Look Nikhil Kamath, I am doing an MBA! Indians react to the Zerodha co-founder’s comment

Nikhil Kamath’s comment on the value of MBAs has reignited a familiar debate: in a country caught between startup glamour and corporate ladders, does a business degree still matter? Across classrooms, boardrooms, and founder circles, the answer is complicated—and deeply personal.

More than classrooms: networks and access

“The classroom is the least transformative part of an MBA,” says Patel, who argues that the true value lies in access. Alumni networks that stretch across decades, recruiting pipelines built specifically for MBA cohorts, and opportunities for global exposure are what change trajectories. For students without inherited networks, she calls the degree a “democratising agent” that legitimises entry into elite circles and speeds up mobility in ways raw skill alone often can’t.

Even industries that claim to be disruptive still screen traditionally at the top, Patel adds. Firms like leading consulting houses and investment firms continue to treat the MBA as a filter. Alternative routes exist, but they’re not the norm. Education, she argues, remains one of the few scalable ladders for those who didn’t start with one.

Despite a growing chorus online that “degrees don’t matter,” demand hasn’t faded. Lakhs write entrance exams like CAT each year for a shot at top institutes. At leadership levels, degrees still feature prominently, even as many aspirants worry the payoff is uncertain if they don’t make it to a marquee campus. Fees are high, and placements aren’t guaranteed—fuel for both caution and conviction.

A student’s view: “Success isn’t one-size-fits-all”

Vipul Sharma, 25, inside an IIM Mumbai classroom, hears the debate differently. “People reach a certain stage and start believing only one path leads to success. But success means different things to everyone,” he says. Coming from engineering, he was technically solid but wanted fluency in business. For those like him, who lack early exposure to markets, teams, and clients, “startup” isn’t a realistic first move. “MBA is the one degree that lets you pivot, upgrade compensation, and move into strategic roles.”

He also calls out the contradictions: “Founders say degrees don’t matter, but when they hire from campuses, they go to Tier-1 colleges. That’s hypocritical.”

The employer lens: pedigree vs performance

From the other side of the table, Akshaara Lalwani, founder and CEO of a communications firm, says an MBA alone barely nudges the needle. “I’d give the degree maybe 10 to 20 percent weightage,” she notes. “An MBA for the sake of a tick mark holds zero value.” What does stand out is a tough, well-run programme—it signals discipline that often carries into work life.

Her non-negotiable is performance. Candidates who hide behind jargon don’t make the cut. Clarity, adaptability, and the willingness to figure things out are what matter most in her final call.

Learning by doing: the no-MBA founder

Shreya Das, 29, co-founder of a PR agency, built her business the scrappy way—testing, failing, and learning in real time. “You don’t need an MBA to run a successful business,” she says. For her, character and accountability beat credentials. She’s watched peers spend lakhs on a degree only to land modest salaries, while she gained returns from hands-on client work and iterative growth.

What bothers her most about the current debate is how hustle gets mythologised. “New hustlers want results immediately,” she says. In her world, patience—not a credential—is the real filter for entrepreneurial survival.

The cost, the pressure, the payoff

For Sharma, the financial stakes are very real: his two-year MBA costs around 21 lakh. “You feel the pressure, not just to clear loans but to justify your parents’ belief in you,” he admits. Still, he sees it as an investment. Once placement comes through, he argues, the compounding benefits—in skills, access, and roles—make sense over time.

The pro-MBA founder: structure, signals, and networks

In contrast, Karan Raghani, 27, founder of a startup, prefers MBA-trained hires. For him, the degree signals foundational and theoretical clarity and proof that someone has endured rigorous processes. “Startups need more foundational clarity across departments,” he says. He also points to the underrated value of networks—the kind that lead to first clients, mentors, and cross-functional exposure.

Inside his team, he’s seen MBA graduates make more inclusive, unbiased decisions, while others default to narrow sub-domains. His advice is clinical: do a cost-benefit analysis. If your career already has momentum, keep going. If you’re in a slow-growth track and feel stuck, prepare for an MBA—but prioritise strong institutions. Graduates from premier campuses continue to see some of the best placement outcomes.

So, should you do it?

This fight over MBAs isn’t really about a piece of paper; it’s about how young Indians imagine their futures. For many, the degree is the only credible door-opener. For others, the fastest learning lies outside classrooms. Lalwani’s advice to the confused 25-year-old is straightforward: work for a few years first. You might discover you don’t need the degree—or that you want it for the right reasons.

India’s economy rewards both chaos and credential. The hard part is choosing which ladder suits your life, not someone else’s narrative—founder, influencer, or otherwise.