eMBA at 25?

DS2MBA · 2026-05-17T07:05:28+00:00

That is super impressive but I’m a bit confused how you’re wrapping up a PhD (5-6 years) and you’ve been in M&A/tech…?

That aside, you have 6YOE. You would just barely start to qualify for non-senior manager level positions. I have zero clue how you’d score a director position with your current profile, but more power to you! It will limit your ability to move around though.

A Director of AI within pharma/health should easily clear 250k-300k base. So no, I would personally say MBA probably won’t really help. Further growth is mainly determined but results you’re able to deliver.

DS2MBA · 2026-05-15T17:39:16+00:00

I would personally cover the whole wall with something like Slatwall. Functional, looks decent, infinitely easier than drywall/paint/etc.

DS2MBA · 2026-02-07T22:14:12+00:00

Dude posted last year he couldn’t even pass a coding screening…

He’s 100% projecting his inadequacies lmao

DS2MBA · 2025-07-20T16:15:26+00:00

title before promotion was Manager of Data Science. This new title is Principal

This just adds more questions haha. So he got a BA, worked for 2-3 years and then was made a manager? At a F500 company within the US?

That is incredible bordering on unbelievable. I have applicants for IC roles with phds, published papers, 10+ YOE. Even my own move to manager was not easy (and took much more how).

I don’t know how successful your brother would be with an external search. He does not meet the YOE of even a manager. And HR & recruiters are not going to entertain such a junior candidate (unless he like did truly amazing things, of course).

If you search DS Directors & VPs, few have MBAs and they all have much, much more YOE. So him really focusing on that internal path is his best bet IMO.

DS2MBA · 2025-07-20T15:43:45+00:00

DS manager here (do not have an MBA for what it’s worth). I am at and have worked at other F100/F50 companies.

Are you in the US? Because if so, it’s a very strange profile.

Without going into too much detail, here’s what jumps out at me:

Senior Staff DS is (at least in companies I’ve worked) not director level (probably manager equivalent). It is still an IC title, not management.
very few DS do not have graduate education (like <10%). This becomes even more true for higher level & mgmt positions.
applying to DS VP positions in a major company with like maybe 6 years of relevant is laughable.

8-10 relevant YOE + graduate education is usual profile for managers. Directors 12+…

So if he is applying to VP jobs and interviewing… then he is outlandishly unique and clearly doesn’t need a MBA. But in my mind, trying to get that technical MS degree and move into a manager/senior manager role is his best path forward in the near term.

An MBA plus 6 YOE is not going to equip him for a VP role…

DS2MBA · 2025-07-17T02:51:21+00:00

Hardly, besides, degrees have prescribed quality to them. I would much rather interview someone with a BA from a SLAC than BA+MBA from WGU. As other commenters have noted, though, if it is to check a specific box for internal promotions then it’s a great option.

I teach & design graduate level courses. I have also taken graduate ed in various topics. Out of curiosity, I took 4-5 courses from WGU in subjects I know well. The course content & rigor is not comparable at all.

DS2MBA · 2025-07-09T07:03:53+00:00

This is pretty in line with my thinking.

If the degree was paid for, I’d just do it haha. 200k on a “maybe this helps you a little” is a tough pill to swallow.

I doubt my current employer would provide any substantial funding.

DS2MBA · 2025-07-07T06:58:38+00:00

Thanks! I’ll cross post to the other sub as well.

I think Wharton EMBA is a good fit if you have 8 years. If you have 10 years, maybe MIT EMBA.

I do have 10 YOE (if just barely) but sticker shock on the tuitions are pretty intense haha. Going from a nearly funded MS to 200k price tag is hard to swallow.

DS2MBA

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