Is an MBA Worth It? What Rising Gens in Family Enterprises Need to Know
I grew up in the second generation of a family manufacturing business in India, an experience that shaped how I view both leadership and legacy. Moving to the U.S. for college and later pursuing my MBA, where I served as president of the Family Enterprise Club, gave me the chance to step outside the family system and spend time immersed in the broader family business space.
For many Rising Gen leaders, the question of whether to pursue an MBA is not a simple yes or no. It is a decision that sits at the intersection of family expectations, personal ambition, and the realities of timing. Business school can be a powerful place to step back, test yourself outside the family system, and gain new tools and perspectives. It can also be a costly and disruptive detour if the purpose is not clear. The stories of three Rising Gens illustrate just how different this choice can look, depending on what you hope to gain.
Rising Gen Stories
One Rising Gen came from a family deeply rooted in agriculture in Mexico. During business school, he balanced his involvement in the Family Enterprise Club with leadership in the Food and Agriculture Club. Over the summer, he chose to intern with a U.S. agriculture firm to benchmark practices and learn how American operators approached scale and sustainability. For him, the MBA was a way to build a bridge between tradition at home and innovation abroad. He returned with insights on technology adoption and operational efficiency that could strengthen his family’s enterprise for the future.
Another Rising Gen, a young woman from Brazil, entered business school after working in her family’s business for three years. She used the MBA as a launchpad into a top consulting firm, where she could sharpen her skills, expand her network, and build credibility in industries beyond her own. Her plan is to return to the family enterprise in four or five years with the benefit of a global perspective and professional seasoning. For her, the MBA was about timing, stepping away now to gain the outside experience that will ultimately make her more effective when she comes back.
A third Rising Gen grew up in a prominent U.S. family business but never envisioned working there day to day. Business school confirmed that instinct, while also showing him new ways to stay connected. Through conversations with his professors and with peers, he discovered how he could contribute meaningfully as a future owner and board member without being involved in operations. For him, the MBA offered not only career exploration in other industries but also reassurance that stewardship can take many forms, from governance to community building, even outside the business itself.
What are you looking for?
For many Rising Gens, the draw of an MBA is community. Business school can provide a built-in network of peers who also come from family enterprises. These people will understand your unique situation, offering a rare chance to share things you may not be able to voice elsewhere. Working in a family business can feel lonely, and the MBA community can provide sounding boards for challenges and ideas that are difficult to bring up at home. That said, there are other, less costly and less time-consuming ways to build community, from executive education programs to Rising Gen specific networks.
For others, the value lies in credibility. An MBA can serve as a stamp of approval, tangible proof that you have gained formal business training to lead. The question is whether that credential is needed in your situation. What other degrees or work experiences already signal your readiness?
In some families, education is not optional. Certain families require the next generation to hold an MBA or equivalent degree in order to take on leadership roles in the business or access their trusts. If this is the case, the decision may be less about whether to pursue a degree and more about when and where to do so.
Can you afford to step back from the family business right now?
This is as much a question of timing as of resources. How operationally involved are you at the moment? How certain are you that this is the path you want to pursue? Is your business navigating a major change that requires your presence? Stepping away can create valuable space to reflect on your role and ambitions. It can also slow momentum in the business or cause friction among those who remain. The benefit of perspective has to be weighed against the cost of absence.
What are you seeking to learn?
An MBA can be a powerful classroom, but clarity on what you want to take from it is essential. Are you aiming to deepen your financial skills so you can run the company with greater precision? Do you want to sharpen your understanding of strategy and governance? Are you seeking to become a stronger leader in complex family and business systems? Defining the skills you need most will help you determine whether a two-year degree is the right investment or whether shorter, more focused alternatives might serve you just as well.
Making the Choice
An MBA is not a blanket answer for every Rising Gen. It is one tool among many to prepare you for stewardship and leadership. For some, it provides the network, credibility, or knowledge they need to step confidently into the next chapter. For others, the timing or the trade-offs make it less compelling. The more clearly you understand what you are seeking, the better positioned you will be to decide if this path will truly serve you, your family, and your enterprise.
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