Meet SDA Bocconi’s MBA Class Of 2026

If there was a European equivalent of the M7 U.S. business schools, SDA Bocconi would naturally be on the list. Rooted in the long-standing tradition of Bocconi University, the School of Management combines academic excellence with an entrepreneurial mindset. The one-year MBA consistently ranks among the world’s best, including No. 1 in Europe in Bloomberg’s Best Business School Ranking 2025-26, and regularly among the top 5 in The Financial Times. 

Based in Milan, Italy’s financial and industrial capital and one of Europe’s most dynamic hubs for design, luxury, manufacturing, and innovation, SDA Bocconi sits at the intersection of tradition and forward-looking business.  

For Dean Stefano Caselli, the MBA is guided by the school’s belief in “Change Together, Lead with Impact”. “Our goal,” he says, “is to educate the leaders that organizations need for the coming years. From corporates to financial institutions to government entities and tech ventures, the next generation will become the orchestrators of better organizations. Together, we will drive positive change that goes beyond the bottom line, creating a more sustainable and prosperous future for all.” 

The synergies within Bocconi University, with close to 16,000 students and a massive international alumni network of over 146,000, not only ensures access to the latest thinking in finance, economics, law and social sciences, but increasingly to geopolitics and data science.  

The intensive MBA program itself, however, is deliberately an intimate and welcoming environment for around 120 to 130 students from 40 countries and diverse backgrounds. “Our cozy boutique approach is a catalyst for innovation and personal growth,” Caselli explains, “with a tailor-made Italian style.” 

For the MBA Class of 2026, that design philosophy is immediately visible, not only in the classroom, but in how students describe their experience, their ambitions, and the way SDA Bocconi is shaping their careers. 

MILAN AS A GATEWAY

Milan offers a gateway into Europe that feels both international and deeply local. 

“I wanted to live in Europe and learn a third language,” says Jeremy Cashen, originally from New Zealand. “Milan offered that balance, with strong relevance for my interests and the opportunity to build a life in a new cultural context.”  

For students with interests in luxury, design, and consumer industries, the city’s relevance is immediate. “My professional background is in fashion,” Jeremy continues, “so Milan naturally stood out. The luxury business concentration immediately caught my attention.” 

Others highlight Milan’s balance. Bede Hesmondhalgh, a British student who previously worked in Kenya scaling an electric motorbike startup, describes it as “human-sized”, a city that offers global opportunity without the overwhelm of larger capitals.  

“It offers history, culture, incredible food, and a vibrant social life, while still feeling manageable and human-sized compared to other global cities I’ve lived in,” he describes. “It’s easy to get around, easy to meet people, and easy to enjoy life outside the classroom, which makes a huge difference during an intense MBA year.

Former McKinsey consultant Beatrice Gosio points to the constant rhythm of cultural and professional life, where learning continues well beyond the classroom. “One weekend you’re visiting a museum in Brera, another you’re surrounded by the energy of Fashion Week, and in between you’re discovering neighborhoods, restaurants, and places that quickly start to feel familiar.” 

At the same time, Milan acts as a gateway to the rest of Europe. “You can easily reach other Italian cities or travel across Europe, which adds an extra layer to the international exposure,” Beatrice says. “Living here doesn’t feel like a pause from learning. It feels like an extension of it.” 

And of course, Milan is one of the most dynamic professional hubs in Europe, and a great platform for broader international careers. The combination of local immersion and global access is central to how the School connects students to opportunities across industries and geographies. 

“The north of Italy is one of the two regions with the highest GDP per Capita,” Dean Caselli confirms. “What Milan has done in the last 10 years, starting from the EXPO 2015 to the recent Olympics is a story of growth.” 

A SMALL COHORT WITH OUTSIZED DIVERSITY

SDA Bocconi’s MBA is deliberately intimate. But within that scale lies remarkable diversity of nationality, background, and perspective. 

“With around 125 students, the class is large enough to be diverse, but small enough to allow real connection,” says Manan Mehta, who studied Civil Engineering at India’s Manipal Institute of Technology. “You end up interacting with most of your classmates and building relationships that feel genuine.”  

That closeness extends to faculty as well, creating a more accessible and conversational learning environment. 

“Every term you work with new groups of people from different cultural and professional backgrounds,” says Emily Fisher, previously a consultant with Microsoft and Accenture. “That constant exposure pushes you to adapt, which is essential for an international career.”  

The result is a learning environment where diversity is not theoretical. Teams are intentionally rotated, perspectives constantly challenged, and collaboration becomes a daily discipline rather than an occasional exercise. 

“The School has pushed me to improve how I collaborate in diverse teams,” Emily says, “and has strengthened my confidence in the kind of leader I want to become.” 

FROM TECHNICAL EXPERTISE TO MANAGERIAL JUDGMENT 

For many students, the MBA acts as a bridge from technical or functional expertise into broader managerial capability. 

“I wanted to complement what I already knew,” says Juan Gonzales Cubillos, a Colombian who had been working as a Product Manager for a Chilean unicorn tech firm, Betterfly, “but also to better understand how companies create value not only for shareholders, but for employees, communities, and society.”  

Understanding balance sheets, financial structures, and the logic behind business decisions was relatively new for Juan, and he wanted to become confident in that space. “At the same time, being in Italy has taught me a lot about quality, tradition, and attention to detail. Whether it’s food, design, or manufacturing, there’s a deep respect for how things are made. That mindset has influenced the way I now think about building businesses that last.” 

For others, the shift is equally significant. 

“For many classmates, this is a next step,” says Irmak Ozbek. “For me, it’s about building a solid foundation in management.” Having studied Architectural Design at Politecnico di Milano, Irmak appreciates the professors and guest speakers who bring concrete examples of how innovation, technology, and leadership actually work in practice, not just in theory. 

“You’re encouraged to ask questions, share doubts, and learn through dialogue. When you’re trying to understand your next step, having access to people who are open to listening and sharing their experience makes a real difference.” 

Jeremy Cashen echoes that sentiment from a different angle, using the MBA to give clearer shape to management skills he already had. “I’ve run my own business and worked in areas like buying and merchandising, but much of what I learned came through experience and intuition. The MBA has allowed me to formalize that knowledge and put structure around skills I had developed informally.” 

What ties these perspectives together is a move toward judgment: the ability to interpret complexity, integrate different functions, and make decisions under uncertainty. 

ENTREPRENEURSHIP, INNOVATION AND REAL-WORLD APPLICATION 

For Stefano Caselli, entrepreneurship is in the air. “Bocconi was founded by an entrepreneur, and it makes sense to demonstrate every day our value, to find new ways to operate in the market. So being very entrepreneurial is our DNA.” 

Innovation and Entrepreneurship is one of the five concentrations, and students can customize their MBA with an entrepreneurial venture project, to build a venture from the ground up.  

“The MBA is a space to experiment, be creative and build things alongside the academic work,” says Bede Hesmondhalgh, who currently serves as President of the Entrepreneurship Club. “We’ve are developing initiatives with partners like Red Bull Basement, which has brought real momentum to the entrepreneurial community on campus. 

For Beatrice Gosio, the Entrepreneurship Project stood out as something genuinely distinctive. “The School doesn’t treat entrepreneurship as a side topic, but as a mindset that runs throughout the program, which aligns strongly with my long-term goals.” 

As MBA Program Director Stefano Pogutz notes, recent program developments, including new concentrations in Entrepreneurship and in Digital & AI, are designed to help students build capabilities aligned with rapidly evolving career paths. “The new concentration on Digital and AI is aimed at building a set of capabilities that matches market expectations in a fast-moving, high-demand area.” 

LEADERSHIP THAT IS HUMAN AND GLOBAL 

While the MBA strengthens technical and analytical skills, students repeatedly emphasize a second dimension of leadership that is grounded, reflective, and human. 

“What makes it special is how that sense of care shows up in everyday actions,” says Sarah Abou Abdallah, who graduated in Graphic Design at American University of Beirut. “ 

She describes a moment when a classmate was injured, and people immediately organized meals to support her. “We open our homes to one another, share food, and show up when someone is going through a difficult moment. It’s not performative or forced. It’s simply how people relate to each other here.”  

For Emily Fisher, leadership development happens in practice, through managing teams and navigating complex interpersonal dynamics. And for Irmak Ozbek, it emerges through service, creating opportunities for others and strengthening the community. 

This emphasis on mindful, people-centered leadership is reinforced by the program’s structure, from team rotations to dedicated coursework on topics such as sustainability, geopolitics, and diversity. 

CAREERS WITHOUT BORDERS 

Perhaps the most consistent thread across the Class of 2026 is a clear international ambition. Students are not simply looking for career progression, they are looking for mobility across industries and geographies. 

Underpinning this is Bocconi’s extensive alumni network and long-standing corporate relationships, which connect students not only to opportunities in Italy, but across Europe and beyond. 

“Wherever you go, you’re likely to find someone connected to Bocconi, whether in Europe, Latin America, the US, or Asia,” explains Lorenzo Covas, who before the MBA had been an M&A specialist in Brazil. “That global reach makes the network incredibly powerful, and people are generally willing to respond and help, which makes a real difference professionally.” 

For Lorenzo, Bocconi’s reputation and the support the School provides to students pursuing roles across European markets played a decisive role. “Especially in finance, Bocconi is a name that carries significant weight, and that recognition matters when you are building your future in this region.” 

As Stefano Pogutz puts it, the goal is to help students “read the world”, to develop the cultural intelligence and adaptability required to operate across markets, industries, and contexts. 

A COMMUNITY THAT ENDURES 

If there is one word that appears again and again across the Class of 2026, it is community. 

Jeremy Cashen describes it as a defining feature of the experience. Manan Mehta highlights the human dimension of daily interactions. And Sarah Abou Abdallah points to the ways students support each other through the intensity of the MBA. 

It is not something designed for brochures. It is something lived, and it shapes the experience as much as any course or career outcome. 

The SDA Bocconi MBA Class of 2026 reflects a cohort navigating a world defined by uncertainty, technological change, and global interdependence. 

What the program offers is not just a toolkit, but a mindset. It is one that combines analytical rigor with cultural awareness, entrepreneurial thinking with structured decision-making, and ambition with a strong sense of responsibility. 

Sherezade Chipana Alayo, who had managed  the entire operations of an American Coffee Company in Peru, encourages potential applicants to take the leap. “Don’t be afraid to take risks and remain open to unexpected paths because growth rarely happens in straight lines. Be willing to listen, adapt, and try something unfamiliar. You never know what you are capable of until you try.” 

For a generation of early-career professionals looking to build international careers, the message from Bocconi is clear. Success today is less about choosing a single path, and more about learning how to navigate many. 

AN INTERVIEW WITH STEFANO POGUTZ 

P&Q  reached out to Pogutz, Bocconi’s MBA Program Director. In an exclusive interview, Pogutz outlines the factors that distinguish the SDA Bocconi MBA, with reflections on how the school supports students and prepares them for the future world of work. 

P&Q: SDA Bocconi School of Management is in Milan, one of Europe’s most dynamic cities. How does the MBA program tap into the Milan ecosystem (and its alumni base) to provide school projects, employer partnerships, and job opportunities for students?

Pogutz: Milan is a vibrant city, an economic engine and a hub of creativity not only for Italy, but increasingly for Europe. It brings together innovation, financial services, fashion and design, culture, and education, combining a strong historical identity with a clear forward-looking mindset.  

Within this ecosystem, SDA Bocconi operates on two complementary levels. First, we draw on Milan’s external environment—leveraging our alumni network and long-standing relationships with the business community—to enrich the MBA experience through real-world projects, executive engagement, and employer partnerships.  

Second, we use Milan as a global platform connecting students to opportunities and career pathways across geographies and industries through the relationships built over many years.   

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?

Pogutz: What truly differentiates our MBA is the way we design and deliver it as a shared experience. We try to build the MBA “together”—faculty, students, career services, and alumni working as one community to create an experience that is both distinctive and deeply personal. The format also matters. Our program is intentionally “cozy,” with a highly international cohort (typically 120–130 students—this year representing 40 nationalities). This scale allows us not only to support individual development and personalize parts of the journey, but above all to make cultural diversity a daily learning experience. Finally, we prepare students to read the world—not only to master the “managerial toolkit,” but also to develop a global, multicultural mindset that can navigate uncertainty and make sense of the complexity of the times we live in. This blend of rigor, leadership development, and international fluency strengthens the student experience—and helps our graduates stand out with employers. 

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?

Pogutz: Our program is continuously adapted to external dynamics, to ensure that our pedagogical approach remains aligned with the evolving needs of the job market. Over the past year, we have worked on two main levels. First, we have strengthened academic content and career pathways. For example, we reinforced our focus on entrepreneurship and innovation through a full redesign and the launch of a new concentration. This track is integrated with our accelerator and pre-accelerator and is supported by a structured mentorship program that accompanies students’ Entrepreneurial Venture Projects through the end of the MBA and beyond. The goal is to create the conditions for a few innovative startups to emerge from the MBA every year, with the potential for meaningful impact. We also introduced a new concentration on Digital and AI, aimed at building a set of capabilities that matches market expectations in a fast-moving, high-demand area. Together, these pathways enrich the program and are designed to engage roughly 30% of the class, helping students develop emerging profiles and access new professional opportunities. 

Second, we have invested in mindset and a future-oriented perspective. The MBA opens with a highly interactive week focused on geopolitics, sustainability, demography, and new technologies. Using a scenario-based approach, we prepare students to understand complexity and navigate uncertainty—strengthening their ability to manage volatility and make sound decisions in tough operating environments. 

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

Pogutz: For several years, the School has offered a dedicated “caring” service to support both international and domestic students. The service supports both practical administration—such as visas and family reunification—and wellbeing and relocation needs, including guidance on the national healthcare system and housing. Support starts from the moment students enroll and continues throughout the entire program. The team works closely with students to anticipate needs, resolve issues, and make the transition to life in Milan and Italy as smooth as possible, so that students can stay focused on learning, recruiting, and making the most of the MBA experience. 

P&Q: How does the MBA program integrate DEI in its MBA programming? How does the program leverage the larger university’s commitment to diversity in building its MBA program and what dividends does this commitment provide to its students?

Pogutz: The School has always been deeply attentive to these issues, which are a distinctive feature of the program. Our cohort includes many nationalities, and students enter the MBA with diverse academic and professional backgrounds. Given the intentionally compact class size, the level of diversity is exceptionally high. We design the learning experience to make that diversity tangible. We form diverse working groups for assignments and other core academic activities, and we rotate teams every term. This ensures that students are consistently exposed—directly and meaningfully—to different professional perspectives and cultural approaches within the class. 

In addition, we dedicate a full week to these topics through a new mandatory course for all students. The course is hands-on and experiential, and it is designed to help students engage with DEI in a practical way. It also includes a short study tour and company visits focused on DEI-related practices and challenges. Finally, DEI is further reinforced through the work of our student clubs, which run multiple networking and community-building initiatives—often in close collaboration with our alumni network. 

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?

Pogutz: In addition to services related to visas and housing, our caring activity offers further opportunities. First, students can join an Italian language course. This is an important step for living—and potentially working—in Italy. We also provide access to counselling services to help students manage the pressures of the program and the stress associated with the job search. The MBA is a major investment and, for many, a significant personal bet on themselves. We recognize the importance of offering appropriate support for stress, anxiety, low mood, and burnout—and, where relevant, for challenges related to cultural integration, loneliness, and language issues. 

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?

Pogutz: SDA Bocconi offers programs across a range of disciplines, including art, fashion, and culture or in context like healthcare, public management, geopolitics. As a result, students are exposed to different ways of developing interdisciplinary capabilities—both through classroom content and through the activities run by student Clubs, which operate transversally across programs. In addition, SDA is part of the broader Bocconi community. While the University is not primarily focused on STEM disciplines, over the years it has developed strong expertise in technology—especially in Computer Science and AI—and today it is an international reference point in these areas, with dedicated educational pathways and leading-edge research centers. Our interest is in understanding how these capabilities can be integrated into managerial decision-making, and how they can support the development of both analytical tools and the soft skills needed to address tomorrow’s challenges. 

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?

Pogutz: The program addresses AI at multiple levels, with the aim of enabling a coherent and comprehensive integration. From a learning and skills perspective, AI is covered across a wide range of courses—strategy, marketing, innovation and technology, operations, and finance—through dedicated sessions, case studies, and practical “incidents” discussed in class. In addition, as mentioned, we have introduced a dedicated concentration and a set of tailored electives. Beyond curriculum content, we increasingly use AI as a learning enabler. In practical terms, students are allowed to use AI to prepare for class clarifying unfamiliar concepts and generating questions that improve participation. During the program, we invite students to use AI to supports active learning: for example, students can stress-test business ideas, explore alternative hypotheses, run quick scenario analyses, and compare different strategic or financial assumptions—always with faculty guidance and clear rules on academic integrity. Our role as a School is to make this adoption responsible and effective—by training students on good prompting, critical thinking, verification of outputs, and the ethical boundaries of use—so that AI becomes a tool for better learning, not a shortcut.  

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?

Pogutz: Our School offers a comprehensive set of career development resources for MBA alumni as part of our commitment to lifelong learning and continued support beyond graduation. 

Alumni can access ongoing learning and career touchpoints designed to refresh skills and strengthen professional networks, offered in different formats—such as lectures, simulations, workshops, and business talks. These sessions also help alumni refine their career strategy and navigate job transitions through targeted workshops and, when needed, personalized career advising. In addition, alumni retain access to our Career Platform, which features job opportunities shared by corporate partners and other organizations, with roles appropriate to their level of seniority. Finally, they benefit from the broader Bocconi Alumni Community, which provides additional networking opportunities and resources for continued professional development. 

SDA BOCCONI’S MBA CLASS OF 2026

MBA Student	Hometown	Undergraduate Alma Mater	Last Employer
Sarah Abou Abdallah	Damour, Lebanon	American University of Beirut	Acenda Life Insurance (Australia)
Sherezade Chipana Alayo	Lima, Peru	University of Lima	Red Fox Coffee Merchants
Jeremy Cashen	Auckland, New Zealand	Whitecliffe College of Arts & Design	Self Employed
Lorenzo Covas	São Paulo, Brazil	Fundação Getulio Vargas (FGV-SP)	Ecorodovias
Juan Gonzales Cubillos	Bogota, Colombia	University of Kentucky	Betterfly
Emily Fisher	Atlanta, USA	Georgia Institute of Technology	Microsoft (via Accenture)
Beatrice Gosio	Italy	WU Vienna	McKinsey & Co.
Bede Hesmondhalgh	London, UK	Newcastle University	ARC Ride
Manan Mehta	New Delhi, India	Manipal Institute of Technology	Fisher Fixings
Irmak Ozbek	Izmir, Turkey	Politecnico di Milano	Bisfora Technologies

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