Big tech companies like Facebook need to redress their business models to provide value for society as a whole, says Cornell's Karan Girotra
Big tech companies like Facebook have been under the spotlight recently. The Johnson Cornell Tech MBA teaches students to manage the digital ecosystem with a focus on ethics and value for society
Big tech companies have been under the spotlight for the past few years. Facebook, Uber, WeWork, Amazon; they’ve all come under close scrutiny for scandals that have unfurled in the public eye.
These companies represent the digital economy and the way that business has moved online. But they’ve also created a schism between financial value and value for society.
Karan Girotra is professor of operations, technology, and information management at Cornell University’s Samuel Curtis Johnson Graduate School of Management and a faculty member for the STEM-designated Johnson Cornell Tech MBA —a one-year residential program run out of Cornell’s New York city campus—which is different from a traditional MBA in that it focuses on aspects of the technology industry, data analytics, and entrepreneurship.
Karan says that there are two rules that govern management at big tech firms when creating a new company or service.
“I believe that companies should pay attention to building products and services that create value and be wary of the externalities that arise from the things you’re building; think Facebook, for example, and the wider impact the company has had on society.
“Understanding that those two things are key to good management in the digital age is a lesson to be learned for MBAs who want to develop into strong, competent business leaders.”
What does it take for MBAs to lead at big tech companies?
The typical MBA skills you develop in operations, finance, learning to manage people, accounting, and so on, are still important, thinks Karan. But what you need in addition to that is the ability to build.
“It’s not just about managing or making sure the trains run on time or making them run two percent better every year or cutting costs,” he explains. “In the digital era, because there’s so much opportunity for creating new things you need the skill set to build them.
“That could be new business lines, new products, new business models. All these things are made possible by rapid advancement in digital technologies. The new, core skillset MBAs need to learn is the builder mindset.”
Tech MBA students are immersed in an environment that challenges them to develop tech solutions for leading startups, companies, and organizations in New York City.
Karan explains that for around one-third of the program students work in teams to build something that is viable to take to market. They create a real product, working with investors and stakeholders in existing companies to do so.
“The best way to become a builder is by actually getting your hands dirty and building, that is via an experiential real-world curriculum,” says Karan.
The product building is done through Cornell’s Studio, where students work in diverse teams akin to the real world. Teams combine engineering skills, management skills, marketing, software, legal, and design.
“Traditional MBA programs have an overrepresentation of business and management skills,” says Karan. “At Cornell you’re part of a multidisciplinary team. You have one MBA, a software engineer, hardware engineer, data scientist, operations research expert, and maybe a designer.
“That’s the typical team in which we build things, and it brings it much closer to reality, replicates what happens in the real world.”
Managing at big tech companies requires an understanding of ethics
Anyone who read the news headlines in the past few years will know the importance of ethics when creating new technology products. WeWork’s failed IPO, multiple reports of alleged sexual assault at Uber, and the Facebook and Cambridge Analytica data breach are just a few examples. They all carry important lessons for future business leaders.
“We saw a number of failures where people built [products] but didn’t think enough about the ethical, social, or legal implications of what they were building,” Karan says.
“The failures are obvious around building platforms to maximize engagement without thinking too much about the consequences or influence on society at large.”
Overall, maybe three years back, someone could have said you build a great product from the point of view of raising money and get away with it. But anyone who’s had their eyes open in 2019, Karan believes, knows that’s no longer a viable option.
Even if you build something that has a financial gain, it can have a detrimental impact on society. In retrospect, Karan adds, it’s the business models that need to be fixed.
That’s what the Johnson Cornell Tech MBA is trying to accomplish, by creating diverse teams who can bring a multitude of perspectives to the table.
“It is tech management done with a focus on creating true value for society, it is tech management done not for the short-term gain of raising money or big headline valuations, but for creating sustainable businesses.”
Cornell University The Samuel Curtis Johnson Graduate School of Management
Student
Verified
3/12/2024
On Campus
Global Experience
As one of the leading universities in the world, one would expect to get lost or forgotten in the sea of highly talented students and scholars. However, that wasn’t the case in my university, where I constantly felt supported by the best faculty to achieve my goals. It was amazing to see that I was able to access learning scholarships as well as work abroad opportunities in just a period of 3 years. Be warned that the weather is unforgiving in the winter time, but nothing that a true winter coat cannot withstand.
Student
Verified
31/10/2023
On Campus
Outstanding facilities
Cornell University is widely renowned for its esteemed reputation. It boasts remarkable educators, well-stocked library resources, and efficient administrative services. The university offers outstanding amenities that cater to the needs of all individuals, with ample computer facilities and study areas. Moreover, students benefit from excellent educational communication and writing support, as well as guidance from highly knowledgeable education professionals.
Stacy
Verified
31/10/2023
On Campus
Gaining knowledge
Cornell is an amazing school with tons of opportunities for future careers. The campus is beautiful, and the professors are awesome. I feel like I'm getting a great education, and it's tough but rewarding. It's pushed me to grow and improve myself, and the competition here is healthy, not cutthroat. I'm learning to work with others and to help them, just like they've helped me. This is the best school I could have chosen.
Student
Verified
19/10/2023
On Campus
LLM Program at Cornell Tech
The LLM program at Cornell Tech offers a transformative educational experience, seamlessly merging law and technology. Its innovative curriculum, exceptional faculty, and proximity to New York's tech hub provide an unparalleled learning environment. Another plus I could think of is the close relationship between programs - as we did our classes in one relatively small complex, so I could easily interact with colleagues from Computer Science or Business programs. Such an experience allows me to gain fresh perspective in many matters.
However, one downside of doing the Law, Technology, and Entrepreneurship program is the insufficiency of the curriculum to allow the students to sit for the bar (not that this would matter to people with common law background). But, if taking the bar is your goal, Cornell provides you with the option of taking an additional semester in Ithaca that will fulfil the required courses for NY bar.
All in all, I love my Cornell Tech experience. Would do it all over again 100%!
Student
Verified
3/09/2023
On Campus
Evident
I'm thoroughly impressed with the courses and the people at Cornell. The variety of unique and captivating courses is exceptional, and it's evident that the majority of the staff and faculty are sincerely invested in your success. Additionally, forming friendships with fellow students has been a delightful experience, as they hail from diverse backgrounds and consistently support one another.
Maxwell
Verified
25/08/2023
On Campus
Diversity driven
It's an amazing place to be, populated by a variety of individuals from different origins, all motivated by their interests and goals. You can explore a wide array of subjects, and we're skilled at both working hard and enjoying a lively social life.
Student
Verified
22/08/2023
On Campus
Various fields of study
The university provides a great opportunity to delve into new fields of study, with its wide range of majors and options for pursuing unique career paths. Participating in extracurricular activities and building friendships can help reduce the stress and competitiveness that often come with academics, fostering a more balanced and healthier experience.
Jason
Verified
22/08/2023
On Campus
Social life
It's an incredible location to be in, filled with a diverse range of people from various backgrounds, all driven by their passions and ambitions. You have the opportunity to study virtually anything you can imagine, and we certainly know how to enjoy ourselves. Balancing hard work with an equally vibrant social life is our specialty.
Irene
Verified
20/06/2023
On Campus
Friendly environment
I liked being able to meet so many different people from all over the country and the world, and Cornell has always been welcoming to me since the day I arrived in freshman year. Cornell's community is very supportive; students are encouraged to work together to solve problems and really support one another in every situation, and professors are always willing to assist students in need.
Student
Verified
17/05/2023
On Campus
Masters in CS, practical learning program
I studied MS CS at Cornell Tech. It is an intensive 9 months program which focuses on practical learning. The highlight of the program is the studio based curriculum where students learn how to build ventures from scratch.
Student
Verified
10/06/2024
On Campus
Open to any kind of view and ideas
I spent time training abroad at Cornell University (Ivy League University), Ithaca, USA, working on a project entitled “Characteristics of Packaging films made from whey proteins”, under an ‘International Student Exchange Program’. Although I was simply enrolled in an undergraduate program, I took a keen interest in undertaking a challenging food science research project, which demonstrated my independent thinking at an early stage. I worked on the feasibility of preparing edible packaging films using whey protein isolates. I demonstrated scientific and analytical skills in carrying out the experimental work, while working in a research laboratory. In a very short time span (6 months), I was able to demonstrate my experimental, interpretation and analysis skills. As a result, my research work was accepted for presentation in the annual meeting of the Institute of Food Technologists, Dallas, Texas in the year 2000.I demonstrated intellectual/problem solving/management judgements and good communication skills. It was stated that the work was carried out with “great care, paying particular attention to detail”. Enjoyable campus landscape.
Student
Verified
3/12/2024
On Campus
Global Experience
As one of the leading universities in the world, one would expect to get lost or forgotten in the sea of highly talented students and scholars. However, that wasn’t the case in my university, where I constantly felt supported by the best faculty to achieve my goals. It was amazing to see that I was able to access learning scholarships as well as work abroad opportunities in just a period of 3 years. Be warned that the weather is unforgiving in the winter time, but nothing that a true winter coat cannot withstand.
Student
Verified
31/10/2023
On Campus
Outstanding facilities
Cornell University is widely renowned for its esteemed reputation. It boasts remarkable educators, well-stocked library resources, and efficient administrative services. The university offers outstanding amenities that cater to the needs of all individuals, with ample computer facilities and study areas. Moreover, students benefit from excellent educational communication and writing support, as well as guidance from highly knowledgeable education professionals.
Stacy
Verified
31/10/2023
On Campus
Gaining knowledge
Cornell is an amazing school with tons of opportunities for future careers. The campus is beautiful, and the professors are awesome. I feel like I'm getting a great education, and it's tough but rewarding. It's pushed me to grow and improve myself, and the competition here is healthy, not cutthroat. I'm learning to work with others and to help them, just like they've helped me. This is the best school I could have chosen.
Student
Verified
19/10/2023
On Campus
LLM Program at Cornell Tech
The LLM program at Cornell Tech offers a transformative educational experience, seamlessly merging law and technology. Its innovative curriculum, exceptional faculty, and proximity to New York's tech hub provide an unparalleled learning environment. Another plus I could think of is the close relationship between programs - as we did our classes in one relatively small complex, so I could easily interact with colleagues from Computer Science or Business programs. Such an experience allows me to gain fresh perspective in many matters.
However, one downside of doing the Law, Technology, and Entrepreneurship program is the insufficiency of the curriculum to allow the students to sit for the bar (not that this would matter to people with common law background). But, if taking the bar is your goal, Cornell provides you with the option of taking an additional semester in Ithaca that will fulfil the required courses for NY bar.
All in all, I love my Cornell Tech experience. Would do it all over again 100%!
Student
Verified
3/09/2023
On Campus
Evident
I'm thoroughly impressed with the courses and the people at Cornell. The variety of unique and captivating courses is exceptional, and it's evident that the majority of the staff and faculty are sincerely invested in your success. Additionally, forming friendships with fellow students has been a delightful experience, as they hail from diverse backgrounds and consistently support one another.
Maxwell
Verified
25/08/2023
On Campus
Diversity driven
It's an amazing place to be, populated by a variety of individuals from different origins, all motivated by their interests and goals. You can explore a wide array of subjects, and we're skilled at both working hard and enjoying a lively social life.
Student
Verified
22/08/2023
On Campus
Various fields of study
The university provides a great opportunity to delve into new fields of study, with its wide range of majors and options for pursuing unique career paths. Participating in extracurricular activities and building friendships can help reduce the stress and competitiveness that often come with academics, fostering a more balanced and healthier experience.
Jason
Verified
22/08/2023
On Campus
Social life
It's an incredible location to be in, filled with a diverse range of people from various backgrounds, all driven by their passions and ambitions. You have the opportunity to study virtually anything you can imagine, and we certainly know how to enjoy ourselves. Balancing hard work with an equally vibrant social life is our specialty.
Irene
Verified
20/06/2023
On Campus
Friendly environment
I liked being able to meet so many different people from all over the country and the world, and Cornell has always been welcoming to me since the day I arrived in freshman year. Cornell's community is very supportive; students are encouraged to work together to solve problems and really support one another in every situation, and professors are always willing to assist students in need.
Student
Verified
17/05/2023
On Campus
Masters in CS, practical learning program
I studied MS CS at Cornell Tech. It is an intensive 9 months program which focuses on practical learning. The highlight of the program is the studio based curriculum where students learn how to build ventures from scratch.
Student
Verified
10/06/2024
On Campus
Open to any kind of view and ideas
I spent time training abroad at Cornell University (Ivy League University), Ithaca, USA, working on a project entitled “Characteristics of Packaging films made from whey proteins”, under an ‘International Student Exchange Program’. Although I was simply enrolled in an undergraduate program, I took a keen interest in undertaking a challenging food science research project, which demonstrated my independent thinking at an early stage. I worked on the feasibility of preparing edible packaging films using whey protein isolates. I demonstrated scientific and analytical skills in carrying out the experimental work, while working in a research laboratory. In a very short time span (6 months), I was able to demonstrate my experimental, interpretation and analysis skills. As a result, my research work was accepted for presentation in the annual meeting of the Institute of Food Technologists, Dallas, Texas in the year 2000.I demonstrated intellectual/problem solving/management judgements and good communication skills. It was stated that the work was carried out with “great care, paying particular attention to detail”. Enjoyable campus landscape.
Student
Verified
3/12/2024
On Campus
Global Experience
As one of the leading universities in the world, one would expect to get lost or forgotten in the sea of highly talented students and scholars. However, that wasn’t the case in my university, where I constantly felt supported by the best faculty to achieve my goals. It was amazing to see that I was able to access learning scholarships as well as work abroad opportunities in just a period of 3 years. Be warned that the weather is unforgiving in the winter time, but nothing that a true winter coat cannot withstand.
