Home / Business and Economy / Tech Billionaire Disses MBA: Build, Don't Study!
Tech Billionaire Disses MBA: Build, Don't Study!
20 Nov
Summary
- Joe Liemandt advises against MBA, favoring entrepreneurship.
- He built successful companies after dropping out of college.
- Entrepreneurs change reality; MBAs analyze spreadsheets.
Joe Liemandt, founder of Trilogy Software and ESW Capital, has voiced strong opposition to obtaining a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree. He argues that the practical knowledge gained from two years of building a company far surpasses what an MBA program can offer. Liemandt himself exemplifies this philosophy, having dropped out of Stanford University to launch Trilogy Software in 1989, which achieved significant success in enterprise software.
Liemandt contrasts the mindset of entrepreneurs with that of MBA graduates. He describes entrepreneurs as individuals driven to change the world, willing to adapt and overcome obstacles. In his view, MBA candidates tend to analyze situations through spreadsheets, abandoning ideas if a single element appears unworkable. Entrepreneurs, conversely, are depicted as problem-solvers who actively reshape reality.
His entrepreneurial ethos extended to creating Trilogy University, an intensive training program for new hires that influenced similar initiatives at tech giants. Liemandt's perspective challenges the traditional view of an MBA as essential for business success, emphasizing the transformative power of hands-on experience and an unyielding belief in one's vision.
