Meet Vanderbilt Owen’s MBA Class Of 2026

An artist’s rendering of the Atrium at the Academic & Innovation Building, part of Vanderbilt’s planned $300 million campus in West Palm Beach

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?

McChesney: “Owen welcomed 6 new full-time faculty members for the 2024-2025 year, and we are excited about their future contributions. Among them is Antoine Feylessoufi, Assistant Professor of Operations and Quantitative Methods. Feylessoufi most recently served as a visiting professor at HEC Paris and is teaching Management of Service Operations in our daytime MBA programs. His research explores organizational landscape and how employees or companies react to changes, using game theory and data-driven methods to deliver actionable insights.

Additionally, Richard Florida joined Vanderbilt as a Distinguished Visiting Professor of Management while on leave from the University of Toronto. A celebrated author and leading American urban studies theorist, his research interests around innovation, creativity, urbanism, adds value to the entrepreneurship, strategy and economics subject areas within the MBA program.”

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?

McChesney: “Owen’s Career Management Center (CMC) provides students with personalized and comprehensive support as they prepare for and launch their MBA careers. Through a myriad of resources including tailored career coaching, mock interviews, and resume and career skills workshops, students gain the necessary skills and roadmap to navigate competitive job markets. The CMC also offers industry-specific resources, networking events, and access to Owen’s robust and hands-on alumni network, equipping students with the tools to identify and secure roles that align with their career aspirations.

The Owen MBA alumni community is known for its close-knit and supportive culture, fostering strong bonds that extend well beyond graduation. In turn, Owen alumni actively engage with current students, offering mentorship, career advice, and invaluable networking opportunities. Alumni are involved in the recruiting process on behalf of their companies, preparation and industry-specific sessions at Owen and in industry-specific treks, and as sources for networking and mentorship. For Owen alumni, supporting students in their career search is not just an obligation but an honor, as it allows them to give back to the community that shaped their own professional journeys and to contribute to the success of future leaders.”

Click on the links below to access student profiles. 

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