New York | April 2026 — Zerodha co-founder Nikhil Kamath sparked a major debate at Columbia Business School after a student challenged his earlier remarks questioning the value of MBA degrees. The exchange took place during the India Business Conference 2026 held at Columbia University, where Kamath attended as a keynote speaker.
During the session, a student confronted Kamath over his earlier comment suggesting that pursuing an MBA at 25 may not be the best use of time. The student asked why he chose to speak at a business school if he believed MBA programs lacked value.
Kamath responded humorously, saying he was there to meet “future wealthy people,” a remark that drew laughter from the audience but quickly went viral online. The clip was later shared by a student who described the exchange as calm and candid, fueling discussions across LinkedIn and social media platforms.
The incident comes months after Kamath’s earlier statement during a public interaction where he questioned the relevance of MBA degrees in an AI-driven world. His remarks had already sparked criticism, with many arguing that business education still plays a critical role in leadership and networking.
Experts say the Columbia debate reflects a broader shift in professional education. With tuition fees at top business schools crossing six-figure levels, many professionals are now evaluating whether MBA programs deliver learning value or primarily offer access to elite networks.
A recent discussion around the Columbia exchange suggested that the value of MBA programs may increasingly lie in networking and credibility rather than classroom knowledge, as learning resources become widely accessible online.
Nikhil Kamath, who dropped out of formal education early, built Zerodha into one of India’s largest brokerage platforms and is often vocal about alternative career paths. His views, however, remain controversial, especially among students pursuing traditional corporate careers.
The Columbia Business School interaction has now become one of the most talked-about business education debates of 2026, with professionals and students divided over whether experience or formal education matters more in today’s economy.
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