$100M From Alumnus Rebrands Chicago Booth’s Executive MBA Program

Konstantin Sokolov has given his alma mater $100 million. Chicago Booth has renamed the executive MBA program in his honor

Chicago Booth’s Executive MBA Program is getting a new name — and a major upgrade — thanks to a $100 million donation from alumnus and investor Konstantin Sokolov. The gift, one of the largest in school history, will rename the program the Sokolov Executive MBA Program and provide significant new funding for scholarships, curriculum development, and faculty support.

Sokolov, founder of IJS Investments and a longtime advocate for economic development, says the gift celebrates the deep personal and professional impact of his Booth experience. He graduated from the Booth MBA program in 2005.

“The knowledge, relationships, and perspective I gained at Booth have shaped everything I’ve done since,” Sokolov says. “I’m proud to give back to a place that continues to define leadership in business education.”

GIFT WILL SPARK MAJOR EXPANSION OF KEY PROGRAMS

Sokolov’s donation will fund a new clinical professorship for faculty who teach in the EMBA program and strengthen Booth’s ability to attract top talent across its three global campuses in Chicago, London, and Hong Kong. With more scholarship and operating funds, Booth plans to continue evolving the program to meet the shifting demands of today’s business landscape — from digital transformation to cross-border leadership.

The Executive MBA at Booth has a storied legacy. Launched in 1943 to meet wartime demand for business leadership, it was the first program of its kind in the world. Today, the 21-month program draws professionals from dozens of countries who learn in cohort-based formats, expanding their leadership skills, networks, and global business fluency. Students benefit from Booth’s distinctive analytical approach and access to top faculty across continents.

A cornerstone of the newly named program is Booth’s Global Career and Leadership Development team, which offers personalized executive coaching, leadership workshops, and industry-specific insight sessions. The team also connects students with senior business leaders through events and Distinguished Executive-in-Residence opportunities. Sokolov’s support will allow Booth to expand these offerings and introduce new, tailored programming for experienced professionals navigating senior-level career transitions.

‘AN INVESTMENT IN THE NEXT GENERATION OF LEADERS’

The gift also comes at a symbolic moment: the 20th anniversary of Sokolov’s graduation from the program. He completed his Executive MBA in Booth’s Chicago cohort (XP-74), based at the downtown Gleacher Center, where he forged many of the relationships he still credits as central to his career. In 2024, Sokolov funded enhancements to the student lounge at Gleacher — a space that now bears his name.

Sokolov immigrated to the U.S. from Russia at age 21 before launching a career that would span telecom, energy, and private equity. His firm, IJS Investments, supports national infrastructure projects across multiple sectors. With this gift, he says he hopes to ensure that future EMBA students — regardless of background — have access to the same world-class education and professional growth that defined his own journey.

University of Chicago President Paul Alivisatos praised the donation as a powerful endorsement of Booth’s mission. “This gift will allow the school to continue fostering innovation, leadership, and excellence in business education,” Alivisatos says. “It’s an investment in the next generation of leaders who will guide business through times of change and complexity.”

Sokolov’s gift to Booth is among the biggest gifts at any business school, securing its place on an exclusive but growing list of business school gifts of at least $50 million.

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