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The answer to all your questions is "it depends" (yeah, cliche). I have an BS Architecture (not from the USA) so I had to no choice but to get an MBA degree (f

The answer to all your questions is "it depends" (yeah, cliche). I have an BS Architecture (not from the USA) so I had to no choice but to get an MBA degree (from the USA). I did kind an "eMBA" (basically working full time) from a Top something school 1) Yes, if you have an engineering degree. Business is like another language so there is jargon in accounting, marketing, finance, etc that you need to learn. If you are not getting that at work, the MBA will at least enable you to understand "executive-level" conversations. Most of them are common sense (you can pick it up from context) but it is way different if presented to you in a rigid, structured, organized fashion vs listening to random conversations. You can obviously learn this all from Khan Academy ... The other overlooked thing here is the people that you meet. On the more expensive programs (>$100k+), the pitch will be you will meet the same quality people as you (same aspirations) and that is true to a degree as the quality of your education will be partly affected by who is in your class. Make sure you go the MAIN CAMPUS of the school and not a off-campus thing. I personally felt the on-campus experience was great (we have a good football team so that helps) 2) When I did my eMBA (graduated in 2004), the salaries were around $80-85k. I realized that most of the people in the program were making around $40-50k and hoping to get that bump. I was making about $150k/yr at the time so this wasn't really the reason why I went to get my MBA (it was to get a U.S. degree) so you will just get some funny looks when you tell people you don't have any interviews set up. Most BIGCOs (specially consulting firms) value an MBA, I guess because they can mark up your rates. As an engineer and a TECHNICAL manager (not just a "manager"), you will most likely make more money than 90% of the MBAs even without an MBA. Salary is NOT one of the reasons you are doing this. 3) Getting into executive management is more about opportunity and luck. You could be the most qualified person in your company but there only so many seats to go around (1 VP Eng, 1 CTO, etc.) so you may have to look elsewhere. An MBA will certainly help but it will NOT be the main reason you get there. The MBA just lets people know you have met a "bar" (like "ok so this guy knows the basic business stuff") so they can check that box off when shortlisting candidates. At the end of the day, it will be how much value you can bring to the table in totality. Executive management is less being a "manager" but being a "leader" as your role will have a lot more impact in the company (in a normal, sane, non-dysfunctional company) and you will have to think more strategically. The MBA will have courses in "Strategy" that will allow you to have some structures, words to communicate in your head when you present your plan to the people. You can have all the strategy in the world but if you cannot communicate it in a structured, organized & impactful way, then you will not get the job. It's not just using BS buzzwords but really making the board (or CEO) imagine that you are ALREADY in executive management.

slgeorge 10y ago
I completely agree with your point 3). If the primary goal is to get into "executive management" then that should be the basis of analysis - and there' s more than one way to do it. Talent/skill, luck and opportunity are all important, it's worth considering how to impact those parameters from your unique circumstance . For example, most large organisations identify key talent and have a track for exec management, getting onto that track by networking and receiving good internal talent scores is one route. In another organisation it might be a case of figuring out if there's a way to progress within the existing structure and asking for support training. And then if there's no possible route, figuring out the best organisation to join where there will be a route. In all cases there are (as you say) only a few seats at the top tier, so make sure you're doing work that you enjoy 90% of the time, doing something horrible for 5 years so that you have a possible opportunity in the future isn't a good trade-off in my opinion.

slgeorge 10y ago

I completely agree with your point 3). If the primary goal is to get into "executive management" then that should be the basis of analysis - and there' s more than one way to do it. Talent/skill, luck and opportunity are all important, it's worth considering how to impact those parameters from your unique circumstance . For example, most large organisations identify key talent and have a track for exec management, getting onto that track by networking and receiving good internal talent scores is one route. In another organisation it might be a case of figuring out if there's a way to progress within the existing structure and asking for support training. And then if there's no possible route, figuring out the best organisation to join where there will be a route. In all cases there are (as you say) only a few seats at the top tier, so make sure you're doing work that you enjoy 90% of the time, doing something horrible for 5 years so that you have a possible opportunity in the future isn't a good trade-off in my opinion.