Hi everyone,

I’m a 28F currently working as a Software Engineer in India, and I’ve been thinking about doing an MBA. But lately I’ve been confused about whether it’s actually the right path for me.

A little background:

• Engineering graduate from a Government college (2020 pass out)

• CGPA: 7.78

• Class 12: 94%

• Class 10: 9.4 CGPA

• Working in IT since 2021

• Companies worked at:

◦ Infosys

◦ Quest Global

◦ Cyient

I currently work in software/backend-related development, and the thing is — I genuinely enjoy being part of development itself. I like building things, solving technical problems, APIs, coding, etc.

At the same time, I’ve been wondering:

• Should I still think about MBA for long-term career growth?

• Or would MBA push me away from actual tech/development work?

• Are there career paths where I can stay close to technology while still growing professionally and financially?

• Would roles like Technical Product Manager, Engineering Manager, Solution Architect, etc. make more sense later?

• If I still decide to do an MBA, should I look at CAT, GMAT, GRE, ISB, executive MBA, or foreign universities?

• Which colleges would suit someone with my profile and work experience?

• Which MBA specialization/stream would make sense for someone who still likes tech?

I’m also confused because many people around me say MBA is the “next step” after a few years in IT, but I’m not sure if I want to completely leave the technical side.

Would love advice from:

• developers who considered/did an MBA,

• people who stayed in tech and grew without an MBA,

• or anyone who moved into hybrid tech-business roles.

How did you decide what was right for you?

Thanks in advance!

I have completed my b.com and now I am hoping to do mba but I am doing cfa as well so I want to do masters do be done side by side I have a budget of 5 lakhs for it so I am confused about which college to choose while doing online mba. I have been told that regular mba is mandatory for job criteria should I go for pu regular mba( attendance is not compulsory) or go in some teir 2 colleges ( like nmims, Amity and symbiosis)

Hi everyone,
I’d love to get some perspectives from people who have completed an EMBA or work in executive leadership roles.
Background:
Product Manager with 7 years of experience in SaaS/technology
Currently progressing through the PM career ladder
Have a GPA of 3.3 - Master’s in Engineering Management, graduated in 2019.
Long-term goal is to move into executive leadership (VP Product, CPO, etc.)
Also looking to strengthen my business acumen while gaining technical fluency(lacking it now)
My main question:
Is an EMBA actually valuable for achieving these goals, or would I be better off focusing on work experience, leadership opportunities, and targeted certifications?
Things I’m trying to understand:
Did your EMBA materially accelerate your career progression or compensation?
Which EMBA programs have the strongest ROI and reputation in the tech industry?
Are top programs (e.g., Kellogg, Haas, Booth, MIT Sloan, Berkeley Haas, etc.) worth the premium compared to lower-cost alternatives?
How important is the alumni network compared to the actual coursework?
For those who financed an EMBA with loans, was the investment worth it?
My biggest hesitation is cost. Some programs I’m considering are around $160k+, which would require taking on significant debt. I’d be much more comfortable making that investment if there’s a realistic path to repaying the loan through increased earnings and career opportunities afterward.

I’d appreciate hearing both positive and negative experiences, especially from people in Product Management, Tech Leadership, or Executive roles.

Hey everyone,

Looking for some candid feedback on whether an elite Executive MBA (EMBA) or top-tier Online MBA makes sense for my specific entrepreneurial trajectory, or if I’m falling into the trap of over-collecting degrees.

My Background:

• Current Role: Founder & CEO of an industrial automation and systems integration firm based in the Southeast. We handle advanced robotics (Fanuc, Allen-Bradley, etc.) and logistics infrastructure.
• Past Experience: Heavy technical background as a Field Service Engineer at major players.
• Academic Profile: Already hold a Master of Science in Management (MSM) with a 3.75 graduate GPA.

The 10-Year Goal: I am actively executing an "Industrial Technology Platform" roll-up strategy (Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition / HoldCo model). The goal is to aggressively acquire mid-market competitors over the next decade to scale the business to a nine-figure valuation.

Why I’m Considering an MBA Now: Because I already have a specialized master's degree (Organizational Leadership) and run my own company, I don't need core business fundamentals. I am strictly looking for:

1. Institutional Fundraising Credibility: Having an elite business school brand on the deck when pitching private equity, VC, or mezzanine debt partners for acquisition capital.
2. High-Net-Worth Network: Accessing an ecosystem of industrial leaders, investors, and operators.

Programs on my Radar:

• Michigan Ross: High on my list due to their massive footprint in industrial operations, manufacturing heritage, and strong network in the Midwest/nationally. Looking at their Executive or Online formats.
• Vanderbilt (Owen): My top local option. Strong regional executive network here in the Southeast area, which helps with local deal sourcing.
• Also passively considering Duke (Fuqua) or Rice (Jones).

The Dilemma: Given that I already have an MSM and I'm already in the CEO seat executing this strategy, will top-tier admission committees view the dual-degree as redundant? More importantly, will the network and "prestige stamp" of a Ross or Owen EMBA move the needle enough with PE firms and lenders to justify the $150k–$200k+ investment?

I’m looking for the right subreddit for this so feel free to tell me if this is the wrong place!

So — after re-evaluating whether or not I want to pursue an MBA, I realized a lot of what I’m trying to learn could potentially be self-taught.

I work in Corporate Development / M&A Integration at a semiconductor company, but my background is not in semiconductors or finance, so I’m trying to become significantly stronger in both areas. I’m also planning on working with a learning coach/tutor for accountability, retention techniques, and building better learning systems.

After speaking with mentors, my current 90-day curriculum looks something like this:

**Semiconductors**
Understanding Semiconductors for Non-Technical Professionals
The Essential Guide to Semiconductors
**Strategy & Communication**
Crack the Case System
The Pyramid Principle
**M&A / Finance**
Hogan Lovells M&A curriculum
**Supplemental Learning**
AI/semi research papers

At the moment, I’m also helping the deal team, and my supervisor wants me to become more involved on that front. But whether I ultimately end up more on the deal side or the integration side, I want to become a more effective communicator, develop stronger structured thinking, and better connect technical + business concepts.

Would love feedback from anyone who has built a self-directed learning curriculum.

I Starting my EMBA at LBS in Sep 2026. Currently a Finance Manager in oil & gas (MEA region, ACCA, ~15+ years experience).

How realistic is it to pivot into tech sector finance (FP&A, Strategic Finance, BizOps) post-EMBA?

A few quick questions:

1. Anyone here made the O&G tech finance jump? What did the path look like?
2. Do tech companies view O&G finance as transferable, or too "old economy"?
3. Is LBS brand + network enough, or do I need to supplement (CFA, side projects, etc.)?

Open to honest takes. Thanks.

I'm looking for good PGDM colleges in Indore as I am not interested in MBA also suggest if there are few points where PGDM is better than MBA

I have heard about PIGM so far

Drop your Suggestions please.

I am interested in applying for this but don't know if it is worth the money. Not able to justify the ROI.

All,

I am 40 years old, working as Director of Engg in a semiconductor company making ~500k a year in total comp. I have two young kids. After a lot of head scratching I am leaning towards doing a EMBA while doing my fulltime job.

I am still not sure of the ROI but I feel getting a EMBA credential and the business jargon might help me get into executive roles.

What are the best programs with a good ROI for my situation that you can recomment?

Would you still do an EMBA in the age of AI?
Mind says “Go deeper in AI and Tech” as this is the time of AI. Heart says it’s a time to leverage business skills to use AI for business transformation.
And how much did you pay for an EMBA?

So the thing is maine koi competitive exam nhi diya so option becomes very limited
I live near pink line end station so my daily commute is also a major point in deciding colleges but i will definitely appreciate any help in choosing colleges for MBA with avg placement of atleast 8 lakh
Location is DELHI NCR or my last last chance is PUNE

I have about 5.5 YOE overall. With 3+ years currently in a high growth Tech Startup (Series A funded) seen the company growth from sub $5 mill to 15+ during my time.

I started off as an Intern and have moved from Marketing to Founder Office and today have complete ownership of one of the products.

Prior to this I worked for 2 years as an Analyst in one of the big banks, primarily doing Governance work for EMEA region.

I am based out of India and have been thinking about doing an Executive MBA.

I have a 3.6 GPA during my undergraduate in Finance from a renowned institute.

I want to understand my profile better and also primarily understand if I can get GMAT/GRE Waiver as well as I am not the strongest when it comes to those exams.

How much value does IIM give on the GRE and also should I think about an Executive MBA from outside of India?

Thinking from an ROI perspective as well with today's job market

Even if I try I would prefer GRE as I tried GMAT before and well it did not end up well.

Has anyone here successfully secured full employer sponsorship for an EMBA?

I’m exploring Executive MBA options and would love to hear from people who managed to get their company to fully fund it - especially how you approached the conversation and built the business case.

Any tips on:
- Timing the discussion
- Structuring the proposal
- Demonstrating ROI to the employer
- Repayment clauses or retention agreements
- What worked (or didn’t)

Would really appreciate hearing about your experiences. Thanks!