Meet Vanderbilt Owen’s MBA Class Of 2026

You could describe Vanderbilt University’s Owen Graduate School of Management as an MBA program on the rise – a school with all the advantages in all the most important areas.

Let’s just set the scene:

* An All-Star faculty that includes marquee names like Tim Vogus, Brian McCann, and Kelly Goldsmith.

* The backing of a powerhouse parent university described as the “Harvard of the South.”

* A two-year executive leadership program that rivals the best corporate coaching and development programs.

* A $55-million-dollar campus facelift that has boosted space by over 50%.

* A rapidly-growing Nashville metro that boasts 5 Fortune 500 companies – and the largest concentration of American healthcare firms.

Not only that, Owen will be investing up to $700 million dollars to open a campus in West Palm Beach, Florida to accommodate over 1,000 students. All of these developments bring an energy and optimism – a sense of growth and momentum – to a campus known for small school intimacy and Southern Hospitality…a place where MBAs are the front-and-center focus.

“Having every resource for success is crucial – world class faculty and dynamic classrooms, life-changing career opportunities, immersive experiences and surroundings, and faculty, staff and peers that care about your success,” explains Bailey McChesney, Vanderbilt Owen director of MBA admissions, in a 2024 interview with P&Q. “The Vanderbilt MBA program has all of those things, but what differentiates us is that our small size, extremely close-knit community and incredible setting in Nashville, Tennessee mean that all of those resources are readily accessible and the people behind them all know your name. Within a one-minute walk in our building, a student could see their leadership coach, career coach, academic advisor and professors, and will walk by dozens of their classmates gathering together. Our community cares deeply about not only the outcomes students achieve, but their experience and growth in the program, and success well beyond business school.”

SUPPORTING A GRAMMY WINNER

Alas, these Owen first-years enjoyed lot of success even before they joined the MBA Class of 2026. Take Jon Bergamo. Talk about a perfect fit for Nashville, a city sometimes described as the “Music Capital of the World” with 190 music studios – not to mention labels like Capitol Records and Sony Entertainment. After majoring in the Music Industry as an undergrad, Bergamo eventually headed up digital marketing and community engagement for Good Harbor, where his clients included Lucy Dacus and Mitski. However, his biggest achievement involved helping boygenius land six Grammy nominations – and three Grammy wins.

“It was a year-long effort of extensive collaboration, planning, and creativity across our team,” he tells P&Q. “I’m proud to have been a champion for engaging fans throughout the project and helping bring all three artists’ communities together. Getting to see that work culminate first-hand in their fans self-organizing a human pride flag out of colored paper and cell phone lights at Red Rocks Amphitheatre was one of the most impactful moments of my career.”

Shreyoshi Hossain, a biochemist by training, helped to launch a leukemia drug that she says is saving lives. Staying in pharmaceuticals, Sukesh Attuluri worked in strategy and finance for Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories, where she furthered therapies in areas ranging from migraines to cancer across 66 regions. In 2024, Mengyang He was invited to the World Economic Forum at Davos, where he gave an hour-long interview on AI’s impact on product management and e-commerce.

“I discussed how AI-driven technologies, such as personalized recommendations and predictive analytics, are transforming user experiences and shaping the future of e-commerce. Drawing on my experience at JD.com, I highlighted how I leveraged AI to enhance customer engagement and drive business growth. Through the World Economic Forum’s global platform, I inspired audiences worldwide to explore opportunities within the AI and product communities.”

A CLASS OF BUILDERS

The Class of 2026 doesn’t just inspire – they build. At Guusto Gifts, Emma Wang launched a Customer Success department. What’s more, her strategies quintupled revenue in the small and mid-sized business segment. At the same time, N. Edem Kporku developed the Research and Insights unit at Ghana’s Apakan Securities.

“It enabled the firm to provide data-driven insights and recommendations to a vast group of stakeholders including asset managers, pension funds, and banks, empowering them to better optimize their investment portfolios,” writes Kporku, who is interning at BCG this summer. “Leading this project required me to design processes, build databases, develop models, and mentor a team, all while ensuring the delivery of timely, accurate and actionable insights.”

Before business school, Maree Smith moved from Indiana to Spain, where she taught for three years despite no experience in education. In contrast, Brian Oechsel came to Nashville after serving as one of the first instructor pilots for the U.S. Marine Corps’ new CH-53K helicopter.

“This opportunity gave me the chance to teach new pilots how to fly and operate this advanced helicopter,” he explains. “Additionally, I served as the program manager for the helicopter, working with subject matter experts to write the operating manual and prioritize the development of future capabilities.”

MAKING AN IMPACT ON LOCAL BOARDS

Over their first year in the Owen MBA, the Class of 2026 has racked up several achievements, big and small. For Johnny Leara, a systems engineer from Birmingham, Mod 1 enabled him to prove to himself that he belonged in an academically-demanding business program. And his perfect GPA over five courses reflected it. Emma Wang, an undergraduate ‘poet’ who majored in Art and Communication, experienced a similar transition as Leara – and reaped the same results. She credits her classmates for her success.

“Aside from that, the close friendships I’ve formed in the program have been the most meaningful. Being able to support each other through the coursework of the first two mods as well as the recruiting process has been so rewarding. I couldn’t imagine the MBA experience without them!”

Board fellowships were another popular proving ground for first-years. Shreyoshi Hossain, once a dancer, was selected to join the Nashville Ballet Board, whose mission to be an “essential and inspiring element of our community resonated with me.” In contrast, Maree Smith became a board fellow with the Special Olympics during her first year.

“It’s a meaningful way to engage with the Nashville community, advocate for causes I care deeply about, and gain experience serving on a board<’ she details. “Being paired with Special Olympics TN is especially significant to me, as college swimming and sports have played a huge role in my life. I’m passionate about empowering individuals of all abilities to participate in sports.”

By the same token, Mengyang He tapped into his World Economic Forum background to launch the Global Shapers Nashville Hub, which delivers social impact in local communities while providing leadership development opportunities for members.

“I built a diverse 7-member team, identified the city’s pain points through interviews and surveys, and developed a strategic roadmap for growth,” He explains. “I was thrilled to establish a partnership with the Wond’ry, Vanderbilt’s Innovation Center. Through this collaboration, we launched the “CREST” project (Biotechnician Workforce Transformation), focusing on upskilling local talent to meet the professional competency needs of emerging biomanufacturing technologies in Nashville. My goal for 2025 is to grow the team to 25 members and lead the hub as a social venture delivering tangible impact.”

THE BEST OF TIMES

The 2024-2025 school year left a deep impression on the Class of 2026 too. Jon Bergamo believes the most satisfying memory was when the Vanderbilt football team – the perennial doormats of the SEC – knocked off powerhouse Alabama at FirstBank Stadium in October. Another popular milestone was the Owen Holiday Party. Not only did it close out the first half of the year, but served as a point to look back and celebrate what the class had achieved together.

“Wrapping up the first and second mods felt like such an accomplishment, especially after a huge transition, from living in a different country to moving from work life to school life,” observes Emma Wang. “Celebrating with my Owen friends and reflecting on how far we’ve come together made it an incredibly memorable experience.”

What really brought the Class of 2026 together was Closing Bell. A weekly happy hour, Closing Bell is a chance for MBAs to kick back with classmates, master’s students, faculty, staff, and even family. Hosted by student clubs with varying themes, the Thursday soiree deepens the bonds within the Owen community, says Sukesh Attuluri.

“Every Thursday, the Owen community comes together to unwind, share food and drinks, and connect outside the classroom. What makes this tradition special is the weekly themes that celebrate diverse cultures and traditions, fostering a deeper sense of inclusivity and global understanding. For me, Closing Bell is more than just a social event—it’s a chance to build meaningful connections with my incredible classmates and faculty, strengthening the collaborative and supportive culture that makes Owen truly unique.

Make no mistake: the Class of 2026 has plenty of material for insightful and entertaining conversations. Melissa Ortiz-Feliciano, a former teacher and program coordinator with the New York City Department of Education, has visited 52 countries – and Emma Wang has set foot in over 30 nations. Emily Johnson has also made good on her travel miles. A senior analyst with American Airlines before joining the Owen MBA, Johnson has visited every American state. Then again, Jon Bergamo has seen the Dave Matthews Band in concert 153 times! Away from military service, Brian Oechsel has competed in several 24-hour adventure races. And N. Edem Kporku would describe himself as a “car enthusiast.”

“I love diagnosing and fixing cars, and it is a pastime that lets me use my curiosity and problem-solving skills in a whole new way. There’s also something about the sound of a combustion engine that just gets me going. The power these machines make makes me feel alive and connected to them in unexplainable ways!”

A CLASS PROFILE

As a whole, the Class of 2026 features 175 students, up from the 160 students in the second-year class. The big news: the class averaged a 703 GMAT, a 16 point increase from the previous year (as scores ranged from 680-to-730 in the mid-80% range). Among students who completed the GRE, the average hit 159 on both the Verbal and Quant dimensions. Like the previous class, the first-year MBAs averaged a 3.5 undergraduate GPA.

The 2026 cohort hails from 21 countries, with 30% and 29% of students being international and female respectively. As undergrads, the largest segment of the class – 40% — majored in Business or Economics. That doesn’t count another 9% holding degrees in Accounting. The Humanities (11%) and Social Sciences (10%) are also well-represented in the class, though their combined total is just slightly below STEM majors: Engineering (13%), Science (6%), Computer Sciences (2%), and Mathematics (1%).

In a surprise, the largest segment of the class last worked in Government (15%). Financial Services (12%), Consulting (10%), Technology (10%), and Healthcare (10%) also claim double digit shares, followed by Media and Entertainment (6%), Manufacturing (5%), and Education (5%). In addition, 22% of the class brings military experience to the classroom.

ALUMNI AND STUDENTS RECOMMEND OWEN IN SURVEYS

This year, Vanderbilt Owen made headlines by climbing two spots to 18th in the U.S. News MBA Ranking. The program also performed well among students in surveys. When The Financial Times surveyed recent graduates and students earlier this year, Owen posted the 18th-highest score worldwide for Alumni Effectiveness. Last summer, when The Princeton Review reached out to a similar pool, the program ranked among the ten-best in four disciplines: Consulting Management, Operations, and Human Resources. More impressive, Owen achieved the 3rd-best scores from recent graduates and current students for Faculty Quality and Family Friendliness – and 4th-best for Campus Environment.

One reason for the high marks, says Maree Smith, is the Owen culture. She describes it as “competitive, not cutthroat” – a philosophy where students are expected to hold each other to high standards, but also support each other in achieving their goals.

“Now that I’m here, I see it in action every day,” Smith adds. “This balance of collaboration and healthy competition aligns with how I’ve approached life, and I knew I would thrive in an environment that fosters both personal growth and collective success.

Next Page: An interview with Bailey McChesney, Director of MBA Admissions.

Page 3: Profiles of 12 Members of the MBA Class of 2026.

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