Although there is much to be said for the qualifications that can come with years of experience, business analysts suggest that individuals who wish to move up the career ladder should consider enrolling in a campus-based or online college degree program at any stage of their professional development.

Fortunately, many schools are creating programs that are intended for working adults. For instance, an administrator from an online school recently touted the perks of executive MBA programs (EMBA), which are designed with seasoned professionals in mind.

Directors of these courses of study realize that enrollees are focused on reaching the highest levels of management, and that they have already learned and practiced the foundations of leadership. Consequently, many of these programs are intended to teach students how to hone their own style of management and apply it to issues that are specific to their organizations or industries.

In addition, many of these programs focus on working with customers and shareholders, who are often considered to be the most important factors in a company's business practices.