The Favorite MBA Professors Of The Class Of 2026

Finance is scary.

That’s how many MBAs feel starting out. Ask the poets – the teachers, artists, and account executives hoping to make a career change. Just looking at a Corporate Finance syllabus brings back their PTSD from high school algebra and college statistics!

Finance is just so…complicated. There is all this jargon like EBITDA, Liquidity, and Variable Costs. There are all these rules and exceptions to those rules – and the seeming contradictions in between. And then there are the marathon spreadsheets with all those formulas, tabs, and links. Not surprisingly, many undergrads quickly scurry over to Marketing or Management after that core Intro to Financial Management course. Those degrees are safer and more fun. Let’s be honest: they don’t ding your GPA or make you feel dumb, either.

THE IVERSON EFFECT

As an undergraduate at Brigham Young’s Marriot School, Rebekah Koster would describe finance as a “technical discipline filled with formulas and models.” True to form, she majored in Experience Design and Management before moving into roles in Marketing and Human Resources. Returning to Marriott for an MBA, Koster found herself facing the Finance hurdle in the core coursework. Fortunately, she had Ben Iverson as her professor. A Harvard-trained Economist, Iverson enjoyed a stint at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York before moving into academia. Koster describes his teaching style as a mix of “deep analytical rigor” coupled with “real-world relevance.” The result, Koster says, was an experience where the complex became both ‘accessible and exciting.”

“Professor Iverson brought the subject to life by showing how financial decisions shape the trajectory of companies, industries, and even entire economies,” she tells Poets&Quants. “What stood out to me most was his genuine enthusiasm for helping students understand and experience finance rather than simply memorize it. He challenged us to think critically about how capital structure, risk, and market forces influence business strategy. I found myself increasingly drawn to finance as the semester progressed.”

Thanks to his Professor Iverson’s influence, Koster completed additional finance courses, including his Bankruptcy and Restructuring course. Now working as an association in McKinsey & Company’s Denver office, Koster continues to lean on the lessons she absorbed under his tutelage.

“Professor Iverson’s impact on my MBA experience went beyond the classroom. He helped me see finance not just as a technical skill but also a powerful lens for understanding how businesses operate and make strategic decisions. His mentorship fundamentally shaped my academic interests and pushed me to explore an area of business I might not have otherwise pursued.”

A LOOK AT 50 TOP MBA PROFESSORS, FROM ARIZONA STATE TO YALE

That’s what great teachers like Ben Iverson do. They simplify what seems so intimidating at first glance. All the while, they spark a passion for subjects that students often turn into their life’s purpose. There were many professors just like Iverson say members of the MBA Class of 2026. They were flexible, patient, and entertaining – elite communicators as much as subject matter experts. Most of all, they cared about their students, their doors ever open and their emails always answered.

This spring, P&Q asked this year’s Best & Brightest MBAs and MBAs To Watch to name the professors who impacted them most during business school. Here are 49 more professors whose influence will reverberate among this year’s top MBAs throughout their careers.

“One of my favorite MBA professors was Amy Hillman, who taught our Strategic Management course and previously served as Dean of the W. P. Carey School of Business. What stood out to me was not only her depth of knowledge in strategy, but also her ability to challenge students to think critically about complex business decisions.

In class, she consistently pushed us to move beyond surface-level analysis and consider the broader strategic implications of leadership choices. Her teaching style encouraged thoughtful discussion and helped us develop a more structured way of thinking about strategy.

Beyond the classroom, she also helped strengthen connections between students and industry leaders through initiatives such as Executive Connections and Dine & Discuss, which created meaningful opportunities for students to engage directly with executives and learn from their experiences.

Her combination of intellectual rigor, strategic insight, and genuine support for students made a lasting impression on my MBA experience.”
Edith Wang, Arizona State (W. P. Carey)

“My favorite MBA professor was Thomas H. Davenport. Beyond being one of the world’s leading thinkers on business analytics and artificial intelligence, he has a rare ability to make complex ideas practical and relevant for MBA students. In class, he consistently brought real-world insights and recent data on how AI is transforming organizations and the future of work. We explored his books and his latest research, which gave us a front-row view into how companies are applying and should apply AI today. His ability to connect AI, business, and strategy is really unique. At the same time, he was incredibly approachable and engaged with students, always open to exploring new ideas and industry trends. That combination of thought leadership, curiosity, and genuine care for students makes him a truly remarkable educator.
Drin Govori, Babson College (Olin)

My favorite MBA professor was Rena Conti. She teaches courses on healthcare economics and policy, bringing complex topics to life with clarity and insight. Beyond her impressive credentials, she brings pure enthusiasm into the classroom, creating a dynamic and engaging learning environment where students feel encouraged to ask questions and explore challenging ideas. Professor Conti is also incredibly supportive, often continuing discussions during breaks or after class, and she has been a valuable resource for students looking to make connections within the industry, always willing to help them build meaningful professional networks.”
Gabrielle Simmons, Boston University (Questrom)

“My favorite MBA professor is Professor David Charles Goyette. I could really feel his passion for teaching and how much he genuinely cares about his students. What I appreciated most was how he gave constructive feedback in a way that encouraged people to open up and show more of themselves. It was very interesting to see how people in the class progressed by expressing more after receiving the actionable feedback. He also made me reflect that small things we often overlook, like minute body language, can really strengthen how we connect with others. I’ve grown a lot because of his feedback.”
Phrare Bhudharhita Teinwan, Carnegie Mellon (Tepper)

“Chad Syverson. He has a remarkable ability to take complex economic theory and ground it in practical, operational reality. Syverson holds both himself and his students to an incredibly high standard, but he does so by fostering a growth-oriented environment rather than a high-friction one. What I found most engaging was his use of contemporary evidence; he seamlessly integrated emerging research on productivity and efficiency with the diverse professional experiences of my classmates. Furthermore, his insights into the nuances of antitrust and how to determine the net impact on consumer welfare provided me with a much more rigorous framework for evaluating market competition.”
William Dougherty, University of Chicago (Booth)

“A lot of amazing options, but I’ll go with Donna Hitscherich, who teaches Mergers and Acquisitions. My background was in financial services, but I didn’t have much exposure to corporate transactions — Donna did an incredible job opening up that world. The best way I can describe her teaching philosophy is “back of the napkin” thinking. For any concept in M&A, does the idea make intuitive sense? Do the basic numbers check out? Can you explain it clearly to someone who wasn’t in the room? This class didn’t make me an expert in DCFs or LBO models, but it gave me a level of financial common sense that I think will make a real difference in my career. It’s a philosophy that extends well beyond M&A — at its core, it’s about having the common sense to cut through complexity and the confidence to think on your feet, and I appreciate Donna’s ability to teach that.”
Joe Mozden, Columbia Business School

“Drew Pascarella has been my most impactful MBA professor. He has a unique talent for pushing students to reach their full potential while creating an engaging and supportive learning environment. His combination of academic insight and practical experience makes his classes both challenging and relevant. Above all, I admire his commitment to his students; he never hesitates to step up and advocate on their behalf. I hope to remain in touch with him as my career progresses. Because of my military background, I have a deeply rooted appreciation for punctuality. Thankfully, Drew shares this passion and makes sure it’s firmly instilled in all of his students. Let’s just say… that level of timeliness is not always common in the MBA world, so it’s refreshing to see it enforced. I absolutely love it.”
Ty Millward, Cornell University (Johnson)

“My favorite professor at Fuqua is Elia Ferracuti, who teaches Managerial Accounting. While the course provides a rigorous toolkit for evaluating company performance and informing strategic decisions, it is Elia’s leadership in the classroom that distinguishes the experience. Elia has a rare ability to combine analytical depth with genuine personal investment in his students. He fosters participation through creative formats, including a reenacted corporate board meeting, that invites diverse perspectives into the discussion and balances intellectual rigor with approachability. What impacted me most was his commitment beyond the syllabus. At the end of the term, he wrote personal notes to each of his more than 130 students. That gesture reflected a principle I deeply admire: excellence in leadership is measured not only by mastery of content, but by the care invested in developing others.”
Dan Crair, Duke University (Fuqua)

“Coming from a background in the physical sciences, I find myself far more comfortable at a lab bench than in a discussion of supply curves and market equilibria. As such, approaching a foreign academic discipline like economics felt daunting. However, Professor Lakshmi Shankar Ramachandran quickly assuaged those fears. Within an ambitious six-week timeline, he distilled foundational economic principles with remarkable clarity and precision. Rather than presenting economics as abstract theory, he framed it as a decision-making tool that shapes incentives, resource allocation, and human behavior. His ability to connect microeconomic models to real-world systems made the discipline feel not only accessible, but essential. By the end of the course, economics was no longer an unfamiliar terrain. Rather, it became a lens through which I began to view healthcare delivery, reimbursement structures, and policy design. Ultimately, Professor Ramachandran not only masterfully instilled principles that define markets, but also ignited a fundamental interest in health economics and the incentives that shape care.”
Jasmine King, Emory University (Goizueta)

“My favorite MBA professor was Kerrie Carfagno, who taught my Critical Conversations course and joined our opening term for several sessions. What made Professor Carfagno exceptional was her ability to shape the class around what students genuinely wanted to explore. Rather than relying on a traditional lecture format, she led discussions in a dynamic Q&A style that adapted quickly to the energy and interests of the room.

Her classes felt less like lectures and more like conversations. She had a remarkable way of inviting students into discussions in a manner that felt both safe and inclusive, encouraging honest reflection without putting anyone on the spot.

What impressed me most was her intuition as a facilitator. Professor Carfagno seemed to read the room effortlessly, adjusting the direction of the conversation to ensure the lessons resonated with the class. That ability to meet students where they are made her teaching both impactful and memorable.”
Lara Kornblut, Georgetown University (McDonough)

“I find Professor Gonçalo Pacheco de Almeida as my favorite no doubt. I went into Professor Gonçalo Pacheco de Almeida’s strategy and negotiation classes with high expectations given his resume, but I walked away with a completely redefined perspective on leadership. In the MBA world, there’s often a misconception that “toughness” or “cold-calling” is the only way to command a room. Gonçalo completely flips that script. He is the “nice guy” who commands absolute respect not through fear, but through an incredible level of personalized attention and genuine care for his students.

Despite the typical scale of MBA classrooms, Gonçalo makes the experience feel bespoke. He dedicates an immense amount of time to individual feedback and group dynamics, ensuring that the learning isn’t just about a grade, but about the actual quality of the interaction. One of the most impactful lessons he taught was looking at strategic innovation through the lens of substitute products and offerings, challenging us to find value by analyzing the trade-offs and traits that truly resonate with customers. Because he treated us like peers and invested so much of his own humanity into the course, he sparked an intrinsic interest in the subject matter that I’ve rarely seen elsewhere. He proved to me that a human-centric approach, rooted in kindness and detail, actually leads to the best results in the most competitive environments.”
Luis Dominguez Guillot, HEC Paris

“My favorite MBA professor was Mathis Schulte, who taught Influence and Decision Making. What made his class particularly memorable was the way he pushed us to reflect on our own behavior within groups, not only through theory but through very personal exercises.

One exercise that stayed with me was a network mapping survey within the cohort, where each student had to anonymously classify others as close friends, friends, acquaintances, professional resources, or even “haters.” We later received our individual results and discussed what they revealed about our influence and relationships. What struck me most was his explanation that having a few “haters” was not necessarily negative, and that having none could even suggest that we avoid expressing disagreement. This idea resonated with me because I value direct and honest communication, and it gave me a new perspective on influence as something that requires taking positions rather than trying to please everyone.

His course gave me a structured way to understand influence beyond formal roles, and these ideas proved especially useful during projects such as MBAT, where leadership depended more on trust and relationships than authority.”
Lina Guérin, HEC Paris

“My favourite professor is Dr. Grace XIE, who taught Advanced Negotiation. She created an environment where every simulation felt uncomfortably real: high-stakes, emotionally charged, and full of incomplete information—just like the negotiations that actually shape careers and companies.

What stood out was how she combined rigor and reflection. After each simulation, we didn’t just debrief tactics; we examined our defaults under pressure—how culture, ego, and fear showed up—and then layered in a structured framework to do better next time. That blend of real-world messiness and methodical learning helped me see negotiation not as a “hard skill” reserved for certain roles, but as a daily leadership practice.”
Paramvir Singh, Hong Kong University

“Professor Alex W. H. Chan, who taught Corporate Finance, has been my favorite professor throughout my MBA studies at HKU. His enthusiasm for teaching is truly exceptional. On the very first day of lectures, he was able to address every student in our class by name, home country, and prior professional background, having clearly taken the time to study our individual résumés before the semester began.

His motivation was evident: he wanted to tailor his teaching to our individual levels and ensure that every student mastered the core skills of corporate finance by the end of the course. He consistently went out of his way to provide detailed feedback and additional office hours, demonstrating a genuine commitment to each student’s learning and success.”
Julia Aabjerg Bratland, Hong Kong University

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