Meet Georgetown McDonough’s MBA Class Of 2025 (2024)

REPRESENTATIVES FROM 40 COUNTRIES IN THE CLASS

That said, the Class of 2025 received a strong dose of global diversity and cultural collaboration through the class composition, says Emma Nosofsky. In fact, 59% of the first-year class hails from outside the United States – from 40 countries to be exact. It isn’t just regional diversity that historically differentiates McDonough MBA classes, says ’23 alum Esther Adusei.

“It always amazes me how well-traveled and globally-minded peers are in my social interactions. Many of my friends have spent several years working, teaching, traveling, and creating their own enterprises in countries outside of their countries of origin. Many of them also spent their childhood in multiple countries around the world. It has been so rewarding to see how their global experiences have made them more empathetic, culturally aware, curious, and respectful about learning about other cultures. In a variety of ways, the business school represents a beautiful fusion of global citizens.”

Gio O. Tantoco, however, is looking to be more than just a global citizen after two years in the McDonough MBA. “If I came out a better person than I did when I entered and stayed true to my values, I would consider that a success. If I developed meaningful relationships with my peers and helped them become better versions of themselves, another success. If I can better understand and solve problems, create new products and services that improve society for the better – icing on the cake.”

A CLASS PROFILE

Overall, the Class of 2025 features 258 students. Women account for 31% of the class, with U.S. underrepresented minorities making up anther 19%. Another 11% of the class previously served in the U.S. military. On average, the class is 29 years-old and possesses 5.5 years of work experience.

This year’s class also averaged a 695 GMAT, where scores ran from 630-743 in the mid-80% range. 37% of the class also took the GRE, where they average score hit 318. On average, the class also brought a 3.34 undergraduate GPA to McDonough, with the lowest average being 2.72 in the mid-80% range.

As undergraduates, 25% of the class majored in Business and Commerce. 19% of the class hold degrees in Humanities-related fields, followed by the Sciences (15%), Engineering (14%), Economics (10%), Social Sciences (5%), and Computer Sciences (2%). Professionally, 14% of the class last worked in Financial Services. Consulting and Technology each take up a 12% share of the class. The class also includes students who worked in Government (7%), Manufacturing (5%), and Consumer Products (3%).

CURA PERSONALIS

You could make a case that the McDonough MBA would rank among the most purpose-driven MBA programs. That starts with its core foundation: Cura Personalis – the Jesuit principle for “care for the whole person.” Call it a two-sided coin. On one hand, Cura Personalis is a commitment to principled, servant leadership, taking the responsibility to attend to others’ needs and bringing out their absolute best. To do this, Cura Personalis also demands self-care, tending to one’s physical fitness, intellectual growth, and spiritual health – body, mind, and soul. In the process, McDonough adds a mission-driven component to its global outlook, one that looks to advance society through ethics and duty.

“I have been Jesuit-educated for the past 16 years,” writes Gio O. Tantoco. “Cura personalis is much more than a mindset to me, it is a way of life. I wanted there to be continuity in my MBA education as well. It is in Georgetown McDonough’s program that I believe I can accomplish maximizing not only my professional capacity. However, I also know I will be a better person because they also capitalize on building your character and forming your soul. In orientation week, I could not count the number of times the faculty instilled “be good, do good” and “be a man or woman for others.”

, Shelly Heinrich, associate dean and managing director of MBA Admissions, further outlines how Cura Personalis is imbued in the program. “Cura personalisis not a value easily described before arriving on the Hilltop, but when you get here you understand the impact. Your peers are not competitors – they’re collaborators. Your professors know you and care for your well-being. Our alumni are just a call away. You receive personalized attention from faculty and staff to achieve your goals. There is a village of people here who care for you, care for each other, and care about making the world a better place.”

SUSTAINABILITY AND NON-PROFIT PROGRAMMING AMONG PROGRAM STRENGTHS

That means tackling some of the world’s toughest challenges by applying business tools. This purpose has resulted in McDonough investing heavily in coursework, research, partnerships, fellowships, and activities centered around ESG. Not only does this initiative align with McDonough’s ‘Do Good” philosophy, but also taps into the marketplace’s growing interest in pursuing strategies that produce positive outcomes for the greatest number of people.

“Georgetown is committed to shaping leaders who aren’t just skilled in finance and marketing, but also are good people,” adds Michaela Nesson. “Georgetown prioritizes service and makes sustainability and social impact fundamental to the study of business, and this was the type of community I wanted to be surrounded by in business school.”

Sustainability isn’t McDonough’s only differentiator. In a 2023 survey of MBA alumni and students, the school posted the 3rd-highest and 8th-highest scores for its Nonprofit and Consulting curriculum respectively. It also boasts Top 10 Executive MBA and Undergraduate Business programs. The school has also made heavy strides in its Entrepreneurship programming. In fact, 94% of McDonough faculty are involved, in some way, with startup ventures. Even more, nearly 9% of McDonough MBA grads who graduated from 2018-2022 launched or joined startups. And there is one other area where the school has increasingly become a force, adds Ross Drwal.

“Georgetown has a very strong reputation for its commercial real estate program. There is an MBA Certificate in Global Real Estate that students can do, which essentially teaches students how to be a commercial real estate investor from professors who have extensive real estate investing experience.”

AN INTERVIEW WITH THE ASSOCIATE DEAN

What is next on the agenda at the McDonough MBA? Earlier, P&Q reached out to Sudipta Dasmohapatra, senior associate dean of MBA programs at Georgetown University’s McDonough School. From new developments to sustainability and leadership programming, here are Dasmohapatra’s thoughts on all things McDonough.

P&Q: What have been the two most important developments in your MBA program over the past year? What type of impact will they have on current and future MBAs?

Dasmohapatra: “This year we are welcoming our first class of Flex MBA Online students. To further expand on the reach and flexibility of the Flex MBA program, Georgetown McDonough recently launched a Flex MBA Online to further help our students balance work, life, and school, no matter where they are located in the United States, on their path to career advancement.

The Flex MBA Online delivers the same degree as the in-person program, including the same professors, career resources, and signature experiential learning opportunities, with the added convenience of virtual classes. The online program has been intentionally designed to maximize the learning experience and includes both synchronous and asynchronous content, two week-long residencies in Washington D.C., participation in McDonough’s signature week-long global business consulting experience overseas, integration into the Georgetown community through co-curricular and student club engagement opportunities, and ongoing career programming. We believe that the Flex MBA Online will continue to build on Georgetown McDonough’s renowned MBA offerings while reinforcing our values of cura personalis – caring for each student’s unique needs, abilities, and circ*mstances in order to encourage their own flourishing.

Georgetown McDonough continues to make innovative curricular and co-curricular enhancements for traditional Full-time and Flex MBA students to explore their passions and deepen their understanding of specific issues. This includes new courses that address emerging industry trends in AI and Analytics, Digital Marketing Strategies, Sustainability and Social Impact, and Real Estate that can provide students with relevant and practical skills in the modern business world. Additionally, we have continued to expand our global experiential learning opportunities this year through additional partnerships and exchange programs, specifically in Italy and Ghana. These relationships expose our students to diverse cultures, business practices, and real-world consulting assignments that develop a global mindset and adaptabilit, which are essential qualities in today’s interconnected business world.”

P&Q: Give us your one-minute pitch for your business school. What makes you unique?

Dasmohapatra: “Georgetown’s McDonough School of Business is distinctive for its long-time commitment to the Jesuit tradition, for its interdisciplinary perspectives and unparalleled access to business, government, policy, and diplomatic communities in Washington, D.C., and for its immersive, real-world exposure to global business. We offer rigorous and flexible undergraduate and graduate programs that are designed to educate the whole person and develop principled leaders with a global outlook rooted in a strong sense of ethical responsibility and societal impact. Across our programs, we integrate emerging business trends and experiential learning opportunities into our curriculum that empower students to apply classroom knowledge to real-world challenges. With the support of our renowned McDonough community, we believe that an MBA from Georgetown is more than just education; it is a catalyst for personal growth, global impact, and a lifetime of meaningful connections.”

P&Q: Sustainability has emerged as a major attraction to prospective MBA students. How does your full-time MBA program integrate sustainability across its curriculum?

Dasmohapatra: “The Georgetown MBA program is designed to encourage a holistic view of business, blending the principles of ethical leadership, international business, and societal impact. The goal of the program is to create well-rounded, principled leaders who are prepared to make a positive impact in their organizations and society at large. To that end, many of the core and integrative modules woven into the fabric of the curriculum provide discussions, case studies, projects, and experiences on sustainable business strategies and investments, corporate social responsibility, environmental management, and creating shared value. Georgetown McDonough MBA students also have a unique opportunity to earn a Certificate in Sustainable Business. The purpose of the certificate is to equip students with the knowledge and practical experience to lead and manage successful businesses with a deep understanding of the complex social, economic, environmental, and policy-related challenges of the 21st century.

In addition to sustainability coursework, students also can engage with sustainable business concepts through the school’s Business of Sustainability Initiative, which provides thought leadership, convening and outreach, and student learning opportunities on emerging sustainable business issues. There also are numerous student clubs engagements and events happening throughout the year focused on sustainability, including Net Impact, the Business of Sustainability Speaker Series, case competitions, and access to Georgetown’s Earth Commons Institute for environmental and sustainability innovation.”

Next Page: Profiles of 11 Members of the Class of 2025