The Hidden Truth About MBAs: You Don’t Need It to Start Your Own Business

You’ve dreamed of starting your own business, but something holds you back. Maybe it’s the thought that you need an MBA or some prestigious credential to succeed.

As someone who earned an MBA from INSEAD, one of the top business schools in the world, I can tell you this: You don’t need an MBA to build a successful business.

An MBA offers incredible networking opportunities and teaches you valuable frameworks, but it won’t teach you everything you need to know about entrepreneurship. The real lessons come when you’re out there, building, failing, and iterating.

In this article, I’ll share why the best path to building your SaaS or tech business isn’t a classroom—it’s taking action, learning from others, and embracing failure as part of the journey.

1: Lessons From My MBA Journey: It’s About Action, Not Theory

When I graduated from INSEAD with my MBA, I thought I was well-prepared for the entrepreneurial world. Shortly after, I co-founded Le VPN, a global VPN provider.

But here’s the thing: while my MBA taught me how to analyze markets, craft financial models, and build a strategic plan, none of that prepared me for the real-life challenges of running a startup.

I had to learn things the hard way:

• How to acquire and retain customers.
• How to adapt quickly to market feedback.
• How to build a business that could scale.

These weren’t things I learned during my MBA year. They were lessons I learned by doing the work—by taking action, making mistakes, and iterating based on real-world feedback.

If I had waited until I “felt ready” or thought I needed even more education, Le VPN wouldn’t exist today.

Action Step:

Start small. Identify one action you can take today to validate your business idea. Reach out to a potential customer, ask a mentor for feedback, or sketch your first business model.

2: Stop Overthinking and Start Taking Action

You don’t need another book, podcast, or course. The truth is, most aspiring entrepreneurs get stuck because they’re waiting for the perfect time, the perfect idea, or the perfect knowledge.

But business isn’t built on perfection—it’s built on progress.

One of the most effective ways to fast-track your journey is to surround yourself with people who’ve been in your shoes.

• Work With a Mentor or Coach: A mentor can help you avoid common pitfalls and give you actionable advice based on their experience. A coach can keep you focused, hold you accountable, and help you navigate challenges.
• Learn From Other Entrepreneurs: Join communities or mastermind groups where you can learn directly from peers who are building businesses just like you.

I’ve seen this firsthand with my clients. 

One client hesitated for months, thinking she needed to learn “just one more thing” before starting. But when we started working together, she realized that the only way to learn was by doing. She stopped overanalyzing and began validating her idea—and within weeks, she had made more progress than in the previous six months.

Action Step:

Identify someone in your network who can guide you—a mentor, coach, or peer who has experience in your industry. Reach out to them and ask for advice or support.

3: The Only Guarantee of Success Is Action

Here’s a truth most founders don’t talk about: degrees, competitions, and accelerator programs don’t guarantee success. Only action does.

I recently met a potential client who won a startup pitch competition during her MBA year at a prestigious business school. She won accolades for her idea and received significant support. But over a year later, she still hadn’t conducted a single customer interview or launched a prototype.

Why? Because she was overthinking every detail, waiting for the perfect conditions to move forward.

The reality is, even the best ideas won’t succeed if they stay on paper. Success comes from taking consistent action:

• Testing your ideas with real customers.
• Iterating based on feedback.
• Building momentum, one step at a time.

This is why some of my clients manage to launch successful SaaS businesses while working full-time in demanding executive roles in tech. They dedicate just five hours a week to their startup but do so consistently. Over time, those small actions add up to big results.

Action Step:

Write down one bold action you’ve been avoiding. Commit to doing it this week—whether it’s reaching out to potential customers, creating a prototype, or pitching your idea to someone new.

Your MBA Doesn’t Define Your Potential—Your Actions Do

You don’t need an MBA to start your own business. The real success factors are clarity, consistent action, and surrounding yourself with the right people.

Degrees and accolades are great, but they’re not a requirement for success. What matters is your ability to take action, learn from failures, and adapt as you go.

If you’ve been waiting for a degree, a course, or the perfect moment to start your SaaS business—stop waiting. The most powerful thing you can do is start today.

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Let’s make this the year you turn your idea into reality. You’ve got this!