To say the pandemic has been a game changer within the business world is an understatement. And with healthcare and the healthcare sector in the news on repeat over the last two years, it should come as no surprise that women in healthcare industries were highly represented in Fortune's Most Powerful Women this past year. According to Fortune’s list, here are the top 10 most influential female business executives you should be paying attention to now and in the future:
- Karen Lynch, CEO, CVS Health
- Jane Fraser, CEO, Citi
- Julie Sweet, Chairman and CEO, Accenture
- Carol Tomé, CEO, UPS
- Mary Barra, Chairman and CEO, GM
- Rosalind Brewer, CEO, Walgreens Boots Alliance
- Gail Broudreaux, President and CEO, Anthem
- Abigail Johnson, Chairman and CEO, Fidelity Investments
- Ruth Porat, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Alphabet
- Thasunda Brown Duckett, President and CEO, TIAA
Should I Go Back to School to Earn My Business Degree?
For women, returning to school can be a critical turning point in life. Earning a degree in business is a great way to increase your career prospects and income. Plus, there is little doubt that earning a business degree gives college graduates a lot of flexibility in different career fields upon graduation. Researchers at the Sloan Work and Family Research Network have linked the following with women returning to school to obtain a higher education:
- Salary growth and income potential
- A boost to self-image and self-esteem
- Increased personal satisfaction
- Greater opportunities for the pursuit of goals
- More respect from others
- More meaning, variety and purpose to their lives
- Enhanced social and personal growth and development
What are the Top Business Majors for Career Growth?
Business degree programs have great income potential and job growth, making them attractive to many students. Below are some of the top business majors, including their job growth prospects, and average starting salary.
- Finance tops the list of business majors, according to The NACE Center. Some of the courses you will need as a part of this degree include: Financial Accounting, Micro and Macroeconomics, Business Statistics, Personal Finance, and Accounting I. Kiplinger indicates a starting salary over $50,000/year with a 13.1% job growth rate. If you’re aiming to be a Financial Analyst or Financial Planner, this is the major for you.
- Accounting comes in second on the list and has an estimated 11% growth rate. Core courses include Accounting I and Accounting II, Tax Accounting, Managerial Accounting, and Auditing, and Corporate Governance, along with general business courses like Marketing, Management, and Microeconomics. The median salary of a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) is approximately $70,000/year.
- Business Administration is closely aligned with management and places third. This broad degree encapsulates many areas of business, so bachelor’s degree requirements include courses like Business Communications, Management, Marketing, Managerial Accounting and Micro and Macroeconomics. Career paths include business management, retail management, and communications positions and salaries start around $45,000/year and offer an 11% job growth rate.
- Management Information Systems may be one of the hottest business majors and is closely aligned with computer science, which is fourth on NACE’s list. In this major, you’ll complete courses like Project Management, Introduction to Business, Human Resources Management, Management, alongside Network Principles, Information Security and System Design. While the starting salary is only slightly higher than these other degrees, mid-career salaries are expected to hit six figures.
- Human Resources is a reliable major in which you may choose to find a specialty area and pursue additional certifications. In a Human Resources major, you’ll complete courses like Organizational Behavior, Business Communication, Project Management, Business Statistics, Business Law, Change Management, and Business Ethics. Job growth is expected to be at 5%, while starting salaries start around $60,000/year.
Lower Your Cost of Earning a Business Degree with Online Courses
StraighterLine offers convenient and flexible college courses. Complete business courses online and make serious progress on your degree. At StraighterLine, we make it easy for you to save big on college classes that can earn credit at your school. Salary source: NACE Center
