Favorite Traditions At The Top MBA Programs

Friday! Gateway to the weekend. For many, Friday means wrapping up the details and cleaning out the inbox – and maybe ducking out early too. Reach the parking lot and you answer to no one. No deadlines. No distractions. No demands. You do what you want at your pace.

At some business schools, they don’t even hold classes on Fridays. Why bother – students would rather be grabbing a flight or wooing an investor anyway. That’s not the case at Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business. Here, they stick around. Why not? The school already gives them Wednesday off to conduct their business. Instead, Fuqua has something different in mind – an event that reinforces the Team Fuqua spirit of connection, collaboration, and celebration.

WHERE WORK ENDS AND LIFE BEGINS

In late afternoon, you’ll find the MBA class streaming down to the Fox Center for Fuqua Friday. They’ll join master’s students, faculty, and staff for food and drink. Many times, they’ll bring their partners and children along for the ride. They’ll chat, joke, and plan – fusing the academic with the personal – to deepen those bonds that normally wane when students fan out after their last class.

Looking back, Annie Forrest, a 2024 grad and P&Q Best & Brightest MBA, believes Fuqua Fridays encouraged student to stick around Durham for weekends. Along with looking forward to the chicken tenders, Forrest points to FuquaVision, when students hold SNL-style skits after the Fuqua Friday festivities to poke fun at their shared experiences. Indeed, Fuqua Fridays and FuquaVision are vaunted traditions, ones carried down class-after-class to instill the values that make their schools so distinct.

“We work collaboratively with clubs to also have themed Fuqua Fridays to celebrate special occasions, such as Diwali and Black History Month,” adds Arya Diwase, who graduated from Fuqua alongside Forrest. “The end-of-term Fuqua Fridays are usually followed by a screening of FuquaVision skits, a collection of student-made parodies, to close the term on a lighter note. The participation of students, faculty and even staff in these events strengthens our school community and brings everyone together in a very meaningful manner.”

Fuqua Fridays is just one of the traditions that the Class of 2024 says reflect the mission of their business schools – and bring out the best in their classmates. Last spring, P&Q asked our 2024 Best & Brightest MBAs and MBAs To Watch to share the traditions and events that they enjoyed the most. From intricate ceremonies to volunteer days to college football rituals, here are the traditions that made business school so special for last spring’s graduates.

The Around the World event celebrates the program’s diversity and different cultures. I always looked forward to attending because it was a great opportunity to learn more about my classmates, their country, food, traditions, music, and all the other artifacts that make them unique. Students had country stands while dressed in their cultural attire. They displayed pieces of their culture, such as food, drink, and art, and shared about it with other students visiting their stands. I loved that it made us more culturally intelligent in embracing our diversity.

 

These cultural traditions increased my interest in global cultures in business, including my participation in the Doing Business in Japan class. It prepared me for impactful outcomes during our immersion trip to Japan. I was exposed to how business was done in other cultures, deconstructing myths and preconceived notions, which enabled me to have a wholesome experience.
Jeanette Uddoh, Arizona State (W. P. Carey)

 

“My favorite MBA event at W. P. Carey was the Annual Gift Drive in collaboration with Parenting AZ, a Chicanos por la Causa branch providing statewide family support services. For 14 years, we’ve partnered with Parenting AZ to spread holiday joy, culminating in a record-breaking 85 children receiving gifts this year. As the MBA Association’s first-year representative and VP of Community Outreach, I coordinated this event for two years. What distinguishes this event is the act of giving and the unity it cultivates within our diverse MBA community. From staff and faculty to part-time and full-time students, we gather for a festive gift-wrapping party before delivering the gifts, complete with wrapping supplies, cookies, hot chocolate, and a generous dose of holiday cheer. This heartwarming tradition exemplifies the program’s steadfast commitment to community and giving back.”
Bailey Reynolds, Arizona State (W. P. Carey)

 

“My favorite ASB tradition is definitely Jom Makan! It’s this monthly event where everyone gets together over amazing Malaysian food (“Jom” means “let’s go” and “makan” means “eat” – genius, right?). It’s like a giant family dinner, but with classmates from every program. We laugh, we chat, we stuff ourselves silly – it’s a total break from the stress of classes and job hunting. I have attended every Jom Makan, and it really showed me the heart of ASB. It’s not just a business school, it’s a community that celebrates good food, good company, and maybe even a little friendly competition over board games!”
Kennedy Baboloki Kwati, Asia School of Business

 

“My favorite Cambridge tradition so far was the Matriculation event at my college, Corpus Christi College, Cambridge. Matriculation is essentially a traditional swearing-in ceremony where you are welcomed to your college and it culminates with an impressive feast in the Formal Hall. Historically, at Corpus Christi on these occasions, an ancient drinking horn is passed around those assembled. The horn is said to be older than the college itself, which was founded in 1352 by townspeople following the Black Death pandemic. As I was signing my name into the Matriculation book to formalize my association with the college, it dawned on me how rare it was for someone from my background to be in that position. I hope more people from diverse backgrounds are given similar opportunities.”
Hugo Mkhize, Cambridge Judge Business School

 

“My favorite MBA tradition is Tepper Bar Night every Thursday evening. We choose different spots around Pittsburgh to explore new neighborhoods, and everyone drops their busy schedule to come and hang out. Whether it’s a classic pub, a rooftop bar with stunning views, or a fun arcade, there’s something for everyone, even those who don’t drink. In our small, close-knit Tepper community, Bar Night goes beyond just drinks; it’s a weekly gathering where we connect, share stories, and celebrate together. If you ever meet a Tepperoni – ask them about Mario’s!”
Anushikha Sharma, Carnegie Mellon (Tepper)

 

“My favorite MBA event at Booth was Running With The Bulls, where the basketball team plays against Kellogg at the United Center before a Chicago Bulls game every year. I really enjoy this event because we routinely have hundreds of MBA students come cheer on their fellow classmates in a really unique setting within the Chicago community.”
Ben Ferris, University of Chicago (Booth)

 

“We have a tradition called CBS Matters, where students have an opportunity to talk about what matters most to them – both their “CBS why” and their “why CBS?” It’s a uniquely valuable way to learn things about your peers that you might not otherwise get a chance to in the classroom or other conversations. In my own CBS Matters, I talked about how my community has supported me through some of my life’s greatest challenges and why it’s therefore so important to me to contribute to and cultivate a strong community wherever I go.”
Yussre ElBardicy, Columbia Business School

 

“My favorite MBA event was Follies, an annual talent show where Johnson students, faculty, and staff creatively spoof all aspects of Johnson. This event embodies the perfect blend of humor, truth, community connection, and artistic expression. The Follies encourages our MBA community to come together and enables individuals to step out of their comfort zones. The sketches, based on our collective experiences over the years, are downright hilarious and showcase the camaraderie and creativity within our community.”
Albert C. Matlock III, Cornell University (Johnson)

 

“My favorite MBA tradition at Tuck is the Tuck Band. This tradition reflects the diverse talents and community spirit of our school. Musically talented students from each class come together to form a band that performs live music shows several times a year. I first encountered the T’22 and T’23 Tuck Bands during Admitted Students Weekend, and I was amazed by their talent. I was skeptical that our T’24 band could match their skill, but I was pleasantly surprised by the abundance of talented singers, guitarists, keyboardists, and drummers in our class who came together to form the band they named Supply and Da Band. The band’s performances are not only an extremely fun way to enjoy live music, but also showcase the incredible talent within our class. It highlights how multifaceted each of us is, contributing to the vibrant and diverse community at Tuck.”
Lauren Baltrus, Dartmouth College (Tuck)

 

“My top MBA event, hands down, is the Leadership Reaction Course at Fort Moore, Georgia. It was here that I first bonded with my core team over wild obstacle courses. Our team was gutsy, diving into challenges and embracing fresh ideas fearlessly. Whether we were climbing a ladder held by the team or crossing over water with only 4x4s, the team threw their hearts into it and overcame our fears. We switched leaders for each obstacle, mixing things up and listening to everyone’s input. With guidance from coaches, we tackled team-based scenarios also faced by U.S. Army officer candidates. After each challenge, we’d chat about what went right, what went wrong, and how we could improve. The experience not only strengthened our team spirit but also taught us vital lessons in leadership and teamwork that I carry with me to this day.”
Sai Konkala, Emory University (Goizueta)

 

“Goizueta Business School has a long-lived tradition called KEGS (Keeping Everyone At Goizueta Social), a signature community building event that is the culminating activity after a strenuous week of business school classes, projects and meetings. We gather at Patterson Green & Jenkins Courtyard to reflect on the week, share a laugh, indulge in delicious food, groove to some amazing music, and make long-lasting connections.”
Amanda Sun, Emory University (Goizueta)

 

“It is difficult to choose just one, but I think one of my favorite events was Gastrofest. People from more than 40 nationalities of our MBA program brought delicious food and drinks from their respective countries. I got to taste things that I have never tried before and find out more about the cultures of different countries by watching my peers perform dances and songs native to their country.”
Moritz Fath, ESADE

 

“My favorite MBA tradition is the annual Internal Case Competition. It allows us to work in teams of four with students from all four of the full-time cohorts. The competition not only serves as a team-building opportunity, but also allows us to put our skills to the test to help a company solve a real-world problem. We are given the case and have two weeks to conduct extensive research and formulate an impactful and real-life solution that we then present as a recommendation to company executives. During my first year, my team and I were fortunate enough to win 1st place with case sponsor NextEra Energy, in which we suggested implementing floatovoltaics – solar panels that float on water!”
Jamie Woodrum, University of Florida (Warrington)

 

“My favorite MBA tradition is KEGS. KEGS stands for Keeping Everyone at Georgetown Social and is a weekly tradition where MBA students meet over a light round of drinks, food, and entertainment. KEGS is unique because it is fully student-run by our certified student “bartenders” (student government members). Typically, co-host student organizations add flavor to the event by celebrating different cultural traditions (e.g., Black History Month, Lunar New Year) and holding space for the school’s diverse student body (War Stories for the Veteran community and Identity Stories for the LGBTQ+ community). Every week, KEGS allowed me to unwind from the stress of recruiting and academics, spend time with peers who weren’t in my cohort or courses, and admire what being part of a community means.”
Nishant Makhijani, Georgetown University (McDonough)

 

“My favorite MBA event at Georgetown McDonough is the Executive Challenge. This is a great tradition because it highlights the importance of executive leadership and communication skills in novel situations. I won the Executive Challenge at the end of my first year, and it was one of my proudest moments. The day includes a simulated business environment with alumni acting as “executives” who judge your performance under pressure. During the experience, I received a case at 7 am in the morning, analyzed it with my talented case partner, and presented it to a panel of alumni judges within hours. My team also helped me prep and remain calm, which only further emphasized the need for excellent team support in order to succeed as individuals.”
Maddie McPhail, Georgetown University (McDonough)

Next Page: Traditions at HEC Paris, INSEAD, and the London Business School