How important is the MBA brand?

Question

For asset managers (PE/VC/HF) who need to raise money, how important is the brand of the MBA that the portfolio manager has? Or is having a good track record more important? Do people even care about where you went to school before giving you money to manage?

sniperssk · Answer

Nobody will give you any money to manage if you don't have track record. Knowing how the 'holistic' admissions process works and at what level the MBA finance courses are, I would say that an MBA doesn't say anything about your ability to manage money. I would rather give my money to Buffett, even if he had only a degree from Nebraska, than to someone from HBS who doesn't have any track record.

xerox · Answer

Very important to crucial in the beginning of your career; very useful afterwards.

mrblack · Answer

Did you mean to say not very useful afterwards (after you have a track record investors care more about that rather than your MBA degree)?

3underscore · Answer

it would help, but it is a nice to have. Look how many of the superstars never went to business school

DoorKnocker · Answer

Getting into top 5 finance schools is definitely great, but for other schools its important to look its at its alumni network and corporate connections. Check if the companies you want to work for hire on campus, contact a company representative who's involved with recruiting if possible, and see how many of the schools students get the jobs you want. That's the bottom line. If the school is in a major finance center and it can compete successfully with rivals, or has no rivals, then chances are you have a fair shot at your finance job. Once you get into the workforce, the MBA brand starts to matter about as much as your undergrad mattered when you started your first full time job.

How important is the MBA brand?

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