<p>How useful is an MBA in Politics? As in, becoming a congressman or a governor etc…</p>
<p>Most politicians have Law degrees… could an MBA take it’s place?</p>
<p>W has an MBA so apparently it is not useful at all.</p>
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Well, this can go many ways…</p>
<p>If you’re implying that he was a bad president and an MBA can get an unqualified candidate into the most powerful elected position in the federal government, then apparently it’s extremely useful.</p>
<p>However, you can also take it your way and expand on it further. W received his MBA from HBS so from your statement, an MBA from a top 10 school is not useful at all.</p>
<p>It can’t hurt you. But I don’t think it’s necessarily going to help you.</p>
<p>Most successful / prominent politicians who have MBAs generally come from the private sector before transitioning to the public sector:</p>
<p>Former POTUS George W. Bush (HBS) – previously oil industry CEO / Texas Rangers owner
Governor Jon Corzine (Chicago) – former Goldman Sachs CEO
Former Governor Mitt Romney (HBS) – former Bain Capital CEO</p>
<p>I am hoping to add a grad certificate (in political management/public relations/intelligence) to my MBA and move to DC. My undergrad was Poli Sci, if that even matters anymore.
I think that a MBA shows management and leadership ability, and a chief of staff to a top politician is my current ‘pipe dream’, so, we will see.<br>
I believe it to be the best, and most demanding grad program at my state university, so that was definitely a factor.</p>
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I think that an MBA gives you a background in business management and shows others that you have the potential for leadership, but by itself, it does not prove leadership ability.
When you look at most of the people admitted to MBA programs (ibanking analysts, consultants, etc.) you will notice that while they may be star-performers they are not at the top of the ladder. They are a leader in performance but not necessarily a true “leader” in that sense. They then pursue an MBA so they can promote and consequently be able to prove themselves in a position with evermore leadership responsibilities.
If you want something that is extremely useful in politics, I ask you how many male politicians have not served in the military? It’s definitely something to look into. I think military service is one thing that many elected public officials have in common from their youth.</p>
<p>^^^While I agree with you on the prominence of military service among politicians, I think that it in large part is a generational issue. The baby boomer population that is prominent in politics right now had the draft for Vietnam. Then those of a little older than them had Korea, and then those before them, that are probably no longer in government, had WWII. Among younger politicians, I don’t think it’s nearly as prevalent, though this is observational.</p>
<p>Of course a college degree does not involve group leadership itself. Combined with its organizational development and quality work experience, it positions you for such occupations that involve such.
And I do not believe that most admittances to MBA programs are iBankers and consultants. Maybe at the ivies, but not most. I am in a cohort of 40 and none of them are either, nor is anyone I have met in my program. And I go to a large state school that is probably a good representation of a typical MBA program.
And the above poster makes a good point about a different type of military currently. The younger generation of intellectuals that serve are definitely depleted as compared to older generations.</p>