MBA Truly Worth It (Currently in Corp Dev)
Hey Monkeys,
I'm currently in the process of defining the trajectory for my future career and would greatly appreciate your insights and advice. Here's an overview of my career to this point: I attended a non-target school where I majored in Marketing and Business Analytics & Information Systems. However, I managed to secure a position in a Finance Development Rotational Program at a Fortune 40 technology company. The program was highly demanding, offering a curriculum akin to an MBA and involving rotations in controllership, sales operations, and corporate development (M&A). Given my personal interest in the financial markets, valuation, and strategy, the corporate development role was particularly interesting to me. Thus, I was lucky to find a rotation where I was able to gain 6-months of tangible corporate development experience, along with experience on a live deal.
Upon graduation from my development program, the corporate development team didn't have budget to take on additional headcount. Thus, I was luckily able to lateral to a F200 tech company where I am currently a Corporate Development & Strategy Analyst currently in a major US city. I currently enjoy the role very much as I'm on a small M&A team within a large strategy organization. I'm able to evaluate tech businesses to buy to drive the business forward, while engaging in highly impactful strategy consulting projects as well. Moreover, many of my colleagues in the broader strategy group have either attended Harvard, Kellogg, Booth, etc., and are all previous MBB consultants which provides a phenomenal environment to learn from their expertise.
The current challenge in my career stems from the fact that I was able to bypass the traditional paths of investment banking and consulting. While I appreciate the unconventional route I've taken, there's a lingering concern about potentially missing out on the "rite of passage" associated with these roles (i.e., Exit opportunities, fast-track to corporate leadership roles). This becomes particularly relevant when considering future competition for corporate development leadership positions, where individuals with investment banking backgrounds may have a perceived advantage. Consequently, I am contemplating pursuing a top MBA as a strategic move to augment my business acumen and skill set. However, I'm unsure of the true value of an MBA given: (1) I'm already in corporate development and would miss out on continuing to gain tangible experience unless I go part-time (2) Investment banking post MBA helps you gain valuable skills but the hours don't seem appealing or worth it, and the appealing exit ops (i.e., The reason I'd even choose banking would be for the option of potentially joining a HF/PE firm) are geared toward analysts (3) MBB/consulting travel doesn't seem sustainable to me long-term, but I'm aware of the industry/strategic exposure I'd receive that could put me ahead of my corporate peers. However, MBB/consulting experience isn't super relevant to the financial acumen and modeling needed in corporate development anyway.
As I stated above, I need some career advise. My aim is attain a leadership role in my future that is well-compensated, intellectually stimulating, and allows me leverage my financial, valuation, and strategic skillset (i.e., SVP Corp Dev, Long-only Fund Investor, Tech-focused PE role, or Strategy/Brand Management). Moreover, I want a role that helps me maintain a work-life balance for a future family, my health, and potential endeavors that may interest me outside of my conventional career. If you could please help me contrast the paths a top MBA, investment banking, consulting, brand management, or staying in corporate development to help me optimize my career approach/planning that'd be fantastic!
Apologies for the long write-up, but I felt that ample context should help in crafting insights and advice. I appreciate any advise or insights provided!
Thank you! :-)
Hey there, future leader of the boardroom!
It sounds like you've already climbed quite a few branches on your way up the corporate jungle. Kudos on that! Now, let's swing through your options:
Top MBA: This shiny banana can be quite appealing. It's not just about the knowledge; it's the network, the brand, and the doors that can open for you. It's like a VIP pass to the finance festival. But remember, it's a big investment of time and bananas (money). If you're aiming for those SVP or C-suite roles, an MBA from a top school could be a golden ticket. It's also a great way to pivot if you're looking to switch tracks to something like a long-only fund investor or a tech-focused PE role.
Investment Banking: Ah, the classic path. It's rigorous, but it polishes your financial modeling skills like no other. The hours are tough, but it's a proven path to high finance. If you're considering a future in PE, this experience is often a prerequisite. However, if work-life balance is a priority, this might not be the vine you want to swing from.
Consulting: This path can give you a broad view of the business landscape and strategic exposure. It's like being a part of the jungle's think tank. But as you mentioned, the travel can be a beast, and it might not directly enhance the financial acumen you're looking for.
Brand Management: This is a bit of a detour from the finance jungle, but it's creative and can be quite strategic. It's less about the numbers and more about the story of the product. If you're passionate about a product and want to lead its journey in the market, this could be a fulfilling path.
Staying in Corporate Development: You're already in a great spot, and if you're enjoying it, why leave? You're building relevant experience, and if you can grow within your current company or hop to another that values your unique path, you might find that leadership role you're aiming for without additional schooling.
In the end, it's about where you see yourself swinging in the future. Do you want to be the king of the finance jungle or the mastermind behind a brand's success? Each path has its own set of challenges and rewards. It's not just about climbing to the top; it's about enjoying the view once you get there.
Remember, there's no one-size-fits-all map to treasure in the corporate world. It's about charting your own course. So, grab your compass, and let's find that path that leads to the perfect balance of challenge, reward, and time for those future little monkeys at home.
Good luck, and may your career bananas always be ripe for the picking!
Sources: Corporate Development Manager - Q&A, Current Value of MBA for Highly Successful Young Professionals, Corporate Development Manager - Q&A, MBA after entry-level development role?, MBA worth it in CRE?
Bump... on a similar boat as you, wishing you the best.
Thanks man! All the best to you as well!
Hi OP, I can't give you any piece of advise, because I have less experience than you, but I have a similar educational background and currently working at F500 doing a rotational program that embraces finance, sales, and market development. I tried to lateral into Corp Dev team at my company (or Strategy, then Corp Dev) but it's a very hard thing to do given my Marketing background, even though I'm currently a financial analyst. Alternalively, I was thinking of find a Corp Dev role elsewhere, but all Corp Dev roles I found wanted people with some M&A experience, ideally IB, so it feels like a vicious cycle, because I have no IB experience. How did you land a rotation in Corp Dev? Was it a random thing, or you convinced them somehow that your degree could be useful in the M&A context?
I guess it might be my company's problem because the Corp Dev team is lean and very siloed, that is people there all have backgrounds in Valuation from Big 4, or Investment Banking. What did the structure of your Corp Dev team look like?
Hey, sorry for the delay in answering your question. I hope I can provide some insight with the below. I made a WSO post about my story on how I broke into a corp dev role without IB experience. I hope it's helpful. If you have any personal inquiries you think I can help with, feel free to PM me - happy to help!
Link: https://www.wallstreetoasis.com/forum/other/corporate-strategydevelopme…
You have a similar career trajectory than me and we kind of happen to be in the same boat. I decided to take the mba route, however I advise you not to pursue mba and here's why.
The answer to whether doing an mba is worth it or not really depends on what you want to use it for. We both have a similar career trajectory - I graduated from a semi-target and wanted to do IB, got kicked out after first year and ended up in a top tech company at a finance role (not CD), after 4 years there I transitioned to management consulting with the goal of positioning myself for a top mba so I could change careers to asset management (always been my goal). Now, had I stayed in my previous role at the tech company I would have continued promoting as I was consistently ranked top bucked and had 3 promotions in 4 years. This is where I believe you are headed. The best way to reach the top at a large multinational firm is to become an expert, learn to play politics and consistently outperform your peers (which I would argue it's easier than in more competitive environments such as banking/consulting). Now don't get me wrong, an mba will also facilitate your climb up the corporate ladder but I don't see why you wouldn't achieve the same goal without the mba, I saw it all the time at my previous employer.
For me the mba makes sense because I want to change careers, for you, I would argue whether the total cost of an mba (opp. cost of money and time included) would make much sense.
It is a very personal decision and whatever you end up deciding will make sense because only you know what you truly want, my opinion is based on what you shared above but hope you find it insightful
Thank you for your reply, this was very insightful!
Did you end up breaking into Asset Management post-MBA? I’ve heard this can be tough, especially from a Consulting role. I’ve also heard the top firms are Wellington, Fidelity, Capital Group, D&C, and others. Are these companies what you’re shooting for? Asset Management has been an interest of mine as well. However, the CFA, the unclear path around the industry, and industry fees going down has deterred me a bit (i.e., The juice worth the squeeze? I could just read investing books and invest on my own). I’d love to hear more about why you want to break into Asset Management, and how you’ve fared! Thanks again!
I have not done it yet, planning to enter MBA 2025 with 6-7 YOE. I know it will be tough but only have one last shot to enter BSchool given my age and I know that from where I am it is proving impossible to break into AM. Might need to take the sell-side route post MBA and take a 50% paycut vs my job pre-MBA (engagement manager at strategy consulting firm) but for me it's not about the money but more about my career trajectory - staying in consulting or exiting to industry to make 500k$ / year or even 1M$ as partner in my firm in a 10-year horizon is not appealing to me, compared to waking up every day to do something that satisfies me where I can build an interesting (for me) career even if I make 150k$ / year. If an MBA gives me a (small) chance of achieving the latter, I am just too risk averse to let this chance pass by.
Also, reading and investing on your own is not bad. But at the end of the day I need to channel my energies towards my current job as that pays the bills, so if I can make my hobby my profession then it helps the decision too.
Occaecati in id aut animi. Voluptatem quae sint perspiciatis nisi dignissimos. Aut cumque in molestias minima animi eum ipsam. Dolorum ut qui vel enim.
Consequuntur sed accusantium possimus necessitatibus est necessitatibus. Cum vel reprehenderit aut corrupti delectus optio rem. Aliquam nobis modi explicabo nihil in. Minus qui quibusdam inventore.
Aut quis itaque aut nam. Veniam ad asperiores illo alias accusamus suscipit. Voluptatem nisi voluptates autem. Aut dolor cupiditate voluptatem et ratione.
Laborum et earum quia sint. Et qui voluptas esse velit distinctio. Illum quia non et optio aut omnis. Eum qui saepe et vitae ut blanditiis. Explicabo error veniam incidunt repudiandae nihil molestiae.
See All Comments - 100% Free
WSO depends on everyone being able to pitch in when they know something. Unlock with your email and get bonus: 6 financial modeling lessons free ($199 value)
or Unlock with your social account...