MBA in tech
Trying to decide if MBA is worth it. How much should post MBA PM expect compensation wise?
Do you already have technical background? If not, you won't be respected as a PM (and for some good reason, it takes empathy for what developers are doing to successfully work with them)
I did a software engineering undergrad and worked as a software engineer for 5 years for a defense contractor. After an MBA at a top 10 I started at $135k base, $22k target bonus, 320 shares (vested over four years ~$75k per year), and $40k signing bonus. I've got a good shot at promo this cycle after 1.25 years. In my opinion the MBA was definitely worth it but the compensation is just a small piece.
What if you don't have formal technical background and everything was self taught?
So it was basically worth two years of experience as an engineer at best.
Google has a pretty hard "technical undergrad" requirement for people coming from MBAs but I know there are other top tech companies that don't. If you are a SWE now they might look past that though.
that requirement isn't as hard as you might think...
if I want to aim for CxO roles in Google, would MBA help? I am SWE now..
Do MBA at a top 10, maybe 20-25(a lot of the schools are tied). You won't regret it I believe.
useless as pm
I disagree, it's been really helpful to me and I feel like it gives me a different lense than a lot of other PMs.
let me rephrase, useless as PM for compensation compared to opportunity cost.
an MBA won't give you a short term salary hike unless you change jobs, it will pay off over 10 years. if you're a program manager, it will help you become a product manager.
what is the difference between program and product manager?
it's not about this job or maybe not even about the next. it's about the jobs down the road that say "MBA preferred" and longer term exec roles.
What about the other way around? Have an undergrad in business and thinking about doing masters in computer science. Worth it? Main motivation is to stick it to all the assholes over the course of my career that pre-judge before they know anything about me. Not sure that's the right reason tho...
at Google I hear it's smarter to get a technical master's like CS to eventually be a PM
What in getting an MBA would be applicable to a career as a PM? It really doesn't seem like there is much overlap, and what overlap there is could be learned easier and cheaper in many other ways.
What about ceiling? With MBA you can move around after PM