About Josh Kaufman and The Personal MBA
Josh Kaufman is an independent business professor, education activist, and author of the Personal MBA: A World-Class Business Education in a Single Volume, which will be published by Portfolio in 2010.
Josh’s unique, multidisciplinary approach to business education has helped tens of thousands of readers around the world master foundational business concepts on their own terms, and his work has been featured in BusinessWeek and FastCompany, as well as by influential websites like Lifehacker, HarvardBusiness.org, Cool Tools, and Seth Godin’s Blog.
Since creating the Personal MBA business self-education program in 2005, Josh has:
- Read thousands of books related to business, economics, psychology, communication, mathematics, science, and systems theory.
- Synthesized the essentials of sound business practice into a comprehensive, world-class program, which is available to students, entrepreneurs, and business professionals all over the world.
- Created the Personal MBA recommended reading list, which features the 99 best business books available to the DIY business student. The Personal MBA reading list and manifesto has been viewed by hundreds of thousands of readers from around the world.
- Saved prospective MBA students millions of dollars in tuition, fees, and interest by providing an effective and affordable means of learning fundamental business principles without mortgaging their future earnings.
- Helped hundreds of first-time entrepreneurs, CEOs, research scientists, programmers, and non-profit founders improve their business knowledge and skills via innovative online courses and 1-on-1 coaching.
- Inspired an active community of self-motivated business learners around the world.
Prior to developing the Personal MBA full-time, Josh worked as an Assistant Brand Manager in Procter & Gamble’s Home Care division, where he was responsible for projects that encompassed P&G’s entire value chain, from new product development to delivering in-store marketing campaigns for key customers like Wal-Mart, Target, and Costco. Before leaving P&G, Josh spearheaded the development of P&G’s global online marketing measurement strategy.
Josh received his BBA from the University of Cincinnati Lindner School of Business in 2005, where he studied Business Information Systems, Real Estate, and Aristotelian/Stoic Philosophy. He is 28 years old, an Eagle Scout (Boy Scouts of America), an active entrepreneur, and a pro-am photographer. The Personal MBA is his first book.
What the Media is Saying about the Personal MBA:
“Without the high tuition and opportunity costs of top B-schools, the PMBA may become the ultimate bootstrapper’s graduate degree.” (Read more…)
What the Blogosphere is Saying about the Personal MBA:
Seth Godin: “Josh Kaufman, who needs a new haircut, may just be on to something. Worth a look.” (Read more… )
Gina Trapani: “The PMBA reading list looks like a fantastic resource for motivated autodidacts looking to get into business.” (Read more…)
Kevin Purdy: “The Personal MBA site occasionally updates its list of dozens of helpful business books, designed to teach both the nuts-and-bolts money stuff and the kind of thinking one needs to get ahead in sales, marketing, or wherever your interests lie. A business school can offer networking, mentoring, and other perks, but nobody can teach you enthusiasm and business savvy—except yourself.” (Read more…)
Kevin Kelly: “No matter what they tell you, an MBA is not essential for landing or handling a good business job… Pursue your own Personal MBA in tandem with actual experience doing some kind of business. If you combine study with actually trying stuff, you’ll be far ahead in the business game.” (Read more…)
Ramit Sethi: “The best graduate school you can attend… free. Josh is absolutely one of the smartest people I know, and the first person I go to when I’m stuck on a business model… The Personal MBA is awesome and Josh has given me a ton of marketing ideas for iwillteachyoutoberich.com.”
What Readers Are Saying about the Personal MBA:
“A reading list that claims to offer the same quality education as an MBA is an audacious thing, but looking over the list, the claim no longer seems unbelievable.”
“I love the idea of what your site is about. I am always learning and reading about business and your site has motivated me to read more. I have been following your site for a little over a month. I have finished one book and close to finishing my second. I am well on my way of reading two books a month. Your Personal Master Plan was just the catalyst that I needed. Thank you! Thank You! Thank you!”
“I am a BIG fan of education. I am NOT a big fan of expensive education. In today’s world, there are many increasingly viable ways to get yourself a great educational experience in areas where life matters, and to do it without chaining a block of cement debt to your ankles as you enter the waters of life.”
“Timing is everything! In the past couple of weeks I have been thinking about wanted to learn more about business management, and wondered what resources were out there for me to take advantage of, other than signing up for business school. I may go to biz school eventually but wanted to start educating myself now, the more affordable way! I am SO glad to have found your site, it is exactly what I was looking for!”
“I’ve never liked school but I am interested in business. PMBA is perfect for someone like me.”
“This is a very innovative platform for those self-pulled learners. I am a MBA student right now and so glad to find an outstanding reference website like this.”
“Excellent information to rhetoric ratio.”
“The books it recommends are stellar – saves so much time sorting through all the potential reading lists out there myself.”
“I am an MBA student and find that much of the reading found on your site is much more relevant than many of the assigned textbooks.”
“Thank you for helping to prevent me from blowing 2 years and $100k on an MBA when I get out of undergrad next year.”
“I just enrolled in an executive MBA program in my country. Your list give me insight about other important books, rather than the textbook and case method applied in my business school.”
“I like that I am able to choose my level of engagement, from researching the basics by glancing at the introductory literature (reading list, etc.) to signing up for the member forums. There are no upfront forms to fill out, and navigation is straightforward. A powerful layout for what can be a very significant investment of time, if one so chooses. Friendly, un-pushy, very hip.”
“Thank you for inspiring me to read again!”
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