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MBA at 16
You are 16, going on 17.
Steve Jobs was all of sixteen when he met Stephen Wozniak. What resulted was Apple.
When Sergey Brin and Larry Page met at Stanford, they were in their early twenties. They were soon to start Google.
Today’s teenagers are our smartest generation yet. They are tomorrow’s entrepreneurs, investors, managers, policy makers, watchdogs and of course, consumers. But do you know what the corporate and business world is all about? How do businesses touch everyone’s lives? What really makes an entrepreneur tick? How does the engine of a company run? Who is a social entrepreneur?
And why do we need the world of business—is business good or bad for us?
If you are curious, come join Subroto Bagchi and a group of smart teenagers on their exciting voyage of discovery, and in the process, get yourself a teen MBA!
Steve Jobs was all of sixteen when he met Stephen Wozniak. What resulted was Apple.
When Sergey Brin and Larry Page met at Stanford, they were in their early twenties. They were soon to start Google.
Today’s teenagers are our smartest generation yet. They are tomorrow’s entrepreneurs, investors, managers, policy makers, watchdogs and of course, consumers. But do you know what the corporate and business world is all about? How do businesses touch everyone’s lives? What really makes an entrepreneur tick? How does the engine of a company run? Who is a social entrepreneur?
And why do we need the world of business—is business good or bad for us?
If you are curious, come join Subroto Bagchi and a group of smart teenagers on their exciting voyage of discovery, and in the process, get yourself a teen MBA!
Audio CD
First published April 15, 2012
25 people are currently reading
365 people want to read
About the author
Subroto Bagchi
20 books100 followersSubroto Bagchi is best known for co-founding MindTree in 1999 where he started as the Chief Operating Officer. MindTree is among India’s most admired companies across industries. In 2008, Bagchi took on the role of Gardener at MindTree.
In this new role, Bagchi spends one-on-one time with the Top-100 leaders at MindTree on their ‘personal-professional’ issues to expand leadership capacity and build readiness for taking MindTree into the billion-dollar league. In addition, Bagchi works at the grassroots by making himself available to its 45 Communities of Practice that foster organizational learning, innovation and volunteerism within the organization.
Bagchi has written extensively in leading newspapers and magazines, and spoken at industry platforms and educational institutions the world over. His Businessworld column - Arbor Mentis - and Times of India column - Times of Mind - were widely read and discussed. Many of these are archived at www.mindtree.com/subrotobagchi.
His first book, The High Performance Entrepreneur was released in 2006 as a Penguin Portfolio publication to great critical acclaim. His second book, Go Kiss the World was released in 2008 as a Penguin Portfolio. Mark Tully hailed it as “a remarkable story of courage, integrity and enterprise”.
In this new role, Bagchi spends one-on-one time with the Top-100 leaders at MindTree on their ‘personal-professional’ issues to expand leadership capacity and build readiness for taking MindTree into the billion-dollar league. In addition, Bagchi works at the grassroots by making himself available to its 45 Communities of Practice that foster organizational learning, innovation and volunteerism within the organization.
Bagchi has written extensively in leading newspapers and magazines, and spoken at industry platforms and educational institutions the world over. His Businessworld column - Arbor Mentis - and Times of India column - Times of Mind - were widely read and discussed. Many of these are archived at www.mindtree.com/subrotobagchi.
His first book, The High Performance Entrepreneur was released in 2006 as a Penguin Portfolio publication to great critical acclaim. His second book, Go Kiss the World was released in 2008 as a Penguin Portfolio. Mark Tully hailed it as “a remarkable story of courage, integrity and enterprise”.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
May 26, 2012
It is not a book that deals with how to prepare for your CAT exam. While the title of the book is "MBA at 16", it is not about acquiring an MBA degree but rather about knowing how a business entity functions smoothly day-to-day.
It is a great book for the curious young adult, who wants to know about how a business entity is run. Aspects such as raising funds - from angel investors and from Venture Capitalists, the logistics of running a business - including the intricacies of supply-chain management, the difference between the marketing and sales department, the need for advertising and the values of true leadership and much much more, are all brought out in this book.
What is more, all this is explained through the eyes of 16 year olds of Urban India. The author conducted workshops with select students from the National Public School, in Bangalore and discovered what they really wanted to know about business. Each student is portrayed in the book as a character even as the situations, contexts and conversations are fictional. Together with these characters are Cyber the dog (my favourite) and imaginary characters such as Fly High (the angel investor) and Polar (the VC) who appear in a dream and explain the concepts of raising funds.
I recall I always spoke to my dog and wished he could talk back to me. Actually, through his expressions, I always knew what he wanted to convey. Well, Cyber actually talks to his 'human sibling' Akshay and gives a discourse on supply-chain management. Without a talking dog, this chapter would have been so dull and drab.
The author has ensured that complex issues are explained in a simple manner. For example, the inventory flow is explained through the supplies in a mother's kitchen.
Today with scams breaking around us, youngsters are doing a rethink about the entire concept of capitalism. Recently at a seminar, a student told me: "I believe in ethical capitalism". I could not agree more.
The book culminates with a debate by students on: "Is Business Good for the World?" To find out what happens, read the book.
It is a great book for the curious young adult, who wants to know about how a business entity is run. Aspects such as raising funds - from angel investors and from Venture Capitalists, the logistics of running a business - including the intricacies of supply-chain management, the difference between the marketing and sales department, the need for advertising and the values of true leadership and much much more, are all brought out in this book.
What is more, all this is explained through the eyes of 16 year olds of Urban India. The author conducted workshops with select students from the National Public School, in Bangalore and discovered what they really wanted to know about business. Each student is portrayed in the book as a character even as the situations, contexts and conversations are fictional. Together with these characters are Cyber the dog (my favourite) and imaginary characters such as Fly High (the angel investor) and Polar (the VC) who appear in a dream and explain the concepts of raising funds.
I recall I always spoke to my dog and wished he could talk back to me. Actually, through his expressions, I always knew what he wanted to convey. Well, Cyber actually talks to his 'human sibling' Akshay and gives a discourse on supply-chain management. Without a talking dog, this chapter would have been so dull and drab.
The author has ensured that complex issues are explained in a simple manner. For example, the inventory flow is explained through the supplies in a mother's kitchen.
Today with scams breaking around us, youngsters are doing a rethink about the entire concept of capitalism. Recently at a seminar, a student told me: "I believe in ethical capitalism". I could not agree more.
The book culminates with a debate by students on: "Is Business Good for the World?" To find out what happens, read the book.
April 6, 2013
Business has always been my passion, my first love and this books only deepens my thirst for entrepreneurship.
at 15, i knew little or closer still nothing about butterfly investments, fissical crisis, angel investors, aspects such as raising funds Venture Capitalists, the logistics of running a business - including the intricacies of supply-chain management, the difference between the marketing and sales department, the need for advertising and the values needed to be a successful business person- LEADERSHIP.
this book acts like a gateway for the young adults to come out of the childhood dream like world full of safety and abundance and into the real world, where you must WORK and you must EARN.
i would really recommend this book to any one 16 or not, who is interested in business or the commerce department.
at 15, i knew little or closer still nothing about butterfly investments, fissical crisis, angel investors, aspects such as raising funds Venture Capitalists, the logistics of running a business - including the intricacies of supply-chain management, the difference between the marketing and sales department, the need for advertising and the values needed to be a successful business person- LEADERSHIP.
this book acts like a gateway for the young adults to come out of the childhood dream like world full of safety and abundance and into the real world, where you must WORK and you must EARN.
i would really recommend this book to any one 16 or not, who is interested in business or the commerce department.
August 7, 2012
A must read for the curious minds !
This is an amazingly simple, easy to follow and gripping book. Mr. Subroto Bagchi has been successful to understand the minds of 16 year olds and therefore he is able to share the complicated world of business with them with such a great ease with his novel characters like talking Dog and Fly High. From Manufacturing to Quality to HR to Marketing to innovation, he covered all the topics, even introduced the young ones to Gary Hamel and Edward Deming and the likes. He really simplified the 7 quality principles, PDCA, TQM, Six Sigma, 80-20 rule, Core competence, supply chain, economies of scale, Angel Investor and VC funding. This book is really offers a Mini MBA to not only teenagers but also to others who want to understand the world of business in a very interesting story like fashion, that too with very relevant examples from the industry. Reading this, the reader is bound to think at least once if he / she wants to be a JOB SEEKER or JOB CREATOR !
This is an amazingly simple, easy to follow and gripping book. Mr. Subroto Bagchi has been successful to understand the minds of 16 year olds and therefore he is able to share the complicated world of business with them with such a great ease with his novel characters like talking Dog and Fly High. From Manufacturing to Quality to HR to Marketing to innovation, he covered all the topics, even introduced the young ones to Gary Hamel and Edward Deming and the likes. He really simplified the 7 quality principles, PDCA, TQM, Six Sigma, 80-20 rule, Core competence, supply chain, economies of scale, Angel Investor and VC funding. This book is really offers a Mini MBA to not only teenagers but also to others who want to understand the world of business in a very interesting story like fashion, that too with very relevant examples from the industry. Reading this, the reader is bound to think at least once if he / she wants to be a JOB SEEKER or JOB CREATOR !
July 28, 2012
This is a nicely written book that has the right way of explaining things to a 16 year old. This book explains the complicated terms of the corporate world in a very intuitive and friendly way like its just going on in the world of the young readers. A good reading experience for budding business enthusiasts.
March 26, 2018
What a difference this would have made 5 years ago! Highly recommend for teens and young adults.
February 13, 2013
There aren't many books which I manage to read in single sitting. "MBA at 16" is one of those books which you can't put down. It has all the qualities to be prescribed at intermediate level of education. Subroto Bagchi beautifully captures the interest of the teenage group by intertwining basic principles and awareness about "Entrepreneurship". If you are a budding entrepreneur then this book should be your starting point irrespective of the fact that you are no longer a teenager.
November 19, 2025
The book's greatest strength is its brilliant premise and accessibility; it distills complex business and life principles into digestible, story-driven lessons that are incredibly empowering for a young audience. Bagchi’s use of relatable anecdotes from his own journey and other Indian contexts makes concepts like entrepreneurship, ethics, and customer service feel tangible and achievable, not just theoretical.
It’s less of a traditional MBA curriculum and more of a foundational guide to building a proactive and observant mindset, which is arguably more valuable for a teenager. However, this strength is also the source of its main limitation. The book, by design, offers a simplified version of reality; it provides the spark and the "what," but the gritty, complex "how" of executing these ideas in the face of real-world failures and bureaucratic hurdles is necessarily left for the reader to discover. Some of the advice can feel idealistic, and the rapid, vignette-style format, while engaging, sometimes sacrifices depth for breadth.
Ultimately, it's an excellent and highly recommended read not because it gives all the answers, but because it successfully plants the right questions and a powerful sense of possibility in a young mind, which is a significant achievement in itself.
It’s less of a traditional MBA curriculum and more of a foundational guide to building a proactive and observant mindset, which is arguably more valuable for a teenager. However, this strength is also the source of its main limitation. The book, by design, offers a simplified version of reality; it provides the spark and the "what," but the gritty, complex "how" of executing these ideas in the face of real-world failures and bureaucratic hurdles is necessarily left for the reader to discover. Some of the advice can feel idealistic, and the rapid, vignette-style format, while engaging, sometimes sacrifices depth for breadth.
Ultimately, it's an excellent and highly recommended read not because it gives all the answers, but because it successfully plants the right questions and a powerful sense of possibility in a young mind, which is a significant achievement in itself.
October 8, 2024
Subrato Bagchi, the co-founder of MindTree demonstrated his entrepreneurial prowess in authoring a book by crowdsourcing talent. What is more surprising is how he leveraged young talent in their teens productively in a way motivating them and commoditizing its outcome as book for other such young talent to know the world around and aspire big.
I have recommended this book to not just my son in his pre-teens but also my wife and other kith and kin. I bet even adults have a few take-aways from this book, especially Toyota's 7 Principles that are so lucidly penned to convey the intent. Many tech startup founders and leaders would profit to at least read the chapter on this topic from this book to delve in detail on it as a consequence.
Go grab your copy and may you spend qualitative time with your family, perhaps discussing a chapter a day as "dining table conversation", if I may recommend.
I have recommended this book to not just my son in his pre-teens but also my wife and other kith and kin. I bet even adults have a few take-aways from this book, especially Toyota's 7 Principles that are so lucidly penned to convey the intent. Many tech startup founders and leaders would profit to at least read the chapter on this topic from this book to delve in detail on it as a consequence.
Go grab your copy and may you spend qualitative time with your family, perhaps discussing a chapter a day as "dining table conversation", if I may recommend.
January 8, 2019
A different book with a different mission and with a different vision , picked up the book being fascinated by the title and being authored by one of my my favorite author.When I started reading the book I really liked it as it was more of a practical case study done with a group of school going students and the experiments described are more of the studies done at some of the top rated Business Schools. Mr. Bagchi has brought in all his leadership experiences in a "Capsule form" ready to be swallowed . A must read for a any all school going students and of leadership aspirants.
August 4, 2017
Good. Small yet very nice
Read
August 13, 2019To learn real world stuff
October 28, 2019
Great way of writing which engage reader so well that make the book great. Written in a simple language.
February 9, 2021
Nice for teens to know how businesses run.
May 13, 2021
A fun and easy read. Not the most shocking new lessons but a quick and easy intro into the world of startups.
January 2, 2022
More of a children’s literature.
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September 12, 2024Read it when I was 17 but learned a lot about VCs and business from this.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 12, 2017
The books on entrepreneur is always my first preference, recently I went to crossword and show this wonderful book called MBA @ 16, without thinking further I picked this book. Although this is not the first time I am reading Subroto Bagchi so I know his work on entrepreneurship and business.
MBA @ 16 is not about how to start your business at 16 but it’s a curious cases for young MBA’s who wants’ to do something different for the society by becoming entrepreneur. I think this book is a blueprint for those who want to pursue entrepreneurship. Each and every important points being taken into consideration by the author like how to raise fund from angel investor, supply and demand management, logistic, marketing and sales, accounting, innovation, HR, advertisement etc.
The writing style of author is simple and easy to digest, no difficult terminologies being used while convening the message like raw material to finished products is easily conveyed by giving the example of mother’s kitchen. Many complicated business tactics is simply presented to the readers by the author as a story. I really loved to read about Steve jobs, Bill Gates, Dr. Verghese Kurien, Sergey Brin, Larry Page and many other famous personalities.
This book will transform Job Seeker into Job Creator. A must read for those who want to jump in business rather than doing a monotonous job, also I highly recommend this book to the budding entrepreneurs and MBA students.
MBA @ 16 is not about how to start your business at 16 but it’s a curious cases for young MBA’s who wants’ to do something different for the society by becoming entrepreneur. I think this book is a blueprint for those who want to pursue entrepreneurship. Each and every important points being taken into consideration by the author like how to raise fund from angel investor, supply and demand management, logistic, marketing and sales, accounting, innovation, HR, advertisement etc.
The writing style of author is simple and easy to digest, no difficult terminologies being used while convening the message like raw material to finished products is easily conveyed by giving the example of mother’s kitchen. Many complicated business tactics is simply presented to the readers by the author as a story. I really loved to read about Steve jobs, Bill Gates, Dr. Verghese Kurien, Sergey Brin, Larry Page and many other famous personalities.
This book will transform Job Seeker into Job Creator. A must read for those who want to jump in business rather than doing a monotonous job, also I highly recommend this book to the budding entrepreneurs and MBA students.
September 26, 2013
Students pursuing MBA degree is facing a slump in the recent days. MBA @ 16 might be the root cause for this issue, Subroto Bagchi - Founder of Mindtree came out with a book to educate students at school level to learn and experience Entrepreneurship at tender age level. This book starts of with flamboyant stories of many successful entrepreneurs that includes Steve Jobs, Bill Gates, Dr.V, Verghese Kurien, Dr. Harish Hande and so on. This book doesn't only educate people at 16, it's a must read for people who teach MBA students.
March 29, 2014
Being from an i.c.s.e institution i've read economics in class 9 and 10 and as an introduction to teenagers this book really has good stuff to make the person a bit more compatible with the business world. The vocabulary used by the author is quite impressive and a reader can get to know more about the business world and improve his vocabulary skills at the same time. The way the author has explained things with lively examples is what adds a diamond to the tiara. It is worth the money spent and according to me it's one of the best books i've ever read !
Read
June 27, 2013There aren't many books which I manage to read in single sitting. "MBA at 16" is one of those books which you can't put down. It has all the qualities to be prescribed at intermediate level of education. Subroto Bagchi beautifully captures the interest of the teenage group by intertwining basic principles and awareness about "Entrepreneurship". If you are a budding entrepreneur then this book should be your starting point irrespective of the fact that you are no longer a teenager.
October 3, 2013
This book is fantastically written!
I felt that this book would be overstuffed with info. However, it defied expectations! It is — as some of the reviewers said — 'crisply written' and the examples make it all the more interesting!
It's a must for every sixteen year old in 21st century, especially for Commerce students like myself!
I felt that this book would be overstuffed with info. However, it defied expectations! It is — as some of the reviewers said — 'crisply written' and the examples make it all the more interesting!
It's a must for every sixteen year old in 21st century, especially for Commerce students like myself!
October 16, 2013
ReVisited my wonderful MBA classes!!
Happy that this kind of book is getting published now-a-days! Good work from Mr. Bagchi.
I completely enjoyed reading this book.
4 Thumbs up!!!! :) for this cute little (pinky:)) book!
Happy that this kind of book is getting published now-a-days! Good work from Mr. Bagchi.
I completely enjoyed reading this book.
4 Thumbs up!!!! :) for this cute little (pinky:)) book!
September 28, 2014
A must read not only for students but also for professionals. A really inspirational book which will familiarize you with the word of business and various aspects of it. The ways of explanation has his own sense of innovation and curiosity.
May 11, 2012
Good for an inspiration to become an entrepreneur
November 1, 2012
awesome book....to enlighten young minds
March 24, 2013
Understand the intricacies of the world of business through this nicely written book by Mr. Bagchi. It opens new windows of opportunities for the young India.
December 26, 2013
Well knowledgeable book which shows how a simple persons have b
een successful in their ventures...
een successful in their ventures...
March 23, 2015
Anyone curious out there come join the author and a group of smart teenagers on their exciting voyage of discovery..:)
April 1, 2014
The book has many stories which deals with business and also inpires us by giving examples of great business personality..
August 20, 2014
Awesome, simply written but efficiently at the same time.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews