Over the past decade, MBAs have become a highly demanding and coveted program for young professionals who want to enter and succeed in the dynamic landscape of business, technology, and entrepreneurship. However, this growing demand comes at a time when we are seeing a paradigm shift in how businesses operate. While traditional B-schools are slowly evolving as per the needs of the industry, new-age institutions are doing a better and faster job of keeping in sync with the current global challenges and trends. Young professionals are increasingly seeking admissions at these new-age institutions that offer a unique learning experience compared to traditional colleges.
These new-age business schools are fueled by technological and digital advancements that global business needs. They are focused on preparing future leaders in India to shine in business and entrepreneurship. They have optimised their operations and teaching methodologies to allow their students to learn skills that will aid them in becoming the next generation of leaders. The curriculum and learning experiences are diverse, enabling them to find employment opportunities in varied roles due to their exposure during their academic journey. These business schools also have diverse recruitment partners and have a proven track record for placements.
To understand more about how such institutions work, we engaged with one such program—Scaler School of Business (SSB). Based in Bengaluru and launched by leading tech education brand Scaler, which has successfully helped over 40,000 young tech professionals become employable and successful, SSB is built by industry leaders for future industry leaders. It offers a meticulously crafted curriculum that mirrors the realities of modern tech and innovation-driven businesses.
Here is a detailed analysis of how new-age business schools are different from traditional MBA programs based on our conversation with SSB –
Built by seasoned industry leaders: Traditional MBA programs are typically constructed and taught by academic scholars renowned for their theoretical expertise in business concepts and principles. New-age institutions, on the other hand, don’t only have renowned academic scholars but rely on business leaders who have scaled large businesses to build the curriculum and teach students using real-world business case studies and their personal experiences. Under the guidance of industry stalwarts and academic scholars, students can achieve remarkable success and learn to navigate the complexities of business at a large scale.
Technology Integration and Focusing Digital Transformation: The top 20 United States stock exchange companies are tech giants. While this trend still needs to be mirrored in India, it underscores the importance of technology in shaping the future. New-age business schools like Scaler School of Business understand this shift and have tailored programs to equip students with the expertise needed to thrive in a digitalised and technology-driven world.
Entrepreneurial Mindset: Entrepreneurship is not just confined to having your own business but also adopting an entrepreneurial mindset. These new-age business schools focus on an entrepreneurial mindset that will enable their students to take risks, have better decision-making and problem-solving skills, and have an innovative mind. Some business schools also organise special mentorship programs, providing students with opportunities to interact with well-established seasoned entrepreneurs and give them insight into creativity, execution and scaling of businesses.
Meticulously designed curriculum by experts: The new-age business schools offer tailored curricula that focus on theoretical and experiential learning to bridge the gap between conventional business education and the evolving needs of the industry. Some business schools work on company-sourced projects from various companies that help students learn advanced skills and apply theoretical knowledge in real-time business environments.
Lack of Accredited Degrees: Unlike traditional B-schools that offer globally recognized MBA degrees, some new-age business schools provide certifications or alternative qualifications. While these programs are often designed in collaboration with industry leaders and tailored to meet current business needs, they may not carry the same formal recognition as accredited degrees. This could pose challenges for students seeking opportunities in organizations or regions that place a higher value on traditional academic credentials. Students who opt for non-accredited business schools often point to shifting hiring trends, with many companies now prioritizing practical skills and industry-relevant expertise over traditional degrees.
Limited Alumni Network: Traditional business schools often boast decades-old alumni networks, connecting students with a vast pool of established professionals across industries and geographies. In contrast, many new-age business schools, being relatively newer, are still in the process of building such extensive networks. However, Scaler School of Business stands out in this regard. Backed by Scaler’s ecosystem, which includes over 40,000+ alumni from its tech programs, SSB students are uniquely positioned to leverage this expansive network. This gives SSB students access to a significantly larger alumni pool than many established B-schools, offering unparalleled opportunities for mentorship, collaboration, and career growth.
We also connected with students to understand how they view these evolved learning experiences with institutes like Scaler School of Business (SSB). Here is what the current students of SSB had to share –
Scaler School of Business was founded by industry leaders who scaled large businesses like Uber (India’s first CEO, scaling it to $1B) and Myntra (ex-COO who drove it to $400m ARR) with a heavy focus on skills being more important than degrees. SSB offers unparalleled mentorship from visionary business leaders and mentors students at the institute. The curriculum blends practical learning and helps students build efficiency using AI. Additionally, the program offers students flexibility in learning as they can choose electives (Marketing, Operations, Finance, Strategy, etc.) according to their interests and specialise in niche areas.
Through industry collaborations and company-sourced projects, students experience real-time business environments, test their abilities, and hone their skills. Scaler School of Business also nurtures entrepreneurial minds through their “HUSTLE” program – the ‘Hands-on startup training and learning experience’ – where students learn to build and scale their businesses as a part of the curriculum in collaboration with Scaler School of Technology’s Tech Innovation Lab. The SSB team helps students develop ideas, take them to market, generate revenue, and raise VC funds – all whilst studying on campus. Students can directly interact with the industry leaders who are part of the business school as visiting faculty. One-on-one mentorship is also given to the students in their specialisation and careers. Students have highlighted the program’s exceptional networking opportunities, including access to Scaler’s 40,000+ strong alumni network.
The comprehensive exposure during their academic journey equips students with the requisite skills to thrive in the dynamic business world. This narrows the skill gap and opens doors to better roles with competitive salaries. As Scaler has been in operation over the past decade, they already have access to over 1200+ recruitment partners spanning diverse industries and sectors, allowing learners to find varied employment opportunities once they graduate. Through their online programs, an audited report highlights a median CTC of 25L and a highest CTC of 1.7 CR.
Located in Bangalore, the start-up capital of India, Scaler School of Business offers state-of-the-art infrastructure, modernised labs, smart classrooms, well-furnished rooms, and other modern amenities that enhance the student’s learning experience.
