Thunderbird School of Global Management at Arizona State University has once again earned recognition among the world’s premier providers of executive education. In the 2026 Financial Times Executive Education rankings, Thunderbird’s custom executive education programs were ranked No. 3 among U.S.-based institutions. This achievement marks the third consecutive year Thunderbird has secured a top-three position in the U.S., underscoring the school’s reputation for delivering transformative and highly customized learning experiences. Thunderbird’s executive education programs serve leaders and teams from global corporations, government agencies and nonprofit organizations around the world. Each custom program is thoughtfully co-created with clients to align with their strategic priorities, organizational culture and leadership objectives. “We are honored that organizations around the world continue to place their trust in Thunderbird as a partner in developing their leaders,” said Charla Griffy-Brown, director general and dean of Thunderbird. “Our immersive, globally focused learning experiences are designed to help executives lead with agility, think across borders and navigate the challenges of an increasingly complex and fast-changing world.” The Financial Times ranking evaluated 100 institutions and their custom program offerings based on direct client feedback in areas such as program design, faculty, preparation, teaching methods and materials, new skills and learning, aims achieved, value for money, future use and follow-up. Several criteria are also calculated from information provided by schools, including number of international clients, overseas programs, revenue growth, partner schools and faculty diversity. The 2026 rankings also placed Thunderbird No. 1 globally for international clients — ahead of the University of Oxford (Saïd), INSEAD and IMD — reflecting the substantial number of corporations and organizations headquartered outside the United States that participated in Thunderbird’s custom executive education offerings. The recognition marks a significant rise for Thunderbird, which climbed from No. 13 in 2025 and No. 16 in both 2024 and