Business as a Service Profession: Why the MBA Ethos Needs a Rethink

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I normally don’t post rants, but this one has been a long time coming. And it stems from something I think many of us in the MBA and business world avoid talking about:

The absence of service in MBA culture.

Let me explain.

The Moment That Sparked This Post

Someone once reached out asking if joining the military would improve their odds of getting into business school. Not out of a calling or desire to serve, but purely as a résumé booster. As if enlisting were a networking strategy.

It sounds extreme, but it reflects something I’ve seen too often:

An instrumental, self-interested mindset that defines so much of MBA culture.

This isn’t about picking on one person. It’s about a broader mentality—where every decision is run through the lens of “what does this do for me?” without any deeper consideration of how our work impacts others.

Service Is Practical, Not Just Idealistic

Let’s use the military as a contrast. Service there isn’t just a nice slogan—it’s how the whole system works. Soldiers are trained to rely on each other for survival. Every mission, every routine, every protocol reinforces that:

“I’ve got your back, and you’ve got mine.”

That trust, that interdependence, is what makes it work.

In business? The ethos often boils down to:

“I’ve got my back. You’re on your own.”

And that’s a problem.

You Don’t Need to Join the Marines to Serve

You don’t need to work at a nonprofit. You don’t need to give up ambition or earning potential. You don’t even need to change jobs. But you do need to change your mindset:

  • What can I do to make my team better?
  • How can I listen—really listen—to others?
  • Am I willing to hold the spotlight for someone else?
  • Can I still be ambitious without being transactional?

Business doesn’t have to be a zero-sum game.

Why This Matters More Than Ever

The perception of MBAs as prestige-hungry, self-serving, and ethically neutral isn’t just unfair—it’s earned. And unless something shifts, that perception will calcify.

Other professions have built-in “whys”:

  • Medicine: to heal
  • Law: to serve justice
  • Journalism: to uncover the truth
  • Education: to grow minds
  • Art: to express the human condition

But business? What’s the ethos?

If it’s just “maximize shareholder value,” that’s not a mission. That’s a mechanism.

What’s the Alternative?

Imagine if we taught MBAs to see leadership as service. To build not just strategies, but communities. To grow organizations not just for profit, but for people.

“Service” doesn’t mean charity. It means accountability. It means purpose. It means leading with empathy, not just efficiency.

And that’s not naive. It’s sustainable. Long-term. Resilient.

If You’re an MBA Applicant, Ask Yourself This

Before you hit submit on that application, or polish your résumé bullet one more time, ask:

  • Who am I hoping to serve through my work?
  • What kind of leader do I want to become?
  • What’s my ‘why’ beyond the job title and salary?

You don’t need to have perfect answers. But if you’re not even asking, you’re missing the point.

Want to craft a stronger application?

If you want help building an MBA application that reflects more than just credentials and checkboxes, try the MBA App Assistant. It’s built to help you craft a candid, grounded, and human story—one that reflects your values, not just your résumé.