'ETA' is latest craze among MBAs

This has been a fascinating generational trend to watch, as Boomer-founded businesses either face being closed down or sold due to a lack of organic succession. This trend started right after I left B-school back in 2010, but I think it’s way better for #MBA graduates to use their skills in running actual businesses than to go into corporate environments where they may lack P/L and hiring managerial responsibility.

For Bloomberg Businessweek's special package on business schools, I dove into the rising trend of recent MBAs spurning McKinsey & Company and Goldman Sachs to do what's called "ETA" -- entrepreneurship through acquisition, where they search for, buy and run a small business, with help from investors or SBA-backed loans. It's not for everyone, but for those MBAs with an appetite for risk and a hunger to call the shots, it can be rewarding and lucrative. It can also satisfy younger generation's desire for a #purposedriven career, rather than toiling long hours for some global conglomerate or a mercurial startup founder. And with hiring slowing at traditional MBA employers in finance and tech, it's getting more attention lately. Read on to hear how recent grads from Harvard Business School, The Wharton School, Stanford University Graduate School of Business, University of Michigan - Stephen M. Ross School of Business, Yale School of Management and other top schools are faring in their searches. #entrepreneurship #deals #mbastudent #careers #purpose #acquisitions #smallbusinessowner #generationalwealth #mba #businessschools #litrendingtopics

We have been saying this for months and years the only way our SMEs or startups grow is for Masters students to start getting involved either buying some stake or working for them for future benefits Pauline Njeri CPA Teresia Nyaoro Robert Yawe Melissa Ogwayo Alessandro Calamia Kevin Kahariri Abraham Augustine Karina Faßbender Sheena Raikundalia Eric Wainaina, CFA Loren Anduvare Annette Musehenga Janyce Kamau Mary Maina, FCCA,MBA Caroline Wanja

Many of you know I teach Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition (ETA) at Washington University in St. Louis - Olin Business School, and co-led a search in 2017. As opposed to building a startup from nothing, acquisition entrepreneurs buy an existing business with product-market fit. ETA's been around for a long time, but we're witnessing early days of a ramp-up, as a solution to the 'silver tsunami' as baby boomers exit. Contact me to learn more. #eta #buyandbuild

For Bloomberg Businessweek's special package on business schools, I dove into the rising trend of recent MBAs spurning McKinsey & Company and Goldman Sachs to do what's called "ETA" -- entrepreneurship through acquisition, where they search for, buy and run a small business, with help from investors or SBA-backed loans. It's not for everyone, but for those MBAs with an appetite for risk and a hunger to call the shots, it can be rewarding and lucrative. It can also satisfy younger generation's desire for a #purposedriven career, rather than toiling long hours for some global conglomerate or a mercurial startup founder. And with hiring slowing at traditional MBA employers in finance and tech, it's getting more attention lately. Read on to hear how recent grads from Harvard Business School, The Wharton School, Stanford University Graduate School of Business, University of Michigan - Stephen M. Ross School of Business, Yale School of Management and other top schools are faring in their searches. #entrepreneurship #deals #mbastudent #careers #purpose #acquisitions #smallbusinessowner #generationalwealth #mba #businessschools #litrendingtopics

Yet one more example of how our outdated work environment (all office, policy-based hybrid, all remote, core hours, no meeting Wednesdays and too many meetings on all other days, 4-day workweek, etc) is driving talent to seek alternative solutions. "It can also satisfy younger generation's desire for a #purposedriven career, rather than toiling long hours for some global conglomerate or a mercurial startup founder." Those conglomerates are doing good, necessary, amazing work customers who need them - but all of that is TOTALLY not front of mind for employees who are more focused on what the rules and policies say about where they have to put in their time from today... It doesn't have to be this way. But if businesses and leaders are going to continue to value taking attendance at the corporate office (or home office), and making sure their employees are "busy," we will continue to see trends like this. Any business can keep it's employees engaged through purpose driven work - but the pathway isn't policies or rules, it's accountability + autonomy.

For Bloomberg Businessweek's special package on business schools, I dove into the rising trend of recent MBAs spurning McKinsey & Company and Goldman Sachs to do what's called "ETA" -- entrepreneurship through acquisition, where they search for, buy and run a small business, with help from investors or SBA-backed loans. It's not for everyone, but for those MBAs with an appetite for risk and a hunger to call the shots, it can be rewarding and lucrative. It can also satisfy younger generation's desire for a #purposedriven career, rather than toiling long hours for some global conglomerate or a mercurial startup founder. And with hiring slowing at traditional MBA employers in finance and tech, it's getting more attention lately. Read on to hear how recent grads from Harvard Business School, The Wharton School, Stanford University Graduate School of Business, University of Michigan - Stephen M. Ross School of Business, Yale School of Management and other top schools are faring in their searches. #entrepreneurship #deals #mbastudent #careers #purpose #acquisitions #smallbusinessowner #generationalwealth #mba #businessschools #litrendingtopics