Meet Chicago Booth’s MBA Class Of 2025

The Rustandy Center for Social Sector Innovation at Chicago Booth, marking its 10-year anniversary this year, invites students to learn about issues that matter most to them while pursuing career objectives and a commitment to improving the social sector. The Rustandy Center’s Executives in Residence (EiR) program gives students the opportunity to engage people who share a commitment to social impact, including leaders in the for-profit and nonprofit sectors. EiRs bring expertise in areas including cleantech investing; impact investing; environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors; nonprofit management and strategy; civic engagement; and more. As there is no one set career path for students interested in sustainability. Our EiRs help students navigate the many different ways they could have an impact after graduation.

The Rustandy Center further supports sustainability events and programs, consulting projects, competitions, and research. Last year, Booth students took top prize in the NAPE/TCU Energy Innovation Case Competition, which challenged teams to develop recommendations on whether publicly traded US oil and gas companies should prioritize energy transition projects or double down on legacy businesses. Our students also took third place in the Smeal MBA Sustainability Competition at Penn State, and in last year’s Turner MIINT competition, students pitched Hago, a methane-to-hydrogen conversion facility.

To study the intersection of impact investing and sustainability, Chicago Booth’s Steven Tarrson Impact Investment Fund offers experiential, hands-on learning through actual sourcing, diligence, and investment into companies within one of three focus verticals, including sustainability. One of the largest and most established impact funds among MBA programs, the Tarrson Fund is entirely student-led and managed, with faculty, staff advisors, and an external advisory board providing guidance throughout the full life cycle of every deal. The Tarrson Fund’s recent activity includes a $50,000 seed investment in Harvest Thermal, a company whose technology transforms home water tanks into thermal batteries; and a $50,000 seed investment in Kadeya, which is eliminating the need for single-use plastics and disposable packaging through its autonomous beverage kiosks. Additionally, the Tarrson Social Venture Fellowship provides funding and sustained coaching to support alumni entrepreneurs who raise philanthropic capital for endeavors that address social and environmental issues.

The Chicago Booth Civic Scholars Program, funded by a gift from the Neubauer Family Foundation, offers a full-tuition scholarship to MBA students who work in a 501(c) designated nonprofit organization or for the government. This allows Booth to support qualified professionals in its Full-Time MBA, Evening MBA, and Weekend MBA Programs who wish to pursue careers and topics that directly affect communities and society, such as sustainability.”

 

P&Q: What are some key elements in your teaching of leadership? What types of options does your school offer that deepens student experience with leadership and makes them more competitive in the marketplace?

Marcello: “Chicago Booth is at the forefront in educating future generations of world-changing, principled leaders. A critical part of Booth’s approach to leadership development is experimentation, which allows students to interact with people in the workplace, study leadership behaviors and strategies, and collect, analyze, and share data from those learnings to obtain feedback.

Full-time Booth students have flexibility in how they develop leadership skills throughout their studies, building on one required core class: Leadership Effectiveness and Development (LEAD). LEAD is Booth’s signature experiential leadership development course that teaches students how to more effectively work in teams, manage conflict, improve interpersonal communication, and develop other critical skill sets needed to thrive in professional and personal life. Booth offers courses that help students better understand people’s motivations, decision-making, and behavior, preparing them to manage and lead in myriad careers within marketing, finance, management, and policymaking. Curriculum flexibility allows students to tailor their MBA experience to their own career goals and interests. This makes Booth graduates uniquely qualified to manage diverse workforces and organizations, navigate uncertainty, take on the challenges of a complex business environment, and create clarity.

Students can further develop their leadership skills with experiential electives at the Harry L. Davis Center for Leadership. Taught by a mix of tenure-track faculty and practitioners, these elective courses, including Interpersonal Dynamics, Leadership Studio, Leadership Practicum, and Leadership Lab, support students and alumni by developing self-leadership identities and skills. These courses require a deep level of engagement from the student to achieve meaningful leadership and behavioral shifts toward lifelong learning.

In Chicago, students have the advantage of being in one of the largest business hubs in the world. The Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation serves as a resource for driving change in business and society—by providing venture support for students interested in entrepreneurship and robust training for students interested in pursuing careers in venture capital and private equity. The center also supports and rewards student entrepreneurship through its multiple New Venture Challenges.

Entrepreneurial Booth students also have access to Polsky Deep Tech Ventures for industry-specific deep science accelerators and the Polsky Exchange in Hyde Park, which connects them with numerous ventures and allows them to build connections with the local entrepreneurial community. The Deep Tech Ventures initiative offers students technical expertise through accelerators in areas like quantum technology with Duality (the nation’s first quantum accelerator), data science and AI technology with Transform, and soon cleantech through Resurgence. Booth continues to offer PE/VC labs, capital award competitions for local startups, and internship opportunities with major Chicago-based and other PE/VC firms during the academic year.

Through Alumni Board Connect and the support of local Booth alumni, the Rustandy Center’s Net Impact Board Fellows Program matches Booth MBA students with nonprofit organizations in the Chicago area. Students provide local nonprofits with pro bono business support and gain experience in nonprofit work. Additionally, students have the opportunity to further develop their leadership skills by chairing conferences, leading one of Booth’s nearly 80-plus student clubs, or taking an active role in leadership committees that work directly with the school’s leadership team.

In 2021, the Roman Family Center for Decision Research launched the world’s first interactive discovery center, Mindworks: The Science of Thinking. Located on Michigan Avenue’s cultural corridor in Chicago, Mindworks expands the center’s research capabilities and scientific discovery and attracts thousands of visitors each year. The Roman Family (CDR) has recently expanded its role as a pioneer in the study of understanding human judgment and decision-making, providing students with key behavioral insights in economics, finance, marketing, management, healthcare, politics, charity, and other fields to inform and enhance their leadership approach.”

P&Q: Two years ago, P&Q asked you to share how you’ve integrated AI, STEM, analytics, and digital disruption into your programming. Since then, what types of enhancements have you made in these areas?

Marcello: “This fall, Booth introduced a new course called Generative Thinking that focuses on generative artificial intelligence (AI), covering foundational technologies, practical applications, and societal concerns. As some of the world’s foremost analytical thinkers, our faculty also teach courses—such as Bayes, AI, and Deep Learning—that explores the intersection of business and technology.

Our marketing faculty, for example, are leaders on quantitative marketing research. Students pursuing tech, marketing, and product management at Booth are exposed to cutting-edge courses in which our faculty incorporate their analytical and quantitative approach to marketing. For instance, the Data Science for Marketing Decision Making course introduces students to a professional data scientist’s decision-making workflow.

Booth faculty are also working at the leading edges of AI. Scholars from Booth’s Center for Applied Artificial Intelligence use machine learning and behavioral science to study how AI can best improve society and support human decision-making, helping to establish Chicago Booth at the forefront of AI research.

P&Q: How many courses outside the business school can MBAs take during your program?

Marcello: “Students can take up to six (of the required 20) courses outside the business school.”

P&Q: To what extent has your business school embraced coursework from other schools and departments at your university?

Marcello: “Full-Time Chicago Booth students have numerous cross-disciplinary opportunities to expand their education and maximize their MBA experience. With our unique connection to the University of Chicago, a leading global research institution, the Hyde Park/Chicago campus provides opportunities for interdisciplinary study. Through collaboration with the university’s many graduate schools, we can create specialized programs with additional academic focus that offer Booth students long-term career value. Chicago Booth currently offers several joint degrees in different disciplines, exposing students to issues in law, healthcare, public policy, and more.

Our new concentration in Healthcare and joint MBA/MS in Biomedical Sciences build on an already robust cross-disciplinary curriculum. We also offer a JD/MBA with the university’s Law School, an MBA/Master of Public Policy with the Harris School of Public Policy, an MBA/MA in Social Work, Social Policy, and Social Administration with the Crown Family School of Social Work, Policy, and Practice, an MBA/Masters Program in Computer Science, an MBA/Master of Arts in International Relations, an MBA/Master of Arts in Middle Eastern Studies, and an MD/MBA with the Pritzker School of Medicine. To make it easier for candidates, we integrate the application process for many of these programs, so candidates can apply to both programs through one streamlined application.

Of course, students can benefit from cross-disciplinary opportunities without embarking on a joint degree, as we bring experts from other divisions who tailor their research for business students. Booth students can also take up to six courses outside of the business school within the greater University of Chicago.”

P&Q: Are students from other schools and departments at the university allowed to take MBA electives?

Marcello: “Our courses are open to students across the university, but Chicago Booth students have priority registration. This option expands Booth student networks to include those from other disciplines and professional schools and allows for other University of Chicago students to bring their diverse and unique perspectives into the Booth classroom.”

P&Q: What is your biggest student-run event of the year and what does it reflect about your school?

Marcello: “There are countless activities and events every year, both on campus and elsewhere. Some of the biggest ones include annual trips and signature celebrations. Regardless of the occasion, Chicago Booth supports a sense of community and belonging for students of all backgrounds. Booth students can participate in cultural, regional, religious, and personal-affiliation group activities, as well as other diversity and inclusion initiatives hosted throughout the year.

Prior to orientation, hundreds of incoming Full-Time Booth MBA students go on Random Walks to visit different domestic and international destinations, led by second-year Booth students. Traveling in groups of about 15, they enjoy outdoor activities and nightlife, local culture and traditions, and unique landscapes and architecture. There are even partner and family trips. Random Walks have been a Booth tradition for more than 20 years, giving each new class of students an opportunity to travel and develop bonds with future classmates before the MBA program begins.

During the academic year, the Giving Something Back club and Graduate Business Council (GBC) host a Winter Formal and charity auction in downtown Chicago for all students. Packages are donated by students, professors, and local businesses as a way for our community to “pay it forward.” Students take part in special experiences and spend time with other members of the Booth community while raising money for great local causes.

Additionally, Chicago Booth’s Ski and Snowboard Club, the African American MBA Association (AAMBAA), and the Armed Forces Group (AFG) each host large-scale annual ski trips. Along with snowboarding, costume parties, and other networking events, participating students interact and enjoy some fun winter downtime. Toward the end of the academic year, the annual Pink Party, sponsored by the student-run group OUTreach for Full-Time, Evening, and Weekend MBA students, engages Booth’s LGBTQ community and underscores the importance of allyship.”

ADVICE TO PROSPECTIVE BOOTH APPLICANTS

“One thing I think I did well was drawing a direct line between my personal and professional experiences with my stated career goals and articulating tangible ways Booth would help me achieve those goals. For each class, student group, or intended contribution to the Booth community, I related how my participation would help me in my career.”
Samuel Ramil (’23)

“To begin, think about instances where you’ve pursued knowledge beyond the classroom or your professional role. Have you taken any online courses, participated in workshops, or attended conferences related to your field of interest? These activities demonstrate your dedication to continuous learning and the breadth of your intellectual pursuits.

For instance, you can mention how you enrolled in a Coursera course on data science to enhance your analytical skills, or how you attended a TEDx event on social entrepreneurship to learn from inspiring leaders. You can also share how you applied what you learned to your current or future projects, or how you shared your insights with others through blogs, podcasts, or mentoring.”
Rishabh Gupta, GyanOne

“You’re a young professional who has been successful and driven to this point. Without resting on your laurels, craft a fun, interesting, and sentimental way to communicate your life story and do some tough introspection to see where you want your life to head in the future. Take all of those thoughts and pair them up with everything you can learn about Chicago; is Booth going to be the best fit to challenge you and push you to your goals? Once all that thought and research is complete, you simply need to communicate it on the application.”
Phil White (’25)

MBA Student	Hometown	Undergraduate Alma Mater	Last Employer
Vanessa Abundis Correa	Monterrey, Mexico	Tec de Monterrey	Didi Food
Akindamola Akinola	Osun state, Nigeria	Obafemi Awolowo University	Tesco Plc
Rachel Cohen	Westchester, NY	Duke  University	Pritzker Private Capital
Kevin M. Hernandez	Hialeah, Florida	Williams College	Colegia
Joel Ickovics	Tel Aviv, Israel	Tel Aviv University	Wix.com
Caitlyn Mason	East Greenwich, RI	MIT	McKinsey & Company
Enrique Rodriguez Chernilo	Santiago, Chile	Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile	RedSalud CChC
Folasade Runcie	Chicago, IL	Princeton University	DoorDash
Alexis Serra	Parsippany, NJ	Drexel University	Goldman Sachs
Ihn Shin	Incheon, South Korea	Franklin & Marshall College	Anheuser-Busch InBev
Lilli Wang	Munich, Germany	Barnard College, Columbia University	Axons Dance Theatre
Phil White	Tyler, TX	United States Military Academy	United States Army