2025 Best 40-Under-40 MBA Professors: Negin (Nikki) Golrezaei, Sloan School of Management, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

2025 Best 40-Under-40 MBA Professors

Negin (Nikki) Golrezaei
MIT Sloan School of Management

“She is receiving raves from MBAs for Real-Time Analytics for Digital Platforms, a new class she introduced at Sloan in September. She says: ‘Real-time analytics are reshaping the landscape of modern business by enabling unprecedented levels of efficiency and insights. It’s crucial for students to understand the power of these technologies, as they provide the tools to anticipate trends, optimize operations over time, and adapt to changes. Mastering these tools is not just about keeping up with trends; it’s about students leading the charge in an increasingly data-driven world.’” School nomination

Negin (Nikki) Golrezaei, 39, is the W. Maurice Young (1961) Career Development Associate Professor of Management and an Associate Professor of Operations Management at the MIT Sloan School of Management. Her research focuses on advancing digital marketplaces—such as e-commerce, online advertising, and emissions trading systems—through the design and implementation of data-driven strategies and algorithmic innovations. Her work aims to foster more resilient, equitable, and sustainable digital ecosystems.

Prior to joining MIT, Negin was a postdoctoral fellow at Google Research in New York, where she collaborated with the Market Algorithms team to develop, test, and implement new mechanisms for digital marketplaces. She holds a BSc (2007) and MSc (2009) in Electrical Engineering from Sharif University of Technology, Iran, and a PhD (2017) in Operations Research from the University of Southern California.

Negin’s research has been published in leading academic journals, including Operations Research, Management Science, Mathematics of Operations Research, and Manufacturing & Service Operations Management. Her work has received support from the Office of Naval Research (ONR), the Google Faculty Research Award, the MIT-IBM Watson AI Lab, Liberty Mutual Insurance, MIT Indonesia Seed Funds, and the MIT Research Support Committee (RSC). It has garnered media attention from outlets such as the MIT Sloan Newsroom and the Simons Institute for the Theory of Computing. She has collaborated with major technology firms, including Google, Meta, and Liberty Mutual, with many of her algorithms deployed in practice or informing industry best practices.

At MIT Sloan, Negin created the MBA course “Real-Time Tools for Digital Platforms,” which integrates technical rigor with hands-on industry applications. The course features case studies and guest speakers from leading technology companies and was recently highlighted in an MIT Sloan article showcasing innovative curriculum additions. In addition to this course, she has taught “Introduction to Operations Management” and “The Analytics of Operations Management.”

Negin currently serves as an associate editor for Operations Research, Production and Operations Management, Operations Research Letters, and Naval Research Logistics. Her recognitions include the 2021 ONR Young Investigator Award, the 2018 Google Faculty Research Award, the 2017 George B. Dantzig Dissertation Award, the INFORMS Revenue Management and Pricing Section Dissertation Prize, and the 2017 USC Outstanding Teaching Award. She also received the 2023 INFORMS Minority Issues Forum Best Paper Award and the 2024 IJCAI Distinguished Paper Award.

BACKGROUND

At current institution since what year?  2018

Education: PhD, Operations Research, University of Southern California, 2017; MSc, Electrical Engineering, Sharif University of Technology, 2009; BSc, Electrical Engineering, Sharif University of Technology, 2007

List of MBA courses you currently teach: Real-Time Tools for Digital Platforms, Introduction to Operations Management

TELL US ABOUT LIFE AS A BUSINESS SCHOOL PROFESSOR

I knew I wanted to be a business school professor when … I began my PhD at the Marshall School of Business at USC. I was drawn to the opportunity to conduct rigorous research on practical and impactful problems in digital platforms—systems that have shaped how I shop, connect, learn, and make decisions in my everyday life. The ability to study these systems analytically and share that knowledge with the next generation through teaching made this career feel like a perfect fit.

What are you currently researching and what is the most significant discovery you’ve made from it? I am currently researching carbon emissions trading systems, where governments allocate pollution permits through multi-unit auctions. In my recent work, I explore the use of pay-as-bid auctions—where each bidder pays their submitted bid—instead of the more commonly used uniform-price format. Our findings show that pay-as-bid auctions not only have the potential to increase government revenue and better align permit prices with the societal cost of carbon, but are also more robust to implicit collusion. In contrast to uniform-price auctions—where bidding algorithms tend to reduce prices over time even without coordination—pay-as-bid mechanisms discourage such strategic price suppression. These insights offer a promising pathway toward more effective and resilient market-based climate policies.

If I weren’t a business school professor … I would be running my own startup focused on designing market mechanisms for high-stakes settings—such as data markets and recommendation systems—where algorithmic design can shape outcomes, influence behavior, and drive meaningful societal impact.

What do you think makes you stand out as a professor? I bring a unique blend of technical depth, industry engagement, and a passion for real-world impact. My engineering background gives me a strong foundation in analytical thinking and modeling, while my ongoing collaborations with leading tech firms ensure that my research stays grounded in practical relevance. What truly sets me apart is my commitment to translating cutting-edge research into the classroom. I design courses that reflect the challenges today’s businesses face in data-rich, fast-moving digital environments, and I work to equip students not just with tools, but with the mindset to solve meaningful problems.

One word that describes my first time teaching: Formative.

My first teaching experience was during my PhD at USC, where I taught Introduction to Operations Management. It was the moment I began shaping my own teaching voice—one that is approachable, rigorous, and grounded in clarity. That experience helped me realize how much I enjoy making complex ideas accessible and relevant for students.

Here’s what I wish someone would’ve told me about being a business school professor: I wish someone had told me how entrepreneurial this job is. You’re constantly designing—from courses and research agendas to collaborations and even your own role in the school’s ecosystem. That freedom is exhilarating, but it also means you have to be deliberate in shaping your own path.

Professor I most admire and why: I truly admire my colleague Georgia Perakis. She is not only a brilliant scholar and dedicated mentor, but also a trailblazer in our field. As the current interim dean of MIT Sloan, she leads with vision, integrity, and a deep commitment to our community. Georgia has played a transformative role in supporting and advancing the careers of many women in operations research and management science, including mine. Her ability to balance high-impact research, institutional leadership, and mentorship is truly inspiring—and something I aspire to emulate.

TEACHING MBA STUDENTS

What do you enjoy most about teaching business students? I love how curious, motivated, and impact-driven business students are. They bring diverse experiences and ask sharp, thoughtful questions. What I enjoy most is seeing their excitement when abstract concepts click—especially when they realize how these ideas can be applied to real-world problems they care about. That energy makes every class session both intellectually rewarding and personally fulfilling.

What is most challenging? One of the most challenging aspects of teaching business students is designing a course that resonates with a class full of individuals who bring diverse backgrounds, experiences, and technical skill levels. Some students may have strong quantitative training, while others are encountering analytical tools for the first time. Some are looking for conceptual depth; others want direct applications. Striking the right balance between rigor and accessibility—while keeping the content engaging and relevant for everyone—is both the hardest and most intellectually rewarding part of teaching.

In one word, describe your favorite type of student: Curious

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

When it comes to grading, I think students would describe me as .. fair, but more focused on genuine engagement than letter grades. I care most about students’ curiosity, participation, and interest in the material. Especially in an MBA setting, I believe learning should be driven by real-world relevance and intellectual growth—not just performance on a grading scale.

LIFE OUTSIDE OF THE CLASSROOM

What are your hobbies? I enjoy listening to podcasts, reading books, staying active through exercise, and—most of all—spending time with my two sons. They keep me curious, grounded, and always on my toes!

How will you spend your summer? I’ll be visiting my parents and siblings, spending quality time with my kids, and diving into research. Summer is also my favorite time to step back, reflect, and think creatively about new directions for my research agenda. It’s a mix of recharging and reimagining.

Favorite place(s) to vacation: Cancun and Florida—for the sunshine, beaches, and a chance to fully unwind with my family.

Favorite book(s): I love books that bring history to life through storytelling—especially those centered around strong, complex women. Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell is a longtime favorite, with its unforgettable portrayal of Scarlett O’Hara’s resilience. I also deeply enjoyed  The Lion Women of Tehran by Marjan Kamali, which weaves Iranian history with a moving, character-driven narrative. Another favorite is Blindness by José Saramago. While the characters are unnamed, the central female figure—often referred to simply as “the doctor’s wife”—stands out for her quiet strength, clarity, and moral courage in a collapsing world. 

These stories stay with me not just for their prose, but for how they blend history, identity, and human resilience—especially through the lens of women who lead, endure, and evolve.

What is currently your favorite movie and/or show and what is it about the film or program that you enjoy so much? One of my favorite recent movies is Air—the story of how Nike signed Michael Jordan. I found it incredibly inspiring to see how a bold vision and deep conviction in a young athlete transformed not just a company, but an entire industry. The film powerfully illustrates how strategic thinking, risk-taking, and relationship-building can create value for everyone involved. It’s a great reminder of how innovative thinking and belief in people can shape the future of business.

What is your favorite type of music or artist(s) and why? I enjoy both pop and jazz music. Pop gives me energy and is easy to connect with, while jazz helps me slow down and unwind. I like how each brings a different mood—whether I’m trying to focus, relax, or just enjoy a good rhythm in the background.

THOUGHTS AND REFLECTIONS

If I had my way, the business school of the future would have much more of this … Real-time, data-driven decision-making embedded into every part of the curriculum. I’d love to see students working on problems that evolve as they solve them—mirroring the uncertainty and complexity of today’s digital world. And I’d pair that with a greater emphasis on ethics, fairness, and long-term societal impact in how we design systems, not just how we optimize them.

In my opinion, companies and organizations today need to do a better job at … designing systems that balance performance with fairness and long-term sustainability. Too often, optimization is done in isolation from the broader ecosystem it affects—whether that’s customers, workers, or the environment. We need more intentional design that considers not just what works best for the company today, but what builds trust and resilience for the future.

I’m grateful for … my family for their unwavering support, my brilliant PhD students and collaborators who make research a true joy, and the MIT Sloan for providing such a vibrant intellectual home. I also feel lucky to have the freedom to be entrepreneurial within academia—to explore bold ideas and help shape the next generation of thinkers and leaders.

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