Building on the MBA – Playbooks for building businesses that last
An MBA equips leaders with critical thinking, rigorous analysis, and a deep understanding of proven business frameworks - plus much more. It builds the capacity to challenge assumptions, assess trade-offs, and identify models of excellence. These are foundational skills.
But what if the standard playbook needs to be inverted for a
different kind of success? What happens in environments where:
- Decentralization consistently beats
economies of scale?
- Niche domination outpaces the pursuit of
vast addressable markets?
- Permanent ownership compounds value more effectively than strategic exits?
This is where InverseMBA offers a different perspective - a framework for building businesses that last, inspired by unconventional success.
Sustained CAGR > 30%: The Case of Constellation Software
Since 2007, Constellation Software (CSI) - operating on what seem like inverse principles—has quietly delivered >30% compound annual growth. It has outperformed every major market index, including the ‘Magnificent 7’, by adhering not to scale and exits, but to autonomy, permanence, and relentless niche focus.
What is InverseMBA?
InverseMBA is a practical exploration of the principles that drive sustained, high-performance in companies that choose to own and grow businesses for the very long term. You'll learn how to:
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Master radical decentralisation with small, autonomous business units
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Allocate capital with long-term ownership logic—not exit pressure
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Win in vertical markets where depth beats breadth
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Balance autonomy and discipline without top-down bureaucracy
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Develop leaders who grow companies—not flip them
Build durable, human-scale companies that attract long-term talent
Drive performance through simple metrics that guide—not control
Execute repeatable acquisitions of founder-led businesses without losing cultural integrity
Foster cross-company learning without imposing one-size-fits-all playbooks
Bring InverseMBA to Your Organisation
We work with universities, corporate leaders, and investing professionals to translate these ideas into action. Whether you’re in academia or running your own portfolio of businesses, our lectures and workshops open a practical window into the next level of business mastery. Contact us to bring the lessons of the 'Inverse MBA' to your organisation, offering a unique perspective on sustained, high-performance that complements and enriches established business principles.