Why MBA? This is literally the most common question asked to MBA aspirants and B-school students alike. What is it that forced you or led you to tread on this path? How can a 23-year-old something Engineer or Literature graduate know that he/she has business acumen? Nevertheless, we all have our own answers to this question - some make sense and some don’t. The answer to this question, in my understanding is quite different from what you might think. But let’s put that aside for a while.
India is a large country with a population of 133.92 crores, around 29 crore graduates, and about 3 lakh B-School students that graduate every year. Which of these categories do you fall in? In a country where competition increases by the second and very opportunities up for grabs, will you do what takes to make yourself useful in any which way? Now, this is where I align my original question to this one concept – we do an MBA not to learn about people management, sales forecasts or business analytics. We pursue management degrees to be able to learn anything and do anything as and when it is required of us and to make ourselves useful in getting things done in a better way.
So what value does an MBA add to your career apart from a fat pay check?
To start with, MBA provides you a great way to clean your slate. Students from diverse backgrounds get a chance of starting something new (meaning – if you suddenly realise that engineering is not your calling, MBA is your way out!). MBA is a brand, and a MBA degree from ivy league B-school gives you a chance to be a recognised and it basically makes you the infamous
'Sharma uncle’s beta’. MBA gives you a platform and an opportunity to network. To network with industry professionals, bootstrapping entrepreneurs and good old professors.
Basically, sky is the limit. But we all knew that right? The reason why we decided to slog to get into or try to get into a B-school, maybe much against our own desire and will?
But here is where I tell you, that you’re missing one thing out - ‘
The art of getting things done through people’.
Yes, you can read that again - that is the definition of Management. We must hope to complete our masters of business administration with the knack of doing everything more efficiently.
If we successfully incorporate what we learn in a MBA degree, every task or every job as trivial as it may be can be done in a better way – be it designing your house, managing your personal finances, even starting up your own venture. Everything can be done better with an MBA degree.
So this is the answer to ‘Why MBA?’- To add value not just to your Resume but to your life.
Also check:
Why MBA by Other Current Students & Alumni