When You’re Already at 30 LPA: Is an MBA Still a Smart Bet?
GEM | Cybersecurity in M&A | MBA Dilemma – India vs Abroad
I’m a GEM working in an MNC, currently in Cybersecurity within M&A, with ~2.7 years of experience and a compensation of around ₹30 LPA. While the pay and role are good on paper, I increasingly feel underutilised relative to my potential.
Long term, I want to stay in the M&A space and gradually transition from the technical/risk side into the business side of M&A / deal implementation. This has led me to seriously consider whether an MBA would actually help accelerate that transition.
I recently spoke to a CAT mentor who suggested:
- Given my GEM background, I’d likely need 99+ percentile to realistically target IIM ABC.
- Even after that, breaking into top-tier M&A / strategy consulting with a compensation significantly higher than ₹35 LPA isn’t guaranteed.
- In contrast, if I stay in my current role and grow organically for the next ~3 years, I could potentially reach or exceed that compensation anyway - without taking a career break.
His suggestion was to look at MBAs outside India, especially if I want a smoother transition into the business side of M&A. However, my biggest concern there is ROI:
- Spending ₹50–60+ lakhs (or more),
- Taking a large education loan,
- And then spending several years repaying it - feels risky, especially when I’m already on a strong compensation trajectory.
So, I’m genuinely conflicted:
- Does an MBA (India or abroad) meaningfully improve my chances of moving into business‑side M&A?
- Or am I better off staying in the ecosystem, building deal exposure, and making a lateral/internal transition over time?
- For people in similar profiles - or who’ve taken either path - what actually worked?
Would love to hear honest thoughts from the community.