So I’ve been with FAANG for 5 years (I’m 30 y/o). I’m pretty comfortable with my situation. Got average grades at a good undergrad university, total comp ~300k. I’m debating Ivy League MBA. I don’t think it’ll benefit me at FAANG, but I’d like to start a company eventually. Worth it?

From a financial standpoint, probably not. Look for state schools that have better metrics for the specific programs you’re looking at and do it concurrent to work maybe? But you don’t need the mba to start a business, you need a high risk tolerance, a good idea, and the ability to recruit good people that shore up where you are weaker in skills.

Look at part-time MBAs, full time are best when you want to do a pivot (industry, function, geography) and online are very narrow in their benefits.

Also, MBA program strength doesn’t strictly correlate to Ivy status. Outcomes for Harvard can be different to Cornell, for example.

Know tons of people in VC. Never once have they said ‘invested because of the founders edu’. VC’s invest based on numbers, product quality, scalability, and potential growth

You’re better off taking the $200K for the MBA and starting a company with that.

Started my own company. Have worked at Google and FB. Have an Ivy League degree for undergrad.

My life lessons;

A). An Ivy League education is ludicrously overrated and the only value comes from your network when compared to state schools.

B). No one gave a shit where I went to school when I started my company. They cared a lot more about where I had my experience and why it was relevant to the product I was starting.

C). Imagine investing 200k and retiring early.

Just my thoughts tho

Not to be harsh or disrespectful, but use a bit of common sense. You already made it in your career without the MBA. You could easily keep progressing in your career without the MBA. Much of what you are learning in your career anyway and getting paid for it, you are doing without an MBA. Why spend the money on a MBA, if your job experience is already teaching you what you’d be learning in process to getting a MBA? You essentially are getting paid in your career to expand your knowledge to that of a MBA, instead of dropping the money for it.

Starting a startup, doesn’t require a MBA. Tons of world-leading companies were started with non-MBA holders. I’d say it’s almost more of a requirement for a CEO to have a MBA, before the actual Founder. Sounds wild, but a quick analysis of the VC space and you will easily see a validated statement based on facts.

Take the money you would spend during getting an MBA and do this:

- Legal Paperwork: Make your startup idea a legit business on paper, open business bank accounts, EIN, etc;

- Pitchdeck: the holy grail of what your startup is, will be, and the plan for the next x amount of years to make your startup industry leading.

- Website: at least have a web presence that states what your business will be, you can double this to an interactive investors presentation so they can get a real idea of what x startup is.

- Trade Shows, Conventions, etc; get hands on in the field you love, the business you are trying to start before talking to anybody. A little leg work, but it’s free PR and you are connecting with players in the space you are looking to innovate in a way…creating a catalyst for your education and business growth.

- Create your MVP and get your first customer success stories: because wtf are you doing after awhile if you aren’t actually doing the damn startup? This is where you put the flag in ground to seek the glory. You also have moved completely from idea to tangible and now should have some numbers for revenue. Meaning, it makes sense for a VC to talk at this point. MBAs don’t make startups happen, people do.

Once you have done all this (very simple in a way but not easy), it will make complete sense to talk to a VC and give yourself more leverage. You are not an educated idealist, but a Founder who is forging their own way. They can see your vision and invest in a partnership with you or kick rocks. I GUARANTEE YOU, if your approach is something like this…THE LAST THING ANYONE WILL CARE ABOUT IS…’where did you get your MBA?’ The posture and tonality is completely different. Not saying a MBA is nothing, salute to those who achieve in academic institutions…but founders are pioneers who achieve in real-world scenarios. MBAs can help, but ultimately that MBA won’t save your business when things get rough.

Go fly, get serious and really lock in and achieve that vision. Plus any VC with common sense seeing a solid startup from you and you are ex-FAANG…probably will care less about a MBA because the biggest innovators already took interest in you and you’re doing well within the climate ⚡️

You are inspiring and I would love to learn about your path to success! Would you be open to a coffee chat?

I think you’re in an amazing spot (career and financial) to start an Ivy League mba for the following reasons, 1) Your network will increase immensely (consulting, tech, non profit, energy, you name it), 2) Using schools resources you can already try your start up idea or go through the process on an idea you don’t believe in, 3) Access to numerous recruiting events and coffee chats will broaden your horizon and show you non - faang interesting options. You don’t know what you don’t know, and 4) Last but not least, you’ll have access to an alumni network that you can tap into whenever you start your start up journey. The Ivy League mba networks are extremely well connected with VC/ PE firms.

why do you need an mba to start a company?

Do you love boosting your ego? MBA might help with that. That’s about it.

You’d just be paying for a network at an Ivy League. I’d image if you’re already coming from a FAANG org, you aren’t too many degrees of separation away from great founders and investors. I’d recommend getting involved in the startup ecosystem in your region and start utilizing those resources/ connections.

For staring and rubbing a business- which I did before and after a college degree… you want a business education.

Accounting, business law, cost benefit analysis, risk assessment…. Marketing.
Creating a business is its own animal.

If you want to start a business in tech, doing what you love, then hire people to do the parts you can not do for yourself. Because it is really hard to be excellent at all the different components of business.

And no, you don’t need Ivy League.
You need information: Google it.?
Hire excellent people… and just do it. :)

Exec does not have the same advantages as full-time. Its a waste tbh. Even the full-time alumni look down upon you

Curious of your type of role and what your undergrad major was?

I am exactly in same boat but at $250 TC and i am heading to M7 EMBA. Lets do it 👍🏻

It's worth it for the education. If you're just doing it to look good it won't help much

Wait 1-2 more years and get your exec mba.

Curriculum is more relevant to your current position and long term goals.

If you can get into the GSB I would 100% do that full time program given your end goals.

No. Cost-benefit analysis.

I got into 3 of the top 5 (US) few years ago- full time , but I backed out. It was really tough because Im one of those in the low probability category (race, gender). I regret to this day.