Is MBA worth it? My honest take after Wharton!
It's 2 AM. I'm sitting in my kitchen, surrounded by finance textbooks and empty coffee cups, trying to understand discounted cash flow models while my phone won't stop buzzing with work notifications. My family's asleep upstairs, and I'm honestly questioning every life choice that led me to this moment.
Fast-forward two years, and I'm walking across the Wharton graduation stage with a completely different perspective on business, leadership, and my career.
So the question everyone's been asking me: Should you get an MBA? After 15 years in tech, working at companies like Google and Microsoft, and now having completed my MBA while working full-time, I'm ready to give you my completely honest answer.
Should you get an MBA? Is MBA worth it?
Why I Decided to Get an MBA After 15 Years in Tech
By most measures, I was doing pretty well in my career. I started as a software engineer, got my Master's at Penn, and spent 15 years climbing the ladder in tech. I worked at Google as a Staff Developer Advocate, led teams, spoke at over 100 conferences, and even wrote a bestselling book.
But here's what I realized: I was craving a diverse network beyond just my tech friends.
Don't get me wrong—I love technology. But I wanted to expand my network beyond just engineers and product managers. I wanted to understand how decisions are made in finance, healthcare, venture capital, and real estate. I wanted to learn about marketing and operations at a strategic level, not just from a technical perspective.
Plus, as I moved into more senior roles, I found myself making business decisions based on intuition and tech experience. I wanted frameworks and strategic thinking tools to back up those decisions.
What I Actually Gained (And It Wasn't What I Expected)
Here's the interesting part: what I gained from my MBA wasn't exactly what I expected.
Yes, I learned frameworks. Yes, I built my network. But the biggest change was this quiet, internal confidence that comes from being in rooms with incredibly smart people from different backgrounds and realizing you can hold your own.
I've been lucky to be around some of the smartest people in tech at Google and Microsoft. But my MBA class was different. It included lawyers, doctors, CFOs, VCs, pilots, and startup founders. We'd tackle complex business cases together, and I'd bring the tech perspective while learning from their expertise. It was like having a crash course in how different industries think about problems.
The Practical Skills I Use Every Day
I also gained practical skills I use constantly in my work:
When we're developing go-to-market strategies for developer products, I'm literally applying frameworks from my marketing classes
When I'm managing budgets and teams, I'm using operations concepts from my scaling ventures course
I even negotiated my job offer using tips from our negotiations class
The MBA gave me a common business language and set of tools that I can apply across any industry or role.
Why an MBA Isn't Right for Everyone
Let's be real here. An MBA is not a magic bullet, and it's definitely not right for everyone.
Don't Get an MBA If:
You're just trying to figure out what to do with your life. Business school is not a two-year vacation to "find yourself." It's expensive and intense, and you need to know why you're there.
You think it's an automatic promotion. I've seen people spend $200K on an MBA and then get frustrated when they don't immediately get the job they want. The MBA opens doors, but you still have to walk through them and prove yourself.
You're in engineering and want to stay there. In many areas of tech, especially engineering, your skills and track record matter way more than your degree. If you're a brilliant engineer who wants to stay in engineering, you probably don't need an MBA.
DO Consider It If:
You want to switch industries
You're hitting a ceiling and need business credibility
You want a structured learning path
You're planning to start your own company and need the network and knowledge base
The Timing Question: Why I Waited 15 Years
This might be the most important part of my advice: timing matters more than you think.
I waited 15 years to get my MBA, and I'm so glad I did. Here's why:
1. Immediate Application
I could immediately apply what I was learning. When we studied go-to-market strategies in class, I was literally implementing them at Google. When we learned about organizational behavior, I was managing teams and could test the concepts in real-time.
2. Bringing Value to the Classroom
Instead of just absorbing information, I could share real examples and challenge theoretical frameworks with practical experience. My professors loved having someone who could say, "Actually, here's how that played out when we tried it at Google."
3. Clear Purpose
I wasn't exploring career options—I was strategically enhancing specific skills to achieve specific goals.
You Absolutely Cannot Do This Alone
Here's something they don't tell you in those glossy MBA brochures: you absolutely cannot do this alone.
When you're juggling a demanding full-time job, weekend classes, group projects, case study prep, and trying to maintain some kind of personal life, your support system becomes everything.
My team at Google and Microsoft was incredible—they covered for me and understood when I had to duck out early for Friday classes. My manager actively supported my goals and helped me see connections between what I was learning and our work projects.
But honestly? My family was the real MVP. They picked up slack at home and understood that some evenings I'd be completely consumed by assignments or group calls.
Before you commit to an MBA program, especially while working, make sure you have people in your corner who understand the commitment you're making.
My Practical Advice: Ask Yourself These Questions
If you're considering an MBA, start with these questions:
1. What specific problem are you trying to solve?
For me, it was breaking out of tech-only networks and gaining business strategy skills. Be specific about your goals.
2. Can you solve it without an MBA?
Sometimes online courses, certifications, or just changing jobs can get you there faster and cheaper.
3. Are you ready to be a student again?
It's harder than you think when you're used to being the expert in the room.
4. How will you measure success?
Don't just say "better job"—be specific about what that means for you.
Working while doing your MBA is tough, but it's also incredibly rewarding. I did the Executive MBA program, which meant I kept my full-time job. It was exhausting, but it also meant I could immediately test everything I was learning.
My Honest Answer: Should YOU Get an MBA?
Remember that 2 AM moment I started with? Sitting in my kitchen, exhausted and overwhelmed, wondering what I'd gotten myself into?
Here's what I wish I could have told myself then: it gets better, and it's worth it. But only if you're doing it for the right reasons.
Yes, Get an MBA If:
You have clear goals that an MBA can help you achieve
You're ready to invest deeply in your growth
You have a strong support system
You understand it's an accelerator for existing ambitions, not a magic solution for uncertainty
No, Don't Get an MBA If:
You're just trying to figure out what to do with your career
You think it's an automatic ticket to success
You're not prepared for the intense commitment it requires
The Bottom Line
The real question isn't whether MBAs are worth it in general. The question is whether it's worth it for YOU, right now, given your goals and circumstances.
An MBA gave me the confidence, network, and strategic thinking tools I needed to take my career to the next level. But I went in with clear objectives and realistic expectations.
If you're considering this path, take time to really think through your motivations and goals. Talk to people who've done it, understand the commitment, and make sure you have the support system you'll need.
Most importantly, remember that an MBA is just a tool. Like any tool, its value depends entirely on how you use it.
What questions do you have about the MBA experience? I'd love to hear your thoughts and answer any questions in the comments below.
