Depends on what you are willing to invest and time you are willing to invest to get to a senior role.  
 MBA will just help you get the job faster. I have an MBA and I got into the PM role with 1.5 years of post MBA experience where a lot of PM with non MBA got the same role with 7-8 years of experience. (Almost similar ctc though ) . Now when I am planning to switch I am seeing many companies have just kept MBA as preferable for a PM role so definitely not mandatory.  
  
 MBA Pro  
 1) Rise up the ladder faster  
 2) More options open up like growth manager, product marketing manager  
  
 MBA cons 
 1) Cost of getting one 😅

Thanks for your inputs! My main confusion comes from the fact that I’m already a PM. In the short term the cost of an MBA is too high. As per my research, PM is a role which needs more on the job experience and MBA may not directly add value as it teaches only one aspect (business) of the PM responsibilities. But does it affect in the run? Will I miss out on anything if I don’t do an MBA now?

Product Manager

If you are getting good exposure and learning at your current company you may not lose out, one risk I see is few big companies keep mba as a pre requisite for a senior PM roles so  you may miss your chances there but these are handful of companies . If growth and ctc are good currently do not risk it for mba (assuming you want to stick to PM role only)

Hi, I know it’s a much debated topic but I wanted honest views of my fellow grapers/viners/grapeviners. How valuable is an MBA as a PM? What are the tradeoffs  MBA vs Non MBA? Does it affect the ca...

Welcome to Product Managers's Private Community

Hi, I know it’s a much debated topic but I wanted honest views of my fellow grapers/viners/grapeviners. How valuable is an MBA as a PM? What are the trade-offs - MBA vs Non MBA? Does it affect the career 10 years down the line?

About myself: I’ve 3.5 years of work experience as a PM in the BFSI sector. I did my engineering from a tier 1 institute and started my career as a PM. Currently wondering what to do next. The learning experience in the current company has been below par as of today with no signs of improvement. I would like to explore VC, PE but I’m happy with PM too. 

If you are pro MBA, bonus points for suggesting any relevant courses. If against, then please suggest any upskilling resources 🙌🏻

TIA

MBA as a PM

MBA as a PM- Grapevine

Hi Folks,
I am trying to understand how relevant it is for a PM, say after 6 years of experience, to have an MBA. (By this I mean an executive MBA)

While I would like to understand pros and cons, what I also wanted to ask this group we have here is, if there are alternate resources or curriculum resources available anywhere so anyone can get that education without spending a fortune. 
Not everyone can spend 30L for an education, also not everyone can afford to miss getting paid, due to commitments or debts or medical expenses to near and dear.

I would like to know your honest thoughts on how MBA has helped you with your thinking and hence working and if you could share some resources, followed by say Top Tier colleges, to aid anyone who is following this thread.

MBA or Non MBA PM

This is not a question for the cocky new grad in the overvalued startup, but for the few seasoned PMs that still reply out here.

Where do PMs go after they peak?

By peaking I mean arriving at a GPM or Staff PM position at the top 10-15 companies (you can do your own ranking here).

Nobody has the true statistics but I will use the assumption that 75% (debatable) of those who peak, will get laid off within 2 years from their ‘peak role’. The remaining will be able to progress into DoP and VP in the same top company or another in the top 15.

Where do they go then?

I am pretty positive, from experience, that they don’t go any up.

Do they go down the ladder of new startups for titles and ending up in the worst ones after being laid off 4-5 times? Do they quit all together?

Do they open a farm?

Do they start their own startup?

Comments and thoughts folks!

Where Do PMs Go After They Peak?

Software Developer

->The question is will a MBA help to make the switch or a jump easier...or having work ex and then going for MBA is better ?*
I'm an economics graduate (FRESHER) and currently working under 'growth and retention' having a decent exposure as the team is small...though I plan to switch from this role to PM.

WOULD REALLY APPRECIATE SOME INPUT ON THIS.

Career inputs

Product Marketing Manager

Welcome to Business Roles's Private Community

I work as a PM in a B2B SaaS startup and have an overall 4 years of experience all of which is in product management. Now, feeling a stagnant in growth and salary. I was wondering if I should try for an. MBA from IIMs or ISB?

My current package is around 36 LPA. I do not want to change my field and I like being a PM. Then does MBA make sense for me in long term?

Is MBA worth doing for me?

PM with 5 years of experience, AMA

Sharing some reflections on this:

1. Product is not a function with a large hierarchy / multiple levels in the ladder. Managerial responsibility comes in very late in the product career and the spans are typically small (relative to other functions like engineering, sales, operations). This also means a steeper funnel to the top and only a handful VP Product roles in the industry.

2. Product is centered around technology and digital consumer trends, both of which are fast changing. This requires constant unlearning and relearning. But more critically, this also means that previous knowledge/experience hits a plateau on marginal value beyond a basic threshold (where you have developed some essential product semse and skills).

3. Product managers are also much higher-paid vs other functional peers, at comparable years of experience. This means that a PM gets to a very high salary (say, 1+ crore) by the age of 40 (15-20y into their career). Tech functions in non-tech companies (like FMCG, banking) cannot offer that kind of pay, meaning salary growth beyond a point is limited to tech-first companies / limiting addressable market for lateral moves.

All of these considererd, how should PMs think about the longevity of their careers? Unlike traditional roles, this does not seem like a "retire at 60" job. What would be the realistic age one should plan for, at which career growth and salary growth will stagnate? What are ways in which a 80%ile PM can extend their career (eg: also taking up engineering management or P&L responsibility or growth function etc., to increase scope)?

PS: this post is not for the top 5-10% PMs. They will always find roles at VP level etc, this is for the 50-90%ile bucket of PM talent.

Longevity of a product career

Will commend you on a very well written and well articulated post. 
  
 Options for the future will be apparent at ~40.  Most peak roles will be achieved between 45-50. 
  
 Possible exits: 
  
 1. Running Category roles at companies which have a broad canvas, multiple product categories. 
 2. Deputing for and eventually running a P&L or a LoB. 
 3. Sales or more critically Customer Success.  Don't shy away from revenue responsibilities. 
  
 Engineering is a sharp left turn imo.  It's not an overlapping skillset at best and don't see how that is part of a PMs likely roadmap.

Sales Manager

Investor

Do I loose out on senior roles in larger/  ‘branded’ orgs as I gain more experience due not being an MBA from top 10?

Current role - PM at Unicorn 
YoE - 4.5 , Pm ex -2 
Education : BTech from tier 3 college 
Ctc - 41 lpa + esops 

I haven’t been able to get any short lists from MANGA or other large tech orgs only from startups.

Should I do an MBA?

Senior Product Manager

I am confused if I am the right candidate for the program. I don't have a solid reason for pursuing this course. 

My thoughts:
1. How will this degree help me in my career growth?
2. am I already earning more than what usually is earned by a passing out MBA grad?
3. I will get married in the next 2 years, and I want to get done with any additional degree before that.
4. What if my career growth hit some blockers just because I didn't invest some time and lacs into this degree.

About Me:
I have 4 and half years of experience as a Data Engineer. My academics are phenomenal (10 CGPA in 10th, 78% in 12th(99 percentile State Board) and Gold medalist in Btech with CGPA of 9.2 from new IIIT.

Experience: ZS, Flipkart, Grammerly 
Current role: SDE2 / L2, will be promoted in next 6 months

Salary: Cash component: 35LPA+RSU( projected to reach 40LPA + more RSU) in next 6 months)


Pls, this post is not to brag. I am asking for genuine advice on why one with such a portfolio should join an MBA degree program. My motive is just lying in how it will increases my earning potential along with career growth.

Should I do an executive MBA from IIM?

Data engineer

I am a frontend engineer in a startup with a CTC of 7. I am also from a tier 3 engineering college graduated last month.
I want to become a product manager in the future. 
So my question is what things I should to achieve my goal. Will doing an MBA help me, if yes which is more better MBA from old IIM’s, ISB or global MBA ?

MBA for product manager role

Frontend Engineer

Hi guys, 
I have between 5-6 years of experience in engineering role (QA/Test automation). However over these years I have found the role to be unfulfilling due to the growth, impact and visibility. 
I have been considering going for a full time executive MBA (In India/Abroad) to switch into a PM/Strategy role. 
Wanted to understand if this is going to be really worth it, considering I will have high chances to start again at an entry level position? Or is this common to do post MBA?

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