Nikhil Kamath's Controversial Remark on 25-Year-Olds Pursuing MBAs
Zerodha co-founder Nikhil Kamath sparked significant backlash after stating that anyone pursuing an MBA at 25 "must be some kind of an idiot." His comment stirred strong reactions across social media platforms.
Context of the Statement
Kamath made these remarks during an Ask Me Anything (AMA) session celebrating Zerodha’s 15th anniversary. He appeared alongside his brother and co-founder Nithin Kamath and other senior company officials.
While addressing a question about the future of content and education in India, Kamath described his podcast WTF as an effort to inspire entrepreneurship. He asserted:
"In my opinion, colleges are dead. If you are 25 and going to an MBA college today, you must be some kind of an idiot. I think five years from now, this trend will be exaggerated. A lot more people will not be opting for entrepreneurship, but they’ll have to choose it as there would be fewer jobs in traditional sectors."
Public Reaction
The statement faced immediate criticism as many viewed it as dismissive of higher education and disconnected from contemporary career challenges. Numerous social media users rebuked the idea, interpreting it as unfair and insensitive.
"According to Nikhil Kamath, if you’re 25 and going for an MBA, you must be some kind of idiot."
Summary
Nikhil Kamath’s bold opinion on the redundancy of traditional colleges and criticism of MBA pursuits at age 25 has ignited debate on the value of formal education versus entrepreneurship in a changing job market.
Author’s note: Kamath’s remarks highlight growing tensions between conventional educational paths and emerging entrepreneurial trends in India’s evolving economy.