Archive · 6 Dec 2025
Tech Billionaire Criticizes MBA Value
Joe Liemandt, a successful tech billionaire, recently talked about why he thinks MBA programs aren't as valuable as people might think.
He said that spending two years building a company teaches you more about business than two years in a classroom.
He also mentioned that the money spent on an MBA could be better used to start a business instead of taking on debt.
Liemandt, who dropped out of Stanford to start his own company, believes that entrepreneurship skills are best learned by doing, not by studying.
Even though MBA programs can help with networking and many successful executives have MBAs, Liemandt argues that the practical experience of running a business is far more beneficial.
Tech billionaire Joe Liemandt criticizes MBA programs, arguing that practical business experience is more valuable than theoretical education.
Liemandt suggests that the money spent on an MBA could be better used to start a business instead of taking on debt.
He believes that entrepreneurial skills are best learned by doing, not by studying in a classroom.
Despite criticisms, MBA programs continue to attract thousands of candidates each year, with high salary projections and many Fortune 1000 executives holding MBAs.
Liemandt built Trilogy Software into a major enterprise software player and later founded EWS Capital, which specializes in acquiring and rebuilding struggling software businesses.
- Who
- Joe Liemandt, tech billionaire and founder of Trilogy Software and EWS Capital
- What
- Criticism of MBA programs and advocacy for entrepreneurship through practical experience
- When
- Recent comments on the 'Big Deal by Codie Sanchez' podcast
- Where
- Discussed on a podcast, with references to his career and education at Stanford University
- Why
- Believes practical business experience is more valuable than theoretical MBA education
- Name
- Joe Liemandt
- Companies Founded
- Trilogy Software, EWS Capital
- Education
- Stanford University (dropped out)
- Fortune 1000 Executives with MBA
- 40%