Meet The Texas McCombs MBA Class Of 2026

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?

Mabley: “We are excited to welcome two outstanding faculty members whose expertise and teaching philosophies align perfectly with our mission of developing human-centered, future-focused business leaders. Their additions to our program reflect our commitment to preparing students for the complex challenges they’ll face in tomorrow’s business landscape.

Dr. Constantinos Coutifaris joins our Management Department, bringing fresh insights to our leadership curriculum through his course on Leading People, which is centered on organizational behavior and leadership. His teaching philosophy embodies the McCombs ethos of intersecting individual growth with collaborative excellence. Dr. Coutifaris’s course goes beyond traditional leadership theory, diving deep into the “people heart” of enterprise – exploring how individuals, teams, and organizations can work together to achieve extraordinary results. What makes him a true difference-maker is his ability to help students develop both theoretical knowledge and practical skills in leading themselves, others, and organizations. Through a combination of self-reflection exercises, peer discussions, and real-world applications, students develop the crucial “human skills” that executives consistently identify as critical to business success. This approach perfectly aligns with McCombs’ commitment to launching ideas and innovating for impact, as students learn to navigate the complex human dynamics that can make or break organizational success.

Dr. Jacob Bradt brings his expertise to our Business, Government, and Society Department, where he teaches our inaugural innovative Global Net Zero Strategy course. For students passionate about private sector leadership in climate action, Dr. Bradt’s course offers a sophisticated framework for evaluating corporate sustainability initiatives and navigating climate-related challenges. What sets his teaching apart is his ability to bridge the gap between environmental imperatives and business strategy, helping students understand how firms can create value while addressing climate challenges. Through a combination of business cases, policy analysis, and interactive simulations, students learn to develop strategies that balance profitability with environmental responsibility. This course exemplifies McCombs’ future-focused approach, preparing leaders who understand that tomorrow’s business success requires innovative solutions to today’s environmental challenges. Dr. Bradt’s addition to our faculty strengthens our commitment to developing leaders who can drive positive change in an increasingly complex business environment.”

P&Q: What types of support does your career center and alumni provide to MBA students? How have these services and relationship made your graduates more competitive in the marketplace?

Mabley: “We’ve built a comprehensive career ecosystem that extends well beyond traditional career services, creating a powerful network of support that spans from a student’s first day through their entire professional journey. Our approach combines dedicated career coaching, extensive alumni engagement, and strategic corporate partnerships to position our graduates for success in an ever-evolving business landscape.

Our career management team provides lifetime support through a sophisticated blend of personalized coaching and innovative programming. In the past year alone, our team of five full-time coaches, complemented by specialized part-time experts, conducted nearly 800 individual coaching appointments and delivered over 150 hours of drop-in coaching sessions. This high-touch approach has proven remarkably effective, with 78.7% of our Class of 2024 securing positions through school-facilitated resources. Beyond traditional career coaching, we offer specialized programming including Wall Street preparation, consulting case interview training, and targeted support for specific populations such as veterans, ensuring every student receives the customized guidance they need to achieve their career goals.

The strength of our career support system is amplified by our exceptionally engaged alumni network, particularly in Austin’s dynamic business community. We’ve fostered a dynamic ecosystem of talent, where McCombs alumni actively seek out and hire fellow graduates. This phenomenon is evident across various industries, with companies demonstrating how our alumni network creates a self-reinforcing cycle of opportunity. Our local alumni regularly return to campus as classroom speakers, competition judges, and mentors, providing current students with invaluable insights and connections. This deep integration of alumni involvement, combined with our relationships with over 1,000 hiring companies, allows us to position McCombs as a premier talent source for organizations seeking business leaders who can drive innovation and impact. Through our dedicated alumni job board and mentoring programs, we ensure that the McCombs network continues to create value for our graduates throughout their careers.”

MBA Student	Hometown	Undergraduate Alma Mater	Last Employer
Wes Barlow	Weston, CT	Loyola University of Maryland	Reggora, Inc.
Andres Campano	Miami, FL	University of Miami	Centre Lane Partners
Catherine Carty	Bronxville, NY	Fordham University	Linden Advisors
Mandira Karmakar	Kolkata, India	National Institute of Technology Rourkela	Professional Singer
Alex Kim	Chicago, IL	University of Illinois	Research Theory
Kasey McCravey	Scottsdale, AZ	U.S. Military Academy	U.S. Army
Lovesimrjit “Sunny” Sandhu	Katy, TX	University of Texas	Spring Branch Independent School District
Mackenzie Schafer	Austin, TX	Bowdoin College	Google
Juliet Uadiale	Benin City, Nigeria	University of Benin	Smile Communications Nigeria
Jalen Wade	Spring Hill, TN	U.S. Naval Academy	U.S. Marine Corps
Jordan Woods	New Orleans, LA	Howard University	Reproductive Health Impact
Ekaterina Kouznetsova	Moscow, Russia	University of Texas at Dallas	Signet Jewelers

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