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Strategic planning for 2035 Leeds is well underway. Discussions with advisory boards and leaders in business, academia and government have identified four key trends likely to impact business and business education in the next decade. These trends are not a prescription or a strategy but will inform our evaluation of strengths and opportunities as a school.

1. Sustainability. Addressing environmental sustainability will be crucial for businesses over the next decade, bringing both challenges and opportunities. Firms that fail to adapt risk regulatory and reputational sanctions. Leeds can play a unique role by highlighting how sustainability can be a competitive advantage and by incorporating a multidisciplinary perspective into our curriculum to prepare future business leaders.
2. Economic Shifts. Our research identified economic shifts for the next decade. Trade and manufacturing realignment will stress supply chain reliability. Demographic changes and labor shortages challenge health care, while AI and synthetic biology offer opportunities. Increased regulatory scrutiny and income inequality present ethical and market challenges. These shifts allow Leeds to differentiate and prepare our students for the future.
3. Future of Work. The new workforce faces unprecedented challenges in balancing digital and in-person collaboration. Many will work remotely, lacking in-person mentoring and tacit knowledge, and navigate multiple jobs and careers simultaneously. Leeds can support lifelong learning and mentoring to manage business and life amid these radical changes.
4. Digital Transformation. Businesses will undergo a digital transformation driven by AI, quantum computing and other tools, enhancing efficiency and customization but also increasing cybersecurity threats and potential loss of control. To prepare our students, we must teach them to use these technologies for complex analyses and to develop skills in leadership, communication and working under uncertainty.

One theme that emerged across all our discussions: Differentiating our students’ ability to be innovative, resilient and effective communicators would not only set them on a path to success but also greatly enhance Leeds’ reputation and service to the business community.