The technology industry is one of the fastest growing industries in the world. But it is also a rapidly changing one, with a high level of layoffs, disruptions, and uncertainty. Workers in the technology industry need to constantly keep up with the demand for new skills and knowledge.
Technology professionals often ask us at mbaMission how an MBA can help them advance in their career—or whether an MBA would even be helpful to them. What are the top roles for MBAs in the technology industry? Should you consider pursuing a Tech MBA? What is the difference between a regular MBA and a Tech MBA program? With this blog post, we hope to provide you with food for thought on this topic and help you understand how a Tech MBA might help you further your career in the technology industry.
“Is earning an MBA worthwhile for people in the technology industry?”
The answer to this question depends on a number of factors. To assess whether an MBA would be worthwhile to have in your technology career, consider what your goals are. For example, if your long-term career goal is to achieve a role such as chief technology officer, you might be required to have an advanced engineering or computer science degree. However, many roles in the technology industry could benefit from a dual understanding of how business and technological aspects interact and affect a company’s revenue. For example, product managers are responsible for managing various facets of a product line, such as understanding customer needs, defining product strategy, working with development teams, and driving product launches. These duties require a combination of business and technological knowledge and skills
One way to research whether an MBA is valued at your company or in your particular field is to look at the profiles of professionals who have the job you want. What type of prior work experience do they have? What is their educational background? You can also review job postings to see what the criteria are for the roles you might wish to pursue in the future.
“What kinds of roles do MBAs have in the technology industry?”
Many roles in the technology industry value the business acumen that MBAs possess, particularly in the following areas and functions:
- Product management: overseeing various aspects of a firm’s profit and loss
- Marketing: driving sales and marketing campaigns for products
- Business development: identifying new market opportunities, including strategic partnerships
- Corporate development: creating and executing plans to help a company grow, including mergers and acquisitions
“What is a Tech MBA?”
Some business schools specifically offer what is known as a “Tech MBA,” such as the Johnson Cornell Tech MBA, NYU Stern’s Andre Koo Technology and Entrepreneurship MBA, and UW Foster’s Technology Management MBA. Certain aspects of these programs differ from one school to the next, however. For example, the Johnson Cornell Tech MBA is a one-year residential program, whereas UW Foster’s Technology Management MBA is an 18-month program.
When deciding which program is right for you, be sure to research the curriculum at the ones you are considering. What skill gaps do you need to fill in business school? Does the curriculum allow you to waive out of courses in subjects in which you already have expertise, allowing you to focus more on areas you want or need to learn? Asking these sorts of questions will help you understand how a program could help you advance in your technology career.
“What is the difference between a traditional MBA program and a Tech MBA program?”
The two major differences between regular MBA and Tech MBA programs lie in the makeup of the student community and the academic curriculum.
First, students in a traditional MBA program typically come from a variety of backgrounds, though many will have a business background in finance or consulting. In general, regular MBA programs strive to assemble a diverse class of students from a wide range of industries, functions, and roles. Consequently, graduates from traditional MBA programs tend to want to enter different industries and functions.
Most students in Tech MBA programs, by contrast, come from the technology sector or have technical skills and plan to return to the industry post-MBA or enter a technical role of some kind, possibly even outside the technology sector.
Second, in a Tech MBA program, the curriculum focuses on technology and technology-related business and management skills, whereas in a traditional MBA program, the curriculum usually covers more general business and management topics.
Keep in mind that even if a business school does not offer a dedicated Tech MBA, it might still have plenty of technology-related courses or programs. For example, MIT Sloan offers a Digital Product Management Certificate, and students at the Stanford Graduate School of Business have opportunities to take classes at the university’s engineering school.
These are just some of the common questions we receive from tech applicants to business school; candidates undoubtedly have many more that we have not addressed here. If you would like additional guidance on choosing the right MBA program to help you progress in your technology career—or on how to approach your MBA applications—sign up for a free 30-minute consultation with a member of the mbaMission team.
