Favorite Business Professors Of The Class Of 2025

“Tell me something I don’t know.”

That’s how Professor Ricardo Ernst often opens his undergraduate business classes at Georgetown University’s McDonough School. And it is a question that reflects the core of education. Designed to spark discussion on current events, the question demands that students read more than just their text. It serves as training for the future, when students will need to educate peers and coax customers. Most of all, the question reminds students that every underlying issue comes with a host of viewpoints and unknowns.

Professor Ernst’s courses made an impression on Ana Gomez Garces, a 2025 McDonough graduate who’ll be joining McKinsey & Company this summer. She descries his classes as “more like engaging dinner table conversations than formal lectures.” For her, Ernst’s coursework was designed to teach something larger than just content.

“[He] challenged us to build and sustain our own opinions and defend our ideas without having to fear being wrong,” Gomez Garces explains. “His class was a safe space to explore business and college lectures without the pressure of having to aim for a “right” answer.”

WHAT MAKES A GREAT PROFESSOR

Beyond a teacher, Professor Ernst also served as a coach and champion. As an international student new to business, Gomez Garces found Georgetown to be “overwhelming and intimidating” at first. Ernst understood the feeling all too well; he had studied engineering and business in Venezuela before coming to Wharton. His guidance enabled Gomez Garcia to tap into her potential.

“Professor Ernst’s class empowered me to step out of my comfort zone, be myself, ask questions, and participate without fear of making mistakes. After that, I was never hesitant to speak up in lectures or contribute to discussions, even when I wasn’t sure if my answer was correct,” she adds. “Over the past four years, he has witnessed my growth and continuously encouraged it. Beyond the classroom, he has been a valuable mentor, always available to advise me on my major, courses, and career decisions. He has been more than just a professor: he has been a guiding force throughout my academic journey.”

Teaching is hardly a 9-to-5 gig. For many business professors, it is a mission to prepare students to think for themselves as much as wield best practices. Like Professor Ernst, they pose as many questions as solutions. Along the way, they show how there are rarely any right, simple, or clear answers. Instead, student learn how to make decisions without the whole picture, while facing opposition who may be less informed and capable.

More than that, the best professors care. They take the extra time to learn about every student – their backgrounds, interests, and ambitions – so they can better engage them. And they open their networks to their best pupils too. Most of all, they are continuously tailoring their content and delivery, never forgetting how daunting their subjects could be when they were students.

For all that, they hope to hear five magical words…

“I want to learn more.”

Earlier this year, P&Q surveyed the 100 Best & Brightest Business Majors to learn who their favorite professors were – and how they made an impact on them. Here are the most insightful responses on what makes a great business professor.

“Kelly Newbold (Boudreau) – Her energy, passion, and investment in her students are unmatched. She doesn’t just teach, she mentors, empowers, and pushes students to think critically and creatively. When I shared my vision for EmpOUR, she didn’t just listen – she took action. She connected me with valuable resources, sent opportunities my way, and continuously checked in to see how she could support my work. She believes in her students and actively helps them bring their ideas to life. Having a professor who not only educates but also champions her students’ success has been an invaluable part of my business school experience.”

Hali Jama, University of Wisconsin

“I had the pleasure of taking MGMT 2300: Entrepreneurship with Henning Piezunka in the Fall of 2024. Not only have I never seen a full classroom completely engaged with his content, I have never seen such dedication to taking students on a two-way journey rather than a simple one-way lecture than through his course. I will always remember his one-liners, analogies, and real-world case studies around the trials and triumphs of being an entrepreneur. Although this is normally a required course for my concentration, this was the first time I’ve heard of a section with students from all four years and across all four undergraduate colleges coming together. In an idealistic world, everyone would say that starting their own venture is simple. Professor Piezunka is my favorite professor because of his candor, intelligence, experience, and passion for equipping his students with the right level of ambition and preparedness for the role of the entrepreneur. His favorite saying: “If you don’t fail the first time, you’re not doing it right.”

Shivani Desai, Wharton School

“One professor who stood out was Professor Irina von Wiese, who taught Intro to Politics and Liberalism and Populism during my final year.

Being a politician herself, Professor von Wiese allocated 30 to 40 minutes of every lecture for a parliament-like class debate on a controversial topic that fit the day’s lecture. She split the classroom in half, assigning students to argue for or against the day’s topic, regardless of your personal views, and without the option to switch sides. I found this approach brilliant because more often than not I found myself having to argue for positions I fundamentally disagreed with or against those I strongly supported, forcing me to confront my own biases. The imposed cognitive dissonance helped me uncover fallacies in my thinking and taught me the importance of making an effort to understand the other side. During the debates, Professor von Wiese took a moderating role, constantly questioning the validity of arguments on both sides, ensuring a steady and stimulating dialogue. In the end, you could not leave a single lecture without questioning what you originally believed. I think, throughout the year, those weekly debates were what I looked forward to the most.

Often, we enter debates opinionated or fall victim to some deeply ingrained heuristics, and it is only when we actively engage in opposing positions that we can begin to truly understand an opposing point of view. In an increasingly divided world, open dialogue that considers all perspectives before making a judgment is more important than ever. The ability to challenge one’s assumptions and think critically is instrumental to success in business and finance, making the lessons from Professor von Wiese’s courses invaluable.”

David Elias Kurzmann, ESCP Business School

“Ever since I met Diane Dwyer, she has really shown me what Haas is all about. Diane is my favorite professor—not just because of the material she teaches (which is very helpful!), but because of her outstanding character.

One of her class requirements is that you must schedule at least one office hours appointment with her. I still remember attending her office hours and being amazed by how kindly she spoke to me. She insisted I use her first name and was eager to learn how she could help me during my time at Haas. Even more, on the final day of class, she offered to take the entire class out for pizza. About 20 or so of us took her up on that offer, and she paid for the entire meal and then ensured all of us had a means of transportation to get home afterward! Diane is always incredibly positive, constantly finding ways to give back and has so much confidence in the students at Haas and what we can achieve. I look up to her as an amazing role model, and I’m so grateful to have had the chance to meet her and learn from her.”

Levi Montoya, UC Berkeley Haas)

“Grigory Pishchulov is deeply committed to his students and consistently goes above-and-beyond. I recall discussing a challenge I was struggling with in a software engineering project. The next day, I received a message at 10pm – he had been thinking about my problem over the weekend and had provided me with a few potential (working!) solutions, whilst still giving me room to develop my skills.”

Jasper Lee, Alliance Manchester

“I have had the privilege of being a student of Professor Curtis Nicholls, accounting, for multiple semesters, including courses in accounting and financial statement analysis. Professor Nicholls has a rare ability to break down complex information and big ideas, helping his students gain a deeper level of understanding. He is a perfect example of someone who has true mastery of the content that he teaches and the ability to communicate with his students. Professor Nicholls champions deep learning over surface-level academic outcomes, and challenges his students to absorb all that is on offer in his accounting and finance courses.

Above all else, and despite his endless amounts of responsibilities and obligations, Professor Nicholls never fails to be generous with his time and to provide help to others where he can.

I have sought him out countless times for advice on career decisions as well as on navigating Bucknell. No matter the circumstances, he is always there to provide wisdom and support. For that, I have tremendous respect for him, and gratitude for having been his student.”

Nicholas Arbes, Bucknell University (Freeman)

“Pierre Jinghong Liang’s passion for teaching is evident the moment he walks into the classroom, bringing an energy and enthusiasm that make lectures engaging. His student-centric approach balances structure with exploration, allowing students to deepen their understanding through self-directed project work. Beyond the classroom, he is incredibly generous with his time, emphasizing that no student should spend hours struggling when he can clarify a concept in minutes. Whether staying late or offering last-minute Zoom calls, he makes himself a resource in a way that is truly rare.”

Michael Acquaah-Harrison, Carnegie Mellon University (Tepper)

“My favorite business professor is Professor Katie McDermott. Her teaching style is incredibly engaging, helping students connect with the material through pride, enthusiasm, and vitality—all at once. She’s not only a phenomenal educator but also takes the time to get to know her students, encouraging everyone to attend office hours. She goes the extra mile to ensure students feel heard, respected, and valued.

One example that stands out is how she often references books or novels she has read during class and is always eager to recommend a book when I ask. Even though I took her class in Fall 2023, we still email back-and-forth with book recommendations. If I stumble across something related to our class material in the news or at work, I can’t help but think of her lessons.”

Josh Novick, University of Virginia (McIntire)

“My favorite business professor is Professor Sanford Leeds, who teaches FIN371M – Money and Capital Markets. My favorite part of his course was its structure. For our two classes a week, I was first entirely dedicated to reviewing the week’s current events. Second, I was learning about the underlying theory behind the effects these have had on the market. His experience as a lawyer and money manager shapes his approach to teaching relevant topics to students and always aims to help them feel more equipped to contribute to real-life conversations about the markets. Aside from being an excellent lecturer, he is deeply invested in his students and always goes above-and-beyond. His teachings and advice have deeply impacted and inspired me to continue to learn about the markets and one day, become a part of the institutions that govern it.”

Marley Gomez-Olivas, University of Texas (McCombs)