How Important Are MBAs In The Tech World?

How important are MBAs in the tech world right now (2018)? originally appeared on Quora: the place to gain and share knowledge, empowering people to learn from others and better understand the world.

Answer by Andrea Masini, Associate Dean, HEC Paris MBA, on Quora:

Successful MBA programs need to look ahead and prepare students for the business challenges of tomorrow not only for those of today. Therefore, with the pervasive digitalization of our economy and the increasing importance of technology in our society, I would say that an MBA degree is more valuable than ever. MBA graduates are among the few professionals able speak both the language of business and the language of technology, bridging the gap between these two worlds. This is a badly needed skill nowadays.

To that end, at HEC Paris we put a lot of efforts in strengthening the technology component of our MBA curriculum. A new specialization on digital transformation will be offered starting in September 2018. Our entrepreneurship specialization has a distinctive technology element too. Students choosing this specialization work hand in hand with top scientists and have access to our on-campus eLab, an exclusive laboratory equipped with state-of-the-art interactive technologies designed to stimulate creativity and communication.

The importance of an MBA degree for the tech sector is confirmed by the interest that recruiters from tech companies have in MBA graduates. For instance, about 20 percent of the HEC Paris MBA class secured employment in the sector last year. The range of technology recruiters in the sector included Amazon, Microsoft and Google among the top recruiters, and also some exciting new disruptors including Deliveroo (food delivery, UK), Finleap (Fintech, Germany), Happn (online dating, France) and Zoobashop (e-commerce, Africa).

All these companies are looking for outstanding graduates that are able to combine a solid technology background with the ability to understand and analyze the business implications of technological innovations.

From Quora