Shark Tank episode with Wharton alums

I recently saw this episode on Hulu. Two guys presented a translation app to the shark tank panel. You pull out the app, press a button, and a live translator anywhere in the world is sourced to translate in real time. Cool idea but the overhead costs would be enormous, and I'm not quite sure how viable the business model is.

What was interesting was this. One of the shark tank people asked them how they met, and they replied, "We met at Wharton." The entire dynamics shifted, and the reaction was visible. The shark tank became much more open to their ideas, and the guys ended up receiving several offers.

This episode reinforced what I had known for some time, which led to my decision to do an MBA in the first place rather than a mfin or stay working. Although a top MBA is in no way a guarantee of success, it gives you instant credibility in the business world, a sort of ticket that at least allows you entry. Influential people will listen to you and at least hear you out.

During the episode Mark Cuban even noted that business expertise is more expensive and valuable than just technical expertise. Yes, technical skills are becoming more important, and being a good programmer is highly valuable. At the end of the day though, the quants/programmers are pigeon holed into a specific role, unable to branch out into leadership roles where they can actually dictate the strategic vision of a company. That is for the most part left to the MBAs.

Simply put, no other degree or certificate (yes, that includes the CFA) in the world can provide as much clout and influence in the business world than an MBA from an elite school. Its power has proven to be true over decades, and this reality is not going to change.

 

on average, quants will make much more money than mba's. i saw this episode too, they were undergrads that met at a building in the wharton school - they werent actually business students one was a programmer the other was a language major.

"The cheaper the crook, the gaudier the patter"
 
mbavsmfin:

During the episode Mark Cuban even noted that business expertise is more expensive and valuable than just technical expertise. Yes, technical skills are becoming more important, and being a good programmer is highly valuable. At the end of the day though, the quants/programmers are pigeon holed into a specific role, unable to branch out into leadership roles where they can actually dictate the strategic vision of a company. That is for the most part left to the MBAs.

Let's just say they're both important and leave it at that. No point in arguing which is more important. At the end of the day, you gotta make it and you gotta sell it.

 

To be fair, there is also an episode with a girl who I believe is 12 years old who sells God-awful jewelry, and Mark perked up when he heard the sales figures (in excess of $1 million in one year). I'm not disagreeing with you about the value of a top MBA program, but I think, especially for someone who is naturally entrepreneurial, it's neither a sufficient nor a necessary condition of success.

 
Best Response
mbavsmfin:

Here's the hulu link. It starts at around the 30 minute mark. Ryan Frankel worked at goldman special situations group before going to Wharton MBA.

http://www.hulu.com/watch/491574

Ok, so they went to Wharton - can you please stop bowing down to a Wharton MBA like it is some sort of stamp of superiority? It's like you are incredibly insecure and keep having to post about how amazing the Wharton MBA is and you haven't even gone yet. Relax. Yes, it's an awesome time and you will meet some incredible people so you should be excited...but please, please, please, check that ego at the door and any sense of superiority because there are plenty of entrepreneurs that laugh thier ass off at "prestigious MBAs"...some who never went to college and are more successful than the majority of MBAs.

During the episode Mark Cuban even noted that business expertise is more expensive and valuable than just technical expertise.
Many would argue an MBA doesn't give you that...the majority of your expertise comes from real expereince.
At the end of the day though, the quants/programmers are pigeon holed into a specific role, unable to branch out into leadership roles where they can actually dictate the strategic vision of a company. That is for the most part left to the MBAs.
This is naive and comes across as incredibly condescending to any engineer or anyone with a technical background. Good luck leading a team of techincal engineers to work under you when you have a massive superiority complex.
  • Wharton MBA 2010
 

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Too late for second-guessing Too late to go back to sleep.

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