If I do a Master’s in Marketing now, will I still need to do an MBA later for better growth?

Question

Sudheer R · Accepted Answer

Doing a Master&rsquo;s in Marketing now doesn&rsquo;t mean you have to do an MBA later&mdash;but it depends on how your career evolves.

If the plan is to grow within marketing&mdash;like brand management, content strategy, or digital marketing&mdash;you can reach managerial roles with strong experience alone.
MBA becomes useful if you want to shift paths&mdash;like moving into product management, consulting, or general leadership roles.
Many professionals return for an MBA 4&ndash;6 years later to unlock senior roles or pivot industries.
Salaries post-MBA at top schools (like INSEAD or Kellogg) can jump to $120K&ndash;$150K+, especially in global firms.
For example, many marketing managers at companies like Unilever or Adobe have grown into leadership roles without ever doing an MBA&mdash;thanks to strong project work, internal promotions, and upskilling.

So, no need to plan for both now. Focus on building real experience post-master&rsquo;s. You can always decide on an MBA later based on where you are and where you want to go.
For more details  you can read this blog on "Msc in Marketing"

Jayant M · Answer

Not necessarily. A Master&rsquo;s in Marketing can lead to solid roles like brand executive, digital strategist, or marketing analyst&mdash;and if you gain the right experience, you can grow into mid-level roles without needing an MBA.
But here&rsquo;s the catch: many senior roles like marketing director, VP, or CMO often go to professionals with an MBA, especially in larger companies. An MBA helps when you want to move from execution to leadership, or switch industries altogether.
If someone&rsquo;s goal is to stay in marketing but move up through experience, an MBA may not be required. But if growth feels slow after 4&ndash;5 years, doing an MBA later&mdash;especially from a top global school&mdash;can open up higher-paying leadership tracks with salaries above $120K.