Ever noticed how a huge number of MBA alum at Amazon seem to come from the same business school? One LinkedIn visual caught attention by showing just how many former Kellogg School of Management students find their way to the e-commerce giant. So what’s behind this strong connection between Kellogg and Amazon—and what can it tell us about careers in tech for business school graduates?

Breaking Down the Numbers Behind MBA Alum at Amazon

When looking at LinkedIn data on where major companies like Amazon source their MBA talent, a few schools always pop up near the top—Harvard, Wharton, Stanford. But in recent years, Kellogg has shown a surprisingly strong pull with Amazon’s hiring managers.

According to BusinessBecause, more than a thousand MBAs from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School have joined Amazon over the last decade. While schools like Harvard and Wharton are always well-represented too, it’s hard not to notice that Kellogg is consistently among the top three feeders for roles across everything from operations to product management.

Why Does Amazon Love Hiring From Kellogg?

It’s not just about brand prestige or rankings. There are several practical reasons why so many MBA alum at Amazon trace their roots back to Evanston:

• Leadership Training: The Kellogg curriculum emphasizes teamwork and cross-functional leadership—both highly valued in fast-moving organizations like Amazon.
• Data-Driven Mindset: Courses focus on analytics and decision-making under uncertainty—skills that align with how Amazon operates day-to-day.
• Culture Fit: Many say that the collaborative yet ambitious culture of Kellogg mirrors much of what you’ll find inside Amazon teams.
• Recruiter Relationships: Long-standing ties mean that career offices and recruiters know exactly what to expect when hiring a Kellogg grad.

A former classmate once shared her experience moving from her Kellogg capstone project straight into an internship with one of Amazon’s supply chain divisions. She credited her ability to “dive into ambiguous problems and rally people around a solution”—something she practiced daily during her MBA—as key to succeeding in interviews.

The Broader Trend: Tech Giants Value Versatility

Amazon isn’t alone here; other Silicon Valley names also look beyond just technical backgrounds when filling management roles. According to Fortune, top-tier MBAs have become increasingly popular hires for tech companies over the past decade.

What stands out is that while schools like MIT Sloan or Stanford GSB might seem like obvious choices for tech companies, it’s often programs with rigorous general management training (like Kellogg) that produce leaders who can tackle complex problems—not just write code or build products.

Quick Facts on MBA Hires at Tech Companies

• Kellogg is consistently among the top three feeder schools for new hires at Amazon.
• MBA hires often go into roles such as product manager, operations manager, or business development lead.
• Recruiters value both technical literacy and people skills—the latter being a hallmark of certain MBA programs.
• The demand for “hybrid” managers who understand both numbers and teams continues to grow in big tech firms.

What This Means for Future Business Grads

For anyone considering an MBA with hopes of landing in tech—or specifically as an MBA alum at Amazon—the takeaways are clear:

– Focus on programs that emphasize both analytics and leadership.
– Use your time in business school to build relationships with recruiters from your dream companies.
– Practice leading teams through uncertain situations; it’s great practice for fast-growing workplaces like those found in Seattle.

One thing’s for sure: the relationship between top business schools like Kellogg and industry leaders such as Amazon isn’t going anywhere soon.

So next time you see another LinkedIn update about someone joining “the Everything Store” after getting their MBA from Northwestern—don’t be surprised! What other companies do you think will become magnets for future business grads?