The best MBA for engineers is the Business Intensive.
Going to business school as an engineer may seem like a decent choice. However, traditional, full-time MBAs for engineers rarely make sense.
If you have an engineering background, it’s important to understand all of your options for business education. Including a fast-track MBA like the Business Intensive.
Background
As an engineer exploring MBA programs, an MBA is likely your first exposure to business training.
A top-tier MBA program will provide you with a strong understanding of the business world and a solid foundation in business skills.
You will learn communication skills, leadership skills, decision-making skills, and different frameworks for starting and managing a business.
MBA graduates should know all facets of the business world and be able to apply what they’ve learned to excel in whatever endeavors they chose, whether that’s entrepreneurship or a leadership position at a top company.
However, a full-time MBA from a top business school takes two years and costs $200,000 or more.
Applications for a full-time MBA usually have stringent, time-consuming admissions requirements: a GMAT or GRE score, lengthy admissions essays, reference checks, and more.
MBA For Engineers: Criteria
While a traditional master of business administration may be appealing, there are other great options that will help you advance in your career.
The best engineering MBA programs are offered by modern providers and have these qualities:
1) The MBA program is part-time.
The best MBA programs for engineers are part-time programs. Two years is too much time to leave the workforce, especially as an engineer. Therefore, it is important to enroll in a business course that can be completed while maintaining a full-time job.
2) The MBA for engineers prioritizes the tech industry.
The best MBA programs for both engineers and software engineers are ones that focus on the modern tech industry with up-to-date case studies. Most MBA courses focus more on traditional business management, exploring what worked for businesses of the past. Unfortunately, many don’t offer an up-to-date curriculum, especially with the technology industry.
Therefore it is critical to look for programs, like the Business Intensive, that specialize in teaching in-depth technology case studies. This will provide you with a better foundation.
3) The MBA program is diverse.
There are many different types of MBA students. Some students want to focus on international business, some on business analytics, some on operations management, and others want to focus on technology management. Therefore it is important to be part of a diverse program that has a variety of student inputs and perspectives.
Program diversity will allow you to build your business network with people who have skills in specializations outside of engineering. It is also important that your program does have other engineers because of their problem-solving ability, technical skills, and expertise.
Unfortunately, many traditional MBA programs don’t have engineers. Traditionally, many engineers choose to get additional engineering degrees such as a master’s in engineering, information technology, and engineering management.
Therefore it is important to look at the demographic breakdown of your MBA program to see how many other engineers there are.
Remember that the strength of your network is critical to your success in both business and your career overall.
4) The MBA program can deliver a financial ROI.
As mentioned, a traditional MBA degree will cost hundreds of thousands of dollars. While investment in education is always important, the $200,000 price tag seems astronomical for business education, especially when there are other great alternatives available at a fraction of the cost.
Another thing to consider is the time cost and loss of income. A full-time degree will take you away from your current engineering position. A full-time MBA is usually not worth it for engineers.
Best MBA program for software engineers and engineers: Business Intensive.
brunchwork’s Business Intensive was voted as the number 1 business course by Intelligent.com and Forbes.com.
This distinction was awarded because of the quality of the program curriculum, the flexible nature, and the students.
Business Intensive at a Glance
• Length: 7 weeks
• Format: Live Online
• Price: Starting at 1,499
What You’ll Learn in the Business Intensive
The 7 week course teaches 8 core business skills. They offer opportunities to complete up-to-date co-learning projects that put an emphasis on collaboration and building your network.
Projects include:
• Refining and testing a business concept
• Creating a high-caliber presentation
• Analyzing financial reports
• Developing a business strategy
• Crafting a marketing and sales plan
• Conducting user interviews
The intensive also offers a list of high-caliber, live weekly guest speakers.
Past guest speakers include high profile business leaders, like former Presidential Candidate Andrew Yang, PayPal Founding COO David Sacks, Ellevest cofounder and CEO Sallie Krawcheck, product gurus Jackie Bavaro and Gayle Laakman Mcdowell, and Peloton cofounder Graham Stanton.
brunchwork has seen their engineer and software engineer alumni grow from freelancers to engineering managers, product leaders, startup founders, tech executives, and more.
If you want a tremendous opportunity for your professional development the business intensive program is a great option. Use it to build the necessary skills to succeed in business, expand your network, and maximize your earning potential.
Choose What’s Best for You.
When making your decision it is important to have a strong understanding of your career goals. There are many degree programs out there, especially for those in the engineering field.
While a traditional master’s degree or even engineering MBA programs may have been the most appealing option for engineers in the past, there are specialized courses that provide necessary skills and information in a far shorter amount of time and at a fraction of the cost.