Best & Brightest Online MBAs: Class Of 2025

Tenzin Dadul is a doctor, entrepreneur, teacher, and philanthropist. At his core, he is really a student, always looking to grow so he can better serve.

He just picked up his fourth degree, graduating in May from the online MBA program at the University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business.

For Dadul, the program had everything: first-rate faculty, hands-on learning, and global immersions. More than that, it provided him with a way to continue learning without making painful tradeoffs in his career. “It empowered me to advance my education without compromising my impact,” he tells P&Q, “making it the ideal choice for a purpose-driven leader navigating a dynamic career.”

TOP MBA GRADUATES FROM THE TOP ONLINE PROGRAMS

Dadul is among the 56 graduates honored in P&Q’s “Best & Brightest Online MBAs” from the Class of 2025. Now in its 8th year, the Best & Brightest honors the top leaders and performers across 39 of the world’s top Online MBA programs. This class includes 29 women and 27 men, who range in age from 26-59. They include CFOs, entrepreneurs, engineers, human resources managers – and even a pro wrestling announcer! As undergraduates, they majored in fields as different as Philosophy, Neuroscience, Theology, and Journalism.

More than that, they are the leaders and high potentials at some of the world’s most admired companies: Boeing, Bristol Myers Squibb, Deloitte, FedEx, Hewlett Packard, Microsoft, Salesforce, and Thermo Fisher Scientific. In some cases, the Best & Brightest have worked at several top firms in their careers.

Dadul went to Ross after already earning a portfolio of academic credentials. Holding a Doctor of Dental Surgery and a MDS in Medicine and Radiology, Dadul also earned a Ph.D. in Leadership from Andrews University – not to mention a Certificate of Specialization in Leadership and Management from Harvard Business School Online. Because he enjoyed his business curriculum and the online format so much, he enrolled in the online MBA program at Ross.

MBA PREPARES DADUL TO LIVE HIS DREAM

As part of a foundation he launched, Dadul has provided more than 150,000 patients with free cancer, medical, and dental care. He calls healthcare “a universal right, not a privilege.” As a teacher, Dadul has passed this mission onto others, mentoring “over 400 medical and undergraduate students from underserved communities in the Himalayas and Detroit.” Founder of the Cancer Medical Dental Center, Dadul was recently promoted to academic dean at PNET Global, where he has been innovating in such areas as guided implant surgeries.

It has been an impressive journey for the Tibetan-born Dadul, who learned English guiding climbers around Mount Everest. Dadul believes the Ross School provided far more than just mastery of business fundamentals.

“The Ross experience gave me the strategic insight and confidence to pursue a childhood dream: launching ventures in medical innovation and expanding our global medical mission,” he writes. “With the support of an extraordinary team, we successfully developed four breakthrough technologies aimed at improving the lives of individuals battling cancer and Alzheimer’s disease. This journey reflects the power of purpose-driven leadership and the transformative impact of a world-class education. The Ross Online MBA didn’t just prepare me for a promotion—it empowered me to lead with vision, compassion, and a commitment to meaningful change.”

THE BENEFITS OF AN ONLINE MBA

That is a rather common perspective on the degree and the learning experience. “I’m most proud of building and scaling leadership technical teams at Google, Amazon and Meta,” explains Sumeet Malik, a graduate of Santa Clara University’s Leavey School. “At Amazon, I led recruiting across the AWS Commerce Platform, exceeding hiring goals by 120% and mentoring over 90 recruiters globally. At Meta, I’ve supported multiple AI and machine learning initiatives tied to the company’s top priorities. These achievements reflect my passion for building impactful teams and creating inclusive hiring processes that drive real innovation.”

As professionals, the Best & Brightest are often making the transition from contributors to leaders and specialists to generalists. In the process, they are gaining an understanding of bigger picture strategy and financial intricacies. To do that, their success will hinge on honing their interpersonal skills and speaking the language used in the c-suite. Desiree Nattell, a Boston University MBA, is one example of this shift. At Cornell University, she earned an Anthropology degree before starting her career as an editorial assistant. Nearly eight years ago, Nattell joined NBCUniversal, where she now heads up strategic intelligence for the firm’s Destinations and Experiences operation. Over her 15-year career, she has emerged among the most respected practitioners in her field.

“I was named #1 internationally on the Social Intelligence Insider 50 list in 2023. This award recognized over a decade of research work in the social media listening space – what people say online and the practical implications for a brand.”

REBUILDING TWO ICONIC BRANDS

Nattell isn’t the only marketing royalty among this year’s Online Best & Brightest MBA graduates. At Rice University’s Jones Graduate School, you’ll find Ramon Marquez, the Chief Marketing Officer and Chief Operating Officer for Sears and Kmart. His role? He leads “product, marketing and retail operations, driving strategy, and execution across the organization” – an organization that has blended two of the 20th century’s most iconic brands.

“[My biggest accomplishment has been] leading Sears through transformation from a legacy company to a start-up,” Marquez tells P&Q. “My role evolved from traditional functional leadership into a mission of resilience and reinvention. I helped guide the company from bankruptcy into a stable, private-sector business — without losing a single team member. We’re now profitable and focused, which few thought possible. It has been a defining chapter in my career.”

Alas, Marquez reengineered two brands with 258 combined years of operation into a start-up. At the same time, his classmate, Andria Monique Pourkarimi was busy with her businesses – plural – at Rice. That included Pourkarimi & Associates, a financial consulting and independent insurance agency. Like many MBAs, Pourkarimi found a partner in business school. Together, they launched Dr. Clara, which Pourkarimi describes as a digital health platform that uses “AI-driven tools and a patient-centered approach [to] close the gap between what women experience and how providers respond.”

“As someone battling endometriosis, I’ve experienced the struggle of navigating delayed diagnoses and feeling unheard,” Pourkarimi explains. “Through interviews with other women, we’ve seen just how widespread and urgent this need truly is. Building a platform that centers around women’s voices, provides tools for better care and challenges the status quo in reproductive health is both a personal mission and a professional calling.”

That said, Pourkarimi quickly points out that she was a bit of an anomaly in an online MBA program. “Despite being virtual, I felt deeply connected to the Rice family. I was actively involved through various student leadership roles and often joked, “I’m not your typical online MBA… I’m always on campus!” I made it a point to attend conferences, events, and anything that was appealing.”

BRINGING STRUCTURE AND SAFETY TO USA ATHLETICS

Medical professionals also thrived in an online setting. As an MBA student at Hofstra University’s Zarb School, Howard Boriskin was promoted to both chief of radiology at Forest Hills Hospital and the director of prostate imaging at Northwell Health, New York’s largest private healthcare provider. By the same token, the Kelly Direct Online MBA program at Indiana University attracted Michael Roshon, who is the chief quality officer for the Southern Colorado region of UCHealth. When Roshon isn’t practicing his craft in the office, you’ll find him tending to athletes as chief medical officer for organizations like USA Cycling and USA Marathon.

“I’ve blended my passion for sports and medicine, serving as a Certified Ringside Physician for USA Boxing, a cycling team doctor at the Olympics, and providing medical coverage at Grand Tours like the Tour de France and Vuelta a España.”

Roshon’s involvement began several years ago with USA Cycling, when he noticed that it lacked “structured medical expertise.” In response, Roshon recruited six specialized physicians to address athletes’ needs across every medical discipline and improve their performance.

“This achievement stands out because it directly improved athlete safety across a national sports organization by standardizing concussion management, leveraging telehealth, and enabling global care for athletes,” Roshon adds. “It reflects my commitment to sports medicine innovation and multidisciplinary leadership, aligning with his long-term focus on athlete wellness.”

A HARD-EARNED MOVIE CREDIT

Lawyers are also represented among the Best & Brightest Online MBAs. This includes imperial Business School’s Han Wai Khor. He serves as general counsel for ICBC International Holdings – the investment banking arm of the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China, the world’s largest bank in terms of market value. Esther Booth holds the same title with The Gap Partnership, a boutique consulting firm specializing in negotiations. After earning her MBA at Warwick Business School, Booth intends to tackle a Masters in Behavioural Science. In the meantime, Booth is busy testing what she has learned with the toughest audience imaginable.

“I am conducting a long-running ‘me-search’ study (academic shorthand for research conducted on a topic that is personally relevant) on the effectiveness of negotiation tactics on children. So far, my children are immune to my tactics!”

Looking for experience in an online community? The University of Illinois’ Gies College included Christina Reed, the principal consultant at SAP Fieldglass who has “completed dozens of projects for Fortune 100 companies.” In terms of versatility, it would be difficulty to top Erica Kolsrud, who has reinvented herself several times before settling in as the finance whiz for a post-production accounting firm for entertainment studios.

“I feel incredibly fortunate to have had three distinct careers—radio broadcasting, sports marketing, and now production finance in entertainment. Each has challenged and shaped me in different ways. But the moment I am most proud of came in November 2015, when I sat in a movie theater and saw my name scroll across the screen in the credits of The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2. It was my first on-screen credit, and it meant everything. My family and friends across the country went to see it too, proudly snapping photos when my name appeared. That moment of recognition—just a few seconds—remains one of the most meaningful highlights of my career.”

A HEALTHCARE ADVOCATE…AND PRO WRESTLING ANNOUNCER

Speaking of entertainment, Ian Riccaboni is one of those guys who is up for anything. After all, he once spent a night dressed as a construction worker football mascot with just one job: Getting himself in as many photos as he could alongside Jon Bon Jovi! These days, Riccaboni spends his time as a mild-mannered patient services manager for Ascendis Pharma. Away from the office, you’ll find Riccaboni as a play-by-play commentator in the anything-goes world of All Elite Wrestling and Ring of Honor. Sure enough, the Lehigh University’s FLEX Online MBA came in handy for a man-on-the-go like Riccaboni.

“With two small children and two jobs, the online experience allowed me to take my school with me,” explains RIccaboni. “For instance, on more than one occasion, I attended class from the AEW announcer’s room, with a class in 2023 in particular interrupted so that I could stop and call a match featuring wrestling Hall of Famer Sting at Arthur Asche Stadium and then rejoin class! While working to finish my final course, Chris Jericho popped into the announcers room to say hi while in the same night, Big Boom AJ and Big Justice of TikTok fame joined in a more accidental fashion.”

This year’s Best & Brightest Online MBAs also includes the College of William & Mary’s Kelly Rucci, an Amazon HR executive who partnered with the NFL’s Thursday Night Football on an “Alexa, Thank my driver” television spot. Growing up, Eve Burkhart once slimed someone on a SpongeBob episode on Nickelodeon. As an adult, she became a mechanical systems engineer at Boeing. Here, the University of Washington MBA launched a job shadow program with a local technical college that brought several graduates to Boeing. At Auburn University’s Harbert College, Ashley Spence completed a Master’s in Supply Chain Management in tandem with her MBA this year. However, she asserts that her biggest moment came eight years earlier.

“I oversaw the coordination of a charter flight during the 2017 hurricane season that was filled with adoptable cats and dogs from animal shelters in the Miami area to Oakland, California, so that pets who were displaced by the storms could be housed in the shelters and be reunited with their families,” explains Spence, who has been a communications manager for FedEx for the past decade. “It made me feel so proud to work for a company that chose to use its resources for the greater good – I was honored to be part of the project and a passenger on the flight!”

Next Page: A look inside the Online MBA experience.

Page 3: In-depth profiles of 56 members of the Best & Brightest Class of 2025.