2025 Best 40-Under-40 MBA Professors: Ambar La Forgia, Haas School of Business, UC Berkeley

Ambar La Forgia
Haas School of Business, UC Berkeley

“At minute 13 of my very first Leading People class, I wrote in my notes: “I already love her.” And truly, that’s all it takes to fall in love with Professor Ambar La Forgia’s presence—her energy, her brilliance, and the way she instantly captivates a room. She doesn’t just teach leadership; she embodies it.

As a Latina myself, I was profoundly moved to see someone who looked like me—who shared elements of my lived experience—standing at the front of the classroom. Seeing Professor La Forgia in that position of power and influence made me feel seen for the first time. It made me braver. I took bigger risks in her classroom and, in turn, began taking bigger leaps in my career. That kind of impact can’t be measured in evaluations or awards.

During our term, Professor La Forgia was pregnant, and the love and admiration we had for her as a cohort was so strong that I organized a surprise baby shower with my classmates. That’s how much we valued her—not just as a professor, but as a human being. She showed up for us fully, and we wanted to show up for her in return.”  – Adriana Mendez

Ambar La Forgia, 36, is an Assistant Professor at UC Berkeley’s Haas School of Business. Her research focuses on the business of healthcare and has been published in leading academic journals in management, economics and medicine, reflecting the interdisciplinary nature of her work. 

In 2023, she was a finalist for the National Institute for Health Care Management Research Award and in 2020, her dissertation on healthcare management companies won the Frank Giarratani Rising Star Award from the Industry Studies Association. It was also a finalist for the William H. Newman Award and received both the Best Paper and Best Dissertation-Based Paper from the Healthcare Management division of the Academy of Management. 

La Forgia is committed to bridging academia and practice, regularly engaging with policymakers and industry leaders at institutions like the Federal Trade Commission and the American Medical Association. Her studies have informed federal antitrust cases and policy reports, most recently being cited in the Health and Human Services “Report on Consolidation and Private Equity (PE) in Health Care Markets.” Her research has been covered in media outlets such as The New York Times, Financial Times, The Wall Street Journal, and The Washington Post. 

In the classroom, La Forgia has been recognized for teaching excellence and innovation. While at Berkeley Haas she has received both the Cheit Award for Excellence in Teaching and the Inclusive Teaching Award.

BACKGROUND

At current institution since what year? June 2022

Education: I earned my PhD in Managerial Science and Applied Economics from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, and my BA in Economics and Mathematics from Swarthmore College. 

List of MBA courses you currently teach: Leading People (core MBA class on leadership and management)

TELL US ABOUT LIFE AS A BUSINESS SCHOOL PROFESSOR

I knew I wanted to be a business school professor when… Honestly, it still feels surreal to have this job. This was not a profession I knew was possible until I participated in a summer program at Penn when I was 20 (thank you SUMR!). I am grateful to have a job that gives me the freedom to explore questions I’m passionate about, the opportunity to inspire future leaders, and the platform to make a tangible impact on healthcare policy and practice.

What are you currently researching and what is the most significant discovery you’ve made from it? I generally study how mergers and acquisitions in healthcare affect patients. One paper that was recently published found that the success of in vitro fertilization (IVF) improved after fertility clinics were acquired by corporate chains. This surprising result goes against most of the literature on corporate acquisitions in healthcare, perhaps because the fertility sector has more quality and price transparency and operates more like a retail business than traditional healthcare settings. Such transparency may help align corporate and patient interests. It is worth emphasizing that whether chains create value can vary across settings and depend on company strategy. For example, in another paper I find reductions in quality after physician practices are acquired by chains focused on providing financial management services. 

If I weren’t a business school professor… Outside of a research career, probably a dermatologist or trauma surgeon. The former because skincare is my hobby, the latter because I’ve been known to stay cool and act quickly in emergency situations (though also because I just finished watching HBO’s the Pitt – so good!) 

What do you think makes you stand out as a professor? Being an ex-theater kid and committing to the bit. I like to write original skits that mimic real-world workplace challenges and have students act out and debate what they would do. I also have fun acting out mini monologues embodying characters from case studies and have students pitch me solutions to the management challenges the character is facing. 

One word that describes my first time teaching: Perspiration

Here’s what I wish someone would’ve told me about being a business school professor: The anxiety dreams of missing class or not showing up to an exam as a student turn into anxiety dreams of showing up late to teach, or worse — showing up to class unprepared.

Professor I most admire and why: I need to give a shout out to Professors Ellen Magenheim and Cheryl Grood, two Swarthmore professors whose dedication to their students is unparalleled. Without their mentorship and support, I would not have pursued a PhD and be where I am today.  

TEACHING MBA STUDENTS

What do you enjoy most about teaching business students? Berkeley Haas has four leadership principles: Question the Status Quo, Confidence Without Attitude, Students Always, and Beyond Yourself. I have been really struck by my students’ commitment to these principles, particularly their genuine desire to build “healthy” organizations that invest as much in people as in the bottom line. 

What is most challenging? Converting the skeptics. Especially for my highly technical students, leadership can seem like a fluffy topic, so I love bringing in research that demonstrates causal effects from workplace experiments. 

In one word, describe your favorite type of student: Open-minded

In one word, describe your least favorite type of student: Entitled  

When it comes to grading, I think students would describe me as… The proverbial “tough but fair.” I value critical thinking and appreciate when my students engage deeply with the course materials.  

LIFE OUTSIDE OF THE CLASSROOM

What are your hobbies? Besides skincare (always wear sunscreen!), I enjoy cajoling my colleagues into doing karaoke and getting lost in new cities in the heat of summer, gelato in hand.

How will you spend your summer? I recently had a baby and will be taking him on a work-trip to Copenhagen. Wish me luck! 

Favorite place(s) to vacation: I’m from the Dominican Republic, and there is a beach called Playa Rincón in the Samaná Peninsula that is *so* special. 

Favorite book(s): Of my most recent reads, Barbara Kingsolver’s Demon Copperhead. Heart-wrenching. Also, Hot Dog by Doug Salati (IYKYK). 

What is currently your favorite movie and/or show and what is it about the film or program that you enjoy so much? Well besides the Pitt, I enjoy scifi-ish shows like the OA. As for movies, the music and whimsy of Amélie has a special place in my heart.

What is your favorite type of music or artist(s) and why? Kacey Musgraves! I adore her, her vibe and her music, especially the Golden Hour album. I played it when my son was born. 

THOUGHTS AND REFLECTIONS

If I had my way, the business school of the future would have much more of this… It would have a lot more research and teaching focused on healthcare (I know, I’m biased!). But seriously… Healthcare comprises more than one-fifth of the U.S. economy and faces urgent challenges: rising chronic illness, significant workforce shortages, aging populations, and escalating costs. Tackling these issues requires innovative thinking and thoughtful leaders who can navigate both the business and human sides of care.

In my opinion, companies and organizations today need to do a better job at… Creating healthy workplace environments — physically and emotionally — where their employees can thrive in both their professional and personal lives. 

I’m grateful for… My health, my family and my Berkeley community. I’ve moved almost every three years for most of my life, and it feels really good to finally have a place to call home. 

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