More than 300 new J-term students in the MBA and EMBA programs joined the class of 2007 this week, adding to the School’s diversity, strength and talent.
The polyglot MBA class represents 46 nations by birth and speaks a total of 49 languages, including Afrikaans, Farsi and Serbian. Seventy percent of the class speaks at least two languages, including one student who speaks both Mandarin Chinese and Arabic.
The new students “are diverse in every way but ability,” Dean Glenn Hubbard said at this week’s MBA orientation. “You will learn a lot from each other and form relationships for life.”
The J-term students include an Ironman triathlete, the chief of staff of the New York City Economic Development Corporation, a UNICEF volunteer in Namibia and entrepreneurs who launched more than 15 business — including an airport spa chain, an indie music label and a Swedish alcohol import and export company.
The 116 new EMBA students bring their depth of experience and industry connections to the class. The average student has 10 years of professional experience, with backgrounds in financial services, technology, consulting and investment banking. More than one-quarter of the class is international, and about one in five hold an advanced degree.
“Community is very important at the School,” said Dean Hubbard. “We are in the people business. It’s all about making communities and networks prosper.”
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