Business school professionals around the world breathe a sigh of relief, punch the air or hold their heads in their hands when rankings are released. Those from the likes of the Financial Times, Times Higher Education and US News are still important in attracting potential applicants, pleasing alumni and showcasing to key stakeholders – so communicating success remains as important as ever. 

My colleague Matt Symonds recently reported in BlueSky Thinking how the latest FT rankings saw France dominate. The FT European Business School Ranking 2025 saw INSEAD top once again, with five other French-based institutions hitting the top 10, including ESSEC Business School and emlyon business school. In the rest of this year’s top 30, other French business schools, such as NEOMA Business School, also registered strong gains.

And beyond France, there were other striking successes. Mannheim Business School, for instance, were up five places to 15th, and Vlerick Business School climbed eight places to 25th. Frankfurt School of Finance and Management went up 10 places to 32nd. POLIMI Graduate School of Management, part of the School of Management of Politecnico di Milano, saw a rise to 35th.

But how can institutions showcase such positivity?

We always recommend digging into the rankings and sharing depth. Take POLIMI, for instance, who actually rank top among business schools affiliated with technical universities in Europe.

Vittorio Chiesa and Federico Frattini, respectively President and Dean of POLIMI Graduate School of Management, say: “This achievement rewards the extraordinary work of our community and the quality of our programmes, which continue to grow and gain international recognition. It confirms that the path we have taken – based on innovation, inclusion, and positive impact – is the right one. We will continue to invest in the quality and development of the School, convinced that excellent management education is essential to developing leaders capable of contributing to a more equitable and inclusive future.”

This further ties the school’s ranking success into their wider strategy, ethos and future direction.

So when rankings are published, and it’s a story that should be shared, dig deep and paint the bigger picture. Find the angles that are truly interesting, such as elements where you’ve truly shone, perhaps that’s diversity, teaching or research, and let the world know.