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The best managers are people focused - meaning they want their people to contribute, grow and then move on even if it means losing a body to do the work.
If this person thinks a MBA will help them grow, then let them go with all the encouragement you can give and start working on your Plan B. Unless you’ve already established a close mentor-like relationship with this direct report, any questioning to “understand his/her logic” for this move will come off as self-serving. A mature professional would sniff out your motives if you wanted them to stay for your sake. If that person is a strong contributor, send them off with your blessing and figure out your backfill plan…oh the joys of leadership!
I’d say it depends on their career goals. Maybe an MBA isn’t needed for a director level position but it may be helpful if they wish to become a general manager or senior level executive at a large corporation.
Unless they want to change career path or move to a new city and need a network, I don’t think it will help at all. Rarely do you even see it as a “nice to have” on JDs for PM
It depends of course, but a 100K MBA isn’t worth a “nice to have” line on resume unless you have money stashed or do an Executive program. Years of experience and a portfolio of work is my preference. However if their goal is leadership or moving to product management, an MBA holds weight.
I have an MBA (early career, got it after 1 year in industry) and then entered PMM.
An MBA helps one learn many business functions. As a PMM, you work cross functionally, so being able to think at a more strategic level benefits a PMM (whether through MBA or experience).
If it will greatly affect you and your team for this person to leave, I’d suggest asking their goals. Do they HAVE to relocate to go to the school they will attend? Or are they just thinking MBA = 2 extra years to party?
Does your company have an education stipend that can help them pay for a part-time MBA program?
I’d urge you to approach it as an opportunity for employee growth AND if they are sticking around, it buys you time. I think pitching it to leadership about why this is win/win if you don’t have a stipend to create one.
Never look at it from your company’s view. The best managers want the best for their employees. Don’t worry about the hiring process if they leave.
Ask other managers for their opinions about MBAs for PMMs. Reddit is a great place to start. If you have LinkedIn connections who are directors like you, reach out and ask them for their thoughts