_and_the_other_leading_.webp)
For decades, an MBA was seen as the ultimate career booster, a golden ticket that opened doors to high-paying jobs and executive positions. It was a mark of prestige, intelligence, and ambition. But times have changed. The business world today values real skills over fancy degrees, and companies are no longer willing to pay a premium for employees whose expertise is limited to case studies and PowerPoint slides.
Take the example of Riya, a bright, ambitious young woman who worked as a data analyst at a fast-growing startup. She was earning well, gaining hands-on experience, and had a direct impact on the company’s growth. But she believed that an MBA would accelerate her career. So, she left her job and spent two years at a prestigious business school, investing her savings and taking out a hefty loan.
When she graduated, she realized a hard truth—her starting salary was barely higher than what she had been earning before, and the job market was flooded with MBA graduates struggling to stand out. The problem? Companies now prioritize people who can solve real problems over those who can just talk about them in boardrooms.
This is the tragedy of the MBA dream. While top-tier B-schools still carry some brand value, the reality is that most MBA graduates are funneled into middle management roles that offer slow career progression and little room for creativity. Meanwhile, the biggest success stories today come from engineers, designers, and domain experts who are building companies, not just managing them.
The world has changed. AI, automation, and data-driven decision-making are redefining industries. Business schools still rely on outdated models, while real-world innovation happens elsewhere. If you want to succeed today, the best way is not through textbooks but through experience—working at a startup, launching a project, or solving real-world challenges.
So, before you invest lakhs of rupees and years of your life into an MBA, ask yourself: What do you truly hope to gain? If it’s skills, you can learn them online for free. If it’s a network, the best connections are made by working with brilliant people, not sitting in a classroom.
Learn real skills. Build something that matters. The business world is moving forward, and those stuck in old-school degrees are being left behind.