Wharton MBA students come from a wide variety of backgrounds, industries, companies, and undergraduate institutions; there truly is no single “right” path to business school.

Applying to an MBA program is an exciting step, but it often comes with plenty of questions along the way. At Wharton, we know that navigating requirements, deadlines, and details can feel overwhelming, which is why our admissions team fields a wide range of email inquiries from prospective students every day.

To make things easier, we’re opening up our inbox to share answers to some of the most common questions we receive. Whether you’re just beginning to explore Wharton or are already deep into the application process, these insights are intended to provide clarity and confidence as you take your next steps.

Q: Am I eligible for/how do I apply for a TOEFL or PTE waiver?

A: Applicants may request to waive the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) or PTE (Pearson Test of English) if they have earned an undergraduate or master’s degree in an English-speaking country or from an institution where English is the language of instruction. A waiver may also be granted to those who have spent at least four years in an English-speaking professional environment. To request the waiver, check the appropriate box on the application and include a brief explanation of eligibility in the space provided.

Q: Can I waive the GMAT/GRE? Can I take the test after submitting my application?

A: Wharton does not offer waivers for the GMAT (Graduate Management Admission Test) or GRE (Graduate Record Examination). One exam is required as part of the application. There is no preference between the two, so applicants are encouraged to choose the option that best aligns with their strengths and preparation.

Scores submitted after the application deadline are not guaranteed to be reviewed. Because the Admissions Committee begins reviewing applications immediately after the deadline, we recommend taking the test no later than two weeks before your target round.

Q: How much work experience is needed? Can I apply right from undergrad or without work experience?

A: While most applicants have three to five years of professional experience, there is no minimum or maximum requirement. We evaluate applicants based on functional skills, scope of experience, leadership and management potential, and overall growth trajectory.

For candidates with 10+ years of experience, the full-time MBA has no work experience limit, but the Wharton MBA Program for Executives (EMBA) may be a better fit for those further along in their careers who want to continue working while earning their degree.

For current undergraduates, the Moelis Advance Access Program allows students in their final year of study to apply for a guaranteed spot in the MBA after two-to-four years of professional experience. Applicants who choose to apply directly to the full-time MBA without prior work experience may be considered, but should demonstrate a clear rationale for pursuing the degree at this stage. The Admissions Committee will assess this based on information provided throughout the application—and applicants can use the Supplemental Information section to share additional context.

Q: Can I meet with an Admissions Committee Member?

A: Due to the volume of interest, we are unable to offer one-on-one meetings with Admissions Committee members. Instead, we encourage you to connect with our team at in-person or virtual events.

We also offer small group conversations with an admissions advisor to provide direct support throughout the application process. We also encourage applicants to connect with one of our Admissions Fellows, a group of second-year students who are ready to have one-on-one conversations about life at Wharton.

Q: Here’s my background. Do I fit what you’re looking for? I had a low undergrad GPA. Does my undergrad school/company matter?

A: Wharton MBA students come from a wide variety of backgrounds, industries, companies, and undergraduate institutions; there truly is no single “right” path to business school. If you meet our admissions requirements and believe the MBA is the right step for you personally, professionally, and academically, we encourage you to apply.

If your undergraduate GPA falls below our typical average, don’t be discouraged. We consider many factors in assessing academic readiness, including GPA trends, individual coursework and grades, and test results. You can use the supplemental information section of the application to provide additional context, if needed.

Q: Am I eligible if I have a three-year degree or an online undergrad degree?

A: Yes. If your three-year program granted you a bachelor’s degree, you are eligible to apply to the Wharton MBA. We do not favor any one institution over another and online or distance-learning degrees are treated the same as traditional programs.

Q: Do you offer financial aid and/or scholarships? How do you apply?

A: All admitted students are considered for Wharton Fellowship support as part of the admissions process; no separate application is required. The Fellowship Committee makes its best offer at the time of admission.

Selection is based on a combination of factors, including personal background, academic achievement, professional accomplishments, and community involvement. Award details are included in your Admission and Financial Aid letter. Please note that fellowship awards are final; the Fellowship Committee does not reconsider awards or provide need-based fellowships.

— Abby Behrends, MBA Admissions

Posted: August 27, 2025

MBA Program

Wharton students on Locust Walk. (Image Credit: Laura Williamson)

MBA Application Guide

Use our Application Guide to find full details on prerequisites, application fees, essay topics, GRE/GMAT test scores, references, and other details you’ll need to satisfy the Wharton MBA Admission requirements.

If you still have a question regarding your application, please contact us at mba-admiss@wharton.upenn.edu.

Wharton Stories

How these EMBA Students Became Entrepreneurs Through Business Acquisition

Image: Robert Kress, WG’24 visiting a U.S. Navy boat maintained by Anchor Innovation (Photo Credit: Chief Brian Sheffield, U.S. Navy)

“If I hadn’t gone to Wharton, I’d still be on the corporate climb and wouldn’t have discovered this knowledge, passion and confidence for entrepreneurship,” says Caroline Chapdelain, WG’22.

For some students in Wharton’s MBA Program for Executives, the program is more than a career accelerator. It’s a direct catalyst for becoming business owners.

Here are the stories of three Wharton EMBA alumni, all military veterans, who acquired companies while enrolled in the program by leveraging finance and strategy courses, tapping into Wharton’s large network, and applying real-time insights from classmates and professors.

Caroline Chapdelaine, WG’22

CEO, Northstar Photonics | Salt Lake City, UT

A former U.S. Army intelligence officer, Caroline Chapdelaine was climbing the corporate ladder in the defense industry when she began exploring MBA programs.

“I was doing what many do in my field: trying to get to a general manager role,” Chapdelaine says. “When I walked into HR and asked how to get there, they told me I needed an MBA from a top school. That led me to Wharton.”

However, during the EMBA program, Caroline’s vision for her future shifted, as she began thinking about entrepreneurship. “Early on, I pitched a startup idea to a professor who kindly tore it apart,” she says. “That moment helped me realize I didn’t want to start something from scratch. I wanted to buy a business and run it.”

Inspired by Professor Robert Chalfin’s course on Entrepreneurship through Acquisition (ETA), Caroline immersed herself in the ETA ecosystem. “I threw myself into it by reading books, listening to podcasts, and going to conferences. Prof. Chalfin’s storytelling style and real-world examples lit a fire. Right after the class ended, I started searching for a business to acquire.”

Photonics navigation equipment in use (Credit: Caroline Chapdelaine)

With her defense background, she looked for niche opportunities in government contracting. Her search ended when a Wharton classmate told her about the opportunity to acquire a small subsidiary that his company planned to shut down. She made a reasonable offer and closed the deal.

Today, Caroline leads Northstar Photonics, a manufacturer of advanced navigation equipment for GPS-denied environments. “Wharton taught me to analyze financials like a public company CFO, which was something I had zero background in. I also lean heavily on the Wharton network, calling classmates for advice and support.”

Despite early challenges and contract volatility, her business is growing. “If I hadn’t gone to Wharton, none of this would have happened,” she says. “I’d still be on the corporate climb and wouldn’t have discovered this knowledge, passion and confidence for entrepreneurship.”

Dan Zastrow, WG’20

Owner & Operator, Remedy Rooter | San Diego, CA

After eight years as a nuclear submarine warfare officer in the U.S. Navy, Dan Zastrow moved into medical technology, focusing on procurement and product development. But something didn’t feel right.

“I wanted to run something, to be the final decision-maker but I had no idea how to get there,” he says.

During Wharton’s EMBA program, Dan discovered the Entrepreneurship through Acquisition ecosystem and search fund model. He recalls, “It sounded too good to be true. Investors give you money to buy a company and I get to run it?”

He and a friend launched a traditional search fund, but after 18 months without finding a suitable acquisition, they made a risky pivot to self-funding.

“We had no income. It was an arduous, uncertain path,” he says. Eventually, they found success with Remedy Rooter, a San Diego-based plumbing company. Dan explains, “I liked plumbing. It’s essential, technical, and scalable. The financials made sense, and I liked the owners.”

Today, he also co-owns In Bloom Flowers, Gifts & More in the Dallas Fort Worth area.

Dan Zastrow, WG’ 20, digging a hole to fix a sewer (Credit: Jesus Garcia)

Running the business hasn’t been easy. “It’s like a can opener for self-growth,” he says. “Every problem traces back to you as the owner. But we’ve grown 20% year over year and have become much more stable.”

Dan credits Wharton with giving him both the skills and confidence to take the leap. “Wharton taught me how to differentiate between value creation and growth, the language of business, and decision making frameworks. The Wharton brand opened doors that wouldn’t have opened otherwise.”

Robert Kress, WG’24

CEO, Anchor Innovation | Virginia Beach, VA

When Robert Kress left the U.S. Navy in 2022, he had managed major operations—including managing nuclear reactors and SEAL Team operations—but he knew little about business. “I didn’t know what P&L stood for. I was fluent in military language but needed to learn the financial side.”

Wharton was his bridge to the private sector. At Wharton, he met a fellow veteran who had acquired a business during the program. “That blew my mind. I didn’t even know companies were for sale. Within six months, I was exploring entrepreneurship through acquisition (ETA) as a real option.”

Rob teamed up with two other Navy veterans to search for a company in a space they knew well: government services. Their strategy? Find a defense contractor where their experience could add value and scale. In 2023, they acquired Anchor Innovation, a Virginia-based firm providing training and maintenance support to the Department of Defense.

Robert Kress with his business partners on Capitol Hill (Credit: Mary Oakley)

“We closed with 85 employees, and now we’re at 160. We’re scaling fast, doubling revenue and headcount in two years. Our strategy for growth is playing out and it’s very meaningful taking care of the team and providing critical support to the US Navy,” he says.

Along the way, Rob turns to Wharton for support. “My classmates helped me write the business plan and prepare for underwriting with the bank. I crowdsourced deal advice from lawyers, bankers, entrepreneurs. I went to professors’ office hours for tax and negotiation strategies. I hadn’t even taken Prof. Chalfin’s class on Entrepreneurship through Acquisition yet, and he was advising me on the deal.”

Today, Rob says he is applying what he learned in real-time: “Wharton did more than just prepare me, it was critical getting me here.”

By Meghan Laska

Posted: August 18, 2025

EMBA Program

Wharton MBA Program for Executives

Caroline Chapdelaine, WG’22 (Credit: Jeremy Francis)

Caroline Chapdelaine, WG’22 (Credit: Jeremy Francis)

Cohort: San Francisco

Location: Salt Lake City, UT

Current Role: CEO, Northstar Photonics

Previous Education: University of Colorado, Boulder, BA Political Science

Dan Zastrow, WG’20 (Credit: Graham Warren)

Dan Zastrow, WG’20 (Credit: Graham Warren)

Cohort: San Francisco

Location: San Diego, CA

Current Role: Owner, Remedy Rooter

Previous Education: U.S. Naval Academy, BS Electrical Engineering; Naval Postgraduate School, Master’s Electrical Engineering

Robert Kress, WG’24 (Credit: David Matasic)

Robert Kress, WG’24 (Credit: David Matasic)

Cohort: San Francisco

Location: Virginia Beach, VA

Current Role: Owner/Operator, Anchor Innovation; US Navy Reserve

Previous Education: George Mason University, BS Civil Engineering; Old Dominion University, Master’s Engineering Management

Wharton Stories

Conquering Motherhood, a Startup, and Seven Continents at Wharton

Image: Julie Zhao, WG’25, and Clement Lee, WG’24, in Antarctica (Credit: Matthew Wellens)

“That wasn’t just a Wharton highlight—it was a life highlight. It was a leadership journey that made me see myself differently,” says Julie Zhao, WG’25, of her experience in Wharton’s Leadership Venture in Antarctica.

Two years. Two majors. Four global courses spanning Sweden, Rwanda, Colombia, and Germany. Two Leadership Ventures in Antarctica and New Zealand. Seven continents visited. Twenty-three group projects, over 700 classroom hours, and more than 600 hours of self-study.

But those numbers only tell part of Julie Zhao’s, WG’25, journey in Wharton’s MBA Program for Executives.

Julie Zhao arriving at Wharton 36 weeks pregnant (Credit: Eric Cai)

Julie began the EMBA program 36 weeks pregnant—with a toddler already at home. Two weeks later, while taking an accounting quiz, she went into labor.

“Some called me crazy,” Julie admits. “But I didn’t hesitate. There’s no perfect timing because the best time is now.”

Her decision to apply to Wharton was inspired by the “amazing Wharton women” who came before her. “During a coffee chat, I met so many women who had grown their families during the program. They encouraged me to believe it was possible.”

Julie prepared for the challenge. Her mother came from China to help care for her toddler and newborn, and the family travelled together to Philadelphia during class weekends.

She also leaned on the Wharton community. “My class manager offered to connect me with alumnae who had kids during the program and ensured I had space for pumping. My classmates were incredibly supportive, carrying my luggage at Orientation and showing constant compassion. I felt the love everywhere.”

Managing time became critical, especially in the early months. “Not only was I adjusting to a newborn, but I had to re-learn how to be a student,” she says. “I had to plan every hour carefully.”

The situation became even more challenging when her mother returned to China and her father, who came to help, suffered a medical emergency. Julie suddenly found herself juggling work, school, parenting, and caregiving.

“I was completely overwhelmed,” she recalls. She reached out to a classmate—another mom in the program—who reminded her that “this is all temporary.” That perspective helped her push through. And things did get better.

Julie embraced the full spectrum of Wharton’s leadership and global opportunities. One standout was the Leadership Venture in Antarctica.

“That wasn’t just a Wharton highlight—it was a life highlight,” she says. “It was a leadership journey that made me see myself differently.”

Julie Zhao and Wharton students in Antarctica (Credit: Hannah Zhang)

On one glacier hike, volunteers were asked to carry extra gear. Julie, just six months postpartum, realized she physically couldn’t help. “As a Type A overachiever, that was hard to admit. But our guide said something powerful: that sometimes, the most important leadership act is letting go of your ego, knowing what you can and what you cannot do, and asking for help. That was a lightning-bolt moment for me.”

Another highlight was launching her own company. During an Entrepreneurship course with Professor Tyler Wry, Julie and her team developed ValueFurnish, a startup focused on selling returned furniture in like-new condition at a discount.

“It’s a win-win-win,” she explains. “Brands recoup losses, customers get a deal, and it’s good for the environment because furniture finds a home.”

After the class, Julie and a teammate continued building the company, with support from Wharton’s Venture Lab. Today, ValueFurnish is working with two furniture brands and planning to bring more on board.

“I always wanted to try entrepreneurship but never had a real opportunity before,” Julie says. “Wharton’s ecosystem gave me the tools, the support, and the network to make it real.”

Looking back, Julie says her time at Wharton was “absolutely worthwhile.” She explains, “This is a life changing experience. Each student grows so much in the program, getting stronger and better.”

By Meghan Laska

Posted: August 4, 2025

EMBA Program

Wharton MBA Program for Executives

Julie Zhao, WG’25 (Credit: Rob Aviles)

Julie Zhao, WG’25

Cohort: Philadelphia

Location: Parsippany, NJ

Originally From: China

Current Position: Manager, Technical Program Management, Uber, Cofounder of ValueFurnish

Previous Education: Harbin University of Commerce, BS Economics; New Jersey Institute of Technology, master’s in international business

Wharton Stories

Wharton in the Wild

Image: Courtesy of Wharton Leadership Ventures

A Legal Studies & Business Ethics course takes students into nature to test their leadership and teamwork skills.

From Penn Global Seminars to Global Modular Courses, experiential education options are numerous for Wharton students. Hotels are usually booked, and buses take students between stops. In one class, however, students are expected to carry everything on their backs.

This past spring break, Professor Sarah Light led 22 students along the Chesapeake and Ohio canals on the Maryland side of the Potomac River in partnership with Erica Montemayor, Senior Associate Director, of Wharton Leadership Ventures. Students camped, biked, and kayaked for the entire week.

Prof. Light teaches different approaches businesses take towards conservation in LGST 2600: Climate & Environmental Leadership in Action: Building a Sustainable Future. The course pairs traditional classroom learning with an immersive venture that puts class concepts into practice through team-based challenges. Between leadership theory, public policy, and climate ethics, the course tackles the highly interdisciplinary and complex field of environmental leadership.

A group of cyclists ride along a paved path beside a calm river on a clear, sunny day. The path curves gently along the water, with bare trees and rocky cliffs lining one side and the serene river reflecting the blue sky and surrounding landscape. — Courtesy of Wharton Leadership Ventures

Prof. Light describes how the course tries to intersect individual ethical behavior in the environment and businesses’ impact on the climate: “Individuals have an obligation to leave no trace. Do businesses have any such obligation as well?”

Yoonie Yang, W’25, C’25, took the inaugural course in 2022 and found discussions on environmental personhood especially compelling in guiding her interests.

“It inspired the research I did in the summer after my first year. Prof. Light was my mentor,” Yoonie explained. “I actually ended up spending two weeks living with an indigenous community in the Ecuadorian Amazon to learn about how the indigenous lifestyle aligned with environmental personhood.”

While the classroom portion was informative, many found the course especially impactful for putting ideas into practice in the novel experience of the venture.

“The class and the venture are really designed to engage anyone with any level of experience or expertise,” Prof. Light explained. “For many people, this was the first time that they’d ever camped in a tent or cooked on a stove. And I think that’s pretty cool, actually, that people decided to take the leap.”

The first two days, students learned basic outdoor skills while easing into the problem-solving they would do in small teams. Each person, with the help of their teams, was required to navigate situations outside of their comfort zones.

“Every day, I found myself in an incredibly unfamiliar situation where we were cooking for ourselves. We were biking 20 miles in the cold. We were having to navigate on the kayaks on our own,” Yoonie said.

A group of seven people sit around a picnic table enjoying snacks and drinks at sunset by a calm river. They are dressed in jackets and warm clothing, smiling at the camera, with bare trees and a scenic, golden sky reflected in the water behind them. — Courtesy of Wharton Leadership Ventures

She reflected on how the outdoors provided her with a changed outlook on her leadership.

“I had come into college with a lot of teachers having told me that I was a natural leader,” Yoonie explained. “But I realized how difficult it was to be a leader when I was so unfamiliar with my environment.”

While Yoonie did the venture in the debut course three years ago, students from this semester reported similar takeaways.

Each day, someone was chosen to be the Leader of the Day (LOD) and was responsible for guiding the class through the day and ensuring everyone felt comfortable throughout. Nancy Gutzwiler, W’26, was familiar with the rigors and challenges of being in the outdoors, and that added responsibility shifted her perspective towards planning for every circumstance.

She was a leader later in the week, when they kayaked for most of the day. She not only had to facilitate and encourage connection but also ensure that, for example, nobody tipped their kayak into the water.

“There were portions where I had to balance having fun, because at that point we were all super bonded,” Nancy said. “If something doesn’t go perfectly, it’ll be mega miserable. Really keeping on top of that was a challenge to balance.”

May Zhang, W’27, found that being LOD allowed her to tap into her reflective side, which contrasted with her team’s extroverted nature.

She was responsible for guiding people through kayaking. She paddled between different groups, talking to people across multiple teams. By being exposed to every team in a leadership capacity, she was able to understand each student’s needs and perspectives.

“I just held on to a kayak, floated, and learned about their first year and challenges that they went through,” May said. “It was just such a sense of peace and connection on the water; I felt like no one was around us.”

On a college campus, being surrounded by so many students with different classes and activities can get stressful.

May found this was a chance for contemplation: “In that moment, I wasn’t thinking about anything else. It’s just being there, hearing this story, and taking in the nature.”

View of Harpers Ferry with a train crossing a bridge over the river. — Harpers Ferry, WV, from the Maryland Heights Trail (Courtesy of Wharton Leadership Ventures)

—Alex Zhou, C’25, W’25

Posted: July 23, 2025

Undergraduate Program

LGST 2600 students on a hike in spring 2022 (Courtesy of Wharton Leadership Ventures)

About LGST 2600: Climate & Environmental Leadership in Action

Launched in spring 2022, this experiential half-credit course focuses on sustainability and includes an outdoors element to give students a taste of what it’s like to be in the wilderness while synthesizing what has been learned in the classroom.

While Wharton Leadership Ventures has offered co-curricular expeditions all over the world to support what’s happening in the classroom, this was the first credit-bearing venture.

The course is offered every other spring.

About Wharton Leadership Ventures

Part of Wharton’s McNulty Leadership Program, Leadership Ventures offer hands-on, team-based experiences in a wilderness setting where students step out of their comfort zone and exceed personal limitations, and experience leadership firsthand. These experiences facilitate self-discovery, leadership, and character development. There are three types of undergraduate Leadership Ventures: Expeditions, Intensives, and Venture X.

Wharton Stories

Wharton Beauty Trek: Merging Fashion, Innovation, and Global Business

Image: Beauty Club group shot in Paris. Credit: Yutong Liu

“This trek reminded us that beauty is not just about products, it’s about people, passion, and purpose. It’s a space where creativity and commerce meet, where diverse perspectives can drive positive change, and where MBAs have a unique opportunity to lead with both intentionality and heart.” – Aarati Cohly WG25

The following is Aarati Cohly WG25 and Yutong Liu WG26’s firsthand experience organizing and executing a new European Trek with the Beauty Club.

Aarati Cohly: I joined the Wharton Beauty Club inspired by the previous year’s professional treks. Meeting industry leaders helped me see beauty not just as a passion but as a career path. Though I started as VP of Marketing, I quickly gravitated toward event planning; supporting NYC treks, organizing panels, and ultimately pitching a bold new idea: launching Wharton’s first-ever Beauty Trek to Paris and London.

With just six weeks to plan, it felt daunting. I sent hundreds of emails to C-suite leaders at brands I admired. The first breakthrough came when the Chairman and Executive Director of L’Occitane forwarded my email to Julien Schneider, Managing Director for EMEA, who agreed to host us. Then came a response from Philippe d’Ornano, CEO of Sisley Paris, my mother’s favorite brand. With those two “yeses,” the trek became real.

Momentum picked up when fellow club leader Yutong Liu agreed to co-lead. Together, we applied strategies from our Influence course to target top leaders. A week before departure, we had 12 participants, 11 confirmed visits, and a mix of emerging and established brands across two cities.

Yutong Liu: As a first-year MBA student, I joined the Beauty Club to connect with others passionate about the industry. Co-organizing two NYC treks introduced me to brands like Olaplex, Dossier, and Heyday, and deepened my interest in beauty’s evolving landscape.

I was immediately inspired by Aarati’s vision to take the club international. Paris and London, icons of luxury and innovation, felt like the perfect next step. I was eager to see how global brands navigate markets outside the U.S. and understand the nuances shaping consumer values.

Why Beauty, and Why Europe?

This trek signaled a shift: beauty is no longer a niche interest, it’s a viable path for MBAs. Monica Rastogi, Regional Director of Transformation at Estée Lauder Companies UK & Ireland, shared that when she received her MBA, beauty wasn’t seen as a “serious” option. Now, the Beauty Club and this trek offer space for leadership in a dynamic global industry.

Paris gave us access to heritage luxury brands, while London offered retail creativity and bold innovation.

Trek Highlights & Key Takeaways

We began at L’Occitane’s Champs-Élysées flagship, where Julien Schneider shared how partnerships with farmers shape product innovation. The space, a blend of beauty and gastronomy via pastry chef Pierre Hermé, captured the brand’s sensorial ethos. Over coffee and pastries, we learned how L’Occitane’s sustainability efforts reflect a forward-looking vision rooted in Provence.

A group of MBA students at L'Occitane headquarters with Managing Director Julien Schneider. — Beauty Trek group with L’Occitane Managing Director Julien Schneider (Center). Credit: Aarati Cohly

At La French Beauty, we met Shirley Billot, founder of Kadalys, an impact-driven brand tackling banana waste in Martinique. Her message was a powerful reminder that beauty can drive sustainability and innovation.

“The beauty of tomorrow is shaped at the intersection of agriculture and green chemistry,” Billot said. “At Kadalys, we believe agricultural waste holds immense potential to regenerate both skin and planet.”

Kadalys founder Shirley Billot giving a presentation to students. — Kadalys founder Shirley Billot. Credit: Aarati Cohly

To round out our first day in Paris, we visited Korres’ store, met Bastille’s Managing Director, toured Diptyque’s flagship, and explored fragrances at Printemps, where scent is treated as its own cultural and commercial category.

On our second day, we visited Sisley Paris. Their headquarters, featuring zebra print elevators and red-striped carpets, reflected the brand’s playful sophistication. CEO Philippe d’Ornano shared insights on their commitment to quality, philanthropy, and innovation, including their investment in Neuraé, a brand merging neuroscience and skincare.

“Two things are key: a product of exceptional quality and the good advice given to the customer,” d’Ornano shared. “Our business is about science and service.”

In London, we met Demetra Pinsent, CEO of Charlotte Tilbury. Her path from medicine to McKinsey to beauty was a masterclass in embracing nonlinear careers. She urged us to pursue brands we love and to value people over linear paths.

“The beauty industry benefits from diverse perspectives,” Pinsent said. “Be open-minded about your route. Consulting or banking can provide valuable experience. Some of our best ideas came from unexpected fields.”

Students listening to a presentation at Charlotte Tilbury headquarters. — Company visit at Charlotte Tilbury. Credit: Aarati Cohly

At Tom Ford Beauty, Ronald Naidoo, Regional Brand Marketing Director, discussed evolving the brand’s portfolio through innovative sub-brands like Balmain Beauty.

At Jo Malone London’s townhouse, we learned how fragrance creation, sometimes taking years, roots itself in personal stories, like the British seaside-inspired Wood Sage & Sea Salt. Their scents are designed for layering, encouraging individual expression.

Charles Beck, Head of Global Strategy at Aesop, spoke about balancing intuition with data, especially after L’Oréal’s acquisition. He emphasized the value of pairing strategy work with operating experience.

We concluded at Forest Essentials, India’s leading Ayurvedic beauty brand, visiting their first international store in London. Though Estée Lauder holds a stake, the brand remains independently operated, showcasing the rise of natural products globally.

Final Reflections

This trek gave us rare access to global leaders and deepened our understanding of how brands balance tradition, innovation, and evolving values. Storytelling, authenticity, and emotional connection are critical to building consumer trust.

A key takeaway: experiences around products, through education, purpose, and community, matter. Brands must balance sustainability and inclusion with transparency. And always, product quality must come first; consumers notice.

Ultimately, this trek reminded us that beauty is about more than products. It’s about people, passion, and purpose. It’s where creativity meets commerce, and where MBAs can lead with intention and heart.

– Aarati Cohly WG25 and Yutong Liu WG26

Posted: July 14, 2025

MBA Program

Yutong Liu (left) and Aarati Cohly (Right) outside of Jo Malone in London. Credit: Aarati Cohly

Aarati Cohly WG25

Major: Marketing & Management
Hometown: New York, NY
Pre-MBA Career: Public-private strategy (NYC Mayor’s Office)
Post-MBA Plans: Brand strategy & innovation in beauty or CPG

Yutong Liu WG26

Major: Operations & Marketing
Hometown: Shrewsbury, MA
Pre-MBA Career: Management consulting (Bain) & consumer tech (Peloton)
Post-MBA Plans: Management consulting with specialization in beauty & retail

Wharton Stories

Wharton EMBA Team Drives Cancer Innovation in Africa

Image: Dr. Bukhosi Dube, WG’24, Penn Medicine Prof. Bruce Levine, and Dr. Cynthia Obiozor, WG’24, at the World Cancer Congress in Geneva (Credit: Denis Migliorini, MD)

“I never imagined collaborating with Wharton and Penn faculty on something of this magnitude. Our research shows that CAR-T therapy can be within reach for countries that never considered it an option,” says Cynthia Obiozor, WG’24.

When Prof. Stephen Sammut, WG’84, asked his Healthcare Entrepreneurship students whether Chimeric Antigen Receptor T-cell therapy (CAR-T) cancer therapy could be brought to the African continent, he expected a thoughtful discussion. What followed was far more impactful: an interdisciplinary research project that culminated in publication in Cytotherapy, a leading journal in cell and gene therapy.

Sammut had previously led a similar feasibility study on CAR-T therapy in Costa Rica, working closely with Penn Medicine’s Dr. Carl June, MD and Dr. Bruce Levine, PhD, pioneers of immunotherapy. That study explored how to implement this complex treatment—one that involves genetically engineering a patient’s immune cells to target cancer—outside the developed world.

“CAR-T is incredibly promising but also incredibly expensive,” Sammut explains. “Its application in low-resource settings is limited, but the need is great, especially in Africa where cancer is a leading cause of death alongside heart disease.”

A Student Team with Purpose and Expertise
Inspired by Sammut’s question in class about whether CAR-T cancer therapy could be brought to Africa, several EMBA students turned it into an Independent Research Project. Among them were Dr. Lukejohn Day, WG’24, a Chief Medical Officer with a passion for global health equity; Dr. Cynthia Obiozor, WG’24, a hematologist-oncologist and Medical Director at Amgen, leading global oncology trials; Dr. Bukhosi Dube. WG’24, a healthcare consultant and former Chief Medical and Health Integration Officer; and Isaac Edrah, WG’24, CEO of Paramean Solutions, specializing in healthcare actuarial consulting.

Prof. Stephen Sammut with Drs. Cynthia Obiozor and Lukejohn Day, WG’24 and other Wharton students during a Global Modular Course on healthcare in Ghana. (Credit: Labadi Beach Hotel)

Obiozor had first connected with Sammut during a Global Modular Course on healthcare in Ghana and was immediately intrigued by the possibility of making CAR-T therapy accessible in Africa.

“Given my background, I understood the therapy’s potential and wanted to explore its global scalability,” she says.

Day was drawn to this project because it combined his interests in global health equity, implementation science, and systems thinking.

“I saw an opportunity not just to analyze a complex challenge, but to help shape a real roadmap for change backed by rigorous research and collaborative innovation,” he says.

With Sammut’s guidance and connections to June and Levine, the team quickly gained momentum.

“One of Benjamin Franklin’s guiding principles was to be useful,” says Levine. “The students were not engaging in hypothetical exercise. They wanted to convert research into something practical, to expand access to this therapy beyond Penn and beyond the U.S. to all patients who could potentially benefit.”

Research Findings: Cost, Infrastructure, and Opportunity

The student team conducted extensive interviews with African healthcare providers and analyzed models from global studies. They concluded that while CAR-T therapy is not immediately scalable across all of Africa, targeted implementation is feasible, particularly in countries like South Africa, where infrastructure is more robust.

“We can’t just copy and paste the U.S. model,” Obiozor explains. “So we focused on developing tailored, cost-effective approaches and identifying opportunities to build capacity sustainably.”

Their study outlined financial and logistical barriers, proposed solutions, and emphasized the importance of localized strategies. The final paper, published in Cytotherapy, provided a framework for how this life-saving treatment could be introduced and maintained in select African settings.

Going Beyond the Classroom
For Day, the project embodies the essence of the Wharton MBA.

“It pushed me beyond the classroom to apply what I was learning—finance, strategy, policy, and leadership—in a high-stakes, real-world context,” he says. “I collaborated with classmates from diverse backgrounds, each bringing unique insight to the table. Together, we developed an actionable plan, grounded in both science and business, that could inform policy and investment decisions on the ground in Africa. It was one of the most intellectually and personally rewarding experiences of the program.”

“Wharton gives you the frameworks, mentorship, and peer collaboration to build solutions that matter.” He adds, “This wasn’t theoretical—we were creating a scalable, implementable plan with real partners, in real time. Wharton gave me the platform to do that—and to think bigger than I ever had before.”

Obiozor echoes the sentiment.

“I publish regularly in my professional role, but I never imagined collaborating with Wharton and Penn faculty on something of this magnitude. Our research shows that CAR-T therapy—a treatment for cancers that don’t respond to traditional interventions—can be within reach for countries that never considered it an option.”

“Our paper sets the stage for how truly transformative this can be if it goes into effect. Car-T therapy treats cancers that have failed traditional interventions and gives people hope,” she says. “To go into countries where people aren’t even thinking about this as an option and show that it is feasible is amazing.”

Read the article in Cytotherapy

By Meghan Laska

Posted:

EMBA Program

Wharton MBA Program for Executives

Prof. Stephen Sammut (Credit: The Wharton School)

Prof. Stephen Sammut

Cohorts: Philadelphia, San Francisco, Global

Current Role: Adjunct Associate Professor, Wharton Management Department; Senior Fellow Health Care Management; Coordinator, Wharton EMBA health care concentration; Visiting Professor, Indian School of Business; Visiting Professor, Strathmore University Business School in Nairobi, Kenya; Chair of Industry Advisory Board of Alta Semper Capital (a private equity impact fund focused on healthcare investing in Africa)

Education: Villanova University, BA Humanities; Villanova University, MA Philosophy/Literature; Wharton School, MBA; Temple University, PhD

Dr. Cynthia Obiozor WG’24 (Credit: Chidimma Christine Amagwula)

Dr. Cynthia Obiozor WG’24

Cohort: San Francisco

Location: Houston, TX

Current Role: Physician Executive Clinical Research Medical Director, Amgen

Previous Education: University of Texas at Arlington, B.S. Biology and Biochemistry; Ross University School of Medicine, MD; University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Internal Medicine Residency; University of Kansas Medical Center, Medical Oncology and Hematology Fellowship

Dr. Lukejohn Day, WG’24 (Credit:UCSF Health)

Dr. Lukejohn Day, WG’24 (Credit:UCSF Health)

Cohort: San Francisco

Location: San Francisco, CA

Current Role: System Chief Medical Officer at UCSF Health; Physician, UCSF; President, Association of American Indian Physicians

Previous Education: Yale University, B.S. Chemistry; Stanford University School of Medicine, MD; University of California, San Francisco, Internal Medicine Residency Program; University of California, San Francisco, Gastroenterology Fellowship

Dr. Bukhosi Dube. WG’24 (Credit:The Wharton School)

Dr. Bukhosi Dube. WG’24

Cohort: San Francisco

Location: Portland, OR

Current Role: Consultant, Graybeard Healthcare Consulting

Prior Role: Chief Medical and Health Integration Officer, Cascadia Health

Previous Education: St. Mary’s College, B.S. Chemistry; University of Utah School Of Medicine, MD; University Of California at Los Angeles Olive View Medical Center, Internal Medicine Residency.

Isaac Edrah, WG’24 (Credit: Nick Stoianof – Studio Redleaf)

Isaac Edrah, WG’24

Cohort: Philadelphia

Location: Charlotte, NC

Current Role: CEO and Founder, Paramean Solution

Previous Education: George Washington University, BA Math; George Washington University, Master’s Statistics

Wharton Stories

MBA Success: Transforming Her Health and Career

Image: Priyanka Vergadia, WG’25 (Credit: Rohita Kotagiri)

“It became clear that physical activity and nutrition were lifting my mood in ways I had never experienced before,” says Priyanka Vergadia, WG’25, about her focus on health during the Wharton EMBA program.

As a first-year student in Wharton’s MBA Program for Executives, Priyanka Vergadia, WG’25, was excelling professionally and academically but she realized that she was neglecting something important: her health. Her “aha” moment came unexpectedly during a routine doctor’s visit.

“My doctor showed me a chart with my numbers going in the wrong direction,” Priyanka recalls. “It was a trend I had to reverse. That fear pushed me to make real changes.”

Building a Healthier Routine, One Habit at a Time

Priyanka’s first step towards better health was joining a small-group fitness program. She committed to attending a morning class five days a week, determined to create a lasting habit.

Priyanka Vergadia with her husband on a daily morning walk (Credit: Shashank Thakur)

“Within two months, I felt more energized and excited about life,” she says. “I wasn’t seeing physical changes yet, but emotionally, I was in a much better place.”

Adding a nutrition coach to her routine accelerated her progress. She lost 15 pounds and began to feel significantly healthier and more balanced. “It became clear that physical activity and nutrition were lifting my mood in ways I had never experienced before.”

She also restructured her mornings. Priyanka set aside a dedicated, phone-free hour each morning just for exercise. Afterward, she and her husband began taking 20-minute walks with their dog, a new daily ritual that gave them quality time together and helped her feel more in control of her day.

That simple shift sparked a larger change. The couple also made a weekly date night, a non-negotiable part of their schedule. “If we didn’t plan it, it wouldn’t happen. Intentional time together became essential,” she says.

A Journey from India to Wharton and Google

Growing up in a small town in India, Priyanka learned the value of setting goals early. After earning her undergraduate degree in India, she set her sights on graduate education in the U.S., enrolling at Penn for her master’s degree in computer & information technology.

Watch Priyanka’s journey from India to Penn to Google

Her career path led her to customer-facing technical roles, and ultimately to Google, where she became Head of North America Developer Relations and helped build the Google Cloud Tech YouTube channel leading a team of developer relations engineers.

Throughout that time, she thought about getting an MBA.

“The seed was planted when I was in the master’s program at Penn and took Negotiations and Entrepreneurship classes,” She explains, “I realized how those classes would be even more valuable if I could apply them in real-time to a job and decided to come back to Wharton after I gained more work experience.”

When she had 10 years of experience, she applied to Wharton. “I didn’t apply anywhere else because I had seen the value of the Penn Engineering brand and network and wanted to join that same type of community at Wharton,” she says. “And with Wharton’s West Coast campus in San Francisco, travelling for class weekends only required a one-hour train ride from San Jose.

Health First, Then a Career Leap

Priyanka Vergadia with her dog on the beach (Credit: Shashank Thakur)

As Priyanka prioritized her health at Wharton, a surprising side effect emerged: renewed confidence and energy to make a career shift.

“I had been approached by Microsoft when I started the program, but I wasn’t interested in making that kind of change,” she says. “By the second year, I had the clarity and headspace to revisit the opportunity.”

The more she explored the role at Microsoft—focused on developer go-to-market strategy and global training—the more it felt like the next leap in her career with an undefined space to define and chart a new direction in developer space for Microsoft.

Serendipitously, she was also taking Negotiations with Professor Mary-Hunter (Mae) McDonnell. “It was perfect timing,” she says. “The class helped me understand my market value and negotiate a fantastic offer applying the negotiation frameworks.”

Soon after, she began applying lessons from another course, Scaling Strategy with Professor Gad Allon, to her new role. “I was immediately using what I learned to shape how I grew my team and influence at Microsoft.”

A Lifelong Network

Now a proud Wharton graduate, Priyanka reflects on the broader impact of her MBA experience.

“Working in tech, my network was mostly tech,” she says. “Wharton changed that. Now I have a network of astronauts, doctors, lawyers, and professionals in just about every industry. They’re more than classmates. They’re lifelong friends.”

By Meghan Laska

Posted: July 1, 2025

EMBA Program

Wharton MBA Program for Executives

Priyanka Vergadia, WG’25 (Credit: Shashank Thakur)

Priyanka Vergadia, WG’25

Cohort: San Francisco

Location: San Jose, CA

Originally From: Ujjain, India

Current Position: Senior Director Developer Engagement Strategy, Microsoft; Member of Board of Advisors, Penn Board for Online Engineering Education

Prior Position: Head of North America Developer Relations, Google

Previous Education Shri. G. S. Institute of Technology and Science, B.E. Electronics and Telecommunication; master’s degree, Computer & Information Technology, University of Pennsylvania

Learn more about Priyanka

Wharton Stories

Stopping to Smell the Roses

Image: Rose Garden at Morris Arboretum / UPenn's Widen Collective

One student’s quest to help classmates see that the Wharton undergraduate experience is about more than grades and job offers.

It’s new student orientation in the fall of 2022, and I’m standing in Steiny-D across from the Stock Exchange post. As a senior shows me around and shares his nostalgia, it hits me for the first time that I’m at the Wharton School. He speaks of pressures to choose safe career paths, and I nod along, though my mind is wandering. At Wharton, one student comes from Wisconsin and another from Kazakhstan; one plays the flute and the other, squash. Yet most of them want to be bankers or consultants. That senior’s advice about taking the road most traveled echoes in my head. Is that the kind of leadership we’re taught in class? I spend days pondering: What is a business education for?

Catapulted from a lethargic Sicily to the bustling hallways of Huntsman Hall, I came to the United States in search of the intellectual stimulation promised by the liberal arts system. Growing up in Palermo, where many people don’t attend college and work to live, I fantasized about exploring worlds and careers that would allow me to express my values and perhaps even self-transcend. Here at Penn, I was quickly humbled by the 5 a.m.-to-9 p.m. live-to-work mentality. I still smell Sicilian flowers too much to fully adopt the Whartonized performance culture, but I am too American for the communal coffee breaks in my hometown. Tension to reconcile this dichotomy has shaped much of my undergraduate experience.

In the race for prestige and financial security, the principle that we ironically hope to master as financiers — risk-taking — is precisely what we avoid at all costs as students. We acquire safety nets with easy-A classes, join the “right” clubs that will get us the “right” jobs, and thus downsize risk. Yet taking chances is what a liberal arts education demands by its own definition. As William Deresiewicz, author of Excellent Sheep, puts it, the liberal arts “make you question everything you thought you knew about yourself . . . The process isn’t comfortable, but it is exhilarating . . . If it happens right, it feels like being broken open — like giving birth to yourself.”

Read the full story at Wharton Magazine.

—Francesco Salamone, W’26

Posted: June 27, 2025

Undergraduate Program

Francesco Salamone, W’26

Photo by Vanessa Liew, W’23

Hometown: Palermo, Italy

Concentration: Operations, Information & Decisions (Decision Processes Track)

Activities: Head Teaching Assistant for WH1010, opinion columnist for The Daily Pennsylvanian, and SNF Paideia Fellow

Wharton Stories

Student Journeys: Exploring Wharton’s Global Cohort Experience

Image: Global cohort students in Bangkok. Credit: Bee Xuto

“I really appreciate the global diversity within the cohort. Class discussions bring in unique perspectives from various industries, markets, and countries around the world, which enriches the learning experience,” says Sona Sundaramurthy, WG’25.

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The Global Cohort of Wharton’s MBA Program for Executives is opening up a lot of doors for ambitious students around the world who otherwise would be unable to attend had it not been for this new hybrid format. But how exactly does this work? Do students in this cohort have the same learning and bonding experiences as the San Francisco and Philadelphia cohorts?

We asked two second-year students in the Global Cohort to tell us about their Wharton journeys. Here is what they said:

Sona Sundaramurthy, WG’25

On Choosing the Global Cohort:
“I live in a rural town in Indiana, and traveling to Philadelphia would take an entire day. On top of that, I manage a global team and frequently travel for work. With family commitments, commuting to the East Coast every other weekend just wasn’t feasible. The Global Cohort offered the flexibility I needed to pursue my MBA at Wharton.”

On a Typical Class Weekend:
“Classes are held on Thursday evenings and Friday and Saturday mornings. The virtual classroom is highly interactive, and the professors are genuinely engaged with us. You can raise your hand, ask questions, and receive real-time feedback. What I really appreciate is the global diversity within the cohort. Class discussions bring in unique perspectives from various industries, markets, and countries around the world, which enriches the learning experience. We stay connected through online discussions and chats—it’s truly engaging.”

On Student Bonding:
“Outside of class, our community thrives through Slack and WhatsApp groups where we celebrate birthdays, family milestones, and even festivals. The sense of community is so strong. For example, when we had an in-person class in Panama, a classmate organized a one-day sailing trip. Though I’m afraid of water, my classmates’ support encouraged me to join in, and it turned into an unforgettable experience. There’s no shortage of bonding opportunities.”

Yemi Ahouanmenou, WG’25

On Choosing the Global Cohort:
I had been considering an MBA for a long time, but taking two years off became less feasible as I progressed in my career. I looked into Wharton’s EMBA program, but the requirement to fly to San Francisco or Philadelphia every other weekend wasn’t compatible with living in Benin. When the opportunity arose for the Global Cohort, it was a perfect fit.”

On Student Bonding:
“We are so thankful for opportunities to spend time together and make the most out of it. We are really intentional about making dinners and non-virtual coffee chats happen when possible.”

On Academic Rigor:
“It is very rigorous and there are no days off from juggling work and school. The time difference to the East Coast can also be challenging because classes are sometimes in the middle of the night for me. But the classes are highly engaging, as the professors don’t just teach, they encourage us to engage in thought-provoking discussions. It’s not just about learning from the professors but also learning from our peers.”

By Meghan Laska

Posted: June 16, 2025

EMBA Program

Wharton MBA Program for Executives

Sona Sundaramurthy, WG’25
Credit: Anantha Puthucode

Sona Sundaramurthy, WG’25

Currently: Senior Director, Global Platform Services, Zimmer Biomet

Based In: Warsaw, Indiana

EMBA Cohort: Global

Previous Education: University of Madras, Chemical Engineering; University of Illinois Chicago, Bioengineering & Biomedical Engineering

Yemi Ahouanmenou, WG’25
Credit: Tricia Assogba Studio, Benin

Yemi Ahouanmenou, WG’25

Currently: Deputy CEO at Bénin Textile SA

Based In: Cotonou, Benin

EMBA Cohort: Global

Previous Education: Concordia University, Finance; EDHEC Business School, Risk & Asset Management

Wharton Stories

It Takes a Village

Image: Narmin Aydamirova WG25 (left) and husband Fardi Rahimli WG25 graduated with son Aras in tow on May 18. (Images courtesy of Narmin Aydamirova)

An international couple completed the MBA program together while raising a son.

Timing was everything for this new family.

Narmin Aydamirova WG25 and Fardi Rahimli WG25 met as undergraduates in their home country, Azerbaijan. After they got married in 2019, they knew MBAs or PhDs were on the horizon.

“I got in first, before he did.” Aydamirova says of being accepted to Wharton. Rahimli was waitlisted, which presented a challenge. Then Aydamirova found out she was pregnant. After she deferred her admission for a year, Rahimli made the Wharton cut on the first round, and the two were able to start the program together, with then-15-month-old Aras in tow.

“We brought him, our cats, and five suitcases across the ocean,” says Aydamirova.

Already in the strategic mindset of an MBA student, Rahimli thought the best way to optimize his and his wife’s schedules so they could spend as much time as possible with their son was to request to be put in different cohorts.

“If we were in the same cohort, we would have overlapping schedules, especially in the pre-term and with the core classes,” he explains. “And I’m glad we did that, because in the first couple of weeks after he started daycare, he got sick quite often, and we had to skip classes so we could stay with him.”

Before Aras started daycare, both of his grandmas took turns traveling to the U.S. to help out, with each staying one semester. This sparked a bit of a culture shock with American classmates.

Wharton Magazine

All three family members were involved on campus, from the Wharton Sports Business Club (Rahimli, left) to the Wharton Kids Club (Aras, middle) to Wharton Women in Business (Aydamirova, right).

Narmin Aydamirova WG25 (left) and husband Fardi Rahimli WG25 graduated with son Aras in tow on May 18. (Images courtesy of Narmin Aydamirova)

Wharton Stories

Inbox Confessionals: Answers to Common Wharton MBA Questions

Q: Am I eligible for/how do I apply for a TOEFL or PTE waiver?

Q: Can I waive the GMAT/GRE? Can I take the test after submitting my application?

Q: How much work experience is needed? Can I apply right from undergrad or without work experience?

Q: Can I meet with an Admissions Committee Member?

Q: Here’s my background. Do I fit what you’re looking for? I had a low undergrad GPA. Does my undergrad school/company matter?

Q: Am I eligible if I have a three-year degree or an online undergrad degree?

Q: Do you offer financial aid and/or scholarships? How do you apply?

Wharton Stories

How these EMBA Students Became Entrepreneurs Through Business Acquisition

Wharton Stories

Conquering Motherhood, a Startup, and Seven Continents at Wharton

Wharton Stories

Wharton in the Wild

Wharton Stories

Wharton Beauty Trek: Merging Fashion, Innovation, and Global Business

Why Beauty, and Why Europe?

Trek Highlights & Key Takeaways

Final Reflections

Aarati Cohly WG25

Yutong Liu WG26

Wharton Stories

Wharton EMBA Team Drives Cancer Innovation in Africa

Wharton Stories

MBA Success: Transforming Her Health and Career

Wharton Stories

Stopping to Smell the Roses

Francesco Salamone, W’26

Wharton Stories

Student Journeys: Exploring Wharton’s Global Cohort Experience

Wharton Stories

It Takes a Village