity. The goal is to make systems clearer so people can focus on what matters.

3. Turn strategy into motion

Ideas only matter when they move. Execution defines progress.

Lucia emphasizes that leadership is learned through experience: “You start with a 360° assessment, so you know where you are, what to focus on, and how to grow. From there, leadership is built through practice—role plays, simulations, communication tools and feedback loops that make you conscious of how you show up.”

Try this: Pick one initiative you’ve postponed because it’s “not the right time.” Move it from idea to prototype in 30 days. Done beats perfect.

4. Think like an entrepreneur—even inside a company

You don’t have to leave corporate life to think like a founder. Intrapreneurs create value by challenging how things are done.

Lucia sees that shift firsthand: “Leadership is moving from structure to mindset. It’s about curiosity and the courage to challenge how things are done.”

Try this: Identify one bottleneck in your company that everyone complains about. Map it, test a fix, and present your learnings. Initiative builds credibility.

5. Lead across borders

Global teams demand cultural intelligence and adaptability. Context and communication style vary across regions.

“The Global MBA brings people together from completely different industries and cultures,” Lucia says. “You learn to manage complexity and find shared purpose.”

Try this: Before your next international meeting, ask each participant how they define success for that project. The answers will show you where alignment starts.

6. Make adaptability your edge

Markets shift, technology accelerates, teams evolve. The only constant is your ability to adjust.

Lucia describes adaptability as an intentional practice: “When you study while working, you’re constantly reflecting on how you behave in real business contexts. You learn to pivot, reframe and respond rather than resist.”

Try this: Set a quarterly self-review. Note what you’ve learned, what no longer serves you, and what you’ll try next. The fastest learners always end up leading.

7. Design your next move with intent

You might be ready for your next role but unsure how to get noticed. Or you’ve hit a plateau and need to regain traction. Career progression starts when you define the direction yourself.

In the Global MBA, participants work with IE’s Talent & Careers team to refine goals and personal branding that connects with real opportunities. But you can start that process now.

Try this: Define your next professional milestone. Write three sentences about who you are, what you stand for, and what you want next. Then start conversations around that message.

Why choose IE Business School’s Global MBA?

The Global MBA provides for ambitious professionals who refuse to choose between today’s career and tomorrow’s ceiling. You’ll master the business toolkit, grow as a leader others trust, and expand your global lens through immersive, tailored experiences.

“You start with a 360° assessment,” says Lucia, “so you know where you are, what to focus on, and how to grow. From there, leadership is built through practice—role plays, simulations, AI-supported communication tools, and feedback loops that make you conscious of how you show up.”

Choose the concentration that fits your path for career progression—Advanced Business Acumen, Leadership and Foresight, Entrepreneurship and Innovation, or Family in Business—and apply it through global immersion weeks from San Francisco to Shanghai. You’ll build inclusive habits, cultural agility, and strategic awareness of how policy, capital, and talent shape leadership worldwide.

What’s more, we’ve designed the Global MBA so that you can apply your learning in real time.

You’ll apply insights directly to your work, connect with peers across industries, and join live sessions with faculty from around the world. Specialized pathways in Digital Transformation, Strategy & Innovation, and Leadership Development help you accelerate your career with purpose and precision.

The flexible structure—online or blended, always rigorous—adapts to your goals while holding you to the highest standards. The journey culminates in the Personal Transformation Project, turning everything you’ve learned into measurable impact.

“When we say ‘welcome to a transformational journey,’ we mean it,” says Lucia. “You need to let yourself flow and deal with uncertainty—because that’s the world we live in.”