Breaking into Tech: Leveraging an MBA to Pivot into the Industry
By Laura Nelson, Co-founder, MBA Pathfinders
Tech is one of the most dynamic – and competitive – industries for MBA grads. Whether you’re chasing a product management (PM) role at a FAANG company, aspiring to lead marketing at a growth-stage startup, or driving innovation at a non-tech firm, leveraging an MBA to pivot into tech can be challenging – but not impossible.
I’m a tech veteran with more than 15 years of industry experience, mostly with B2B SaaS companies. Quite a bit has changed since I first got into the industry, and the market continues to evolve at a rapid pace.
If you’re hoping to leverage the MBA to break into tech, here are my tips for navigating this career pivot :
Understand the Tech Landscape in 2025
Tech hiring isn’t what it was – even just a few years ago. In today’s job market, you’ll find:
Slower, just-in-time hiring: There are fewer on-campus job postings for tech roles and more unpredictable hiring timelines.
Tight VC funding: This is especially true for early-stage startups. The dynamic interest rate environment has made it more challenging for early-stage companies to raise money and scale their teams.
Scrutiny on international candidates: Companies are cautious with visa sponsorships, and it’s virtually non-existent within early-stage startups. This limits the opportunities that international candidates can pursue.
Variable placement rates: Grads from even the most elite MBA programs aren’t guaranteed jobs. Candidates pursuing tech need to plan for a longer search – one that likely extends beyond graduation.
The bottom line: Candidates must be flexible, adaptable, and proactive when seeking out opportunities in tech. The immediate post-MBA role may not be ideal, but is likely a stepping stone to something else.
Define Your Career Path
Ask yourself two fundamental questions:
What do you want to do? Determine your function and target role. Product management used to be the most popular path, but opportunities are shrinking. However, product marketing remains viable. Additionally, analytics and operations are popular post-MBA paths.
Where do you want to do it? Consider factors like company size (seed or early-stage startups vs. public), sector (B2B vs. B2C), and work environment (remote vs. in-office).
Know Your Options by Company Stage:
Seed Stage: High risk, high reward. Great for ownership, but often low on resources.
Series A-C: More structure and funding, but higher competition.
Public Companies: Stability, comp, and benefits – with more bureaucracy.
Develop Your Profile
Identify Your Transferable Skills
Assess your pre-MBA experience to highlight your core strengths. For example, my background in the film and television industries translated well to product marketing. I was able to make this career pivot by leveraging my strengths and experiences in storytelling, understanding the target customer, and collaborating cross-functionally.
Bridge the Skills Gap
Build fluency in hard skills, like analytics, and soft skills, like executive communication. Leverage formal training through MBA coursework, and take advantage of practical learning opportunities in the tech industry and through on-campus organizations (like the Tech Club) to fill these gaps.
Demonstrate Your Interest in the Industry
Get involved with tech-focused clubs and career treks, take part in startup incubators and pitch competitions, and utilize alumni networks and mentorships to learn more about your target roles, functions, and companies.
Become a Student of Your Function and the Industry
Go beyond on-campus resources and learn from experts and thought leaders who are driving the industry forward. A few of my favorites include:
Master the Job Search
Treat the search like a full-time job. Use both on-campus resources and off-campus networks. Also, don’t overlook indirect paths like consulting, corporate development, or even non-MBA jobs that can lead into tech.
Build a database of tech-specific job search platforms. Here are some of my favorites:
Maintain a Long-Term Perspective
Tech careers rarely follow a straight line. In fact, I think the hardest part is landing your first role in the industry. From there, things get easier.
As you search, remember to:
Stay resilient and persistent
Embrace flexibility in the short-term
Keep a long-term growth mindset
You may not land your “perfect” role immediately following your MBA, and that’s OK. View each role as an opportunity to learn and build.
Want More Guidance?
We offer 1:1 guidance on the MBA admissions process and pivoting your career into tech. Get in touch with us to discuss your goals and strategy.