The Most Popular MBA Courses

“I don’t have one particular favourite course, as I learned so many new principles and concepts across all my classes. If I had to choose one that made an impact on me, I would choose Operations Management. It was the first time that I had taken a course like this. It was challenging, forced me to think outside the box, and pushed my personal boundaries. I appreciated this as it forced me to grow. This course provided me with a strategic and analytic lens to understand how businesses can optimize their efficiencies and streamline their processes to drive sustainable growth in various areas of operations.

I appreciated the real-world applicability, learning about cases first-hand; understanding supply chain optimisation, process and design, and quality control; and making data driven decisions to maximise the revenue generating capacity of a firm. The course was filled with simulations and problem-solving, which is where I thrive and learn the most. The simulations keep it interesting and engaging, but also afford opportunities to apply classroom theory to real-world problem-solving. The principles that I learned in this course are also applicable to helping me execute my project ‘Empower-Her’ to achieve a scalable, and impact driven solution – to ensure that I consider resource efficiencies and supply chain as critical components to delivering sustainable menstrual healthcare solutions.”
Nicolette Gopaul, HEC Paris

“My favorite course during the program was Entrepreneurship: New Ventures. We were a class of 52 people, and on the first day, we had to present our own projects. My project was a heavy-duty ship-lifting platform with a lifting capacity of over 3,000 tons. The first challenge was convincing three classmates, who had little knowledge about boats, to join me on this project for the next four months. During the course, we pivoted from needing €30 million to just €300,000 to create a marketable prototype capable of lifting boats up to 12 meters. Out of 13 teams, only three were selected to present in front of six investors, and our ship-lifting project was one of them. This experience was not only an incredible opportunity to gain insights from diverse perspectives, but it also became the foundation for my real-life company. The lessons and skills learned from this course directly translated into the creation of my startup and the successful filing of a European patent for the ship-lifting technology.”
Sergi Rivera Morcillo, IESE Business School

“Academy Fridays within the Consumer Marketing Academy were my favorite part of the core experience. I have a deep passion for insight-based decision-making in marketing, which revolves around the consumer. One of my primary reasons for pursuing an MBA were to learn how to create top-tier customer experiences beyond my traditional exposure. These academy sessions allowed us to dive into key marketing concepts and put them to practice.

One of my favorite sessions involved rapid-fire case exercises led by Kelley alumni from companies such as P&G, Abbott, and Scotts. In each session, we tackled real-world cases, received immediate feedback, and learned how to align our approach with industry expectations. This hands-on experience was invaluable in preparing for interviews and internships. This prepared me for Kelley Interview Day, where alumni interview students and give feedback on whether they would hire you or not and why. One of my interviews was with P&G and I was ‘hired’ with constructive feedback on how I can continue to take my evaluation from good to great.”
Loretta Abdul-Ghani, Indiana University (Kelley)

“Organizational Behavior with Professor Eric Uhlmann equipped me with an entirely new toolkit for understanding leadership dynamics. Through case studies and role-playing exercises with international classmates, we explored negotiation strategies and power dynamics across cultural contexts. The course transformed my perspective on workplace challenges, providing frameworks that illuminated past professional experiences while preparing me for future leadership roles.

Professor Uhlmann creates a learning environment where contrasting perspectives generate productive tension, pushing us to reconsider assumptions and develop nuanced approaches to organizational challenges. This exemplifies INSEAD’s approach to leadership development – combining analytical rigor with practical application and cross-cultural fluency.”
Simran Rahman, INSEAD

“While I enjoyed many Organisational Behavior courses at LBS, my favorite course was quite different—Applications of AI & ML in Business, taught by Professor Lil Mohan. The course provided a deep dive into machine learning (ML), natural language processing (NLP), and generative AI (Gen-AI), covering both their fundamental concepts and real-world applications across industries. It helped us understand not just the technologies themselves, but also how to apply ML and Gen-AI techniques to various business scenarios.

Before taking this course, AI felt like an intimidating black box; to me it was something highly technical and difficult for a business student to grasp. I couldn’t comprehend how models like ChatGPT processed and generated content so quickly and accurately. However, this course broke down AI’s evolution and inner workings into digestible, practical concepts, giving me the confidence to engage with the technology rather than fear it. While I still can’t build a large language model (LLM) from scratch, I now feel comfortable discussing Gen-AI concept is and am eager to continue learning, especially as AI continues to evolve and shape our generation’s future.”
Zhen Ren Teo, London Business School

“My favorite class at Ross was Business Leadership in Changing Times with Mike Barger. Every student raves about this course, and it still exceeded my high expectations. In each class, a group of students took on the role of a C-suite navigating a real-world business crisis, hosting a press conference while classmates role-played key stakeholders. We then heard directly from an executive who had managed the actual crisis, gaining invaluable leadership insights. I had the opportunity to act as a major airline CEO during the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. This experience challenged me to understand the needs of the different stakeholders and give a press conference during uncertain times with limited information. Mike Barger, a former TOPGUN instructor and JetBlue co-founder, has created an incredibly high-energy, realistic, and immersive learning environment that has forever changed how I analyze leadership and decision-making. If I could have taken this class every quarter, I would have because there was that much value in every class session.”
Sam Schmitt, University of Michigan (Ross)

“One of the best parts of Sloan is being able to take classes like How to Make (Almost) Anything, a class comprising of students from just about every facet of MIT and led by Neil Gershenfeld, director of MIT’s Center for Bits and Atoms. It was without a doubt the most demanding class I’ve ever taken. Each week, we learned a new way to make, using laser cutters, 3D printers, CNC machines, and even designing and milling our own circuit boards. In addition to getting to cosplay as an engineer, it was a great chance to learn about project management. Most importantly though, I’ll be friends with my classmates for life.”
Blake Blaze, MIT (Sloan)

“My favorite course as an MBA was Entrepreneurial Management because it gave me the freedom to take our ideas as far as I wanted, turning classroom discussions into real-world ventures. The course fostered open idea-sharing and peer feedback. For me, it became much more than an academic exercise—my groupmates became my co-founders, and our project turned into BillDetail, a real startup.

Inspired by the course, we went beyond classroom learning. We engaged with legal tech players worldwide, interviewed lawyers around the world to validate pain points, conducted research, built a prototype and applied for funding. One of the most valuable aspects was the pitching experience—we developed pitch decks, refined our messaging, and practiced delivering our vision with clarity and conviction. These skills proved invaluable when we spoke to potential customers, securing meetings with law firms. We even navigated real-world challenges like negotiating equity among co-founders.

This course reinforced that entrepreneurship isn’t just about having an idea—it’s about execution, adaptability, and being able to sell your vision. The experience pushed me beyond my comfort zone and gave me the confidence to take BillDetail and Kinder into the real world.”
Min Kyung LEE, National University of Singapore

“My favorite course at UNC Kenan-Flagler was Healthcare Brand Plan taught by Professor Markus Saba. His class gave students the unique opportunity to step into the role of a manager within a pharmaceutical company and develop a brand plan for a real-world product. Brand representatives presented their products to us, and Professor Saba provided an in-depth breakdown of the brand planning process. His industry expertise and hands-on teaching approach made the learning experience incredibly engaging and practical, allowing me to deepen my understanding of pharmaceutical marketing in a real-world context.”
Uriah Ford, University of North Carolina (Kenan-Flagler)

“I really enjoyed Advanced Negotiations, taught by Professor Nour Kteily. This course was instrumental in honing my negotiation skills under high-stakes conditions (and for bargaining for the best deals in marketplaces). It taught me how to secure resources, align cross-cultural teams, and navigate complex multi-party negotiations with confidence. Today, whether aligning with engineers and business stakeholders on project timelines or advocating for my team’s resources, I carry Professor Kteily’s mantra: “Negotiation isn’t about winning, it’s about designing outcomes where everyone leaves believing they’ve won.”
Will Tan, Northwestern University (Kellogg)

“Data Storytelling taught by Professor Jennifer Cronin is a course that has been particularly impactful for me, especially since I will be delving into the data-rich world of corporate finance after I graduate. The course centers around principles that define clear, concise, and persuasive presentation methods, particularly when it comes to working with complex datasets. What makes this course stand out was the hands-on and novel approaches Professor Cronin often used to teach her class. While most class sessions were taught in the traditional format, Professor Cronin occasionally surprised us with immersive experiences that brought the art of communication to life in unexpected ways.

For example, Professor Cronin brought in Scott Jackson, the Executive Director of Shakespeare at Notre Dame, to co-teach a class on public speaking. Being an avid stage performer and well-studied yogi, Scott took the class through a set of concentration exercises inspired by a fusion of medical science and yoga philosophy. The purpose of the exercises was to calm our nerves, warm up our vocal cords, and improve the enunciation and fullness of our voices. Next, Scott coached us on performance techniques, having us recite Shakespeare at varying volume while standing in different orientations relative to our audience. This workshop, like many introduced over the course of the class, challenged us to approach the art of communication from new and interesting perspectives.”
Mark Giesey, Notre Dame (Mendoza)

“My favorite course was the Business of Humanity. The course stands out for me as the perfect encapsulation of what business school should be about. It teaches on the concept of wicked problems: “Solving wicked problems requires systems thinking, collaboration, and innovative approaches.”

Wicked problems are complex, multifaceted issues that don’t have clear solutions, such as climate change, poverty, or healthcare access. They’re called “wicked” because they’re difficult to define, involve multiple stakeholders with conflicting interests, and often have no single “right” answer.

In Business of Humanity, the focus is on addressing these challenges through a human-centered, sustainable, and ethical lens. The saying emphasizes that tackling wicked problems goes beyond traditional business strategies, it requires holistic thinking, cross-sector collaboration, and creative problem-solving to create meaningful, long-term impact. This course was the big push I needed to bring my passion project THE UYAIGURL FOUNDATION to life. This course not only deepened my understanding of global challenges, but also inspired me to take actionable steps toward making a difference.”
Blessing Unwana Umoh, University of Pittsburgh

“My favorite course during the MBA was Business and Corporate Strategy, taught by Professor Goce Andrevski. What made this course truly stand out was its immersive, case-based approach, where we analyzed real-world strategies of industry leaders like Domino’s, Airbnb, and Tesla. Rather than just learning frameworks, we were encouraged to think like strategists, breaking down business challenges and crafting actionable solutions. The course was structured with a perfect blend of lectures, discussions, and team-based problem-solving exercises, making the learning experience highly engaging. More than just understanding how companies design strategies, I gained valuable insights into competitive positioning, market dynamics, and strategic decision-making in high-stakes environments. It was an enriching experience and is helping me in my role as a data and AI strategy consultant at EY.”
Sriram Giridharan, Queen’s University (Smith)

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