Latest news with #Best&Brightest
Malaysian Reserve
03-05-2025
- Business
- Malaysian Reserve
Poets&Quants™ Names Best & Brightest MBAs of 2025
Annual feature celebrates graduating business students for achievement and influence SAN FRANCISCO, May 3, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Poets&Quants, the leading news source for graduate business education, has released its 11th annual Best & Brightest MBAs feature, which honors 100 of the most accomplished full-time MBAs from the Class of 2025. 'This year's class could be described as more female and more international, with a stronger military presence,' says Jeff Schmitt, Poets&Quants' senior writer, who launched the series in 2015. 'What really distinguished Best & Brightest students this year was that they built things. They launched ventures early in their careers or started clubs or events at their business schools. They weren't trying to maintain what already existed or follow the usual paths. They were creating something new – and they provided others with enrichment and opportunities as a result.' This 2025 class features MBA graduates including Wharton School's Simi Shah, a successful entrepreneur who has been invited to the White House twice and made the 2025 Forbes '30 Under 30' in Media. Mark O'Connell, a graduate of the University of Michigan's Ross School, helped re-write the U.S. Maines combat training curriculum – and Ohio State's Kyle Schembechler did the same for the U.S. Field Artillery School. At the University of Virginia's Darden School, Amanda Golden has transitioned from covering the 2020 presidential election for NBC News to becoming a venture capitalist. By the same token, Evan Rizvi made the leap from opera singer to strategist at Boston University's Questrom School. To compile this year's Best & Brightest MBAs, Poets&Quants reached out to 82 top graduate business schools worldwide to nominate their best candidates for the honor. Responses were judged by P&Q editorial according to four criteria: extracurricular involvement, academic and professional achievements, insightful responses, and faculty recommendations. Ultimately, P&Q received 220 nominations, including submissions from elite institutions ranging from INSEAD to the University of Chicago's Booth School. By gender, Best & Brightest women outnumber men by a 60-to-40 margin, with 54 students hailing from outside the United States. The Boston Consulting Group also hired 8 Best & Brightest MBAs from the Class of 2025, the most of any employer. As part of this feature, each MBA receives an in-depth profile, which covers subjects ranging from their proudest achievement to their favorite business movie. Over the coming months, Best & Brightest will also spotlight the best student responses related topics like their favorite faculty members, biggest school myths, and most interesting school traditions. The 'Best & Brightest MBAs' is the second of a four-part series recognizing the world's top business students. In April, Poets&Quants For Undergrads unveiled its 100 Best & Brightest Undergraduate Business Majors of 2025. This summer, Poets&Quants will also recognize its 'Best & Brightest Executive MBAs' and 'Best & Brightest Online MBAs.' In the fall, P&Q will continue its 'Meet the Class' series that highlights the top incoming full-time MBA students at over 40 top business schools. To read about the '100 Best & Brightest MBAs: Class of 2025', CLICK HERE. Poets&Quants, a part of Times Higher Education, is the leading resource for complete coverage of graduate business education. We feature multiple tools and authoritative content, including consolidated business school rankings, news and in-depth features, videos, podcasts, searchable directories, and events, empowering our community with information needed to make decisions along their journey from pre- to post-MBA. Media Contact: Sat SharmaChief Revenue OfficerPoets & Quants(917) 763-4088 This press release was issued through For further information, visit
Yahoo
03-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Poets&Quants™ Names Best & Brightest MBAs of 2025
Annual feature celebrates graduating business students for achievement and influence SAN FRANCISCO, May 3, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Poets&Quants, the leading news source for graduate business education, has released its 11th annual Best & Brightest MBAs feature, which honors 100 of the most accomplished full-time MBAs from the Class of 2025. "This year's class could be described as more female and more international, with a stronger military presence," says Jeff Schmitt, Poets&Quants' senior writer, who launched the series in 2015. "What really distinguished Best & Brightest students this year was that they built things. They launched ventures early in their careers or started clubs or events at their business schools. They weren't trying to maintain what already existed or follow the usual paths. They were creating something new – and they provided others with enrichment and opportunities as a result." This 2025 class features MBA graduates including Wharton School's Simi Shah, a successful entrepreneur who has been invited to the White House twice and made the 2025 Forbes "30 Under 30" in Media. Mark O'Connell, a graduate of the University of Michigan's Ross School, helped re-write the U.S. Maines combat training curriculum – and Ohio State's Kyle Schembechler did the same for the U.S. Field Artillery School. At the University of Virginia's Darden School, Amanda Golden has transitioned from covering the 2020 presidential election for NBC News to becoming a venture capitalist. By the same token, Evan Rizvi made the leap from opera singer to strategist at Boston University's Questrom School. To compile this year's Best & Brightest MBAs, Poets&Quants reached out to 82 top graduate business schools worldwide to nominate their best candidates for the honor. Responses were judged by P&Q editorial according to four criteria: extracurricular involvement, academic and professional achievements, insightful responses, and faculty recommendations. Ultimately, P&Q received 220 nominations, including submissions from elite institutions ranging from INSEAD to the University of Chicago's Booth School. By gender, Best & Brightest women outnumber men by a 60-to-40 margin, with 54 students hailing from outside the United States. The Boston Consulting Group also hired 8 Best & Brightest MBAs from the Class of 2025, the most of any employer. As part of this feature, each MBA receives an in-depth profile, which covers subjects ranging from their proudest achievement to their favorite business movie. Over the coming months, Best & Brightest will also spotlight the best student responses related topics like their favorite faculty members, biggest school myths, and most interesting school traditions. The "Best & Brightest MBAs" is the second of a four-part series recognizing the world's top business students. In April, Poets&Quants For Undergrads unveiled its 100 Best & Brightest Undergraduate Business Majors of 2025. This summer, Poets&Quants will also recognize its "Best & Brightest Executive MBAs" and "Best & Brightest Online MBAs." In the fall, P&Q will continue its "Meet the Class" series that highlights the top incoming full-time MBA students at over 40 top business schools. To read about the "100 Best & Brightest MBAs: Class of 2025", CLICK HERE. Poets&Quants, a part of Times Higher Education, is the leading resource for complete coverage of graduate business education. We feature multiple tools and authoritative content, including consolidated business school rankings, news and in-depth features, videos, podcasts, searchable directories, and events, empowering our community with information needed to make decisions along their journey from pre- to post-MBA. Media Contact: Sat SharmaChief Revenue OfficerPoets & Quants(917) 763-4088 This press release was issued through For further information, visit View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Poets&Quants Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
02-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
The 100 Best & Brightest MBAs: Class Of 2025
By any measure, Simi Shah is a success story. A Harvard undergrad and Wharton MBA, Shah boasts a resume that would land at the top of any company's stack. Before business school, she served as the chief of staff to Indra Nooyi, former chairman and CEO of PepsiCo. At Wharton, she was tapped to mentor undergraduates by Adam Grant, best-selling author and organizational psychologist. Shah was named a Forbes '30 Under 30' in media this year. Before that, she rang the New York Stock Exchange opening bell. And she has even been invited to the White House – twice. Still, Shah didn't take her success for granted. She has found common cause with people looking to get their lives back on track. That's why she taught a weekly negotiations course at a Pennsylvania prison to over a dozen men. Leading a pilot program, Shah imparted the same principles that she'd learned as a first-year MBA student. All the while, Shah bonded with her students over TV shows like Shark Tank or their dreams after serving time. 'Walking into the prison every week – no phones, no professors, no paper, or pencils – I was completely outside my comfort zone,' Shah tells P&Q. 'But we created a special experience together. I found these men, their enthusiasm, and their desire to learn energizing. It reminded me of the power of paying my knowledge and opportunities forward. We changed lives in a tangible way.' Simi Shah, Wharton School NON-AMERICAN STUDENTS MAKE UP THE MAJORITY Shah is one of the 100 full-time graduates honored in Poets&Quants' Best & Brightest MBAs from the Class of 2025. Now in its 11th year, the Best & Brightest honors the top full-time MBA graduates at elite business schools across the globe. The story is designed to expose readers to the top student leaders. In the process, they can see where the Best & Brightest devoted their time and energy – and how they elevated their classmates and contributed to an unforgettable and transformative educational experience. At a time of great uncertainty, this group represents a vanguard of hope for the future. To compile the Best & Brightest list, P&Q invited 82 of the world's best business programs to participate. Like previous years, P&Q encouraged schools to nominate students for their 'academic prowess, extracurricular achievements, innate intangibles and potential, or unusual personal stories.' Overall, P&Q received 220 nominations from 78 business schools, with candidates judged on their extracurricular leadership, personal excellence, and the insightfulness of their responses and recommendations. As a whole, the Best & Brightest MBAs list profiles students from 61 business schools (with access to in-depth student profiles found on pages 3-4). These schools range from Alliance Manchester to the Yale School of Management and include 16 non-American programs. Like previous years, due to the top-to-bottom quality of the nominations, P&Q will run a separate 'MBAs To Watch' story over the summer to honor the remaining 120 nominees. Last year, the Best & Brightest MBAs deviated from precedent, as men outnumbered women by a 55-to-45 margin. The 2025 list, however, represents a return to the norm, as the ratio flipped to 60-to-40 in favor of women. Still, this year's class is far more global than past lists, as 54 members originally hailed from outside the United States. That's way up from the 41 non-American students who dotted the 2024 Best & Brightest list. In total, 79 members attended American business schools. At the same time, 29 hold graduate degrees beyond an MBA. Another eight graduates completed military service. Along with a greater presence of non-American students, this year's list also features a clear winner among employers. Eight Best & Brightest MBA students – so far – have accepted offers from the Boston Consulting Group. That's up from last year's total of three. In 2024, Deloitte tied for the lead with five hires. This year, it recruited six members. In contrast, McKinsey fell from five to two recruits over the past year. Bain and Amazon each landed five members from the ranks of the Best & Brightest, while Nike and Kearney each snagged two graduates. In addition, a quarter of the class was still undecided or mulling over offers. COVERING A HISTORIC ELECTION Nico Pedreira, Yale School of Managemlent Before starting business school, the Best & Brightest were already comfortable in big roles. As an architect, ESSEC Business School's Valentina Flora Angelucci has worked on high-profile projects like designing a branch of the Brooklyn Pubic Library and a whiskey distillery for DIAGEO. At Meta, Will Tan, a 2025 graduate of Northwestern University's Kellogg School, ran a Facebook fundraiser that generated $2.4 million in support of 90,000 families during COVID-19. Nico Pedreira, the student government president at the Yale School of Management, came to campus with plenty of political experience. He served as a deputy political director for Gavin Newsom for Governor and Kamala Harris for the People. Pedreira's classmate, Ioana Solomon, made assistant VP at Morgan Stanley, where she built a team that conducted due diligence across 16 workstreams and closed two deals that netted $130 billion in assets under advisement. At the same time, Amanda Golden leveraged her time in business school to transition from a Google communications manager to a venture capitalist. She points to covering the 2020 presidential campaign for NBC News as the highlight of her career (so far). 'Living out of a suitcase for two years, I reported across all of NBC News and MSNBC's platforms, covering every candidate who ran for president, amid the COVID-19 pandemic and racial and social justice movements. The experience pushed me to adapt quickly, navigate complex stories, and maintain journalistic integrity under immense pressure.' Some class members build their reputations in the public sector. Before enrolling at the Wharton School, Aarati Cohly served as chief of staff in the New York City Mayor's Office of Engagement, which helped to fuel the highest voter turnout in 30 years during the 2021 mayoral election. Alliance Manchester's Raymond Xiang Zheng started MBA classes after working as a senior trade and investment officer for the British Embassy in Beijing, where he was involved in raising capital. In China, Miya Huimin Ding, a snowboarding enthusiast, joined the Beijing Organizing Committee for the 2022 Winter Olympics. As part of her work, she helped to introduce Bing Dwen Dwen, the Olympic mascot, to the world. 'By integrating social media marketing strategies, we built widespread consumer impact,' explains the CEIBS MBA. 'The Weibo hashtag related to Bing Dwen Dwen garnered over 60 billion views. We also enhanced product production and distribution across various channels, resulting in a 650% YOY increase in licensed revenue. Through Bing Dwen Dwen, we were able to share the rich tapestry of Chinese culture with the world.' Seki Guan, Cambridge Judge Business School HELPING THE NEEDY FIND FINANCING, INSURANCE, AND JOBS Looking for scale? Cambridge Judge Business School's Seki Guan headed up the development of the KIMI APP, which she describes as 'an AI personal assistant with over 60 million monthly active users.' A decade ago, Vinicius Santos Avelar, an engineer by training, led the emergency water supply response during Brazil's Rio Doce mining disaster, where a dam failure unleashed millions of tons of toxins into the waters and farmland supporting over 100,000 people. 'Faced with an unprecedented crisis, I worked alongside a multidisciplinary team to develop a rapid response strategy—coordinating logistics, optimizing distribution routes, and ensuring that 2 million liters of potable water reached affected populations daily,' explains Santos Avelar, a 2025 grad of Carnegie Mellon's Tepper School. 'Navigating such a high-stakes crisis tested every aspect of leadership—from managing resources under pressure to making critical decisions with incomplete information.' Like Santos Avelar, the Class of 2025 often looked to serve the greater good. Working at Capital One, Tanner Morgan, a Duke Fuqua grad, developed a solution geared to help populations like students and immigrants prove credit worthiness. The Wharton School's Mallika Patkar shepherded a similar solution in the insurance industry for small farmers and independent laborers. Before becoming a 'Boothie' at the University of Chicago, Ilana Habib created an AI-run chatbot, Oli, that provided upbeat messages to over two-million college students. By the same token, Douglas Scandrett supported Ukrainian refugees in his native Canada by launching a nonprofit to help them better compete for jobs. Blake Blaze, MIT (Sloan) 'I led the development of our résumé writing and editing program, recruiting over 60 volunteers and creating Ukrainian-language resources to help job seekers craft résumés that would get noticed,' explains Scandrett, a graduate of Cornell University's Johnson Graduate School. 'The goal wasn't just formatting—it was about restoring confidence and giving people a real shot at employment in their new home. Though I had to step back when I started business school, I'm incredibly proud that continues to thrive. To date, the services and tools I have built have helped over 60,000 people take a critical step toward rebuilding their futures.' EMBRACING THE ENTREPRENEURIAL SPIRIT Scandrett is among the many entrepreneurs on this year's Best & Brightest list. At MIT's Sloan School, Blake Blaze, a veteran of the U.S. National Security Agency, launched Front Row Fantasy, which operates like fantasy football…only with 'up-and-coming musicians.' His classmate, Toritse David Maroh, once started a venture capital syndicate to support 44 African entrepreneurs. Not only did the University of Oxford's Surayyah Ahmad help launch a fund to support underserved markets in Central and West Africa, but she also co-founded an accelerator to nurture startups in northern Nigeria. In India, Vivek Yadav entered the ground floor of a blockchain venture that eventually became a unicorn! You'll find Best & Brightest entrepreneurs hailing from all walks of life. Look no further than Min Kyung Lee, a graduate of the National University of Singapore. A graduate of Cornell University and Columbia Law, Kyung Lee worked as a legal counsel for GlaxoSmithKline Korea. As an MBA student – and despite being a mother to a newborn – she co-founded BillDetail, a legal-tech solution, and Kinder, a platform that connects expats with local families. After graduation, Kyung Lee will remain in the startup space, heading up Korean business development for a different legal-tech startup. 'The achievement I am most proud of in my professional career is successfully pivoting from a traditional legal career to entrepreneurship and a business role. Rather than following the conventional path for lawyers, I sought out new challenges, immersing myself in the world of legal tech—an industry where I could bridge my legal expertise with my business school experience. Through my startup, BillDetail, and my new role at BoostDraft, I have been able to drive innovation in an industry that has been slow to adopt change.' MEDICAL MARVELS Elham Jamshidi, Johns Hopkins University (Carey) The Best & Brightest MBAs have been particularly active in medical startups. Exhibit A: Elham Jamshidi from the Johns Hopkins Carey Business School. Here, she has been involved in accelerators ranging from Techstar to SPARK. In her native Iran, she opened up Riske Man, the nation's first approved digital health company. 'As a woman CEO in a male-dominated country, I worked tirelessly for a year to collect patient data to develop the app,' she writes. 'Our mobile application helped people check their COVID risk based on their health history. We grew to over one million users in just three months, and the project won the Most Innovative Product at the World Hospital Congress, which is an International Hospital Federation Award.' Another face of entrepreneurship would be Sanchaita Kohli, a graduate of the University of Toronto's Rotman School. In India, she opened a surgical practice, Face Surgery Delhi, that she was able to build into a global operation. IESE Business School also features an accomplished entrepreneur: Lili Chen. A decade ago, she co-founded Lifetech, which marketed solutions that enabled cardiologists to determine when patients needed a stent – and where. Eventually, Chen's startup employed 500 people and hit the market as an IPO. In the case of Deanna Portero, she spent her time at the Johns Hopkins Carey Business School helping to build the Orphan Therapeutics Accelerator. At its core, the accelerator fills a gap by supporting clinical development of therapies for rare diseases that rarely attract substantive investment. After earning her MBA, Portero will be leading partnerships and innovation at the accelerator. And her efforts have earned her the respect of classmate and fellow entrepreneur Elham Jamshidi. 'She's raising three kids while pursuing both her MBA and MPH degrees. That alone is incredible. But what really inspires me is how she's using her expertise in rare diseases to help patients who are often forgotten by the big pharma. She's not just a mom, just a student, or just a health care leader: she is excelling at all three.' See pages 3-4 for 100 in-depth profiles of this year's Best & Brightest MBAs. AN ACCOMPLISHED MILITARY COHORT Another group that excelled in business school was military veterans. And their experience deeply enriched their MBA classrooms and cultures. Looking for credentials? Nick Hagen, an Indiana University Kelley School grad, went from singing Sondheim tunes to serving as a U.S. Army Special Forces Officer. An ultramarathoner, Hagen oversaw logistical support for A-Teams during the Battle of Raqqah and Operation INHERENT RESOLVE in Syria. Carolyn Ballinger served as the director of offensive cyberspace operations for the Joint Cyberspace Operations Group before business school. Now an IT auditor for the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston, Ballinger commanded a U.S. Marine Corps Reserve unit during her first semester at Boston College's Carroll School, along with working part-time and commuting an hour-and-a-half each way. At the same time, Mark O'Connell worked alongside a small group of instructors to rewrite the U.S. Marines' combat training curriculum – something that hadn't been done in 50 years. How tough is O'Connell on his pupils? Picture a 130-kilometer hike over 96 hours with 2 a.m. barrages of simulated gunfire, artillery, and smoke grenades – all with little food or rest. 'What made me proud was the Marines' faces at the end of this hike – each of their faces had a look of determination on it that said, 'It doesn't matter what the world does to me anymore. It can't possibly break me. I've come this far, and I simply will not quit,' shares O'Connell, a Deloitte hire and graduate of the University of Michigan's Ross School. 'I realized at that moment that the curriculum rewrite I had completed was going to personally impact tens of thousands of Marines for years to come.' Mark O'Connell, University of Michigan (Ross) O'Connell wasn't alone in revamping the military curriculum. Kyle Schembechler, a graduate of Ohio State's Fisher College, completed an 'overhaul' of the Field Artillery School's training program. Staying in the Big 10, the University of Wisconsin's Aaron St. John Kindle was named the 2nd Airborne's Paratrooper of the Year in 2021. As an MBA student, he achieved a perfect GPA while he worked three jobs, bought a house, and welcomed his first child. Across the Atlantic at HEC Paris, Jean-Luc Thébert has made 130 parachute jumps in the French Army, where he was responsible for training a 1,200-member parachute infantry regiment over the summer. After graduating from the University of North Carolina's Kenan-Flagler School, Ashley Sperry will be joining the U.S. Army Joint Program Executive Office for Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear Defense. For Sperry, business school has been a family affair – a chance to impart life's big lessons on her daughters, who are 9 and 6 years in age. 'As a single mother, I wanted to show them firsthand that they can pursue their dreams, embrace challenges and achieve success through hard work, resilience, and a strong support system. By bringing them along on this experience—whether it was introducing them to my classmates, involving them in school events, or simply letting them see me tackle demanding coursework—I hope to have instilled in them a sense of confidence and possibility for their futures.' WHAT MAKES A BEST & BRIGHTEST MBA Ann C. Ukadike, UC Berkeley (Haas) That said, the Best & Brightest also brought some unconventional backgrounds to business school. Evan Rizvi spent 8 years as an opera singer. After graduating from Boston University's Questrom School, he'll return to his alma mater – the New England Conservatory of Music – in a strategy role. Duke University's Fern Imjairach earned a law degree while working full-time at Deloitte. In contrast, Babson College's Ruso Samunashvili taught financial and managerial accounting at the Business and Technology University in Georgia (the country). At UC Berkeley's Haas School, the resident celebrity is Ann Ukadike, who was named among this year's '100 Women Shaping the World' by Techeconomy and one of 'Africa's 100 Most Influential Women in Business' in 2024 by The Business Executive. The Class of 2025 carried this momentum into business school. As students, the Best & Brightest ran the biggest clubs and organized the most important events. They were ambassadors, tutors, volunteers, mentors, and coaches. In many ways, they were the spirit of their schools. They weren't just contributors; they were creators and catalysts: the go-to resources who got things done. Amid uncertainty, the Best & Brightest became the unsung heroes and inspiring figures who remained calm, strong, and kind. Among their peers, they were the ones who never needed to be asked – they saw a need and tackled the work. In the end, they were defined by their commitment, curiosity, creativity, and causes. Each possessed something unforgettable. Maybe it was Rice University's Angelica Janette Amaya Zendejas bringing her cohort gifts on Valentine's Day or Dartmouth Tuck's Magdala Díaz de Rávago Zevallos holding cupcake decoration workshops for her classmates. Without the Best & Brightest, there would have been something fundamental missing in each school's experience. BRINGING EVENTS TO LIFE Many times, the Best & Brightest created programming in their MBA programs. At London Business School, for example, Zhen Ren Teo launched a Southeast Asia (SEA) Club to provide cultural events and networking events. Even more, Ren Teo fostered collaborations with Cambridge Judge Business School and the University of Oxford's Saïd Business School – all while growing the club from 30 to 250 members in one year. Austin Cai performed a similar feat at the Yale School of Management. Here, he partnered with a dozen blockchain clubs for schools ranging from Oxford to Harvard to Stanford to hold a summit. Arjun Shivach organized HEC Paris's first LGBTQIA+ conference, Beyond Borders. At the UC Berkeley Haas School, Ann Ukadike built a team from 14 countries to produce the Africa Gate to Growth Forum. '[It was] a first-of-its-kind platform connecting African startups with Silicon Valley's tech and venture capital ecosystem,' she tells P&Q. 'I curated 60 high-potential startups, provided 25 companies with pitch assessment sessions, and ultimately enabled 14 African startups from Cote d'Ivoire to travel to California for a final immersion program. These founders engaged directly with investors, industry leaders and business mentors, gaining funding insights, strategic guidance, and access to global market opportunities. The programming addressed key sectors including education, healthcare, banking and tourism through fintech solutions, ensuring that innovation was solving real-world problems.' Raghav Mahajan, USC (Marshall) Not only did USC Marshall's Raghav Mahajan launch the first 'India-focused conference at a West Coast university,' but he also attracted over 250 attendees. As co-president of Yale SOM's Private Equity & Venture Capital Club, Ioana Solomon spearheaded the annual symposium, which drew 300 attendees (not to mention founding members of Sonamu Capital and Tinicum Enterprises as speakers). At Columbia Business School, where Natalie Friel served as co-president of the Retail and Luxury Goods Club, the club's annual conference brought 350 people together. Her efforts led Samantha Shapses, the school's senior associate dean, to describe Friel as a 'transformative leader.' 'With a unique blend of creative vision and strategic leadership, Natalie redefined the club's identity, reviving its branding with vintage-inspired elements that honored Columbia and RLG's history while establishing a polished, forward-looking aesthetic. Her thoughtful approach elevated not only the club's visual presence but also its professionalism, setting a new standard that resonates deeply in the retail and luxury space.' DOING RIGHT AND DOING WELL It wasn't just in producing informative conferences where the Class of 2025 shone. As a student at the University of Florida's Warrington College, April Rowland collected an array of team and individual 1st place finishes in case competitions. Boston University's Maria Rafaella Guerrero Romero made such a strong impression during her summer internship at Biogen that the company later awarded her the Biogen Award for excellence. In terms of impact, it would be hard to top Camila Costa, who graduated from Brigham Young University's Marriott School. As an MBA summer intern at Warner Bros. Discovery, she helped bundle Disney+, Hulu, and Max – a streaming industry 'milestone.' 'What made this experience especially meaningful was seeing the direct impact of our work,' Costa tells P&Q. 'Watching the bundle go live and knowing it was improving the streaming experience for millions of customers was incredibly rewarding. Even more so, it was amazing to see friends and family enjoy this product firsthand. I had friends get ads for the bundle on social media and text me, saying, 'Hey, it's your bundle!' It was a great reminder of why I love working at the intersection of media, technology, and strategy.' More than anything, the Best & Brightest MBAs were there for each other. At Vanderbilt University's Owen School, Robert Rickard produced over 200 PowerPoint slides to help aspiring consultants with 'case fundamentals and networking strategies.' Duke University's Tanner Morgan landed a job with the Boston Consulting Group – and then helped over a hundred classmates prep for interviews. As co-president of the Tuck School's Consulting Club, Berk Atillasoy developed two case prep workshops for first-year students. And he didn't stop there… Danielle Sarraf, Washington University (Olin) 'Perhaps my proudest contribution was leading the 'Second-Year Case Match' process, where I managed the complex logistics of pairing of second-year volunteers with first-year students to conduct cases,' he explains. 'Over a busy four-week period, the effort rallied second-year students to generously deliver over 550 cases, or 550 hours of their own time, to support first-year students in their consulting recruitment preparation – a true reflection of Tuck's unique 'pay-it-forward' culture. UNEXPECTED TALENTS Looking for some interesting tidbits about this year's Best & Brightest? NYU Stern's Margaret Zhang is a ballet dancer, an avocation she picked up when she was 33. Sebastian Esselens, a UCLA Anderson grad, earned a pilot's license before his driver's license. Queen's University's Sydney McLennan is a competitive jump roper, while Elham Jamshidi is a self-described 'adrenaline seeker' who indulges in activities ranging from skydiving to scuba diving. In the medical field, the University of Minnesota's Via Rao co-authored a paper in the New England Journal of Medicine. Not to be outdone, Danielle Sarraf made the list of 'Students Who Rocked Public Health 2024' published by the Journal of Public Health Management & Practice (JPHMP). Before earning an MBA at the University of Michigan's Ross School, Brysan Porterfield modeled for L'Oréal, while IESE Business School's Sergi Rivera Morcillo competed for the Spanish National Sailing Team. And let's just say Rice University's Angelica Janette Amaya Zendejas takes care of the most beloved member of her MBA class. 'My MBA journey wouldn't be the same without my four-legged sidekick, Scout,' she tells P&Q. 'I moved to Houston with him shortly after adopting him, and he's since become an honorary member of my MBA class. In fact, he even took home the 2023 Halloween Pet Costume Contest trophy. I dressed him as an investment banker (blue suit, tie and all). He definitely looked the part, minus the spreadsheets and 80-hour workweeks. Scout is my kindest reminder that there's a time to be an MBA executive and a time to pause, play and just enjoy life with the ones who matter most.' LOOKING AHEAD Magdala Díaz de Rávago Zevallos, Dartmouth College (Tuck) What's next for the Best & Brightest? Elham Jamshidi pictures herself making the Forbes '40 Under 40' list, while the University of Michigan's Mark O'Connell hopes to be involved in the Salt Lake City 2034 Olympics. At the same time, Ruben Antonio Quesada plans to stay involved and give back to his MBA alma mater, Carnegie Mellon University's Tepper School. As Annette Knell starts her career at Delta Air Lines, she is focused on being a servant leader – someone who leads 'with empathy, active listening, and a deep commitment to the growth of others.' More than that, she intends to continue the growth she experienced in business school. 'I see lifelong learning as a priority, always seeking to expand my knowledge and refine my skills. I believe that staying curious and embracing new ideas will help me adapt to new challenges, innovate in my field, and continue evolving both personally and professionally.' In the meantime, as graduation approaches, the Class of 2025 is beginning to say their goodbyes. At Vanderbilt University's Owen School, Brian T. McCann, professor of strategic management, is already lamenting the departure of Robert Rickard. He describes Rickard as a man of 'quiet influence,' the 'kind of leader whose impact isn't measured in decibels, but in depth.' The same could be said for the Tuck School's Magdala Díaz de Rávago Zevallos. For Sally O. Jaeger, the school's associate dean, Díaz de Rávago Zevallos personifies the best in business – and the Best & Brightest as a whole. 'She is a wonderful example that leadership is not just about achievement but about uplifting others along the way. Magdala's legacy at Tuck is not just in the programs she has led or the initiatives she has started, but in the hearts of those she has inspired to lead with courage, generosity, and a deep commitment to community. I will miss her!' See pages 3-4 for 100 in-depth profiles of this year's Best & Brightest MBAs. DON'T MISS: MBA Student MBA Program Hometown Pre-MBA Employer Internship Post-MBA Employer Tieling, China British Embassy Beijing Eli Lilly Eli Lilly Rustavi, Georgia IDS Borjomi Georgia Artemis Carbon Futures Undecided Campinas, Brazil Aurica EnergySage Undecided South San Francisco, CA Joint Cyberspace Operations Group Federal Reserve Bank of Boston Federal Reserve Bank of Boston Bogota, Colombia Edelman Biogen Biogen Brookline, MA Opera Singer New England Conservatory of Music in Boston New England Conservatory of Music in Boston Buenos Aires, Argentina Medidata Solutions Warner Bros. Discovery Warner Bros. Discovery Medford, OR Jackson County Physical Therapy Copeland Copeland Wuhan, China Moonshot AI Moonshot AI Moonshot AI Santo Antônio do Amparo, Brazil Vale Amazon Amazon Uniontown, PA U.S. Navy McKinsey & Company McKinsey & Company San Jose, Costa Rica ZGF Architects Sabana Sabana Miya Huimin DINGAnhui, China Amazon Danaher Undecided Cincinnati, OH Mainstay Impellent Ventures Undecided Washington, DC TA Associates Radiant Logic Undecided Houston, TX Adobe Nike Nike Palo Alto, CA Burlington Stores Alvarez and Marsal Alvarez and Marsal Oro-Medonte, Canada Sklar Wilton & Associates Kearney Kearney Seattle, WA Le Monde French Immersion Public Charter School Deloitte Deloitte Bryn Mawr, PA Deloitte Consulting Boston Consulting Group Boston Consulting Group Lima, Peru Magdala Patisserie Bain & Company Bain & Company Littleton, MA Fifth Wall Ventures Powerhouse Ventures Undecided Bangkok, Thailand Deloitte Consulting Boston Consulting Group Boston Consulting Group Raleigh, NC Capital One Boston Consulting Group Boston Consulting Group Washington, DC Tiffany and Company Boston Consulting Group Boston Consulting Group Bordeaux, France Schindler Group Infosys Undecided Johannesburg, South Africa Atelier Tsuyoshi Tane Architects Atelier Tsuyoshi Tane Architects Undecided Melbourne, FL ABA Technologies Bain & Company Bain & Company Pennsauken, NJ MedStar Medical Halcyon Venture Partners Undecided Gurnee, IL BCD International Jefferies Financial Group Jefferies Financial Group Ibadan, Nigeria Schlumberger Bain & Company Bain & Company Lima, Peru Miranda & Amado Abogados Delta Air Lines Delta Air Lines Johannesburg, South Africa First Rand Group NA Ph.D. Program Nairobi, Kenya Unilever Google Google Meerut, India Nautilus Labs Danelec Marine Undecided Castres, France French Army French Army French Army Hardoi, India Stakefish Stakefish Undecided Weihai, China Insight Lifetech VB Devices Undecided Sharjah, U.A.E. Oliver Wyman Best11 Group Oliver Wyman Barcelona, Spain Quer Professional Boats Astilleros de Santander, ALIMIA Group Whale Dock Tiruchirappalli, India PA Consulting École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne Soil Mechanics Laboratory HexagonIndiana University (Kelley) Gwalior, India KPMG Ernst & Young Ernst & YoungIndiana University (Kelley) Fort Worth, TX U.S. Army Direct Supply Avient Sugar Land, TX Irruption NA IrruptionJohns Hopkins Carey Business School Tehran, Iran Riske Man Johns Hopkins Hospital AstraZenecaJohns Hopkins Carey Business School Queens, NY National Institutes of Health Dark Horse Consulting Orphan Therapeutics Accelerator Curvelo, Brazil Red Ventures Google SECCL (Octopus) Singapore Boston Consulting Group Chiron Sports Group Boston Consulting Group Harrison, NY Gusto Intuit Undecided Park City, UT U.S. Marine Corps Deloitte Deloitte MBA Student MBA Program Hometown Pre-MBA Employer Internship Post-MBA Employer Branchburg, NJ Rakuten Advertising Mars Wrigley Mars Wrigley Milwaukee, WI Milwaukee Public Schools Deloitte Deloitte Indianapolis, IN University of Minnesota Medical School Deloitte Deloitte Barnstable, MA DataClassroom Tyton Partners Front Row Fantasy Delta, Nigeria Standard Bank Group JPMorgan Chase Bain & Company Winchester, VA Metron, Inc. Rivian Nike Neyveli, India Valeo NA Undecided Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam Vietcap Securities JSC NA Undecided Seoul, South Korea GlaxoSmithKline Korea BillDetail and Kinder BoostDraft New Orleans, LA Deloitte Consulting National Basketball Association (NBA) Deloitte Consulting Luoyang, China Google Nvidia Nvidia Ghaziabad, India JPMorgan Chase L.E.K. Consulting L.E.K. Consulting Springfield, OH U.S. Army U.S. Army U.S. Army Ile-Ife, Nigeria African Development Bank EY-Parthenon EY-Parthenon Stony Brook, NY Accenture DaVita DaVita Manila, Philippines Meta TikTok (ByteDance) Amazon Crystal Lake, IL College of American Pathologists Pella Pella Dunstable, MA U.S. Army Scotts Miracle Gro Cognizant Katsina State, Nigeria Sabou Capital NA Sabou Capital Akwa-Ibom, Nigeria First Bank Plc University of Pittsburgh Amazon Grimsby, Canada ArcelorMittal Dofasco NA Boston Consulting Group Morelia, Mexico Hewlett Packard Institute of Hispanic Culture of Houston Amazon Santa Ana, El Salvador Banco Agricola, S.A. El Salvador ServiceNow, Inc. ServiceNow, Inc. Pune, India StreamzAI NVIDIA NVIDIA Frisco, TX Amazon Kearney Kearney Mckinney, TX Shora Foundation Shora Foundation Undecided Tokyo, Japan Hitachi Hitachi Ventures Hitachi Houston, TX OxyChem ExxonMobil ExxonMobil New Delhi, India Face Surgery Delhi Boston Consulting Group Boston Consulting Group Willowbrook, IL Eli Lilly Pfizer Dual Degree (December Graduation) Lagos, Nigeria Terragon Limited Amazon Web Services Amazon Web Services Lindenhurst, NY U.S. Army Nike Undecided Chapel Hill, NC Skyline Renewables Echo River Capital Undecided Orange, CA Brillstein Creative Partners Mattel Mattel Antwerp, Belgium Live Nation Entertainment Apple Apple Seoul, South Korea Samsung Electronics Analysis Group Analysis Group Hong Kong Novaria Group Deloitte Consulting Deloitte Consulting Punjab, India Ultimate Kronos Group Paramount Pictures Undecided Austin, TX Emerson McKinsey & Company McKinsey & Company San Francisco, CA Google Sands Capital Sands Capital Buffalo, NY Baltimore City Public Schools Bain & Company Bain & Company Khemkaran, India Alstom Transport Tesla Undecided Los Angeles, CA Brown School at Washington University Brown School at Washington University Dual Degree (December Graduation) New York City, NY NYC Mayor's Office of Engagement DemocracyWorks Undecided Fairfax, VA AXA Circle Undecided Atlanta, GA Indra Nooyi (Chief of Staff) South Asian Trailblazers South Asian Trailblazers West De Pere, WI U.S. Army Hendricks Commercial Properties Undecided Fremont, CA Scandit 53 Stations Morphic Buenos Aires, Argentina Hilltop Public Solutions Boston Consulting Group Boston Consulting Group Bacau, Romania Morgan Stanley Closed Loop Partners Undecided The post The 100 Best & Brightest MBAs: Class Of 2025 appeared first on Poets&Quants.
Yahoo
01-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
100 Best & Brightest Undergraduate Business Majors Of 2025
Think you're busy? Meet Skyler Mott. Scholar, Athlete, Entrepreneur. A senior business major majoring in business management and cognitive science at Lehigh University, Mott describes himself as a 'prolific ideator.' However, he is equally a roll-up-your-sleeves doer. Among his latest ventures, you'll find Markit-Athletics, patented pins to replace tape in track and field competitions, and Mountain Movers Storage, which has helped over 200 students re-locate their belongings. the business major also founded Broadway Realty, which offers over a dozen affordable student housing options that carry a combined $5 million dollar valuation. A ten-time winner of Lehigh's Eureka Pitch Night – not to mention the Grand Prize recipient for both the Holy Cross Cross-tank and Worcester Woo-tank competitions – Mott became a founder in earnest when he purchased his first house. WHAT MAKES A BEST & BRIGHTEST? Mott is one member of the 2025 Best & Brightest Business Majors from Poets&Quants. Now in its 10th year, the Best & Brightest honors 100 senior business majors who made the biggest impact on their programs and personified the best of their cohorts. To compile the list, P&Q invited schools from its Top 50 undergraduate ranking to participate, from the Wharton School to Indiana University's Kelley School to U.C. Berkeley's Haas School. In addition, P&Q added seniors from such top international programs as Alliance Manchester in the United Kingdom and IE Business School in Spain. Like past years, business schools selected nominees using their own criteria (though P&Q encouraged them to factor in such qualities as academic excellence and extracurricular leadership). As a whole, these exemplary business majors were nearly split equally between men and women (51-to-49, respectively), with 13 representatives hailing from outside the United States. Come graduation, seven members will be starting at McKinsey & Company, while another 6 will join Deloitte. What do the 2025 Best & Brightest Business Majors have in common? Think passion and purpose – a commitment to a particular industry or outcome – that pushes to always be questioning listening, learning, and growing. Go-getters all, they possess an infectious, can-do drive that leaves little room for half measures. Some command the whole room and others quietly hold teams together. Either way, they bring a calmness and confidence amid the setbacks. You don't just count the Best & Brightest to show up – you can expect them to deliver. The Best & Brightest may have interned at Bain and Morgan Stanley, but they learned business fundamentals scooping ice cream at Stone Cold Creamery or delivering meals through DoorDash. Outside business school, these rising stars competed in football, cross country, wrestling, and rugby – along with case and big idea competitions. They worked as teaching assistants, residence advisors, research assistants, and ambassadors – when they weren't busy running clubs, organizing fund-raisers, or mentoring underclassmen. In the end, the Best & Brightest were the catalysts who made things happen. Filled with faith and optimism, these business majors elevated their classmates to be their best selves. In the process, they became as urgent as they were unforgettable. Over time, that spirit will enable each of them to do something special, in one form or another. Skyler Mott, Lehigh University CAPITALIZING ON EVERY OPPORTUNITY Mott is just one of many on this year's list. '[I] realized that all juniors and seniors live off campus during their upperclassmen years,' he tells P&Q. 'When looking into rent, I realized that the mortgage cost was the same as the monthly rent. From that moment, I was determined to buy my first home. Through various strategies and creative financing, I accomplished that goal. I spent the entire summer replacing the floors, painting the walls, putting in blinds, an outdoor fence, a new refrigerator, and a washer and dryer. I managed to finish all the renovations by the start of school and had five students living there in my junior year.' Once listed among the best ten-year-olds in chess, Mott started chess programs at two elementary schools to provide meals and teach problem-solving skills. He also ranks among the nation's top 50 high jumpers, while serving as captain of Lehigh's 130-member track and field team. A four-time member of the Dean's List, Mott even led the marketing efforts for a Barcelona startup – along with completing treks to Silicon Valley and Vietnam. With graduation looming, Mott is now weighing whether to scale his ventures or start graduate school. Either way, he made the most of every minute and opportunity at Lehigh – and left his classmates and community better for it. 'Skyler Mott is one of the hardest-working, creative, and execution-focused students I've worked with,' shares Chris Kauzmann, Innovator-In-Residence at Lehigh University. 'Not only does he possess the ability to identify market opportunities, generate creative ideas, and execute on those ideas, he does so with a kindness, charm, and support of others that is truly exceptional. Skyler has not only been an exceptional student, but a role model to other students.' Isabella Suffredini, Cornell University SETTING THE BAR ON AND OFF THE COURT Some Best & Brightest students are already leaving big shoes to fill. Case in point: Stephen Mitchell, an example of a true servant leader. A starting guard on Marquette University's basketball team, Mitchell doesn't need to score points to make an impact. Known for energy and leadership, Mitchell is a finalist for the Naismith National Defensive Player of the Year. This year, he also chipped in 10 points, 4 rebounds and 2 steals per game. In the process, he helped Marquette reach the NCAA tournament during all four years on the team. However, Mitchell equally shines away from the hardwood. He was named the Men's Basketball Scholar-Athlete of the Year by the Big East Conference and Marquette's Most Outstanding Senior in both Finance and Information Systems. And those accolades don't include achieving a perfect 4.0 GPA in the fall of 2024. There really isn't any secret behind Mitchell's success, says Dr. Terence Thong-Hwee Ow, a Professor of Information Systems, Analytics and Supply Chain Management at Marquette University's College of Business. He just puts in the work on and off the court. 'He pays rigorous attention to details to solve problems in programming; as an example, he put in copious amounts of work analyzing his opponents' tendencies, which allowed him to create turnovers for his team. His classmates at Marquette marvel at his commitment and excellence in coursework.' Others marvel at just how the Best & Brightest can juggle everything in their lives. At Cornell University's Nolan School of Hotel Administration, Isabella Suffredini has been selected to TA for nine courses. That doesn't count running the sales operation for the Hotel Ezra Cornell annual conference – or teaching her classmates how to play cards in the Cornell Women's Poker Club. Saanvi Sood, a senior at Emory University's Goizueta School, is a TA for three clubs: the Marketing Consulting Practicum, Corporate Political Strategy and Business Communications. Ticketed to join the Boston Consulting Group, Sood also served as the President of the Emory Data Science Club and CEO for the Emory Impact Investment Group. '[The latter is] microfinancing organization supporting small businesses in historically underserved Atlanta communities,' Sood tells P&Q. 'During my tenure, I led a fundraising campaign to expand our fund and amplify our impact. Through outreach to over 500 contacts and the support of the Goizueta community, we grew our fund from $200K to $360K—ensuring the club's ability to provide low-interest loans in perpetuity.' MAKING AN IMPACT, EVERY MINUTE OF EVERY DAY Levi Montoya, University of California-Berkeley Some Best & Brightest members invested heavy time in particular areas. Levi Montoya became a first-generation college student after growing up in a single parent home. After transferring from community college to the University of California-Berkeley's Haas School, he got involved in nearly everything, from being elected president of the Consulting Club to being tapped to conduct public policy research. However, Montoya found his real footing in case competitions. Here, his team ranked among the top performers in several events – even claiming Best Presentation at the MasterCard Advisors Case Competition. Compare that to Chad Burks. Over his four years at Binghamton University, Burks' case teams collected five first-place finishes. Along the way, he was named the school's Transformational Leader of the Year in 2022-2023. Such achievements would've come as a surprise to Burks when he was a freshman. Back then, he was hesitant to get involved, worried he wouldn't fit in. 'The truth is that growth and being comfortable often cannot coexist,' he tells P&Q. 'I realized that the only fear I had was not putting myself in a position to do the things I needed to in order to reach what I imagined to be my full potential. From there, I finally started challenging myself to get extremely involved and meet others on campus. Doing this has paid tremendous dividends in helping me achieve things that I previously couldn't have imagined to be possible. At USC's Marshall School, Santiago Briones Lopez could also be found nearly everywhere. He worked as a consulting career advisor, performing over 100 one-on-one coaching sessions. He led the 250-member Latino Student Business Association, growing membership by 60%. He also gave campus tours as a student ambassador and completed internships at KPMG, Bain, and FTI Consulting. You could say Lopez equals leadership – a quality he attributes to his father and mother, whose combined backgrounds include management, marketing, consulting, teaching, and hospitality. From them, he says, he learned that success is measured more in making a difference than in titles and accolades. 'That's why my proudest achievement isn't a title or an internship—it's my impact. As a student ambassador, I've helped students find their place at USC. As a mentor, I've guided peers into their dream careers. And as a leader, I've helped build communities that will outlast my time in them. If I've made someone's journey a little easier, a little clearer, or a little more possible—then I've done something worth being proud of.' GIVING BACK TO THE COMMUNITY Hali Jama, University of Wisconsin Impact has also been the mission for the University of Wisconsin's Hali Jama, who co-founded the school's Somali Student Association and Business Behind Fashion Club. After creating a career advice video that generated over a million views on social media, she launched Success Sessions, a coaching venture that was booked up four months in advance. At Binghamton University, Adam Bandler played a number of leadership roles in the Harper's Ferry Student Volunteer Ambulance Service, a volunteer, 24×7 EMS service that provides basic and advanced life services to students and the local community alike. At the University of Pittsburgh, Isabelle Layding proved she could perform at the highest levels during her Consulting Field Projects. 'I've been an Engagement Manager for two projects with billion-dollar companies, which has been an incredible learning experience. Through my work with FedEx Ground, I was able to work with a group of MS students to find $4 million [dollars] of value for our clients, which was a pretty cool feeling as an undergraduate Junior. I'm currently working with the Westinghouse Electric Corporation, and I am very excited for the potential impact that this engagement will have on the future of nuclear energy internationally. These projects encouraged me to pursue a career in consulting after graduation, and I learned a great deal about managing teams, building client relationships, and delivering significant results in a short period of time.' Layding wasn't alone in delivering impact outside the business school walls. At the Wharton School, Daniel Babalola helped to launch VITA@Penn, a student organization that partners with the IRS to provide tax assistance to working families. His classmate, Shivani Desai, instructs local elementary students as part of the West Philadelphia Tutoring Project. At the same time, she teaches English to West African immigrants for an after-school program at Henry C. Lea Elementary School. Similarly, Mark Metryoos, a senior at Notre Dame's Mendoza College and President of the 2,000-member Wall Street Club, teaches financial literacy at a local high school. Here, he discovered that many students – particularly those in the First Generational Low Income (FGLI) category – lacked financial literacy and job search skills. From this epiphany, the Equity in Business InMy Sitesitiative (EBI) was born. 'Largely because of Mark's efforts, EBI provides programming and other resources to students who seek to fill in the gaps in their business comprehension,' explains Andrew Wendelborn, Assistant Dean for Undergraduate Studies at Mendoza. 'From résumé preparation and money management workshops to career treks and graduate school visits, EBI serves to break down barriers for both business and non-business students while creating a strong community among them.' LAUNCHING INITIATIVES TO GIVE CLASSMATES MORE OPPORTUNITIES Caroline Mazur-Sarocka, Rice University In fact, the Best & Brightest often launched initiatives that solidified their legacies at their schools. At Texas Christian University, Luke Swan, a Dean's Scholar and finalist for the school's Outstanding Senior Award, co-founded its Pickleball Club. Down I-45, Caroline Mazur-Sarocka calls Rice University home. Here, she is the captain of the Lacrosse team and President of the 500-member Rice Business Society. Along the way, she started the Investment Banking Bootcamp to provide training and alumni mentorship to sophomores and juniors looking to enter the field. Through Mazur-Sarocka's leadership, the initiative has educated 100 students, while hitting 80% placement in recruiting. 'After going through the finance recruiting process myself, it allowed me to share all the resources I had accessed,' she explains. 'As the number of undergraduate students at Rice Business began to grow, I was worried that students would become competitive and the recruiting process would become more difficult for everyone. That inspired me to organize this event, bringing all students interested in investment banking together once a week over the course of a semester. Everyone bonded and quickly became friends, helping one another mock-interview and find the best internship opportunities.' Cornell University's Brian Kim-Koutsis identified a similar need at the Dyson School of Applied Economics and Business. He developed the Dyson Undergraduate Student Handbook after arriving on campus and realizing there was 'no easy one-stop location' for answers on everything from classes to clubs to recruiting. For him, the handbook was a means to 'level the playing field' for students. 'Before arriving on campus, everyone has different levels of business knowledge and connections to Cornell,' he tells P&Q. 'Some students have already completed internships at banks or have siblings who attended Cornell. Others start with a blank slate, similar to me. The purpose of the handbook is to increase accessibility to the information necessary to thrive in Dyson…I can now say with certainty that every future student entering Dyson will have a place to find answers to nearly all their questions, easing their stress and facilitating a successful transition to campus.' Next Page: Fun Facts and Advice to Future Students Pages 3-4: 100 in-depth profiles of the 2025 Best & Brightest Business Majors David Elias Kurzmann, ESCP Business School EXCELLENCE IN ENTREPRENEURSHIP When the Class of 2025 wasn't launching new clubs or initiatives, they were opening new businesses. Case in point: from David Elias Kurzmann at ESCP Business School. Think of it as an interactive version of the Khan Academy. Unhappy with the tutoring available through his school, Kurzmann set out to create what he describes as a 'student society organizing free student-to-student tutoring lectures.' Launched in 2022, vipi – 'voluntary, independent pioneers of education' – has since expanded to 1,000 students across cities like London, Paris, Madrid, and Berlin. Even more, it now includes 11 topics ranging from Advanced Statistics to Microeconomics to Managerial Accounting. One Financial Accounting session even drew 134 students! Even more, vipi was considered so innovative that it earned Kurzmann the ESCP Dean's Award in 2023 – making him the first underclassman to achieve this feat. 'It was a concept I first developed during the COVID-19 pandemic for free online tutoring at local high schools,' Kurzmann explains. 'The idea is simple: students with a better understanding of a subject help their peers for free in lecture-style tutoring sessions. In this way, the tutors gain a unique edge to their understanding and the students receive vis-à-vis explanations without pressure. This way, the entire community thrives, improving everyone's learning experience.' And the Best & Brightest didn't just launch ventures. They supported them too. Look no further than Alliance Manchester's Jasper Lee, who was president of Accelerate ME – which he calls the 'largest student-led startup accelerator in Northern England. Here, he led a 30-member in selecting startups and developing programming. 'To date, we've distributed over £250K, and our alumni have raised over £45m in follow-on funding,' he tells P&Q. 'I'm thrilled to be part of a community that helps break down barriers to entrepreneurship and turn ambitious ideas into reality.' FROM THE UN TO THE WHITE HOUSE Timothy Held, University of Tennessee In some cases, the Class of 2025 shouldered responsibilities that mimicked their professors. At the University of Tennessee's Haslam College, Timothy Held designed a machine learning model used to forecast how top college basketball players would perform in games. For her senior thesis, Wharton's Daniel Babalola chose a stretch assignment. He has been hatching a computer model for radiologists to quantify lung cancer nodules. 'Though lung cancer image classification is a well explored field, there is potential for novelty in identifying the presence of dissolving tumors post-treatment,' Babalola explains. 'As someone with almost zero background in medicine prior to this thesis, it has been a fruitful intellectual exercise. Pushing myself to work in an unfamiliar field has forced me to adapt the frameworks I've developed in strategy and product management.' Some class members were even invited into the proverbial 'room' at the highest levels. For Purdue University's Rachel Labi, that meant speaking to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights on human trafficking. By the same token, Villanova University's Olivia Hansen landed a coveted summer internship with the Joe Biden administration last summer. 'Being in the White House at the intersection of political and business decisions for the betterment of the American people was an honor of a lifetime, and hopefully the beginning of a long career in improving the lives of others through business. Being accepted as one of only two individuals in the entire nation to intern in the Contract and Procurement Office is an accomplishment that I am beyond grateful for. My time serving in the Executive Office of the President was a transformative educational experience that I will never forget.' A FASHION MODEL, A WORLD TRAVELER, AND A JAZZ CAT Hillary Simmons, University of Michigan That said, Hillary Simmons' biggest moment happened outside the spotlight. In 2023, she left the comforts of the University of Michigan's Ross School to take a summer internship in New York City. For her, the big accomplishment was overcoming her wariness of risk and embracing growth. 'I began my freshman year being afraid to go outside of my dorm after the sun went down,' Simmons admits. 'However, I got to a point where I was willingly packing my suitcase to spend a summer by myself in the largest city in the country. From learning how to navigate the subway to immersing myself in diverse cultures and questioning my ways of being, spending the summer in New York City boosted my confidence in so many ways. I had to advocate for myself in ways I'd never had to before, and I learned so many things about myself…It was a lesson in the power of dreaming big.' Alas, the classroom and the office don't define who the Class of 2025 is. Glenys Yevi, a University of Houston grad and Wells Fargo hire, is a fashion model who was part of New York Fashion Week in February. When Gregory Hilldrup isn't preparing for medical school or running student government at the University of Richmond's Robins School of Business, he is playing the conga and djembe drums. Maybe Hilldrup could jam with the University of Georgia's V'shoi Garfield Emanuel, who is known for his 'jazz bass solos and gigs around town with other jazz cats.' Looking for a world traveler? Indiana University's Maggie Essmann has stepped foot in all seven continents. Seeking stories of adventure? Georgia Tech's Logan Roach ran with the bulls in Pamplona between his freshman and sophomore year. Along with majoring in Accounting and Marketing at Georgetown University's McDonough School, Matthew De Meulder co-hosts The Honky Tonk Show on radio. And let's just say the University of Houston's Daniel Kalathoor is getting an early start on his career. 'I will be graduating at 20 years old, and a year early from university!' Sydney Anne Drysdale Fairbairn, University of Denver THE ONES WHO PAVED THE WAY Make no mistake: The Class of 2025 has plenty of people to thank along the way to graduation. Levi Grimm, an Information Systems and Entrepreneurship major at Miami University's Farmer School, credits a high school teacher, Tom O' Neill, for making him proactive in the face of adversity. 'He left a lasting impact on how I approach opportunities and challenges. Mr. O'Neill instilled the mindset of thinking in terms of possibilities and seeing obstacles as opportunities. He believed that the best way to learn was by doing even if it meant failing forward. He urged me to be relentless in pursuing my goals and to see 'no' as a temporary barrier to 'yes.' It was the way he pushed and mentored me that ignited a fire to not admire the problems around me but to do something about them.' Marian University's Zivan Mynhardt absorbed similar lessons from his father around sacrifice and work ethic. 'Growing up in Cape Town, I watched him pour relentless effort into everything he did: long hours, no shortcuts, always pushing forward. That example wasn't just inspiring; it essentially became my blueprint. He made it possible for me to study abroad, footing the bill for this journey. However, it's more than that. He instilled a belief that hard work and resilience can overcome any obstacle.' For Sydney Anne Drysdale Fairbairn, her mother's support has literally been a life-saver. Diagnosed with a congenital heart defect, tomorrow was never a given for Drysdale Fairbairn growing up. Instead, she was guided by her parents' axiom about her heart: 'Push it to grow, but never to the point of breaking.' While she couldn't play traditional sports, Drysdale Fairbairn became a Pilates instructor and a game statistician. These successes, she says, stemmed from the support she received at home. 'I cannot fathom the strength it took for my parents to be handed a million-piece LEGO set with no instructions—just the dismaying counsel of 'build it.' My mother did more than build, though; she created a life for me where limitations were not roadblocks, rather they were challenges to navigate. She never allowed me to be a victim of my condition. Instead, she instilled in me two principles that guide my life to this day: 'For every one thing you can't do, find the millions of things you can,' and 'Always stop and smell the roses.' Kassidy Allen, Texas Christian University WHAT LIES AHEAD? What lies ahead for Drysdale Fairbairn after earning her degree from the University of Denver's Daniels College? Well, she is still working that part out. Long-term, she pictures herself paying forward the blessings she has received. 'Given my personal health journey, I am committed to supporting children facing medical challenges. I aspire to serve on the board of a nonprofit dedicated to helping children with health conditions and disabilities, or, if possible, establish my own philanthropic initiative with that mission.' The Best & Brightest harbor similar ambitions. After walking off the stage at Carnegie Mellon's commencement, Chloe He hopes to work in two countries ('at least') before opening her own bakery café. Olivia Hansen's aspirations reflect a common dream among the Class of 2025: join the faculty and write a book. The same goes for Texas Christian's University's Kassidy Allen (Give a TED Talk) and Syracuse University's Talia St. Angelo (Be featured in Times Square). Then again, Josh Novick just hopes to stay an engaged alum at the University of Virginia. 'I aspire to come back to Grounds and McIntire one day as a guest speaker and try to get involved in all ways. Throughout my time here, I found the alums to be some of the most forward-thinking, kindest, and insightful connections and resources. I would love to give back to the place that has given me the most.' ADVICE TO FUTURE BUSINESS MAJORS Looking back on the past four years, the Class of 2025 has some advice for the business majors following in their footsteps. For many students, grades and experience often take priority in business school. Still, USC Marshall's Wednesday Satterlee observes that students can gain the biggest long-term return by emphasizing relationships. 'You'll hear this often in business school, but it's true: your network is your net worth. Making meaningful connections with peers, professors, and co-workers is the best investment you can make in your early career. Do not take anyone for granted, you will always have something to learn from the people you meet, and you never know when your connections can lead to exciting opportunities.' Isabelle Layding, University of Pittsburgh As a student, Isabelle Layding was involved in everything from leading the student consulting firm to handling logistics for Greek Week. Such experiences enabled her to test her mettle – and hone a wide range of skills. Her advice to prospective students? Say 'Yes' to every opportunity at every turn. 'The value of your business degree is directly related to your campus involvement, leadership experience, and work experience. Join clubs, talk to professors about their research – figure out what interests you and do something with it. So, if there's a chance for you to stretch yourself by taking on a leadership position in a club, starting something new, or moving somewhere you've never been for an internship… do it, even if you're uncomfortable for a little bit. The most pivotal moments of growth for me happened when I said 'yes' to opportunities that seemed terrifying!' The University of Minnesota's Jillian Buenger, a future health strategist, would tag a corollary onto Layding's advice: Always ask. 'That's true whether you want to learn more about a club; interested in a career that a professor of yours used to work in; or want to sit down to coffee with an upperclassman that you admire. You never know where one interaction will lead. For me, 'just asking' put me in the position to open so many more doors to chances and opportunities that would have passed me right by if I hadn't just been brave for that one moment.' While many graduates are boxing up belongings and lining up apartments for the first 'real' jobs, others are still wrestling with what to do next. And that's no big concern, says NYU Stern's Alexander Talamonti, who himself is still seeking the right fit in software development. There's plenty of time to find your way. 'I would advise students to be open to trying different things and avoid stressing too much about not knowing what they want to do. In my opinion, it is better to have done many things and know what you don't want to do than to silo yourself because you're afraid to be late to the game. However, once you find something that you love, dive deep into it. Being passionate about something is a wonderful gift!' Congratulations, Class of 2025! Buckle up: You're in for the ride of your life! Go to Pages 3-4 for 100 in-depth profiles of the 2025 Best & Brightest Business Majors Business Student Business School Hometown Post-Graduation EmployerAlliance Manchester Business School Singapore NomuraBinghamton University School of Management Marlboro, NJ CitibankBinghamton University School of Management Clifton Park, NY PwC Everett, MA Grant Thornton Arcadia, CA IQVIA Devon, PA Campbell Lutyens Avondale, PA Deloitte San Diego, CA EquiPad Palm Springs, CA Bain & Company Charlton, MA Morgan Stanley Columbus, OH T-Mobile Eastchester, NY McKinsey & Company Farmington, CT Wells FargoUniversity of Denver (Daniels) Denver, CO UndecidedUniversity of Denver (Daniels) Denver, CO Graduate School St. Louis, MO Raymond James Shrewsbury, MA Boston Consulting GroupESCP Business School Augsburg, Germany Graduate SchoolUniversity of Florida (Warrington) Boca Raton, FL JPMorganChase Edison, NJ American Express Zachary, LA Ernst & Young Tampa, FL Capco Consulting Bogotá, Colombia McKinsey & Company St. Thomas, Virgin Islands University of Georgia (Graduate School) Atlanta, GA VISA Starkville, MS CIBCUniversity of Houston (Bauer) Missouri City, TX Apache CorporationUniversity of Houston (Bauer) Cotonou, Benin Wells Fargo Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic UndecidedIE University Beirut, Lebanon Undecided Roselle, IL Kearney Chicago, IL Undecided St. Charles, IL United Airlines Greenwood Village, CO KPMG Mill Neck, NY Startup(s) Woodside, CA Accenture Plano, TX Undecided Yorba Linda, CA GlenairMarian University (Byrum) Cape Town, South Africa DeloitteMarian University (Byrum) Gary, IN Nucor SteelMarquette University Sinking Spring, PA Undecided Okeana, OH Deloitte Irvington, NY Moelis & Company Guayaquil, Ecuador Cornerstone Research Rancho Cucamonga, CA TPG Real Estate Partners Miami, FL Deloitte Sun Prairie, WI UCHealth Sichuan, China Deloitte Newnan, GA Not Disclosed McLean, VA Not Disclosed Business Student Business School Hometown Post-Graduation Employer Wilmington, NC Greystar Greensboro, NC EY-Parthenon Doha, Qatar Undecided Mumbai, India Undecided Richland, WA McKinsey & Company Orlando, FL Morgan Stanley New Albany, OH American Airlines Clinton, NJ McKinsey & Company Huntingdon Valley, PA Newrez East Greenwich, RI Providence College (MBA)Purdue University (Daniels) West Lafayette, IN UndecidedPurdue University (Daniels) Sugar Land, TX BDT & MSD PartnersRice University (Virani) Buffalo Grove, IL Bain Capital Private Equity Spotsylvania, VA Bon Secours Hospital Richmond, VA Liberty Mutual Insurance Bloomfield, NJ Schwarzman Scholar Metuchen, NJ Becton Dickinson St. Catherine, Jamaica Deutsche Bank Novo Hamburgo, Brazil Undecided Las Vegas, NV Centerview Partners Flower Mound, TX LectureLogger Winnetka, IL Deloitte Consulting Scituate, RI UndecidedUniversity of Tennessee (Haslam) Memphis, TN JPMorganChaseUniversity of Tennessee (Haslam) Cleveland, TN University of Tennessee (Grad School) College Station, TX Bank of America McKinney, TX McKinsey & Company Annapolis, MD krescent Wichita, KS Nike Laredo, TX McKinsey & Company Los Angeles, CA Tulane University (Grad School) Springfield, NJ JPMorganChase Ridgefield, CT FTI Consulting Seattle, WA JPMorganChase Chicago, IL The Raine Group Cornwall, NY Undecided Manhattan Beach, CA Altamont Capital Partners Laurel Hollow, NY Blackstone Credit Hickory, NC General Mills Franklin, TN JPMorganChase Burien, WA Undecided Federal Way, WA RSM US Ann Arbor, MI McKinsey & Company Milwaukee, WI Lazard Glen Burnie, MD Capital One Duluth, GA LGT Capital Partners Scituate, MA Undecided Chesterfield, VA Undecided Eden Prairie, MN Nielsen Minnetonka, MN Boston Consulting Group DON'T MISS: The post 100 Best & Brightest Undergraduate Business Majors Of 2025 appeared first on Poets&Quants.
Yahoo
30-01-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Best & Brightest sets record with latest class
Jan. 30—The Best & Brightest Initiative, a program that attracts new residents to Decatur, has set a record with its latest class of 41 young professionals plus their 13 spouses or significant others. The program's goal is to recruit recent college graduates in the higher paid areas of science, technology, engineering, math, nursing and education to the city in the hopes they will become permanent residents. This large class came to Decatur during 2024 on the promise of getting $15,000 toward paying off their college loans or purchasing a home. The money, broken in $3,000 annual payments, comes with the requirement that the new members make Decatur their home for the next five years. Sam Lee, 23, of Somerset, Kentucky, is a member of the new class. He started in July with Toray Industries' process engineering group. After graduating from the University of Kentucky in May, he chose Decatur over Bowling Green even though he said he initially wanted to stay in his home state. "Part of the reason I chose Alabama was the fit," said Lee, who did an internship with Ascend Performance Materials in Pensacola, Florida. "Decatur was a better fit of the two when it came down to work environment. The role was more along with what I like." Lee said the final thing that put Decatur over the top was the Best & Brightest money, and he likes Decatur's lifestyle over Huntsville's. Unlike many of his Best & Brightest (B&B) classmates, Lee said he doesn't have any student loans. Instead, he said he plans to use the money as a down payment on a new home. John Joseph IV, executive director of the Decatur-Morgan County Entrepreneurial Center and the initiative creator, said they recently decided to allow payments on housing instead of just student loans because they found that many graduates didn't have loans because of scholarships. Joseph said they intentionally built B&B slowly after it began in 2016. He began with only about a half dozen annually in each of the first few years. But the initiative added 24 in 2023 and then the number made a big leap this year. "It was good year," Joseph said. "We've been steadily growing the program, and we've been aiming to make a big jump in 2024." B&B began with private donations and then transitioned to public support. It got $500,000 in each of the past two years from the city, with another $500,000 in the city's fiscal 2025 budget. State Sen. Arthur Orr, R-Decatur, co-sponsored a bill that provides state appropriations of $135,000 annually for the last four years to Decatur and Marengo County for "Retain Alabama," a state initiative created as a mirror to Best & Brightest. The only difference is only Alabama college graduates can qualify. Initially, Best & Brightest members had to be STEM graduates. They recently added teachers and health professionals to meet the needs of the school system and Decatur Morgan Hospital. Joseph said he wanted to first make sure they had enough money up front to support a big class. This meant having at least $600,000 in savings, he said. "We have to be able to pay the $3,000 a year for five years," Joseph said. "Whereas a lot of programs are like the Shoals, they're paying $10,000 up front. But we're paying as they live here because we want them to stay in Decatur for a longer period of time." He said he also wanted the initiative to be able to provide the necessary and expected support for Best & Brightest members. This includes helping them find a place to live and connecting them with people and resources within the city. Lee said another reason he likes the initiative is because of the networking it provides, whether it's a real estate agent to find that home or providing community connections. He said he's also made several friends through B&B that have made the transition of living four hours from his native Kentucky easier. "We're all a year or two out of school, so we've all banded together," Lee said. "We actually get together quite a bit." B&B spokeswoman Sydney Taylor said they developed more private partners like Toray, Renaissance Bank, Ascend and United Launch Alliance. She said 60% of the class is from the state, particularly from Tuscaloosa, Auburn, Birmingham and Huntsville. Several are from Mississippi, she said. "We do have one from Washington, two from Florida and one from Kentucky," Taylor said. While most in the new class are recent college graduates, Joseph said there are some in the group that are closer to age 30 and have been out of college for several years. Joseph said the 2024 additions increase the number of new Decatur residents via the initiative to over 100. "The percentage of members who stay in Decatur after their five-year commitment is still over 70, which is much higher than we projected," Joseph said. Council President Jacob Ladner said he challenged Joseph to attract 200 new people to Decatur. He said the program is a "big deal" for two reasons. The first is it continues to spur the residential growth that the city needs after its population growth had been stagnant for many years. His other reason is the program attracts the needed STEM graduates, nurses and teachers who increase the city's median income. "It's a great program," Ladner said. "They've delivered as they've been funded." — or 256-340-2432
