From Engineering to Business in Silicon Valley

Question:   

I am currently working as an engineer in a big technology company in Silicon Valley and wish to move out of technical roles and into the business side of things in the tech industry, for example, business development or venture capitalism. Would getting an MBA help me get there? I have seen a good number of MBA graduates who successfully landed jobs on the business side despite having a tech background. I am most interested in becoming a venture capitalist.

Emma:

It is quite common for many young engineers to consider moving into the “business side of things” after working for a few years as an engineer. If you are in Silicon Valley, the business side of things could mean a lot of different paths, such as business development, marketing, product management, or finance in the tech industry, or getting into investment, private equity or venture capitalism. The Valley is a very vibrant place, with many such opportunities available in both large and small companies.

Having said that, most of these options do not have a “direct feeder”, unlike investment banking or consulting, with set programmes for MBA graduates. In fact, most of these jobs are held by individuals with a technical background who truly understand the product and its development, while having strong business acumen in order to succeed in bringing the product to market and gather capital. Do you need an MBA to get the business acumen you need? Possibly, but not necessarily. Some people find an MBA education incredibly helpful in developing those skills while others find it just more like a rubber stamp. Tech companies will not hire you for these roles “just because” you have the MBA credential after your last name. Rather, they will hire you for who you are and what skills you can bring to the table. If I were you, I would focus on understanding what those skills are, and assess whether or not you have them. If you don’t, what are the gaps and how can you bridge them? Getting an MBA could be the answer, but it might not be the only one.