Wharton Stories » WORKS Program and MBA Students Expand Access to Opportunity
Wharton Stories
WORKS Program and MBA Students Expand Access to Opportunity
Image: Wes Suggs, W'26 discusses the WORKS program. (Image Credit: Courtesy of the Wharton School)
“This program goes beyond giving back to the community,” says Wharton WORKS instructor Amélie Ha, WG’26. “It encapsulates the kind of institution and kind of society we’re trying to build and the kind of leader that we’re trying to educate.”
Since its inception, the Wharton Opportunities for Reentry, Knowledge, and Skills (WORKS) program has been making a positive social impact as part of the Opportunity Lab, housed within the Wharton Impact, Value, and Sustainable Business Initiative. Led by Professor of Management Damon J. Phillips, the WORKS program — in which students in the MBA Program teach business courses to incarcerated learners, mentor formerly incarcerated entrepreneurs, and help formerly incarcerated people reintegrate into society and the workforce — reached 60 justice-involved individuals earlier this year (up from 30 the previous year). Additionally, MBA student interest in Phillips’ prerequisite course, Reforming Mass Incarceration and the Role of Business, has grown more than 50%.
Four individuals who participated with WORKS while pursuing a Wharton MBA degree share their experiences as teachers and mentors to incarcerated learners and those reintegrating and starting their own businesses after release.
Wharton Opportunities for Reentry, Knowledge, and Skills (WORKS)
In partnership with Resilience Education, WORKS creates pathways to economic mobility for individuals impacted by the justice system. With the support of Wharton MBA students and faculty, WORKS empowers the next generation of business leaders to address inequities in mass incarceration.
WORKS MBA participants (clockwise from top left) Amélie Ha, WG’26, Carley Mambuca, WG’27, Wes Suggs WG’26, and Perri Sucoff WG’27. (Image Credit: Courtesy of the Wharton School)
Wharton Stories
Meet Wharton’s New MBA Vice Dean, Michael Roberts
Image: Vice Dean Michael Roberts chats with a student. (Image Credit: Aaron Tran)
“I want to continue building on Wharton’s tradition of academic excellence. Our rigorous, analytical approach has defined the School for generations, and I’ve seen firsthand the value that Wharton graduates bring to organizations around the world.” — Michael Roberts, Vice Dean of the Wharton MBA Program
The longtime finance professor and award-winning educator shares what excites him most about stepping into his new leadership role, his priorities for the future, and why he believes there’s never been a better time to earn a Wharton MBA.
Michael R. Roberts has spent more than two decades at Wharton as a professor, researcher, and teacher, earning numerous teaching awards while helping shape generations of business leaders. Now, as Vice Dean of the Wharton MBA Program, he’s bringing that same commitment to learning, innovation, and student success to one of the world’s leading MBA programs.
We sat down with Professor Roberts to discuss his journey to the role, how he plans to engage with students, and his vision for the future of the Wharton MBA.
You’ve been a member of the Wharton faculty for more than 20 years. What led you to this new role?
After earning my Ph.D., I initially wasn’t certain academia would be my career. I had opportunities in the private sector, but I wanted to explore teaching and research while that path was available. I spent several years at Duke before my wife and I moved to Philadelphia, and I’ve now been at Wharton for more than 22 years.
For most of that time, my focus has been research and teaching. I’ve also served the School through committee work and other faculty service, but this role represents something different.
When the opportunity came along, I felt a strong sense of responsibility to give back. Wharton and Penn have been incredibly good to me and my family over the years, and serving the School in this capacity felt like the right next step.
What excites you most about becoming Vice Dean of the MBA Program?
There are several reasons.
First, I genuinely love working with students. Teaching has always been one of the most rewarding parts of my career, and this role allows me to expand my impact — not just through my own classroom, but by helping faculty and students get even more out of the MBA experience.
I also enjoy challenges. This position comes with significant responsibility, and I’ve always been motivated by opportunities that push me to grow.
Finally, it’s an opportunity to collaborate with an extraordinary community of faculty, staff, alumni, and students on issues that matter deeply to all of us.
How do you hope to stay connected with MBA students?
One thing that’s very important to me is continuing to teach.
I’ll continue teaching a core MBA course because being in the classroom keeps me grounded. It allows me to stay in regular conversation with students and better understand their experiences firsthand.
Beyond the classroom, I’d like to host regular small-group lunches where students can speak openly about what’s on their minds. Those informal conversations create opportunities to build real relationships and hear perspectives that might not emerge in more formal settings.
I also want to work closely with student organizations and committees to ensure students’ voices are heard, while fostering strong communication among students, faculty, alumni, and staff.
Michael Roberts at Huntsman Hall. (Image Credit: Aaron Tran)
What are your top priorities for the MBA program?
I think about my priorities in three broad areas.
First, I want to continue building on Wharton’s tradition of academic excellence. Our rigorous, analytical approach has defined the School for generations, and I’ve seen firsthand the value that Wharton graduates bring to organizations around the world. I want every student to fully benefit from that experience while they’re here.
Second, I want to help faculty and students leverage artificial intelligence more effectively in teaching and learning. AI is fundamentally changing business, and Wharton has been leading this work for years. We have faculty who aren’t simply following trends — they’re helping shape them. I want that leadership to continue benefiting every MBA student.
Finally, I want to strengthen the Wharton community. Our alumni network is one of the greatest strengths of the MBA experience, and I want to continue investing in those lifelong connections while students are here and long after they graduate.
What makes the Wharton MBA distinctive?
One area that immediately comes to mind is our leadership in AI.
Wharton has been integrating AI into research and the classroom well before many peer institutions began making it a major focus. Many faculty have already been thoughtfully incorporating these tools into their teaching for years, and that experience gives us a meaningful advantage.
Beyond technology, Wharton has always emphasized rigorous thinking, objective analysis, and data-driven decision making. That’s been part of our DNA for decades, and today’s business environment increasingly demands exactly those skills.
Finally, our scale creates tremendous opportunities. Whether you’re interested in entrepreneurship, healthcare, finance, marketing, or an emerging field, chances are you’ll find world-class faculty and an alumni network with deep expertise ready to help you learn and grow.
What would you want a prospective student to know about Wharton?
One of the greatest strengths of Wharton is that you don’t have to arrive with every aspect of your career figured out.
Because the School offers excellence across so many disciplines, students have the freedom to explore new interests, pivot careers, and discover opportunities they may not have anticipated before arriving on campus.
Another distinguishing feature is our people. Our faculty, advisors, staff, and alumni genuinely invest in student success.
And perhaps most importantly, Wharton has an incredibly entrepreneurial spirit. If you have an idea that will improve the School, your classmates, or society more broadly, people here want to help you make it happen. For an institution of this size, there’s remarkable flexibility and support for turning ideas into reality.
To me, that’s what makes the Wharton experience so special: You get the resources and reach of a global institution while still feeling part of a close-knit community that’s invested in your success.
Michael R. Roberts is vice dean of the MBA Program, William H. Lawrence Professor, and Professor of Finance at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. A member of the Wharton faculty for more than 22 years, Roberts is an internationally recognized scholar in corporate finance and an award-winning educator who has received fourteen teaching awards during his tenure. As vice dean, he oversees the Wharton MBA Program while continuing to teach, conduct research, and advance innovation in business education.
Wharton Stories
Graduate Students Lead the Future of Impact Investing at Turner Impact Portfolio Challenge
Image: Harvard Kennedy School students earned first place at Wharton Impact's Turner Impact Portfolio Challenge (TIPC). (Image Credit: Shira Yudkoff Photography)
“I was incredibly impressed with the quality of work done by these students — and, more so, by the passion and commitment to using their business degrees for positive change.” — Bobby Turner, W’84, TIPC program sponsor
As demand for impact investing continues to grow across asset classes, from public equities to private markets, investors are increasingly expected to deliver both financial returns and measurable outcomes. The Turner Impact Portfolio Challenge (TIPC) prepares the next generation of leaders to meet that challenge.
In spring 2026, finalist teams traveled to the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania to present their final pitches to a panel of industry leaders. The event brought together students and practitioners for a day of presentations, discussion, and networking. Teams had an opportunity to connect with the judges, gain insight into their expertise, and hear firsthand about their career paths and perspectives on the industry.
Creating Impact Through Education Entrepreneurship
Image: Penn GSE exterior on Walnut St. (Image Credit: Greg Benson)
“Know what problem you are solving before you enroll. The dual degree is most powerful when the two programs are actively in conversation through your work rather than running on parallel tracks.” — James Walker, WG’26
TheWharton MBA/M.S.Ed program in Education Entrepreneurship brings together the strengths of the Wharton School and Penn’s Graduate School of Education (Penn GSE), creating a unique opportunity for students who want to drive innovation at the intersection of business, learning, and social impact.
By combining Wharton’s rigorous business curriculum with Penn GSE’s expertise in education, the dual-degree program equips students to understand both how organizations grow and how people learn. Students gain access to two distinct academic communities, two powerful alumni networks, and an interdisciplinary perspective that helps them tackle complex challenges from multiple angles.
We spoke with two members of the MBA Class of 2026, James Walker and Ryan Hager, about their professional backgrounds, their experiences navigating both schools, and how the MBA/M.S.Ed. program is helping them pursue entrepreneurial ventures in education.
Image Courtesy of James Walker
James Walker, WG’26 After careers spanning law, investment banking, and private equity, James joined the MBA/M.S.Ed. program to combine his transaction and operating experience with a deeper understanding of learning design as he builds Capital Nexus, an education platform focused on expanding access to practitioner-driven business education.
Before starting the MBA/M.S.Ed. program, what kind of professional experience did you have?
I spent several years as an M&A attorney at Kirkland and Paul Weiss before moving to investment banking at Guggenheim Securities and then into private equity, where I work as an operating executive. Prior to and throughout my time at Penn, I sat on every side of a transaction. The program was really an opportunity to do something with that experience at scale.
Why did pursuing both degrees together make more sense for your goals than pursuing just an MBA or just an education degree?
The MBA alone would have given me the fundraising and go-to-market tools but not the credibility to say the product actually works as a learning tool. The M.S.Ed. gave me that framework, and it matters when you are selling to institutions. Career services directors and program administrators do not buy on vision. They buy on evidence of learning outcomes. Having both degrees in the room changes that conversation.
What unique perspective do you think this interdisciplinary program gives students?
In private equity, the most valuable operators are the ones who can translate between what the numbers say and what the business actually needs. The dual degree forces a version of that same skill. You are constantly translating between two communities that speak different languages and value different things. That is genuinely useful preparation for building anything that sits at an intersection, which most interesting problems do.
What has it been like balancing coursework and communities across both Wharton and Penn GSE?
The honest answer is that Wharton is where I spend most of my time and energy given it is full-time. The GSE coursework has been valuable specifically because it gave me a structured way to think about the design of Capital Nexus, the platform I am building. But the Wharton community, the entrepreneurship ecosystem, the finance network, and the peer group in my cohort — that is where the program lives for me day to day.
How do you hope to apply what you’ve learned from both programs in your post-MBA role?
Capital Nexus is the application. I am building a platform that teaches integrated deal execution to students who do not have access to the informal practitioner pipelines that elite institutions provide. The first institutional partner is Howard Law, which matters personally since I am a Howard undergraduate and Howard Law graduate. The private equity background is what makes the content credible. The MBA is what makes the business viable. The M.S.Ed. is what makes the product defensible to institutional buyers.
What advice would you give to prospective students considering the MBA/M.S.Ed. dual degree?
Know what problem you are solving before you enroll. The dual degree is most powerful when the two programs are actively in conversation through your work rather than running on parallel tracks. If you have a venture or a career transition that genuinely requires both, it is an incredibly efficient way to build credibility in two directions at once. The interdisciplinary exposure alone has a way of surfacing problems worth solving that you did not know existed when you arrived.
Image Courtesy of Ryan Hager
Ryan Hager, WG’26 After seven years at J.P. Morgan Private Bank, Ryan came to the MBA/M.S.Ed. program to explore opportunities at the intersection of fintech, edtech, and entrepreneurship.
Before starting the MBA/M.S.Ed. program, what kind of professional experience did you have?
I spent my seven years between undergrad and the MBA/M.S.E.d program working for J.P. Morgan as an investment specialist in the Private Bank. It was an excellent place to work and an environment that allowed me to truly grow both personally and professionally between my first day as an analyst and my final day as a vice president.
Why did pursuing both degrees together make more sense for your goals than pursuing just an MBA or just an education degree?
The two degrees provided the perfect combination of exposure and resources to advance my entrepreneurial pursuits as a fintech/edtech founder. The MBA served as the core of my experience — full-time, wide-ranging, and flexible yet rigorous — while the M.S.Ed. pointed a focused lens at a sector in which I had no past experience but an intent to enter in the future. Together, they gave me a sandbox to explore, learn, iterate, and progress my venture in a uniquely nurturing way.
What unique perspective do you think this interdisciplinary program gives students?
What’s unique about the MBA/M.S.Ed. experience is that it provides students with two vastly different communities, focus areas, and learning environments. In many ways, this dual-degree program is a microcosm of the entrepreneurial experience: intensely focused sprints periodically mixed within a steadily progressing yet ever-changing bigger picture, requiring balance, endurance, and adaptability in order to continue advancing.
What has it been like balancing coursework and communities across both Wharton and Penn GSE?
Like everything else here, you get out of your experience what you put in. The unfortunate reality is that you simply cannot say yes to all things on offer, but a healthy balance between Wharton and GSE is absolutely possible. In my case, Wharton has provided the majority of my coursework and community given the program is larger, longer, and full-time, but GSE has unquestionably provided invaluable additions on both fronts. Balancing the two programs requires an adjustment after the first year of the MBA, but it’s an adjustment I’m happy to have made.
How do you hope to apply what you’ve learned from both programs in your post-MBA role?
I pursued the MBA/M.S.Ed. with the goal of building the knowledge, skills, and community that would help increase my odds of success as a fintech/edtech founder post-graduation. As both degrees come to a close, I feel confident I’ve picked up those pieces to my entrepreneurial puzzle, am well positioned to launch and manage my venture, and possess the growth mindset to face whatever unforeseen challenges lie ahead.
What advice would you give to prospective students considering the MBA/M.S.Ed. dual degree?
Talk to the program leadership and current or former students — we’re all here to help you make the decision that best aligns with your future. Then, once you’ve made up your mind, lean in. I promise these will be the fastest two years of your life — don’t let them pass you by!
A dual or joint MBA degree allows students to complement their business education with another area of study. Some students choose to combine their business degree with a professional program, while others combine their business education with another graduate degree in a particular area of interest to hone their expertise. Wharton offers three integrated interdisciplinary MBA programs at the University of Pennsylvania. These programs allow students to draw from different academic disciplines, pursue a variety of interests, and become interdisciplinary thinkers who solve problems with both a creative and analytical approach.
Wharton Stories
Reflections From a Jacobs Scholar MBA Graduate
Image: The Dr. Bruce I. Jacobs Scholars in Quantitative Finance is an academic award dedicated to exceptional quantitative finance MBA students like Harry Kong, WG'26 (left). The program is funded by the generosity of Dr. Bruce I. Jacobs, G’79, GRW’86 (right). (Image Credit: ChatGPT, Courtesy of the Wharton School).
“Being named a Jacobs Scholar was a defining moment of my Wharton experience,” says Harry Kong, WG’26. “Being part of a group of students who take quantitative methods seriously — and who come at them from very different angles — sharpened how I think about my own work.”
The Dr. Bruce I. Jacobs Scholars in Quantitative Finance is an academic award dedicated to exceptional students entering their second year of the Wharton MBA program and majoring in Quantitative Finance. Harry Kong, WG’26, was chosen as one of 10 Jacobs Scholars for the 2025-2026 school year.
“One of my goals in establishing the Jacobs Scholars program and other quantitative finance programs at Wharton was to bridge the gap between theory and practice,” says Dr. Bruce I. Jacobs, G’79, GRW’86, co-founder of Jacobs Levy Equity Management. “Harry’s experience connecting his real-world expertise to its academic underpinnings is providing him with valuable insights and preparing him for the challenges he’ll face as he advances in his career.”
In the following interview, Harry discusses his experience as a Wharton MBA candidate and Jacobs Scholar.
As you reflect on your time at Wharton, how has the experience of being named a Jacobs Scholar shaped your MBA journey?
Being named a Jacobs Scholar was a defining moment of my Wharton experience. I came to the MBA from four years in energy transition investing at Macquarie, where I was underwriting utility-scale solar, wind, storage, and renewable fuel projects. The work was deeply quantitative and fundamental — building discounted cash flow models around merchant power curves, capacity factors, tax equity structures — but I hadn’t yet connected that practitioner toolkit to the academic foundations of quantitative finance. The Jacobs Scholar designation gave me both the recognition and the intellectual community to make that connection explicit.
Beyond Hollywood: Wharton’s Media & Entertainment Trek Builds Something Bigger
Image: Pexels
“Entertainment, at its core, is about connection and community. It’s what drew me to this industry as a kid moving between countries, looking for a common language. Building these treks was, in a small way, the same thing: creating a space where people could find each other, share something real, and leave a little more ready for what comes next.” — Ami Higuchi, WG’26
The following is MBA student Ami Higuchi’s firsthand account of leading the Wharton Media & Entertainment (M&E) Club’s career treks over the course of two years — and what she found along the way.
I grew up in five different countries. Every new place meant a new school, a new language, a new way of fitting in. But no matter where I landed, the TV was always on. Movies and shows were the first common language I found with people who were strangers to me. Entertainment wasn’t just something I enjoyed; it was how I understood the world, and how the world understood me. It was the infrastructure for belonging.
That’s why, when I arrived at Wharton, joining the Media & Entertainment (M&E) Club felt natural. Before Wharton, I had worked in banking, then pivoted into the M&E industry. I wanted to be in the room where decisions are made and to help others get there, too.
Over two years, I led the Club’s career treks — one to New York each fall and one to Los Angeles each spring. Two cities, two very different corners of the industry. And I learned that the treks are much more than just company visits.
The Trek That Changed My Own Career
During my first year, I co-led our LA trek with Tyler Kidd, WG’25, including a visit to Crunchyroll, Sony’s anime-focused streaming platform. After I asked an edgy question during the Q&A, a panelist pulled me aside, exchanged contact information, and later referred me to the strategy team — the exact role I was targeting. That connection led to my summer internship and now, a year later, I’m returning full-time. I hadn’t planned for the trek to change my own trajectory, and a lot of it was luck. But what I took from that experience is that, in this industry, getting your face in front of the right people matters. In my planning process for this year’s LA trek, I was motivated to build the best possible opportunity for students to get real exposure to both the companies and the people making decisions within them.
Happy hour with LA trek participants and Wharton alumni from the industry. (Image Credit: Courtesy of Ami Higuchi)
Building Opportunities for Others
This year, I co-led both treks alongside Sam Flemming, WG’27, and Gayatri Sriram, WG’27. Planning treks at Wharton means juggling logistics, a ton of cold outreach, and coordination — all alongside recruiting, coursework, and everything else the MBA throws at you. Sam and Gayatri, my dream team, handled all of it with positive energy and genuine care.
During our fall trek to New York, we visited Spotify, YouTube, Fanatics, and Paramount — a deliberate mix covering music, user-generated content, sports collectibles, and streaming. For the first time, we co-hosted a happy hour with the M&E clubs from New York University and Columbia Business School, and invited alumni from each school. It brought together a cross-school, cross-perspective group into one room full of people who chose this industry for their own reasons.
The spring LA trek was even more memorable. We put together a three-day agenda across ten companies: Crunchyroll, Riot Games, Sony Pictures, Jaded, Netflix, CAA, Warner Brothers, Westbrook, Death Row Records, and Hoorae. The speaker lineup ranged from entrepreneurs to five C-level executives, and from recent graduates to long-tenured alumni. With around 10 participants from Wharton, every session became a real conversation: discussion-based, open, and personal in a way that larger groups rarely allow.
LA Trek to Creative Artists Agency (CAA). (Image Credit: Courtesy of Ami Higuchi)
What the Executives Actually Said
I expected to hear about strategy and growth — and we did. AI came up everywhere, as did questions about where the next generation of content and audiences is headed. But what stayed with me was something different. When we asked the executives how they got to where they are today, almost no one had a linear path.
One executive at Netflix talked about leaving consulting to become a musician. When that chapter closed, she went to Wharton and found her way to where she is now. The CFO of Riot Games had been running a hedge fund before a side consulting project for Riot turned into something he couldn’t walk away from (partly for the work, and partly because he genuinely loves League of Legends).
Every person had their own story. But across all of them, the common thread wasn’t pedigree or planning, it was passion and community. These are people who love content, love games, and love the idea that what they build moves people emotionally. That’s what carried them through the pivots in their careers. And it was their networks — the communities they built along the way — that opened the doors.
LA trek to the Warner Bros. Discovery lot in LA. (Image Credit: Courtesy of Ami Higuchi)
The Part That Lasts
M&E Club treks are framed as professional development, and they are. But the moments I’ll carry with me aren’t the strategies or the conference rooms. They’re the dinners after. The karaoke. The conversations about where we all want to be in five years and what we’re excited about. The participants who flew out, showed up, and brought their full selves to every stop — they made the treks what they were.
Entertainment, at its core, is about connection and community. It’s what drew me to this industry as a kid moving between countries, looking for a common language. Building these treks was, in a small way, the same thing: creating a space where people could find each other, share something real, and leave better prepared for what comes next.
To everyone who came out: Thank you! And to Sam and Gayatri: Truly, truly, thank you. We made something wonderful, and the community we built will last well beyond it.
M&E career trek team — Gayatri Sriram (left), Ami Higuchi (middle), and Sam Flemming (right) — during a Paramount visit in New York City. (Image Credit: Courtesy of Ami Higuchi)
The mission of the Wharton Media & Entertainment (M&E) Club is to facilitate student interest in the M&E industry, and to help build a community for people with a passion and a curiosity for media and entertainment. Through education, networking, and social programming, the Club supports students who pursue M&E careers and those with a general interest in the industry.
Ami Higuchi, WG’26
Image Credit: Courtesy of Ami Higuchi
Hometown: Tokyo, Japan Pre-MBA Career: Banking, Finance & Strategy at Netflix Wharton Major: Operations, Information and Decisions (OID) and Management Post-MBA Plans: Joining the corporate strategy team at Crunchyroll in LA
Wharton Stories
Inside VIP-X Philadelphia: How Wharton MBA Founders Are Scaling Startups
Image: Polina Tankilevitch
“Wharton gives you an unusually safe environment to test things: classmates who will give real feedback, professors who will pressure-test your assumptions, and programs like VIP-X that simulate real investor scrutiny.” — Ojú Junaid, WG’26
TheVenture Initiation Program’s VIP-X Philadelphia accelerator is a highly selective, immersive experience designed by Venture Lab for Penn’s most advanced student founders as they scale early-stage ventures. Through a structured blend of expert-led workshops, one-on-one advising, peer collaboration, and hands-on learning, the program equips entrepreneurs with the tools, mentorship, and resources needed to refine their strategies and accelerate growth. Over the course of a one-semester, intensive, cohort-based experience, participants receive personalized guidance, access to a strong founder community, and up to $10,000 in nondilutive funding, helping transform promising ideas into high-impact, investment-ready ventures.
We spoke with founders from this year’s MBA cohort about the ventures they’re building and how VIP-X is shaping their journeys.
Logo Image Credit: Ojú JunaidImage Credit: Courtesy of Ojú Junaid
Ojú Junaid, WG’26 Hometown(s): Abeokuta, Nigeria and the Bronx, N.Y. Pre-MBA Career: User Experience Research at Google Wharton Major(s): Entrepreneurship & Innovation; Finance
What problem is your venture solving, and what makes it personally meaningful to you? Àwùjọ is solving the gap between cultural identity and accessible language learning. A lot of second-generation Africans, especially Yorùbá kids like me, grow up understanding the language but not confidently speaking it. Most formal language tools don’t feel culturally alive; they feel clinical.
I’m building a culture-first language platform where learning Yorùbá feels like stepping into a living world: conversation labs, events, games, animation, and real community. It matters to me personally because I’ve felt that disconnect. I didn’t want to just “learn vocabulary,” I wanted to feel at home in my own culture.
This became especially personal through my grandmother. Some of my favorite memories are sitting with her while she spoke Yorùbá, effortlessly telling stories, teasing, praying. As I got older, I realized there were parts of her I couldn’t fully access because my language skills weren’t strong enough. That feeling stayed with me, especially after I lost her four years ago.
Did you come to Wharton planning to start this company, or did the idea evolve here? I came to Wharton already building Àwùjọ. I had started hosting events, teaching classes, and testing what culture-first language learning could look like in real life.
What’s really evolved here is the scale of the vision and the discipline behind it. Through strategy courses, investor conversations, and programs like VIP-X, I’ve been pushed to think beyond running great events and toward building a long-term platform. I’ve sharpened our business model, clarified where we’re growing, and become more intentional about what we prioritize. Wharton didn’t start Àwùjọ, but it has definitely stretched my sense of what it can become.
What are you hoping to get out of your VIP-X experience? VIP-X has been one of the sharpest feedback environments I’ve been in. During the selection process, the committee pushed me on things I had thought about but hadn’t fully articulated yet — growth strategy, prioritization, what we’re actually optimizing for. It forced a different kind of precision.
I’m not just building a great cultural experience anymore, I’m building a platform with long-term architecture. VIP-X is helping me hold both of those things at once without losing either.
What have you learned about yourself through building your startup? I’ve learned that I’m more resilient than I thought. There are so many moments where things don’t go as planned: Partnerships fall through, events underperform, people misunderstand your vision.
I’ve also learned that I care deeply about excellence. I’m very design-oriented and brand-driven. Building Àwùjọ has shown me that I don’t just want to build something functional; I want to build something beautiful and culturally precise.
And maybe most importantly, I’ve learned that I’m okay being early. Vision often feels lonely before it feels obvious.
An Àwùjo Event. (Image Credit: Ojú Junaid)
What advice would you give someone considering an MBA who wants to start a company? Don’t wait for the perfect idea; use the MBA as a laboratory. Wharton gives you an unusually safe environment to test things: classmates who will give real feedback, professors who will pressure-test your assumptions, and programs like VIP-X that simulate real investor scrutiny.
If you want to build, start building while you’re here. The feedback loops are faster, and the downside risk is lower than it will ever be again. And build something you genuinely care about; it’s too hard otherwise.
Logo Image Credit: Ahmad HasanianImage Credit: Courtesy of Ahmad Hasanian
Ahmad Hasanian, WG’26 Hometown: Fairfax, Va. Pre-MBA Career: Tech M&A Investment Banker; Private Equity Software Investor Wharton Major(s): Artificial Intelligence for Business; Business Analytics
What problem is your venture solving, and what makes it personally meaningful to you? At Tufany, we’re building agentic AI tools that empower independent journalists to compete with large media institutions. Some of the most rigorous and objective reporting today comes from independent journalists who are deeply committed to their craft but are severely under resourced.
If we can better support their workflows, we can help elevate more diverse and well-supported perspectives. That matters to me because investigative journalism is a critical pillar of a healthy democracy; more-informed societies make better decisions.
Did you come to Wharton planning to start this company, or did the idea evolve here? I came to Wharton knowing I wanted to start a company during or shortly after my MBA. Tufany began to take shape over the winter break of my first year.
What are you hoping to get out of your VIP-X experience? Building a company at Wharton can be isolating since most students are recruiting for traditional roles, and the day-to-day rhythm is very different from startup life. VIP-X provides a community of fellow founders and experienced advisors who understand those challenges.
It also introduces structure and accountability. Regular sessions, shared milestones, and clear goal-setting create discipline around progress.
What have you learned about yourself through building your startup? Coming from investment banking and private equity, I assumed I preferred structure and clearly defined work. What I’ve learned is that I’m actually energized by ambiguity. I enjoy tackling open-ended problems, making decisions with imperfect information and iterating quickly.
What advice would you give someone considering an MBA who wants to start a company? Business school offers incredible opportunities, but it also comes with a lot of noise. Traditional recruiting paths are well-defined and prestigious, and it’s easy to get pulled in different directions.
If you’re serious about building, be intentional about finding your community and resources early. Surround yourself with people who support your long-term goals, and stay clear on why you came.
Image Credit: Courtesy of Veronica RiveraLogo Image Credit: Veronica Rivera
What problem is your venture solving, and what makes it personally meaningful to you? At Sabe, we’re making single-serving sauces with clean ingredients. Before starting my MBA, I was a management consultant, which meant I was traveling every week. No matter where I was, it never made sense to me that I could get a fresh, delicious bowl or salad, but then it would be topped with a packet of sauce or dressing full of artificial, highly processed ingredients.
I kept wondering: Why isn’t there an option that tastes just as fresh as the food itself, but is still convenient and portable?
That idea sat in the back of my mind for a long time. Once I got to business school, I decided to really invest in bringing it to life. We recently did our first launch, and it sold out in three hours, which was incredibly validating. It showed me that people really resonate with the product, and it makes me excited about what’s ahead.
Did you come to Wharton planning to start your company, or did the idea evolve here? The idea existed before Wharton, but I didn’t know how seriously I wanted to pursue it. One thing that surprised me during my first year was how many professors encouraged me to spend my summer working on the brand full-time when I was unsure about internships.
That stretch of dedicated time made a huge difference. It gave me the space to focus, test the idea, and understand what it would take to scale. Last summer was incredibly valuable, and I’m really glad I made that decision.
What are you hoping to get out of your VIP-X experience? I joined VIP-X for mentorship and accountability. When you’re building something, you’re constantly getting feedback from all directions, and it can be hard to filter through the noise. Having a dedicated advisor, someone who’s truly in your corner and invested in your growth, is something I really value.
The peer accountability is also powerful. The rest of the cohort is genuinely interested in what you’re building, and our weekly check-ins are incredibly supportive. Building a brand often means prioritizing on your own, so it’s been motivating to be surrounded by people who are in it alongside you.
What have you learned about yourself through building your startup? It’s helped me trust my intuition more. If I feel strongly about something, there’s a good chance other people will too.
What advice would you give someone considering an MBA who wants to start a company? Make sure you’re genuinely passionate — almost obsessed — with the idea you’re working on. At a place like Wharton, there are so many opportunities, people, and events competing for your time. It’s easy to get pulled in different directions.
But when you’re deeply invested in your idea, it doesn’t feel like a sacrifice to spend nights working on it or dedicate your free time to building something. It’s something you want to do.
Having my company in the back of my mind has made my MBA experience so much more valuable. In every class, I’m constantly connecting what I’m learning back to my business, and it’s completely transformed how I engage with the material.
Logo Image Credit: Serena AinslieImage Credit: Courtesy of Serena Ainslie
Serena Ainslie, WG’26 Hometown: Palm Beach, Fla. Pre-MBA Career: Climate Change & Sustainability Consulting, EY Wharton Major: Entrepreneurship & Innovation
What problem is your venture solving, and what makes it personally meaningful to you? Girl Math Capital (GMC) is an alternative investing membership community that brings private market education and deal flow to women. I co-founded GMC with two close friends from college because we were living this problem firsthand. We saw our male peers, people with the same backgrounds and networks, getting access to angel, real estate, and crypto opportunities, while we weren’t.
When we looked into why, the answer was consistent: Women cited lack of knowledge and limited access to deal flow as the biggest barriers to entering private markets. We built GMC to close that gap.
Did you come to Wharton planning to start this company, or did the idea evolve here? We started GMC before Wharton, and building it is actually what pushed me to apply to business school in the first place. It made me realize I wanted to be in the world of early-stage startups and investing — not just advising large companies.
When I arrived, I wasn’t sure if GMC would grow enough to go all in. The traction we’ve built over the last six months made that decision for me.
What are you hoping to get out of your VIP-X experience? Three things: connecting with other Penn founders, better understanding how accelerator programs are structured so we can support founders pitching GMC, and working with my mentor to clarify the next stage of our growth.
What have you learned about yourself through building your startup? I’ve learned how much I’m motivated by creating something that didn’t exist before. Coming from consulting where “don’t reinvent the wheel” is the norm, I didn’t expect how energizing it would feel to build from scratch.
I’ve also been surprised by how much individual member stories drive me. Hearing how GMC has impacted someone’s financial life or network is what makes me most excited to keep building.
What would you tell someone considering an MBA who wants to start a company? This is one of the best times to start a business. You have unstructured time, world-class resources, and very little downside risk.
Working on GMC has also made my classes exponentially more relevant. I’m applying what I learn in real time, not years later. And worst case, if you spend two years building something and decide not to pursue it, you still leave with a Wharton MBA and a compelling story.
Together, these MBA student founders reflect the range of ideas and ambitions within the VIP-X community, each leveraging the program’s mentorship, structure, and peer network to turn early-stage concepts into meaningful, scalable ventures. Read more about the programhere.
Venture Lab serves as the university-wide center for entrepreneurship and innovation — open to all Penn students regardless of school or background. As a partnership with the Wharton School, Penn Engineering, and the Stuart Weitzman School of Design, Venture Lab provides a physical “start here” button to serve all students and alumni across the University of Pennsylvania who are interested in entrepreneurship and innovation.
Wharton Stories
From Dancer to CEO: The Impact Journey of a Wharton MBA
Image: The John M. Bendheim Loan Forgiveness Fund supports Wharton MBA alumni — like Michael Greer, WG'21 (pictured below) — pursuing careers in social impact. (Image Credit: Shira Yudkoff)
“At Wharton, I gained skills in finance and leadership,” says Michael Greer, WG’21, CEO of ArtsFund. “But, just as importantly, I built a network of people across industries: tech, aerospace, venture capital, government.”
Michael Greer, WG’21, is not only the CEO of ArtsFund but also a John M. Bendheim Loan Forgiveness Fellow, a program that supports Wharton MBA alumni pursuing careers in social impact. With a career spanning professional dance, global finance, arts leadership, and now philanthropy, Greer embodies the kind of mission-driven work that the Bendheim program exists to support. In the following interview, Greer discusses his career path, the role Wharton played in it, and what drives his commitment to strengthening communities through the arts.
Q: To start, could you give us an overview of your career journey and how you ended up at ArtsFund?
Greer: I actually started my career as a professional dancer. I’d been dancing since I was about four, and it was my whole world until I was 24. But for financial reasons, I decided I couldn’t see a stable, long-term life in that career. So I left dance and went back to university, earning degrees in economics and math.
Inside the Philadelphia Flower Show With a Wharton Alumnus
Image: Early exhibitions were held in PHS's first Horticultural Hall on Broad Street in Philadelphia from 1867 until 1881, when a fire destroyed the building. (Image Credit: Courtesy of McLean Library, Pennsylvania Horticultural Society)
“Strategy and finance matter, but alignment around a common goal is the secret sauce — especially for an organization that’s as dynamic as PHS,” says Matt Rader, WG’11, President of the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society (PHS).
For Matt Rader, WG’11, leading the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society over the past decade has involved balancing evolution with storied legacy. That same idea carries through this year’s Philadelphia Flower Show — one of the first major public events in the city tied to the United States’ 250th anniversary. Produced by PHS, the show turns attention to the histories and influences that have defined American gardening — and how those practices are carried forward — through its theme, “Rooted: Origins of American Gardening.”
The timing is also significant for PHS, as the organization approaches a milestone of its own in 2027: 200 years since its founding in 1827. Ahead of opening day, Wharton Magazine joined Rader to discuss the Flower Show, the organization’s impact over two centuries, and his reflections on a decade at the helm of one of Philadelphia’s most beloved institutions.
Matt Rader, WG’11 (Image Credit: Courtesy of the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society)
Wharton Stories
Inbox Confessionals: Answers to Common Wharton MBA Questions
Image: Pexels
Wharton MBA students come from a wide variety of backgrounds, industries, companies, and undergraduate institutions; there truly is no single “right” path to business school.
Applying to an MBA program is an exciting step, but it often comes with plenty of questions along the way. At Wharton, we know that navigating requirements, deadlines, and details can feel overwhelming, which is why our admissions team fields a wide range of email inquiries from prospective students every day.
To make things easier, we’re opening up our inbox to share answers to some of the most common questions we receive. Whether you’re just beginning to explore Wharton or are already deep into the application process, these insights are intended to provide clarity and confidence as you take your next steps.
Q:Am I eligible for/how do I apply for a TOEFL or PTE waiver?
A: Applicants may request to waive the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) or PTE (Pearson Test of English) if they have earned an undergraduate or master’s degree in an English-speaking country or from an institution where English is the language of instruction. A waiver may also be granted to those who have spent at least four years in an English-speaking professional environment. To request the waiver, check the appropriate box on the application and include a brief explanation of eligibility in the space provided.
Q: Can I waive the GMAT/GRE? Can I take the test after submitting my application?
A: Wharton does not offer waivers for the GMAT (Graduate Management Admission Test) or GRE (Graduate Record Examination). One exam is required as part of the application. There is no preference between the two, so applicants are encouraged to choose the option that best aligns with their strengths and preparation.
Scores submitted after the application deadline are not guaranteed to be reviewed. Because the Admissions Committee begins reviewing applications immediately after the deadline, we recommend taking the test no later than two weeks before your target round.
Q:How much work experience is needed? Can I apply right from undergrad or without work experience?
A: While most applicants have three to five years of professional experience, there is no minimum or maximum requirement. We evaluate applicants based on functional skills, scope of experience, leadership and management potential, and overall growth trajectory.
For candidates with 10+ years of experience, the full-time MBA has no work experience limit, but the Wharton MBA Program for Executives (EMBA) may be a better fit for those further along in their careers who want to continue working while earning their degree.
For current undergraduates, the Moelis Advance Access Program allows students in their final year of study to apply for a guaranteed spot in the MBA after two-to-four years of professional experience. Applicants who choose to apply directly to the full-time MBA without prior work experience may be considered, but should demonstrate a clear rationale for pursuing the degree at this stage. The Admissions Committee will assess this based on information provided throughout the application—and applicants can use the Supplemental Information section to share additional context.
Q: Can I meet with an Admissions Committee Member?
A: Due to the volume of interest, we are unable to offer one-on-one meetings with Admissions Committee members. Instead, we encourage you to connect with our team at in-person or virtual events.
We also offersmall group conversations with an admissions advisor to provide direct support throughout the application process. We also encourage applicants to connect with one of ourAdmissions Fellows, a group of second-year students who are ready to have one-on-one conversations about life at Wharton.
Q: Here’s my background. Do I fit what you’re looking for? I had a low undergrad GPA. Does my undergrad school/company matter?
A: Wharton MBA students come from a wide variety of backgrounds, industries, companies, and undergraduate institutions; there truly is no single “right” path to business school. If you meet our admissions requirements and believe the MBA is the right step for you personally, professionally, and academically, we encourage you to apply.
If your undergraduate GPA falls below our typical average, don’t be discouraged. We consider many factors in assessing academic readiness, including GPA trends, individual coursework and grades, and test results. You can use the supplemental information section of the application to provide additional context, if needed.
Q: Am I eligible if I have a three-year degree or an online undergrad degree?
A: Yes. If your three-year program granted you a bachelor’s degree, you are eligible to apply to the Wharton MBA. We do not favor any one institution over another and online or distance-learning degrees are treated the same as traditional programs.
Q: Do you offer financial aid and/or scholarships? How do you apply?
A: All admitted students are considered for Wharton Fellowship support as part of the admissions process; no separate application is required. The Fellowship Committee makes its best offer at the time of admission.
Selection is based on a combination of factors, including personal background, academic achievement, professional accomplishments, and community involvement. Award details are included in your Admission and Financial Aid letter. Please note that fellowship awards are final; the Fellowship Committee does not reconsider awards or provide need-based fellowships.
Use our Application Guide to find full details on prerequisites, application fees, essay topics, GRE/GMAT test scores, references, and other details you’ll need to satisfy the Wharton MBA Admission requirements.
