Meet Northwestern Kellogg’s MBA Class Of 2027

“You need to be at Kellogg.”

Alfred Jackson has never forgotten that line. Attending the 2024 AgTech Conference, Jackson struck up a conversation with Karin O’Connor. At the time, Jackson had no idea that O’Connor headed up the Heizer Center for Private Equity and Venture Capital at Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management. After learning that Jackson planned to pursue business school, O’Connor invited him to her Growth Strategy Practicum class. Not only did Jackson get a taste of the Kellogg curriculum during this visit, but developed a support network that helped him land a spot in the MBA Class of 2027.

“My [Black Management Association] application guides helped me every step of the way, from ensuring that my essays leveraged the key aspects of my personal and professional journey to preparing for my interviews. When you’re going after big goals, you need people who believe in you and will connect you with the resources to succeed. That’s what I found at Kellogg.”

‘ATTENDING KELLOGG IS THE BEST DECISION I MADE FOR MY CAREER’

The Kellogg community made an equally strong impression on Maria Felix-Padilla. The line that resonated with her: “You have to meet [this person].” For her, it reflected Kellogg’s ‘culture of connectivity’ – an openness to people and possibilities.

“I remember that, after being accepted, I had no less than eleven people reach out to me from Kellogg and offer their time to connect,” Felix-Padilla continues. “This community isn’t just friendly, it’s actively connective, with students and alumni constantly expanding your network. It’s a place where introductions are a reflex rather than a favor, and there is nowhere better to set you up for success down the line.”

Ignacio Martos Jimenez was first exposed to the MBA program at a Day at Kellogg event. Here, he was struck by how students “took us under their wings.” At a later Consortium event, Martos Jimenez joined classmates for small group dinners and long walks that created a familial sense of belonging. Whenever, he reached out to alumni, he heard – “without exception” – the same thing: “Attending Kellogg is the best decision I made for my career.”

“That consistency struck me,” Martos Jimenez continues. “People who come here don’t just value the professional impact; they genuinely love the community.”

EXCELLENCE ACROSS THE BOARD

Such sentiments are backed up with data. In a 2025 alumni survey conducted by The Financial Times, Kellogg posted the 8th-highest score for the effectiveness of its alumni network.  In the same survey, Kellogg ranked among the best for alumni satisfaction with a 9.191 score on a 10-point scale. In a 2025 survey of alumni and students published by The Princeton Review, the program achieved the 3rd-highest highest score for its classroom experience and 4th-best score for the family-friendliness of its campus. More than that, its professors and administration both finished with the 6th-highest satisfaction scores.

Not surprisingly, Kellogg again reigns as Poets&Quants’ top MBA program in its composite ranking. Despite varying metrics, Kellogg ranked in the Top 5 across every major MBA ranking: The Financial Times, U.S. News & World Report, Bloomberg Businessweek, LinkedIn, and The Princeton Review. One reason: Kellogg delivers academically. Princeton Review survey respondents gave the highest scores to Kellogg for its Consulting and Marketing programming – and the 2nd-best score for Management. When business school deans and MBA directors were surveyed by U.S. News last year, Kellogg again achieved the highest score for Marketing and the 5th-best score in Management.

Alas, Kellogg’s “Marketing School” reputation acts as both a blessing and a curse. Every year, the school garners national-wide attention for its Super Bowl Ad Review. Here, students evaluate ads in real-time using an ADPLAN (Attention, Distinction, Positioning, Linkage, Amplification, Net Equity) framework. Rather than assessing ad success on gut reaction, Kellogg MBAs push advertisers to look at areas like brand consistency, mental positioning, long-term strategy. However, observes ’25 alum Ilana Solomon, marketing sometimes overshadows the program’s exceptional programming across all the disciplines.

“The healthcare pathway is rigorous, with a wide swath of opportunities across sub-industries, with hands-on learning opportunities. Similarly, although I did not come in with the intention that I would take (much less like) some of the finance classes, they have provided a great foundation challenging me to think critically about how the financial makeup of a firm impacts its operations. Further, my economics courses have been some of my favorites, pushing me to apply economic theory to real-world business and policy challenges. Kellogg is very interdisciplinary and provides strong course opportunities to develop in marketing and in other spheres.”

A TEAM-DRIVEN CULTURE

More than that, adds ’25 grad Will Tan, the programming is constantly evolving to better prepare students for an ever-changing business demands.

“Kellogg has invested heavily in data science and artificial intelligence, offering cutting-edge courses and research opportunities in these fields,” Tan continues. “Through my experiences at Kellogg, I witnessed firsthand how the school continually evolves to meet the demands of a rapidly changing landscape. Rather than rejecting the realities of AI, Kellogg is adapting its use to augment learning without diminishing critical thinking. In several of my classes, we were encouraged to use AI tools for brainstorming and even used AI as a teaching assistant to deepen our understanding of complex concepts. Kellogg’s comprehensive and adaptive curriculum created by forward-looking professors truly sets it apart.”

One thing that hasn’t change at Kellogg is its emphasis on teamwork. According to lore, MBAs can expect to participate in over 200 team meetings during two years at Kellogg. That’s because collaboration goes hand-in-hand with community at Kellogg. Deeply embedded in the coursework and culture of Kellogg, team-based learning is a means to hone interpersonal skills; increase student exposure to differing perspectives; build relationships with a wider swath of classmates; and address issues more holistically and efficiently. In other words, Kellogg MBAs spend two years learning how to maximize each other’s abilities, reducing the in-fighting and isolation that dogs many teams.

You’ll find each member of the Class of 2027 bring unique talents and experiences to their teams. Take Maria Felix-Padilla, who operates a creative writing blog as a side hustle. Most recently a Bain & Company consultant, she points to being the person able to make the hard choices as the quality she brings to her Kellogg teams.

“I’ve learned that growth often comes from taking risks, learning from failure, and choosing the harder path when it might lead to progress. In a team-driven environment like Kellogg, that mindset helps push teams forward and fosters a culture of resilience and continuous improvement.”

DIFFERENT TALENTS

Coming from an information technology background, Jeremy Levin carries an “Art of the Possible” mentality. Think of it as an optimistic “What if” mentality, one that combines imagination with an unshakable belief that anything can be figured out.

“As a solutions engineer, I worked closely with cross-functional teams to take complex, early-stage ideas and turn them into real, impactful solutions. That experience has taught me how to encourage bold thinking while staying grounded in what it takes to execute. At Kellogg, I hope to contribute that same energy to group projects and club work—helping my community stretch ideas and push boundaries together.”

For Isabel Botero, a Notre Dame grad and Deloitte senior consultant, her introversion is the quality that will enable her Kellogg teams to gel. “I am intentional about creating spaces for quiet people to speak out. Often, introverts are more empathetic, better listeners, and bring insightful contributions to create well-rounded solutions. As an introvert, I value the strengths of quieter individuals and aim to give them the space and confidence to speak out.”

Botero can also lend her consulting experience, which includes developing a product prioritization model for a Fortune 50 client. In contrast, Jeremy Levin helped a major bank process tens-of-millions of emails…a custom solution that was quickly engineered into an AI product suite that served other industries like healthcare and insurance. At Bain & Company, Maria Felix-Padilla made peace between two wary organizations during a merger.

“I worked on a high-profile merger that initially created significant tension between the two organizations. By building strong client relationships and leading trust-based workshops, I helped shift the tone, eventually getting teams not just aligned, but genuinely excited about the change. It was a powerful lesson in the value of empathy, partnership, and working side by side to drive real transformation.”

FROM NAVAL OFFICER TO ENERGY ATTORNEY

Just making it into Bain was an achievement in itself for Shannen Lawson, who uses Escape Rooms to vet dates. Growing up blue collar, she valued stability, believing that working in one company until retirement was a “badge of honor.” That’s one reason why she wrestled so hard with transitioning into consulting – an industry where she had limited experience and could potentially fail.

“I had heard of MBB (McKinsey & Company, Boston Consulting Group and Bain & Company) anecdotally, but I had never heard of a case interview,” admits Lawson. “I started prepping just two weeks before my Bain interview, threw myself into the process, and ultimately earned an offer. Since then, I’ve built a fulfilling career here. That leap into the unknown remains a defining moment in my journey.”

Maloney Foster is making an equally daunting leap at Kellogg. Most recently, Foster served as a Strategic Command Submarine Mission Planner for the U.S. Navy. His service also included leading 50 sailors who oversaw the USS Pennsylvania’s weapons departments. Now, Foster isn’t just transitioning to business school, but pursuing a law degree as a JD-MBA with the goal of entering the energy field.

“My last role in the Navy involved creating guiding instructions and documentation for specific submarine operations, which inspired an interest in the legal facets of running a business,” he tells P&Q. “The JD-MBA program gives students full immersion in both Kellogg and the Pritzker School of Law, with the first year entirely at Pritzker, the second year at Kellogg, and the third year at both. I am confident that this course of study will prepare me for the close interactions of law and business.”

A CLASS PROFILE

That’s one definition of business school success. Saahithi Budharaju, who once scaled an active volcano in the dark, views it in more personal terms.

“By the end of my MBA experience, I’ll feel successful if I said yes to things that once intimidated me, built lifelong friendships and connections, and learned as much from my classmates as I did from the coursework. Hopefully I’ll also have perfected my staple dinner party recipes from hosting small group dinners, a Kellogg tradition to connect with peers over a shared meal!”

In the meantime, you can expect the class to continue its love of traveling. Ellie Bentley, an investment manager in the sustainable and impact space, has already visited all 50 American states. Jeremy Levin has hit 29 countries after his Kellogg KWEST trip to Taiwan. At the same time, Amalia Roth – an Economics major turned market manager – hiked 200 miles across England with her sister.

As a whole, the MBA Class of 2027 features 534 students. International students account for 37% of the class, with the school declining to publish the percentage of women in its class profile. The average GMAT legacy score came in at 733, with the focus score being 687. At the same time, the Quant and Verbal GRE scores were each 162. The class also brought a 3.68 undergraduate GPA to the Global Hub.

As undergraduates, 49% of the class majored in Economics and Business. Another 41% hold degrees in STEM-related fields, as Humanities majors represent a 21% share of the class (with dual majors factored into the equation). As professionals, 32% of the class last worked in Consulting, followed by Financial Services (24%), and Tech and Communications (15%) at the high end.

Page 2: Emily Haydon, Assistant Dean for Admissions and Financial Aid

Page 3: Profiles of 12 Members of the MBA Class of 2027

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