Meet Vanderbilt Owen’s MBA Class Of 2027

There’s always that one course. It’s the one you never forget. You can still remember the exercise that made everything so clear. You can still hear the professor’s maxims echoing in your head. And you still live by the discoveries that altered how you approach the world.

At Vanderbilt University’s Owen Graduate School of Management, that class is Leading Teams and

Organizations. A core course taught during the first module by Tim Vogus, the course left a deep impression with first-years like Ameesha Munjal. Arriving in business school after working in finance, she was skeptical that leadership could be taught in the classroom. Over seven weeks, Munjal’s viewpoint shifted over cases and role plays. Even more, the classroom discussions, where classmates shared how they handled conflict and made decisions, turned out to be an eye-opener for her.

“Listening to classmates from different industries and cultures talk about how they deal with these situations opened my mind to different work styles and ways of thinking.,” Munjal explains. “I realized that in many management situations, there is rarely one right answer. Often, “it depends” might actually be the best one. More importantly, the course showed me how understanding perspectives and learning from others can reshape the way you see people, organizations, and leadership itself.”

ADOPTING A VERY DIFFERENT MINDSET

Munjal wasn’t alone in feting Leading Teams and Organizations. Her classmate, Ranjani Mosale Vijayakumar, describes learning from Vogus as “the highlight of my time at Owen.” Soonpyo Jeon, who comes from the defense sector, was struck by the wide range of leadership styles that pervaded the case readings. At the same time, Anupama Patil, a physician, discovered that her medical training had been holding her back as a leader.

“I was trained in rigid hierarchies where decisions flow from the top down,” she tells P&Q. “This course challenged me to rethink leadership by exploring more collaborative and adaptive approaches through cases and class discussions. I began to understand how effective leaders build alignment across teams, a skill very different from what medical training emphasizes.”

The Leading Teams and Organizations course also impacted alumni in unexpected ways. For Priscilla Agboada, the course was a reminder that there is always plenty to learn, even in areas – like giving feedback – that she believed she’d mastered.

“I remember times at my previous workplace when feedback I’d delivered landed poorly, but I’d always assumed I understood the mechanics. This course made me rethink that entirely. Learning frameworks around Radical Candor and the process of giving actionable feedback showed me the gap between what I once knew and what I know now.”

Bukunola Ogundele, a 2026 P&Q Best & Brightest MBA, also credits the course – and Timothy Vogus – with laying the groundwork for her success in the Owen MBA. “At a time when I was still adjusting to business school, he sent thoughtful feedback after class on my contribution, which made me feel seen and gave me the confidence to contribute more openly.”

STANDOUT FACULTY

Timothy Vogus wasn’t the only professor to earn acclaim from Owen MBAs, past and present. The program boasts an All-Star lineup of faculty, one reason why it ranked among the Top 10 for Faculty Excellence according to the 2025 Princeton Review survey of students. Among the marquee names, you’ll find Accounting whizzes Bin Li and Erik Olsen and Marketing gurus Kelly Haws and Eric VanEpps. In 2025 and 2026, Anthony Salerno (Marketing) and Sina Moghadas Khorasani (Operations Management) were listed among P&Q’s  Best 40 Under 40 Professors. Ask alumni and another heavyweight they’ll cite is Brian McCann, best known for his Corporate Strategy course.

“What stands out most about him is how engaging he makes the material while still striking a great balance between lectures and case discussions,” explains ’26 graduate Maree Smith. “He has a way of putting students and himself on the same level and really meeting us where we are. Combined with his realistic expectations and clear desire for us to actually learn, it naturally made students want to put in the effort, which in turn made the learning even more meaningful.”

Smith’s classmate, Barakat Olatinwo, paid McCann the ultimate compliment that a true teacher can receive. She points out that McCann disrupted how she thought…and made her question everything.

“I walked in believing good decisions followed good data: clean inputs, rational outputs. What I didn’t anticipate was confronting how systematically biased my “rational” thinking was. Suddenly, I stopped trusting my gut instincts at face value and started asking: “What cognitive bias is driving this decision?” That shift from confident to curious has been the most practically useful takeaway of my MBA experience.”

Beyond their classroom prowess, the Owen faculty also makes themselves available to further deepen the academic experience for MBAs, adds ’26 alum Dale Anderson.

“We spend a significant amount of time with our professors, and it’s been great to get to know them as more than just instructors. Outside of office hours, I would visit professors to discuss topics adjacent to their courses; however, through these conversations, I’ve found commonality outside of the teacher-student dynamic. One of my professors enjoys building houses, which is something I did throughout high school and college. Another professor is a talented mixologist, a fact I discovered while attending a dinner hosted by the faculty. I’ve valued these connections and hope to continue these relationships after graduation.”

THE ’MOD’ SQUAD

This dynamic reflects something foundational to the Owen MBA: Intimacy. The Class of 2027 consists of 160 students, placing it in the ‘small school’ category. More than that, Owen doesn’t maintain an undergraduate business major, so attention and resources are lavished on the Full-Time MBA population. The small size also means there is no place for MBAs to hide in the classroom. And the program cannot function without their involvement in extracurriculars, either. By the same token, the program benefits from its “Competitive, not cutthroat” philosophy, which is only amplified by Nashville’s trademark southern hospitality.

“What stood out to me most is the balance in the culture,” observes alum Maree Smith. “Everyone is driven and wants to succeed, whether that is in the classroom or in landing great post-MBA roles, but there is also a genuine willingness to support one another. I have experienced that firsthand whether it is helping classmates with homework or preparing for interviews and knowing they would do the same for me.”

While the small size fosters deeper relationships, the program structure enables students to experience a broader range of topics. That’s because Owen relies on a Mod structure, where MBAs complete courses in seven-week blocs.

“I was also really excited about the mod system because it allows you to explore a wide variety of subjects throughout the year,” adds Morgan Davis, who holds an M.S. in Mechanical Engineering. “I’m someone who genuinely enjoys learning, so the ability to dive into different disciplines while keeping the pace dynamic was especially appealing.”

FROM DEFENSE TO AUTOMOTIVE

Owen may be small in size, but it is sweeping in terms of experience. Among the industry sectors represented in the class is defense. Shannon Young, a U.S. Naval Academy Engineering grad, headed up the U.S. Marine Corps Nashville recruiting station before joining the Class of 2027. Here, she administered everything from fitness tests to interviews. Working for the Government of South Korea, Soonpyo Jeon served as a director in the Defense Acquisition Program Administration.

“[I led] the development of South Korea’s first administrative regulation to apply digital twin technology in the defense acquisition sector. At the time, digital twins had not been clearly defined or incorporated into the defense acquisition system, and there were differing views among policymakers and stakeholders. By working closely with experts and relevant institutions, I helped establish the policy framework necessary to adopt this technology. The regulation is expected to improve efficiency across the weapon system development and operation process and contribute to reducing lifecycle costs in the long term.”

Brooke Ellis, who studied Science Communication as a Vanderbilt undergrad, returns to Music City after working in solar project development. Jackie Keshner, an investment relations director, owns a byline in IR Impact, a leading platform for professionals in her field. At General Motors, Morgan Davis handled accessibility initiatives.

“I contributed to projects focused on improving the vehicle experience for drivers and passengers with disabilities. Seeing how thoughtful engineering and design can remove barriers and make transportation more accessible was incredibly rewarding; it reinforced how meaningful it is when innovation expands independence and opportunity for underserved groups.”

ACHIEVING “THE PEOPLE’S CHOICE” AT DELOITTE

Looking for a rare feat? Paul Kirkpatrick has lived the dream: he played professional baseball and landed a job at Goldman School. And Ranjani Mosale Vijayakumar finds herself in even more elite company.

“One of my biggest accomplishments has been earning my certification as a Cathodic Protection Specialist, a credential held by only about 400 professionals in the United States. Achieving this in a highly technical and male-dominated industry required years of dedication to developing deep technical expertise.”

And Tristan Carico, who plays four musical instruments, has built Tarkwork, a test prep tutoring firm. “I founded it as a senior in high school after friends and family asked how I had improved my ACT score by 10 points. What began as a side hustle grew into a business that has helped more than 200 students earn millions of dollars in scholarships and gain admission to their dream schools. I’m especially proud that I was able to grow the company into a profitable business employing more than a dozen tutors while continuing to serve students through major challenges like test-optional policies and testing center shutdowns during the pandemic.”

Since arriving in Nashville, the Class of 2027 has been racking up the achievements. Ameesha Munjal helped organized the annual Diwali Celebration that attracted 100 attendees. Shannon Young’s classmates elected her to be President of the Owen Strategy and Consulting Club – and she has since landed a summer internship at the Boston Consulting Group. On top of that, Anna Cooper, a consulting engagement manager who once swam with Great White Sharks, became a non-voting board fellow with the YWCA of Nashville and Middle Tennessee.

“The YWCA’s mission is to eliminate racism, empower women, and promote peace, justice, freedom, and dignity for all. As a board fellow, I have the opportunity to participate in board meetings, support strategy development, and work on projects ranging from grant proposals to fundraising events. It’s an honor to work with an organization that plays such an important role in the broader Nashville community.”

For Morgan Davis, the best part of business school has been competing in case competitions, including being part of a team that finished second in the Deloitte National Case Competition – and collecting the People’s Choice Award along the way.

“Beyond the results, the most rewarding part has been the collaboration and problem-solving involved,” Davis adds. “Working closely with my teammates to build a strategy, pressure-test ideas, and deliver a compelling recommendation in just a few days has been one of the most energizing parts of my MBA experience.”

CLOSING BELL OPENS UP COMMUNITY

Davis also lists Closing Bell among her favorite parts of business school. Held weekly on Thursdays, Closing Bell brings together students, faculty, and even family members over food and drinks away from the classroom. In the process, students can build relationships organically, with events organized by different clubs.

“One of my favorites so far was the Armed Forces Club’s Veterans Day Closing Bell,” Davis continues. “Classmates brought gear and photos from their time in service and shared stories from careers most of us knew nothing about. It was one of those evenings where you leave knowing people in a completely different way than you did walking in.”

Travel is another popular part of the Owen experience. Aaron Varella, the President of the Class of 2026, estimates that he had traveled over 50,000 miles and visited 7 countries in 2025 alone. Anna Cooper, for one, joined her classmates for a trek to India, which included the usual pilgrimage to the Taj Mahal. Over spring break, Ameesha Munjal headed to Panama with 20 classmates to be part of Project Pyramid to help a local social enterprise.

“What made the experience especially interesting was that the project is interdisciplinary. Students from different programs, including Public Health and Education Policy, worked together, bringing different perspectives to the problem. It was the combination of everything the MBA experience can offer: learning from people across disciplines, getting to know classmates more deeply outside the classroom, experiencing a new culture, and applying what we have learned in a real-world setting. The fact that we continue working on the project after the trip makes it even more meaningful.”

For Brooke Ellis, the best memories came closer to home, when she joined the Women Business Association for a golf clinic for beginners. “What I admittedly initially thought of as cliché for budding businesswomen turned out to be an informative and fun bonding activity, while developing a skill that boosts confidence for future corporate outings. Definitely did not hurt that it was a sunny day in what was an otherwise dreary season!”

A CLASS PROFILE

Among the 160 MBA students who comprise the Class of 2027, 24% are women and 22% American minorities. International students make up 29% of the class, which hails from 20 countries overall. First-generation students and military veterans account for 18% and 20% shares of the class respectively. As a whole, the class averages 28 years of age and 6 years of work experience.

In terms of testing, the class averaged a 660 in the GMAT Focus, with scores ranging from 625-705 in the mid-80% range. Among students taking the GRE, the scores came in at 160 (Verbal) and 159 (Quant). The class also produced a collective 3.4 undergraduate GPA.

Together, the class has attended 120 undergraduate institutions and worked for 116 companies. Academically, the largest class segments hold undergraduate degrees in Business and Economics (33%) and Engineering (20%). Accounting (12%), Science (11%), and Social Sciences (10%) also cracked double-digits. Professionally, Financial Services (14%), Healthcare (14%), Consulting (10%), and Technology (9%) lead the pack, with Consumer Products, Manufacturing, Media and Entertainment, and Real Estate each holding 4% shares of the class seats.

The past year’s rankings also reflect that Owen is a program on the upswing. In the 2025-2026 Poets&Quants composite MBA Ranking, the school climbed 12 spots to 18th. Owen also inched up two spots to 16th in the 2026 U.S. News MBA Ranking, courtesy of boosting its Peer Assessment score and producing highest placement score among Top 20 American programs. Over the past two years, the school has risen 7 spots to 19th in the Fortune MBA Ranking.

A HEALTHCARE HUB

Owen’s trademark is its Healthcare concentration, which earned a P&Q Best In Class Award in 2025. Call it taking advantage of its surroundings. Nashville itself has been dubbed the nation’s healthcare capital. According to the Nashville Chamber of Commerce, the Nashville metro sports over 900 healthcare companies, including 17 publicly-traded firms. Even more, the region boasts Fortune 500 powers like HCA and Community Health Systems. On top of that, according to rule of thumb, Nashville-area companies manage over half of the beds in for-profit hospitals. Not surprisingly, healthcare is the region’s lifeblood, employing nearly 168,00 people and generating over $97-billion in revenue.

Add to that, Owen is just a half mile from the Vanderbilt University Medical Center, one of the country’s top hospitals for cancer, cardiology, pediatrics, and trauma care. Each year, the center handles over 3.2-million patient visits, performing over 79,000 surgeries and maintaining over 1,700 beds. With these resources readily available, Owen can draw faculty, speakers, and mentors from Center personnel (and the larger Nashville healthcare ecosystem).

Owen’s Healthcare concentration features over 10 courses, including ones specific healthcare finance, marketing, analytics, economics, operations, and strategy. The school also holds its annual Vanderbilt Owen Business Healthcare Conference in November, with past speakers including Nancy-Ann DeParle, a former director of the White House Office of Health Reform under President Obama, and Jonathan Gruber, considered one of the architects of the Affordable Care Act. Among the foundational experiences of the program is Immersion Week, where students spend a week at the medical center observing and learning.

“Students learn what it’s truly like to provide people care,” explains Rangaraj Ramanujam, Faculty Director of Health Care Programs, in a 2025 interview with P&Q. “Sometimes they experience things like watching a surgery or an airlift transfer. These visits give them an opportunity to observe and connect.”

Next Page: An Interview with Thom Golden, Associate Dean for Strategic Enrollment Management

Page 3: Profiles of 13 Members of the MBA Class of 2027

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