Dewan Sharfaraz Ahmed

Harvard Business School

“First-generation low-income Muslim, mugged at gunpoint at 15, blessed to have a loving family.”

Hometown: Queens, New York

Fun Fact About Yourself: I studied culinary and business at Cornell. My favorite item to make is Turkish baklava.

Undergraduate School and Major: Cornell University, College of Business, School of Hotel Administration

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: CarMax, Software Product Manager

What makes the case method so attractive as a means to learn and become a better manager? The case method is powerful because it mirrors the Socratic method, challenging participants to question assumptions, clarify definitions, and consider the circumstances under which they might change their minds. This fosters productive, good-faith discussions that lead to nuanced insights and better decision-making.

As a manager, you are often tasked with bridging gaps in understanding between individuals with vastly different experiences and expertise. The case method replicates this challenge, requiring you to articulate complex ideas—like explaining “banking” to someone with a military background or “product management” to a healthcare professional. It ensures that everyone shares a common foundation of knowledge while respecting their unique perspectives.

Ultimately, the case method develops the critical thinking, adaptability, and communication skills that are essential for leading effectively in diverse and high-stakes environments.

Aside from your classmates and cases, what was the key part of Harvard Business School’s MBA programming that led you to choose this business school and why was it so important to you? My family is new to this land, and I believe HBS will equip me with the experiences and insights I need to help guide and navigate my future family. Beyond the academic rigor and leadership development, one aspect of HBS that truly stood out to me is the camaraderie within its alumni network. HBS alumni are known not only for their global reach but also for their unwavering willingness to answer the call of a fellow graduate.

This culture of mutual support and connection goes beyond networking—it represents a lifelong community of leaders committed to each other’s success. Whether it’s advice during a career pivot or guidance on complex challenges, the alumni bond ensures that the learning and relationships forged at HBS extend far beyond the classroom.

In my twilight years, I want to look back knowing this decision expanded my worldview, equipped me to tackle complex challenges, and empowered me to be a guide for my family and others. HBS isn’t just about advancing your career—it’s about redefining what leadership and impact mean on a global scale.

What course, club, or activity excites you the most at Harvard Business School? The Ascend Leaders Program and the Latin American Student Organization (LASO) Club excite me the most because they provide powerful platforms for connection, belonging, and growth. As a first-generation student, Ascend has given me a community of peers with similar backgrounds to share experiences and navigate challenges, while LASO has connected me to vibrant friends celebrating shared culture and values.

These communities have shown me that my unique perspective is not a limitation but a strength. They’ve provided me with spaces to forge meaningful relationships and empowered me to amplify my impact as a leader. Programs like Ascend and LASO go beyond fostering diversity—they demonstrate how HBS peers create opportunities for leaders from all walks of life to thrive and contribute meaningfully to the world.

When you think of Harvard Business School, what is the first word that comes to mind? Why? Compounding. Every day at HBS, I am exposed to the diverse perspectives of 91 extraordinary section mates, each with unique backgrounds and approaches to solving problems. These interactions do not just expand my understanding of the world—they also refine my ability to tackle complex challenges. Over time, this shared learning compounds, creating a lasting impact on how I think, lead, and collaborate.

Time is your most valuable asset, and HBS encourages you to spend it building relationships that compound beyond the classroom. The relationships you form here—whether with classmates, professors, or alumni—are not just meaningful; they are transformative. At HBS, the relationships you build, the insights you gain, and the values you refine all compound over time, creating a foundation for a future of exponential impact.

Looking at your recruitment, what was the moment when you realized Harvard Business School was the right program for you? Why? It was the realization I was getting older. The moment came during a conversation with a mentor who told me, “Dewan you said you wanted to get an MBA before. You’re getting older and an MBA now will have more impact than later. Your career will go for another 40 years. You can either do 40 more years of Product Management, or you can do 2 years of MBA and 38 years of Product Management.” At 28, I loved my career and was not actively thinking about an MBA. However, that conversation made me realize the importance of recognizing that I may not know everything — and how rare it is to have the chance to spend two years uncovering and addressing those gaps.

Harvard Business School represented more than a next step; it was a unique opportunity to challenge my assumptions, broaden my perspective, and intentionally develop the skills I might not even know I needed. That insight helped me see the MBA as not just a tool for advancement, but as a once-in-a-lifetime chance to invest in personal and professional growth on a much deeper level.

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: My biggest accomplishment has been successfully navigating two significant career pivots without pursuing an MBA, defying conventional advice and carving a unique path that aligned with my passions.

After Cornell, I started my career in technology sales. I loved engaging with customers and solving problems through technology, but I felt a pull toward a more analytical role. At 23, I decided to pivot into technology investment banking. Many people advised that I would need an MBA to make the leap, but instead, I quit my full-time job and took a 10-week internship at a technology-focused investment bank. I earned a full-time offer and spent the next 2.5 years mastering strategy and quantitative analysis.

Yet, something was missing: I missed the customer experience and the direct problem-solving I enjoyed in tech sales. Through conversations with mentors, peers, and my network, I discovered that software product management could combine my love for strategy, technology, and customer engagement. At 26, I faced the same advice—most people said I needed an MBA or a technical master’s degree to pivot. Once again, I challenged that notion. I quit my investment banking role, studied intensively for two months, and earned a top Associate Product Manager position at CarMax on a newly created team leveraging Artificial Intelligence to fasten our operations.

Describe your biggest accomplishment as an MBA student so far? Being chosen as a Social Chair for my section has been an incredibly rewarding experience. While organizing social events was my North Star, I quickly realized that success wasn’t just about building connections within Section I—it was also about fostering relationships across the broader HBS community. Small group dinners became a cornerstone for relationship-building within the section, while larger events, like Halloween mixers and Friendsgiving celebrations, provided opportunities to connect with students from other sections.

Collaborating with other Social Chairs and bringing people together across sections allowed us to break down silos and strengthen the sense of camaraderie throughout HBS. These moments only came to fruition because of the collective energy and effort of everyone involved. And, of course, none of it would have been possible without the 91 people I spend the most time with—shoutout to Section I.

What advice would you give to help potential applicants gain admission into Harvard Business School’s MBA program? Follow me at dewanahmed.substack.com for my journey. Below is a snapshot of what I did.

Flip the script… why should you admit Harvard into your life? You are valuable and have a lot to offer. You truly need to believe that Harvard would be lucky to have you and you would be lucky to have Harvard.

Please be yourself throughout the entirety of the application because you are unique. For my essay, I discussed a perspective-changing event that made me appreciate my upbringing. Here is a direct quote “I stood frozen, a pistol pressing coldly against my stomach. That moment, as a fifteen-year-old just minutes from my high school, wasn’t merely a confrontation with three hooded figures, but a confrontation with myself. After all, the three hooded figures had my brown skin color, had bookbags like mine, and sneakers like mine; if my life’s upbringing had been different, maybe I would’ve been a fourth hooded figure.”

Hiring consultants can be helpful, but I’d prioritize seeking out mentors who genuinely care about your success and are invested in you without any monetary exchanges.

DON’T MISS: MEET HARVARD BUSINESS SCHOOL’S MBA CLASS OF 2026