The decision
The recommendation
Push for the internal team-lead role now: ask your manager for a dated sponsorship plan within six months, and if none comes, take a short certificate and look externally.
The steps
- Ask your manager this week for written promotion criteria and a target date.
- Take on formal mentoring or a stretch project to lead now.
- Set a six-month checkpoint; without a dated plan, start applying externally.
- Take a short certificate only for a gap a sponsor names.
Why
You enjoy mentoring, a lead role may open, and real leadership experience proves readiness faster and cheaper than a degree.
What you give up
You give up the MBA's broad business training and external network.
What would change the recommendation
If target roles or your company explicitly require an MBA for management, the degree becomes worth its cost.