How I DIY'd My Own MBA Program While Increasing My Salary
Source @samyuthareddy | A framework for designing your own MBA alternative
Instead of following the prescribed path to an Ivy League school, I built my own alternative. One that would allow me to outearn my corporate job, rather than just cost me a quarter million dollars.
This issue is a story of how to know when traditional paths don't serve your specific needs, and having the courage to design your own. We are creative in 2025.
The equation was simple: I couldn't afford to spend two years out of the workforce while AI was reskinning the tech industry and marketing discipline at light speed. The opportunity cost was just too great, personally and professionally.
Twelve months later, I'm generating more revenue than my previous tech salary, accessing industries I only dreamed about entering, and learning at a velocity that no traditional curriculum could match.
Here's exactly how I did it, what it actually cost, and the framework you can use to design your own path.
In case you’d rather listen - I talk through this on my TikTok @mewmoney.
Tiktok failed to load.Enable 3rd party cookies or use another browser
The Perfect MBA Candidate (On Paper)
I had the résumé of a classic high-achieving tech professional: Forbes 30 Under 30, managed marketing teams at multiple companies, led an IPO, and built my reputation as an AI marketing authority when generative AI exploded.
Yet I found myself staring at two equally unappealing paths: disappear into the abyss of a super niche IC role at big tech after a decade of people leadership, or take another head of marketing role at a chaotic startup.
I'd been part of a company that had an exit and another startup valued at $1.5B. I intimately understood that very few people actually make life-altering money from startups, and I didn't want to keep betting on other people's dreams. Also, I wanted to actually care about the technology I was going to market (sorry AI for HR professionals, I’m not your girl.)
An Ivy League MBA was the natural next step everyone ushered me toward as a no-brainer. But the uncomfortable question became unavoidable: Was I pursuing this path because it genuinely served my goals, or because it fulfilled others' expectations?
"We all conform to the prevailing insanity ... and go about in dreary black, each man doing it because the others do it." — Mark Twain
I finally came to terms with the fact that if I did what everyone else did, I'd end up where they all end up: right in the middle.
This isn't to say Ivy League MBA-ers are average by any means, but I'd held director-level roles alongside peers with Ivy League degrees. I didn't see a huge difference in our intellect, experience, ability to do the work, or compensation.
In addition, I had already put down roots in Los Angeles and found a wonderful partner, and we were relatively early into our relationship. Was my MBA worth being away from my partners, family, and friends for two years? Did I even want to move?
The opportunity cost also felt insurmountable: two years of foregone income, quarter-million-dollar tuition investment, and the professional cost of remaining static while entire business models underwent fundamental transformation.
My main character complex kicked in, and I decided to figure this out myself.
Phase 1: Exploration
This was my biggest upfront cost, and I saved for this before I quit my job. I gave myself about a $40K runway over six months because I didn't want to worry about money while I was traveling, exploring, and resetting. It might not have been as big of an investment of a traditional MBA but it was significant. Part of that was my commitment to myself that I was going to take this seriously and not be tempted back into a 9-5 the moment fear set in (and I knew it would.)
I used those first 3 months to do all the things people do on sabbaticals. I read fantasy novels, walked endlessly, did The Artist’s Way, picked up boxing, became an extremely mid florist, and galavanted around multiple countries while I celebrated my 30th year.
Phase 2: Experimentation
The next 3 months, I felt enough freedom and boredom (an iconic duo btw) to start tinkering with ideas.
Without putting any pressure on myself to generate an income I started to test out theories. I’ve always played with the idea of being a founder. I explored partnering with a celebrity doula on growing her business into an app, went through the exercise of building a fitness tech consumer app, and finally landed on a services company.
It became really obvious to me that because of my exposure at Jasper AI, being so early in AI and leading marketing there. I had a set of skills very few others could replicate. So I launched my own advisory.
I post more about scaling an advisory on LinkedIn & TikTok.
Phase 3: Scaling What Worked & Making $$$
Now my goal was to take one of those theories and actually support myself from it. I run my own advisory and consult with the industry's fastest-growing dating app, enterprise AI startups, technical model layer AI startup, and a fashion tech company.
Starting my own advisory has been the biggest life hack, because now it feels like I'm doing a rotational program. Every client is a different industry, different challenges, different team dynamics, but I’m not tied down to any one of them. It’s allowed me to fill gaps in my experience and stay competitive, without needing to commit to just one company.
Where I am now: I'm making more money than my corporate salary while building something I own with unlimited earning potential. I'm meeting 10x more people than I would tied to one organization - every client introduces me to new team, partner, ecosystem, etc. The learning curve has been intense: business models, finance, taxes, branding myself, sales, accounting, social media strategy. Learning by doing.
What I still need to figure out: People at MBAs meet their partners, their bridesmaids, lifelong friends. I'm meeting professional contacts but not so many people my age that translate into real IRL community. I also need to be more strategic about structured learning - there are so many courses out there, and my flexible schedule means I could supplement this real-world experience with more formal education online or at a local university. More to come here.
Phase 4: Using Advisory Work to Build My Dream Resume
I'm feeling drawn toward consumer technology companies that are using AI meaningfully. Feeling less likely like I’d hire people on and scale my advisory into an agency because I’ve always loved building a brand from the inside out. I’m not 100% on exactly what role or title I’m targeting, but it feels like its getting closer.
I want to work for a company with real principles - I'm over the classic Silicon Valley founder story that has no values or brand trust and just sprays and prays until the next funding round.
Now that I'm confident I can support myself, I need to be strategic about the clients I select and projects I take on:
1. Fill Resume Gaps Strategically Target more consumer technology companies to round out my experience portfolio.
2. Use Social Media to Build Missing Experience I didn't have experience managing creators, so I became one (follow me here or on TikTok!). Now I understand creator marketing from the inside out.
3. Build Intentional Community Instead of planning founder dinners, I'll be more creative about hosting events and inviting people I wouldn't normally hang out with.
4. Structured Learning Integration Incorporating targeted courses and workshops to fill specific knowledge gaps while maintaining the flexibility that makes this approach work.
Source Code: Is a DIY MBA right for you?
Traditional MBA Investment:
~$250K+ in tuition and living expenses
~$550K in lost salary over two years [avg head of mktg salary]
Opportunity cost to build your portfolio in rapidly evolving industry
Total: ~$800K
My DIY Approach:
$40K sabbatical investment
3-4 months of reduced income during experimentation
Various business setup costs (~$5K)
Total investment: ~$50K
Design your own path if you:
Have entrepreneurial thoughts and want to test them
Have a larger risk tolerance
Strong existing professional network
Feel generally good about the industry you're in (you can still pivot with this method, but it might be harder if it's a very far away industry)
Want to learn by doing rather than studying theory
Value flexibility and ownership over security and structure
Stick with a traditional MBA if you:
Need a hard reset: Don't discount how important a change of environment can be. If you need new location, new people, new everything, the investment of moving somewhere completely different might be worth it.
Making a traditional industry pivot: If you want to go into finance, healthcare, or other industries where MBAs are expected, this makes sense for a hard pivot.
You need credibility signals: If you don't have awards, speaking opportunities, social media presence, or other ways to build credibility, and you want to pay for a signal, this could be worth it. A list of no-name startups aren't going to get you in the door at a lot of places without other credibility markers - an Ivy League MBA could be a shortcut.
I'm so happy I can continue building my skills and network without racking up debt or leaving LA. On the other hand, no one else but me is responsible for building relationships with target companies or transitioning me into a full time role when I’m ready. That is pressure.
There’s a moral to this very long story: recognize when traditional paths don't serve your specific situation and have the courage to design your own.
If you've gotten this far, thanks for reading! I create content in all forms because I love connecting with people. I'd love to hear your reactions and your own stories. Reach out on all the platforms I'm chronically online on.
And subscribe, if you're not a monitoring spirit!
From the Source,
Samyutha