Meet Harvard Business School’s MBA Class Of 2027

A LOOK AT THE CASE METHOD

Case studies is one area where Harvard Business School is an undisputed leader. In 2024, the school sold 16.8 million cases. On campus, the case method is the primary means of teaching students. In fact, MBAs are estimated to consume over 500 cases during their time at HBS. The case method starts with stories. Each class, students read about a different company and situation, such as Starbucks’ efforts to rehabilitate its reputation after incidents involving racial bias and sustainability failures. For each case, students are expected to devote two hours for preparation, including developing strategies for how they would’ve acted in the protagonist’s shoes – and why. What’s more, the cases don’t provide answers. Instead, they simply raise questions, with students shaping their responses off incomplete and unreliable information – no different than what leaders face in real time. More than that, MBAs must wrestle with competing interests, tradeoffs, and the short- and long-term implications of the actions they’d take.

After meeting in small groups, they head to classrooms where sections often include 90 students. Here, faculty follow the Socratic Method: questioning and probing – exposing gaps and pointing to potential alternatives. More than that, students must defend their positions to classmates, who often bring very different conclusions and strategies into the mix. That way, HBS harnesses the diverse industry, functional, and regional views that classmates bring to the classroom. This process – and the exposure and repetition embedded within it – enables MBAs to hone their ability to identify underlying issues, craft holistic solutions, and make persuasive cases. In other words, it simulates the same conditions that MBAs face whether their audience is found in a boardroom or a union hall. More to point: it prepares them to make cases that can stand up to criticism, doubt, and self-interest.

“I think the best way to learn something is by doing it, and the best way to be a manager within the constraints of the classroom is the case method,” says Alek Woltjer. “At HBS, you’re not given the answer. Instead, you’re expected to take a stance and defend it to your professor and your classmates. The uncertainty is key, as it forces you to grapple with the countless variables that complicate each decision a manager has to make. Using the case method, you learn how to think through the 2nd and 3rd order effects present in each managerial decision, and you prepare to make well-informed decisions in the real world.”

If anything, the case method trains HBS MBAs to factor every potential angle and audience, while preparing students to lead with conviction, writes Neidelyn Pina. “The experience of speaking up in a classroom of 95 other people builds confidence that translates directly to leading discussions and making your voice heard in smaller, real-world meetings as a manager.”

More than that, it is daily reinforcement of the bedrock virtue of the best leaders: humility. “My favorite part of the case method is hearing opinions from such diverse backgrounds,” adds John Finn. “We often get stuck in our own restrictive mindsets and it is amazing to be pulled into someone else’s. I am shocked by how often I think to myself, “Wow, I didn’t even think about that, what a great insight.” Being a better manager boils down to listening with the intent to understand and making educated decisions. In class, we learn as much from each other as we do from the cases.”

TAKING THE CASE TO THE FIELD

In many ways, the case method is an extension experiential learning. It places students in a wide variety of situations, while requiring them to actively engage in problem-solving with the assistance of classmates. However, this approach is reinforced by traditional ‘learning-by-doing.’ And the FIELD Project ranks among the hallmarks of Harvard Business School experience.

A required, semester-long course at the end of the first year, the FIELD capstone matches 12-member student teams with global partners on particular challenges. In recent years, HBS teams have worked with firms like Unilever, Cargill, and GlaxoSmithKline, with projects covering areas ranging from improving patient experiences to expanding services to rural markets. Guided by a faculty expert, student teams also spend a week overseas at a partner’s location, where they meet face-to-face with stakeholders and present their findings to company executives.

“I ultimately hope to build a career and one day a business in the Dominican Republic,” explains Neidelyn Pina. “FIELD feels like the perfect chance to practice working in an emerging market. That way, I can better understand how businesses operate outside the U.S. It aligns directly with my long-term goals and is one of the experiences I’m most looking forward to completing.”

“FIELD Global Immersion stands out because it challenges you to navigate new cultures and solve real problems alongside a team,” adds Chris Weathers. “It cultivates the kind of flexibility and perspective that makes you a stronger leader in any environment.”

AN INTERVIEW WITH RUPAL GADHIA

What are some new developments at Harvard Business School? How does the school help first-year and international students acclimate to the program? How is artificial intelligence integrated across the program? In December, P&Q reached out to Rupal Gadhia, Managing Director for MBA Admissions. Here are her thoughts on these topics (and several others).

P&Q: What have been the two most important developments in your MBA program over the past year? What type of impact will they have on current and future MBAs?

Gadhia: “I’ll highlight two important developments. First, we continue to focus on how we can equip students for an AI-driven world. To prepare students for leadership in this environment, HBS draws on faculty research—particularly insights from the Digital, Data, and Design Institute at Harvard—to develop innovative, AI-focused courses. These are designed to help students understand both how AI works and how it can be leveraged to enhance different aspects of organizational performance. In the first-year Required Curriculum, the course Data Science and AI for Leaders provides a foundation in AI concepts and hands-on experience in AI-powered tools. In the second year, electives like Generative AI for Business Leaders offer active learning that connects AI theory to real-world business challenges, equipping students with the skills and perspectives to make a difference in the world.

Second, we continue to invest in entrepreneurship at HBS. HBS has established a dynamic ecosystem of support for students interested in developing their own startups that builds on the school’s legacy of entrepreneurial impact. Across all HBS graduates, 50 percent have created at least one venture in their careers. Furthermore, a recent PitchBook survey shows that between 2014 and 2024, some 1,900 HBS students not only founded companies, but also received funding from venture capitalists—far more than at any other business school. Students at HBS can choose from more than 35 entrepreneurship electives, which are informed by research conducted by 40+ faculty members in the School’s Entrepreneurial Management unit. In addition, HBS offers a variety of resources to support the entrepreneurial journeys of both students and alumni. These include the Rock Center for Entrepreneurship, the Harvard Innovation Labs, and HBS Foundry, a new digital learning platform that draws on AI to enable early-stage founders to acquire essential skills and to progress their ventures.”

P&Q: What do you see as the main differentiator that distinguishes your MBA program from other schools? How does it enhance the student experience and make them more attractive to employers?

Gadhia: “Employers value Harvard Business School’s emphasis on developing leaders with a strong foundation in general management. Our broad, cross-functional approach prepares graduates to navigate ambiguity, make decisions with incomplete information, and lead diverse teams effectively. The case method trains HBS graduates to analyze complex problems quickly, communicate persuasively, and defend their perspectives under pressure, which they will need to do in real business settings. In addition, HBS’s deep commitment to leadership development, through courses like Leadership and Organizational Behavior, FIELD Global Capstone, and ongoing opportunities for reflection and feedback, produces graduates who are self-aware, collaborative, and capable of inspiring and influencing others. Whether joining a large multi-national organization or an early-stage startup, our students are prepared to make an impact from day one.”

P&Q: What types of services do you provide to first-year MBAs to ease their transition into business school?

Gadhia: “We provide a broad range of support resources to ensure a successful first year academically, personally, and professionally. HBS has a dedicated team that provides one-on-one coaching and support around academics, health management and disabilities, social/emotional concerns, and safety and respect. The team provides easy access to what students need, when they need it. It is also important to mention that we have staff who specifically support our students who have children and partners.

From a career perspective, we are fortunate to have best-in-class Career & Professional Development (CPD), with a dedicated team of 30 career professionals and 60 coaches who guide students throughout their time in the MBA program. Our students benefit from over 1,400 company partnerships and access to our exclusive career platform, where they can search for companies, contacts, and job postings. In the first year, CPD helps students clarify their goals, refine resumes and cover letters, work on skill building, prepare for interviews, and manage internship offers.”

P&Q: What types of support do you provide to international students before and during business school to enable them to better acclimate to your country?

Gadhia: “Our support for international students begins from the moment of acceptance throughout their two-year experience at HBS. We are keenly aware of the international student experience and what it takes to feel comfortable in this new environment. As a result, we offer academic support, one-on-one opportunities to address specific questions or concerns, and large group orientations. HBS also works closely with the Harvard International Office to support students as they navigate their moves to the United States.

From a career perspective, HBS offers tailored programming for international students that supports their success both academically and professionally. This includes guidance on networking within the US business culture, navigating the American job market, and personalized support for managing visa-related questions and processes.”

P&Q: How does your program integrate other disciplines, such as the liberal arts and STEM, across your curriculum to provide students with a more interdisciplinary experience in business school?

Gadhia: “The case method naturally brings together ideas from business, the liberal arts, and STEM. Each case challenges students to look at real-world problems from multiple angles—economic, technological, ethical, and beyond. Because our students come from such diverse academic and professional backgrounds, classroom discussions become a true mix of perspectives. This approach helps students think more broadly and connect insights across disciplines.

In terms of the curriculum, our students have many electives to choose from, especially during the second-year. Additionally, in 2024, we announced that our MBA is STEM-designated. This designation reflects our faculty’s ongoing commitment to developing courses and modules that bring the latest research and developments in data analytics, artificial intelligence, and quantitative methods into the classroom. Some examples of these new courses include Data Visualization for Analysis and Tough Tech Ventures.”

P&Q: What are two ways that your program is incorporating Artificial Intelligence into your programming? How do they better prepare students for the future world of work?

Gadhia: “HBS is making significant investments in artificial intelligence, leveraging it to enhance teaching and learning across the school. We have also been encouraged by strong student engagement with our AI-powered tutor bot, designed to help students prepare for case discussions and reinforce key concepts.

Our students and alumni are actively shaping the AI landscape, founding and leading companies such as Daydream, Argus Systems (winner of our New Venture Competition), Summer Health, and Harvey AI. On the career front, HBS partners with many AI companies and brings high profile speakers to campus including Aravind Srinivas (Founder, Perplexity AI) and Xiao Hong (Founder, Manus AI). We’ve also seen a significant increase in graduates pursuing careers in AI product management, digital transformation, and data-driven strategy across industries.

Whether you are already on a technical path and looking to deepen your leadership abilities, or you’re hoping to pivot into a more tech-driven sector or role, HBS provides the curriculum, tools, and network to support your career goals.

P&Q: What types of educational and career support do you provide to alumni after graduation? How does it make them more valuable to employers during their careers?

Gadhia: “We offer a range of career resources to support alumni at every stage of their professional journey. Through the Career & Professional Development office, alumni have lifelong access to one-on-one career coaching, job search tools, and networking opportunities. We also provide exclusive job postings, programs and career webinars tailored to various fields and career transitions. Additionally, alumni can tap into the powerful HBS alumni network—over 90,000 professionals worldwide—for mentorship, business connections, and collaboration.”

Next Page: Profiles of 9 Members of the MBA Class of 2027

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