To MBA or not?

[Hullaballooooo]

Hi there,
Am in a high level professional job & have PhD. I manage a reasonable sized team already. But I feel like I have hit the ceiling of where I can currently get to, I'd like to be able to get further up to Senior Management team or Exec level and feel like I may need additional qualifications to do this. Have been wondering about a part time MBA but don't know if this would make a difference or not. Anyone with any advice? Anyone done a part time MBA with feedback or thoughts on the best ones to do online/mostly remotely? Any other suggestions on how to get that next career step up?
Thanks in advance!

@Hullaballooooo I thought you were me for a minute, only I don't manage a reasonable sized team (yet)!

I've also got a PhD and although I'm on the Senior Management Team, we're a fairly small organisation so it's maybe not as senior as it sounds. I'd like to move up to Director Level in the next few years, so have been looking at MBA courses.

I'm currently thinking the OU Postgrad certificate is a good idea as a starting point. If it's a total nightmare fitting it in, I could stop at certificate rather than starting a MBA and failing to complete it. Need to do some serious thinking about it though.

Have you got any further with your decision since you first posted?

I think you have to consider to whom it will make a difference. Your current employer or another one? If current employers value it, they will sponsor it. If you have to pay, you need to evaluate how much extra salary this would mean for you or it’s an expensive and time consuming option.

If you can evaluate within your own organisations, and come to the conclusion it’s needed, then you should talk about it at your performance management review. Next steps etc! Career development etc..., If you see it as needed to move to another company then the same applies - will they value it?

The people I know with it have done well but neither had a PhD in the first place. Often business qualifications or financial qualifications are valued more than expert qualifications that are a bit niche. So I would really investigate how this will improve your prospects and whether it’s worth the money if you have to pay. If you do it, go via a top class business school. They are more valuable I would suggest. Eg Henley, Cass etc

I think it is always good to do a MBA. You will gain a lot even if you have to pay the fee by yourself. If you have a full time job, you can study it online. I know a College can offer a online MBA.
In fact, the College is offering a mini MBA in late August. You can have a taste if you have a week to train yourself.