Meet Yale SOM’s MBA Class Of 2027

DEBUNKING THE MYTHS

When The Princeton Review survey alumni and students about their alma maters in 2025, Yale SOM posted the 5th-highest score for its Family Friendliness. In the same survey, respondents also ranked the school 2nd for Nonprofit and 4th for Consulting programming. When U.S. News surveyed business school administrators earlier this year, Yale SOM achieved Top 10 marks for its Finance, Management, and International Business programming. In some ways, such scores undercut the narrative that the SOM motto – “Educating leaders for business & society” – places  greater emphasis on society, says Ioana Solomon.”

“It is true that many of us care deeply about our impact in society, and several of my classmates are focused on roles in philanthropy or non-profit work. However, the majority of our class is still pursuing careers in what we might consider traditional business fields. The difference is that an SOM education equips us with a holistic mindset and a more humanistic approach to guide us in some of the key decisions we will make as leaders. This includes the people with whom we surround ourselves, the metrics we value, and the long-term strategies we implement. This is not at the expense of fundamental business principles and obligations to various stakeholders, but a core addition to our ability and potential to create value, wherever and however we choose to dedicate ourselves.”

Notably, Yale SOM has sometimes been tagged as the “Non-Profit School” – a moniker built on students supposedly focusing on changing the world over charging the client. Reality is, just 3.7% of the Class of 2025 ended up in the field, which is consistent with the 3.1% and 2.3% field placement rates from the two years previous. More than that, the school’s alumni rolls reflects graduates who can succeed in almost every field, says ’25 alum Nico Pedreira.

“While the school has a rich history of alumni who have excelled in these fields—such as Daniel Weiss (MBA ’85), former President and CEO of the Met, and Ned Lamont (MBA ’80), the incumbent Governor of Connecticut—many SOM graduates have also built remarkable careers as entrepreneurs and executives in the private sector. Notable examples include Indra Nooyi (MBA ’80), former Chairman and CEO of PepsiCo; Seth Goldman (MBA ’95), founder of Honest Tea and former Executive Chairman of Beyond Meat; and Gina Rosselli Boswell (MBA ’89), CEO of Bath & Body Works. The reality is that SOM attracts a diverse cohort of students, each committed to making a positive impact across industries and functions. While career paths vary widely, SOM students are all driven by a shared passion for making a difference.”

THE INTEGRATED CORE

Looking deeper, the Yale SOM curriculum integrates wrinkles found in few other business schools. That starts with the raw case study. Expanding beyond the guardrails of a 10-15-page written case, the raw case also includes ancillary materials like financials, government documents, new articles, and executive interviews. Sifting through these materials, MBAs can gain a greater understanding of what case protagonists faced. Not only do raw cases offer students more perspectives on case-related issues, but also better simulates the discovery and decision-making process – one that often requires deeper research and includes sources that can sometimes contradict each other.

Another unique feature is the Integrated Core curriculum. Forget the standard first-year courses divided in areas like Organizational Behavior, Business Strategy, Managerial Finance, and Microeconomics. Instead, Yale SOM divided the programming into stakeholder perspectives, so students can experience how various fields impact these individuals. As part of the core, students complete courses geared towards investors, innovators, chief executives, customers, competitors, CFOs, and government regulators.

For Rachel Autumn Lee, this approach provides a more “well-rounded” perspective, while Rishi Tummala observes that it better aligns with how organizations operate and leaders grow.

“Yale SOM’s core curriculum stands out in the AI era because it’s uniquely designed to build leaders who can navigate the complex human and ethical challenges of transformative technology,” he continues. “Today’s managers are not just delegators; they’re strategic overseers of hybrid human-AI teams. The integrated curriculum at Yale SOM prepares leaders for this new era by training students to look at every problem from the perspective of all stakeholders, weighing the impact on businesses, individuals, and society at large. This approach develops not just technical fluency, but also the advanced ethical judgment and collaborative mindset essential for leading organizations through rapid change.”

TAKING CLASSES OUTSIDE THE BUSINESS SCHOOL

When the Integrated Core is completed, MBAs can take an unlimited number of courses outside the School of Management. That was a huge advantage to Chibundo Uzokwe, a Nigerian financier.

“I have a degree in Accounting and have spent my entire career in finance, which has been fulfilling—but Yale gives me the chance to explore parts of myself I haven’t had time for before. I can be Chibundo the artist or Chibundo the storyteller, taking or auditing courses that broaden my perspective. As a newcomer to the U.S., this is especially valuable. I’m excited to take classes at Yale Law School to better understand the U.S. tax and legal landscape. This flexibility not only helps me plan a stronger professional future but also lets me grow in ways I couldn’t in my past roles, giving me a broader, more well-rounded perspective.”

It isn’t just the classroom where MBAs can partake in the larger Yale University, adds Keshan Chen. “As for extracurricular activities, I’m excited to explore the greater New Haven and Yale University. For example, the School of Music and the School of Drama offer countless high-quality performances that Yale students can see at a great price…I’m also amazed by the world-class collection at the Yale University Art Gallery; it’s a real privilege to be a Yale student.”

Chen also touts the International Experience at Yale SOM. “[It is] an immersive ten-day trip designed and led by SOM. I’ve heard about past trips to Brazil and South Africa. As a curious photographer, I am super excited to join the IE to gain a deeper insight about culture and business of these destinations—something I probably couldn’t get on my own.”

CONNECTING THROUGH STORIES

Among alumni, Yale SOM’s New Haven locale is another unforgettable part of the MBA experience. Nico Pedreira points to the pizza, while Austin Cai harkens back to the Thai food (particularly the Roodle food truck). For Ioana Solomon, the best part of New Haven was all of the outdoor activities.

“This includes rowing on the Connecticut River; going on long walks in East Rock and Edgerton Park; studying outside in the warmer months; and even going on ski or hiking trips only a short drive away. New York City was very accessible, and I felt privileged to be able to stay connected with my family, friends, and community there. Still, I always knew I was coming home to an environment that offered me so much peace, ample space for reflection, and healthy ways to de-stress.”

Sunrise walks along East Rock Park wasn’t the only way for past students to de-stress. One outlet, says Nico Pedreira, was the annual Auction Night and Star Search, where students raised funds for students focused on summer internships in the nonprofit or public sectors. Another popular tradition are the “Vatican” dinners, says Ioana Solomon. Started during COVID, student “popes” organize dinners to bring small groups to their homes for dinner and conversations to “explor(e) different philosophies, value systems, experiences, and cultures.”

“This experience has not only deepened our friendships, but has allowed us to meet and see our classmates in an entirely new light,” Solomon continues. “Over the course of ten dinners this year, we and our guests have shared some truly incredible, inspiring, and transformative moments. We discussed life-changing stories, experiences, memories, and personal views on everything from religion and spirituality, philosophies on life, friendship, and love, tenets of justice and equality, reflections on joy, grief, and family, and so much more.”

It is over these stories that Yale SOM students – past and present – come together. It is over narratives – be it formal case discussions or informal narratives – where dreams are shared, plans are hatched, and respect is gained. That is particularly true over one of the school’s most hallowed traditions, which further uses storytelling to connect a community over their shared interests and intersecting goals.

“My favorite MBA tradition at Yale SOM is Voices,” explains ’25 alum Austin Cai. “I deeply admire my classmates who take the time and effort to be vulnerable in front of the audience, sharing personal stories that often reveal sides of them we don’t normally see in day-to-day interactions. This tradition fosters deeper connections and a strong sense of community, reflecting SOM’s culture of openness, empathy, and support. Whether it’s someone’s journey to SOM, their experience with prejudice, or overcoming a difficult life event, Voices creates a space where authenticity is celebrated and bonds are strengthened.”

To access in-depth profiles of the MBA Class of 2027, click on the links below.

MBA Student	Hometown	Undergraduate Alma Mater	Last Employer
Marley Brown	Queens, NY	Harvard University	Opto Investments
Prabhash Chauhan	New Delhi, India	Delhi Technological University	Invest India
Keshan Chen	Fujian, China	Communication University of China	Mars
Sierra Davidson	Cleveland, OH	Cleveland State University	Guidehouse
Michael Henry	Needham, MA	University of Michigan	Shamiri Institute
Rachel Autumn Lee	Los Angeles, CA	UCLA	Walt Disney Company
Molly Lynch	Boston, MA	Yale University	Dallas Independent School District
Zach Mulligan	Honolulu, HI	Brown University	McKinsey & Company
Grisel Ramirez	Morelos, Mexico	Morelos, Mexico	Kearney
Lisa Sheridan	Enniskillen, Northern Ireland	Princeton University	World Bank
Rishi Tummala	Dallas, TX	University of California at Berkeley	Dataflare
Chibundo Uzokwe	Oguta, Imo	Covenant University	Standard Bank Group

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