Do you have buyer’s remorse about your new degree? It’s OK, these CEOs studied subjects that aren’t related to their industries

• As graduates of fresh college We look forward to a difficult job market, some may ask how useful their degrees. But for those looking to climb the ladder in American companies, the path of success does not always pass through the College of Business Administration. Some senior executives studied the topics that have nothing to do with their industries.

If you just obtain a certificate in medieval studies, there is congratulations. But if you will not follow this topic more at the graduate school, you may wonder how useful this is in the job market today.

Jupiter’s regret for new university graduates is not new. But those who enter the workforce now face a slowdown economy, the high uncertainty between companies amid President Donald Trump’s tariff, and the elimination of many beginners jobs.

Deep diving in the Fortune 500 leadership explains that many executives, many and many CEOs have already have a bachelor’s degree at work or a master’s degree in business management. Also, technology heads often get engineering certificates, financing heads receive economic or accounting certificates, and drug executives receive medical degrees.

But there is still hope. For those looking to climb peace in American companies, the path of success does not always pass through the College of Business Administration. Some senior executives studied the topics that have nothing to do with their industries.

A prominent example is LinkedIn Costesent and Founding CEO Reid Hoffman, who has a Bachelor’s degree in “Symbolic Systems” from Stanford University, who says he integrates computer science, linguistics, mathematics, psychology and statistics. Then he obtained a master’s degree in philosophy from Oxford University.

In 2017, he said Business Insider “This philosophy is a study on how to think very clearly,” and it was useful in investing and being a pioneer.

He added: “The formulation of what your investment thesis is, what is the strategy, what are the risks with the approach, what are the types of things that you will do with, all supported by the fragility of thinking that comes with philosophical training.”

Likewise, the CEO of Palantir and Founder Alex Karp obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Philosophy from Haverford College, JD from Stanford Faculty of law and PhD in New Classic Social theory from Goethe University in Frankfurt.

Although a software to photograph data that provides administer platforms to governments and companies said he has learned coding on the job. Say to New York Times Last year, a business degree has not already helped.

“Nothing we did in Palantir in building our software company in any Master’s Business Management Book. Not one,” I explained. “That is why we were doing a good job.”

KARP revealed that “the most valuable education for work” came at the Sigmund Freud Institute, a psychoanalysis research center, where he was working while obtaining a doctorate.

He said: “You will be surprised by the number of analysts who talk about their patients. It is concerned, in fact. You are learning a lot about how humans actually think,” adding that he used this knowledge to help motivate his engineers.

Among the Fortune 500 executives, by Airbnb, Brian Chesky from Airbnb, is a collection of fine arts from the Rhod Island Design School. According to the company, its creative roots are included in the Airbnb culture, products and community.

“The approach that the design is enabled by a confidence system that allows strangers to live together, and created a unique business model that facilitates communication and belonging.”

Here are some Fortune 500 leaders who have less traditional educational wallpapers:

• Juan AndradiCEO of the USA Financial Services, has a Bachelor’s degree in Press and Political Science from the University of Florida and a master’s degree in international economy and Latin American studies from the Faculty of Advanced International Studies at Johns Hopkins University.
• Lyon TobaliSteelmaker Nucor, CEO, has a Bachelor’s degree in Marine Engineering from the Massachusetts Marine Academy.
• Maria BlackADP, CEO of Human Resources Services, has a Bachelor of Political Science and International Affairs of Colorado University, Bulder.
• Laura AlberThe CEO of the Williams Sonoma chain, has a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the University of Pennsylvania.
• Richard HeinThe CEO of Urban Outfitters, has a Bachelor’s degree in Social Relations from Lahay University.

This story was originally shown on Fortune.com

2025-06-15 08:04:00