Meet Cornell Johnson’s MBA Class Of 2027

You don’t come to business school just to learn. You come to live too. When classes end or the weekend starts, you want to go places you only read about and try things you’d normally avoid.

That’s the beauty of Ithaca – and the Finger Lakes region in general. It’s slower and quieter, a life more deliberate and contemplative, closer to nature and further from distractions. That’s a distinct advantage to earning an MBA at Cornell University’s Johnson Graduate School of Management. Picture a world of four seasons, where MBA students enjoy the same rhythms and simple pleasures as generations past. At the same time, the school is close enough for students to tap into the opportunities of New York City. With the Big Apple four hours away, the Class of 2027 doesn’t have to worry about it encroaching on Ithaca’s distinctly small-town experience.

“ITHACA IS GORGES”

For the Class of 2027, the locales feel worlds apart. “Ithaca’s proximity to New York City, while being surrounded by beautiful lakes, makes it the perfect combination of city and nature,” says first-year Sherry Zheng, a tech product analyst. Being able to enjoy the wineries and explore the hiking trails with our busy class schedules is a luxury and a welcome change of pace.”

What is life like in Ithaca? Zheng’s classmate, Camila Alves Guilarducci, points to its “blend of college-town charm and stunning natural landscapes,” a place where students can read a good book at sunset. She adds that the people are welcoming and the community is close-knit. Within 10 miles of Cornell, you’ll find over 150 waterfalls, which has produced the “Ithaca is gorges” moniker. In fact, a waterfall runs through campus along the Cascadilla Gorge Trail, a three-quarter mile stretch that starts on campus and runs downhill to the Ithaca Town Center.

“I love walking, and Ithaca’s gorges turn routine strolls into meditative moments,” writes first-year Gio Caballero. “No headphones, hearing birds, water, and trees. I rented a unit next to Cascadilla Gorge to live my dream of walking to work. It’s an escape from bumper-to-bumper traffic, overcrowding, and city noise.”

NEVER A DULL MOMENT

Not that there isn’t plenty to do in Ithaca. Charlie Doebbler clicks off the state parks and ski resorts as the best parts of living in the Finger Lakes region (along with the swimming, boating, biking, hiking camping, zip lining, tubing, and snowshoeing that comes with it). There are the fall colors and fresh air, says Ray Lopez. And “rolling hills, rivers, gorges, and mist in the mornings” according to Gillian Grossen. Let’s not forget the cideries, craft breweries, and wineries that make the region famous.

“I recently visited Buttonwood Grove with a friend, and I couldn’t believe my eyes or my taste buds,” writes Gregorio Montefameglio. “I really enjoyed their 2022 Chardonnay, as well as the “Big Red” wine they brewed in collaboration with Cornell’s Agricultural Department.”

Downtown, Karen Fang plans to hit the farmers’ market, along with sampling local establishments like the Lincoln Street Diner and Ciao Ithaca. Ask alumni and they’ll share their own unexpected favorites.

“The Cornell Dairy Bar has some of the best ice cream I’ve ever had,” says ’25 alum Douglas Scandrett.

SUCCESS REFLECTED IN THE NUMBERS

Bankers, project managers, entrepreneurs, policymakers, product managers – the Class of 2027 has it all. Take mergers and acquisitions. Here, you’ll find Camila Alves Guilarducci, whose resume includes integrating seven M&As, along with developing a succession plan. Similarly, Gillian Grossen worked alongside a Fortune 100 CEO to acquire a $5-billion-dollar business, leading efforts that included shifting the operating model and strategy for the firm.

“This engagement stands out as the biggest accomplishment in my career due to the scale of the deals and the seniority of our clients,” Grossen explains. “Our team was able to cultivate a level of trust and influence with highly influential and scrutinizing C-suite to make decisions that shift billion-dollar trajectories. Furthermore, I was able to flex my leadership strength to command large teams under high stakes.”

Looking for big impact? At Advanced Micro Devices (AMD), Charlie Doebbler ran point on rolling out the firm’s marketing operations platform, generating over $100-million in spending from partners like Microsoft and Google. In his spare time, Gio Caballero created an automated process for a client that cleaned up their workflow. The result? He earned his firm a multi-year contract renewal…one responsible for a third of his unit’s revenue. Beyond that, Karen Fang has been busy planning a multi-billion capital program for the Toronto Pearson International Airport – one that will boost its capacity by 15-million passengers annually. After working in the energy industry, Ray Lopez shifted to advising NGOs.

“Over the course of a year, my team helped secure infrastructure contracts across southern Nigeria. This led to over 100 miles of road construction and urban planning for new healthcare access. Whereas it would take some southern villages and communities over half a day round trip for healthcare services, we’ve now cut that down to nearly three-to-five hours.”

Working as a project manager for a Mexican cookie and pasta maker, Humberto Ponce de León installed the largest biscuit product line in the firm’s history, producing record sales in the process. Recognizing a projected spike in African diabetes cases, Leah Nakaima helped sponsor research on insulin supply chains across six countries. In response, a pharmaceutical company partnered with an African manufacturer, which resulted in an extra 1-million people being able to access insulin annually. In Italy, Gregorio Montefameglio launched Maze, a startup whose umbrella included a record label, production company, and open-air rooftop venue.

“In a relatively short time, we’ve managed to generate revenues in hundreds of thousands of euros in a small city like Bologna, secure buy-ins from over 50 artists, and sell thousands of tickets each season — all while working full time for my former employer, DICE, with whom Maze still has a commercial agreement,” Montefameglio tells P&Q. “Directly employing and managing 3 direct and 26 indirect reports taught me almost everything I know about leadership.”

A SPECIAL SET OF SKILLS

Such experiences have given the Class of 2027 a distinct set of skills. Gillian Grossen brings what she calls “realistic optimism” – a “glass half-full” view that sees barriers as opportunities. Karen Fang possesses a penchant for finding common ground between people with different values and priorities. That includes flushing out compromises and bridging gaps “between “dreamers” (architects) and “doers” (engineers).” For Gio Caballero, curiosity is his difference-maker.

“I learn by breaking ideas down to their core and then connecting them across disciplines. That instinct helps me spot patterns others might miss, relate to different ways of thinking, and challenge assumptions without dismissing them. It’s how I build trust, ask sharper questions, and raise the quality of discussion.”

Leah Nakaima’s background ranges from running a family business at 14 to developing strategy for Fortune 500 companies. In the process, she has gained experience across sectors like consulting, consumer goods, healthcare, and social impact, not to mention a “cross-sector, global perspective” that she can share with her Cornell classmates. By the same token, Yaron Klein expects to make an impact through his ability to connect and influence.

“Growing up in a youth movement and later navigating high-pressure environments such as startup teams and VC boards, I found that my instinct is to slow down, listen, and bring clarity to others. I’m often the one people turn to, not because I have the loudest voice, but because I create space for others to be heard. At Cornell Johnson, I want to be the kind of classmate who brings people together, celebrates others’ wins, and shows up when it matters.”

SURVEYS REVEAL HIGH SATISFACTION FROM ALUMNI AND STUDENTS

The Class of 2027 features 276 students who hail from 34 different countries. As a whole, women and underrepresented minorities account for 38% and 26% shares of the class. All the same, international students make up 42% of the class, up 7 points from the previous year. The school also saw an increase in U.S. military veterans, whose numbers swelled from 9% to 14% of the class.

Like the previous class, the first-year MBAs brought a median 710 GMAT to Ithaca, along with a 3.4 undergraduate GPA. As professionals, 24% of the class last worked in Financial Services. Another 15% held Consulting positions, with Technology professionals also boasting digits at 10%.

Looking at its metrics, the Johnson MBA tends to punch above its ranking weight. A Top 15 fixture, the Ivy League program ranked 8th in the Bloomberg Businessweek 2025 MBA Ranking, including Top 10 finishes in Pay and Networking. Those numbers are reinforced by The Financial Times’ 2025 alumni survey, where the Johnson MBA posted the 3rd-highest score for Alumni Network Effectiveness and 16th for Career Services. This difference was quickly noticed by Gregorio Montefameglio.

“The main reason I chose Cornell is the “One Johnson” mentality—by that, I specifically refer to the collaborative spirit that drives first-years, second-years, and alumni – ultimately leading to successful careers and high job placement rates in competitive markets. This system truly resonated with how I wanted to approach the MBA, and it felt like a major advantage. The small class size helps foster this mentality by creating an intimate environment and enabling stronger bonds with classmates.”

Alumni and students were equally bullish on ‘One Johnson’ when they were surveyed by The Princeton Review in 2025. Here, Johnson achieved the highest scores of any school in Administration and Family Friendliness, while ranking 2nd for Best Professors. At the same time, the school achieved Top 10 scores in Campus Environment and Career Prospects. In fact, Johnson landed P&Q’s Best In Class Award for Teaching Quality in 2025.

TEACHING EXCELLENCE

One reason: the school emphasizes excellence in classroom teaching, with a heavy emphasis on industry-specific knowledge and hands-on experience. Risa Mish ranks among Johnson’s marquee classroom attractions. Sherry Zheng, for one, is looking forward to Mish’s legendary Critical and Strategic Thinking course. Zheng was exposed to it during her Destination Johnson Weekend, and was intrigued by how it prepared students to make decisions “with incomplete information and unforeseen circumstances.” More than just models, Mish is known as a professor whose door is always open, which has enabled her to connect Cornell students past, present, and future.

Beyond her sharp wit and energy, Professor Mish is genuine, purposeful, and service-driven,” adds Elizabeth Sun, a ’25 P&Q Best & Brightest MBA. “Each day in the classroom, we could feel how strongly she wanted us to succeed. She pushed us towards our higher potential and challenged us all to consider, how do you elevate the communities that you’re a part of? Her encouragement to “Do what you can, with what you have, from where you are” dares us to take both agency and responsibility in how we shape the world.”

In contrast, Iris Fernanda Arguedas Salgado, another ’25 alum, points to Chris Bordoni as a top faculty member. An entrepreneur and former Deloitte and BCG consultant, Bordoni oversees Johnson’s Management Consulting vertical and teaches its Strategy and Consulting Immersion.

“He ensured that everyone stayed involved, encouraged participation, and facilitated meaningful discussions,” writes Arguedas Salgado. “Beyond that, the course content was exceptional, a well-balanced blend of the case method and hands-on workshops that created a truly enriching learning experience. With two sessions per week, one was dedicated to analyzing and discussing case studies, allowing us to explore real-world challenges and strategies that companies across various industries have faced. The other session focused on practical, skill-building workshops designed to teach essential tasks required for consulting and strategy roles. The high level of participation and engagement from both students and faculty, combined with Chris’s ability to guide discussions effectively, made this course the most valuable and impactful part of my MBA experience.”

THE IMMERSION EXPERIENCE

Teaching excellence is another cornerstone of Johnson’s signature programming: Immersions. Held during the second semester of the first year, the Immersion is equivalent to a pre-summer internship. Here, students are exposed to the intricacies of a chosen business function. Johnson’s immersions include Corporate Finance, Digital Technology, Strategy and Consulting, Strategic Product and Marketing, and Digital Technology. In addition, MBAs can partner with other Cornell schools to create custom immersions in areas ranging from Healthcare to Real Estate to Human Resources. Along with intensive coursework, each immersion features sponsored company projects, one-on-one coaching, and field trips. In other words, the Immersions enable MBAs to build expertise, experience, and networks in their prospective career path.

The big advantage of these immersion is they prepare students “to hit the ground running” and increase their odds of receiving a summer offer, says Vaishali Nayak, who plans to take the Strategy and Consulting Immersion this spring.

“I want to sharpen my leadership abilities through collaborative teamwork and constructive feedback,” Nayak adds. “The Immersion also emphasizes building comfort with ambiguity, helping students learn to navigate uncertain, rapidly changing situations with confidence, which I see as a vital skill for long-term success.”

Leah Nakaima intends to enroll in the Investment Banking Immersion. It is led by Drew Pascarella, a Johnson MBA who has spent over 12 years on the Johnson faculty. Before that, he was involved in deals totaling over $35-billion dollars as head of the Technology Investment Banking Group at Citi.

“Through research and conversations, I learned [the Investment Banking Immersion] offers unmatched, hands-on training in banking,” Nakaima tells P&Q. “I found that it combines rigorous coursework with real-world experience and mentorship from top bankers. This program’s strong placement record and expert faculty made it clear that Johnson is the best place for me to launch into banking. What made it even more important was the close-knit, supportive environment fostered by Johnson’s location and culture…The combination of elite training and a community that genuinely supports individuals wanting to pivot careers was exactly what I needed to confidently pursue my goal.”

Next Page: Profiles of 12 members of the Class of 2027 and an interview with Dean Vishal Gaul.

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