The conversation around AI and careers often focuses on the technological side of things. Coding, data science, machine learning - these are all valuable skills in today’s changing technological landscape, but they only tell part of the story when we consider how AI relates to business.

Namely, AI has largely become embedded across marketing, finance, operations, consulting, management, and strategy. Because of this, organizations also need leaders who can decide where AI makes sense, how it should be implemented, how its outputs should be evaluated, and how teams should adapt to working alongside it.

Let’s take a closer look at what skills are in demand and how leaders can acquire them.

AI skills are spreading beyond technical roles

It’s been years since AI was something that happens exclusively inside IT departments. Marketing, finance, and operations increasingly rely on AI to accelerate research, forecasting, and general automation. 

Managers too are increasingly tasked with overseeing which workflows can be improved when human minds and AI work together. So much so that the World Economic Forum's Future of Jobs Report 2025 identifies AI as the fastest-growing skill to keep an eye out for through 2030.

These changes have also begun reflecting in data on business graduates who were recently hired. GMAC's 2025 Corporate Recruiters Survey found that 31% of global employers considered knowledge of AI tools important when hiring graduate management talent, up from 26% in 2024.

And yet, at the same time, the skills employers value most remain remarkably human. Problem-solving and strategic thinking continue to rank among the capabilities employers most value in business-school graduates. Communication, adaptability, and the ability to work effectively with others also remain important.

As such, the most successful leaders of tomorrow will be those who can bridge core managerial leadership skills with a business focused understanding of AI and its application.

How higher learning approaches AI for Business

At SBS Swiss Business School, the Online MSc in Artificial Intelligence for Business is built around precisely this intersection between AI and management.

The program is business-focused and does not require a coding background. Instead, its curriculum examines how AI can be applied across strategy, innovation, analytics, leadership, customer experience, digital transformation, project management, and responsible governance.

Courses include areas such as AI Foundations for Business Strategy, Business Analytics & Data-Driven Decision Making, Leading People & Change in the AI Era, AI-Driven Innovation & Value Creation, AI Strategy & Business Model Transformation, Ethical & Responsible AI Management, and Project Management for AI & Digital Initiatives.

The objective here isn’t to convert graduates into hybrid engineering-focused managers, but rather to prepare the leaders of tomorrow for the reality where AI is increasingly part of everyday decision-making.

Short executive education can help address specific gaps too for experienced leaders

While the Online MSc in Business for AI is focused on providing people earlier in their careers with a much needed springboard, more experienced business professionals do not necessarily need to consider if another master’s degree is needed.

Rather, experienced managers already have extensive business knowledge that can be leveraged as they shift their focus onto the possibilities of AI. This is where targeted Executive Education can play a major role in propelling careers forward.

For example, SBS Swiss Business School's Critical Thinking with and without Artificial Intelligence focuses on evaluating AI-generated information, identifying bias, strengthening judgment, and improving human-AI decision-making.

Meanwhile, Leadership and Change in the AI Era focuses on the human side of AI transformation: resistance, trust, changing roles, workforce readiness, and leading teams through technological change.

These are examples of AI education becoming less about learning a particular tool and more about developing the capabilities needed to manage technology responsibly.

FAQ about AI Skills

Do business leaders need to learn coding because of AI?

Not necessarily. Technical AI roles may require programming, but managers need a different set of capabilities: AI literacy, strategic judgment, critical thinking, governance awareness, communication, and change leadership.

What AI skills do employers want from business graduates?

Employer interest in knowledge of AI tools is increasing. Surveys found that employers considered AI-tool knowledge important. At the same time, problem-solving and strategic thinking remain highly valued.

What human skills will remain important as AI improves?

Analytical thinking, resilience, leadership, creative thinking, adaptability, curiosity, and lifelong learning remain among the skills employers identify as important or growing.

What is the difference between AI for Business and a technical AI degree?

Technical programs typically focus more heavily on areas such as programming, machine learning, algorithms, and system development. AI-for-business education focuses on applying AI to strategy, decision-making, innovation, leadership, operations, and organizational transformation.

Does the MSc in Artificial Intelligence for Business require coding?

No. The program is designed around the business application of AI and does not require a coding background.

Final Thoughts

The rise of AI doesn’t diminish the importance of human business skills. If anything, it simply modifies the context in which we use these same skills.

Tomorrow's leaders will increasingly work with technologies capable of analyzing information, generating content, automating processes, and supporting decisions. But organizations will still need people who can determine what problems are worth solving, question unreliable answers, communicate difficult decisions, manage change, and take responsibility for the outcome.

At SBS Swiss Business School, programs such as the Online MSc in Artificial Intelligence for Business and focused Executive Education courses are designed around that intersection, helping professionals understand AI not simply as a technology to learn, but as a business capability to apply, evaluate, and lead.

Contact us today to learn more!