MBA after 5 years of product design experience in tech?

Following since I have similar thoughts. Would love to hear from someone experienced

Same, seems like a path to co-founding

Also would be a good path into product management, which ultimately pays more than design.

I would only go to B-school if it's top 5. The main thing that you get during an MBA is connections and those will be a lot more helpful at a top program

I have many MBA friends and family. One thing they'd all tell you is that b school doesn't teach leadership. You can read the same books and get the same info. Leadership has to be learned through doing, best with a mentor. B school is best for making connections and getting general economy/finance theory under your belt. When you say "climb up the ladder" do you mean within product design? Or some other area? You certainly don't get ahead in PD by having an MBA.

With 5 yoe, you are probably a senior designer right now. You may have more opportunities to demonstrate design leadership than you realise, especially if your goal is to become a principal designer. A lot depends on what you want to do with your MBA. The biggest gain, as others stated, is the network. But most of your peers won't be in the design space, unless: 1) getting MBA is part of their design leadership trajectory, possibly sponsored by the employer 2) getting MBA is a pathway to a highly specialised industry (ex. VC) If your goal is to become a PM, and if you have enough experience, product sense, aptitude for business, then you should be able to transition w/o MBA.