It’s never too late for an MBA
Ipsita Sarkar Gupta | shiksha.com
Thirty-five year old Arnab Ray (name changed) works as a senior software analyst at TCS. “There is a certain ceiling in IT organisations. Without an MBA, it is very difficult to reach the boardroom.” But with a family to take care of and couple of EMIs in tow, MBA seems a distant dream. “Leaving my job is not a practical solution. Also, I feel like I am too old for an MBA degree.”
Is there time ceiling for management education?
“I don’t think there is any age to do an MBA,” says 34-year old Dhiraj Gurung. Dhiraj works as the Deputy Regional Examinations Manager, Middle East and North Africa (South) British Council and plans to pursue a management degree soon. “MBA is a life changing experience. Apart from learning new skills and knowledge, it is an experience which has potential to help discover one’s untapped energy and ability to succeed in the business world. Typically, an MBA class in US or UK has students in the age group of 25 to 35 or even 40 and with professional experience ranging from 2 to 10 years. I think, in the business world, an MBA can propel your career to unimaginable heights. Whether you are a junior executive or senior manager, MBA will certainly add value both professionally and personally. Whether you are 25 or 40, if you have the fire in you to upgrade your skills, knowledge and build a strong network of diverse professionals, MBA will certainly help you achieve it.”
According to GMAC, there has been a growth in the number and type of Executive MBA programs being offered to candidates with substantial experience. Candidates with 10 to 25 years experience often opt for executive programmes for senior managers. ISB Hyderabad is one such place that offers a Post Graduate Programme in Management for Senior Executives (PGPMAX). There PGPMAX is designed for senior executives ‘whose busy schedules do not permit them to pursue a full-time programme.’ The programme is quite different from a regular MBA or EMBA. It aims to further enhance strategic perspectives and decision-making capabilities of senior executives.Candidates with work experience of three to ten years often opt for Executive MBA (EMBA) programmes. At IIM-Ahmedabad, the average age in Post-Graduate Programme in Management for Executives (PGPX) is 34 + for the current batch. Thirty percent of the batch is around 36 years. However, at IIM-B the average age is 32, while at ISB Hyderabad it is 27. “At ISB, some of our classmates are above 50 and have more than 25 years of work experience. It contributes to a good diversity in class,” says Anant Arora, PGP batch 2014, ISB Hyderabad.
And then there are online/satellite MBAs, where a candidate can pursue management education irrespective of their age and work experience. “Unfortunately in India, everything is age bound. If you have no matriculation or high school degree, you have lost the battle. People have various financial and family problems and distance education helps such candidates get their life back on track. So it’s never too late for an MBA, says Arpana, Editor, Entertainment and Lifestyle, IANS.
“As more of these programs become available and offer working candidates great flexibility in terms of the program being run at campuses in multiple cities globally and classes being scheduled over weekends only or classes being held in person for only 1 week in a quarter, there should be growth in the number of candidates over the age of 30 pursuing management education,” concludes Ashish Bhardwaj, Vice President, GMAC (APAC region).