Although there are many successful business professionals who never attended MBA programs, the vast majority of top executives and entrepreneurs honed their skills while in business school. Find out how an MBA can help jumpstart your career.

There is no shortage of incredibly talented CEOs and millionaires who made it to the top with little or no education. However, far more common are those who used their training and education in order to succeed in the business world. For every Bill Gates or Richard Branson, there exist scores upon scores of entrepreneurs and executives who graduated from MBA programs.

What Do MBA Programs Actually Teach You?

Short for "master of business administration," the MBA has become the gold standard for anyone interested in pursuing a career in business, finance, accounting, or commerce. While every program follows a slightly different curriculum, most focus on areas such as:

• Organizational behavior and human resources
• Marketing and public relations
• Economics and game theory
• Accounting and finance
• Entrepreneurship
• Sustainability and corporate governance
• Operations management and business strategy