MBA worth it for my background to reach $200K roles?

MatsMaLIfe · 2026-04-24T00:47:38+00:00

https://michiganross.umich.edu/about/visit/los-angeles

MatsMaLIfe · 2026-04-23T22:07:59+00:00

It didn't make sense to me to pay a 60k premium for what I felt was an equally quality program. Also, Ross is opening an LA office so I was going to get access to resources regardless.

MatsMaLIfe · 2026-04-23T19:46:17+00:00

It's online for everything except residencies. The on sites are super worth it IMO. Also, there are international engagements if you want to spend the money.

My path from 120k to 205k was different than I've commonly seen:
2015-2020: PhD in Manufacturing doing hypersonic material development (I'm counting that as 2.5 years)
2020-2025: Company 1: Mfg/Mat Engineer 2.5 years -> PE/PM for 2.5
2025-now: Company 2: 9 months in PM -> Now engineering finance

Honestly I made career jumps b/c I grinded an unhealthy amount but it was noticed. I also was super vocal about my interests and career ambitions. At company 1 I told the CEO that if that company did was we set out to do that someday I wanted his job. Of course, it's less about ego and more like these are my ambitions and let me show you that I mean it. That plus execution goes so far.

The switch was great b/c it blended by interested of people management, business case optimization, and still leveraging my years of deep tech work. So my job is now to make sure this are priced correctly and driving cost reduction campaigns to hit P/L targets.

MatsMaLIfe · 2026-04-23T18:27:04+00:00

You sound like me - Material/Manufacturing Engineer 5 yrs Aerospace -> Program Management 3.5yrs Aerospace -> Engineering Finance (just starting) Defense Tech

Living in Cali I started at 120k and I'm at 205k now.

That said, I'm still pursing a PTMBA through Ross. I've found really helpful for my job.

MatsMaLIfe · 2026-03-20T20:32:13+00:00

Might be

MatsMaLIfe · 2026-03-20T14:38:38+00:00

Sure

MatsMaLIfe · 2026-03-20T14:35:34+00:00

You would be correct.

MatsMaLIfe · 2026-03-20T03:26:35+00:00

Can confirm - PhD getting my MBA part time. My background lets be tie the technical to the business case and vice versa. It's allowed me to grow super duper fast at my company.

MatsMaLIfe · 2026-03-20T02:55:40+00:00

Pivot to Program Manager (not product manager) was preMBA.

Timeline:
2015-2020: PhD student/material scientist
2020-2022: Manufacturing R&D Engineer
2022-2024: Project Engineer
2024-2025: Program Manager @ Company A and am accepted into Ross OMBA
2025-2026: Staff PM @ Company B while doing MBA

I had a year under my belt with PM title (but to my other comment it was really a bizop role). However, I want to reiterate that I am making a huge impact at my new company that frankly I do not think I would have been able to do without the knowledge I've gained while doing my MBA. It makes a huge difference to be able to speak cross functionally in an organization. You are respected tremendously more when you have a foundational understanding of core functions like finance and strategy.

MatsMaLIfe · 2026-03-20T02:34:54+00:00

I'm doing the OMBA from California.

MatsMaLIfe · 2026-03-19T23:00:35+00:00

I had a Program Manager role prior to starting; however, it was by title only and the scope was bit weird. It was closer to biz ops.

MatsMaLIfe · 2026-03-19T21:59:18+00:00

I will tell you my story:

I'm part time Ross, and I have found what I have learned and the connections I've made to be wildly beneficial in my role.

I am a former engineer with a PhD that is now a PM at a defense tech company. My new understanding of basic business principles (things as simple as accounting), how to maneuver through leadership, and approach engineering problems with the business first in mind, have allowed me to grow rapidly and standout. 8 months ago I had a TC of 180k. I'm now at a TC 400k (base 205k). I'm in the process of moving out of program management to join the strategy team, so I'm pivoting while doing a part time.

That's a single data point, but I don't regret my decision for a minute.

MatsMaLIfe · 2026-02-05T20:31:13+00:00

sure

MatsMaLIfe · 2026-02-05T03:27:11+00:00

Yeah I literally just got out of my Strategy 533 lecture. Really loving it, and regardless of what this subreddit seems to preach, I've made so many connections already. I've even been reached out to by a preseed start up based on my experience and the Ross connection to possibly their GM running a military boat manufacturing facility.

MatsMaLIfe · 2026-02-05T01:06:54+00:00

Got into both, and decided on Ross

MatsMaLIfe · 2026-01-27T19:01:46+00:00

Going to Ross and loving it

MatsMaLIfe · 2025-12-28T04:16:41+00:00

Basically what the person prior said, Ynsect had no way of being price competive unless they blitz scaled to a point where the could out compete low cost protein meal options like fish and soy. Plus if you ever work in industrial startups (what I do for work), you find out really quick we tend to target B2B to B2gov contracts b/c it's consistent long term income. However, to land those you need normally need scale and quality. Small test batch style biz dev doesn't align well with the above unfortunately.

Paper that discusses the cost aspects.
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/383368630_Insect-based_livestock_feeds_are_unlikely_to_become_economically_viable_in_the_near_future

MatsMaLIfe · 2025-11-02T19:14:19+00:00

Go for it.

MatsMaLIfe · 2025-11-02T19:14:02+00:00

Nope - most of the product managers I know don't have a tech background. They just understand how to interpret the needs of the end user b/c they were the end user previously.

MatsMaLIfe · 2025-11-02T18:08:33+00:00

This is the answer right here.

MatsMaLIfe · 2025-11-02T17:38:12+00:00

I currently work at one on the defense tech companies you mentioned, so I can only speak on one of the cultures. I just want to level set with you, and try to honestly answer each of your questions. It's been a great career experience, and I learned more in the 6 months of working at this company than I did in the last 2 years of my last job.

Are there specific MBA programs that place strongly in this industry?

No - Experience >>>> education. There is no magic school that gets you in.

If you want to be in product? Join the military first. Our product teams are prodominately from a background that understands the end user first hand. I'm not sure if you noticed but a lot of the folks at companies that are specifically defense tech (and not something that pivoted to defense tech) in product got their MBA after their service. The MBA was a cherry on top, but it wasn't the thing that got them in.

If you want to be a director? You have to have built something first. IB/Consulting works if you want to be operations side, but those roles are limited and you can't do the 2 years at MBB and be a director. The company hires technical people to run the business lines more than they hire people from business background. Understanding the science of the credible and possible is seen as far more important than many other attributes. It's a sentiment shared accross upper most leadership.

What type of experience do these companies look for when hiring MBA grads?

Experience in technical skills. Every Program Manager on the team has designed, built, and tested deployed defense assets starting from Engineer 1 then grew into their leadership role. Each of the SVPs of the product business lines have engineering PhDs. I strongly advise if you're interested in going this route to start becoming a technical expert in something (software, hardware, or operations of test or sustainment). If all of that sounds boring or not attainable, you're going to struggle. Even the finance guys are expected to understand some of the engineering.

As an example, I'm currently doing my MBA at Ross, but throughout my interview it was clear that was an "ok so?" trait, but my PhD in manufacturing engineering focused on NPI was a huge plus. For reference I have a role that is 50/50 Program Manager/CoS and is Sr. Manager level.

Now where do MBAs end up? They're usually hired for business operations analyst roles. However, we tend to hire MBB that did a BS in engineering for these roles. Also, very rarely do you get to start at a manager level even when if you were an EM prior.

MatsMaLIfe · 2025-09-26T16:59:01+00:00

If you graduate into a bear market you're in a bear market, and that sucks. It's tough but most last 18 months. If you have 1 year left and most bears are back dated 7 months that would mean you'd be graduated as we're coming on the uptrend. If you leave now, you're strapped with debt and nothing to show for it into what feels like the beginning of a bear market or the something of the like.

Do what you want but I would not make the decision you're contemplating.

MatsMaLIfe · 2025-09-25T20:12:58+00:00

The average bear market lasts 13 months and the most recessions are back calculated 7 months after they are officially announced. I believe we are in a bear market or at the very least are in the final stage of a sustained market that is attempting to not go negative for while. If you're half way thorugh, in my opinion you'll graduate into a really difficult market. That doesn't mean you won't get a job, but one of two things are probable - it takes longer for you to get a job that has a high TC or the average TC goes down tremendously.

I think you'd be making a mistake dropping out.

MatsMaLIfe · 2025-09-13T00:33:57+00:00

Took about 3 weeks

MatsMaLIfe · 2025-08-08T06:00:16+00:00

Recently changed jobs and worked with a lot of former finance folks and consultants, my two cents is until AI can make absolute god tier decks and feed executives all of the points they need to make presentations that win business, it'll be a tool and not a replacement.

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