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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
07-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
WashU Olin's BIG IdeaBounce: 13 Startups In The Business Of Health Compete For The $50K Top Prize
Washington University's Olin Business School BIG IdeaBounce competition features the business of health The business of health boasts a massive economic footprint on the world. Healthcare is the largest single employer in the U.S., with more than 20 million people working in biotech, pharmaceutical, insurance, health services, hospitals, and clinics. All told, spending on the business of health exceeds $4.5 trillion in the U.S., making up nearly 18% of GDP in the U.S. So for the fourth annual BIG IdeaBounce competition, sponsored by Washington University's Olin Business School, it was something of a no-brainer to focus on this central pillar of the world economy. Our invitation to students to pitch their health startups has been a huge success. Some 82 startup ideas flooded in, representing nearly 45 universities in 14 countries, including Algeria, Austria, Canada, Chile, China, Estonia, Ghana, India, Panama, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom, United States and Vietnam. The judges narrowed down those submissions to a baker's dozen of exceptional startup ideas, many of them powered by artificial intelligence applications. They range from wearables that monitor heart function and sleep habits to sophisticated software platforms aimed to boost efficiencies and productivity in healthcare. streamlines the ordering process for home medical equipment, while Brivy automates mental health session records, saving clinicians hours by instantly generating insurance-ready notes and session insights. Patrick Aguilar, managing director of health at Washington University's Olin Business School This group will be further narrowed down to three finalists who will be invited to St. Louis to pitch their ideas to a panel of judges at Washington University's Olin Business School in mid-April. The top winner will walk away with a $50,000 cash prize, with smaller funding awards to the second and third-place teams. P&Q is also inviting our audience to vote for their favorite team and idea. The breadth and depth of new thinking applied to the challenges of health is impressive. 'From across the country, groups of innovators and thinkers submitted outstanding ideas designed to improve the wellness of society,' says Patrick Aguilar, managing director of health at Washington University's Olin Business School. 'Founders developed biological and technological tools that addressed the breadth of what 'health' means, and they created pitches that captured the urgency and importance of their work. At Olin, we are heavily focusing on how business can create this exact kind of societal impact, and it was inspiring to see the ways that the teams created solutions to problems across the health spectrum. 'Rather than limiting themselves to the treatment of disease,' adds Aguilar, 'they extended their reach to enable human beings to live the best lives possible. This is exactly the kind of thinking that we need to work through the most challenging problems of our era. I was impressed by their curiosity, creativity, and originality, and I look forward to seeing how the judges react to the final pitches next month.' Many of the ideas are so complex and intricate that they require the brainpower of interdisciplinary teams. OneHealth+ founders comprise professionals with expertise in healthcare, technology, and business, including MBAs from Wharton and Stanford, with experience in engineering and health infomatics, a physician getting his Executive MBA at the Olin Business School, all led by a CEO with degrees in human biology as well as masters in health administration from Cornell and business creation from the University of Utah. FindMyClinicalTrial, a startup out of American University, is helping patients navigate the clinical trial landscape via an AI powered website and application which allows for patients, family members, and providers to easily search, share, and enroll in clinical trials. The startup, a collaboration with the Mayo Clinic, has engaged more than 4,000 users and post over 24k clinical trials is all 50 states. Its four-member startup team brings together expertise in computer science, machine learning, business, and communications. A pair of MBA students at the University of Virginia's Darden School of Business–Caroline Holt and Justin Ryan–joined with a third founder at the University of Texas in Austin with AI crew to create Patient Led Health. It has come up with an innovative app that enables individuals to capture, store, analyze, search, share and manage their own medical records across many patient portals. Meantime, two PhDs from the University of California in San Diego are developing a wearable ultrasonic imager for continuous, real-time and direct visualization of cardiac function. The primary market? Patients in intensive care units who require continuous cardiac monitoring. Of the estimated 10 to 15 million patients admitted to ICUs each year, 40% to 60% require cardiac monitoring, creating a direct market of up to 7.5 million patients annually. WashU Olin's BIG IdeaBounce® powered by Poets&Quants was open to all current undergraduate and graduate school students or any prospect interested in a graduate business school degree. You can watch their two-minute elevator pitches and read about their business plans in the following profiles. Tell us your favorite idea by voting via the buttons below. The team with the most votes will win the Poets&Quants People's Choice Award and receive $1,000. Voting ends April 13, 2025. School Affiliation: Washington University Description: Adera is an AI-powered sleep enhancement headband and app that uses real-time neuroadaptive feedback. Problem: Adera addresses the global sleep crisis, which affects over 1 billion individuals worldwide and costs the global economy approximately $680 billion annually due to reduced productivity and increased healthcare expenses. Poor sleep impairs cognitive performance, increases the risk of chronic diseases, and contributes to mental health issues. The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated sleep disorders, with a 60% rise in insomnia cases. Existing solutions such as sleep trackers passively monitor sleep without intervention, and sleep medications often lead to dependency and health risks. This growing crisis demands an immediate and effective solution that not only tracks but also actively improves sleep quality. Solution: Adera's AI-powered sleep enhancement headband and app provide real-time sleep optimization using neuroadaptive feedback, biometric analysis, and environmental modulation. Unlike traditional trackers, Adera dynamically adjusts soundscapes, lighting, and temperature based on users' physiological signals to optimize deep sleep and REM cycles. Its biometric sensors monitor brainwaves (EEG), heart rate variability (HRV), respiration rate, temperature, and movement, allowing its AI engine to predict and prevent sleep disturbances. This adaptive technology offers a non-invasive, drug-free, and personalized solution that continuously improves sleep quality over time, promoting cognitive performance, reducing stress, and enhancing overall well-being. Market: Adera targets the $585 billion global sleep economy, projected to surpass $1 trillion by 2030. Its serviceable available market (SAM) within AI-powered sleep solutions is valued at $30 billion, with a goal to capture $1.5 billion within five years. The primary B2C segments include individuals with sleep disorders, high-performance professionals, and wellness enthusiasts seeking drug-free sleep optimization. On the B2B front, Adera targets corporate wellness programs, healthcare providers, and smart home ecosystems, offering scalable solutions that enhance employee productivity, reduce healthcare costs, and integrate seamlessly with smart devices like Alexa and Google Nest. Competition: Adera differentiates itself from passive trackers like Oura, WHOOP, and Fitbit by providing real-time, AI-driven sleep enhancement rather than mere data collection. Unlike smart beds such as Eight Sleep, Adera's headband integrates EEG, HRV, and respiration data to dynamically adjust environmental factors. Compared to brain stimulation devices like Dreem and Philips SmartSleep, Adera is non-invasive, avoiding electrical stimulation risks while offering real-time, adaptive optimization. Its proprietary AI engine continuously learns from biometric feedback to personalize sleep routines, ensuring superior results in both deep sleep and REM enhancement. This multi-sensor, real-time feedback approach positions Adera as a market leader in sleep technology. Value Creation: Adera's scalable business model includes direct-to-consumer hardware sales ($299.99 per unit), monthly subscriptions for advanced AI features ($19.99/month), and B2B partnerships with corporate wellness programs and healthcare providers. With a projected revenue of $402.7 million by Year 6 and a net profit margin of 62%, Adera offers both financial sustainability and measurable social impact. By improving sleep quality, Adera enhances cognitive performance, reduces stress, and lowers healthcare costs associated with sleep-related conditions. Its non-invasive, drug-free approach aligns with the growing consumer preference for natural wellness solutions, ensuring long-term market relevance and profitability. The Team: Jasmine Kim (Bachelors in Philosophy-Neuroscience-Psychology, Entrepreneurship, May 2025) School Affiliation: Washington University, Texas A&M Description: Brivy is an AI-powered tool that automates mental health session documentation, saving clinicians hours by instantly generating insurance-ready notes and session insights. Problem: Mental health clinicians in small-to-medium-sized private practices spend 10+ hours per week on documentation, leading to burnout, delayed insurance reimbursements, and less time with patients. Many providers struggle to complete notes on time, affecting both cash flow and work-life balance. Solution: Brivy automates documentation by recording sessions and instantly generating SOAP notes with ICD-10 codes and session insights. This eliminates manual note-taking, reduces clinician fatigue, and ensures faster, more accurate insurance reimbursements. Market: Our target customers are mental health practice owners managing 3-10 clinicians (therapists, counselors, nurse practitioners). Current research includes: • Managed Facebook marketing for 4 mental health clinic owners since Jan 2024, gaining direct insight into operational struggles (delayed reimbursements). • Conducted 6 in-depth interviews with mental health practice owners, confirming documentation as a top pain point. • Hosted a webinar (Jan 2025, 40+ RSVPs, 15 live attendees): 100% reported interest in AI documentation, 67% were comfortable using AI in healthcare documentation. Competition: There are many sophisticated AI medical scribe tools (Abridge, DeepScribe, Heidi Health), but many are generalized and few cater specifically to mental health providers. Brivy fits a gap in the market by serving mental health clinicians working in small-to-medium sized practices. Our solution is tailored specifically for these practices through its note type, billing codes, and session insights. Value Creation: Brivy enables clinicians to see more patients by reducing documentation time, directly increasing revenue. Long-term sustainability comes from a SaaS subscription model with multiple pay tiers, targeting small-to-medium mental health practices. The Team: Connor Alder | MD Candidate 2028, Washington University Peyton Smith | BS Computer Science 2024, Texas A&M School Affiliation: Washington University Olin Business School Description: is an AI-powered marketplace that streamlines the ordering process for home medical equipment by ensuring orders meet insurance requirements upfront, drastically reducing wait times and administrative burdens for patients, physicians, and suppliers. Problem: When patients are prescribed essential home medical equipment—such as CPAP machines, walkers, and wheelchairs—they face an average wait time of 40 to 60 days before receiving them. These delays deprive patients, many of whom are elderly or managing chronic conditions, of the support they need to safely manage their health. The root cause is an outdated process that forces equipment suppliers and physicians into repetitive back-and-forth communication, often relying on obsolete methods like faxing and phone calls. This inefficient system, focused on correcting clinical notes to meet complex insurance requirements, creates bottlenecks that ultimately delay critical patient care. Solution: revolutionizes the Durable Medical Equipment (DME) industry and ordering process by acting as a marketplace that bridges physicians and equipment suppliers, using the same AI technology that insurance companies employ to deny claims—only now to ensure orders meet insurance requirements before they even reach the supplier. This automation removes the need for tedious back-and-forth communication between physicians and medical equipment companies, reducing administrative burdens and errors. For physicians, it means less time correcting documentation and more focus on patient care. For equipment suppliers, orders arrive fully compliant, allowing them to process and fulfill requests faster and more efficiently. Most importantly, for patients, this means faster access to the vital medical equipment they depend on, helping them manage their health more effectively and improving their overall quality of life. Market: primary customers are Durable Medical Equipment (DME) companies in the United States, with an initial strategic focus on Pneumatic Compression Device (PCD) suppliers. This segment faces unique challenges, particularly around complex insurance requirements. The company leverages its deep industry expertise and strong relationships within this niche to quickly validate solutions and establish credibility. Competition: While faces no direct competition for its innovative approach, it's important to explain how we stand out in the broader e-prescribe market for Durable Medical Equipment (DME). In this context, e-prescribe refers to electronic medical equipment ordering from physicians to suppliers. Value Creation: marketplace model is built for both profitability and impact: by capturing up to 25% of the $16.3M PCD submarket (within a broader DME sector valued at over $114B and growing at 7.4% CAGR), the company projects an 87% net profit margin, a near-zero cost of goods, and a 14% first-year ROI—all while significantly reducing patient wait times for essential medical equipment, creating measurable social value alongside strong financial sustainability. The Team: Justin Lapid – MBA – 2026 Andrew Stenger – MBA – 2027 School Affiliation: Harvard Business School; Illinois Gies; INSEAD; London Business School; MIT Sloan; Stanford; Berkeley Haas Description: is an AI-powered platform that accelerates the commercialization of biomedical and healthcare innovations by identifying high-potential patents and research findings for startup creation. Problem: Groundbreaking biomedical and healthcare research often remains trapped in academia due to commercialization bottlenecks, lack of entrepreneurial guidance, and inefficiencies in connecting innovators with investors and industry partners. Solution: leverages AI to analyze patents, research papers, and emerging biotech trends, identifying the most promising innovations for commercialization. The platform connects researchers with entrepreneurs, investors, and industry leaders to transform cutting-edge research into viable startups. Market: The global biotech and healthcare innovation market is growing rapidly, with venture capital investment in biotech startups exceeding $50 billion annually. targets researchers, universities, tech transfer offices, venture capital firms, and startup incubators and accelerators seeking to capitalize on untapped biomedical innovations. Competition: Current commercialization pathways rely on university tech transfer offices and consulting firms, which are slow and inefficient. AI-driven platforms like significantly outperform traditional methods by automating patent analysis, identifying high-impact opportunities, and fostering direct connections between researchers and startup ecosystems. Value Creation: accelerates the transition of biomedical research from academia to market, reducing commercialization time, increasing startup success rates, and unlocking significant economic and societal value by bringing transformative healthcare innovations to the public faster. The Team: Hadia Alabed, Chief Scientific Officer (CEO/CSO): Hadia Alabed graduated with a PharmD degree from the University of Trakya (Turkey), and now she is pursuing a master of science degree in Biotechnology Innovation at the Technical University of Istanbul (Turkey). Anaïs Daoud, Chief Innovation Officer (CINO): Anaïs Daoud graduated as an Artificial Intelligence engineer from the National School of Artificial Intelligence in Algeria, and currently she is pursuing a master of science degree in AI and Machine Learning at the Technical University of Istanbul (Turkey). Chakib Hamada, Chief Technology Officer (CTO): Chakib Hamada graduated as an Artificial Intelligence engineer from the National School of Artificial Intelligence in Algeria, and currently she is pursuing a master of science degree in AI and Machine Learning at the Technical University of Istanbul School Affiliation: Rutgers University Business School Description: A hospital integrated CompassionCare Navigators service that enhances patient experience, staff efficiency, emotional support (TLC), and seamless communication between patients and hospital teams. Problem: Hospitals are designed to treat physical illnesses, but emotional distress, stress, and lack of personalized attention often slow recovery, impact hospital reviews, and increase staff burnout. While technology streamlines processes, it lacks emotional intelligence, leading to frustration for patients and inefficiencies for hospital teams. Delayed response times, miscommunication, and unattended patient concerns create unnecessary stress for both patients and medical staff; a gap that must be addressed. Solution: The CompassionCare Navigators is a hospital-based service that acts as the bridge between patients and hospital staff, ensuring that every concern is addressed swiftly and empathetically. This initiative integrates real time problem resolution, emotional intelligence, and proactive patient advocacy into hospital workflows. It enhances patient satisfaction, reduces stress related health complications, and improves overall hospital efficiency. By seamlessly coordinating with nurses, doctors, patient experience teams, and administrators, the CompassionCare Navigator creates a supportive hospital environment where both patients and staff thrive. Market: The healthcare industry is shifting toward patient-centered care and operational efficiency, with hospitals investing heavily in improving patient experience, reducing burnout, and enhancing care coordination. The patient advocacy and hospital efficiency market is valued at over $12 billion and continues to grow. The CompassionCare Navigators model provides a scalable solution for hospitals aiming to increase efficiency, improve ratings, and create a human centered care experience. Competition: Current commercialization pathways rely on university tech transfer offices and consulting firms, which are slow and inefficient. AI-driven platforms like significantly outperform traditional methods by automating patent analysis, identifying high-impact opportunities, and fostering direct connections between researchers and startup ecosystems. Value Creation: The CompassionCare Navigator creates long term value by: 1. Enhancing patient satisfaction, leading to higher ratings and reputational growth. 2. Reducing staff burnout by streamlining communication and handling non-medical patient concerns efficiently. 3. Improving hospital efficiency, ensuring faster response times and smoother hospital operations. 4. Boosting financial sustainability through improved patient ret The Team: Julieanne Abreu: (Marketing Major, Bachelors Degree, 2025). School Affiliation: University of Virginia Darden School of Business Description: Today, personal medical records remain locked behind healthcare providers' closed electronic filing cabinets, forcing patients to hunt down and piece together non-transferable data; our app flips this paradigm by enabling individuals to capture, store, analyze, search, share and manage their own records across many patient portals. Problem: Think about the waiting room at your last doctor's appointment, or the e-checkin you completed in advance. You likely guessed at medication start/end dates, dosages, your last immunizations, and provided incorrect or incomplete information to your medical provider. You may have failed to mention past symptoms or tests which may have resulted in time and resources wasted by repeating tests. Worse, you may have missed sharing a key puzzle piece that could prolong or derail your path to the correct diagnosis or necessary treatment. Solution: Research shows that patients who are more actively involved in their healthcare experience achieve better outcomes and incur lower costs. This is obviously what all Americans want for themselves and their families, but the lack of easy access to their own healthcare history makes it nearly impossible. Informed patients advocating for themselves is better for healthcare providers too, who want to provide the best care they can, but are severely limited in their capabilities by the tools and time that they have. The app will integrate with medical portals as a patient-centered hub to curate, analyze, visualize and also share images, reports or aspects of their records with other providers or caregivers. We will utilize AI to analyze patient records and information to identify insights across previously siloed information, share preventative health suggestions, catalogue diagnostic test results, immunization records, a comprehensive list of prescriptions and surface insights to prepare for specialist appointments. It will enable patients to have the power of their medical records where they belong: in their own hands. Market: Our app will benefit people of all ages who have more than one medical provider, want agency and control over their own health information, and know that a complete picture of their health history will support and enable better health and care. Our first niche markets will be: 1. People living with chronic disease/illness (this population experiences extremely challenging circumstances with organizing, accessing and sharing records with providers, insurance providers (i.e., payers), disability providers and caregivers) 2. Parents managing their own healthcare and that of their children 3. People with chronic disease/illness 3. Seniors 4. Divorced or separated parents Additional use cases: 1. Anyone who has moved countries or states 2. Veterans adding private health care services to Tricare/VA 3. Students moving from their parents' healthcare to their own. Millenials and Gen Z demand greater agency, autonomy, organizations and convenience in their personal lives than prior generations. This app will enable them and all adults navigating the increasingly complex and secure medical records management world to utilize technology to realize this expectation and improve their overall outcomes. Competition: We have done extensive research on competition. There are merely two apps on the Apple Store that offer a way to manually collect and organize your health information. Neither provides direct access to patient portals, nor AI to analyze or integrate any of the insight. Apple Health has built an extensive personal health monitoring system into iPhones, which includes the ability to connect to some healthcare providers. However, the UX/UI is clunky and fixed; we suspect like the Weather app or others, it will have information and insights, but only the basics, not best in class. We want to be patient obsessed and purpose built: it is not enough to have static medical records on-demand, we believe patients should have the power of integrated, searchable records with data and insights immediately accessible and presented in a way that is intuitive and useful. Patients also need the ability to interact with the data and within the app, such as taking personal notes, integrating upcoming appointments with their calendar app or setting reminders that go beyond the out-of-the box solution. Value Creation: The documented physician shortage is expected to increase in the next decade, which is exacerbated by doctors leaving medicine due to red tape, and lower reimbursements, opting for career changes or early retirement. The burden is falling to nurses, NPs, PAs, and Artifical Intelligence, as well as increasing reliance on English as a Second Language providers to fill the gap. It is imperative that patients can better understand their medical history to advocate effectively for themselves and their loved ones. Further, providers feel the pressure to move patients through appointments more quickly, send patients for fewer tests and prescribe faster, while information security and piracy threats are ratcheting upwards. Patients do not need to become medical experts, but they do need to have tools to serve as expert advocates for their current and past medical history. They need a means to manage their personal medical data to ensure it does not get lost in a sea of portals, permissions and provider regulations. According to an NIH study, 88% of cases they studied involved ordering at least 1 unnecessary medical test for first day due to lack of information, with 72% of those tests having no impact on patient care or outcomes. This accounts for millions of dollars per year in wasted healthcare costs, not to mention patient mental and physical discomfort. Today, 6 in 10 Americans have a diagnosed chronic disease. The CDC predicts that for the population who are 50 years and older, the number with at least one chronic disease is estimated to double from 71.522 million in 2020 to 142.66 million by 2050. About 90% of the annual $4.1 trillion health care expenditure is attributed to managing and treating chronic diseases and mental health conditions. With chronic disease comes a gauntlet of providers and medical histories and sharing insights, but with human memory being highly unreliable, patients diagosed with chronic illness may miss an appointment, a prescription, or a prior diagnosis, which can further complicate thier cases. We believe we can cut a significant chunk out of wasted healthcare time and cost by ensuring patients know their data and information and have the tools to 'brief' their providers on their own health history. There is a growing body of evidence that demonstrates patients who are more actively involved in their healthcare experience achieve much better outcomes and incur lower costs. The Patient Led Health Coalesce App is inspired by that achievable goal. The Team: Caroline Holt, MBA '26 Justin Ryan, MBA '26 Astrid Domenico, B.A. and Certificate in AI at UT Austin School Affiliation: Washington University Olin Business School Description: On-Demand tele-therapy for schools and institutions Problem: Schools struggle to support the mental well-being of their students in an impactful way, which negatively impacts institutional culture, safety, and long-term outcomes. The mental health crisis disproportionately affects youth, with an estimate of 1 in 7 being impacted by mental illness. While mental health and wellness has become a mainstream priority, urgent access to psychological care remains widely out of reach. Emergency rooms are struggling to meet the demand for pediatric mental health crises, and these patients may wait hours to days to receive acute therapeutic services. Solution: Subscription-based service for institutions providing urgent psychological care services via tele-health appointments from qualified mental health professionals. Complete with AI powered accessibility accommodations (including captioning, visit summaries, secure symptom logging & insight guidance). Market: The children's mental health department has reached $31 billion in 2021 and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 6%. The daily cost of boarding patients in the ED is almost double that of inpatient care in 2024, from $993 to $1,856. TAM: $39.14 billion SAM: $14940.8 million SOM: $1494 million Competition: Current rapid-response tele-psychiatry services like Access TeleCare, Iris Telehealth, and FasPsych offer services to hospitals and outpatient clinics, not directly to students via their school and university. Non-emergency psychological service apps like BetterHelp and Headspace are frequently offered to students, but lack the intensive support of a qualified mental health professional appointment for acute needs. Crisis Care Connect connects students through their school, in order to meet students virtually wherever they are and with the level of care they need most. Value Creation: $7 billion of Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) funding has been spent on mental health programs for schools since the pandemic. However, with federal funding rolling back on these initiatives, schools and universities will likely need to allocate funding to services that can decrease overall staffing needs and externalize mental health care. Our service will help schools to do this while improving the mental health outcomes of students across the US. The Team: Mackenzie Cappelle, MD/MBA Candidate 2026 School Affiliation: American University Description: FindMyClinicalTrial is a web-app platform that allows patients, families, and providers to search and enroll in clinical trials. Problem: FindMyClinicalTrial is helping patients and families navigate the clinical trial landscape, increase diverse participation in clinical trials, and bring more effective treatments to market. Solution: FindMyClinicalTrial does this with our intuitive AI powered website and application which allows for patients, family members, and providers to easily search, share, and enroll in clinical trials. Our Mayo clinic collaborated product improves user experience and only posts active and recruiting clinical trials. By working with advocacy partners, we have been able to engage over 4,000 users and post over 24k clinical trials is all 50 states. Market: We have two target customers: 1. Patients and Families: These are our users and the platform for them is free. 2. Industry (BioPharma): We work with biopharma companies to help promote their clinical trials and accelerate enrollment. Currently, it takes upwards of $200 million to start and finish clinical trials that would bring a drug to market. FindMyClinicalTrial seeks to lower those costs by increasing faster patient enrollment (a significant delay and expense in trials). Competition: Currently our competition is a government run website called This is the go-to website for finding clinical trials, however, it is outdated and not patient friendly. This site was designed for researchers and medical innovators. Our platform is patient centric and pulls all the data from the NIH, meaning we have the same amount of active and recruiting trials in the US. Value Creation: Clinical trials will always be a necessary step to bring new innovations and therapies to market. FindMyClinicalTrial seeks to partner with biopharma companies on a subscription basis to help promote ongoing research opportunities to our users. The Team: Killian Lozach – MBA Candidate, 2026 Javad Rajabi – MS in Computer Science and Machine Learning Genevieve Satzinger – BA in Computer Science, 2025 Emma Briggs – BA in Communications, May 2025 School Affiliation: Washington University Description: Health XR is developing mixed reality software for augmented reality headsets like Microsoft Hololense and Meta Orion that use LLMs and Computer Vision to assist dentists during their operations Problem: Health XR solves the pain point for dentists and medical doctors often being overwhelmed managing their day-to-day appointments. Dentists often face having to be the 'master of all,' when it comes to caring about individual patients and overseeing day-to-day operations. This can consist of anything from memorizing mental notes on each patient, to remembering which employees took an early vacation. The high intensity and essential work in the dentist clinic creates dozens of pain points that involve dentists being overwhelmed and requiring assistance with the millions of basic tasks they have to process at once. One oral surgeon we spoke with spends 5 to 10 hours writing notes a week. Health XR produces mixed-reality software that will use the audio and video recorded during the appointment to help their day-to-day operations, giving AI-powered real-time information to the physician to support their workflow. Solution: The service we will provide involves automated note-taking, and real-time information on patients' medical history and medications when viewing them with a headset on. We will use the data from the doctors looking at x-rays and performing the procedure and be able to AI to figure out scientific discoveries that were once product will be a business-to-business software subscription for the dentistry field that acts as an all-in-one assistance for dentists supplementing their busy work in the clinic. Dentists often are tasked with hours of busy work and memorizing that affects their ability to focus on their primary line of work, and Health XR will be able to mitigate many of these pain points. Health XR can revolutionize efficiency in the clinic and relieve many of the stressors dentists face daily, all while helping digitalize their workflow. The automated recordings will integrate directly with patient databases adding them to each patient file, and then dentists will have summarized data with key points right in front of them. Market: As a Software as a Service Company we would fall under the digital dentistry market, but serving the general diversity market as a whole. According to Grand View Research, the digital dentistry market was valued $6.8 Billion in 2023 and has a 9.9% CAGR through 2030. This represents digital software and equipment for end use by hospitals and dentist clinics, which would be the target market for our software. Fortune values the general dentist market size at $41.03 Billion in 2025 and $87.65 Billion by 2032, representing a 11.5% CAGR. As the population ages and grows dental work will continue to be a sizeable market represented by the strong growth, and technology will continue to advance to support it. Dentists and healthcare firms are always looking for ways to assist their practitioners and investments in digital dentistry are common to help advance the field. Health XR could also be considered a part of the Mixed Reality market which has a 45.34% CAGR from $5.87 Billion in 2025 to $38 Billion by 2030, proving to be one of the fastest-growing tech markets. Investments in companies like Meta and Apple, with Google's recent collaboration with Samsung demonstrate the direction the tech field is going as a whole with hardware AI and mixed reality. Competition: There are many AI note-taking apps for general practice like school, but there are none that integrate seamlessly with mixed reality headsets or that use imaging and Audio together. Startups like Suki AI and DeepScribe provide AI-powered note-taking but have a low-value proposition in that they are difficult to use and often don't work as intended. Devices like Plaude work well for AI notetaking but are more used in the office setting. Health XR is unique because it is trained on data tailored towards dentists and has the mixed reality aspect to improve their workflow. Our product used mixed reality to seamlessly act as glasses for the user while also recording data. Value Creation: The software is meant for dentists and Health XR was started by Dr. DeForest DDS. Dr. DeForest has worked with dentists in his practice, researchers, and students at the school where he works who have validated the value proposition. As a dentist myself I identified many pain points he and his coworkers faced, validating the need for Health XR's software. Through these customer discovery efforts. I have spoken with nearly 3 dozen dentists, students, and healthcare management teams that have helped validate the need for autonomous assistance in the clinic. They helped reinforce the pain points I have faced working in my clinic that dentists are overwhelmed and need an easy way to remember information. When pitching the idea to friends and colleagues of a headset that had video pass-through while adding virtual aid to the world around them, they were all on board and desperately desired a similar product in their minds. The Team: Dr. Aaron DeForest DDS, Christien Wong B.S. in Business and Computer Science 26′, Mark Schulist B.S in Computer Science and Mathematics 27′, Jasmine Sun B.S in Computer Science 27′, Elizabeth Kresock PhD in computer science School Affiliation: Wharton, Stanford, Washington University Olin Business School Description: Comprehensive and Innovative Blockchain-based healthcare financing and navigation solution Problem: More than one billion people in Africa lack health insurance, with coverage in many countries below 2%. This forces many individuals to rely on out-of-pocket payments for healthcare, often deterring them from seeking necessary care. In Ghana, healthcare access is particularly challenging due to the labor market structure, where 62% of all commercial enterprises are in the informal sector and account for 83% of the workforce as of 2023. This represents 35.8% ($84 billion) of Ghana's GDP PPP levels. Irregular and unpredictable income makes it difficult for many to afford private health insurance, as consistent premium payments are often unfeasible. Consequently, a significant portion of the population depends on out-of-pocket payments for medical care. For those unable to afford care at the time of illness, seeking treatment becomes a difficult choice. Many delay or forgo necessary care due to cost concerns, leading to delayed diagnoses, worsening health conditions, and preventable complications. This lack of financial security disproportionately impacts low-income individuals and rural communities, exacerbating existing health disparities. The absence of comprehensive social safety nets for informal workers further compounds the issue, leaving them vulnerable to unexpected medical expenses. Without affordable and sustainable healthcare financing options, individuals often seek care only in dire situations, when conditions have already deteriorated. This results in higher long-term healthcare costs and an increased disease burden on both individuals and the healthcare system. Addressing this issue requires innovative, locally tailored solutions to ensure affordable and equitable healthcare access across Africa. Solution: OneHealth+ offers a comprehensive and innovative solution to Ghana and Africa's healthcare accessibility challenges, particularly for individuals in the informal sector. Over the past two decades, mobile money systems like Kenya's M-Pesa and Ghana's MTN Mobile Money (MoMo) have revolutionized financial services for the unbanked, leveraging the widespread use of mobile phones. Building on this trend, OneHealth+ integrates a blockchain-based health credit system that enables individuals to save, manage, and use healthcare funds securely and transparently with a large network of approved healthcare providers. The platform allows users to contribute to health savings accounts when funds are available, ensuring access to medical care even during periods of uncertain income. This eliminates the need for out-of-pocket payments at the point of care and promotes better financial planning. Additionally, OneHealth+ enables secure transfer and utilization of healthcare remittances from loved ones in the diaspora, ensuring funds are used exclusively for medical expenses. With Ghana receiving $4.6 billion in remittances in 2023, and 20-30% estimated to go toward healthcare, OneHealth+ enhances transparency by allowing senders to track and verify how their remittances are spent. OneHealth+ also offers a flexible payment solution allowing employers to allocate health credits to employees instead of relying on unsustainable traditional insurance models. To enhance service delivery, OneHealth+ onboard healthcare providers such as hospitals, clinics, diagnostic centers, therapists, and ancillary services like spas and gyms, offering curated services for customers while streamlining the healthcare process. This makes healthcare more accessible, flexible, and transparent for individuals, families, and businesses. Market: We have identified three main target groups: informal sector workers needing solutions for planning and paying for healthcare, diasporans sending remittances for healthcare needs, and employers seeking alternatives to traditional health insurance. As of 2023, 83% of Ghana's workforce was employed in the informal sector, expanding at an average annual rate of 3.7%, outpacing formal employment growth of 2.6%. Given Ghana's predominantly agro-based economy, this trend is expected to persist, leaving many workers without access to traditional health insurance. At the same time, remittances to Ghana have consistently increased, rising from $4.29 billion (6.3% of GDP) in 2020 to $4.5 billion in 2021 and $4.7 billion in 2022, before experiencing a slight dip to $4.6 billion (6.1% of GDP) in 2023. Despite this fluctuation, remittances are expected to rebound, with approximately 20-30% of these funds also expected to be allocated to healthcare expenses. Additionally, a growing number of employers are dissatisfied with conventional health insurance models and are actively seeking alternative solutions, while small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) increasingly explore ways to provide healthcare benefits for their employees. These trends indicate a strong and expanding demand for innovative and flexible healthcare solutions tailored to these key market segments. Competition: Even though Ghana has other healthcare financing initiatives, such as Mutual Health Organizations, the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), and private health insurance, none offer the flexibility and transparency that OneHealth+ provides. Traditional models face significant challenges, including low enrollment due to rising healthcare and operational costs. OneHealth+ differentiates itself through a user-led technology-driven approach to healthcare financing that ensures transparency, flexibility, and accessibility, particularly for individuals in the informal sector. Unlike conventional health insurance plans that require fixed premium payments, often unsustainable for workers with irregular income. OneHealth+ leverages blockchain technology to provide a healthcredit system. This allows users to save at their own pace and utilize funds only when needed. Another key differentiator is its accountability in healthcare remittances. Many individuals in the diaspora struggle to verify whether the funds they send for healthcare are used appropriately. OneHealth+ solves this by enabling direct contributions to a blockchain ledger-based dedicated health savings account for loved ones, ensuring that every dollar is spent exclusively on healthcare services. Additionally, OneHealth+ offers a flexible alternative for employers seeking to support their workers' healthcare needs. Unlike rigid employer-sponsored insurance plans, which can be too expensive for businesses employing informal or contract workers, OneHealth+ allows employers to allocate health credits, providing a cost-effective and adaptable solution. Beyond financing, OneHealth+ ensures recipients receive the care they need by connecting them with healthcare partners and assigning a patient navigator to guide them through their healthcare journey, providing seamless access to quality care. Value Creation: OneHealth+ generates revenue by facilitating healthcare payments and access across four key channels: uninsured informal sector workers, diasporans funding healthcare for loved ones, employers purchasing health credits for employees, and discounts from healthcare providers benefiting from increased patient volume and payments. With 83% of Ghana's workforce in the informal sector, OneHealth+ provides affordable, prepaid healthcare packages. If just 1% of the estimated 11 million informal workers enroll in a basic health package at an average cost of $10 per month, this segment alone could generate $13.2 million annually. Similarly, Ghana received $4.6 billion in remittances in 2023, with an estimated 20-30% allocated to healthcare. If OneHealth+ captures just 0.5% of these remitted healthcare funds through direct health purchases, it would generate approximately $11.5 million annually in transaction fees and administrative charges, providing diasporans with a secure and transparent way to fund healthcare. Employers also represent a significant revenue source, as many prefer purchasing flexible health credits over traditional insurance. If 5,000 SMEs enroll an average of 10 employees each, purchasing $500 worth of credits per employee annually, OneHealth+ would manage $25 million in healthcare funds, generating $2.5 million in revenue through transaction fees. Healthcare providers contribute to revenue by paying a 10% transaction fee on facilitated funds. If OneHealth+ enables $20 million in healthcare payments annually, this would generate an additional $2 million. This analysis does not include potential returns from investment vehicles and scaling to similar African countries, further strengthening long-term sustainability. The Team: The OneHealth+ team comprises professionals with expertise in healthcare, technology, and business. Chief Technology Officer Sandy Khaund specializes in blockchain applications and technology development. With experience at Microsoft and other Fortune 500 companies, he excels in strategic technology implementation. As a founder of multiple startups, he brings expertise in entrepreneurship and product development. He holds a B.S. in Engineering from Cornell University and an MBA from Wharton. CEO Osei Boateng is a healthcare leader dedicated to expanding access to medical care in underserved communities. As the founder of OKB Hope Foundation, he has provided healthcare to over 10,000 individuals across 80+ rural communities. Recognized by CNN and EuroNews, he holds a B.S. in Human Biology and an MHA from Cornell University, along with an MBC from the University of Utah, excelling in healthcare strategy and business development. Chief Medical Officer Dr. William Effah is a physician with extensive experience in the healthcare landscape in Ghana, public health, and global health initiatives. His work with the CDC strengthens OneHealth+'s healthcare delivery model. As a lecturer at Washington University, he bridges clinical expertise with education. He is pursuing an EMBA at Olin Business School. Chief Operating Officer Joel Adu-Brimpong has expertise in health informatics honed at Cleveland Clinic. He holds an M.S. in Healthcare Informatics from the University of Michigan, and is pursuing an MBA at Stanford Business School. His expertise ensures that OneHealth+ remains patient-centered and technology-driven. School Affiliation: Washington University Olin Business School Description: A mental performance mobile platform for athletes Problem: There is a critical gap in college athletics with the resources provided for mental performance, with 78% of student-athletes feeling their programs fail to provide adequate resources for handling the psychological challenges of competition. Despite the increasing recognition of mental strength as a key factor in peak performance, only 65 out of 253 Division I athletic departments offer mental performance or health services. The existing support is severely limited, with an alarming ratio of one mental health professional for every 1,900 athletes, making personalized guidance nearly impossible. Additionally, the high cost of private sessions—averaging over $250 per hour—renders professional support inaccessible to many struggling athletes. Compounding the issue, 40% of athletes cite stigma and embarrassment as primary barriers to seeking help, further limiting their access to essential mental training resources. Solution: Our solution is to normalize mental performance training at every level of sport by democratizing access to sport psychology tools through technology. SPARC SPORTS is an AI-driven platform designed by elite sports psychologists and NCAA athletes to enhance focus, resilience, and mental toughness. Backed by cutting-edge research, SPARC acts as an on-the-go sports psychologist, delivering personalized training through interactive modules and real-time progress tracking. By making mental performance support accessible, affordable, and stigma-free, SPARC ensures that every athlete can train their mind as rigorously as they train their body. Market: These mental performance tools apply to executives, entrepreneurs, military, esports, and performers, tapping into the $13B+ mental wellness and performance industry, with the sports tech industry growing at 26%. Our specific target market is the 540,000 NCAA student athletes, where our market research has shown this problem is most significant. Competition: SPARC SPORTS is an AI-driven mental training platform that replicates the experience of working with a real sports psychologist through interactive exercises, structured video lessons, and personalized training modules. Unlike traditional mental health apps, which primarily focus on general well-being through passive meditation, SPARC is built specifically for athletes. It goes beyond audio-based guided meditation and visualization exercises offered by competitors like Calm, Champion's Mind, and Rewire Fitness. Instead, SPARC provides actionable, structured, and tangible training tools that allow athletes to actively develop focus, resilience, and mental toughness in real-time. Additionally, SPARC introduces a personalized scrollable feed providing real-time recommendations and continuous engagement. While the gold standard in mental performance remains working directly with a sports psychologist, their limited availability and high costs ($300+ per session) make them inaccessible to most athletes. SPARC is designed as an affordable, on-the-go solution that provides high-level mental performance training at a fraction of the cost. Value Creation: SPARC SPORTS is positioned for long-term sustainability through multiple revenue streams and measurable impact in the mental performance industry. The platform generates revenue through: B2B Licensing Model – Selling SPARC as a subscription-based platform to universities and athletic programs, allowing entire teams to benefit from structured mental training at scale. B2C Subscription Plans – Offering individual athletes affordable access to AI-driven training, interactive modules, and personalized content. Premium One-on-One Coaching – Enabling athletes to book live sessions with certified sports performance coaches. SPARC delivers measurable impact by improving mental health and mental performance, allowing everyone to bring out their best self. With a scalable tech-driven model, SPARC is not just another meditation app, it is the future of sports-specific mental training that actively enhances performance and well-being. The Team: Sergiu Celebidachi, MBA, 2025 School Affiliation: University of Virginia Darden School of Business Description: Wearable, multi-pack prescriptible rescue inhalers designed to help the up to 87% of respiratory disease patients who have experienced a potentially life-threatening flare-up without access to their medication, while saving up to $500 per unit Problem: Globally, 545 million people suffer from respiratory diseases, and up to 474 million have experienced a potentially life-threatening flare-up without access to their rescue inhaler. This inaccessibility poses a serious threat to patient safety, causing users to express a strong need for multiple inhalers to keep in various locations for emergencies. However, insurance policies often limit patients to a single inhaler per prescription, citing concerns about medical waste, leaving many unprotected in critical moments. For those seeking additional inhalers, out-of-pocket costs can reach up to $500 per unit, making them unaffordable for many. Furthermore, the National Institutes of Health highlights that social stigma associated with public inhaler use contributes to non-adherence, especially among younger populations. Compounding these issues, the environmental impact of U.S. inhaler prescriptions is severe, generating emissions equivalent to those of over 400,000 American homes annually. Solution: For 70 years, the rescue inhaler has looked the same, despite user frustrations over accessibility and usability. However, Métopi is revolutionizing the inhaler industry with the Portahaler, the world's first wearable, multi-pack prescriptible rescue inhaler, designed to attach seamlessly to a phone, wrist, keychain, or any object a user may find fit, ensuring they always have access to their rescue medication without a second thought. The Portahaler is smaller than a handheld eraser, making carrying a rescue inhaler non-invasive, ergonomic, and discreet. Each inhaler contains ~40 doses, allowing for a novel multi-pack prescription system of up to five units. This approach enhances user safety by enabling rescue inhaler placement in multiple locations, saving up to $500 per unit compared to traditional inhalers, and leveling the playing field no matter one's financial situation. It also minimizes environmental impact by allowing the tailoring of prescriptions to user needs (e.g., 40, 80, or 200 doses), discouraging overuse by the ~30% of users who currently overuse their inhalers, giving it the potential to significantly reduce emissions. Market: Worldwide, these 545 million respiratory disease sufferers drive a $38.4 billion inhaler market, projected to grow to $66.5 billion by 2030. Approximately half of this global market consists of the rescue inhaler market, valued at $15.5 billion and expected to reach $27.9 billion by 2030. In the U.S., the inhaler market currently stands at $14.2 billion, and its respective rescue inhaler market is around $6.4 billion. Initially delivering albuterol, a short-acting bronchodilator, the Porthaler is being designed for a market launch in the rescue inhaler segment. Albuterol prescriptions represent approximately 70% of all inhaler prescriptions, providing a strong strategic entry point into the market. In the U.S., prescription rates for albuterol have risen alongside the growing prevalence of respiratory diseases, increasing from 46 million in 2011 to 61.47 million in 2021, highlighting increasing demand. The Portahaler, however, is a platform delivery device, meaning it has the capabilities to deliver a variety of drugs and expand into the larger total inhaler market. Target customers include all sufferers, but specifically active individuals, who prioritize portability and comfort. Additionally, younger demographics are drawn to its sleek, customizable design, which blends functionality with aesthetics. These users could have a variety of respiratory conditions including, asthma, COPD, and acute infections like pneumonia or bronchitis. Once again, our prescription models allows for the tailoring of dose amounts to the duration of the condition, encouraging adoption for those with non-chronic infections. Competition: Our competition includes products like ProAir RespiClick by Teva, Ventolin by GSK, AirSupra by AstraZeneca, and various generics. For the past 7 decades, these companies have focused primarily on innovating the Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient (API) rather than the delivery device itself, such as AirSupra's recent combination formulation. However, despite its pharmacological innovation, AirSupra retains the traditional, bulky L-shaped inhaler design, offering no improvement in accessibility. At Métopi, we take a different approach by prioritizing the inherently faulty delivery method rather than just the API. While the efficacy of rescue inhaler drugs is undisputed, as inhaler users ourselves, we recognize a critical gap in how these life-saving devices are carried and accessed. Our focus stems directly from this shared experience within the inhaler-using community, where the most significant pain point communicated is not the drug's effectiveness, but the practicality of having it readily available at all times. This user-driven insight has guided the development of the Portahaler, a solution designed to ensure rescue medication is always within reach. As a result, the Portahaler will be the first compact, wearable rescue inhaler on the market significantly improving accessibility and safety. This assumption is backed up by the user and provider insights mentioned in the 'Solution' section, which is clear evidence our innovations directly address major patient pain points. When comparing costs, the Portahaler also provides significant advantages as well. It will cost $30-$60 for up to five units, compared to competitors like Airsupra who cost up to $470+ for just one additional unit, which limits safety for many users. The Portahaler's never-before-seen flexible dosing options (e.g., 40, 80, to 200 doses) will allow users to only purchase or be prescribed what they need, also helping to limit costs significantly. Additionally, by reducing overuse and over-prescription, less medication will be used, potentially providing insurance companies with significant long-term savings while improving patient outcomes. Compounding these benefits, by addressing overuse with its prescription model, the Portahaler will be the first respiratory treatment designed to directly reduce emissions from traditional inhalers and combat global warming. Value Creation: Métopi's business model ensures both financial sustainability and measurable social impact. By adopting a B2B2C licensing strategy, we plan to partner with an established pharmaceutical company once the Portahaler nears or achieves FDA approval. This approach allows us to focus on R&D and API expansion while leveraging our partner's infrastructure to accelerate market entry, minimize regulatory and commercial risk, and optimize distribution. From a financial perspective, similar licensing deals indicate strong revenue potential. Kaleo's $330 million licensing agreement with Sanofi for the Auvi-Q auto-injector in the U.S. and Canadian markets demonstrate the viability of this model. We anticipate a comparable deal structure for the Portahaler, including an upfront payment of 10-30% of the total deal value, milestone-based payments, and ongoing royalties of ~5%. The success of recent inhaler market entrants, such as Airsupra, which generated $28 million in sales within the first six months post-launch, underscores the potential for strong revenue generation. Beyond financial sustainability, the Portahaler delivers significant social and environmental impact. It directly addresses gaps in rescue inhaler accessibility, potentially reducing asthma-related deaths, which exceed 3,600 annually in the U.S., by ensuring patients always have access to life-saving medication. The device also offers financial relief, lowering monthly costs for users by improving accessibility and efficiency. Furthermore, the Portahaler is designed to reduce waste and emissions, contributing to environmental sustainability by minimizing inhaler overuse. This combination of financial viability, patient safety improvements, and environmental responsibility makes the Portahaler a compelling and scalable solution, ensuring long-term sustainability in the market. The Team: Our core team includes founders Miles Lanham and Rohan Bansal, along with executives Benjamin Joseph and Evan Burita. Miles Lanham – Biomedical Engineering, Class of 2027 Rohan Bansal – MBA, Class of 2024, specializing in life sciences Benjamin Joseph – Biology, Class of 2027 Evan Burita – Economics, Class of 2027 Although our advisors are not part of our core team and cannot pitch with us, they play a crucial role in our success and further validate our company's potential. Our advisory board includes Evan Edwards (co-inventor of the Auvi-Q), Jim Daniero (NIH-funded scientist and serial entrepreneur), Larry Borish (NIH-funded asthma researcher), and Blair Okita (life science process development and quality management expert). Their expertise is instrumental in guiding the Portahaler's development, commercialization, and regulatory strategy. School Affiliation: University of California, San Diego Description: We are developing a wearable ultrasonic imager for continuous, real-time and direct visualization of cardiac function assessment. Problem: Normal cardiac function is essential for the maintenance of systemic tissue perfusion throughout the body. Cardiovascular diseases impose a huge burden in terms of mortality, morbidity, disability, and healthcare costs, especially in the elderly. Cardiac function is dynamic, so continuous monitoring over an extended period is preferable to a single snapshot in time at the doctor's office for the assessment of long-term cardiovascular health, the clinical management of critically ill or perioperative patients, and the early detection of acute cardiac dysfunctions for inpatients and outpatients. Solution: Cardiac monitoring primarily targets heart rate, blood pressure, and blood oxygen levels. Although these are useful parameters, they do not match the wealth of diagnostic value of direct imaging. Our approach is innovative because it will provide quantitative imaging with more abundant information than conventional measurements of curves and data points. A cardiac imager can reveal clinically important characteristics, such as cardiac chamber volume, myocardium structures, and ventricular ejection function, which are important for a wide range of general examinations. Market: The primary target market for the wearable ultrasound cardiac imager is the patients in intensive care units who require continuous hemodynamic and cardiac monitoring. This includes critically ill individuals with sepsis, acute heart failure, post-cardiac surgery recovery, and other cardiovascular complications. The total addressable market for the wearable cardiac ultrasound imager in ICU settings is substantial, given the high demand for continuous hemodynamic monitoring. Globally, an estimated 10–15 million patients are admitted to ICUs each year, with approximately 5 million in the U.S. and 3 million in Europe. Among ICU patients, 40–60% require cardiac monitoring, creating a direct market of 4–7.5 million patients annually. The broader critical care monitoring market, which includes devices such as pulmonary artery catheters and echocardiography systems, is projected to reach $5–7 billion by 2030. A wearable ultrasound imager that enables continuous, noninvasive cardiac assessment could capture 10–20% of this market, translating to a serviceable opportunity of $500 million to $1.5 billion. Expanding applications into perioperative care, emergency medicine, and outpatient monitoring could further increase the market potential. Competition: The wearable cardiac ultrasound imager is highly differentiated from existing competitors by offering continuous, noninvasive, and operator-independent cardiac monitoring, which is not achievable with current solutions. Traditional echocardiography, including transthoracic and transesophageal ultrasound, requires skilled operators, is intermittent, and lacks real-time continuous monitoring. Pulmonary artery catheters, while providing direct hemodynamic measurements, are invasive, carry procedural risks, and require ICU placement. Emerging wearable cardiac monitoring devices, such as electrocardiography-based patches and hemodynamic sensors, only offer indirect cardiac function assessment without imaging capability. Unlike these alternatives, the proposed wearable ultrasound imager provides direct visualization of cardiac structures and function in real time, allowing for immediate therapeutic adjustments and early detection of transient cardiac events, making it a transformational advancement in ICU and perioperative monitoring. Value Creation: The wearable cardiac ultrasound imager creates substantial clinical, economic, and societal value by enabling continuous, real-time cardiac monitoring in ICU settings, reducing reliance on intermittent imaging and invasive procedures. Its noninvasive, operator-independent design lowers healthcare costs by minimizing the need for skilled personnel, reducing ICU length of stay, and preventing complications from delayed cardiac assessments. From a revenue and profitability perspective, the device taps into the $5–7 billion ICU monitoring market, with potential expansion into perioperative care, emergency medicine, and outpatient cardiac monitoring, creating a scalable business model through direct hospital sales, subscription-based software analytics, and reimbursement-driven adoption. Social and environmental impact is also significant—early detection of hemodynamic instability improves patient outcomes and reduces mortality, while eliminating the need for disposable catheter-based monitors reduces medical waste, aligning with sustainable healthcare initiatives. The Team: Tom Park, PhD, 2026 Hao Huang, PhD, 2027 The post WashU Olin's BIG IdeaBounce: 13 Startups In The Business Of Health Compete For The $50K Top Prize 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.
