Is Healthcare Management the Right Career for Me? Key Skills You'll Need

 Key Takeaways:

Navigating the job market in 2025 can be challenging, particularly as AI continues to disrupt industries in unprecedented ways. However, opportunities remain across various industries for highly skilled professionals. 

Healthcare management ranks among the five most popular industries business school students enter after graduation, according to Bloomberg data. Graduates of MBAs and other business degrees often land healthcare management jobs in project management, business development, operations, and consulting. 

So, what makes healthcare management a sector with such high demand for talented professionals, and how can you take advantage of the job opportunities in the healthcare industry? 

We spoke to the experts to find out. 

Should I Work in Healthcare Management? 

There are many reasons why business and management professionals choose a career in healthcare, especially following the COVID-19 pandemic. Increasingly, ambitious professionals seek healthcare management jobs not only because of the industry’s strong sense of purpose and social relevance, but also for its resilience, innovation, and transformative career potential. 

“The sector is experiencing a profound evolution,” says Ricardo Carneiro, director of career services at Porto Business School. “Alongside public healthcare systems, we are seeing growing investment from private providers and the fast emergence of health tech companies, both of which are creating a broader set of opportunities for professionals with business expertise.” 

“Today, healthcare is no longer just about clinical excellence—it requires leadership, strategy, innovation, and digital agility,” he adds. 

Another beneficial factor when seeking healthcare positions is the broad set of career opportunities available. 

“Competences in healthcare management are in demand across a wide spectrum of organizations, including hospitals, clinical service providers, biotechnology firms, medical device manufacturers, pharmaceutical, and diagnostic companies,” says Bruno Versaevel, professor of industrial economics and head of the Healthcare Innovation, Technology & Society Institute at Emlyon Business School.

“Both executive and expert roles in these organizations require specialized knowledge and skills in relation to the ethical, technological, and institutional specificities that characterize the healthcare sector,” he says.

The broad and diverse nature of the industry means that skilled professionals can find areas where they can wield generalist capabilities, specialist expertise, or both.  

“Graduates with a background in healthcare management can pursue a wide variety of roles, including operations and administrative leadership in hospitals and clinics; business development and strategy positions within pharmaceutical, biotech, and medtech firms; as well as transformation and innovation management roles in digital health or consulting,” says Ricardo. 

Working in the sector also brings many advantages to those who take up healthcare management jobs across the industry.  

“Purpose and impact are key drivers to target a career in healthcare,” say Andreia Ferreira, head of Full-Time MBA careers and healthcare careers consultant lead at Imperial Business School in London.

“The sector offers opportunities for complex problem solving, professional development opportunities and competitive compensation packages, particularly at senior levels,” she explains, adding that rapid growth and lucrative financial opportunities in areas such as China and the Middle East are also attractive for skilled professionals. 

However, like any industry there are some drawbacks to consider when it comes to pursuing a healthcare management job. By its very nature, the healthcare sector works around the clock, and this can have an impact on work-life balance. 

“Some roles operate in stressful environments in which every second counts to save a life,” Andrea adds.

As a crucial part of the functioning of society, the industry is also heavily influenced by external factors. “Healthcare's highly regulated market, plus political scrutiny and constrained budgets, particularly in the public sector, can lead to slow decision-making processes and resistance to change,” Andrea explains. 

What Skills Would I Need in Healthcare Management? 

In order to build a strong career in healthcare, there are several skills you’ll need to add to your arsenal and demonstrate to prospective employers. This includes both technical, industry-specific skills, and soft skills that revolve around working with others. 

“A solid understanding of healthcare systems, financing models, digital platforms, and data analytics is essential. Just as important are soft skills such as empathy, communication, adaptability, and the ability to lead in uncertain or highly regulated environments,” says Ricardo. 

“Given the diversity of healthcare-related activities, a wide range of technical skills in relation to the life sciences is required in research, development, manufacturing, delivery, and support functions,” adds Bruno. 

“Equally essential are managerial competencies, which is why education programs in healthcare management emphasize a multidisciplinary approach,” he says. 

If you’re interested in working in healthcare, it’s worthwhile building a range of skills covering areas such as innovation, project management, team leadership, operational optimization, and even corporate finance if you want to work in relevant functions within the industry. 

“A crucial soft skill common to all roles in the sector is a strong sense of purpose. One should keep in mind that everyday efforts can ultimately improve the lives of patients and their families,” adds Bruno. 

Healthcare Management Course and Degree Options

For anyone determined to pursue or pivot into a career in healthcare management, there are several learning paths that can help you get there. 

Depending on the stage of your career and your educational and professional background, various routes can offer opportunities to land entry level healthcare management positions or more experienced healthcare management roles. 

Early career professionals could seek out Master of Science degrees in related fields. For example, the MSc in Global Health Management at Imperial Business School prepares students for managerial roles in the sector. Elsewhere, more experienced professionals could fast track to leadership or executive roles via an MBA or Executive MBA. 

“Life science professionals aiming for managerial positions can greatly benefit from taking part in an Executive MBA program, which helps bridge technical expertise with business skills. However, individuals with backgrounds in economics, management, political science, or the humanities might consider more specialized master’s programes that focus on healthcare management, in order to gain the necessary sector-specific knowledge,” explains Bruno.

“Across all profiles, education in data science is increasingly valuable, as data-driven decision-making is now integral to virtually all aspects or healthcare-related activities,” he adds. 

Choosing the right business school or program incorporates a range of decisions, including industry connections and proximity to work opportunities. 

“Candidates should prioritize a program offered by a business school that not only has faculty members with strong expertise in the healthcare domain, but is also embedded in a robust healthcare ecosystem. Proximity to startups, hospitals, research institutions, and industry leaders enriches the curriculum by enabling meaningful contributions from active professionals,” Bruno advises.

For those who already have experience or aren’t seeking to commit to a full degree program, there are opportunities to undertake short courses or certifications that focus on upskilling in particular areas of expertise. For example, Yale School of Management offers opportunities to develop fundamental healthcare leadership skills via its eight-week Healthcare Management short course. 

Although healthcare is a popular and competitive field, there are plenty of job opportunities available for standout professionals and graduates who can build robust career skills for the future of healthcare. Finding the right pathway into the industry will depend on your skills, experience, and career goals. 

Not sure where to begin your journey in healthcare management? We’ve curated a list of healthcare-focused business programs to help you get started through Advancery. Start your free trial to assess your strengths, get matched with the right programs, and compare options so you can take your next steps with confidence.