Meet Georgetown McDonough’s MBA Class Of 2026

Want to understand business?

You’d better be curious about the world.

The marketplace is segmented, you’ll hear. Different experiences, tastes, habits, and politics. Peel back further and you’ll find varying values, practices, traditions, and histories. In an increasingly interconnected world, it takes more effort than ever to build in-roads and influence. It requires a global mindset, an openness to differences and awareness of bias. Thinking globally involves a willingness to pursue outcomes through varying means. More than that, a global mindset embraces a “When in Rome” spirit of blending in and contributing.

Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business has been described as one of America’s most “International” full-time MBA programs. And it’s not because 49% of the Class of 2026 hails from 41 countries. Instead, it is that global mindset that binds this 263-member class. Each member has honed this way of thinking differently. For Catherine Young, it grew from working at General Mills, a multinational firm, where international segments fueled its growth. By the same token, Cristián Valck, a native of Chile, discovered solutions by watching how other countries approached the same issues.

THE GLOBAL MINDSET

“I have been fortunate to work with people from all over South America and have seen how having a global mindset can lead to better results and synergies. For example, in my last job at Coca-Cola Andina, we launched flavored water in refillable bottles. As there was no precedent for this type of innovation in Chile, we looked for success stories in our Argentinean subsidiaries, where we gained deep insights including launch pain points, consumer understanding, promotional mechanics, and cannibalization with other beverage categories.”

Working at Capital One, Brett Weinstein learned that understanding diverse perspectives is invaluable, as “We never know who we’ll work with throughout our careers.” That wisdom would certainly resonate with Jeffrey McNerney, whose decade-long career has spanned research and AI management at PitchBook and Zillow respectively.

“Much of my career has involved finding international solutions to problems facing even domestic companies with domestic customers, whether gathering valuable global data overlooked by other sources or building teams abroad,” he tells P&Q. “It’s safe and easy to focus only on the familiar, but expanding to a global mindset reveals a huge array of companies and individuals who will help create new perspectives, markets, and innovations.”

DC: THE PLACE TO BE

In West Africa, Walter Johnson gained a deeper appreciation for global nuances by working as a Peace Corps volunteer. That experience will come in handy at McDonough, where students are required to take a Global Business Experience (GBE) – the realization of Mark Twain’s observation that “Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness.” Held during second year, the GBE pairs student teams up with leading companies. Last year, McDonough MBAs completed 46 projects across countries like Germany, Ghana, United Arab Emirates, and Brazil. In the past, student teams have worked with companies like Barclays, Coca-Cola, General Electric, 3M, Lamborghini, and Phillips.

Along with a week-long trip overseas, where students present their findings to company executives, students spend extensive time in the classroom to learn global and regional business practices. “[The GBE] excites me because it provides a unique opportunity to engage directly with global business challenges while working alongside executives from various industries and Fortune 500 companies,” explains Jamal Starling, most recently a manager with Accenture Federal Services. “This hands-on experience will allow myself and my peers to apply theoretical knowledge in real-world contexts, which is invaluable for developing practical skills and understanding diverse market dynamics.”

Georgetown University is also home to the Walsh School of Foreign Service, regarded as the best school in the field (with McDonough offering a joint MBA with the school). Such connections are one reason why the school is fond of saying that “business has no borders.” Another reason is its location in Washington, DC – home to 186 embassies – not to mention 20 Fortune 500 headquarters. That’s hardly a surprise, considering DC is the center of American government. It is where laws are written, decisions are made, and winners-and-losers are chosen. Lawmakers, policy-makers, experts, and influencers all populate the DMV. That doesn’t count nearly every leading company and not-profit maintaining some operations in DC to stay close to the action.

The world comes to DC. From here, America projects around the globe, be it funding, relationships, or raw power. That makes it the perfect place to earn an MBA, be it growing a network, finding opportunities, or learning about the world beyond the oceans.

“I love the diverse intellectual thrum of the city, where policy wonks, museum scholars, global dignitaries, and business leaders all mingle together,” explains Jeffrey McNerney. “Ideas and influences can come from anywhere, so there’s always a chance that the next person you meet is involved with an organization, leader, or cause that will genuinely change the world.”

ACHIEVEMENTS BACKED BY NUMBERS

The MBA Class of 2026 has each changed the world in their own little way. Take Sophia Terrile, who studied International Business at Kings College in London. Before business school, you could find her at the Milken Institute, a nonprofit think tank devoted to areas like education and healthcare.

“I was part of the Business Development team that continued to break fundraising records and expand the network of supporters. Leading my team through major projects for our domestic and international events for the past two years was a privilege and major accomplishment.”

The first-year class’s impact can be quantified. Melina A. Ramirez managed an $11-million-dollar budget at Thomson Reuters – and boosted budget forecasting accuracy to 99%. At Coca-Cola Andina, Cristián Valck drove 27% growth in Plain Waters, achieving national category leadership for the first time in company history. In one engagement, Sneha Karamcheti helped an Ernst & Young client boost revenue by $25-million-dollars. For Brett Weinstein, the big moment came when he was charged with rolling out a Capital One partnerships credit line decrease strategy – one projected to cut losses by $75-million-dollars and cut exposure by another billion dollars.

“We achieved this by identifying risky accounts prior to their delinquency on our card and reducing their credit line before they could increase their balance. The team worked with internal stakeholders to ensure that we were sharing the right messages with affected customers and with external card partners to align on the strategy.”

FROM GENERAL MILLS TO THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

Shane Connolly arrives in DC after serving as company commander in the U.S. Army’s legendary 82nd Airborne Division. Catherine Young earned the Culture Champion Award at General Mills. Gracie Akin, who’ll be completing a Morgan Stanly internship this summer, made senior consultant at Deloitte, where her work included developing workforce development solutions using artificial intelligence. And Brianna Belisle is equally formidable with technology. She is an expert and author in Privacy User-Experience (PUX), a concept involving helping consumers maintain their data privacy rights through a variety of mechanisms.

“I worked with a small team to identify a need within the financial services space to benchmark privacy practices against similar firms, and developed and implemented a repeatable methodology for collecting data across the industry and quantifying what good vs. bad PUX looks like,” Belisle writes. “I supported the creation of a blog series and e-book showcasing this methodology and emphasizing the importance of privacy-centric design and marketing in the face of increased regulation and consumer expectations in the data privacy space.”

In the case of Grace Young, her work led to saving lives. “During my time at DOJ, I served as the leading paralegal on a case against an adoption agency that was trafficking African children. Prosecuting this case was a strenuous process which required long hours over the course of several weeks. This was a relatively big case, which involved several defendants. We ultimately were successful in prosecuting this case.”

Outside of class, Sophia Terrile juggles and Walter Johnson plays banjo. Brett Weinstein has built a tiny house, while Brianna Belisle plays four instruments, including guitar and violin. Catherine Young has already published a book: Miracle of Mom. Among her friends, Sneha Karamcheti carries a certain identity.

“Wearing my heart on my sleeve, I’ve earned the honorary title of the ‘momma’ in my social squad—I’m the go-to gal for advice, hugs, and maybe a snack or two!  I am always ready with a listening ear and a comforting presence.”

LONG-TERM GOALS

When it comes to defining what will make her McDonough experience successful, Catherine Young points to something bigger than just understanding the fundamentals of venture capital.

“If I can say I’ve learned and I’ve lived, then I will consider the MBA an incredibly fulfilling adventure. If I carry with me a deeper understanding of business principles and their application to the real world for the greater good, then I can say I’ve learned. If I have met and befriended individuals from all walks of life, learning from their professional and personal backgrounds and traveling with them to unfamiliar lands, then I can say I’ve lived. This, to me, will be a successful MBA experience.”

In equal measure, Gracie Akin hopes to make the most of everything – “every resource, opportunity, and connection” – that the McDonough MBA offers.

“My MBA experience will be successful if I dive in and take advantage of every resource, opportunity, and connection that Georgetown McDonough presents to me during the program. It is such a privilege to pause working a full-time job to invest in myself, expose myself to new industries, and grow into a confident business leader. I know these two years will fly by, so I do not want to take anything for granted – from attending Career Treks, to participating in the Global Business Experience, to getting to know my accomplished peers and renowned professors. I hope to say “yes” often!”

A CLASS PROFILE

As a whole, women account for a 33% share of the MBA Class of 2026, with underrepresented minorities and U.S. military veterans making up 14% and 12% shares respectively. The average GMAT score is 696, up a point from the previous year. 44% of the class also took the GRE, where the average was 319. The average undergraduate GMAT came in at 3.3, with 2.76 being the lowest average in the mid-80% range.

As undergraduates, the most popular majors among first-years were Business and Humanities at 24% and 23% respectively. However, when you combine Math, Sciences, and Engineering, STEM was technically larger at 26%. The class also includes substantial representation in Government and International Studies (10%) and Economics (9%). As professionals, the largest segment of the class last worked in Financial Services (18%) and Consulting (11%). Technology and New Media (9%), Government (8%), Manufacturing (5%) and Consumer Products (5%) also represent sizable shares.

One advantage of the McDonough MBA: scale. Aside from roughly 520 full-time MBAs, the school features over 1,350 undergraduate business students and another 500 graduate students – not counting over 100 full-time faculty members and 60 adjuncts. In fact, McDonough ranks among the Top 5 undergraduate business programs according to P&Q, with U.S. News surveys of MBA directors and business school deans pegging the school as 4th-best in International Business and 11th for Real Estate. For Brett Weinstein, for one, was impressed by the Steers Center for Global Real Estate, particularly its “resources, curriculum, and network.”

“I felt as though the real estate curriculum reinforced theoretical concepts with practical application through classes on valuations and funding and the experiential learning provided by the two offered clinics. This made me confident that I’ll be well prepared for the workforce upon graduation. When I spoke with members of the Class of 2024, I came to appreciate the support that Georgetown McDonough alumni provide to current students in the real estate industry, especially in the D.C. metro area.”

CAREER SERVICES KICKS IN EARLY…AND OFTEN

Weinstein was equally smitten with McDonough’s alumni. “When I was recruiting for my MBA, I looked at people locally in the positions that I want to hold in 5, 10, or 20 years. I found that a lot of those folks had some connection to Georgetown through the MBA program at McDonough or through another program at the university.”

Several class members cited career services as another of McDonough’s advantages. Brianna Belisle, for example, hyped school resources like “career conferences, MBA employer presentations, career fairs, and specialized training resources.” At the same time, Gracie Akin was struck by how quickly career services swung into action with the class.

“Even before I stepped foot on campus for my first semester, I had completed a Summer Webinar Series, reflected on my accomplishments to-date, reviewed my resume with a Career Counselor, and met one-on-one with a Career Counselor to identify my goals for my internship and post-MBA.”

Beyond this custom support, Sneha Karamcheti points to the center’s industry relationships as a value add. “The unparalleled access to top firms in key East Coast hubs like New York, Boston, and D.C. was incredibly compelling. Additionally, the large and always-ready-to-help alumni network, providing connections to leading MNCs and consulting firms, solidified my decision. Georgetown McDonough’s strategic location, coupled with its strong industry ties and supportive community, offered the perfect environment to achieve my career aspirations.”

Next Page: An interview with Sudipta Dasmohapatra, Senior Associate Dean of MBA Programs

Page 3: Profiles of 13 Members of the MBA Class of 2026