Learning to lead green: how education shapes sustainable business futures?

Purpose This study aims to explore how sustainability education influences business students’ career aspirations to adopt sustainable practices in their professional lives. Design/methodology/approach The targeted demographic for this study consisted of final-year Master of Business Administration students from select Indian universities. This cohort was selected to get the viewpoints of individuals who had undergone substantial exposure to business education and were poised to transition into the professional realm. Findings The study finds that sustainability education significantly shapes business students’ career aspirations by enhancing faculty expertise, student engagement and experiential learning opportunities. Practical implications The study highlights the need for business schools globally to integrate sustainability into their curricula, fostering faculty expertise, student motivation and experiential learning opportunities to better prepare students for careers that align with sustainable practices and values. Social implications The study underscores the potential of sustainability education in business curricula to cultivate socially responsible business leaders, promoting ethical decision-making and fostering a strong aspirational inclination for sustainable practices. Originality/value This study offers a unique perspective by linking sustainability education to business students’ career aspirations towards sustainable practices, providing insights for academicians and policymakers to shape future-ready business professionals.