5 ms·
It's fine to get an MBA but don't be an MBA
- tamping 14y agoHN is very consistent about jumping on the bandwagon against MBAs but this article manages to not just trot out the standard, over using comments.
- garand 14y agoI must confess. I read this title as "MacBook Air".
- jzawodn 14y agoGlad I'm not the only one... This is hacker news, after all...
- irunbackwards 14y agoIt's fine to purchase a MacBook Air, you just really don't want to be one.
- realrocker 14y agoI wonder why are there no stats involved in such posts. Like: What percentage of "successful" tech entrepreneurs had a business degree?
- fr0sty 14y agoSurvivor bias would be my guess. To say that X% of "successful tech entrepeneurs" have MBAs means nothing unless you know the % of total tech entrepeneurs (successful or not) that have MBAs.
- startupstella 14y agoas an entrepreneur getting my MBA, i can certainly see what this guy is referring to. it's pretty obvious an MBA is not imperative for your success, however, in general, more education is generally a good thing, especially if an individual is intellectually curious. for me an MBA is a way to get broad business skills without having to actually work in the non startup world. the "mba mindset" is what he is referring to...if you keep your startup down to earth personality while doing an MBA, youll be fine. if you start acting like your investment banker/consultant classmates, then youre in trouble.
- gm 14y agoThis MBA or no MBA talk is getting old. I expect more from you, HN. Move on.
- andrewflnr 14y agoThis is actually a pretty decent last word on the subject, IMHO.
- gozmike 14y agoAgreed. I wrote the pro-MBA post on HN and think that this guy nailed it.
- bhanks 14y agoYeah I am forwarding this to my be an MBA bro in law. Hopefully he can snap out of it before he graduates. One can hope, right?
- mathattack 14y agoIf he's your bro in law rather than brother in law, you're already in trouble.
- dbecker 14y agoThough the author used words other than "blah," all I heard while reading this article was "blah blah blah"
- janj 14y agoHow do you deal with a cofounder who has an MBA and is an MBA? I've been having this issue for the past two years and it can get very frustrating.
- EricDeb 14y agoI completed a dual MBA/MS in CS last may. An MBA is phenomenal for personal development and a broadening of perspective - certainly not essential to start or run a successful business. I personally think everyone should do an MBA as opposed to general undergrad requirements. A basic business sense is a great prerequisite for any career.
- deleted 14y ago[deleted]
- devgutt 14y agoShort MBA: Listen and learn with your customers. And The End. Extra bonus: Never read any other business book in your life. Back to programming.
- grendelt 14y agoIn short: Be you. Don't be a douche.