The technology industry is one of the fastest growing industries in the world. But it is also a rapidly changing one, with a high level of layoffs, disruptions, and uncertainty. Workers in the technology industry need to constantly keep up with the demand for new skills and knowledge.
Technology professionals often ask us at mbaMission how an MBA might help them advance in their career—or whether an MBA would be helpful at all. What are the top roles for MBAs in the technology industry? What are the benefits of pursuing a Tech MBA? What is the difference between a regular MBA and a Tech MBA program? With this blog post, we hope to provide you with some food for thought on this topic and help you understand how a Tech MBA might be advantageous for you professionally.
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Benefits of an MBA in Technology
Whether or not pursuing an MBA is worthwhile for someone in the technology industry depends on a number of factors. First, consider what your professional objectives are. For example, if your long-term career goal is to become a chief technology officer, you might need to have an advanced engineering or computer science degree to qualify for this role. However, many positions in the technology industry could benefit from a dual understanding of how business and technological aspects interact and affect a company’s revenue. For example, product managers have responsibilities that involve various facets of a product line, from understanding customer needs and defining product strategy, to working with development teams and driving product launches. These duties require a combination of business and technological knowledge and skills.
One way to research whether an MBA is valued at your company or in your particular field is to look at the profiles of professionals who have the job you want. What type of prior work experience do they have? What is their educational background? You can also review job postings to see what the criteria are for the roles you might wish to pursue in the future.
Career Options for MBAs in Technology
Many roles in the technology industry value the business acumen that MBAs possess, particularly in the following areas and functions:
- Product management: overseeing various aspects of a firm’s profit and loss
- Marketing: driving sales and marketing campaigns for products
- Business development: identifying new market opportunities, including strategic partnerships
- Corporate development: creating and executing plans to help a company grow, including mergers and acquisitions
The Tech MBA Option
Some business schools specifically offer what is known as a “Tech MBA.” Examples of this specialized degree are the Johnson Cornell Tech MBA, NYU Stern’s Andre Koo Technology and Entrepreneurship MBA, and UW Foster’s Technology Management MBA. Certain aspects of these programs differ from one school to the next, however. For example, the Johnson Cornell Tech MBA is a one-year residential program, whereas UW Foster’s Technology Management MBA is an 18-month program.
When deciding which program would be right for you, be sure to research the curriculum at the ones you are considering. What skill gaps do you need to fill in business school? Can you waive out of courses in subjects in which you already have expertise, which would allow you to focus more on areas you want or need to learn? Asking these sorts of questions will help you understand how a program could assist you in advancing in your technology career.
Traditional MBA versus Tech MBA Programs
The two major differences between a regular MBA program and a Tech MBA program are (1) the makeup of the student community and (2) the academic curriculum.
First, students in a traditional MBA program tend to represent a wide range of industries, functions, and roles—though many will have a business background in finance or consulting—and want to enter a range of different industries and functions after graduating. However, most students in Tech MBA programs, by contrast, come from the technology sector or have technical skills and plan to return to the industry post-MBA or enter a technical role of some kind, possibly even outside the technology sector.
Second, the curriculum in a Tech MBA program focuses on technology and technology-related business and management skills, whereas the curriculum in a traditional MBA program is broader and covers more general business and management topics.
Keep in mind that even if a business school does not offer a dedicated Tech MBA, it might still have plenty of technology-related courses or programs. For example, MIT Sloan students can earn a Digital Product Management Certificate, and students at the Stanford Graduate School of Business have opportunities to take classes at the university’s engineering school. Carnegie Mellon’s Tepper School of Business offers a Technology Strategy and Product Management MBA track that prepares students to address complex business issues in the industry.
The Emergence of AI-Focused MBAs
In addition to standalone Tech MBAs, some business schools now have AI-centric degrees, majors, and/or concentrations. For example, the Kellogg School of Management and the McCormick School of Engineering have partnered to offer students a full-time MBAi degree for Business & Artificial Intelligence. Kellogg’s MBAi Program blends MBA leadership training with engineering-level AI coursework in a five-quarter format, including a full-time summer internship and an applied AI capstone. At UPenn Wharton, a new MBA major called AI for Business was just launched. Beginning in fall 2025, Wharton students can learn technical AI foundations combined with strategy, ethics, and business applications. Similarly, Chicago Booth announced in July 2025 that it will introduce a new MBA concentration in Applied AI that dives into real-world AI implementation and gives the school’s MBAs a structured path to lead AI initiatives.
If you would like additional guidance on choosing the right MBA program to help you progress in your technology career—or on how to approach crafting your MBA applications—sign up for a free 30-minute consultation with a member of the mbaMission team.
