Comments on: Can business schools teach entrepreneurship?

By: Valuing an MBA in a startup « Nickpoint

Valuing an MBA in a startup « Nickpoint — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 12:18:39 +0000

[...] week there’s been alot of talk questioning the value of having an MBA in a startup – Giff Constable, Rob Chogo, Jon Steinberg, and Charlie O’Donnell (All stateside and non of whom I know). [...]

By: giffc

giffc — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 22:11:01 +0000

don't tease em too hard, because an MBA really can be valuable in lots of ways

you get an incredible network, you get a stamp of approval that big businesses want to see, you learn some great decision making and financial analysis tools, you can change entire careers and industries, etc.

but if you think about mark suster's blog series on what makes a great entrepreneur… well you can't learn that in school. Some of it is inherent in your makeup, and some you learn in the trenches by doing.

By: giffc

giffc — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 22:11:00 +0000

don’t tease em too hard, because an MBA really can be valuable in lots of ways nnyou get an incredible network, you get a stamp of approval that big businesses want to see, you learn some great decision making and financial analysis tools, you can change entire careers and industries, etc.nnbut if you think about mark suster’s blog series on what makes a great entrepreneur… well you can’t learn that in school. Some of it is inherent in your makeup, and some you learn in the trenches by doing.

By: ericamzalag

ericamzalag — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 16:02:55 +0000

You've definitely validated my ideas about business school here… Why pay $*00,000 for a network that you can build yourself if you work hard enough? This has been a major topic of discussion for me lately, as I am an undergrad living with 5 business majors. The topic of whether or not to get an MBA is a weekly occurrence. I've always believed that an MBA is not a must if you want to start a business, but its great to see someone more knowledgeable then I validate this idea. You can bet ill be passing this article on to my roommates next time the topic comes up.

By: giffc

giffc — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 04:58:56 +0000

lol nivi, but no one has any assumptions that college seriously preps you for much other than how to deal with a learning curve, unless one was an engineer, scientist, or pre-med

By: nivi

nivi — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 04:55:12 +0000

Let's not just pick on the MBAs. Almost all of your time in college is a big waste of time for everyone, including me.

By: ccarella

ccarella — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 14:37:23 +0000

No doubt an MBA can prepare you with some of the tools for the job. What it doesn't seem to prepare you for is risk. Entrepreneurial risk separates a CEO from an entrepreneur.

I do think school can do a better job of fostering that kind of risk. However, as a broad generalization from Kindergarten through any Masters, schools seem to want to push you down the track of making as much money as soon as possible (thus getting a job!).

By: Justin Pirie

Justin Pirie — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 09:43:05 +0000

Great post Giff. I'm feeling better and better about not doing an MBA- 10 years working – 4 startups – 3 exits later.

I'm even wondering now if my bachelors was worth it????