Last Updated:July 03, 2026, 19:33 IST

A former Oracle employee says his MBA helped him understand business, quadruple his salary and set him on a path that eventually led to building his own companyfontHe says the biggest gain wasn't just the pay. (Image: X/@Pradeepkannanj)

He says the biggest gain wasn’t just the pay. (Image: X/@Pradeepkannanj)

For years, an MBA has been seen as a ticket to better jobs and bigger salaries. But with AI tools and free online courses now offering business lessons at the click of a button, many people are asking whether the degree still holds the same value. A former Oracle employee believes it does, saying his MBA helped shape both his career and his journey into entrepreneurship.

Pradeep Kannan, who now runs The Falooda Shop, shared his experience on X, explaining how his MBA changed the direction of his life. From earning Rs 25,000 a month at the start of his career to building a business valued at around Rs 9 crore, he said the degree gave him the knowledge and confidence to take risks.

MBA Gave Him A New Direction

In his post, Kannan said he did not have much understanding of business before joining an MBA programme in 2010. Coming from a tier 3 town in South India, he said entrepreneurship was never something he imagined for himself.

He wrote, “If I had not done my MBA, I would not have become an entrepreneur. When I started my MBA in 2010, I had no business acumen. I came from a tier 3 town in South India.”

Kannan explained that business school helped him understand how companies work and gave him a strong base that he believes would have been difficult to build on his own. He also said the degree helped him progress in his corporate career.

He added, “An MBA was my first chance to understand how businesses actually worked. It gave me a foundation I couldn’t have built anywhere else. My salary went from Rs 25,000 a month to Rs 1 lakh/month.”

He Compared 2010 With Today

Kannan said the biggest change was not just the increase in his salary but also the way he started thinking about business. He pointed out that when he studied, there were far fewer ways to learn business skills outside a classroom.

He wrote, “Today, in 2026, you can learn almost everything online. AI can teach you strategy. YouTube can teach you finance. Podcasts can teach you marketing. But in 2010, that world didn’t exist. For many people, an MBA was just another degree. For me, it changed the direction of my life.”

He Later Started His Own Brand

As per reports, Kannan continued working in the corporate sector before deciding to become an entrepreneur in 2019. He left his job and launched The Falooda Shop, a dessert brand inspired by traditional Indian beverages.

What started as a small venture has now grown into a business valued at around Rs 9 crore. The brand currently operates more than 18 outlets across India and Dubai, serving a range of faloodas, milkshakes and desserts.

Handpicked stories, in your inbox

A newsletter with the best of our journalism

submit

About the AuthorBuzz StaffBuzz Staff

A team of writers at News18.com bring you stories on what’s creating the buzz on the Internet while exploring science, cricket, tech, gender, Bollywood, and culture.

News viral ‘Salary Went From Rs 25K To Rs 1 Lakh A Month’: Ex-Oracle Employee Credits MBA For Entrepreneurial JourneyDisclaimer: Comments reflect users’ views, not News18’s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

Read More