Here, we break down what you can expect from the Stoa MBA and hear Stoa MBA reviews from recent graduates.
What is Stoa MBA?
The Stoa MBA is an accelerated six-month business program billed as a streamlined and flexible alternative to traditional one- and two-year MBAs. There are two concentration options available: one in general management, and one in marketing and growth.
What makes the Stoa MBA different from traditional MBAs?
The Stoa MBA differs from traditional MBA programs in India chiefly because it is shorter. It takes just six months to complete, whereas most traditional Indian MBA programs take two years.
Stoa MBA fees are also lower than at other top MBA colleges in India such as the Indian Institutes of Management. The Stoa MBA costs just INR 295,000 plus taxes, compared to around INR 1,600,000 to INR 2,700,000 for most IIMs.
Who is the Stoa MBA for?
The Stoa MBA is designed for individuals with up to five years of work experience. Nearly half (47%) of students have one to three years' work experience, and a quarter have three to five.
You might consider choosing this business school if you are working in an entry-level role with ambitions to move into a hands-on or front-end role.
Ankit Dev (pictured right), a 2022 Stoa MBA grad who now works as a regional sales head in the SaaS industry, chose the Stoa MBA for this reason.
Ankit succeeded in landing his new role after the MBA.
“I was sure that this is something which nobody is doing currently in the market for mid-career folks who are short on time but want to upskill,” he says.
“Unlike other programs, Stoa offered practical experience, not just theory.”
The Stoa MBA is also a good choice for people who want to advance with their current employers and don’t want to take time out of work for admissions prep or MBA study.
This was the case for Tanya M Somani (pictured right), who graduated from the Stoa MBA in 2023.
Tanya was promoted to assistant vice president of business and partnerships at UniScholars after her time on the Stoa MBA.
“I opted for an unconventional MBA path to avoid entrance exams such as GMAT and quitting my job,” she says. “Stoa offered the flexibility and the modern approach I needed to evolve professionally without disrupting my career trajectory.”
As for industries, the Stoa MBA caters to a wide range of specialisms. Just over a quarter (26%) of students are generalists; 17% come from marketing; 15% work in sales and business development, and 13% are entrepreneurs.
What is Stoa MBA curriculum like?
The Stoa MBA offers “sprint-based learning”, with teaching divided into 20 or more week-long sprints, each covering a different topic.
A total of three hours of flexible learning occurs during the week, with three business hackathons, also known as “case weekends”, per month, where students work together live on a real-world case study.
These weekends were Tanya’s favorite part of the program. “Over six months, we had a blast, thanks to the great friends I made,” she says.
“Learning was fun; it didn't feel tough at all. It was the friendship and excitement we shared that made everything easy.”
The topics covered on the Stoa MBA include foundational concepts like problem-solving, as well as analytics 101, financial modeling, the art and science of sales, and much more.
The school also offers extensive career support, including sprints on topics like resume building and soft skills.
“My mentor helped me prepare for the interviews and understand the interviewer's mindset,” says Ankit.
“The career support team at Stoa is extremely hard-working and highly supportive. I remember how patiently Priyal from the career support team helped me improve my resume. It took three to four iterations, and the final draft was worth the effort.”
The program concludes with a charter exam. Those who pass earn many rewards, including access to Stoa’s hiring partners, company connections, and recruitment drives.
Is Stoa MBA worth it?
The Stoa MBA is likely to deliver a good return on investment because it comes with minimal tuition and opportunity costs while earning a boost in salary for graduates in their MBA jobs in India.
The Stoa MBA average package of around INR 1,270,000, with the highest graduate salary sitting at INR 2,000,000. This might not be as high as some of the very top MBA colleges in India, but it is still impressive. The average salary increase for a Stoa MBA grad is 60%.
For Tanya, who enrolled in the Stoa MBA to advance in her current company, the program was a good investment.
“I gained a clearer understanding of our business context,” she says. “Now, I comprehend my product team's efforts and the intricacies of CRM revamps. Each lesson at Stoa translated directly to my job. Applying newfound knowledge transformed my approach to work, making it more effective and insightful.”
Ankit agrees: “Stoa MBA helped me understand the complexities and functionalities of all the business functions from the macro level.”
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