As they approach the end of their studies and begin looking ahead to life after graduation, today’s MBA students find a wide range of different career paths available to them.
While the MBA has traditionally served as a pathway into industries like consulting and technology, in dynamic markets such as Denmark and wider Scandinavia, graduates in 2025 can find opportunities across a broad range of diverse sectors.
Among graduates from the MBA program at Copenhagen Business School (CBS) in recent years, for example, students went on to roles across 11 different industries, with 63% of them opting for a different sector from the one they worked in prior to enrolling. It’s therefore clear that career opportunities for MBAs in 2025 are evolving.
Changing career opportunities for MBA students
Developments in technology, increasing scrutiny upon companies’ social and environmental impact, and the rapid rise of artificial intelligence are just some of the global shifts that have impacted the business landscape in recent years.
As a result, companies across various industries have had to transition business models and shift their practices, creating a need for multifaceted professionals with broad business acumen, capable of navigating change.
Students who complete the MBA curriculum, developing skills across subjects ranging from marketing and finance to human resource management—while also gaining exposure to new technologies and developing an understanding of the importance of sustainability as it is weaved throughout the program—are well placed to fill this need.
“The variety of roles that people can take on [after an MBA] has really increased,” explains Malene Sejer Larsen (pictured), MBA careers manager at CBS. “Bringing a broad perspective on complex business issues, MBAs have a lot to offer in terms of change and transformation—and that goes across industries.”
How an MBA can prepare you for new opportunities
So what exactly is it that makes MBA students capable of making a difference when they enter companies after graduation?
For Jerry George (pictured), who graduated from the CBS MBA in 2024 and took up a role as sustainability engineering specialist at hearing, enterprise, and gaming solutions provider GN Group, it’s a winning combination of leadership capabilities and soft skills. This blend provided him with the acumen to effectively bridge the gap between his technical experience and the business domain.
He believes the diversity of his cohort exposed him to a wide range of perspectives, which helped expand his mindset leaving him better placed to think critically and creatively.
“The admissions team put in a lot of effort to ensure that the cohort was very diverse,” Jerry says. “There were a lot of perspectives that I never would have appreciated if I hadn’t been in such a well-represented classroom.”
The learning style of the program, which encourages students to reflect upon their pre-MBA experiences and consider how to apply their new knowledge and skills more effectively, also helped Jerry develop his leadership capabilities.
“That made the entire education experience a lot more meaningful,” he says. “It helps you understand what you would do differently—and that leadership is more of a personal journey.”
Exciting MBA industries for 2025
So, what are some of the key industries where MBA grads can go to work in 2025?
1. Healthcare and pharmaceuticals
Healthcare has undergone significant change since it came under the microscope during the global Covid pandemic.
Five years on, continued developments in areas such as biotech, telehealth, and the automation of practices through AI mean the sector continues to innovate. Both startups and established industry leaders are striving to offer new technology-driven solutions.
“There’s a lot of pressure on the healthcare sector right now, which also creates a need for smarter tech solutions within the health and life sciences sectors,” explains Malene.
At CBS, more students enter the sector after graduation (19% of the last three graduating cohorts) than any other. MBA graduates can find opportunities to capitalize on developments in healthcare that include managing and commercializing products, drawing up marketing campaigns for new solutions, and taking up roles in crucial areas such as finance and operations.
2. Energy
The green transition—a shift toward an economy that is resource efficient, low in emissions, and socially inclusive—is impacting all sectors in some way. However, the energy sector, which is responsible for around three-quarters of global emissions, is at the forefront of change.
A country with a strong sustainable development tradition, and a leader within the renewable energy sector, Denmark is home to many companies that set an example when it comes to offering new green solutions.
The likes of Vestas and Ørsted, for example, are prominent wind energy providers—both of which have hired from the CBS MBA in past years. Other key recruiters include European Energy, a solar and wind specialist, and Everllence, a firm providing decarbonization solutions for the shipping and energy industries.
Other companies focused on green transformation such as Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners, a global leader in energy infrastructure investments, also attract MBA talent, as does Ramboll, an architecture, engineering, and consultancy company that delivers sustainable solutions.
In total, 15% of CBS MBA graduates over the last three years have entered the energy sector. “For these companies, there is a lot of ambition here, which opens up opportunities when it comes to employment,” says Malene.
3. Finance
Finance has long been a target industry for MBA students; however, in 2025, roles available within the sector are more diverse than before, according to Malene.
The expansion of technology within the sector means increasing demand for those who can bridge the gap between finance and IT. This means MBAs can explore jobs in data management and fintech, among others.
Likewise, increasing focus on green finance and ESG (environmental, social, governance) reporting mean that graduates who hold both sustainability knowledge and the core financial skills gained during an MBA can embark on new pathways within the sector.
CBS MBA graduates learn their skills both within the classroom and through practical experiences. The school holds a case competition with one of the major banks in Denmark each year, in 2025 the case challenge focused on the topic of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in investment products.
“Some students go into more traditional finance roles, but I would say there’s a very broad variety of jobs in finance,” says Malene.
MBA students in 2025 will discover a wide array of career pathways available to them after completing their studies. Graduating from business school armed with leadership abilities, broad business knowledge, and strong soft skills, they'll possess all the tools necessary to seize these opportunities and embark on successful careers.