Abstract
<jats:p>The purpose of the study is to identify differences in leadership style indicators, professional identity, and coping behavior strategies among management students and working professionals in the field of management and administration. Research methods and organization. The research sample consists of two groups: practicing managers and students majoring in management and administration-related fields. The following methodologies were used: The Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire by B. Bass and B. Avolio; Professional Identity/Marginalism by E.P. Ermolaeva; and Stress Coping Strategies by C. Hobfoll, adapted by N.E. Vodopyanova and E.S. Starchenkova. Research results and conclusions. Significant differences were identified only in preferred coping behavior strategies. Based on the results of discriminant analysis, a model for differentiating managers was constructed for the first time, which can be further used to predict the level of professionalization. The obtained results contribute to the understanding of leadership styles and the professional identity of managers through their correlation with coping behavior models.</jats:p>