4 modern skills every business student needs

Every business student needs certain skills if they want to thrive in their respective fields after graduating. Skills like communication, project management, teamwork, critical thinking, etc., are, of course, vital. But they are not enough in the modern world. 

With that in mind, let's take you through four modern skills that every business student must have. 

AI leadership
There's no doubt that AI is the one skill that everyone should be mastering right now, irrespective of their academic background or profession. Business students must also adapt to this reality. 

However, while common technical AI skills are vital, business students must also focus on building leadership skills that will enable them to follow up on the AI boom in their respective workplaces. 

A McKinsey report, Superagency in the Workplace: Empowering People to Unlock AI's Full Potential, found that nearly every company is investing in AI, yet only one percent believes they've reached true maturity.

The report suggests that the biggest barrier isn't the workforce; it's leadership that hasn't yet caught up.

To prepare, business students should go beyond learning the tools and technologies. They need to stay curious about how AI is reshaping industries, understand its real-world impact, and build the vision and adaptability to lead in this rapidly changing landscape.

Ability to replace PowerPoint slides with data dashboards

Companies today sit on mountains of data, but not all of them know how to use this data with purpose. The future belongs to those who can extract meaning from the numbers. Data storytelling is now a

leadership skill. Here, one gets to explain things like why the data was collected, how it was done, what purpose the data and the analyses driven from it serve, and so on. 

A business graduate who understands data visualisation tools and ethical use of information becomes a translator between analytics and leadership. People who work with data use numbers as narratives.

Basically, you'll be presenting pitches, ideas, and performance metrics using data dashboards instead of Canva or PowerPoint. That's how you impress people in the modern business world. 

Knowing when (and when not) to jump on a trend

As I am writing this, there's a viral trend where brands are posting fake "apology letters," the kind that go, "We're so sorry for making our products too good to resist." Cute? Maybe. Cringe? Absolutely.

Sure, anything can be used as a marketing tool these days if you're willing to ignore the consequences. But here's the thing: some companies should genuinely be apologising for poor service or subpar products, not pretending to be cheeky about their "greatness." If you work in marketing for one of those businesses, you need to pause before joining the internet circus.

Not every trend deserves your logo slapped on it. Ask yourself: does this fit your brand's tone? Will it make sense to your target audience, or will it just look desperate for clicks?

Advanced skills in Excel and Sheets

Even though AI is now seamlessly built into tools like Microsoft Excel and Google Sheets, mastering these platforms yourself remains an essential professional asset. Think of it like learning to drive: just because modern cars can park themselves doesn't mean you shouldn't know how to operate the vehicle safely. You need to understand the underlying mechanics to verify accuracy, troubleshoot errors, and customize solutions when automation lacks the necessary context.

At the very least, sharpening your manual Excel and Sheets skills ensures you are prepared for high-pressure moments, such as technical interviews. When a hiring manager asks, "What's the formula for calculating a final account balance?" they aren't just asking for a specific function; they are testing your logic and data literacy. You don't want to rely on AI to bridge that gap. Nailing the answer on your own proves you have the foundational knowledge to validate AI-generated insights, making you a driver rather than just a passenger.

Reference: McKinsey & Company (January 28, 2025). Superagency in the workplace: Empowering people to unlock AI's full potential.