Mana Yamaguchi studied political science at Vanderbilt. At Lionsgate, she headed up global strategy. Financial concepts, she admits, was never really her strength…until she took Professor Jessica Kim-Gina’s accounting course in the Executive MBA program at UCLA’s Anderson School.
The class was transformative for Yamaguchi. Entering business school, she wondered if she could master the fundamentals. Thanks to Kim-Gina’s teaching methods, she not only understood the basics, but could apply them in her day-to-day as well.
“She had a knack for simplifying complex financial topics, making them not only accessible but also enjoyable,” Yamaguchi writes about Kim-Gina. “One of my favorite moments was when she used Beyoncé’s concert to explain a complex accounting concept. Additionally, her use of current and relevant case studies, like Callaway’s acquisition of Topgolf, resonated deeply with me, especially as a golfer. These examples made the material relatable and sparked a genuine interest in the subject.”
A LOOK AT WHAT MAKES A GREAT PROFESSOR
Jessica Kim-Gina, UCLA (Anderson)
The results, Yamaguchi adds, enabled her to bring a new and wider perspective into her decision-making. “Thanks to Professor Kim-Gina, I now find myself enthusiastically diving into income statements, balance sheets, and cash flow statements of companies that catch my interest. This new-found competence and enjoyment in analyzing these documents have greatly expanded my understanding of how businesses operate and make financial decisions.”
That’s what top EMBA professors like Jessica Kim-Gina do: They meet students where they are, make concepts easy-to-understand and relevant to their job. They instill a greater curiosity in their students, all while increasing their value to their employers. Who are some of these professors? As part of identifying this year’s Best & Brightest Executive MBAs, Poets&Quants asked nominees to name the professor who influenced them the most – and how they enhanced the value of their business school experience.
From CEIBS to the Wharton School, here are the faculty members who made a difference for the EMBA Class of 2024.
“My favorite professor at CEIBS was Professor Viktar Fedaseyeu. He is a phenomenally popular and inspirational academic, and I think his incisive sense of humor is key to his effectiveness. He has a keen ability to bring business theory to life, using smart and often amusing analogies and sayings to better illustrate his point. So many of his sayings have stayed with me long after his lessons, such as: “You don’t always need to be the best. Sometimes, you just need to be better than your competitors.”
Celine CHEN JIANJUN, CEIBS
“Professor Sanjay Dhar from Marketing Strategy had impeccable energy and passion in his classes. His case studies used really helped me to think through the 3Cs – Companies, Consumers, Competitors – in a more integrated way. Knowing nothing about marketing prior to this class, I learned tremendously and now can communicate confidently with my marketing department at work as I speak their languages and know how they approach things now. Prof. Dhar also took the time to get to know his students by allowing us to schedule some 1-on-1 touch points with him throughout the quarter and after the quarter for anything we’d like to discuss.”
Bingjie Li, University of Chicago (Booth)
“What a tough question! Lutz Finger, who taught Designing Data Products, was able to demystify AI by showing large language models accessible using basic quantitative tools, bringing real-world business experiences into the classroom. He did so with an incredible sense of passion and humor. I took Lutz’s class right as ChatGPT was entering the collective consciousness, and I was impressed at how quickly he incorporated breaking innovation into the curriculum. He provided a succinct framework for product companies using data that I use nearly every day speaking with product and technology teams.”
Tim Wilson, Cornell University (Johnson)
“There are several MBA professors who stand out from my time in the Gabelli School EMBA program. One favorite is Stephen Bryan, Ph.D., who taught Financial Accounting. Coming from a liberal arts background, I was intimidated by my first accounting course, but Professor Bryan presented information in a way that was accessible, engaging, and thorough. He also structured the course in a way that was geared towards executives, as users of financial data. Professor Byran taught us how to think critically about accounting and ask the right questions, ensuring that the course was relevant to each person in the room. We also spent time during each class reviewing current events, allowing us to immediately apply our business education to the world outside the classroom.”
Louisa Brody, Fordham University (Gabelli)
Frank T. Rothaermel, Georgia Tech (Scheller)
“My favorite MBA professor was Dr. Scott Graffin. He made learning fun by challenging us to think deeply and thoroughly about management decisions. Beyond the classroom, he was accessible and always willing to discuss ideas further. He brought real-world cases to life, sparking interesting discussions that enriched our learning experience. His commitment to fostering dialogue and critical thinking made each class engaging and enlightening.”
Marcela Mesa, University of Georgia (Terry)
“My favorite professor is Frank Rothaermel because his strategy course was an absolute game-changer in my MBA journey. Learning under him, I mastered corporate strategy using the Analyze-Formulate-Implement (AFI) framework, bringing theory to life through captivating case studies on companies like Peloton, Tesla, Rivian, and Starbucks. Engaging in Oxford-style debates on hot topics such as the fate of Disney+ and Ford’s EV division was both thrilling and educational. Beyond the content, Rothaermel’s intentional teaching methods, from setting the tone with music to his personal interactions and rituals like playing “The Final Countdown” before debates, made every class session unforgettable. His approach not only taught me about strategy but also invaluable lessons in group engagement and communication.”
Manjish Naik, Georgia Tech (Scheller)
“It’s a tough choice but since I would identify finance as being my weakest subject, Ken Carow would be the person who I’ve benefited from the most. I’ve learned some things in finance the hard way over the years. However, Ken’s enthusiasm for both his subject matter and seeing his pupils become passionate about it is evident. He was patient in giving me the necessary tools, and it has given me the ability to be a better leader, have better conversations, and ask better questions of my finance department. And I believe that has helped me on a variety of levels in terms of what I’ve done to use them instantly and learn new things during my MBA. And from the standpoint of how far I’ve come since I started, I must give him credit for that evolution. He’s also an amazing consultant, too. That’s been the other nice since joining the program. I’m getting access and advice from some of the top business consultants in the world.”
John Erwin III, Indiana University (Kelley)
“While every professor brings remarkable expertise and passion to their teaching, Professor Enver Yücesan, who taught process and operations management, stood out for his unparalleled knowledge, seasoned experience, teaching quality, humbleness, and compassion. His wisdom and caring demeanor deeply resonated with each one of us, as I’m sure with every cohort he teaches. He advocated for a profound understanding of impediments hindering optimal resource utilization within companies, highlighting process improvement as a strategic cornerstone for enhancing business profitability. His insights also underscored the importance of empathy and team welfare in decision-making processes which resonated deeply with us as current and future leaders. He is a true example to uphold.”
Dr. Nathalie Mehanna, INSEAD
“Professor Kathleen O’Connor is an organisational behaviour professor like no other! She taught the course ‘Developing Effective Managers and Organisations’ during my first semester with such life and character that every minute of the near 25 hours we spent with her was enthralling. She challenged us to take a good hard look at our leadership skills and even brought in an acting coach to Hollywood stars for a session on leading with confidence. It was great that both Kathleen and the Hollywood coach joined us in the pub after class. They were both so open to giving us advice on our personal presence, as well as sharing stories of their own challenges and how they overcame them. We also learned some very interesting stories about coaching Hollywood actors!”
Adeola Ajayi, London Business School
Next Page: Faculty from Northwestern Kellogg, UC Berkeley Haas, Wharton School, and more.
