Karl Schmedders, IMD Business School
“The IMD faculty is incredibly inspiring, and all professors brought immense value to the program both through their expertise and their energy and passion. My favorite professor was Karl Schmedders. He was my finance professor during the mastering stage of the EMBA. He has a rare talent for making finance both accessible and engaging. He brings theory to life through practical, pragmatic examples, and shares his deep knowledge with passion and conviction. Never afraid to express his perspective, he inspires through both his intellect and authenticity.”
Anne Grajoszex, IMD Business School
“Su-Yen Wong was my favorite professor during the MBA program. Right from the pre-module communication, it was clear that here was a thoughtful subject-matter expert who was fully vested in our learning and success — not just going through the motions, but genuinely committed to helping us grow. She delivered and facilitated a terrific program — Leadership: Exploration, Assessment & Development. Su-Yen curated an outstanding lineup of guest speakers, bringing in senior industry leaders and founders who shared real-world perspectives that went far beyond textbooks. She made us pause and reflect on how we had gotten to where we were and how we could make the most of what was ahead. More than that, Su-Yen consistently shared practical, relevant insights and tools that we could immediately apply, both in our studies and in our professional lives. Her sessions felt less like lectures and more like dynamic conversations about leadership, strategy, and the realities of business today. She made the learning experience truly memorable, and her influence continues to shape the way I lead and think.”
Neeraj Govil, National University of Singapore
“Gianna Bern captivated me from the start, not just for her expertise in finance but for her extraordinary legacy. As the first woman on the Wall Street trading floor, she shattered barriers in a male-dominated industry with a strength and authenticity that continue to inspire me. As a woman in business, her story reminded me that success doesn’t come from compromising who you are, but from standing firm in your principles. Gianna’s approach to teaching was just as powerful, she challenged us to think critically, push boundaries, and approach business with both confidence and integrity. Beyond that, she met every student where they were, offering mentorship and guidance without judgment. Her passion for education and leadership left a lasting impression on me, reinforcing that resilience and authenticity are the most valuable assets in any career.”
Christine Asack, Notre Dame (Mendoza)
“There have been so many professors and classmates who’ve influenced me throughout my EMBA journey, but if I had to single out one person, it would be Professor Dan Oglevee. His Entrepreneurship and Financing New Business Ventures class gave me invaluable insights into the startup ecosystem, particularly in Silicon Valley. But what made Dan truly impactful wasn’t just the depth of his knowledge — it was the way he brought learning to life. Beyond the classroom, he led our transformative trips to Silicon Valley and Spain, which turned out to be some of the most eye-opening experiences of the program.
What stood out even more were the personal conversations I had with Dan during these trips. He consistently challenged me to think bigger and encouraged me to see new possibilities for my career. His guidance gave me the confidence to pursue a company board seat, something I might not have considered so soon without his influence. I’m now actively in conversations about joining a board, and I credit much of that momentum to the spark Dan ignited.”
Christopher M. Judd, Ohio State (Fisher)
Vikas Mittal, Rice University (Jones)
“My favorite professor was my marketing professor, Vikas Mittal, who taught the class Strategy with Science and Customer Focus. I found Professor Mittal’s core message — focus your energy on the few things that truly impact customer satisfaction and profitability — both powerful and practical. He doesn’t teach theory in a vacuum; rather, he teaches how to build strategy with scientific rigor, using tools like regression analysis to prioritize what matters most. He is a maverick who challenges conventional thinking and encourages his students to do the same. His class fundamentally reshaped how I think about strategy, focus, and leadership.”
Patrick Garvey, Rice University (Jones)
“Keith Brown. Professor Brown made investment theory feel real. I came in with solid financial acumen, but he broke things down in a way that was both approachable and practical. His class wasn’t just technical, it was rooted in real-world decision-making, full of stories, and carried a sense of humor that made it easy to stay engaged.
He had a way of making concepts like CAPM, leverage, and investor behavior stick. I still think about the difference he drew between lending and owning, or how behavioral traps can distort returns—not because it was in a slide, but because it just made sense when he said it.
The final project, building a portfolio for a fictional persona, was one of the most creative and useful things we did. It forced me to take the theory and actually apply it like an investor would.
But what really set him apart? After the class ended, he brought us back into a classroom to walk through Margin Call—scene by scene—and explain what was really going on. That session was one of the most memorable learning moments of the program. It just showed how much he cared about us getting it.”
Todd Wetmore, University of Texas (McCombs)
“Steven Huff, our marketing professor, completely reshaped how I think as an engineer. He taught us how to think deeply about the customer, the product, and how to position both – something that was entirely new to me. His class helped me translate technical ideas into a clear, focused product vision for my startup. It gave me the clarity I needed to shape my startup and move forward with confidence. One lesson that stuck with me: “You can’t be everything to everybody—pick something and commit.” That mindset became the foundation of how I positioned and built my startup.”
Kishan Chalumuri, U.C. Berkeley (Haas)
Katherine Klein, Wharton School
“Another exceptional experience was the weeklong Global Modular Course in Rwanda, titled Conflict, Leadership & Change: Lessons Learned from Rwanda, taught by Professor Katherine Klein. I deeply admired her thoughtful and deliberate curation of this course, which created space for honest dialogue and debate around difficult, complex, and deeply human topics. It pushed me to question my assumptions, review my values, and confront my biases regarding important topics of leadership. For me, this course represented the very essence of higher education, challenging boundaries, and encouraging independent critical thinking.”
Lisa Dalik, Wharton School
“Professor Song Ma was my favorite professor. During our second year, he taught Entrepreneurial Finance, a course that walked us through the full lifecycle of startups, from idea generation and early-stage funding to scaling, exits, and everything in between. As someone who dreams of following Jeff Bezos’ footsteps—building my own Fortune 500 company and fundamentally changing consumer behavior—this class was exactly what I needed. (Yes, Jeff Bezos is literally my screensaver.)
What made Professor Ma exceptional wasn’t just the content he delivered but how personally invested he was in his students’ ideas. When I shared my startup concept with him, he went above and beyond to help me shape it into a viable MVP. His feedback was clear, strategic, and rooted in real-world venture insight. That mentorship gave me both the confidence and the direction to start making my vision a reality. He exemplifies the best of Yale SOM, professors who don’t just teach—they invest in who you’re becoming.”
Janitra Taylor, Yale School of Management
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