6 Best Business Management Courses For Elevating Your Business Career
6 Best Business Management Courses
Business management courses are all the rage currently, but some are a mixed bag in terms of quality and value. We took the guesswork out for you and made a list of some of our favorite business management courses to get started on right now!
Whether you’re looking to step into a management position at your company or to start your own business, these courses will take you to the next level.
They’re all online business management courses, making them an affordable alternative to the six-figure MBA. Stop asking yourself, “Is an MBA worth it?” Start learning!
(Full disclosure: I am the cofounder-CEO of a for-profit business education platform).
6 Best Business Management Courses
1. Improve
Improve is all about improving business professional’s communication and leadership abilities with improv-inspired exercises and behavioral-science backed techniques.
Quick Breakdown:
- Best for: Behavioral science-backed leadership training
- Length: Ongoing monthly membership or short-term workshops
- Price: Varies with options for teams
- What’s Included: Daily exercises, weekly virtual sessions, and more
Improve class page.
Improve website.
Why We Love It
Who said growing your communication and leadership skills has to be boring? Improve takes business leaders and managers through live, interactive improv-inspired sessions that will challenge them to become better at listening, adapting and communicating.
2. Business Intensive
The 2-month Business Intensive program teaches eight core business skills while also focusing on networking.
Quick Breakdown:
- Best for: Comprehensive business management
- Length: 2 months
- Price: Starting at $1,349
- What’s Included: Live workshops, weekly speaker series, practical templates
Why We Love It
In this online business management course, students complete hands-on projects, including:
- Refining and testing a business concept;
- Creating a high-caliber presentation;
- Analyzing financial reports;
- Developing a business strategy;
- Crafting a marketing and sales plan;
- Conducting user interviews;
- Building a no code website.
There are weekly guest speakers such as former Presidential Candidate Andrew Yang, PayPal Founding COO David Sacks, Ellevest Cofounder and CEO Sallie Krawcheck, and Peloton Cofounder Graham Stanton.
100% active learning, the Business Intensive is a great way to transition from a passive consumer of business knowledge to an active business leader with a well-rounded skill set and network. There is a trial called the 1 Hour MBA.
3. Arlan’s Academy
Arlan’s Academy offers a diverse library of masterclass videos on the core aspects of starting and running a business. Topics range from how to scale your business, to finance and accounting, raising capital, marketing and more.
There’s over 35 hours of training currently available with new courses added weekly.
Quick Breakdown:
- Best for: Entrepreneurial management
- Length: Flexible
- Price: $40-$600 per course
- What’s Included: a la carte or bundled courses, and once-weekly live discussions
Why We Love It
Arlan’s Academy is a black-owned, female-led business education program, dedicated to offering affordable and accessible knowledge to business leaders of all backgrounds.
The academy offers a well-rounded overview of every core aspect of business which is perfect for helping develop cross-functional knowledge! The best leaders and managers are the ones who are well-versed in all aspects of their business, not just their own department or strengths!
For a fraction of the price of a graduate degree, you can learn directly from devoted entrepreneurs and add their unique strategies to your arsenal.
4. VirtualSpeech
Virtual Speech combines online learning with VR to offer an immersive training experience focused on boosting your public speaking skills. Business professionals will take part in 8 VR sessions which prompt you to deliver a speech for different scenarios such as impromptu conversations, a meeting, conference presentation and more.
Quick Breakdown:
- Best for: Public speaking and communication
- Length: flexible, self-led
- Price: $250, plus a $45 VR headset
- What’s Included: 4 hours of online classes, 8 VR training scenarios and more
Why We Love It
Whether you’re leading a team meeting or delivering a speech at an event, public speaking is a critical business skill that can make or break your career. This online business course can help you master speaking in any kind of scenario at work.
Traditionally the only way to effectively practice your speaking skills has been in front of others, but this course’s integration with VR integration gives you the opportunity to practice in a safe space. The software will even monitor your eye contact with heat maps, and give you a thorough analysis of your speech each time you practice.
5. Building a Second Brain
Building a Second Brain is a five-week course focused on knowledge management. You’ll learn how to organize and process information with various techniques and digital tools, so that you can better act on them! The course involves both active learning via live Zoom classes and a video library so that you can dive deeper into what you learned in class.
Quick Breakdown:
- Best for: Knowledge management training
- Length: 5 weeks, with lifetime access
- Price: Starts at $1500
- What’s Included: 10 live sessions, 8 pre-recorded videos, discussion forum and more
Building a Second Brain course page.
Building a Second Brain website.
Why We Love It
Let’s face it, we’re getting bombarded by new information daily. Whether it’s on our many screens, or on a page, it can be really hard to keep up and organize all of our thoughts.
That’s where Building a Second Brain shines, offering a way for people to distill down all of this information so that they can convert it into actionable strategies.
This online business management course is great for entrepreneurs and business leaders, where ideas and execution are an essential component of driving results.
6. Bob Iger Teaches Business Strategy and Leadership
Sit back and enjoy a masterclass with former Disney CEO Bob Iger where he teaches you how to evolve your business and career. The 13 self-paced video lessons will walk you through topics such as expanding your brand, leading with integrity, the art of negotiation and time management.
Quick Breakdown:
- Best for: Passive learners
- Length: Self-paced, 2 hours of content
- Price: $15/month (part of MasterClass monthly membership)
- What’s Included: 13 video lessons
Why We Love It
It’s a rare opportunity to learn from one of the greats! Bob led his company through the acquisitions of Pixar, Marvel and Lucasfilm to make Disney what it is today.
Students can get access to his unparalleled decision-making skills in regards to successful acquisitions, brand expansions, compassionate leadership, and more.
Whether you’re an exec looking to learn a little more from the greats or a founder with a passion for a true American success story, look no further than this course.
There are few CEOs with Bob’s time-tested acumen. You can also pick up his book, the Ride of a Lifetime.
Conclusion
There’s never been a better time to enroll in a business management course! The difference between you and the leader or manager you want to be is practice and training.
Dive into one of the best business management courses we recommended above — or consider taking an online business class or product management class. Invest in yourself without breaking the bank.
Paulina Karpis is the co-founder and CEO of brunchwork, a co-learning company that delivers modern business education. brunchwork teaches thousands of millennial professionals annually via a online business class, membership, and a popular newsletter.