In 1946, Thunderbird School of Global Management (originally the American Institute for Foreign Trade [AIFT]) was founded as a school that focused on international trade and global relations. Since then, Thunderbird’s mission has been to “educate global leaders who create sustainable prosperity worldwide.”
Today, Thunderbird School of Global Management is a part of Arizona State University (ASU). As a unit of the ASU Knowledge Enterprise, Thunderbird is staying true to its founding mission while leveraging ASU’s vast resources.
The powerful combination of Thunderbird’s more than 70 years of experience and ASU’s reputation for innovation means that it’s a thriving school for global leaders, with a strong focus on management.
Why choose Thunderbird School of Global Management?
Excellent rankings and accreditations
Firstly, one of the main reasons why you should consider studying at Thunderbird is the school’s ranking: its global management degree is named #1 Master’s in Management in the world according to the Times Higher Education/Wall Street Journal 2019 report.
Thunderbird is an excellent choice of US business school for budding world-changers, since it embraces and advances ASU’s ranking as the #1 “most innovative school” by U.S. News & World Report for the past 7 years in a row!
#1 Master’s in Management
Times Higher Education and Wall Street Journal 2019
AACSB accreditation
held for 25 years
#1 most innovative school in the U.S.
U.S. News and World Report 2022
Moreover, Thunderbird School of Global Management has held accreditation by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) for 25 years. This accreditation is recognized worldwide, and demonstrates the high level of business and management education that you can expect to receive at Thunderbird.
By joining Thunderbird School of Global Management, you’ll become part of its diverse community of like-minded professionals and you’ll benefit from its long-standing alumni network. With more than 45,000 graduates in 70 countries around the world, it’s easy for you to connect with other T-birds and learn from their knowledge and experience.
Thunderbird School of Global Management notable alumni
Indeed, many Thunderbird alumni have gone on to become global leaders and achieve great things. Notable Thunderbird School of Global Management alumni include:
- Adel Labib, Co-Founder and CEO of Télésonique
- Bob Dudley, CEO of British Petroleum (BP)
- Halla Tómasdóttir, CEO of The B Team
- Joaquin Duato, Vice Chairman of Johnson & Johnson
- Kim Williams, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Warner Bros.
- Luis Alberto Moreno, President of the Inter-American Development Bank
- Ramon Laguarta, CEO of PepsiCo.
- Soraya Hakuziyaremye, Minister of Trade and Industry of Rwanda
Some top recruiters of Thunderbird alumni include Amazon, Microsoft, Exxon Mobil, Petsmart, Liberty Mutual, Walmart, Nationwide and Kohler.
New, forward-thinking headquarters
You’ll also benefit from Thunderbird School of Global Management’s brand new building on ASU’s Downtown Phoenix campus. The $75 million facility is due to be completed in 2021, in time for Thunderbird’s 75th anniversary.
It will be a cutting-edge physical and digital headquarters for the school’s global network of students, alumni and partners. This significant investment furthers Thunderbird’s commitment to remaining a top international management school.
When it’s finished, the five-story building will offer state-of-the-art facilities, including a video studio, an impressive rotunda for hosting global events, and of course, a modern Thunderbird Pub on the top floor where collaborations will come to life.
Along with these new headquarters, there will be 20 regional ‘Centers of Excellence’ around the world. Many are already open in places like Seoul, Dubai, Nairobi and Jakarta, and these global hubs will support the school’s mission of bringing together and educating tomorrow’s leaders — those who will go on to tackle some of the world’s most difficult challenges.
Thunderbird School of Global Management degrees
In all programs, you will have classmates from around the world who will contribute to developing your global mindset. You will also acquire hands-on management experience and practical leadership skills through applied learning programs and internships.
Master’s degrees at the Downtown Phoenix campus:
Bachelor’s degrees at West Valley campus:
It’s important to remember that Thunderbird School of Global Management is not a traditional business school — it’s a global leadership academy with a focus on management.
Thunderbird degrees are designed to prepare students for global leadership for the fourth industrial revolution. Your Thunderbird education goes beyond business school curricula so that you learn leadership skills that will train you for the world of business in today’s complex global economy.
Thunderbird’s Director General and Dean Sanjeev Khagram says:
“We have completely reimagined our curriculum, now offering 16 concentrations in our Master’s in Global Management, providing our students the opportunity to design a transdisciplinary degree that provides them with tools in a variety of fields.“
He continues:
“We will provide tomorrow’s leaders with skills, knowledge and foresight to address global challenges, leverage emerging technologies and mitigate the unintended consequences of progress. Most importantly, we are training leaders with a global mindset, cultural competency, and emotional intelligence.”
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Become a leader at Thunderbird School of Global Management
There are so many reasons to choose Thunderbird School of Global Management. From its excellent rankings and engaged international alumni to its innovative curricula and cultural diversity, it’s a truly inspiring place to study.
Earning your degree here can be the first step on your path to an exciting and rewarding career as one of the world’s next global leaders.
