The concept of Masters of Business Administration (MBA) is evolving with time. Now, it is no more limited to operation
management, product management, investment banking, consulting or entrepreneurship
and working with start-ups. Various management candidates are now pursuing
non-traditional MBA careers. These range from fashion and food to social work.
MBA skills that one picks up in business schools are applicable in every situation especially when it comes to approaching
an issue with logical and analytical reasoning or dealing with large data etc.
an issue with logical and analytical reasoning or dealing with large data etc.
As author and Mint’s Managing Editor Sidin Vadukut
mentions in his interview with Shiksha.com, management degrees gives graduates a
set of generic and secular skills which can be used in any walk of life. MBA basically helps candidates contribute to
any organised activity. It could be starting a company to managing a
Non-Government Organisation (NGO), he further adds.
mentions in his interview with Shiksha.com, management degrees gives graduates a
set of generic and secular skills which can be used in any walk of life. MBA basically helps candidates contribute to
any organised activity. It could be starting a company to managing a
Non-Government Organisation (NGO), he further adds.
Year on year, MBA graduates have been opting
for traditional careers. But lately managerial candidates are increasingly going
for non-traditional turfs. Let’s a look at these emerging trends – Non-traditional
MBA careers:
for traditional careers. But lately managerial candidates are increasingly going
for non-traditional turfs. Let’s a look at these emerging trends – Non-traditional
MBA careers:
Writing
/ Authors
/ Authors
MBA professionals opting to write or author
books is gaining fast popularity in our country. Some of the bestselling
authors in our country – Chetan Bhagat, Amish Tripathi, Rashmi Bansal and
Ashwin Sanghi – are all graduates from top business schools. Success of these authors
are encouraging more and more MBA graduates to take up writing as a full-time
career.
books is gaining fast popularity in our country. Some of the bestselling
authors in our country – Chetan Bhagat, Amish Tripathi, Rashmi Bansal and
Ashwin Sanghi – are all graduates from top business schools. Success of these authors
are encouraging more and more MBA graduates to take up writing as a full-time
career.
Since management course teaches to be
entrepreneurial and risk-taking in nature, these MBA graduates and professionals
are taking up writing not for the royalties but for the creative satisfaction. Also,
MBA graduates know how to market and sell their book. For instance, Amish
Tripathi’s The Immortals of Meluha
was rejected by every publishing house. So finally, he published the book
himself, which went on to become a raging success. Tripathy took a leaf out of
his own MBA curriculum and in a way, created a business plan for his own book.
entrepreneurial and risk-taking in nature, these MBA graduates and professionals
are taking up writing not for the royalties but for the creative satisfaction. Also,
MBA graduates know how to market and sell their book. For instance, Amish
Tripathi’s The Immortals of Meluha
was rejected by every publishing house. So finally, he published the book
himself, which went on to become a raging success. Tripathy took a leaf out of
his own MBA curriculum and in a way, created a business plan for his own book.
CSR
With the help of Corporate Social
Responsibility (CSR), companies ensure business is conducted in an ethical way.
It takes care of the impact of business in terms of social, economic, environmental
and human right aspects. With Union Budget 2013 mandating companies to spend 2%
(two per cent) of their profits on Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR),
business school graduates are now exploring various roles in CSR. Many top MBA colleges
such as IIM Ahmedabad, Lucknow and Kozhikode have introduced CSR modules in
their course.
Responsibility (CSR), companies ensure business is conducted in an ethical way.
It takes care of the impact of business in terms of social, economic, environmental
and human right aspects. With Union Budget 2013 mandating companies to spend 2%
(two per cent) of their profits on Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR),
business school graduates are now exploring various roles in CSR. Many top MBA colleges
such as IIM Ahmedabad, Lucknow and Kozhikode have introduced CSR modules in
their course.
By focusing on CSR activities, MBA
graduates can point out the issues required to sustain an organisation on a
larger scale. These issues are not related to profit and loss or operation or
any business development aspects. It expands beyond the organisation goals and
focuses on the sustainable development of the planet, ethical industry practices,
and social issues and so on. These issues or factors affect the well-being of
the mankind, which in turn has a direct and indirect correlation to the overall
business development.
graduates can point out the issues required to sustain an organisation on a
larger scale. These issues are not related to profit and loss or operation or
any business development aspects. It expands beyond the organisation goals and
focuses on the sustainable development of the planet, ethical industry practices,
and social issues and so on. These issues or factors affect the well-being of
the mankind, which in turn has a direct and indirect correlation to the overall
business development.
Politics
Indian political scenario witnessing a
major shuffle in the last two years. New parties with radical ideologies are
coming into power. Older parties are also reshuffling and changing their
ideologies. Development of the country is foremost on everybody’s mind.
major shuffle in the last two years. New parties with radical ideologies are
coming into power. Older parties are also reshuffling and changing their
ideologies. Development of the country is foremost on everybody’s mind.
Though an unusual field of career post an
MBA, quite a few graduates are taking up politics as a fulltime job. MBA
graduates with their analytical and logical background can make for very good
politicians. Many political parties invite MBA graduates for summer internships
to give them an idea about the field. Politics, on the whole, is about
management, economy, price-rise, food supply and so on. Management graduates can
work on national-level issues related to economics, policies, pricing, etc.
MBA, quite a few graduates are taking up politics as a fulltime job. MBA
graduates with their analytical and logical background can make for very good
politicians. Many political parties invite MBA graduates for summer internships
to give them an idea about the field. Politics, on the whole, is about
management, economy, price-rise, food supply and so on. Management graduates can
work on national-level issues related to economics, policies, pricing, etc.
NGO
Humanitarian causes have always been foremost
on the minds of people. Non-governmental organisation is one of the fastest
growing sectors of the world. The sector requires a lot of strategic and
analytical skills which comes naturally to many MBA graduates. Also, NGOs
pretty much operate like a business. Working
with NGOs presents an opportunity to connect with the real world and problems
faced by the world out there. MBA graduates can use their well-earned business
skills to uplift the humankind and the society at large. While NGOs cannot
match the salaries offered by top corporate houses, working with them gives a
sense of satisfaction that is irreplaceable.
on the minds of people. Non-governmental organisation is one of the fastest
growing sectors of the world. The sector requires a lot of strategic and
analytical skills which comes naturally to many MBA graduates. Also, NGOs
pretty much operate like a business. Working
with NGOs presents an opportunity to connect with the real world and problems
faced by the world out there. MBA graduates can use their well-earned business
skills to uplift the humankind and the society at large. While NGOs cannot
match the salaries offered by top corporate houses, working with them gives a
sense of satisfaction that is irreplaceable.
Environmental
Work
Work
Environmental issues has gone up
tremendously in the last two decades. Most of the organisations and NGOs
dealing with environmental issues face various kinds of challenges on a daily
basis. These challenges range from dealing with large amount of funds to making
the right social connections that’ll help in tackling the environmental causes.
MBA graduate can bring their social networking and financial skills on the
table.
tremendously in the last two decades. Most of the organisations and NGOs
dealing with environmental issues face various kinds of challenges on a daily
basis. These challenges range from dealing with large amount of funds to making
the right social connections that’ll help in tackling the environmental causes.
MBA graduate can bring their social networking and financial skills on the
table.
Managers need to have the ability to deal
with real-time challenges, evaluate larger policies and goals, and manage and
inspire a team dedicated to environmental causes. An increasing number of MBA
graduates are becoming eco-entrepreneurs. Companies are putting a lot of focus
of environment causes through CSR. As a result, MBA entrepreneurs are branching
out to environmental causes.
with real-time challenges, evaluate larger policies and goals, and manage and
inspire a team dedicated to environmental causes. An increasing number of MBA
graduates are becoming eco-entrepreneurs. Companies are putting a lot of focus
of environment causes through CSR. As a result, MBA entrepreneurs are branching
out to environmental causes.
Fashion
Fashion is one of the biggest industries in
the world. This industry is big on branding, sales, marketing and operations. As
fashion becomes an integral part of our lifestyle, increasing number of MBAs
are being hired to tap this fast growing industry. Fashion businesses need
strategists, industry relationships, networking sustainability plans – all of
which are a part of MBA studies. In short, management graduates can help
commercialise creativity.
the world. This industry is big on branding, sales, marketing and operations. As
fashion becomes an integral part of our lifestyle, increasing number of MBAs
are being hired to tap this fast growing industry. Fashion businesses need
strategists, industry relationships, networking sustainability plans – all of
which are a part of MBA studies. In short, management graduates can help
commercialise creativity.
Food
Industry
Industry
The food industry is undergoing massive transformation
with the changing mind-sets of people and international chains coming to India.
Food habits too are changing rapidly. To map this fast changing but essential
part of the Indian economy, MBA graduates are slowly but steadily making
inroads in this industry. While some opt to work with bigger brands as
marketing, branding or finance managers, others have opened up their own
ventures. These ventures range from opening a restaurant to creating an
e-commerce venture like Zomato.
with the changing mind-sets of people and international chains coming to India.
Food habits too are changing rapidly. To map this fast changing but essential
part of the Indian economy, MBA graduates are slowly but steadily making
inroads in this industry. While some opt to work with bigger brands as
marketing, branding or finance managers, others have opened up their own
ventures. These ventures range from opening a restaurant to creating an
e-commerce venture like Zomato.
Acting
/ Entertainment
/ Entertainment
The world of cinema and arts is fascinating
for many. And MBA graduates aren’t really immune to this charm. Quite a few
candidates with MBA degrees have gone ahead to pursue acting and directing
careers. While some made it, others hit the dust. Some of the successful MBA
graduates-turned-actor-director are John Abraham and Siddharta.
for many. And MBA graduates aren’t really immune to this charm. Quite a few
candidates with MBA degrees have gone ahead to pursue acting and directing
careers. While some made it, others hit the dust. Some of the successful MBA
graduates-turned-actor-director are John Abraham and Siddharta.
Author
Bio:
Bio:
Ipsita enjoys
food holidays and can’t resist pizzas even on a full stomach. Baby shopping is
a big turn-on for her when she doesn’t mind going broke, literally. She wants
to read Greek and Indian classics, but ends up reciting children’s rhymes.
food holidays and can’t resist pizzas even on a full stomach. Baby shopping is
a big turn-on for her when she doesn’t mind going broke, literally. She wants
to read Greek and Indian classics, but ends up reciting children’s rhymes.
