33M, Lead Analyst at FAANG. Planning to do an MBA abroad with the hope of working there for 5-7 years. Appreciate any advice from people on a similar journey
Hi everyone,
I’m a soon to be 33M currently working as a (my_qualifications) Lead Analyst at a FAANG company in India.
I’m seriously considering doing an MBA abroad as my pathway to working internationally for ~5–7 years. At my current company, an internal transfer to countries like the US/UK/Canada seems highly unlikely right now, so pursuing a master’s or an MBA feels like the most viable route.
I’m primarily targeting 1 year MBA programs in the US, UK, Canada, and Ireland, with a total budget of roughly 50–70L INR (tuition + living, ideally). My focus is less on prestige for prestige’s sake and more on ROI, employability, and actual chances of securing work after graduation.
I’d love to hear from people who’ve been on a similar journey, especially Indians who pursued an MBA abroad in their early/mid 30s.
Some things I’m trying to understand honestly:
- How difficult was doing an MBA at 31+? (academically, socially, recruiting-wise, mentally, etc.)
- What was your actual total cost vs what you originally budgeted?
- How easy or difficult was it to land a job post-MBA, especially as an international candidate needing sponsorship/work authorization?
- Which countries/programs ended up being the most realistic for employment?
- Did the MBA genuinely improve your career trajectory/earnings, or would you choose a different route in hindsight?
- For people from analytics/data backgrounds: how easy was it to pivot into product, strategy, consulting, leadership, or other business roles?
Would really appreciate honest experiences — good, bad, ugly, and especially regrets or things you wish you knew earlier.
Thanks in advance!