The traditional assumption that a BBA/MBA degree itself creates employability is now a misnomer. The emerging reality is that employers increasingly want graduates who can apply management knowledge, work with data and AI, solve business problems, communicate insights, and adapt continuously.

The MBA is No Longer the Destination

A management graduate with an impressive CGPA and several certificates has to answer one simple question:

“Tell me about a business problem you have actually solved.”

From Degree Economy to Skills Economy

Yesterday: Degree + Marks + Certificates

Today: Degree → Skills → Demonstrated capability → Employment

Tomorrow: Degree + Skill Portfolio + Projects + Internship Evidence + AI/Analytics Capability

The Indian Corporate Context

Leading IT giants like Infosys is currently dealing with the implications of AI for its workforce and specialist skills. Recent reporting indicates plans to move a significant portion of its workforce toward specialist roles. AI is changing the composition of skills that companies need.

What Does the New Employer Actually Want?

1. AI Literacy: Not necessarily programming. It is actually

·      Knowing how to use GenAI

·      Prompting effectively

·      Evaluating AI output

·      Using AI in business functions

·      Responsible and ethical use

2. Business Problem-Solving: Employers don't hire merely to identify problems.

They want people who can:

Define → Analyse → Generate alternatives → Decide → Implement → Measure

3. Communication: Moving beyond "good English."

It is increasingly: Can you explain a complicated business issue clearly to another person? That includes presentations, business writing, negotiation and data storytelling.

4. Commercial Awareness

A management graduate should understand:

How does a decision affect revenue, cost, customers, productivity, risk or profitability?

This is particularly important because many graduates know management terminology but struggle to connect it with business outcomes.

5. Adaptability: Ability to learn new skills quickly.

The traditional: Learn → Graduate → Work   is now becoming:

Learn → Apply → Unlearn → Relearn → Adapt

From Certificates to Evidence: The Mindset Shift

Old Resume: “I have completed an AI course.” versus

Current proof: “I used AI to analyse customer feedback and identified three factors affecting  customer satisfaction.”

The employer increasingly wants evidence of application. Thus, Capability needs evidence.

Is an MBA still enough

A student could have a portfolio containing:

Marketing campaign, HR analytics dashboard, Financial analysis, Market research. AI-assisted business analysis, Internship project, Business presentation, Case competition

This changes the question from “What have you studied?” to “What can you demonstrate?”

The Bigger Question: What should a Management Graduate do that AI cannot easily do?

AI can increasingly: Summarise, Generate, Analyse, Compare, Predict, Draft, Automate

But management graduates must increasingly be able to:

·        Frame the right question

·        Understand context

·        Challenge assumptions

·        Make judgments

·        Manage conflict

·        Turn analysis into action

That is where the real future of management education lies.

Madhukar Saxena

Deptt. of Management & Commerce

RBMI Group of Institutions