98% leaders say study abroad helped their career growth: Report
A new IIE and AIFS Abroad report says business leaders link international education with stronger leadership development.
A majority of business leaders believe that international education plays a very major role in shaping leadership abilities, according to a new report released by the Institute of International Education (IIE) and AIFS Abroad.
The study found that 98 per cent of surveyed leaders said their international experiences contributed to their personal growth and helped them better understand workplace environments, skills that later translated into leadership roles.
The report, launched at the NAFSA 2026 Annual Conference in the United States in May, is based on in-depth interviews with 44 executives and decision-makers from different sectors.
According to the findings, 96 per cent of respondents said that studying or living abroad helped them develop cross-cultural leadership skills.
Participants also reported improved abilities to work with people from different backgrounds. The management of diverse teams and build professional relationships across countries remains affirmative because of the decision where they have decided to study abroad.
FINDINGS COME AMID DEBATES OVER INTERNATIONAL STUDENT MOBILITY AND US VISA POLICIES
AIFS Abroad Chairman William Gertz said the experiences gained through international education continue to have relevance in today's globalised workforce.
"The skills and perspectives gained through education abroad are not only relevant but essential for effective leadership in today's interconnected world," Gertz wrote in the report.
He added that many leaders described their time abroad as a turning point in both their personal and professional development.
The report also found that the impact of international education often becomes more visible over time. Many respondents said they did not immediately recognise the professional value of their overseas experiences after graduation, but later realised how those experiences influenced their careers.
Julie Baer, Director of Research at IIE and one of the report's authors, said the findings suggest that study abroad programmes offer long-term benefits beyond academic learning.
"Study abroad is not just a short-term academic experience, but a long-term accelerator for leadership," Baer said.
She noted that the advantages were seen across a wide range of sectors, including science and technology, finance, law, education and the arts.
The report comes at a time when international education faces new challenges in the United States. Industry observers have pointed to concerns over declining international student enrolments, uncertainty surrounding Optional Practical Training (OPT) policies and ongoing debates over H-1B work visas.
The findings add to a broader body of research linking international exposure with workplace outcomes.
Separate research by NAFSA found that 96 per cent of US businesses believed employee performance would improve if workers had greater international experience.
The authors of the report argue that international education not only broadens academic learning but also equips students with skills that remain relevant throughout their professional careers, particularly in workplaces that increasingly operate across cultures and borders.
A majority of business leaders believe that international education plays a very major role in shaping leadership abilities, according to a new report released by the Institute of International Education (IIE) and AIFS Abroad.
The study found that 98 per cent of surveyed leaders said their international experiences contributed to their personal growth and helped them better understand workplace environments, skills that later translated into leadership roles.
The report, launched at the NAFSA 2026 Annual Conference in the United States in May, is based on in-depth interviews with 44 executives and decision-makers from different sectors.
According to the findings, 96 per cent of respondents said that studying or living abroad helped them develop cross-cultural leadership skills.
Participants also reported improved abilities to work with people from different backgrounds. The management of diverse teams and build professional relationships across countries remains affirmative because of the decision where they have decided to study abroad.
FINDINGS COME AMID DEBATES OVER INTERNATIONAL STUDENT MOBILITY AND US VISA POLICIES
AIFS Abroad Chairman William Gertz said the experiences gained through international education continue to have relevance in today's globalised workforce.
"The skills and perspectives gained through education abroad are not only relevant but essential for effective leadership in today's interconnected world," Gertz wrote in the report.
He added that many leaders described their time abroad as a turning point in both their personal and professional development.
The report also found that the impact of international education often becomes more visible over time. Many respondents said they did not immediately recognise the professional value of their overseas experiences after graduation, but later realised how those experiences influenced their careers.
Julie Baer, Director of Research at IIE and one of the report's authors, said the findings suggest that study abroad programmes offer long-term benefits beyond academic learning.
"Study abroad is not just a short-term academic experience, but a long-term accelerator for leadership," Baer said.
She noted that the advantages were seen across a wide range of sectors, including science and technology, finance, law, education and the arts.
The report comes at a time when international education faces new challenges in the United States. Industry observers have pointed to concerns over declining international student enrolments, uncertainty surrounding Optional Practical Training (OPT) policies and ongoing debates over H-1B work visas.
The findings add to a broader body of research linking international exposure with workplace outcomes.
Separate research by NAFSA found that 96 per cent of US businesses believed employee performance would improve if workers had greater international experience.
The authors of the report argue that international education not only broadens academic learning but also equips students with skills that remain relevant throughout their professional careers, particularly in workplaces that increasingly operate across cultures and borders.
