Industry Intel

Pivoting into Tech: What MBAs Need to Know in 2025

The narrative that "tech is over" for MBAs has been discussed ad nauseam. Across news about layoffs, hiring freezes, and stories of impossible product management recruiting, many MBA students have written off tech entirely.

Recruiting for product management is changing, but tech opportunities for MBAs are evolving – not disappearing

That's a mistake.

After discussing hiring trends with career services directors across top programs and tracking actual data, a more nuanced picture emerges: traditional PM recruiting may be dwindling... but tech opportunities for MBAs are expanding in unexpected directions.

The death of traditional PM recruiting

Let's start with the uncomfortable truth: the traditional path to product management for MBAs has fundamentally changed.

"A lot of students come in saying they want to be product managers, but they don't always have the right experience," observes David Capaldi, Director of the Career Management Center at Cornell Johnson. "The skills required for product management are very specific and can't be developed overnight."

This isn't just about market conditions – it's about the evolution of the role and expectations from tech companies. Product management has become more technical, more specialized, and more competitive than the general management role many MBAs imagine.

"Product management requires a certain level of technical understanding, and without that, it can be challenging to succeed," Capaldi explains. "We often see students who view product management as general management, but it requires overseeing engineers, which necessitates a certain level of technical fluency."

The students still landing PM roles aren't hoping their MBA will provide technical credibility – they already have it going in.

What's actually working in tech

AI and data strategy roles are exploding

While traditional PM hiring has slowed, tech companies are creating new roles that leverage MBA skills in emerging areas.

"In tech, I think there's going to be a resurgence, especially with opportunities in AI," Capaldi notes. "But again, it's important to be qualified. Firms are looking for MBAs who can bridge the gap between technology and business."

Fuqua's Ed Bernier sees this transformation happening in real-time: "Hiring over the years has focused on knowledge-capital and how people use new skills. This is where tech has exploded." Additionally, "Tech companies have historically brought in MBAs to commercialize innovation. That's likely to continue."

The key difference? These aren't generic "MBA in tech" roles – they're specialized positions requiring specific expertise.

Operations and strategy roles are expanding

Beyond product management, tech companies are hiring MBAs for:

Go to market, including product marketing
Business operations and scaling challenges
Strategic partnerships and business development
Data analysis and business intelligence
Program management for complex initiatives
Market expansion and international growth

"While companies may be hiring fewer product managers, there are other roles available," Capaldi advises. "Flexibility is key — students need to broaden their sights within firms or explore opportunities beyond the big tech companies."

Geographic diversification is creating opportunities

The concentration of MBA tech hiring in San Francisco and Seattle is shifting. Austin, Denver, Nashville, and other emerging tech hubs are actively recruiting MBAs – often with less competition than traditional markets.

"Students today are more open to considering roles at these kinds of companies," notes Yale SOM's Abigail Kies about lesser-known but thriving tech companies. "They realize a great career can happen at a brand name they've never heard before."

The new tech strategy for MBAs

Start with business problems, not job titles

The most successful tech pivots aren't chasing specific roles – they're targeting business problems they can solve.

Instead of: "I want to be a product manager at Google" Try: "I want to help SaaS companies improve customer retention through data-driven product decisions."

This approach opens doors to product marketing, customer success, business operations, and strategy roles across the tech ecosystem.

Develop tech fluency, not tech expertise

"You don't need to be an engineer, but you do need to understand the technology enough to work effectively with tech teams while contributing business insights," Capaldi explains.

This means:

Understanding APIs, databases, and software architecture conceptually
Learning SQL for data analysis
Grasping AI/ML capabilities and limitations
Speaking the language of product development cycles

Target growth-stage companies, not just big tech

"It's important for students to broaden their search," Capaldi advises. "Students need to broaden their sights within firms or explore opportunities beyond the big tech companies, such as tech roles in non-tech firms."

Series A, B, and C companies can provide:

More access to senior leadership
Broader role scope and responsibility
Less competition from experienced tech professionals
Higher growth potential for career advancement

Industry-specific opportunities

Fintech and financial services technology

Traditional financial services companies are becoming technology companies. This creates opportunities for MBAs who understand both finance and technology.

Healthtech and digital health

Healthcare technology requires deep regulatory and business model understanding – exactly what MBAs can provide alongside technical teams.

B2B SaaS and enterprise technology

Enterprise software companies need MBAs who understand complex sales cycles, customer success, and business model optimization.

The skills that actually matter

Business acumen trumps technical depth

"If you don't have a technical background, you might need to explore roles that allow you to develop that expertise over time," Capaldi suggests, "such as product marketing or program management rather than jumping straight into product management."

The MBAs succeeding in tech focus on:

Customer and market understanding
Business model and unit economics
Cross-functional leadership and communication
Strategic thinking and problem-solving
Data-driven decision making

Industry knowledge creates differentiation

Generic "I want to work in tech" isn't compelling. MBAs who can speak intelligently about specific industry challenges – regulatory compliance in FinTech, customer acquisition in B2B SaaS, or user engagement in consumer apps – are more likely to stand out.

Strategic implications for 2025

Embrace the pivot, don't chase the past

The PM recruiting model that worked from 2015-2022 is gone. Students still pursuing that playbook are setting themselves up for frustration.

"Students sometimes get anxious because it feels less structured, but it often leads to more meaningful roles as companies are hiring for immediate, specific needs," Kies observes about the shift away from traditional recruiting.

Build tech skills during your MBA

Use electives, projects, and internships to develop genuine technical fluency. Take classes in data analysis, digital marketing, or technology strategy. Work on projects with engineering students.

Network strategically, not broadly

"Networking is another challenge – it can be intimidating. And yet so much of recruiting – especially in consulting and banking – is networking-driven," notes Tuck's Stephen Pidgeon. The same applies to tech.

Build relationships with:

MBA alumni in tech roles (not just PM)
Entrepreneurs and startup founders
Investors focused on your target sectors
Engineers and technical professionals

The bottom line

Tech recruiting for MBAs isn't dead – but it has certainly evolved. The students succeeding are those who understand that tech companies don't need more generalist MBAs hoping to figure out technology. They need business-savvy professionals who can solve specific problems.

The opportunity exists, but it requires abandoning outdated playbooks and embracing a more strategic approach. Product management may be harder to access, but the broader tech ecosystem still offers MBA-relevant opportunities.

Based on interviews with career services directors and our analysis of current tech hiring trends. For more insights on MBA career strategy, get the latest intelligence delivered to your inbox.