Re: How important is the "Brand" Name of the University?
Entry level to junior management positions:
Depends on how big the brand is. If you show the top 10 in the US or top 20 globally, even mediocre grades will get you better jobs. 'Better' can mean better employer, easier hire and more pay. More pay can mean as much as triple compared to a run of the mill college.
Middle management, late twenties through may be till 45 to 50: What college matters a lot less; your accomplishments, connections/network and creativity matters. In this age, if you are thinking about these things, you are probably not a dunce settling for clerical smoothness to retirement!
also note, the top 15% rankers from top 20 univs will reach middle management about 5 to 10 years earlier than others (due to a head start) but that doesn't mean further progress is assured.
Upper management:
Pure creativity, networking and acknowledged (as opposed to proven) track record is all that matters (except in very select areas such as niche law practice, thematic architecture...)
Freak genius can breakout anytime anywhere and there's no pattern to it though
Is that your personal opinion or from research. It is pretty interesting. I am contemplating this dilema either to transfer or wait till graduate level.