It was the pithy writing that got me first. And let’s be honest, who can resist a blog titled “No mercy, no malice?” Surely not me. I’ve always had a thing for relentlessly clever copy.

The charts and poignant commentary on our economy and our society cinched the deal.

And then there was the platform. The one that gets you catapulted into a top MBA classroom of sorts, sans studying data sufficiency and sentence correction for the GMAT (and without having to write a single MBA application essay).

It’s Scott Galloway I am talking about, or Prof G as he is known. A NYU Stern professor and a serial entrepreneur, for the last three years, he has been bringing top business school education to masses of hungry brains.

His mission? “To make elite business education more accessible to all.”

Sign me up! When I don’t parade around as a founder, my alternative title is “Lifelong Learner”.

I work with aspiring MBAs who dream of landing a spot at a top business school. But their path to knowledge and new skills is not always a straight line. In fact, as long as one is not obsessed with adorning themselves with an actual degree from an elite business school, Section 4’s value proposition seems pretty darn irresistible.

I had previously written about another MBA “substitute” - the AltMBA.

This fall, I was eager to understand who Section4 is for and how they use it. Taylor Malmsheimer, VP of Strategy and Student Experience at Section4, provided the answers to my questions.

Here’s what she had to say about where Section4 fits in the enticing constellation of business knowledge sources.

What kind of “student” benefits from Section4 the most?

The ideal Section4 student is an ambitious emerging leader – someone who has reached the point of their career where they need to shift from executing day-to-day functional tasks to solving complex, strategic problems, but hasn’t received the formal training to do it. This person may not have the time to pursue an MBA, but they know they’re a future leader and they’re hungry for the resources to get there. 

Section4 teaches that student to think more strategically about difficult problems and gives them access to proven strategies that are working at top companies. 88% of our students use their learnings at work within 90 days of starting their membership, which is a very fast time-to-value compared to other platforms and traditional schooling. 

Have you seen Section4 learners subsequently enroll in an MBA program? 

Yes, we have many students who have done MBAs and want to keep their knowledge up to date, or who are inspired by our content to pursue an MBA. 

I can share a direct quote from an IBM student:

“When I took the Section4 sprint, it really opened my eyes to see how much I appreciated learning. I saw how much it energized me in my day-to-day. So after the Brand Sprint in February, I decided to do some research about business school. I took the exams, applied, and started at Stern as an MBA student. I would not have even thought to do that had I not done a Section4 sprint. Section4 was my catalyst."

Have you seen MBA grads take Section4 courses? Why?

Yes, many students with MBAs pursue Section4 to keep their knowledge up-to-date and fresh. An MBA is a huge asset, but like any static degree, the lessons and case studies become less relevant over time – especially right now, when business is changing rapidly. Section4 teaches the strategy you learn via an MBA, but puts it into a modern, up-to-the-minute context and allows you to apply it right away at your job.  

How engaged is the Section4 community, and how do members benefit from it?

We believe that the most effective education is live and in a group – live because you’re accountable to attending it, and in a group because it helps you dissect complex topics with people facing the same real-life challenges. Our students come to every lesson ready to talk, debate, and challenge each other, and many of them have become lifelong friends or colleagues through our community. 

5. What should learners expect from Section 4 in the next year or so?

We’re adding many courses in the next year, mostly focused on building critical business skills and leading a team to success. In the next few months alone, expect to see courses on giving great presentations, structuring teams for impact, strategic planning, demonstrating financial impact, inclusive leadership, deeper data analysis skills, and many more. You can see our full course schedule here.

We also just launched a set of certificate programs to help students build a broader strategic skillset. These certificates focus on the most important skills for today’s strategic leaders and can be completed in 6-12 months. 

And of course, our entire course catalog is available on demand, so students can watch on their schedule when a live session isn’t occurring. 

P.S. Did you know that in MBA Application Boost Camp you can work with me in a group setting at a fraction of the cost? Come join the driven community I am building to confidently walk the road to submitting your application.

Onwards and upwards,

Petia