Is the Firm-Sponsored MBA Actually Worth It or Just a 2-Year Break?

I’m an entry-level consultant at MBB and trying to sanity-check the firm-sponsored MBA path. I’m planning to stay at the firm long term, but I keep wondering whether the MBA is actually worth it or just something people do because it’s there and paid for. Honestly, part of me sees it as a 2-year break from consulting with some personal growth baked in, rather than something that dramatically changes your skill set.

For those who did the sponsored MBA and came back: did it actually make you better as a consultant or future manager, or could you have gotten the same growth by just staying and grinding? If your goal was to step up emotionally and maturity-wise into leadership, did the MBA meaningfully help — or was it mostly a nice pause? Would love honest takes.