Is MBA a Good Career Choice for an Engineer?

If you are an engineer who has freshly earned his or her degree, or a seasoned individual working a white collar job in a multi-national, there comes a time when you are faced with the question of ‘what next’. For many, engineering is a means to an end or a truly uninhibited passion. Yet, many of us aspire to go one step further – than step often being management. But, is MBA a great career choice for an engineer?

As top management colleges in India such as IILM eagerly await the next set of applications for their MBA course, it is time for you to decide whether you want to pursue this option. If getting into the family business, becoming an entrepreneur, or landing a top management job at an MNC is what you eventually plan to do, then an MBA is definitely the right option. And we are quite optimistic that after reading this article, you will have already made your decision…in favor of MBA after engineering. Here’s why:

You learn about the finer nuances of business:

Coming from an engineering background, you must already be aware of the technical and operational side of a business. But, in the long run, a business is all about expansion, productivity and profit – domains in which MBA graduates excel. An MBA program develops strong strategic, analytical and financial aptitude in candidates, setting them up to lead organizations one day.  Moreover, if you have a business idea, an innovation you want to market, or simply expand your family business, knowledge of management principles and subjects is critical.

MBA Course

You get exposure like never before:

An MBA degree is highly dynamic and fast-paced. You will be constantly involved in projects, discussions, and debates which will challenge your problem-solving acumen, and impart to you the necessary leadership skills to rise to the top. Most importantly, you will get unprecedented practical experience in an MBA course – via internships, workshops, international study programs, corporate training and interning, etc. An MBA program will thrust you into the real-life business world, and provide you with opportunities to enhance your skillset.

You develop an entrepreneurial aptitude:

An MBA course also opens up avenues for you to become an entrepreneur. Many MBA colleges have tailor-made courses on this subject which allow students to develop and perfect their ground-breaking ideas and innovations into profitable business models. As an engineer, you might have always dreamt of solving the world’s problems and disrupting industries with better services and product. Doing an MBA is how you can devise a blueprint for accomplishing this dream.

You benefit from extensive personality development:

In business, it’s all about the personality, ethics, and manners. Making the right first impression is half the battle won. In an MBA program, one learns etiquettes and communication skills that are synonymous with the best leaders in the world.

You can land an extremely lucrative corporate job:

It is no secret that MBA courses promise great placements in the best and biggest corporate firms globally. If that is what drives you, then doing an MBA is the best decision you can take right now. After all, to reach the top of a company, you need to have excellent business skills, which is why companies hire management graduates with lucrative offers. In other cases, many top positions in your present company would most definitely require an MBA degree. This is where you can get an edge over your colleagues and gain a quicker and bigger job promotion.

Are you ready, now, to take the jump from engineering to management?

Education and Its Impact on Sustainable Development: PRME 2018

Education has for long been acknowledged as a pillar to support and enhance sustainable development. On Day 2 of the PRME Conference at IILM, one of the top MBA colleges in India, education and its role in pursuing SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals) took center-stage in the first session of the day. During the session on Laying The Foundation: Alignment Of Management Education With Sustainability, the support of education was discussed and evaluated by the esteemed panel of speakers who shared their insights with respect to the institutions and organisations they represented. The session was moderated by Dr. Shuchi Agarwal.

Moderation of consumption with education:

Mr. Manoj Sinha, principal of Aryabhatta College, University of Delhi, brought to light principles by Mahatma Gandhi that was extremely relevant in today’s world struggling with sustainable practices. Quoting the Mahatma’s famous saying ‘there is enough on Earth for everybody’s need, but not enough for everybody’s greed’, Mr. Sinha emphasized on moderation of consumption to ensure sustainability. He also brought forward the importance of education and its accessibility that could raise awareness on efficient applications to reduce consumption and support sustainable development.

Of making judicious choices:

The next speaker on the dais was Mr. John Verghese, Principal of St. Stephen’s College, the University of Delhi, who supported Mr. Sinha’s views on education and its accessibility. He further elaborated on the empowerment that comes with education, saying his point by citing the example of a hungry soul who would be in better control of the future when taught how to fish to feed self, rather than being provided with fish to feed self. A sound, well-informed education not only enables one to think of the best ways to respond to a situation but also how to execute the same, keeping in mind all socio-economic-political conditions.

How blockchain can change the game:

Mr. Siddharth Sibal, VP, Accenture, brought in his rich corporate experience to introduce how innovation is the key to sustainable development. He shared valuable insights from his travels and knowledge and encapsulated with how countries such as Russia, Costa Rica, China, are tackling development with improved digital technology. Mr. Sibal also addressed the exploding popularity of blockchain technology, and how it was becoming the base for decentralization. “The applications of blockchain in each and every field they can be implemented to can yield fantastic results for sustainable practices,” he said. He exemplified his point with SolarCoin, a direct application of the technology as the form of cryptocurrency developed to support global solar electricity generation. The peer-to-peer controlled system has been effective in distributing energy from ones who are producing excess energy with solar panels, to those who need more energy.

The speaker session concluded with a Q&A session where the enthusiastic attendees interacted with the speakers on their own possible roles in sustainable development. On being asked what kind of managers from MBA colleges can lead the movement for sustainability, Mr. Sibal replied, “The ones who think out of the box and have the passion to create. Only those with a hunger to create can innovate ethically and responsibly. And nothing less is the need of the hour for sustainable development.”