Investor lists hilarious bear, base and bull case career paths for IB-school kids: purple hair to MBA

In a lighthearted Twitter thread, Anand Sridharan, an investor at Nalanda Capital, shared his “range of eventual outcomes” for children attending India’s International Baccalaureate (IB) schools—a system perceived to be one of the most progressive, albeit pricey, educational tracks in the country.

Sridharan's tweet, infused with humour and a hint of cynicism, resonated with many as he laid out three hypothetical career trajectories for IB-educated kids: the “bear-case,” where a child might rebel through avant-garde activism; the “base-case,” involving passion projects that rely on parental financial support; and the “bull-case,” leading to a conventional corporate career in fields like investment banking.

Sridharan's tweet read: “As an Indian-board parent who has made uncomfortable peace with IB school for kid, here's my view of range of eventual outcomes: Bear-case: Purple hair, works for Malthusian NGO, throws soup at paintings. Base-case: Enters some pursue-your-dreams line that requires burn-funding from parents well into middle-age (e.g., aromatic candle boutique, gluten-free oat milk cafe on Hill Road). Bull-case: MBA, followed by mildly evil career in investment banking or private equity. Don't @ me. Just trying to keep expectations low.”

As Indian-board parent who has made uncomfortable peace with IB-school for kid, here's my view of range of eventual outcomes:
Bear-case:Purple hair, works for Malthusian NGO, throws soup at paintings.Base-case:Enters some pursue-your-dreams line that requires burn-funding Buggy Human (@SridharanAnand) November 10, 2024

The tweet quickly sparked a mix of amused, concerned, and contemplative responses, with one user challenging Sridharan's perceived pessimism. “You are assuming genes have no role. If you factor in genes in your junior's case, bear case is too pessimistic,” the user quipped, suggesting Sridharan's own career might genetically predispose his child toward financial success. He replied in jest, “At some point, he'll be summoned by HR over a joke, thanks to genes.”

While the original post was largely humorous, it struck a chord with other parents. Some, like a state-board graduate, expressed envy for those privileged enough to attend elite schools with cultural amenities. “I’d love to throw soup at paintings—but state board, so I’ll never enter a building which has paintings,” they joked.

Other comments highlighted parental hopes balanced with an acceptance of unpredictability. “While we hope and pray for bull case, we have no control on the outcomes,” one user remarked. Another, an IB school mom, shared a more open-ended view: “As a mom of an IB kid, I don’t know what my son would be…I am just happy that my kid is not becoming a Macaulay’s kid, rather he is exploring his own interests while also becoming aware of the world around him.”

She referenced the sentiment that IB curricula encourage independent thinking, sometimes at odds with traditional Indian values.

pic.twitter.com/WKvVG8Dz0YBuggy Human (@SridharanAnand) November 11, 2024

One commenter pointed out that sending a child to an IB school in India often signifies plans for overseas higher education, observing, “If you're sending your kid to an IB school in India then that could only mean that you intend to send your kid abroad for their undergraduate education. Nothing wrong with it, btw!”

This debate underlines an emerging paradox in India’s education system: while the country rapidly embraces globalised, progressive learning models, the societal definitions of success still lag behind, often prioritising financial stability over passion-driven careers.