Goizueta Executive MBA student Scott Kelly with the Jonas Brothers
GOIZUETA EMBA STUDENT GOES VIRAL AFTER CONCERT RESUMÉ SIGHTING
As if work, family, and a rigorous MBA program weren’t enough to juggle, Scott Kelly found a whole other way to blow up his calendar: Going viral on the internet.
Kelly, an executive MBA ‘26 at Emory University’s Goizueta Business School, was caught scrolling through his own résumé at a Jonas Brothers concert November 13 in Buffalo, New York. A bemused concert goer recorded him and posted the clip to TikTok. It quickly caught fire. Viewers joked about the moment, celebrities chimed in, and brands played along as the video gained millions of views.
Since, Kelly got a personal meeting with the Brothers, appeared on Fox & Friends and The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, a gave interviews to several media outlets. Fallon even displayed a QR code linking directly to Kelly’s résumé.
“No one really understands what this has been like, including myself, as I’m just taking it moment by moment, but I can’t begin to describe how grateful I am for the support of my whole cohort,” Kelley says in this business school blog on the episode.
“If you’re going to suddenly go viral and deal with new, novel, unknowable problems flying out of everywhere all at once, having direct access to a group of brilliant, successful problem solvers from across industries who really have your back is a godsend.”
Kelly used his appearance on The Tonight Show to highlight a topic he cares deeply about: the challenges veterans face when transitioning to civilian life. Drawing on his own experiences after leaving the Army, he explained why the process can be long, difficult, and emotional. He hopes the renewed attention will help him support more veterans navigating that journey.
Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University. Courtesy image
KELLOGG NAMES EXECUTIVE CENTER FOR ANN M. DRAKE
Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University will name its new executive education building the Ann McIlrath Drake Executive Center. The naming honors Ann M. Drake, an alumna and longtime supporter who has contributed $70 million to Kellogg over the years, making her the largest donor in the school’s history.
The center sits next to Kellogg’s Global Hub and connects through an underground corridor to form a unified campus.
Drake earned her Executive MBA at Kellogg and built a prominent career in supply chain management. She led her family’s logistics company to global prominence and has supported scholarships, faculty programs, and Kellogg’s Global Women’s Summit. Her philanthropy focuses on elevating women’s leadership across business and STEM fields.
The new executive center will house Kellogg’s Executive MBA and Executive Education programs. It will also serve all Kellogg students with flexible, technology-enabled classrooms designed for global collaboration. The project supports the school’s Full Circle Campaign, a $600 million effort to advance business education.
“This project realizes a dream of mine to advance how we study, support, and inspire leadership everywhere, and especially women’s leadership,” Drake says. “I think good leaders matter, because good leaders and inspired leadership help make the world a better place.”
The Ann McIlrath Drake Executive Center is scheduled to open in fall 2027.
Deepak Hegde is founder and director of NYU Stern’s Endless Frontier Labs. Photo credit: ©Myaskovsky, ©Jolly: Courtesy of NYU Photo Bureau
NYU STERN’S ENDLESS FRONTIER LABS WINS PRIX GALIEN HONOR
Endless Frontier Labs (EFL) at NYU Stern has been named the Prix Galien winner in the Best Incubator/Accelerator/Equity category. The Prix Galien is an international program that recognizes advances in scientific innovation and the development of new medicines. EFL received the award at the 19th annual ceremony at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City.
The award reflects the progress of EFL alumni who are bringing major scientific breakthroughs to market. Several were nominated in the Best Startup category. GrayMatters Health, another EFL alum, previously won Best Startup for developing the first FDA-cleared self-neuromodulation therapy for PTSD.
Professor Deepak Hegde, EFL’s founder and director, says the program is built on a simple premise: world-class science needs a path to reach patients. EFL supports founders with clear milestones, no-equity terms, and an ecosystem built to reduce uncertainty for early-stage science.
Read more about EFL in this P&Q story: In NYU Stern’s Endless Frontier Labs, MBAs Help Bring Science & Tech Ideas To Market
Learn more about the Prix Galien here.
Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business
GEORGETOWN EXPANDS TALENT PIPELINE FOR THE GROWING REAL ASSETS MARKET
Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business is making a major investment in the future of real assets. Georgetown alumnus Bob Steers, co-founder and executive chairman of Cohen & Steers, has committed $10 million to fund 20 full-tuition scholarships for the M.S. in Global Real Assets program.
His gift responds to a fast-changing industry that now views real assets – real estate, infrastructure, natural resources, and commodities – as a $100 trillion global market tied to the energy transition and long-term sustainability.
Candidates for the Steers Scholars Program will be chosen for academic strength, leadership potential, and commitment to advancing the field. They will complete the full program application process, submit two scholarship essays, and interview with the selection committee. The gift also funds new professorships in real estate and infrastructure to attract faculty who can shape future research and curriculum.
The Global Real Assets program emphasizes hands-on learning. Students underwrite live deals, study investment funding, and examine the physical and financial workings of major projects. The Steers Center for Global Real Assets, recognized as a leader in this space, oversees the curriculum and provides industry access through its network in Washington, D.C., and beyond.
EDHEC’s campus in Nice, France. Courtesy photo
EDHEC, ESMT BERLIN & POLIMI RELEASE FIRST BAROMETER ON RESPONSIBLE STARTUP PRACTICES
EDHEC Business School, together with ESMT Berlin and POLIMI Graduate School of Management , has released the first European Responsible Start-up Practice Barometer. The report, created through the INNOVA Europe coalition, surveyed 433 European startups to understand how young companies approach environmental, social, governance, and civic responsibility. The findings show strong interest across the ecosystem, but also major gaps between intention and measurable action.
Most startups, 93%, say they value responsible practices while 81% reported taking action in at least one pillar. Yet, only 28% measure the impact of those actions. Financial constraints and a lack of time are the main reasons cited for slow progress. The obstacles vary by country, showing how local pressures shape priorities. For example, French startups cite time constraints more often, while German startups point to limited financial resources.
The study also highlights weaknesses in tracking progress. Startups in early stages rarely monitor their performance indicators, and many lack the expertise or support to measure impact effectively. External pressure makes a clear difference: companies are twice as likely to track ESG performance when customers, investors, or incubators push them to do so. This pattern shows how ecosystem expectations can accelerate responsible practices.
The barometer is designed to help schools, investors, and incubators better understand where startups need support. They believe responsibility must move from a communications exercise to a strategic priority tied to long-term performance. Through INNOVA Europe, the partner schools aim to boost collaboration, share best practices, and promote an entrepreneurial model that aligns innovation with societal and environmental needs.
POLIMI Graduate School of Management in Milan has unveiled its new campus in Navigli, Milan’s creative and cultural center. Courtesy photo
DURHAM & POLIMI LAUNCH JOINT EXECUTIVE MBA
Durham University Business School and POLIMI Graduate School of Management will launch a new joint Executive MBA in November 2026. The two schools designed the program to focus on responsible leadership and sustainable value creation. They aim to build a strong talent pipeline for employers seeking leaders who can make a measurable impact.
The curriculum will blend the academic strengths and industry networks of both institutions. Faculty from Durham and POLIMI will turn research insights into learning activities that connect directly to real organizational needs. Executive coaching will play a central role and help students move their careers forward.
Students will study in both the UK and Italy. They will also work on applied projects with industry partners in each location. The dual-campus format is meant to give students a broader view of how organizations operate across markets and cultures.
Leaders from both schools say the partnership supports their shared commitment to innovation and societal impact. They expect the collaboration to expand student mobility, faculty exchange, and joint initiatives that connect the two academic communities. The new EMBA also aligns with Durham’s ongoing expansion during its 60th anniversary year.
DON’T MISS: THE 100 HIGHEST-FUNDED MBA STARTUPS OF 2025 and TRIUM MARKS 25 YEARS: THE GLOBAL EMBA THAT PUT GEOPOLITICS IN THE BOARDROOM
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