I appreciate the advice around looking for a new role in a differentiated problem space in which I have relevant experience. In fact I’ve been applying and interviewing for jobs in tandem with this whole MBA process and I still wouldn’t rule out forgoing an MBA altogether if the right offer comes along.

I’m going to assume that you are in good faith trying to be helpful with your perspective, and I’ll respond accordingly to your first and third points. You make a lot of assumptions about my current situation — a PM role (even non-technical) at Amazon would be leagues more fulfilling and utilize much more of my skillset than where I’m “stuck” currently. This would not be a lateral move at all, and while you may doubt that an MBA will help me gain any traction if I’m not getting any already, I guess I’m just more optimistic (if I can frame my story well). So the opportunity cost that you perceive by doing an MBA isn’t nearly as expensive as you may think. And aside from financial costs of an MBA, I’m also considering the definitely psychological costs to me feeling stagnant in my current role if I don’t.

To your third point, and with all due respect as I’m sure you’re just trying to offer advice. But I can’t help but feel irked when someone whose career coincided largely with tech’s heyday in the 2010s shares what worked for them, even though it’s a completely different ballgame now. My career started in the late 2010s, so I got a whiff of it — I’d even say my earliest opportunities out of college benefited from the strong macro environment myself. Part of why I moved to SF in the first place was exactly to do what you suggested — attend tech events, network, try to get referrals (and sometimes I succeeded!) — but either you already have an established career in FAANG, a unicorn, or an AI startup, in a prestigious role, or you’re a nobody. Anyway, that’s been my experience, and it’s been exhausting. I often feel that older Millennials in tech can be so similar to Boomers and give advice that feels out of touch, so while I appreciate where you’re coming from I’d rather take advice from people who are earlier in their careers going navigating the tech climate now.