Leadership During Times of Uncertainty

For today’s top business schools, strong leadership means having purpose, vision, and clarity. It means forming human connections and taking accountability. For IAE Business School, this also means developing professionals with sound intellectual character and virtues.

The IAE Full-Time MBA is an intensive 10-month, English-taught program. Based in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and the business school of Universidad Austral, IAE is globally recognized for developing virtue-based leadership.

The school holds the prestigious “Triple Crown” accreditation from AACSB, AMBA, and EQUIS, the only business school in Argentina to do so. It’s also ranked #3 in the QS Global MBA Rankings 2026: Latin America.

María José Murcia is the Full-Time MBA Program Director. She explains the appeal of the program to today’s leaders.

“The uniqueness of the program lies in the integration of intellectual virtues, a participant-centered pedagogy that runs through our DNA, and a strong professional launchpad,” she says. (01:22)

The program is geared towards professionals looking for an immersive, purpose-driven transformation, enabling them to make an impact in Latin America and globally.

A Study Experience That Captures the Best of Both Worlds

The Full Time MBA at IAE takes place across two campuses. These two distinct environments blend deep academic focus with real-world corporate connectivity. 

The initial part of the program takes place in IAE’s Pilar Campus, a spacious university campus surrounded by nature, located about 50km from central Buenos Aires.

“Pilar’s unique location allows students to focus and retreat… particularly [useful] during those first intensive study modules one to three,” explains María. (10:55)

From modules four onwards, participants study in the heart of Buenos Aires, enabling a full immersion in the city’s rich cultural and business ecosystem.

“Buenos Aires is one of the most vibrant city centers and entrepreneurial ecosystems in the region,” says María. (10:37) It’s also ranked #1 in the QS Best Student City: LATAM rankings, demonstrating the all-round appeal of this exceptional city.

Key Learning Goals and Intellectual Habits

The Full Time MBA at IAE focuses on six core capabilities. The original five were developed in line with the AACSB Global Standards frameworks. They are ethical outlook, critical thinking, leadership, innovation capacity, and global outlook. The school recently added a sixth, AI literacy, bringing the program up to contemporary standards.

“We believe in the importance of building reflexivity and critical thinking around AI use,” says María. “AI is like the new internet, it’s going to be part of our lives from now on. It’s important that this is embedded across our curriculum and woven into our learning experience.” (04:22)

Nine intellectual habits power these six capabilities. As María says, “The sounder your mind, the sounder your judgement, the better you act… Our school is built around the purpose and desire to forge strong, responsible leadership. That starts with the mind.” (05:22)

These nine intellectual habits are: intellectual curiosity, autonomy, humility, attentiveness, carefulness, thoroughness, open-mindedness, courage, and perseverance. 

The IAE MBA Signature Experiences

Every IAE cohort is exposed to leadership-focused experiences. These are designed to help students connect and apply their leadership aspirations to real-world contexts.

“We have two signature experiences when it comes to leadership development,” explains María. “Early on in the program, we have the Purpose Expedition, which helps participants reflect deeply on their professional purpose, their values, and their calling as leaders.” (02:20)

The Purpose Expedition takes the form of experiential activities, outdoor challenges, and guided reflections. It inspires students to consider their careers within the context of societal and ethical implications.

“The other signature experience for leadership development is the Adaptive Leadership Week,” says María. “That takes place later in the program in module three. It places participants in complex, uncertain areas where they must mobilize others, manage conflicts, and exercise courage, humility, and openness in real time.” (03:00)

The program designs both experiences to help students lead amid uncertainty and cultivate the virtues needed to become resilient, ethical leaders.

The Power of Inspirational Mentorship

IAE Business School integrates mentorship deeply across its academic and career ecosystems.

“Mentorship is a very important dimension of the program,” highlights María. “It’s woven throughout the whole experience, holistically.” (05:50)

Students complete three distinct mentorship schemes throughout the program. “We have academic mentors assigned to participants from day zero, based on their profile, their experience, and their interest,” says María. (06:10)

Students also benefit from executive mentoring, including access to a pool of more than 20,000 IAE alumni across over 55 countries worldwide. This enables them to learn from people who are already in the next stage of their career. 

What’s more, the IAE Career Development Program helps participants build personal branding, identity, and career skills, bolstered by IAE’s robust corporate partnerships within Latin America and beyond.

To Change the World You Must Change Yourself

The Full Time MBA at IAE empowers leaders to embrace their own authenticity. It challenges them to shift their self-perception and personal values to develop their own unique vision of ethical leadership.

Ideal IAE candidates have at least five years of professional experience. They strive for excellence and have the drive and motivation to evolve as a purpose-driven leader.  

“We’re really looking forward to receiving applications from people who would like to transform the world from within,” says María. (12:20)

Are you ready to work towards lasting societal change while inspiring others to do the same? The IAE Business School MBA is waiting to help you find yourself.

For further information about the programs offered by IAE Business School, explore the IAE Business School profile page.