CRED founder Kunal Shah recently sat down with podcast host Raj Shamani, and the conversation turned heads across the business and education world. Shah raised a bold question: “If placements were banned in MBA schools, would anyone still choose to do an MBA?” His point was sharp: what truly motivates people to pursue an MBA today may be more about the placement guarantee than learning itself.
He didn’t stop at the question. Shah threw out a provocative idea: “What if you and I built a company that guarantees placements? We’d probably make more money than MBA schools.” Raj Shamani didn’t disagree—in fact, he agreed “100%,” calling it an “evolution.” That exchange highlights how much value is shifting from institutional reputation to individual solutions.
Shah went on to say that today’s world is changing faster than ever before—much faster than our parents had to adapt, and far more rapidly than our grandparents. The rate of change is so high that old institutions may no longer be able to keep pace with the evolving needs and expectations of learners and professionals.
Watch his full podcast of Kunal Shah with Raj Shamani:
This discussion taps into a bigger debate: Does an MBA still hold the same value it once did? There was a time when it was viewed as a golden ticket to leadership roles. Today, however, many believe that real-world experience, adaptability, and innovation matter more than formal credentials. Social media and forums are filled with people saying that, if you want to start a business, it might be better to invest in your idea directly rather than pay for an MBA.
By challenging the traditional model, Kunal Shah is urging us to rethink how we evaluate education and career preparation. If trust is shifting to individuals and ideas, then maybe the path forward lies in creating flexible, outcome-focused alternatives instead of relying on decades-old institutional frameworks.
