Went to a top 15 undergrad, studied econ, started my career at Deloitte doing digital consulting. Eventually got into HBS, wanted to pivot out of consulting. Landed a PM internship at a FAANG company (think Meta, Google, Apple, but not Amazon), and got a return offer.

Now it’s been 6 years since graduation, and honestly, I’m not really feeling the impact of the MBA anymore. I thought Harvard would put me in this exclusive tier where I’d always be surrounded by other high achievers with polished backgrounds. It felt like that during the program, but not really after.

In tech, especially PM roles, it just doesn’t seem to matter. My boss only has a bachelor's from San Jose State. My team lead did undergrad at UC Davis. I've seen more than person from Liberty University or a for-profit college like University of Phoenix.

Some of the strongest PMs I know used to be engineers with no grad school at all. Others came from sales or customer success roles and just worked their way into product over time.

Many don't even have a super-pedigreed professional background. We have a few PMs who started their careers as engineers at WITCH companies. Some are ex-consultants from KPMG or Capgemini, not MBB or even T2 like Strategy&. This also isn't for a B2B product, but a famous consumer-facing one.

It’s a weird contrast. I’ve got the most prestigious educational background on my team by far. We do have a couple other M7 MBAs, but we’re outnumbered by people from state schools or lower-ranking international schools I’ve never heard of, especially in leadership. Doesn’t seem to affect their performance or how they’re viewed.

People sometimes joke, like “wow, you went to Harvard and we ended up in the same job.” It’s said lightheartedly but it kind of stings. I busted my ass in high school, took every AP, nailed the SAT, and got really good grades. I grinded for a good GPA in college, did well at Deloitte, studied like crazy for the GMAT, crushed interviews to get into HBS.

Then I worked hard again to land a tough PM internship and convert it. And yet, here I am in a team full of folks who didn’t go through any of that.

I think if I had gone into MBB, investment banking, or PE or something more traditional, I’d still feel the Harvard MBA "effect." In those fields you’re surrounded by others from similar backgrounds. Same with biglaw and medicine from what I hear. In tech, no one cares. Not in hiring, not in career progression. It’s all about how well you do the job and your track record.

I don’t regret HBS. It got me the pivot I needed. But 6 years out, it’s clear that prestige doesn’t carry as far in tech as it does in other industries. At least I'm highly paid with good work-life balance.

https://www.reddit.com/r/MBA/comments/1l3dscm/6_years_out_not_feeling_value_of_harvard_mba_work/

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5733748&forum_id=2)#48989461)

lemme stop you right there, hoss

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5733748&forum_id=2)#48989490)

Shows you most poasters are casuals or joined recently. I've been here since 2010, poasting under a different moniker

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5733748&forum_id=2)#48990332)

I'm rocking my peers, putting suckas in fear

Making the tears rain down like a monsoon

Listen to the bass go boom

Explosions, overpowering

Over the competition, I'm towering

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5733748&forum_id=2)#48990479)

Oddly specific. Reeks of UCLA or Michigan

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5733748&forum_id=2)#48990643)

You'd be surprised by where many folks come from. MDs, group presidents, practice heads, EVPs, COOs, CFOs. Thinking it's all T25 undergrad and elite MBA is very wrong.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5733748&forum_id=2)#48990889)

it's this guy's fault for going into Product Management. the idea that there's Product Management OCI is kind of a joke anyway. Why do they need some fag with an MBA that everyone hates? Just hire an Engineer or a Woman.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5733748&forum_id=2)#48990901)