Anupam Mittal’s recent post challenges the conventional wisdom around MBAs, arguing that most programs are outdated and no longer the best launchpad for modern careers. Instead, he advocates for hands-on building—whether as a Product Manager, Engineer, Designer, or innovator—stressing that this journey develops crucial skills like questioning norms, building empathy, managing conflict, influencing without authority, and pursuing long-term impact.
Mittal reflects on how his own PM experience taught practical storytelling, analytical thinking, and playing “long games”—skills that, he claims, fueled his entrepreneurial success more than any classroom learning or three-letter degree ever could. His advice to young professionals is clear: “Don’t do an MBA, Build.” If an MBA is essential, he suggests aiming for a Tier 1 school or, better yet, investing focused time in learning AI and product skills.
Check out his post on Linkedin:
The Builder’s Path vs MBA: Industry Dialogue
Anupam Mittal’s views have reignited old debates online, with many professionals—and even some executive MBA graduates—agreeing that hands-on product work offers messier, more valuable lessons than case studies and frameworks. However, skeptics point out that MBAs still act as hiring filters at many companies, providing theoretical frameworks and business context. Industry articles and experts, including Bakul Dholakia, also criticize the outdated curriculum at many Indian B-schools—over 2,000 colleges place fewer than 15% of their grads.
In contrast, some professionals emphasize how top MBAs deliver structured problem solving and strategic business thinking not always accessible on the job. Discussions on platforms like Reddit echo this duality: while MBAs’ relevance is shifting, they remain valuable in certain business roles, especially when paired with real project exposure.
Internet’s Reaction
The Internet quickly chimed in on Mittal’s post, echoing and expanding his views with sharp, personal insights. Sahil Nayar notes that in real hiring, AI knowledge often trumps a business degree, even asking, “Would you hire someone without an MBA but has AI knowledge?”—to which Anupam Mittal responds, “Honestly, I don’t even know who has an MBA on my teams, unless it is a top tier MBA.”
Ayushi Pandey agrees with the value of deep product experience, but cautions that MBAs still function as a hiring filter at many companies, prompting Mittal to say, “You don’t want to join those cos anyway.” Zaki Jamei sums up the mood: “MBA might teach you frameworks, but PM teaches you firefighting with style,” even proposing a ‘Mini-MBA’ mixing AI and product to which Mittal quips, “I’d call it Masters in Building Awesome Things.”
Recnetly, The entrepreneur made his OTT debut with a cameo appearance in “Do You Wanna Partner,” a Prime Video series starring Tamannaah Bhatia and Diana Penty that premiered on September 12, 2025. The show follows two female entrepreneurs launching a craft beer startup in India’s male-dominated business environment—a fitting platform for Anupam Mittal to play himself as an investor and entrepreneur.
Anupam Mittal’s Kashmir Reflections: Experience Matters
Mittal’s earlier posts, notably about Kashmir, further illustrate his preference for real-world experience over abstraction. Rejecting comparisons between Kashmir and Switzerland, he praised the Valley’s unique “raw, rustic, ravishing” quality and resilience, highlighting grassroot growth in tourism, agriculture, and local resolve in the wake of tragedies. His message: True beauty and progress are found in tangible realities, not just “postcard views” or classroom theory—an ethos reflected in his views on building versus studying.
Read this: “All Bengaluru Startups Are in Losses, Mumbai and Delhi Are Better,” says Anupam Mittal
