Within two months of graduating, Alex Daie, WG’24, transitioned from flying jets for the US Navy to becoming the CFO of a $100-million revenue business.

Alex Daie, WG’24, came to Wharton’s MBA Program for Executives with a clear goal: to transition from a successful military career to the world of finance. Within two months of graduating, he achieved that goal by becoming CFO for a $100-million revenue business.

“I would not have this job if I didn’t have a Wharton MBA,” Alex reflects. “Wharton gave me the foundational knowledge and strategic skills to view a business through the lens of a CFO. I learned to speak the language of finance, assess a company’s financial health, prioritize key metrics, and allocate capital effectively—all of which were completely new concepts to me.”

From Flying Jets to Entrepreneurship

Alex began his career in the US Navy, flying F18 Super hornets, with a combat deployment flying missions in support of Operation Inherent Resolve and later serving as a flight instructor.

“My childhood dream was to fly cool jets and be part of something bigger than myself and I achieved that dream; however, after I was married and had four daughters, I wanted to be home more and start a new chapter in my career,” he says.

During his military service, Alex identified an opportunity to improve the readiness and performance of Department of Defense aircraft. He developed a software application that captured vital post-flight data to enhance mission success rates and optimize maintenance efforts. He partnered with a defense technology firm to take the software to market and joined the company in a civilian role. This entrepreneurial experience sparked his desire to learn more about business, particularly finance.

“I knew I had a lot of gaps in my knowledge when it came to scaling businesses, negotiating deals, and developing a solid business plan,” Alex says. “I wanted to work in finance, but I needed a strong foundation of business knowledge and skills to make the leap.”

Finding a “Great Fit” at Wharton

Living in California and working full-time, Alex found Wharton’s EMBA program to be an ideal choice. “I’m someone with a ‘go big or go home’ mentality, and Wharton in my mind is the best business school for finance,” he says. “I also wanted the challenge of a program with the same rigor as a full-time MBA, and the opportunity to learn alongside other experienced professionals from various industries who were similarly committed to advancing their careers.”

Alex Daie with classmates in Switzerland (Credit: Alex Daie)

At Wharton, Alex immersed himself in the resources available to EMBA students. He participated in career development programs that helped him assess his strengths, align his interests, and learn how to effectively translate his military experience to the private sector. He also spent time with faculty discussing potential career paths in finance and brainstorming ideas.

Alex points to the Wharton faculty and his classmates as highlights of his time in school. “Even when we were all exhausted from a long class weekend, the professors brought amazing energy and enthusiasm to classes and made an effort to get to know and support students. And my classmates became lifelong friends and mentors. Whenever I face something new in my current role, I reach out to a classmate for advice. That’s priceless. It’s a trusted network for life.”

Advice for Military Applicants

Reflecting on his experience, Alex encourages military applicants to seriously consider Wharton’s EMBA program.

This comprehensive learning not only facilitates future career transitions but also equips students to think strategically in unprecedented ways. Reflecting on the experience, Alex notes that it’s an opportunity he’d eagerly embrace again without hesitation.

By Meghan Laska

Posted: March 10, 2025

EMBA Program

Wharton MBA Program for Executives

Alex Daie (Credit: Kilean Hernandez)

Alex Daie, WG’24

Cohort: San Francisco

Location: Hanford, CA

Current Position: CFO, Renewable Solar, US Navy Reservist

Prior Position: F-35C Instructor Pilot in the US Navy; Board Member: 51 Vets

Prior Education: U.S. Naval Academy, Economics

Wharton Stories

Visionary Leadership in Wharton’s First Global Modular Course in Saudi Arabia

Image: Photo credit KSA GMC Participants

Discover how a Wharton’s student innovative leadership and storytelling have brought Wharton’s academic vision to life.

Meet Nawf Alzaid, a visionary second-year MBA candidate from Wharton, whose dedication to impactful storytelling has set the stage for Wharton’s pioneering journey into Saudi Arabia. As the designer and leader of Wharton’s first-ever Global Modular Course (GMC) in the Kingdom, Nawf turned an aspirational idea from her admissions interview into a groundbreaking academic reality. Through this course, she has provided her peers with a unique lens into Saudi Arabia’s transformative Vision 2030. Join us as we delve into Nawf’s journey, the inception of the Saudi GMC, and its extraordinary impact on Wharton’s global engagement.

For more GMC resources: click here

Photos/images in video courtesy of: KSA GMC Participants

By Lucia Irias Cardenas

Posted: March 7, 2025

The Wharton School

Photo credit: KSA GMC Participants

Wharton Stories

Wharton Launches Social Impact Practicum for EMBA Students

Image: Online class with Prof. David Rhode (Credit: David Rhode)

“The nonprofit sector is a major part of the global economy. This course gives students the chance to gain practical experience and fill in a missing piece of the puzzle for those interested in social impact,” says David Rhode.

Curriculum innovation takes many exciting forms, but few are as transformative as the new Social Impact Consulting Practicum. Born from the ambition of EMBA students determined to harness their MBA skills for greater societal impact, this initiative represents a powerful blend of education and purpose, paving the way for future business leaders to drive meaningful change.

To spearhead the course, Wharton tapped David Rhode, WG’11, a seasoned nonprofit leader and author of Passion Isn’t Enough: A Practical Guide for Nonprofit Leaders. After earning his MBA from Wharton, David spent nearly a decade scaling Pitch in for Baseball and Softball, a nonprofit organization, before transitioning into nonprofit consulting and teaching a course on Nonprofit Branding at the University of Pennsylvania School of Social Policy and Practice.

“I said ‘yes’ right away because this was an incredible opportunity to support Wharton’s EMBA program in an area I’m truly passionate about,” says David.

Launched in the winter of 2025, the practicum brings together students from all three EMBA cohorts—East, West, and Global—and offers them a chance to dive deep into the nonprofit sector. Topics covered include board development, fundraising strategies, and nonprofit founding principles, with guest speakers from the sector enriching the learning experience by sharing their own stories.

Alexandria Moffitt with her team during the Naval Postgraduate School Joint Interagency Field Experimentation Exercise. From left to right - Joe Taverner (U.S. Special Operations Skillbridge Fellow), Alex Moffitt (Co-Founder & CEO of Clara Copilot), and Tyson Myhres (Co-Founder & CTO of Clara Copilot) — Alexandria Moffitt with her team during the Naval Postgraduate School Joint Interagency Field Experimentation Exercise.
From left to right – Joe Taverner (U.S. Special Operations Skillbridge Fellow), Alex Moffitt (Co-Founder & CEO of Clara Copilot), and Tyson Myhres (Co-Founder & CTO of Clara Copilot)
Credit: Alex Moffitt

In this course, students collaborate in teams to offer pro bono consulting to nonprofits. Each team tackles a live project, such as helping a Philadelphia school increase revenue by renting event space, assisting a youth soccer club expand their after-school programs, or conducting a fundraising assessment for a West Coast nonprofit. These projects allow students to apply classroom lessons to real-world situations, sharpening both their consulting and social impact skills.

While experience in the nonprofit sector isn’t a prerequisite for the course, many students come with considerable backgrounds in social impact work. Some lead charitable foundations, others serve on nonprofit boards, and some aspire to found their own organizations. According to David, this diversity of experiences significantly enriches classroom discussions. “The level of dialogue is elevated by the wide variety of backgrounds my students bring,” he says. “I’m learning just as much from them as they are from me.”

Alexandria Moffitt, WG’25, is a great example. As cofounder and CEO of Clara Copilot, Alexandria is taking the course to help launch a nonprofit called Sybil Collective focused on supporting other female veteran founders emerging in the intersection of technology and national security. “This course provides immediate value to the process of navigating a new nonprofit. From board creation to fundraising strategy, I have taken lessons from this course and brought them immediately to conversations with my cofounders,” she says.

Sabrina Aggarwal, WG’25, is also finding value in this course: “With a background in social impact, I was thrilled to discover this new course at Wharton—an opportunity to bridge my passion for driving meaningful change with the power of business development. Attending and graduating from Wharton is not just a privilege; it’s a responsibility. As business leaders, we have an obligation to leverage our expertise to create lasting, positive change and leave the world better than we found it.”

David’s goal for the practicum is for students to leave with a comprehensive understanding of the nonprofit sector and the skills necessary to succeed within it. “As many students will likely start their nonprofit careers as board members, I make sure to provide clear insights into the responsibilities and expectations of that role,” he explains.

“The nonprofit sector is a major part of the global economy,” David adds. “This course gives students the chance to gain practical experience and fill in a missing piece of the puzzle for those interested in social impact.”

By Meghan Laska

Posted: March 3, 2025

EMBA Program

Wharton MBA Program for Executives

David Rhode
Credit: Rebecca DePorte

David Rhode

Adjunct Faculty

Courses: Social Impact Consulting Practicum (Wharton); Nonprofit Branding (Penn School of Social Policy and Practice)

Author: Passion Isn’t Enough: A Practical Guide for Nonprofit Leaders

Currently: Founder of Dot Dot Org; Deputy Director, PennPAC;

Education: Georgetown University, BS Business Administration/Marketing; The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, MBA

Wharton Stories

From Venture Capital to Acquisition: One MBA Student’s Journey to Entrepreneurship at Wharton

Image: Courtesy of Pexels

“The ETA community at Wharton played an enormous role in helping me pivot my career, so I’m committed to paying it forward.” – Jason Nguyen WG25

The following is Jason Nguyen WG25’s firsthand experience in making a career pivot into entrepreneurship during his time in the Wharton MBA Program.

Prior to Wharton, I worked as a venture capital investor in San Francisco and New York. I am a lifelong learner, so beyond the creativity and entrepreneurial aspects of the role, I loved having the chance to learn from startup founders working at the forefront of their fields. As an investor, I had the opportunity to invest in category-defining startups such as Stripe, Guardant Health, and Roblox which continue to reshape digital payments and fintech, precision medicine and oncology, and online gaming communities, respectively, to this day.

Working as a technology investor also meant constantly finding ways to improve how the world worked. I wanted to leave no stone unturned – if someone told me, “This is how we’ve always done it,” I knew there might be an opportunity to do it better.

My search led me to challenge my own assumptions about what it means to be an entrepreneur. Working in the venture ecosystem, I was hyper-focused on zero-to-one entrepreneurship, where talented founders built new products and hoped to achieve product-market fit. When I learned that a new class of entrepreneurs were acquiring small businesses, building large, impactful organizations, and upending what it means to be an entrepreneur, I was hooked.

By day, I continued to invest in cutting edge technology companies; and by night I was tearing through entrepreneurship through acquisition (ETA) related resources, like the HBR Guide to Buying a Small Business and the Stanford Search Fund Primer. My work as a venture capital investor was interesting and challenging in so many ways, but deep down I began to dream of leading my own company one day. I chose to pursue an MBA at Wharton to bridge the gap between the analytical skills I used as an investor and the managerial and strategy-setting skills I needed to serve as a CEO.

Entrepreneurship resources available to students at Tangen Hall. Photo: @weareventurelab

As an aspiring acquisition entrepreneur with no operating experience, I took full advantage of the resources available at Wharton. These ranged from courses like Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition taught by Professor Bob Chalfin and Search Fund Entrepreneurship taught by Professors Jim Vesterman and Charbel Zreik; to events hosted by the Venture Lab at Tangen Hall such as ETA-themed fireside chats, workshops, and roundtables featuring successful acquisition entrepreneurs like Richard Perlman (W’68) and Vijay Manthripragada (WG’06). These resources taught me to be scrappy and open-minded, and to doggedly pursue opportunities as they emerged.

As an MBA at Wharton, I’ve also had the opportunity to pursue professional experiences to validate my interest in ETA. Before school, I interned with a search fund and helped work on the acquisition of a $2 million EBITDA business in California which helped demystify the search and acquisition process. I also had the honor of interning with two traditional search fund investors, Anacapa Partners and ETA Equity (founded by Matthew Zucker WG’06 and Mark Sinatra WG’06), which helped focus my lens on what makes a great business to acquire.

Most importantly, engaging in the entrepreneurial and search fund communities helped me build the confidence to work on my own acquisition during my first year at Wharton. In early 2024, I acquired AZTAC, a healthcare regulatory compliance business representing intermediate care facilities that serve individuals with intellectual disabilities. AZTAC provides mission-critical administrative support to intermediate care facilities across Pennsylvania. Since acquisition, we’ve prioritized organic growth, launching new lines of business, and other value creation activities such as changing our revenue model and pricing strategies, and evaluating potential tuck-in acquisitions. I have been extraordinarily lucky with my first acquisition and look forward to building AZTAC into a leader in the human services industry.

Tangen Hall, Wharton’s entrepreneurship hub. Photo: University of Pennsylvania

The ETA community at Wharton played an enormous role in helping me pivot my career, so I’m committed to paying it forward. At Wharton, I currently serve as a co-president of the Wharton Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition Club, which hosts dozens of community events each year to help Wharton MBAs learn about ETA, build relationships with potential investors, and ultimately lay the foundation for a career as an acquisition entrepreneur. The ETA Club also hosts a large summit in the spring which is the launching point for search fund entrepreneurs from Wharton and many of our peer institutions. This year, we’ve partnered with industry organizations like the Women’s Search Network, Black Search Network, and Asian Search Network to host events to raise awareness of ETA as a career path for MBAs whose backgrounds empower them to approach ETA in new ways.

For those interested in entrepreneurship in all forms, Wharton offers countless opportunities to accelerate your goals. From the classroom to Tangen Hall and all the student clubs in between, there is a thriving entrepreneurial community at Wharton ready to help you grow into the entrepreneur you want to be.

— Jason Nguyen WG25

Posted: February 20, 2025

MBA Program

Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition (ETA) involves buying and growing an existing small business that has already demonstrated product-market fit. Individuals who pursue this path are commonly called ‘searchers’.

Venture Lab’s Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition (ETA) program provides training, funding, and guidance to Wharton and Penn students interested in pursuing entrepreneurship by acquiring a small- to medium-sized business to operate, optimize, and grow. Eligible students can do the following:

Receive financial support through the Perlman ETA Fellowship
Take academic courses for credit that focus on a variety of ETA models
Participate in hands-on workshops
Network with passionate peers and accomplished alumni
Develop the skills needed to be a successful searcher and business operator

Photo: Wharton MBA Career Management

Jason Nguyen WG25

Wharton Major: Management
Previous Career: Venture Capital

Wharton Stories

A Wharton MBA’s Guide to Philadelphia’s Best Restaurants

Image: Vivian Tseng

“One of the highlights of living in Philadelphia is its food scene. It’s a delicious microcosm of the city’s soul—a place where flavors tell stories, and every meal is an adventure.” — Vivian Tseng, WG25

The following is Vivian Tseng WG25’s personal guide to some of the best places for students to dine in Philadelphia.

Food, for me, is a powerful medium of connection that bridges cultural divides. Sharing a meal creates an intimate space where stories are told, and communities are built. Each dish carries tradition and personal history, inviting people to understand one another beyond surface differences. When we gather around a table and share food, we turn strangers into friends, transforming individual experiences into a collective narrative of warmth and understanding.

One of the highlights of living in Philadelphia is its food scene. It’s a delicious microcosm of the city’s soul—a place where flavors tell stories, and every meal is an adventure. From street corners to upscale dining rooms, these restaurants aren’t just serving food; they’re serving up the heart and history of the city, one dish at a time. Enjoying Philly’s many restaurants is one major way that I’ve been able to meet new people at Wharton and strengthen my community. Here are five places that I’ve had the pleasure of eating at in the last quarter.

Hardena

Tucked in a corner of South Philly, Hardena is an incredible Indonesian spot that does more than just serve amazing food. During a South East Asia (SEA) Club small group activity, I experienced how a simple meal can bring people together. The restaurant’s unassuming space became a gathering point where new friendships formed over shared plates of traditional dishes. The rendang, a slow-cooked beef braised in a symphony of coconut milk and spices, became a conversation starter, drawing people together and breaking down barriers. I realized that Hardena offers more than just a meal—it provides a space for community, understanding, and shared culinary discovery. If you’re looking to dive into authentic Indonesian cuisine and maybe make some new friends, this place is your perfect go-to.

Almyra

Following the success of the Wharton Women in Business (WWIB) Women’s Summit, our conference team chose Almyra as a place to reconnect—and what a perfect choice it was. Nestled in the heart of Philadelphia, the restaurant brings Mediterranean flavors to life. The space gave us just the right setting to decompress and celebrate our wins without the conference-planning stress. It felt like taking a mini vacation right in the middle of Philadelphia, trading conference talk for genuine conversations and incredible food. The menu at Almyra offered a delightful exploration of Mediterranean cuisine. To start, the spreads we selected, including the spicy feta and edamame hummus, were creamy, flavorful, and perfect for sharing. The crisp pita bread provided the ideal vessel for scooping up every last bite. For our main dishes, the lavraki, a whole roasted European seabass, was a standout. The fish was cooked to perfection, with a delicate, flaky texture and bright, Mediterranean flavors from the lemon, capers, and herbs. The modern space and incredible dishes felt like a reward for our collective effort—each bite told a story of teamwork, friendship, and the joy of bringing something meaningful to life together.

Osteria

Situated along North Broad Street, Osteria became a sanctuary from our typically hectic lives. Amidst the restaurant’s rustic space, with its exposed brick and warm lighting, my friends and I carved out a moment to truly connect. The menu highlighted Osteria’s commitment to homemade pastas and wood-fired pizzas, and we dove in enthusiastically. The Funghi pizza, topped with oyster mushrooms, truffle béchamel, caramelized onions, and melty taleggio, was an earthy, decadent delight. The Parma pizza, featuring prosciutto, fontina, and peppery arugula, offered a perfect balance of salty and peppery flavors. Beyond the pizza, the Baked Ricotta was a standout – a creamy, lemon-kissed ricotta served with grilled focaccia for dipping. And the Rigatoni, tossed with rich chicken liver, sweet cipollini onions, and fragrant sage, was a comforting pasta dish that warmed the soul. We spent the evening catching up, laughing, and remembering why we became friends in the first place. Each bite felt like a reminder that life isn’t just about assignments and deadlines—it’s about these moments of connection.

Perla

The Food Club’s restaurant takeover at Perla was a culinary journey into Filipino tradition through their spectacular Kamayan feast. Spread out on banana leaves, the communal-style meal was a vibrant explosion of flavors that told a story with every bite. The chicken inasal was impossibly tender, while the lechon kawali offered that irresistible crispy pork that crackled with each bite. Lumpia rolled with ground pork, carrots, and shiitake mushrooms provided a perfect appetizer, and the whole fried pompano was a showstopper. The ginataan—a medley of eggplant, long beans, cauliflower, and zucchini—brought a rich balance to the spread. We ate with our hands, connecting not just with the food but with each other, transforming the meal into a shared experience. I bumped into friends I hadn’t seen in a while and met new club members, all while exploring these incredible flavor combinations. Perla proved that food is about so much more than just eating—it’s about creating connections, sharing stories, and building community.

Rex at the Royal

Our Learning Team’s brunch at Rex at the Royal was filled with good food and even better company. The restaurant’s warm, rustic space provided the perfect backdrop for catching up with teammates I hadn’t seen in some time. I ordered the Cheesy Egg Hash Skillet, a hearty combination of home fries, sautéed onions and peppers, melted cheddar-jack cheese, and perfectly cooked over-easy eggs was both comforting and crave-worthy. But beyond the food, this brunch was really about reconnecting with my learning team. As we shared stories, laughed, and reminisced about our time together, Rex became more than just a restaurant – it was our temporary home base, a space where we could truly enjoy each other’s company and remember why our team works so well together.

–Vivian Tseng, WG25

Posted: February 18, 2025

MBA Program

Student clubs shape the Wharton MBA experience across a multitude of areas. They focus on interests ranging from social, cultural, athletic, and professional.

The Wharton Graduate Association (WGA) is the student government organization of The Wharton School’s graduate program. Incorporated in 1994, the WGA a non-profit organization that governs all MBA student clubs and conferences at The Wharton School. Throughout the year, the WGA coordinates, manages, and hosts student activities and initiatives. The WGA enables countless opportunities for students to develop relationships and explore your interests.

Vivian Tseng, WG25

Wharton Majors: Organizational Effectiveness,
Operations, Information and Decisions
Previous Career: Aerospace & Defense
Career Plans: Consulting

Wharton Stories

Wharton EMBA Alums Leverage Education and Network to Launch VC Fund

Image: Kyle Mounts

“We are a testament to the strength of Wharton relationships and using what we learned in class to build financial businesses that are really thriving,” says Aaron Ishikawa, WG’21.

Aaron Ishikawa, WG’21, discovered a passion for entrepreneurship while working on special technology development projects at a leading consulting firm. Coming to Wharton’s MBA Program for Executives, his goal was to transition from the corporate world into full-time entrepreneurship. Similarly, Kyle Mounts, WG’21, entered Wharton’s EMBA program to pivot from a corporate role into entrepreneurship.

Although they were in different cohorts, the Wharton program brought them together. At the time, EMBA students from the Philadelphia and San Francisco cohorts were organizing in-person meetups across the country to facilitate collaboration due to COVID restrictions on campus. It was at a meetup in Salt Lake City, UT, where Kyle and Aaron met.

At the time, Kyle was building a Single Family Office and Private Equity Firm, iGnosis Capital, which had begun to invest heavily in the progress of Advanced Air Mobility and commercial drones across the state of NC. Aaron, with his prior experience in aerospace and defense, found common ground with Kyle. As they got to know each other better, they realized there was an opportunity to build something meaningful together.

Aaron and Kyle with David Mounts Gonzalez, Dan Edwards, Esina Alic, Michael Baughan, Andrei Illias, Basil Yap, and David Dacquino Credit: Kyle Mounts

After graduating, Kyle launched Aero X Ventures, a venture firm focused on deep tech within the Aerospace and Defense industry and invited Aaron to join as a full-time partner leading the Investment Team.

“Initially, I brought Aaron on as an advisor, but I quickly realized that I couldn’t build the brand without him,” says Kyle. “He became an integral part of the team, which is composed of several Wharton alumni, including my father, David Mounts Gonzalez, WG’04, as well as classmates Andrew Anton, WG’21, and Andre Illias, WG’21 and Penn alumna Courtney Spaeth.” The firm has also brought on several Wharton undergraduate students as interns.

So far, the firm has made 12 investments out of its first fund and is leveraging their momentum and early success to raise a $100 million second fund.

Building on their achievements with Aero X Ventures, Kyle and Aaron recently launched Singularity Capital Advisors, an M&A advisory firm that leverages the extensive network and expertise of their collective industry experience. The firm focuses on providing insights into market opportunities and potential exits for clients in Defense and National Security. In addition to Aaron and Kyle, Sachin Agarwal, WG’21, joined as partner, and Wharton alumni Dan Edwards, WG’13, Sarah Anderson, WG’21, Anton, and Illias are on the advising team.

Kyle points out that Singularity Capital Advisors actually started as an investment and advisory practice for early-stage companies, which was created out of Prof. Robert Chalfin’s class on Entrepreneurship through Acquisition.

“We used our classes to learn the knowledge and skills needed to succeed as well as make meaningful connections with classmates who have been valuable collaborators,” he says.

Aaron agrees that the fund and advisory firm are a testament to the strength of Wharton relationships and using what they learned in class to build financial businesses that are thriving.

By Meghan Laska

Posted: February 10, 2025

EMBA Program

Wharton MBA Program for Executives

Aaron Ishikawa, WG’21 (Credit: Kyle Mounts)

Aaron Ishikawa, WG’21

Currently: General Partner, Aero X Ventures; Partner, Singularity Capital Advisors

Based In: Los Angeles, CA

EMBA Cohort: San Francisco

Previous Education: University of Southern California, B.S. Industrial and Systems Engineering; University of Southern California, MS Systems Architecture & Engineering

Kyle Mounts, WG’21 (Credit: Kyle Mounts)

Kyle Mounts, WG’21

Currently: General Partner & CIO, Aero X Ventures; Managing Partner, Singularity Capital Advisors

Based In: Miami, FL

EMBA Cohort: Philadelphia

Previous Education: University of North Carolina at Greensboro, B.B.A. Finance

Wharton Stories

Finding Camaraderie by Finding City Hall

Image: Students explore Center City with the Philly Connection (Courtesy of the Wharton Undergraduate Division)

Wharton first-years helped pilot a new activity that familiarized them with Philadelphia and connected them to each other in a meaningful way.

Before classes began in August, nearly 100 Wharton students were already in Philadelphia, racing each other throughout Center City. They held envelopes with cryptic pictures, asking each other questions about their identities, histories, and things they were excited about in the upcoming school year.

They took the trolley, bus, and subway all around the city, ranging from iconic City Hall to one of the 4,300 murals across the City of Brotherly Love. All were either Joseph Wharton Scholar (JWS) or Successful Transition and Empowerment Program (STEP) students, and the majority were first-years.

They were participating in Philly Connections, an activity developed by Dr. Utsav Schurmans, Director of Research & Scholars Programs, and a team of Undergraduate Division staff members. It was piloted during New Student Orientation and focused on introducing new students to the city through an interactive scavenger hunt.

Ayaan Jeraj, a first-year from Vancouver, participated on his third day in Philly. He says it allowed him to strengthen his relationship with his STEP mentors.

“It’s a similar premise to the Amazing Race,” he explained and said the mentors “let us figure things out, and if we needed help, nudged us in the right direction.”

‘I wish I took advantage of the city more.’

Schurmans mentioned the program was created in response to interactions with older students.

“I’ve often done an exercise where I’m talking to seniors, and the thing that I’ve often heard is, ‘I wish I took advantage of the city more,’” he said.

Inspired by a Boston University program, Schurmans says the activity familiarizes students with how to use public transit and city landmarks but he also hopes the students continue to be curious about the city and enjoy collaboration as a method for meeting and connecting with others.

While Center City is only 20 minutes from Penn, and public transit is easily accessible, first-years often opt to stay on campus.

However, STEP and program mentor Jayla Hanson, a second-year from Alabama, explains how Philly Connections did precisely what it promised: “I know it’s easy to go meet up at a dining hall, but I was surprised by how much I actually got to know somebody through doing activities, like when we were taking the train.”

Ayaan reported that one of his favorite parts was when his mentors shared stories and advice based on their experiences with the locations. As they walked, his mentors explained how they liked to spend their time in the past few years enjoying the city.

Both Jayla and Ayaan mentioned their appreciation for mentorship through STEP, and Philly Connections allowed them to bond further with their STEP mentors and mentees through Philadelphia as a tool for connection. One of the first questions starts to build this relationship: “Describe the origin story of your name.”

“I was surprised by how much I actually got to know somebody through doing activities, like when we were taking the train,” —Jayla Hanson, W’27, C’27

Each team was a small group of 4-5 with an upper-level student mentor leading them. Within each envelope, a card contained information on their next stop, and together the group deciphered the clue.

The first stop for all was somewhere on campus, for example, the Penn Women’s Center. At this stop, the group answered questions to learn about each other’s backgrounds and interests. One of the first questions was: “What’s a celebration that’s meaningful to your culture?”

After finding a destination, groups took a photo before moving on to the next, riding one of the many public-transit options to downtown Philly on SEPTA, the region’s mass-transit system. Some took historic trolleys only steps from first-year dorms while others caught a bus at an on-campus stop. A goal of Philly Connections was to demystify and allow students to use efficient and cost-effective ways to travel to Center City.

After discovering two more locations downtown, the groups returned to campus to eat lunch together. Each team shared their distinct experience, and a slideshow displayed the group photos throughout the meal.

After the students began the school year, they reported applying this experience to their Penn one.

“I went shopping with one of my friends,” Jayla shared. “He was like, ‘Do you know how to use the bus system or subway? Because I don’t know.’ Like, yeah, actually, I do know how to use it.”

Philly Connections will continue at next year’s pre-orientation with JWS and STEP. Schurmans also plans to present it at a Penn conference this summer, offering the model and its infrastructure for campus partners to replicate.

As the weather has gotten colder, first-years may be more preoccupied with hanging out with friends on campus given the newness of everything, but Ayaan, the first-year from Vancouver, now recommends that they go to Reading Terminal Market, the Liberty Bell, and other Philadelphia landmarks when they have time. He mentions that Philly Connections was the first to show him one of the most important landmarks of his East Coast and Penn experience: “I saw my first Wawa!”

—Alex Zhou, W’25, C’25

Posted: February 4, 2025

Undergraduate Program

Groups get to know each other during their first on-campus destinations. (Courtesy of the Wharton Undergraduate Division)

A group takes a SEPTA trolley to Center City. (Courtesy of the Wharton Undergraduate Division)

After arriving in Center City, this group’s stop is near City Hall. (Courtesy of the Wharton Undergraduate Division)

This group found themselves at the iconic Chinatown Friendship Gate. (Courtesy of the Wharton Undergraduate Division)

Philadelphia is known as the “Mural Capital of the World”—so it feels right that some groups went to find murals! (Courtesy of the Wharton Undergraduate Division)

A group poses for a photo in LOVE Park in Center City. (Courtesy of the Wharton Undergraduate Division)

Wharton Stories

Exploring Morocco: Lauder Culture Quest 2024

Image: Photo credit: Kenric Tsethlikai and various students.

January 8, 2025

**Lauder Culture Quest is an Amazing Race-style program that enables students to vote each year on a quest location and travel in teams to explore a different region of the world.**

Morocco served as the vibrant backdrop for the December 2024 Lauder Culture Quest, an immersive program that brought together 50 Lauder students for a journey through the north African country’s diverse landscapes and rich history. Modeled after an Amazing Race-style competition, Lauder Culture Quest invites students to vote annually on a destination and travel in teams for 8 days to explore a new region of the world. Participants engage in activities and local interactions to earn points, culminating in the announcement of a winning team at the trip’s closing dinner.

With six groups following distinct itineraries, the Morocco adventure allowed students to explore the country in unique ways while also coming together for key celebrations.

The journey began with a welcome dinner in the enchanting city of Marrakech. Groups then dispersed to visit the opulent Bahia and El Badi Palaces, explore the bustling souks, and enjoy a hot air balloon ride. A street food tour highlighted local cuisine, while visits to the YSL Museum and Majorelle Garden provided insight into the city’s artistic heritage. Participants also engaged in hands-on experiences through pottery workshops and traditional cooking classes. Accommodations in riads offered a chance to experience Morocco’s distinctive architectural style.

This story is by Lauren Treutler. Click here to read more.

Posted: January 24, 2025

Photo credit: Kenric Tsethlikai and various students.

Wharton Stories

5 Essential Career Support Insights for Wharton EMBA Students and Alumni

Image: Getty Images

“Students come to Wharton to amplify their impact and accelerate their careers, whether advancing within their current organization or exploring new opportunities,” says EMBA Admissions Director Barbara Craft.

Students in Wharton’s MBA Program for Executives bring years of work experience to the program and work-full time. So, it often comes as a surprise that they have access to a vast amount of dedicated career management resources – and that support continues for the rest of their careers.

Barbara Craft, Wharton’s EMBA Admissions Director, emphasizes most people don’t pursue a Wharton MBA to stay in their current roles forever. “They come to make a greater impact and accelerate their careers, whether by advancing within their organization or exploring a new direction,” she says “That’s why we provide lifelong career support, helping them succeed on any path they choose.”

Discover the five key features of Wharton’s EMBA career support that empower students and alumni to excel:

Tailored Career Resources for Every Stage of Professional Growth

Students and alumni have exclusive access to a comprehensive career management website, offering personalized executive resources designed to support unique career aspirations. This digital hub provides a wealth of materials aimed at supporting the career needs of career changers, career advancers, and entrepreneurs.

Free, Personalized Career Coaching

Both current students and alumni benefit from ongoing access to personalized one-on-one career coaching with highly rated advisors. Coaches have deep executive career knowledge across diverse business sectors, functional areas of interest, and diverse regions. With graduates located around the world, alumni coaching sessions are conducted virtually. Additional support includes resume and LinkedIn reviews, mock interviews, and tailored career advice to help make strategic career decisions.

Director of Executive Careers Colleen France says, “One-on-one career coaching is the cornerstone of our career management office and the service I am most proud of. Each year, we conduct over 500 individualized coaching sessions, meeting students where they are—whether in person or virtually—to provide personalized advice that helps them navigate critical career decisions. This tailored support ensures that our students and alumni have access to the expertise they need to achieve their goals.”

Screenshot of WEMBA career website — Wharton EMBA Career Support Webinar with Cara Costello
Photo Credit: Meghan Laska

Comprehensive Career Data for Informed Decisions

Wharton offers access to in-depth career compensation data, a valuable resource for students and alumni to benchmark their careers and negotiate offers. The data is especially useful when considering transitions to new industries or functions, as it highlights the experiences of those who have successfully made similar career shifts. This information allows EMBA students and alumni to make informed, data-driven career choices.

Curated Job Opportunities for Experienced Professionals

Wharton’s exclusive job board focuses on high-level positions across a variety of industry, functions and regions. Students and alumni can sign-up for job email alerts that align with areas of interest. In addition, students and alumni can leverage the Wharton alumni database, one of the largest business school networks globally, which can play a significant role in facilitating networking opportunities for career transitions or securing new roles.

Access to Board of Director Opportunities

As interest grows among alumni to serve on corporate and nonprofit boards, Wharton has created a dedicated resource page and platform for executives to explore such opportunities. Wharton offers board search best practices, resume templates, board membership organizations, and inclusion in the Wharton Board of Director Resume Book. Wharton has over 1,300 alumni in the Board Book and conducts complimentary searches for companies looking to fill board seats.

Director of Executive Careers Cara Costello says, “Wharton believes in lifelong career management. Executives can look forward to ongoing career support, highly rated complimentary career coaching, and an array of best-in-class resources beyond the duration of the program.”

With these resources, Wharton EMBA students and alumni are well-equipped to pursue their professional goals and continue making an impact throughout their careers.

For a deeper dive into how Wharton’s EMBA career support can accelerate careers, we invite you to watch our webinar.

By Meghan Laska

Posted: January 16, 2025

EMBA Program

Wharton MBA Program for Executives

Colleen France, Head of EMBA Career Management

Cara Costello, Director of Executive Careers (serving MBA alumni and EMBA)

EMBA Career Support Key Features: Advising, Job Board, Board of Directors

EMBA Career Resources: Reflect, Prepare, Connect, Jobs, Advance

Learn more about Colleen France

Cara Costello, Director of Executive Careers
Photo Credit: Wharton School

Colleen France, Head of EMBA Career Management Photo Credit: Wharton School

Wharton Stories

Finding the Rhythm Behind Business Fundamentals

Image: Grace playing music on the Quad. Photo courtesy of Grace Gramins.

Grace Gramins, W’26, finds harmony between music production and business.

It seems these days that every college student wants to be a DJ and that we’ve lost a long-held appreciation of pure singing. However, on Penn’s campus, you can hear quiet humming while studying in Huntsman Hall and a raw voice belting for large crowds in the Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts. All you have to do is look for Grace Gramins.

It actually runs in the family for Grace. Her mother moved to New York City to audition for Broadway, and while doing so, she worked on Wall Street. It makes sense that Grace has been raised with that intersection in mind. In New York, she started her educational career at the Special Music School, where she first learned violin and then began to compose music.

As she continued songwriting, she developed an interest in business in tandem. Throughout high school, her volunteer work was focused on helping with organizations’ marketing, which had natural intersections with her interest in producing music.

While she identified this intersection between business and production as an interest when applying to Wharton, she was able to see it through with her undergraduate experience in marketing courses.

“Writing music and editing it to cater to my consumers was something I was inherently doing,” Grace said. “But then I was able to attach it to a real concept and principle in my marketing class.”

The same goes for her Management 1010 course: “I learned about horizontal and vertical diversification, and I moved from writing to producing music which was vertical diversification in a way, but I had no words for it until I took that class and was able to understand exactly what I was doing.”

Business gave her the vocabulary behind some of the more pragmatic decisions she was making in her creation of music. It also gave her the ability to understand recent movements and trends in the music business.

When she began to write music in high school, she viewed it very entrepreneurially, akin to creating a business or product, which was where marketing came in. When she refers to music business, she means applying principles of management and finance to it.

When it comes to finance, Grace says that as a music creator, she has enjoyed learning about different deals within the business: “The intersection of all that has been really exciting for me to apply my passion for music to the different concepts I’m learning in my business classes here in Wharton.”

In February, Grace produced and released a single, “Falling.” While her business education taught her to tie in some of the more pragmatic, less emotional aspects of the art form, she also utilized the music department at Penn. While making the song in her second year, Grace took Professor Anna Weesner’s songwriting course as part of her Popular Music and Jazz Studies minor.

“It was a great forum to connect with other students who were passionate about songwriting,” she said. “Adding music classes throughout my four years has been a great way to learn about music in a more formal setting.”

A person singing into a microphone while playing an electric guitar on stage. A banner with musical themes is in the background. — Grace performs at a concert hosted by the TEP fraternity in the fall of 2022. (Photo credit: Penn Records)

While her education played a large role in her production process, she also found connectivity and inspiration from the people around her. She played the song and received live feedback from Penn Counterparts, her acapella group. Counterparts is Penn’s oldest all-gender pop and jazz acapella group, and John Legend was a part of Counterparts during his time at Penn. As the music director this year, Grace is responsible for musical arranging the music and conducting their shows.

“I had watched Counterparts YouTube videos before coming to Penn, and I had written about them in my [application] essays,” she reminisces. “That’s opened such an awesome door for me to have a community on campus of people studying and being interested in different things outside the group.”

Even beyond the classroom and her social circles, access to Wharton’s faculty has helped her navigate the business of music creation. When she got a contract in the fall of her first year, her Legal Studies 1010 professor looked over it with her.

While all these experiences at Penn continue to overlap, Grace still finds time for personal endeavors.

“I’m going to continue immersing myself with Wharton and business,” she said. “I’m currently working on producing another song, so hopefully that comes out soon.”

—Alex Zhou, W’25, C’25

Posted: January 15, 2025

Undergraduate Program

Grace Gramins, W’26

(Photo credit: Ariana Arabadjiev, C’27)

Hometown: Bronxville, NY / New York City

Concentrations: Finance and Management

Minor: Popular Music and Jazz

Activities: Penn Counterparts, Wharton Ambassadors, Penn International Impact Consulting, Mask and Wig Band, Music Business at Penn, and Negotiations TA (OIDD 2910)

Grace singing at a Penn Counterparts show, Penn’s oldest all-gender pop and jazz acapella group. (Photo credit: Bill Tsai)

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Exploring Morocco: Lauder Culture Quest 2024

Lauder Culture Quest is an Amazing Race-style program that enables students to vote each year on a quest location and travel in teams to explore a different region of the world.

Wharton Stories

5 Essential Career Support Insights for Wharton EMBA Students and Alumni

Wharton Stories

Finding the Rhythm Behind Business Fundamentals

Grace Gramins, W’26

**Lauder Culture Quest is an Amazing Race-style program that enables students to vote each year on a quest location and travel in teams to explore a different region of the world.**