Indian billionaire Nikhil Kamath: "If you're 25 and going to an MBA...
pratham@prathammittal
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Nov 28, 2025
~2 min read
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Indian billionaire Nikhil Kamath:
"If you're 25 and going to an MBA college today, you must be some kind of idiot."
I run an MBA school but I kind of agree with him.
Here's what 99% 'Business' schools get wrong:
"If you're 25 and going to an MBA college today, you must be some kind of idiot."
I run an MBA school but I kind of agree with him.
Here's what 99% 'Business' schools get wrong:
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MBAs are broken:
- Business isn't learnt by reading about it. You learn it by making and selling a product.
- Old case studies are useless in the AI age
- You pay $100k only to stay inside 4 walls for 2 years
So Nikhil is right.
But then why are MBA admissions going UP?
- Business isn't learnt by reading about it. You learn it by making and selling a product.
- Old case studies are useless in the AI age
- You pay $100k only to stay inside 4 walls for 2 years
So Nikhil is right.
But then why are MBA admissions going UP?
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GMAC reported that last year’s spike in MBA applications was the MOST significant growth in 10 years.
It's not just hype.
But if companies care more about skill, why are job postings that prefer MBAs going up?
It's not just hype.
But if companies care more about skill, why are job postings that prefer MBAs going up?
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Between 2019-2024, companies hiring for graduates in total went down by 17% .
In that same period, companies looking for MBA grads went UP by 16%.
The job market is getting tight and people are waking up to the fact that an MBA does give you a competitive advantage.
In that same period, companies looking for MBA grads went UP by 16%.
The job market is getting tight and people are waking up to the fact that an MBA does give you a competitive advantage.
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Elon says: "The path to leadership shouldn't be through MBA school, it should be through working ways up to useful things. People look at MBA schools like they wanna parachute into being the boss instead of earning it".
"I hire people in spite of an M.B.A., not because of one".
"I hire people in spite of an M.B.A., not because of one".
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But MBAs are paradoxically becoming more valuable, not less (despite what @elonmusk and Nikhil say!)
That's because its a uniquely adaptable degree. The business world turns upside down? Turn the degree upside down.
That's what we're doing at Masters' Union.
That's because its a uniquely adaptable degree. The business world turns upside down? Turn the degree upside down.
That's what we're doing at Masters' Union.
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But most B-schools don't get it.
Theory can no longer hold it's water versus the kind of hands-on exposure a business demands.
Teachers who are themselves entrepreneurs can teach you 100x more about business than someone who regurgitates outdated textbooks.
Theory can no longer hold it's water versus the kind of hands-on exposure a business demands.
Teachers who are themselves entrepreneurs can teach you 100x more about business than someone who regurgitates outdated textbooks.
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Entrepreneurship isn't about starting a company or making a million dollars.
It's a mindset. One that inculcates:
- Thinking from first principles
- Questioning everything
- Taking risks and being bold.
It's the kind of high-impact path that helps you change the world.
It's a mindset. One that inculcates:
- Thinking from first principles
- Questioning everything
- Taking risks and being bold.
It's the kind of high-impact path that helps you change the world.
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The world needs more entrepreneurs than ever.
An entrepreneurial mindset lets you thrive inside someone else's company too - you can become an intrapreneur.
Once you own that mindset, there's no stopping.
An entrepreneurial mindset lets you thrive inside someone else's company too - you can become an intrapreneur.
Once you own that mindset, there's no stopping.
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We're moulding the next generation of entrepreneurs @themastersunion primed to build and lead a business, right from the day they enter our gates.
Sending an open invite @nikhilkamathcio to come over and speak to our students on campus to take that culture forward!
Sending an open invite @nikhilkamathcio to come over and speak to our students on campus to take that culture forward!