Meet Georgetown McDonough’s MBA Class Of 2026

CURA PERSONALIS RINGS TRUE

Jeffrey McNerney cites other advantages. One is Intensive Learning Experience, which he describes as “sprint-like courses…that can be project-based or experiential in a wide range of subjects.” Another is the selection of electives, including coursework from outside the McDonough School.

“Students are able to take electives from other schools within Georgetown and even from other universities in Washington D.C., adds Walter Johnson. “This aspect of Georgetown’s program is important to me because it will allow me to tailor my education to meet my interests and career goals.”

Beyond McDonough’s diversity, location, and curriculum, the Class of 2026 lists the school’s values-driven approach as maybe the program’s biggest differentiator. Grounded in Jesuit tradition, the MBA program places a premium on ethics, social justice, cultural competence, and community engagement. However, the DNA of the school is entwined with the concept of cura personalis – care for the whole person. Think of it as a call to action, to always be respectful and empathetic – and be on the lookout for ways to include others and leverage their talents. Together, these Jesuit principles, stretching back nearly 600 years, seem even more relevant today say students.

“The program’s integration of ethics into the curriculum and its commitment to developing leaders who are not only effective but also principled resonated deeply with me,” writes Jamal Starling. “It’s important to be part of an institution that prioritizes not just profit but also purpose.”

Abigail Oowusu, a ’24 grad, echoes Starling’s sentiments. “I chose McDonough because I wanted to be a part of a community that focused on building holistic leaders. These leaders would not only had the aptitude to be successful when it came to the hard skills a job required, but the soft skills as well. I think a lot of people get caught up in being the best at what they do and forget that caring for people is the biggest part of doing a job well, no matter the business. Given Georgetown’s principle of Cura Personalis, I thought that the program McDonough offered would not only make sure that I could do a job well but also serve others well while doing so.”

KEGS FOR KICKS

Ask alumni what they favorite tradition is and you’re bound to hear someone chime in, “Executive Challenge.” A day-long role play, MBA teams problem solve real-world cases, receiving feedback from alumni judges on everything from strategy to communication. For Maddie McPhail, another ’24 grad, the Executive Challenge truly simulated what it is like to handle a crisis from the c-suite.

“I won the Executive Challenge at the end of my first year, and it was one of my proudest moments. The day includes a simulated business environment with alumni acting as “executives” who judge your performance under pressure. During the experience, I received a case at 7 am in the morning, analyzed it with my talented case partner, and presented it to a panel of alumni judges within hours. My team also helped me prep and remain calm, which only further emphasized the need for excellent team support in order to succeed as individuals.”

Let’s not forget KEGS – Keeping Everyone at Georgetown Social – a Thursday mixer over food, drinks, and entertainment. “Typically, co-host student organizations add flavor to the event by celebrating different cultural traditions (e.g., Black History Month, Lunar New Year) and holding space for the school’s diverse student body (War Stories for the Veteran community and Identity Stories for the LGBTQ+ community),” adds ’24 grad Nishant Makhijani. “Every week, KEGS allowed me to unwind from the stress of recruiting and academics, spend time with peers who weren’t in my cohort or courses, and admire what being part of a community means.”

AN INTERVIEW WITH THE SENIOR ASSOCIATE DEAN

The coming years will be ambitious ones at McDonough, as the school aims to become leaders in the sustainability, research, and artificial intelligence spaces. That’s not all that happening. Here are some additional thoughts from Sudipta Dasmohapatra, senior associate dean of MBA programs at Georgetown McDonough. In an exclusive Q&A with P&Q, she covers McDonough’s offerings in career services, international business, and leadership.

P&Q: What have been the two most important developments in your MBA program over the past year? What type of impact will they have on current and future MBAs?

Dasmohapatra: “Over the past year, we successfully launched our Flex MBA Online program to provide additional flexibility for students as they balance work, life, and school commitments from across the country on their path to career advancement. We welcomed our second cohort this fall.

The Flex MBA Online delivers the same degree as the in-person program, including the same professors, career resources, and signature experiential learning opportunities, with the added convenience of virtual classes. The online program has been intentionally designed to maximize the learning experience and includes both synchronous and asynchronous content; two week-long residencies in Washington D.C.; participation in McDonough’s signature week-long global business consulting experience overseas; integration into the Georgetown community through co-curricular and student club engagement opportunities; and ongoing career programming. Additionally, students have the opportunity to connect with our in-person MBA cohorts through online elective courses where they each bring their unique perspectives to the classroom discussions.

We also introduced a new MBA Certificate in the Business of Healthcare to our list of available specializations to equip students to lead at the intersection of business and medicine and understand the changing pressures of healthcare in the United States. This certificate is ideal for individuals aiming to enhance their knowledge and skills in healthcare management, policy, and administration, as well as for those looking to transition into the healthcare sector.”

P&Q: Every January, P&Q publishes a “10 Business Schools to Watch” feature that highlights how schools are raising the bar and enhancing the student experience through innovation or expansion in programming or resources. What is one innovation that sets your school apart from your peer programs and makes you a business school to watch? Why is it so groundbreaking?

Dasmohapatra: “True to our Jesuit values, Operation: Cura Personalis is a distinctive initiative at Georgetown McDonough designed to foster community and reinforce our commitment to care for others, demonstrate compassion, and focus on holistic wellness. The Jesuit philosophy of cura personalis, or care of the whole person, became the guiding principle of the operation, which is a centuries-old hallmark of the Georgetown tradition to look after one another and encourage their wellbeing.

Operation: Cura Personalis is groundbreaking in its comprehensive approach to student development. Extending beyond the classroom, this initiative provides opportunities for growth and reflection across multiple dimensions of wellness, including professional, intellectual, emotional, financial, spiritual, physical, social, and environmental. Students have the opportunity to participate in ongoing programs and events designed to help them reconnect with the community and focus on other elements of their personal growth and development. A few key initiatives include Wellness Week, offering activities such as dog therapy and massages to promote relaxation and stress relief; Gratitude Week; encouraging a culture of appreciation and mindfulness; workshops and events focused on holistic wellness and overall well-being; board games for social interaction and mental relaxation; and self-care tools to support students’ self-care routines.

This innovative program not only strengthens the close-knit community that we are known for but also highlights our intentional focus on integrating health and wellness into the academic and professional development of MBA students.”

P&Q: What types of programs do you offer to sharpen your students’ soft skills? What areas do you emphasize and how do you instill these skills in your students?

Dasmohapatra: “At Georgetown McDonough, we recognize the critical importance of soft skills in professional success. Our comprehensive programs and curriculum are designed to cultivate these skills, emphasizing communication, leadership, teamwork, emotional intelligence, and ethical decision-making.

We offer a variety of courses to prepare students to develop their soft skills, including Leading Teams for Performance and Impact, to address how implicit bias affects decision-making; Leadership Communications, to simulate real-world communication challenges and evaluate students on their ability to persuade, motivate, and build relationships; Ethical Leadership, which tasks students with doing “something good” in the world while they evaluate the ethical considerations along the way; and the Global Business Experience consulting projects, where students travel abroad to engage with clients on a real-world business challenge.

Our approach includes a combination of theoretical learning and practical application, which is incorporated through interactive class discussions and group activities, experiential learning, feedback and reflection, and community engagement and social impact initiatives.

These efforts are also prioritized throughout the career development process. Our career curriculum requires students to first understand themselves, and then develop career goals and aspirations that align with their values. We believe every student’s “power skills” are unique and their paths into – and through – the MBA program are different. With this in mind, the McDonough Career Center focuses on coaching and empowering students to define and communicate their skills by offering career clarification workshops,1:1 career coaching sessions, networking activities, and mock interview practice. Through these co-curricular activities, coupled with their curricular training, students are experimenting with finding their voice as global business leaders and sharpening their problem-solving, communication, critical, and strategic thinking “power” skills to show how they can add impact and value in the workplace.

Lastly, it cannot be overstated that our commitment to our Jesuit values of cura personalis and serving the common good are central to how we view the development of our students. In addition to the Operation: Cura Personalis initiative, we are committed to caring for each student’s unique needs, abilities, and circumstances as we encourage their own flourishing. This starts with our exceptional faculty and staff who support our students through every step of their journey – and with our students and alumni, who live and breathe our values and foster our culture of respect, collaboration, and understanding. With the support of the McDonough community, we believe that an MBA from Georgetown is more than just education; it is a catalyst for personal growth, global impact, and a lifetime of meaningful connections.”

P&Q: What types of programming – through classroom instruction, extracurriculars, and treks – does your school offer to expose students to country-specific and global business practices? What have students told you were the most educational and fun aspects of these activities?

Dasmohapatra: “The McDonough MBA program emphasizes global leadership throughout the program, offering study abroad opportunities, global consulting projects, case studies, and international immersions to help students understand the complexities of leading in diverse cultural and global business environments.

Through our signature Global Business Experience consulting projects, each MBA student travels abroad to consult with an industry or a specific Fortune 500 company to address a complex business challenge. Over the past year, our students traveled to four continents to consult on 120 projects covering various real-world topics, including market entry, market development, communications, competitive strategy, and global growth strategy, among many others.

McDonough MBA students also have the opportunity to study abroad at renowned international exchange programs during the fall semester of their second year, which have included programs at Copenhagen Business School, ESADE Business School, HEC Paris, IAE Business School, Austral University, London Business School, Bocconi University, and Hong Kong University of Science and Technology.

Our student-run International Treks or “ITreks”  provide opportunities for travel domestically and internationally to network with alumni, learn about specific industries, support local organizations, and engage with different cultures. Recent ITreks have included Botswana, Japan, Colombia, Mexico, and Tanzania. Students also pursue a variety of social impact projects to support international communities around the globe. In the past year, our students had the opportunity to work on a project with Genser Energy Ghana Limited to address a significant water crisis in rural Ghanaian communities affected by illegal mining activities. The project aimed to provide clean, affordable drinking water to over 700,000 people, enhancing community health and promoting environmental sustainability.

Located in the global capital city of Washington, D.C., our students are exposed to the nexus of international business and policy through consulting opportunities, case studies, internships, and signature events with top speakers within the D.C. community. We have unparalleled access to business, government, policy, and diplomatic communities – as well as our worldwide network of alumni who frequently host our students for events and networking opportunities. Additionally, students benefit from access to our faculty-led centers and initiatives, such as the Baratta Center for Global Business, who are actively pursuing research activities to address complex challenges in business and global affairs.

Lastly, our most significant student-run event of the year is the student-run International Festival which takes place annually in November. Our MBA Program encompasses students from more than 40 different countries, so the International Festival stands as a testament to the inclusive and global nature of our institution. This event goes beyond merely celebrating the various nationalities represented in our student body; it serves as a platform to foster intercultural understanding and appreciation. By offering cultural experiences, performances, global cuisine, and interactive activities, the festival provides an immersive experience and reflects our school’s commitment to embracing diversity and promoting a truly global mindset among our students. It is a manifestation of our belief that embracing diversity is not only essential for personal growth but also crucial for driving positive change in the global business landscape.

Students have reported that these experiences are both educational and enjoyable. They appreciate the opportunity to apply classroom knowledge to real-world challenges, gain firsthand insights into different business cultures, and develop a global perspective. The hands-on nature of the projects and the unique cultural experiences, such as the Global Business Experience trips and the immersive activities at International Fest, are consistently highlighted as the most memorable and impactful aspects of their education.”

P&Q: What are the most exciting new courses that your school is offering to MBAs this school year? What makes them so unique and valuable?

Dasmohapatra: “We are thrilled to introduce a series of courses at the intersection of business and healthcare, supporting our new MBA Certificate in the Business of Healthcare. These courses are designed to equip our students with the necessary skills and knowledge to excel in the rapidly evolving healthcare industry:

• Healthcare Data and Analytics: This course will delve into the use of data to drive decision-making and improve healthcare outcomes.
• Business of Healthcare: Redesigned and re-launched as a modular course, this class provides a comprehensive understanding of the healthcare industry’s business aspects.
• Healthcare, Nonprofit, and Government Accounting: This course focuses on the unique accounting needs of healthcare, nonprofit, and government sectors.
• Healthcare Entrepreneurship: This course will explore innovative approaches to starting and managing healthcare ventures.

These courses underscore our commitment to providing a broad and in-depth educational experience for students aiming to build their careers in the healthcare sector. By offering these specialized courses, we aim to prepare our students to navigate and lead in the complex and dynamic field of healthcare.”

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

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