Some people can justify an investment of two years and $100,000 to get an MBA. I could not.

I was working in Nicaragua for the International Finance Corporation, the development institution, was newly married, and preparing to leave for a post in Rwanda. Facing a break in employment, I considered business school, but when I did the maths — time out of the workforce, forgone earnings, cost of living expenses, and the price of the MBA itself — the numbers did not seem to add up.

Then I heard about massive open online courses (Moocs) from a friend with an MBA who was taking a finance course as a refresher. I explored the larger Mooc platforms and was excited to find the foundations of a complete masters in business administration, with more courses coming online all the time. I saw an opportunity to build the education I desired, free, without interrupting my career.