Meet The MBA Class Of 2026: The ‘Do Anything, Be Anyone’ Cohort

ATTRACTING STARS FROM MCKINSEY, MICROSOFT, AND CHRISTIAN DIOR

The class is also packed with first-years who took the road less travelled. Emory Goizueta’s Patrycja Kepa has co-written and co-directed a feature film, while HEC Paris’ Riley Ettinger wrote the script for an episode of an ABC sitcom, The Kinds Are Alright. Out of college, Maheep Gurnani opted for the job where he would learn the most over where he would earn the most. Translation: The Goizueta first-year joined Chick-fil-A’s International Leadership Development Program. At the same time, Keke Genio has launched two online platforms supporting tourism and restaurants in Indonesia. All the while, she has emerged as a prolific YouTube education content creator. To date, she maintains over 315K followers who have viewed her videos over 15-million views. However, Genio would bristle at the notion of being a “self-made” influencer. That aversion is one reason why she joined Team Fuqua for her MBA.

“With more than 300 classmates in the Fuqua MBA Class of 2026, there will be more than 300 unique paths to achieving more than 300 different goals. Having a strong entrepreneurial mindset and digital marketing skillset will facilitate this journey.”

The incoming MBA class made an impact on a bigger stage than social media followers. Just look at the Yale School of Management class. At Microsoft, Ari Amitai was heavily involved in developing the touchpad for the Surface Laptop Studio 2. Sergio Bolivar devised technology and financial strategies for McDonald’s across six countries, while Luna Xiao co-authored a paper on climate risk that was published by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. Down the road from New Haven at NYU Stern, Whitney Ziesing was responsible for putting together Apple’s Mac sales forecast globally. At McKinsey, Effie Angus earned the firm’s Inspirational Leadership Award for elevating peers with her “unwavering values and supportive actions.” In addition, HEC Paris enrolled a luxury world champion by way of Christian Dior Couture.

In my sales career, I frequently encounter various performance challenges,” explains CEN CHEN. “One particular achievement I take great pride in was when I earned the title of the “J’adior” Women’s Shoe Collection World Sales Champion in 2019. This accomplishment was a testament to my dedication and hard work. I received recognition at Dior’s Paris headquarters. It was an unforgettable moment when Mr. Charles Delapalme, the current President of Dior, awarded me a medal, declaring me the World Sales Champion of that challenge.”

HEADHUNTERS, FREEDIVERS…AND A BEAR!

In the case of the Ivey Business School’s Alexis Gantous, impact stretched to the highest levels of the American government. “[In my job], I created a presentation about massive protests in Iran and the subsequent exponential growth in use of my company’s apps. This presentation was delivered at the U.S. State Department for congressional aides, State Department staff, and even representatives from the CIA. It helped share the extent of the internet censorship that citizens of Iran were being subjected to at the time and how it could be combatted.”

Away from the pressures of work and school, you’ll also find a class who subscribes to the do anything and be anyone philosophy. Montgomery Miller is a licensed private pilot who has flown six different types of aircraft. Indiana University’s Sabbir Ahmed, a 5’5 ER nurse, competes in Jiu-Jitsu competitions – often against much taller opponents. Eli Zhang, a freediver, can hold his breath for 4 minutes and 47 seconds and dive as deep as 32 meters with one breath. The INSEAD student has made such dives in locations as different as Indonesia, Florida, and the Philippines. Speaking of adventure, check out this story from USC Marshall’s Manideep Kanagala.

“On one of my solo journeys across India, I found myself deep in the jungles of Nagaland, trekking toward a village called Mon. It was not an easy path – thick forests, remote trails—but the destination made it all worth it. When I finally arrived, I was greeted by the Konyak warrior tribe, the last generation of headhunters. Their bodies were adorned with intricate tattoos, each marking a piece of their rich history. Sitting with them, hearing their stories, I realized I had stumbled upon a living piece of ancient tradition—a moment I’ll never forget.”

If that sounds nerve-wrecking, wait until you hear a tale from Candace Graham, a UCLA Anderson first-year. “I spent one summer running camps in the Canadian mountains, and had to deal with 15 teenagers, a bear, and a tornado in one night.”

A FULL CIRCLE MOMENT IN BUSINESS SCHOOL

You’ll also find plenty of entertainers and athletes among this year’s incoming MBAs. Nay Myo Maung, now a physician and entrepreneur studying at the London Business School, starred in two episodes of the BBC’s Silent Witness. Carnegie Mellon’s Teyonna Jarman performed in last year’s Super Bowl, while USC Marshall’s Elizabeth Grady earned a trip to Hawai’i on The Price Is Right. Before Kasey McCravey made her way to the University of Texas’ McCombs School, she was an alternate on the United States’ National Rugby Sevens team in the Tokyo Olympics whose softball exploits made national news.

“I was nominated for an ESPY for “Best Play” in 2016 but lost to Steph Curry,” she jokes.

The Wharton MBA Class of 2026 certainly attracted a diverse set of talents. Elyshia Geter spent 11 years as a competitive cheerleader, while Mansi Jain is a professional Bharatnatyam dancer. Not only does Nitin Sethi perform standup comedy, but can do it in three languages. You won’t find Oyinda Giwa panicking over Ivey Business School’s heavy case load: she reads 200 books a year! Even if the workload gets too heavy for Kento Fuchino, the UNC Kenan-Flagler MBA can always turn to Zen meditation – or Shogi (Japanese chess). For Emma Tillitski, the next two years will seem like a bit of a homecoming.

“Not only did both of my parents get their undergraduate degrees from Carolina, but my dad got his MBA from UNC Kenan-Flagler as well. As a young child, I even lived in Married Student Housing for his two years in school!”

“A MINI UNITED NATIONS”

While early, the Class of 2026 believes the experience has lived up to the hype. Harvard Business School’s Molly Shapiro, who is also earning an MS in Biotechnology, has already conducted a presentation on her stem cell research. After breaking her ankle in three spots, Brooke VanRosendael – a U.S. Army Jumpmaster – learned that “Tuck Nice” was more than a tagline after how helpful her classmates have been. By the same token, Nadia Osman has been struck by how quickly her IMD Business School class has gelled.

“Being in a small class brought us closer and closer each day,” she writes. “With 44 nationalities – and me being the first Sudanese participant – and with all the rich cultural backgrounds, I found myself learning something new every day. It’s like being part of a mini-UN, where diverse perspectives spark lively debates and create fun team dynamics. In just a few months, we transformed into a close family, always looking out for each other and building solidarity that truly feels like a home away from home.”

One event that brought the IMD class together was the Discovery Expedition to Singapore. Here, class members paid visits to innovative tech firms – when they weren’t singing karaoke. Admittedly, such overseas excursions have been the highlights of the MBA experience for many alumni. This chance to immerse himself in a foreign culture and gain experience completing a project for an international firm is one reason why Roee Alper is looking forward to GLOBASE at Indiana University’s Kelley School.

“As someone who’s backpacked for over three years across all continents and more than 20 countries, I’m thrilled at the prospect of merging my love for cultures, travels, and business. The opportunity to leverage Kelley’s resources to empower businesses in developing nations is deeply unique and exciting for me. I can’t wait to exchange ideas about different cultures—like the times I lived in a Buddhist monastery in Thailand, immersed myself for three months in a shamanic community in Guatemala, hitchhiked across Japan, and worked for four months closely with the Ministries of Defense and Navies of Sierra Leone, Gambia, and Liberia…These experiences have shaped my worldview, and I can’t wait to share this global tapestry with my classmates.”

“THE RIGOR IS REAL”

Beyond overseas excursions, Allyson Hayley is looking forward to The Big Event at Texas A&M’s Mays School. Think of it as a service day, where Aggie MBAs complete projects that support the less fortunate around College Station. For Julian Turner, who has performed in drag, the Haas Drag Show is a chance to build camaraderie with classmates. At Yale SOM, Maria Fernanda Heredia plans to join the Nonprofit Fellows Club, where she can gain experience as a non-voting board member of a local nonprofit. Based on early returns, Gracie Akin can’t wait to see what the Georgetown McDonough career center does next.

“Even before I stepped foot on campus for my first semester, I had completed a summer webinar series, reflected on my accomplishments to-date, reviewed my resume with a career counselor, and met one-on-one with a career counselor to identify my goals for my internship and post-MBA. As someone who is planning to leverage their MBA for a career pivot, I knew I needed to seek out an MBA program that had a very strong Career Center, alumni connections, and relationships with leading businesses to guide me through these transformative years and decisions. It became clear to me Georgetown McDonough has all of those resources – and more!”

Resources – yes! Make no mistake, business school isn’t just a time for experimenting, networking and recruiting. Just ask IIM Ahmedabad’s Akanksha Airan. “The rigor is real…They mean business when they say that academics are to be taken seriously here. I think staying clear-headed and balanced after three months is a small achievement.”

“YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT CAN HAPPEN”

Looking ahead, the Class of 2026 have distinct goals for the years. After returning to West Point for a teaching stint, Christian Letsinger hopes to take on more strategic planning roles in the U.S. Army. Teyonna Jarman intends to bolster her soft skills and executive presence to boost her effectiveness in team settings. Her classmate, Kyle Berney, is looking to sharpen technical skills in areas like Python and SQL. Like many MBAs, UCLA Anderson’s Brenna Turner expects to invest heavy time in scaling her startup. In the end, most would tie success to their personal growth.

“I am not exactly hoping to change who I am,” admits Adora Ajuzie, a first-year at Texas A&M’s Mays School. “At the end of the program, I am hoping to have transformed into a better communicator, a better problem-solver, a better listener, a better analyst, and a better person all-around.”

When it comes to advice for future applicants, the Class of 2026 echoes similar sentiments: know what you want and why – and express it in your true voice. Whatever you do, don’t settle for what’s easily within reach. After all, MBAs can do anything and be anyone.

“Don’t ever count yourself out,” adds Daniel Hancock, a first-year at Cornell University’s Johnson Graduate School. “Put your best foot forward and give it your all in your application — you never know what can happen.”

Next Page: Profiles of 29 MBA candidates from the Class of 2026, including Harvard Business School, Wharton School, INSEAD, Northwestern Kellogg, and more.