There was a time when an MBA felt like a golden ticket.
Crack a competitive exam, enter a top campus and step into a well-defined career path. For many middle-class families, it was more than a degree. It represented security, status and upward mobility.
That certainty is now being questioned.
Classrooms compete with online learning, internships and real-time problem solving.
Recruiters are paying as much attention to skills and portfolios as they are to pedigree. And with rising costs and rapidly changing business needs, a quiet question is getting louder: does an MBA still hold the same value, or is experience becoming the real differentiator?
Ravi Mishra, Head – HR, BITS Pilani
The MBA is transport, not transformation.
The MBA today functions more as a pathway than a guarantee of capability.
Earlier, admission into a top institution almost ensured a strong career start. Today, the value equation is less clear. Conversations with students and industry leaders suggest that much of the real learning happens outside the classroom.
Peers, discussions and shared problem-solving environments often contribute more than formal teaching. The campus becomes a space for exchange rather than structured learning.
There is also a growing concern around relevance. Business knowledge evolves quickly, and by the time it is taught and applied, it can already be outdated. This raises questions about what exactly organisations are paying a premium for.
Cost adds another layer. With students taking on significant financial commitments, the pressure to justify that investment is high. At the same time, companies are re-evaluating whether they need to pay extra for a degree when they can hire and train based on specific skills.
Increasingly, hiring is shifting towards assessments, skills and potential rather than credentials.
The MBA still opens doors. But what happens after entering depends far more on the individual than the degree itself.
Takeaway: The MBA may provide access, but real growth is driven by environment, peer learning and individual capability.
Sanjeeb Lahiri, Chief Human Resources Officer, GRP
Knowledge matters, but application and continuous learning define value.
The debate is less about MBA versus experience and more about knowledge versus application.
Foundational understanding remains important. Whether it comes from an MBA or another source, individuals need clarity on basic concepts. But that is only the starting point.
What differentiates professionals is their ability to apply knowledge in real situations, adapt to change and continue learning on the job. No degree can fully prepare someone for workplace realities.
The landscape is also evolving. Business education is no longer limited to postgraduate programmes. Concepts are introduced earlier, and learners today are more curious and experimental.
As a result, the distinct advantage that an MBA once provided is narrowing. At the same time, expectations from MBA graduates have increased. Employers expect stronger application, not just theoretical understanding.
The MBA is not irrelevant, but its exclusivity is reducing. There are now multiple pathways to build capability and demonstrate value.
Takeaway: Degrees provide a foundation, but long-term value is defined by application, adaptability and continuous learning.
Sriharsha Achar, Senior HR Leader
Relevance comes from combining education, experience and continuous learning.
Framing the question as MBA versus experience oversimplifies the issue.
An MBA still offers value. It provides frameworks, structured thinking and a shared language of business. These are important for building perspective.
On-the-job experience develops different strengths. It builds judgment, adaptability and execution capability. It exposes individuals to real consequences and decisions.
The challenge arises when either is treated as sufficient on its own. Over-reliance on theory can limit practical effectiveness. Over-reliance on experience can restrict strategic thinking.
The pace of change has reduced the shelf life of knowledge. What matters is not just what someone knows, but how quickly they can learn, apply and evolve.
Professionals who succeed combine learning agility with the ability to think and execute. Degrees may open doors, but sustained relevance depends on continuous development.
Takeaway: Long-term success comes from combining education, experience and the ability to continuously learn and apply.