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MBAs as CEOs

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Re: MBAs as CEOs

#81

Post by gragas »

arcanus wrote: post #22
api wrote: post #8

I strongly agree with Thiel on lots of things about business and innovation. I just don't think I agree with him on politics or social issues to the extent that I can figure out what he actually thinks on these issues. The latter can be challenging since he seems to keep those cards face down.

> The latter can be challenging since he seems to keep those cards face down Agreed. I think a variety of his actions are driven by pragmatic expediency as well. Trump was essentially a five million dollar contrarian put option, from that perspective.

> Trump was essentially a five million dollar contrarian put option

See, this is what distinguishes the SV circle jerk bubble from Peter Thiel. Trump was not, in fact, a contrarian put option. Many companies are extremely hopeful about a future under Trump rather than Hillary; this is reflected in the extremely bullish market since Trump's election.

Everyone in SV flounders around thinking "how could Trump be a good thing? how could anyone ever bet on him? he's a sexist/racist/xenophobe!" Perhaps SV is right that Trump is truly [X|Y|Z], but they are wrong in thinking that it has so much weight on the economy. It is clearly not the case that the consensus is a Trump presidency will ravage the economy---good sentiment about a future under him is literally baked into the price of the S&P 500.

Peter Thiel's bet on Trump was only contrarian in places like Sillicon Valley.

Re: MBAs as CEOs

#82

Post by krmmalik »

bmpafa wrote: post #59
alphonsegaston wrote: post #10

I think it's more useful to think of MBAs as ordination into something like the Jesuits of American Corporatism. Late Capitalism in the US has evolved in such an obviously unequal and environmentally dangerous way that the only recourse we have is to a kind of "mystical" rhetoric. In this kind of system, being some kind of guru is just as important, if not more, than one's actual business acumen. Hence all the TED ta…

I'm an MBA & startup founder, and I don't think it's fair to suggest this is an MBA-only thing. Talk to any startup co-founder or early-stage employee, and tell him/her that Lean Startup principles are wrong, or that VC $ is never worth it, or that Tim Ferriss (PBUH) should work longer hours--I'm certain they'd get just as dogmatic as you suggest MBAs are about capitalism. MBA teachings are useful in the same way tha…

Do you mind if i ask why you used the "(PBUH)"? Was it sarcasm? (I know what it stands for, but im confused about the usage)

Re: MBAs as CEOs

#83

Post by krallja »

krmmalik wrote: post #82
bmpafa wrote: post #59

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm an MBA & startup founder, and I don't think it's fair to suggest this is an MBA-only thing. Talk to any startup co-founder or early-stage employee, and tell him/her that Lean Startup principles are wrong, or that VC $ is never worth it, or that Tim Ferriss (PBUH) should work longer hours--I'm certain they'd get just as dogmatic as you suggest MBAs are about capitalism. MBA teachings are useful in the same way tha…

Do you mind if i ask why you used the "(PBUH)"? Was it sarcasm? (I know what it stands for, but im confused about the usage)

I read it as a joke, where Ferriss is the prophet of some modern religion.

Re: MBAs as CEOs

#84

Post by Retric »

basseq wrote: post #75
Retric wrote: post #49

Earlier quoted context omitted.

MBA's add other MBA's so having zero tends to be the better choice than looking for the 'good ones.' Remember, a primary focus of MBA programs is getting to positions of power, so they are great at self marketing. Further, if the market says X is valuable and you think it's useless then you are better off saving money by avoiding the price premium.

Remember, a primary focus on MBA's is getting to positions of power... Now you're projecting! For every power-hungry poorly-managing CEO-wannabe MBA, there's someone who just wants to know how to administer a business well. A MBA is a (but certainly not the or the only ) path to accomplishing that.

Don't get defensive.

a primary focus != only focus. But, networking for example is a large part of how MBA programs are setup.

PS: Probably should have explicitly used MBA programs not MBA's for the place you quoted, but it's also a large motivator for many people getting an MBA.

Re: MBAs as CEOs

#85

Post by st3v3r »

jczhang wrote: post #72
thegoldenchild wrote: post #43

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Finance I, II, III. Accounting I, II, III. Corporate Strategy. Emerging Markets. Micro/Macro Economics. Business Acting. Marketing Strategy. Ops Research.

Ok so why not just take those classes online or something and save yourself the huge cost of MBA?

A large part of getting the MBA is the piece of paper saying you have one, and another large part of it is the network you form while getting it. Things you can't really get online.

Re: MBAs as CEOs

#86

Post by bobbington »

College is a business, complete with a marketing department and lobbyists who work to grant them exclusive monopolies over industries. I don't think they are nearly so helpful as they claim.

Re: MBAs as CEOs

#87

Post by st3v3r »

tensor wrote: post #58
thegoldenchild wrote: post #41

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There's nothing stopping you from learning everything on your own. BUT you miss out on the MBA network. When you're forced to spend 2 years with a cohort of 75-100 people, you develop a close-knit bond when you spend most of your time eating, drinking, studying (and sometimes sleeping) with these people. If I want a job at a company that one of my MBA classmates works at, an interview is literally one phone call away…

I realize the network effect is positive for you, but I think it's negative for the world at large. One would hope that hires would be merit based, not simply that your are friends in the MBA club.

How are they going to hire you if they don't know you exist?

Re: MBAs as CEOs

#88

Post by felideon »

alphonsegaston wrote: post #10

I think it's more useful to think of MBAs as ordination into something like the Jesuits of American Corporatism. Late Capitalism in the US has evolved in such an obviously unequal and environmentally dangerous way that the only recourse we have is to a kind of "mystical" rhetoric. In this kind of system, being some kind of guru is just as important, if not more, than one's actual business acumen. Hence all the TED ta…

Except the ordination must be done by those claiming Apostolic succession, else your ordination is invalid.

An online MBA degree from the University of Phoenix doesn't quite allow you the same benefits as your Ivy League MBA.

Re: MBAs as CEOs

#89

Post by DrJid »

tensor wrote: post #58
thegoldenchild wrote: post #41

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There's nothing stopping you from learning everything on your own. BUT you miss out on the MBA network. When you're forced to spend 2 years with a cohort of 75-100 people, you develop a close-knit bond when you spend most of your time eating, drinking, studying (and sometimes sleeping) with these people. If I want a job at a company that one of my MBA classmates works at, an interview is literally one phone call away…

I realize the network effect is positive for you, but I think it's negative for the world at large. One would hope that hires would be merit based, not simply that your are friends in the MBA club.

Most referrals for jobs aren't based of real deep friends, but based off acquaintance connections..

Re: MBAs as CEOs

#90

Post by [deleted] »

jczhang wrote: post #72
thegoldenchild wrote: post #43

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Finance I, II, III. Accounting I, II, III. Corporate Strategy. Emerging Markets. Micro/Macro Economics. Business Acting. Marketing Strategy. Ops Research.

Ok so why not just take those classes online or something and save yourself the huge cost of MBA?

[deleted]
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