Is An MBA Key To Success In Tech?

For those of us born in the 70s and 80s, October 21, 2015, offered a nostalgic glimpse into our childhood and will forever be known as Back to the Future Day. This was the ‘future’ date that Marty McFly (played by Michael J. Fox) travelled to in the iconic 80s movie, Back to the Future II. Surprisingly, the movie did get quite a few things right – including 3D movies and our (somewhat over) reliance on technology. While the hoverboard is not quite a thing yet (although Nike claims to be close), technology has most definitely disrupted everyday life and completely changed the way we shop, think, communicate, and live. The tech industry is so much engrained in our society that three of the five most valuable companies in the world – Google, Microsoft and Apple – are all tech firms, and computer programmers have become the new ‘upper class’ with large and small tech firms alike scrambling to scoop up the best and brightest. While it’s easy to see the value computer geeks provide tech firms, there is another, much less obvious, class of graduates that are quickly becoming the new darlings of Silicon Valley – MBAs.

Traditionally, MBAs are coveted for their skills in management consulting or financial services, but many are turning their backs on these career paths for a more adventurous foray into the world of high tech. While an MBA background used to contrast sharply with the skills required for fast-moving tech companies, the introduction of new electives such as data analytics is turning MBAs into tech-and-business savvy employees, a combination that tech companies are desperate for. For their part, MBAs are attracted to the dynamic, fast-changing, and creative environment offered by tech firms – a stark contrast to the somewhat dull, corporate-driven environments presented by traditional MBA career paths.

Increasingly, MBAs who choose the tech industry over consulting or finance are no longer compromising on salary either – not only are tech salaries on par with those offered at banks, but are also higher than the global average. As such, record numbers of MBAs are trading in their tailored suits for hoodies and jeans and heading to the tech world. Business Because reports that in 2014, 43% of graduates from Berkeley’s Haas School of Business headed into the tech sector, up from 33% only a year earlier. Additionally, Amazon and Microsoft are among the leading employers of graduates from several of Europe’s top business schools. While computer know-how and tech savvy skills will always be a must in tech-related industries, it’s becoming increasingly obvious that business sense and management skills are just as essential.

At Simply Laundry, we agree wholeheartedly with the tech world’s shift towards MBA talent and in fact, our founders met while completing their MBAs at York University’s Schulich School of Business. To experience the exceptional service that a technology and business backed company can provide, trust your online dry cleaning and laundry delivery to Simply Laundry. Visit www.simply-laundry.com to get started to save time and looking great today!