Ruso Samunashvili

Babson College, F.W. Olin Graduate School of Business

“Passionate problem solver, lifelong learner, and visionary, driven to make a positive impact.”

Hometown: Rustavi, Georgia

Fun fact about yourself: I moved from Georgia to the U.S. and quickly learned that ‘where are you from?’ is a trick question.

Undergraduate School and Degree:

Free University, ESM Business School, Tbilisi, Georgia – Bachelor’s in Business Administration

Ilia State University, Tbilisi, Georgia – Master’s in Finance

Where was the last place you worked before enrolling in business school? IDS Borjomi Georgia – Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A) Lead

Where did you intern during the summer of 2024?

Artemis Carbon Futures – Intern, focusing on ESG frameworks and carbon market analysis.

Leadership Lab, Babson – Mentor

Where will you be working after graduation? Currently exploring FP&A Roles and ETA opportunities.

Community Work and Leadership Roles in Business School:

President, Babson Graduate Tech Club – Led initiatives connecting graduate students with startups and established tech companies, fostering innovation and industry engagement.

Chief of Academic Affairs, Graduate Student Council (GSC) – Advocated for academic and career development opportunities, ensuring student needs were represented.

Section Representative – Acted as a liaison between students and faculty, addressing academic and administrative concerns to enhance the student experience.

TA in Managerial Accounting and Operations Management – Supported students in mastering complex financial and operational concepts, providing guidance and academic support.

Which academic or extracurricular achievement are you most proud of during business school? Managing to move to the U.S. as a single mom with my daughter while pursuing my MBA was my most challenging and rewarding achievement. Watching her start to integrate into a new culture while I navigated business school, built a network, and pursued leadership roles showed me the power of perseverance and adaptability. It reinforced my belief that bold moves create meaningful opportunities, both for myself and for her future.

What achievement are you most proud of in your professional career? One of my proudest professional achievements was becoming a lecturer in financial and managerial accounting at one of Georgia’s largest universities. It’s one thing to have knowledge for yourself, but it’s an entirely different achievement to be able to teach, inspire, and help others grow. Standing in front of a classroom, I wasn’t just delivering financial concepts—I was shaping perspectives, building confidence, and empowering students to make informed decisions. This experience reinforced my belief that education is one of the most powerful tools for creating opportunities and driving change.

Why did you choose this business school? I chose Babson College because I wanted more than just an MBA – I wanted an environment that would challenge me to think differently, act boldly, and turn ideas into reality. Babson’s Entrepreneurial Thought & Action® (ET&A) philosophy was exactly what I needed to bridge my background in finance with my passion for building impactful ventures. It wasn’t just about getting an MBA; it was about becoming the kind of leader who makes a difference.

Who was your favorite MBA professor? It is incredibly hard to choose just one professor because so many of them have been more than just educators to me – they have been mentors, supporters, and even cheerleaders, truly invested in my success and happiness. Babson has an incredible faculty, and I feel fortunate to have learned from so many inspiring individuals.

However, if I had to pick one, it would be Professor Brigitte Muehlmann. From my very first semester, she was a guiding light – not just for me, but for everyone in the cohort. I have never met anyone so genuinely willing to help, teach, and engage with students. Her passion for reporting and sustainability, her patience, and her ability to break down complex concepts for those with no prior experience were remarkable.

Beyond the subject matter, the way she looks at things, both in business and in life, is truly life-changing. She doesn’t just teach accounting – she teaches perspective, problem-solving, and resilience. Her warmth, energy, and unwavering support made me feel like I belonged, even in moments of doubt. I will always be grateful for the impact she has had on my learning and my journey.

What was your favorite course as an MBA? Choosing just one favorite course is difficult because so many of them have shaped my thinking and approach to business. However, if I had to choose, it would be System Dynamics. This course completely transformed the way I approach problem-solving. Instead of looking at business challenges in isolation, I learned to see them as interconnected systems, where small changes can create ripple effects with long-term consequences. Understanding feedback loops, stock-and-flow models, and dynamic decision-making has given me a new perspective on strategy, finance, and operations.

What made this course even more impactful was how hands-on and applicable it was. Through simulations and real-world business cases, I was able to visualize complex systems and anticipate unintended consequences, skills that are invaluable in finance, entrepreneurship, and business acquisition.

More than just a class, System Dynamics changed how I think—helping me become a more analytical, strategic, and forward-thinking leader.

Looking back over your MBA experience, what is the one thing you’d do differently and why? If I could do one thing differently during my MBA, I would have started networking earlier and more intentionally. Coming from a different cultural background, I initially underestimated the importance of relationship-building in the U.S. business environment. I focused heavily on coursework, leadership roles, and entrepreneurial ventures, but I now realize that connections are just as critical as skills and knowledge. As an international student and a single mom, balancing everything was already a challenge, and networking often felt secondary. But once I started reaching out—whether through professors, alumni, or industry events—I saw how valuable these relationships were for both personal and professional growth. If I could go back, I would have pushed myself to step outside my comfort zone sooner, attend more industry events, and cultivate relationships with mentors earlier in my MBA journey. That being said, I’m grateful for the connections I’ve built, and I now approach networking as a way to learn, exchange ideas, and create opportunities – not just as a job-seeking strategy.

What did you love most about your business school’s town? What I love most about Wellesley is how it offers the best of both worlds—a peaceful, close-knit community with easy access to the energy and opportunities of Boston. As a single mom and an international student, I appreciated the sense of safety, warmth, and support that Wellesley provided. It’s a town where you can take a peaceful walk, enjoy a cozy café, and feel a genuine sense of community. At the same time, being so close to Boston’s vibrant startup ecosystem, top-tier companies, and diverse networking opportunities meant that I could engage with industry leaders, attend high-impact events, and expand my professional network. This balance made my MBA experience even more special – allowing me to focus, reflect, and grow while still having the resources of a major city right at my fingertips.

What movie or television show (e.g. The Big Short, The Founder, Mad Men, House of Lies) best reflects the realities of business and what did you learn from it? Not directly a business movie, but for me, The Queen’s Gambit reflects the realities of business – not just because of its lessons on strategy, resilience, and competition, but also because, as a woman, I deeply relate to its themes of breaking barriers, proving oneself in a male-dominated field, and redefining success on your own terms.

Beth Harmon’s journey to becoming a world-class chess player mirrors the challenges many professionals – especially women – face in business. She is underestimated, questioned, and often has to work twice as hard to be taken seriously. But instead of backing down, she strategizes, adapts, and continuously refines her skills—proving that mastery comes from preparation, discipline, and the ability to think several moves ahead.

This resonates deeply with the world of finance, entrepreneurship, and leadership. Success isn’t just about talent; it’s about understanding your playing field, anticipating challenges, and having the confidence to take bold risks when the moment is right. Watching Beth navigate setbacks and emerge stronger reminded me that business, like chess, isn’t just about winning – it’s about strategic thinking, resilience, and daring to challenge the norms.

What is one way that your business school has integrated AI into your programming? What insights did you gain from using AI? When I came to Babson, AI wasn’t as big as it is now. People were talking about it, but it still felt like something distant – something uncertain, even a little scary. The conversation was often filled with concerns about AI replacing jobs, disrupting industries, and creating more problems than solutions. There was hesitation, skepticism, and a sense that AI was something happening to us, rather than something we could control.

But at Babson, AI is not framed as a threat – it’s framed as a tool. The way it is integrated into our coursework has completely changed my perspective. I’ve learned how to leverage AI as an asset rather than fear it as a disruptor. Babson is actively teaching us how to use AI to our advantage, making us not just consumers of AI, but strategic thinkers who know how to integrate it into business solutions.

Beyond its practical applications in different courses, Babson even offers a dedicated AI course that goes beyond the hype and fear to provide a structured, thoughtful approach to AI in business. It explores how AI is transforming industries, reshaping business functions, and influencing competitive strategy while also emphasizing ethical considerations, responsible AI practices, and Babson’s policies on AI use. Instead of avoiding difficult conversations, Babson is challenging us to think critically about when, where, and how AI should be used, ensuring we become leaders who can harness its potential responsibly.

The biggest insight I’ve gained is that AI isn’t here to replace us – it’s here to enhance the way we think, work, and innovate. It’s not about competing with AI, but about learning how to use it strategically to drive better decisions, unlock new opportunities, and stay ahead in an evolving business landscape. My MBA experience has transformed my mindset, making me not just more AI-literate but also more confident in navigating the future of business with AI as a partner, not a threat.

Which MBA classmate do you most admire? It’s difficult to choose just one classmate because Babson is filled with inspiring individuals, but if I had to pick, I most admire Vitor Ungari.

From the very first semester, Vitor stood out – not just because of his intelligence and strong work ethic, but because of his humor, kindness, generosity, and willingness to support others. He is the type of person who lifts people up, whether by helping classmates through difficult coursework, offering thoughtful career advice, or simply being a positive presence in the Babson community.

What I admire most about Vitor is his ability to balance ambition with humility. He is incredibly driven, yet never competitive in a way that takes away from others. Instead, he thrives on collaboration, mentorship, and shared success. No matter how busy he is with his own professional and academic journey, he always makes time to help those around him, leading with patience, empathy, and an open mind.

Babson attracts incredible individuals, but Vitor for me is what makes this MBA experience so transformative – leadership through service, continuous learning, and a mindset that success is not just about personal achievement, but about bringing others along with you.

What are the top two items on your professional bucket list? The first item on my professional bucket list is to acquire and scale businesses through an Entrepreneurial Through Acquisition (ETA) model. I want to take a profitable yet overlooked business and transform it by leveraging data-driven strategies, operational efficiencies, and innovative financial planning. I believe that even the most “boring” businesses have untapped potential, and my goal is to bring fresh perspective and strategic growth to an established company while creating long-term value.

The second is to build something on my own – something meaningful, something that truly helps people. I want to create something that empowers others, particularly in education and personal development, ensuring that knowledge and opportunities are accessible to those who need them most. Starting with my home country and then expanding globally, I want to make a lasting impact. Whether it’s through education, financial empowerment, or mentorship, I want to create a platform that gives people the tools to change their lives. Too often, success is determined by where you’re born and the resources available to you. I want to help break that cycle. My vision is to build something that doesn’t just grow as a business, but grows in its ability to change lives.

What made Ruso such an invaluable addition to the Class of 2025?

“It is my pleasure to recommend Ruso Samunashvili for recognition in Poets&Quants. It is a pleasure for me to share how much I have enjoyed getting to know her, first teaching a course in the first Module, and through interactions on campus since then.

I taught Ruso in Financial and Sustainability Reporting for Entrepreneurial Leaders, where she brought an open mind to a new setting in a discipline, where she had worked and lectured in her home country of Georgia before coming to Babson. Ruso embraced new frameworks and perspectives expanding her understanding of financial reporting in an entrepreneurial and sustainability-focused context. She quickly advanced to one of the best students, and tutored classmates helping them succeed in the course.

Ruso is rarely seen alone on campus. She naturally draws people in and is usually surrounded by other students when I see her. Ruso’s ability to create a sense of community and support among classmates is one of her defining strengths. Coming from a country with a quite different business culture, Ruso quickly demonstrated a proactive approach to US-style professional development beyond the campus as well, actively seeking opportunities to connect with alumni and industry professionals. She exemplifies the dealing with uncertainty, the collaborative spirit and leadership qualities that make her a standout Babson MBA student.

I wholeheartedly endorse Ruso Samunashvili for this recognition and am excited to see what her future holds.”

Dr. Brigitte Muehlmann
Professor
Babson College

“Ruso has proven invaluable from the start. Early on, it was clear that her calm, thoughtful, and compassionate demeanor is a main reason why her peers have elected her for multiple leadership positions, including Section Rep and Grad. Student Council Chief of Academic Affairs. In these roles, Ruso brings forth timely and appropriate feedback with consistently reasonable suggestions and actionable solutions that support the entire cohort, the graduate school as a whole, and the greater Babson community.

Throughout her time in at Babson, Ruso continues to be someone people (not only students, but also faculty and the administration) look to for guidance and problem-solving even beyond her leadership roles in the graduate school because of her ability to get to the heart of any issue and tackle it with a graceful and logical approach. I feel very fortunate to have worked with her so closely, and I am excited for the great work she will continue to do after the MBA.”

FARAH ASMUSSEN
Associate Director
Doctorate of Business Administration (DBA) Program
Babson College

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