Meet Columbia Business School’s MBA Class Of 2026

P&Q: What types of programming – through classroom instruction, extracurriculars, and treks – does your school offer to expose students to country-specific and global business practices? What have students told you were the most educational and fun aspects of these activities?

Tetlock: “Here are some examples from our website…

Chazen Global Immersion Program

Global Immersion Program (GIP) classes bridge classroom lessons and business practices in another country. These 3-credit classes meet for half a term in New York prior to a one-week visit to the country of focus. During the immersion week, students meet with business executives and government officials while working on team projects. Upon returning from the travel portion of the class, students have at least one wrap-up meeting at Columbia Business School.

Testimonials –

* “The Rwanda GIP was life-changing! Our trip was a helpful contrast to business in the US. Visiting Rwanda and learning about their history provided a much-needed grounding on developing economies and reconstruction after devastating conflict. Unlike other MBA trips, Rwanda challenged our understanding of human nature and democratic values and pushed us to crystallize our perspective on ethics. We were able to visit companies, political offices, and cultural sites, culminating with an insightful meeting with President Kagame.”

* “I had not ever been to North Africa and was not super familiar with the cultural or economic nuances of the region. After the trip, I felt as though I had a fairly decent grasp of both. The mix of business, politics, and culture all came together to make for an incredible experience that I anticipate coming into play for me down the road both personally and professionally.”

* “Having lived and worked in various countries, visiting over 20 in total, my global experiences are extensive. Yet, the Global Immersion Program (GIP) tour to the Philippines was extraordinary. The breadth of knowledge we gained from visiting companies across diverse industries—Banking, Education, Media, and FinTech—was immense. The eagerness of company leaders, including CEOs, presidents, and VPs, to share their insights with us was truly remarkable. Each visit, even those lasting just 2-3 hours, felt too short due to their engaging nature, which sparked deep curiosity among us students and led to enriching Q&A sessions. Did I mention that every company presented us with a small parting gift? The warmth and hospitality of the Filipino people were unparalleled, earning a perfect 10/10 in service. The Philippines, with its beautiful landscape and affordability, has sparked my desire for a longer return visit. A memorable highlight was our feature on a national Philippine show – Showtime and News. This GIP experience extended beyond mere learning; it was an opportunity to immerse in and appreciate a culture rich in beauty, generosity, and knowledge. I eagerly look forward to my next visit.”

* “My experience in the Global Immersion Program was truly transformative. As a participant in GIP South Africa, I had the opportunity to explore diverse cultures, engage with local communities, and broaden my perspective on global issues. The programming was meticulously planned, offering a balance of structured learning and immersive experiences. Overall, the Global Immersion Program left me with unforgettable memories and invaluable lessons that continue to shape my worldview. I highly recommend it to anyone seeking a profound and enriching educational experience.”

Chazen Global Study Tours

Designed to enhance the classroom curriculum, study tours offer students an intense, firsthand experience of the business culture of a chosen country or region to lay the groundwork for future international internships and careers. During the trips, students meet with leading executives and government officials while visiting businesses, factories, and cultural sites. Study tours are organized by student teams. Tour organizers arrange information sessions and send out e-mails through student notices regarding trip details and deadlines. The Chazen Institute provides guidance and logistical support throughout the tour planning. This is an extra-curricular experience.

Testimonials –

* “Chazen Study Tours allow you to see a unique, different side of a country – to learn about its business practices, to learn what it is like to grow up there with a classmate who did so, to bond with your peers outside of the structure of the classroom. Do as many as you are able!”

* “The Chazen Study Tour to Thailand provided an unparalleled opportunity to gain firsthand exposure to business and culture in Southeast Asia. The immersive corporate visits, including an in-depth look at the visionary One Bangkok development, offered invaluable insights. We learned from innovative market leaders about their strategies and operations on the ground. The conversations expanded our global perspectives and provided benchmarks we can apply to future leadership roles. Beyond the professional learnings, experiencing Thailand with this exceptional group created memories and relationships to last a lifetime. The cultural excursions, from Buddhist temples to breathtaking beaches, showed us the best of Thailand. Meals and transportation with our cohorts sparked thoughtful discussions and strengthened bonds. The Chazen team organized an incredible experience from start to finish.”

* “The Chazen Study Tour to Seoul, South Korea was the best experience I’ve had at CBS yet, and genuinely one of the best experiences of my life. A true once-in-a-lifetime experience getting to travel to a new country with everything pre-planned by students native to that country. It was the perfect blend of cultural immersion and business experience, getting to meet with executives at some of the biggest companies in the world in a smaller group setting. Cannot recommend a Chazen trip enough!”

* “Traveling to Nairobi and Lamu, Kenya with the Chazen Study Tour was truly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. It’s hard to describe the invaluable experience that is learning about a new city, country, and continent with a person from that country who is also your peer, classmate, colleague and/or friend. I cannot imagine another chance to have access to some of the most influential and prolific business leaders in a place like Nairobi without the Chazen Study Tour. You can’t recreate this! I’m so grateful to have had the opportunity to participate in this truly life-changing excursion.”

Chazen MBA Exchange

The MBA Exchange Program provides third- and fourth-term students the opportunity to immerse themselves in the business environment through a study-abroad experience. Nearly two dozen of the world’s best-known graduate management institutions take part in the exchange program. While overseas, students gain firsthand knowledge of another culture’s educational and business environment while enhancing their understanding of international business issues.

Testimonials –

* “My time at IESE was the highlight of my MBA experience. In just a few months, I made so many lifelong friends and had so many unforgettable experiences like learning dirt bike riding. The classes are exceptionally well taught, and many cases cover small and medium businesses, which was a refreshing change from our more traditional cases. Lastly, Barcelona is an amazing city that you can’t miss out on!”

* “I highly recommend participating in an exchange program at Berkeley Haas. Haas is a very welcoming community with vibrant tech and startup culture. I definitely made some life-long friends there. The exchange program enriched my MBA experience, and I would do it again.”

* “This was the best decision I have made at CBS by far. So thankful to the Chazen program and to LBS for enabling this exchange. I loved the global perspective this added to my MBA.”

P&Q: What are the most exciting new courses that your school is offering to MBAs this school year? What makes them so unique and valuable?

Tetlock: “Recognizing the profound impact of artificial intelligence on the business world, we continue to integrate AI across our curriculum in foundational and specialized courses. Our students have access to cutting-edge courses that explore the application of AI in various business functions, from finance to marketing to operations. We are partnering with industry leaders in AI to bring real-world insights and practical experiences into the classroom. This focus on AI ensures that our graduates are not only aware of the latest technological advancements but also are equipped to leverage AI to drive innovation in their organizations. Curriculum innovation has an immediate impact on learning and positions our alumni as leaders in the AI-driven economy of tomorrow. Courses recently added to our curriculum include Generative AI for Business, Foundations of AI for Business, Programming Generative AI Applications, and Business Analytics 3: Modern AI, Deep Learning.

Additionally, we have expanded and structured Private Equity curriculum, to enable students  to choose among twice as many electives, including new courses in Private Equity Field Study Lab, Private Equity Leverage and Private Equity Value Creation.”

P&Q: Who are two new professors who’ve joined your faculty in the past year? What do they teach and how will they be difference-makers in your MBA program?

Tetlock:

Mohamed Hussein is a member of the marketing division whose research interests include persuasion, political marketing, political advertising, language, media, and social cognition. He applies survey experiments and natural language processing techniques in his research. His work has been published in leading journals including the Journal of Consumer Research and Journal of Experimental Psychology, and it has also been discussed in popular news outlets such as the Wall Street Journal. He will be teaching the core marketing course to the MBA students.

Simon Oh is a member of the finance division whose research focuses broadly on economics and finance with a concentration on asset pricing, investments, and insurance, with much of his work addressing issues in climate finance. His work has been published in the Review of Asset Pricing Strategies, presented widely, and won several recognitions. Prior to academia, Simon spent time working as an analyst at hedge funds. He will be teaching the capital markets course to the MBA students.”

MBA Student	Hometown	Undergraduate Alma Mater	Last Employer
Ayodeji Ajuwon	Lagos, Nigeria	The University of Ilorin	Land Republic
Lexa Armstrong	Dunedin, FL	Columbia University	OC&C Strategy Consultants
Tiffany Bauman	Houston, TX	Rice University	ExxonMobil
Daniel Brener	Recife, Brazil	Brigham Young University	InvestPRO
Alyssa Daniel	Richmond, VA	Spelman College	HSR Ventures
John Marshall	Toronto, Canada	Princeton University	Pigasus Pictures
Vasudha Mathur	New Delhi, India	Cornell University	Fireside Ventures
Yusuke Mizui	Tokyo, Japan	Hitotsubashi University	Sumitomo Corporation
Josue Silva	Denver, CO	Colorado State University	U.S. Senate
Brandon Steidley	San Diego, CA	Penn State University	Strategy&
Karena Yan	Andover, MA	Washington University in St. Louis	Modern Health
Misan Bolorunfe	Warri, Nigeria	Baylor University	Strategy&

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