MBA Professors To Look Out For

With the academic year just starting, we tracked down the hottest new professors on MBA campuses around the world who should be on your radar

We all know a business school is nothing without its faculty of dedicated professors.

Research from QS suggests that almost half of all global MBA applicants consider a school’s reputation as a top reason for choosing one institution over another.

With MBA faculty sitting on the frontline of research and innovation, it’s no surprise that business schools hire only the best for their MBA programs.

So, who are the rising stars in the MBA world this year?

1. Jennifer Dannals, Dartmouth College Tuck School of Business

Jennifer joined the MBA faculty at Tuck as assistant professor of business administration in July this year, after completing her PhD at Stanford.

With a background in psychology, her research focuses on how individuals interact with each other within groups, as well as how startups can be structured to improve performance—significant insights for any aspiring entrepreneur.

“A lot of research at Tuck is done at the organizational level, so my research compliments it,” Jennifer says. “But it also examines questions on a more interpersonal and psychological level.”

In her spare time, Jennifer says she enjoys baking—and aside from Tuck’s reputation for research and teaching, its location provides one other major advantage for her.

“Tuck is right across the river King Arthur Flour in Norwich, Vermont, and that’s been lovely!”

2. Anastassia Fedyk, University of California Berkeley Haas School of Business

Originally from Ukraine, Anastassia majored in mathematics at university and joined the Berkeley faculty earlier this year as assistant professor of finance.

Finance runs in the family for Anastassia—her mother also a PhD from Berkeley in accounting, and Anastassia knew from an early age that she wanted to be a research economist.

But her research explores a much broader scope than simply economics. For example, she has done research on the correlation between financial news and trading prices, as well as more psychological research into procrastination and bias.

3. Paul Kitney, Chinese University of Hong Kong Business School

Paul joined CUHK this year after spending over 25 years working in investment banking in Asia. As well as preparing to teach his own MBA elective next year, Paul serves as chief equity strategist for Daiwa Capital Markets in Hong Kong.

His previous pursuits include working as a hedge fund portfolio manager at Morgan Stanley and an investment strategist at Blackrock—so he’s bringing a wealth of financial experience to the MBA.

4. Roshni Raveendhran, University of Virginia Darden School of Business

Roshni has just joined the leadership and organizational behaviour department at Darden.

Her research focuses on the rise of new technologies in the workplace—an area she endeavours to make accessible for all, especially considering the increased use of technology in our daily lives.

In particular, Roshni examines how technological advancements influence workplace practices and the management of employees, providing insights on how managers can effectively utilize technology.

5. Karan Girotra, Cornell University Johnson Graduate School of Management

Karan joined Johnson Graduate School of Management in June last year as professor of operations, technology, and innovation. Before this, he served as professor of sustainable development at INSEAD.

Though he may be no stranger to MBA teaching, Karan’s current role is unique—he’s a faculty member at Cornell Tech, a department of Cornell that aims to fuse business teaching with technology. In the department, Karan teaches courses in the field of digital economy, as well as supervising student projects for Johnson’s dedicated technology MBA–so he’s at the...