Indian woman studying at NYU takes a stand against Nikhil Kamath’s ‘idiot’ jibe on MBA students: ‘Not everyone wants to be a hustler’

Anaheez Patel, who previously worked with Vogue India, posted a video on Instagram addressing Nikhil Kamath’s statement head-on

Patel adds that anyone mocking education choice is likely revealing their insecurity against your intelligence

Indian tech billionaire and Zerodha co-founder Nikhil Kamath has sparked a wave of criticism online after remarking that a 25-year-old pursuing an MBA must be “some kind of an idiot”. The comment, widely circulated on social media, has not been received well by many. Among those responding is 27-year-old Anaheez Patel, an MBA candidate at NYU Stern School of Business.

Patel, who previously worked with Vogue India, posted a video on Instagram addressing Kamath’s statement head-on. “How someone with that social cachet and influence can trash the pursuit of higher education in a country like India is beyond me,” she says in the video.

She continues, “I’m 27 and getting my MBA at NYU Stern. Nikhil, the world isn’t built on exceptions. For every outlier who made it without a degree, there are thousands whose careers jumped because of one. Not everyone wants to be a hustler or entrepreneur. Some of us want structure, intellectual strengthening, and the ability to build a career with strategic depth, not just vibes.”

Patel also points out that certain industries simply cannot be accessed without an MBA. “Talk consulting, PE/VC, finance,” she says, adding that these fields expect specific credentials and training.

Countering Kamath’s original claim, Patel states firmly: “If you are 25 and you’re doing an MBA, you are not an idiot.” She adds that anyone mocking such a choice is likely revealing “their insecurity against your intelligence”.

Watch the video:

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A post shared by Anaheez Patel (@anaheezpatel)

The clip has since gone viral, prompting a flood of reactions. A user wrote, “Well said! I’ve been doing some research myself on this topic and although there are some exceptional founders without an MBA degree, the upsides of the degree cannot be negated just because of a few exceptions.”

Another user added, “Cannot even the damage these statements do when people can take the words literally without understanding the nuances of one’s life. Everyone cannot be an outlier and higher education guarantees a structured and stable life for someone without prior connections, network, wealth. If everyone around you has a certain privilege, maybe you consider it bare minimum that everyone has. And perfectly put how some roles like MBB consulting/PE/IB cannot be penetrated without an MBA degree. Maybe it’s selective bias that people around you are not looking out for jobs and you consider it the normal!”

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A third person commented, “Bro these are the same people who’ll later post job ads saying “MBA required.”.”