In Defense Of Wharton: A Student’s Perspective On Value, Access & Application

Wharton marketing professor Peter Fader in action. In Fader’s class, writes EMBA student Kristen Denzer, “I deepened my understanding of customer centricity, ensuring that our childcare families remain at the heart of every decision we make”

As a current Wharton Executive MBA student and founder of a national franchisor, I was disappointed to read recent criticism suggesting the program “covers less and charges more.” That portrayal doesn’t reflect my experience — or that of the vast majority of my peers.

Kristen Denzer

The article suggests that the hotel is not covered by the program, which is misleading. It is covered, but if a student chooses to arrive the night before, which most do not, that extra night is at their own expense. Framing this as a flaw in the program feels entitled — like much of the complaints listed in the articles.

Like every academic institution, Wharton has a range of professors. But its bell curve sits far higher than most. The privilege of learning from faculty who are not only leading researchers but also the authors of textbooks used nationwide is access you simply can’t put a price tag on. Take Professor Peter Fader, a globally recognized authority on customer centricity. He assigns his own book, gives students Amazon credits to buy it, and then personally teaches the concepts in class. Sitting with the author, debating ideas in real time, is an experience few programs in the world can offer.

The true test of the program’s value is whether you walk away with tools you can immediately apply, and I certainly have. In Professor Gad Allon’s class on scaling operations, I gained a framework I’ve already used to help scale my childcare company sustainably. In Professor Emily Feldman’s M&A course, I walked away with practical insights into deal structures, negotiation terms, and red flags — knowledge I’ll use for years as my company evaluates acquisitions. And in Professor Fader’s class, I deepened my understanding of customer centricity, ensuring that our childcare families remain at the heart of every decision we make.

I know I am not alone in the value I have gained. In just the past year, I’ve seen classmates land CFO and C-suite positions directly because of their Wharton network and learning. The Wharton Executive MBA program is not perfect, but it is invaluable. It offers an unparalleled combination of world-class faculty, real-world application, and an extraordinary network. The voices of frustration in the article represent a small minority. For the rest of us, Wharton has been an investment that’s already paying off.

Kristen Denzer is the founder of Tierra Encantada, an award-winning childcare program in Minneapolis, Minnesota that blends Spanish immersion with play-based learning, nurturing confidence, curiosity, and bilingualism. She has received numerous industry accolades for her business acumen and leadership, including Inc Magazine’s “Top 100 Female Founders” and “10 Hottest Franchise Businesses in America”, Financial Times “Fastest Growing Companies in the Americas”, and the U.S. Small Business Administration’s “Small Businessperson of the Year”.

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