In my webinars “Transitioning from Technical Expert to Business Leader”, I posed to the audience the option of graduate studies. In this case, an MBA degree. I get asked questions like “Do I have to?” and “Isn’t that expensive?”
I had my graduate degree from the Asian Institute of Management and here are some of my thoughts since then:
It depends on your goals. Is it to widen your knowledge and skills? Is it to make yourself more marketable? Is it to learn how to start your own business? In which case, consider an MBA although you can achieve those goals in other ways. For example, if you aspire to be an entreprenuer, get mentored by a business owner for hands-on experience.
Don’t be daunted by the expense. Ask the institutions if they offer scholarships. My AIM education cost an arm and a leg, but I was blessed in that AIM matched me with a corporate sponsor who did not expect me to pay them back. In fact, after I graduated, the sponsor offered me a job in its Corporate Planning department. I thanked the organization but politely declined as I wanted to forge a different path. But that’s another story.
An MBA opens doors. But once you step through that door and you’re inside the organization, it’s up to you to succeed. Yes, the MBA may give you the tools, say, understanding corporate finance. But at the end of the day, it’s how you work well with people, deliver your targets, and think strategically. It’s you – not the degree – who’s doing the heavy lifting.
So while MBA is an excellent option, do your research before you make the big plunge in time, energy, and resources. Then again, it may be the best decision you will make so far.
April 22, 2024
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