Best & Brightest Executive MBAs Of 2024

GAINING VALUABLE EXPERIENCE THROUGH OVERSEAS TREKS

Executive MBA programs are designed for maximum flexibility. As a result, the Class of 2024 was only sporadically on campus. That doesn’t mean the Best & Brightest weren’t heavily involved in extracurricular activities. This past year, Monique Andrea Rainford helped to organize the Yale Impact Investing Conference. At Wharton, James Garcia leveraged his experience as deputy vice president of the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America by handling finance for the Executive Board of the Penn Biotech Group. At the same time, Tim Wilson turned an interest in entrepreneurship into a full-fledged venture as a Cornell EMBA.

“I’ve spent a lot of time with classmates ideating and testing new business ideas,” Wilson explains. “These conversations ramped up after we completed our semester-long new-venture creation course. We’ve collectively learned from some ideas that haven’t worked out as well, and my classmates are continuing to progress others. Ultimately, these conversations and my classmates’ support provided rigor to the business assessment and gave me the confidence to launch.”

As students, the Best & Brightest’s influence extended beyond campus. During her first semester at Texas A&M’s Mays School, Aida E. Adams and her classmates partnered with the City of Amarillo, devoting over 600 hours to identifying the city’s biggest infrastructure needs. Jennifer Marchi-Guzmán took her Rutgers Business School cohort to Ho Chi Minh City to visit her BASF office and expose them to cutting edge technology like 4D printers. For the capstone project at Fordham University’s Gabelli School, Louisa Brody’s cohort headed to Seoul, South Korea for an engagement with a green energy company.

“Our cohort was divided into four groups, each of which consulted for a different department within the company. Throughout the semester, we worked closely with our mentors at the company, conducted exhaustive research, and became experts in a topic and industry that was previously unknown to most of us. Once in Seoul, we spent an afternoon at the company’s headquarters and presented our research and recommendations to the company’s Board of Directors.”

THE ULTIMATE COMPLIMENT: WE DIDN’T MISS YOU

These lessons also carried over into the Class of 2024’s jobs. When Jonathon Guastella joined Michigan State’s Broad College, his transportation company was plagued by lagging profits and merger complications. As CFO, Guastella introduced company leadership to strategy lessons taught by Dr. Glenn Hodges in the EMBA program. In response, the company flushed out its differentiators and established a more targeted sales model. The results: “EBITDA doubled, losses turned into profits, and significant market share was captured,” Guastella says. More than classroom teachings, Guastella adds, it was the individual coaching he received that yielded the biggest return from his investment in an executive MBA program.

“My coach worked with me, in real time, on my management of our accounts receivable department. Through this coaching, I watched our team become significantly better and tangible results quickly occurred. A long-tenured employee started functioning at a height neither one of us knew was possible, and this employee was able to coach her direct report more effectively as well. Ultimately, this freed up everyone’s time as well as cash flow.”

In fact, some Best & Brightest EMBAs absorbed their lessons so well that they made their presence less necessary. Case in point: Amanda K. Chawla, a senior vice president and chief supply officer for Stanford Healthcare.

“The true test came when I stepped away from work—whether for weeks-long electives or regular Friday afternoons dedicated to coursework,” she writes. “Despite my absence, the operations ran seamlessly. My team never missed a beat, and they stepped up brilliantly in my absence. The moment when my boss half-jokingly remarked, ‘You have built an A-team, we almost didn’t miss you,’ I knew I had achieved something special. It wasn’t just about keeping the ship steady but ensuring it thrived, powered by a team capable of steering confidently, even without me at the helm.”

PASS A CLASS, GET A TATTOO

On the surface, you might expect the demands of work, family, and business school to consume the lives of this year’s Best & Brightest. However, the class still found ways to contribute in other areas. The University of Georgia’s Marcela Mesa volunteers at a dog shelter, while BYU Marriott’s Steven G. Smith serves as a youth seminary teacher. Tim Wilson is a host committee member for Philadelphia Soccer 2026, one of the venues for the upcoming FIFA World Cup. Let’s just say Ryan Dickerson knows how to stay busy. When he isn’t volunteering for Toys for Tots and Habitat for Humanity through his company, he is satisfying his theatrical itch.

“I have participated in countless theatrical productions across multiple communities, having the opportunity to portray fascinating characters such as Count Dracula, Dr. Jekyll, and Macduff.”

That’s just the start. Alistair Wye has traveled to 65 countries (so far). When he isn’t exploring the world, he is staying in shape through weightlifting, rowing, skiing, hiking, surfing, and even bouldering (rock climbing without ropes). Dr. Nathalie Mehanna is a Mezzo soprano who has performed in operas and bands – in nine languages, no less. As an undergraduate, John Austin made All-American – twice – as a javelin thrower and still holds his school record. Aida Adams, a Taekwondo black bet, has competed globally in the sport. While Zachary N. Litvack may be a steady neurosurgeon by day, the University of Washington MBA rocks out as a rhythm guitarist in a cover band in his spare time

If you’re wondering who gets the nod as the best salesperson in the class, you’d be hard-pressed to argue against Liz Castelli, a teacher-turned-CEO. “I’ve been known to wield persuasive powers even in the most unexpected of places—like convincing my classmates to commemorate our microeconomics class with matching tattoos,” writes the recent graduate of UC Berkeley’s Haas School. “It seems I have a knack for rallying the troops when it comes to permanent ink.”

A PLACE TO TAKE RISKS AND GROW

Every EMBA program operates differently. At Cornell University, says Donna Keefe, the curriculum includes bi-weekly boardroom meetings and four residential immersions. The University of Chicago’s Booth School maintains campuses in Chicago, London, and Hong Kong – and bring their students together every 4-6 weeks across two years according to John Austin. At Wharton, Claudia Olsson even completed global modules that took her to France, Mexico, and Rwanda. During these times, students share their experiences and best practices – an “iron sharpens iron” dynamic in the words of Jonathon Guastella. Over time, a different type of relationship emerges among classmates.

“I’ve come to view my cohort as a second family,” writes IMD’s Ariella Pfenninger – a self-described “most unconventional accountant you’ll ever meet.” “[We are] a close-knit group of individuals who support one another, encourage personal growth, challenge assumptions, and collectively strive for excellence in all our endeavors.”

Liz Castelli views an EMBA program as a “petri dish” – a place where seasoned professionals can “experiment and refine” without the risk of making mistakes or suffering negative blowback at work. In Castelli’s case, the Haas School served as the practice field to gear up for the high-stakes season to come.

“Without a doubt, the biggest lesson I gained during my time at Berkeley Haas was the importance of leading through influence rather than power. The EMBA program reinforced the importance of capturing hearts and minds and equipped me with the tools to do so effectively and authentically, in ways that align with my individual values and personality.”

LIFE HAPPENS

Another lesson learned is how to juggle, to balance competing priorities and cope with adversity. There are midnight readings and dawn study sessions, along with the fatigue that comes from minimal sleep and occasional jet lag. At work, there is unexpected turnover and mercurial clients, the breakneck pace and crushing demands filled with tradeoffs and uncertainties. At home, the Class of 2025 faced it all. Their kids fell ill and their parents required care. They relocated for promotions and watched home renovations turn into money pits. They got married and divorced, welcome babies and said goodbye to loved ones. Sometimes, a ‘perfect storm’ of demands brought them to their knees. Too often, their past routines and activities took a backseat to these ever-changing demands.

A lot can happen in 22 months, says January Parkos Arnall. She would know. As an EMBA student, she moved from Chicago to Los Angeles to start a new job. On top of that her daughter suffered a “serious health crisis”, while her sister underwent brain surgery. Thankfully, she says, there were 67 “close friends” – her classmates at USC’s Marshall School – who had her back throughout it all.

“The people on my study team and beyond were always there to workshop ideas, to lend a listening ear, to cover notes and discuss readings. I always felt supported in life as well as academically. One of the most magical things about the Executive program is finding other individuals who are similarly balancing life and career at a more advanced stage in their professional journeys. It is a real gift to coach each other and empathize with one another in both of these arenas.”

During her first year at Kellogg, Amanda K. Chawla watched her two-year-old son grow increasingly non-verbal. Eventually, he was diagnosed with severe autism. The discovery awakened her to research and treatment gaps for neurodiverse children. Even more, Chawla’s situation left her with a richer perspective on what she has.

“I’ve learned to practice presence: with my family, embracing every moment with my children; in my career, focusing on impactful leadership; in the classroom, absorbing every lesson; and with colleagues and friends, enjoying our time together. This mindfulness of being present helps me to navigate the juggling demands of life, to manage each moment with presence, making the most of every opportunity for connection and learning.”

MAKING THE SUITCASES FIT

In some cases, the Class of 2024 used a little moxie to make it through the trickiest situations. Just ask Liz Castelli, who was racing to finish the sale of her company while completing a study abroad program in the rural Amazon.

“With no reliable internet connection onboard [the riverboat], I had to walk through the jungle to find a small school with Wi-Fi to communicate with the lawyers and oversee the deal with my partners. It was a surreal experience, juggling corporate negotiations amid the wilds of the Amazon. This experience underscored the importance of adaptability, resourcefulness, and prioritization, demonstrating how even in the most unconventional circumstances, one can (mostly) navigate the demands of work, family, and education.”

Michael Thorne-Begland, a DEI officer who graduated from the University of Virginia’s Darden School, likens an MBA to stuffing too many suitcases into a car for vacation – “It isn’t pretty but somehow you find the room.” For Alistair Crawford, that meant being active at 5:00 a.m. and plotting out each day until he went to bed at 10:00 p.m. In contrast, Jonathon Guastella reserved Sundays exclusively for family time.

“This has been our family’s policy since day one of the program, and even in this hectic semester, it did not waver. Keeping Sundays free of schoolwork and career work permitted a full day, morning to night, with nothing but family time. I knew I could not be there as much as I needed to that upcoming week, but after a full day of reset, it kept the family sane.”

ADVICE TO THE CLASS OF 2026

When it comes to advice to future EMBAs, Ryan Dickerson sums it up best: Do the work and believe in yourself.

“No matter how accomplished you are, or how unqualified you may feel, you will not regret taking the time and money to invest in yourself. This program has taught me so much more than just the fundamentals of business. It has taught me to be a stronger speaker, a more visionary leader and a more empathetic person.”

For those nervous about taking this leap of faith, Amanda K. Chawla adds that it helps to view joining an EMBA program like the decision to start a family. “You are never really ready, you’ll feel like you’re barely keeping up, and coffee becomes your best friend. But, trust me, it’s one of the best decisions you can make for your career and personal growth.”

Next Page: 62 profiles of this year’s Best & Brightest Executive MBA grads.

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