In this Real Humans: MBA Students, we’re taking a trip to Atlanta, Georgia, to meet some new members of the Emory Goizueta Business School MBA Class of 2026.
First, let’s review the class profile for the newest cohort. 128 students matriculated to be part of the two-year MBA Class of 2026. Thirty-two percent are women and 45 percent are international, representing 18 countries. Twenty-eight percent of U.S. students identify as underrepresented minorities. Eight percent are members of the LGBTQ+ community.
During their undergraduate years, new Emory Goizueta students earned a mean GPA of 3.5. Forty-three percent had majored in business/commerce and 24 percent in engineering/computer science. Social sciences followed at 11 percent. Nine percent of students had earned degrees in the humanities/arts and seven percent in math/physical sciences.
Emory MBA’s matriculated at Goizueta Business School with an average of six years of work experience. Sixteen percent had worked in consulting and 15 percent in financial services. Fourteen percent hailed from the government/non-profit sectors and 12 percent from consumer products. Another nine percent brought work experience from tech. When it came time to take the GMAT, the Class of 2026 reported an average score of 705.
Beyond the stats of the class profile, the Emory Goizueta MBA Class of 2026 is composed of students with diverse backgrounds, unique experiences, and ambitious goals. To start, Andrew Going, a former Air Force pilot and nuclear engineer, is pursuing a career in investment banking, drawn to Goizueta’s small class size and personalized support from professors and career services. Additionally, Aurora Straus, a professional race car driver and Bain consultant, is excited to leverage her MBA to advance her motorsports career and build her new luxury motor club. Then, Zion Richardson, a former management consultant at Accenture, was attracted to Goizueta’s intentional, close-knit community and is focused on becoming a strategic leader in consulting.
We then meet Patrycja Kepa, an entrepreneur in the film industry, who chose Goizueta for its strong connections to Atlanta’s growing media scene and hopes to push for more film-related coursework. Finally, Mackenzie Heriford, a former teacher and recruitment director for Teach For America, is eager to hone her leadership skills to create more equitable opportunities within corporate spaces. Each student brings a distinctive perspective, contributing to Goizueta’s collaborative and supportive environment while preparing to make an impact in their chosen fields. Read on for their stories.
