Is an MBA still worth it for marketers in 2025, or should you learn by shipping work in public?

Schools still broaden your network and expose you to many disciplines. The catch is that the tactical skills age fast, and AI is eating a lot of the output that used to signal competence. On the job, you can publish, get feedback, and adjust in real time.

In this episode of B2B SaaS Marketing Snacks, host Brian Graf and Kalungi founder Stijn Hendrikse compare a traditional MBA path with “ship-every-day” alternatives like the altMBA, and what that means now that AI is everywhere. They share where formal study helps, where it falls short, and how to build your own playbook with T2D3.

You’ll hear a practical way to decide: school, work, or both. And how to stack real skills that compound for years, not months. The format follows our podcast intro template to keep things crisp and useful.

Critical topics in this episode

• Why AI changes what “communication” means
• Where MBAs help, and where they don’t
• How to learn by shipping, every day
• How to run real primary research
• Investor and hiring views on MBAs now
• A T2D3 path to specialize with focus

By the end, you’ll know when to pick school, when to learn on the job, and how to design a focused, personal “mini-MBA” that actually moves your career forward.

Resources shared in this episode:

• Top 7 quick SaaS marketing certification courses
• Top strategic B2B SaaS marketing certification courses for executives
• The New Divide: Syntropy Creators vs. Entropy Processors 
• T2D3 CMO Masterclass
• Submit and vote on our podcast topics

ABOUT B2B SAAS MARKETING SNACKS

Since 2020, The B2B SaaS Marketing Snacks Podcast has offered software company founders, investors and leadership a fresh source of insights into building a complete and efficient engine for growth.

Meet our Marketing Snacks Podcast Hosts: 

• Stijn Hendrikse: Author of T2D3 Masterclass & Book, Founder of Kalungi
  As a serial entrepreneur and marketing leader, Stijn has contributed to the success of 20+ startups as a C-level executive, including Chief Revenue Officer of Acumatica, CEO of MightyCall, a SaaS contact center solution, and leading the initial global Go-to-Market for Atera, a B2B SaaS Unicorn. Before focusing on startups, Stijn led global SMB Marketing and B2B Product Marketing for Microsoft’s Office platform.

• Brian Graf: CEO of Kalungi
  As CEO of Kalungi, Brian provides high-level strategy, tactical execution, and business leadership expertise to drive long-term growth for B2B SaaS. Brian has successfully led clients in all aspects of marketing growth, from positioning and messaging to event support, product announcements, and channel-spend optimizations, generating qualified leads and brand awareness for clients while prioritizing ROI. Before Kalungi, Brian worked in television advertising, specializing in business intelligence and campaign optimization, and earned his MBA at the University of Washington's Foster School of Business with a focus in finance and marketing.

Visit Kalungi.com to learn more about growing your B2B SaaS company.