Sometimes, you just don’t want to go to class. Who wouldn’t be drained after running suicides in practice or wrapping up a project at 3:00 am? Maybe your class may be a rainy slog across campus. Let’s be honest: it’s hard to muster any enthusiasm for class when you’re behind, overwhelmed, or bored.
That’s what made Dennis Hanno’s Principles of Management course so refreshing at Fordham University’s Gabelli School of Business, says MacKenzie T. Brown. It was the class that she looked forward to every week as a sophomore. One reason: Hanno had a penchant for making the content come alive. More than that, she adds, Hanno pushed her out of her comfort zone and made her feel supported when she did.
“This feeling of being noticed and cared for encouraged me to become more engaged, participate more actively, and think more thoughtfully about what it means to be a leader of an organization. His teaching did not only make me better understand the material covered in class—it made me excited about studying business in the first place.”
Dennis Hanno, Fordham University (Gabelli)
A PERSONAL TOUCH GOES A LONG WAY
That’s because Hanno is a teacher first, a man committed to helping students grow. To him, teaching is a mission not an obligation and students are partners not underlings. And the goal is to instill in them the skills that will ultimately matter: how to question assertions, frame issues, craft solutions, and persuade stakeholders.
For Hanno, that starts with building relationships, understanding that students first respond to how much you care before how much you know.
“He learned our names, encouraged discussion, and treated every question with serious thought and meaningful engagement,” Brown continues. “Even outside the classroom, he continues to be unbelievably friendly—whenever I see him on campus, he goes out of his way to seek me out and stop to talk to me—and it speaks to how invested he is in his students long after class adjourns.”
Great teachers have always viewed themselves as change agents who model the qualities they want to see in the world. That’s no different in business school. Earlier this year, Poets&Quants asked the 100 students nominated as Best & Brightest Business majors to share their favorite business professor – and how these teachers made a difference in their lives. From Arizona State to the Wharton School, here are 25 professors who represent the best in business education.
“Michael Guggemos, my professor for CIS 446 (Data Governance), treated the classroom like a high-stakes boardroom. I vividly remember the second day of class, after assigning 30 pages of complex theory, he required us to present the core concepts from memory. It was a sink-or-swim moment that forced me to think on my feet and communicate with precision. He didn’t just teach data, he taught me the value of active learning, endurance under stress, and the importance of giving that extra 10% when you’re well outside your comfort zone. Professors like Mike push learning to a whole new level.”
Ariyal Jain, Arizona State (W. P. Carey)
“My favorite business professor is Weerapat Attachot, who taught my Introduction to Financial Accounting class freshman year at Babson. It was the very first college class I ever sat in, and I remember being terrified to take such a “scary” business course after having so little business experience in high school. However, Weerapat immediately put me at ease. He told us we could call him “Go,” and he made challenging material feel surprisingly approachable for freshmen.
I was amazed by how much attention he gave to every individual student and how genuinely invested he was in my success. He would reach out to me personally about my scores, congratulating me after exams, which meant more than he probably realized. I was deeply inspired by how knowledgeable he was and by how cool it felt to see accounting applied to the real world, like I was finally getting to peek behind the curtain of how everything actually works. He almost convinced me to become an accountant!”
Lillian Bedard, Babson College (Olin)
Mohammed Nadeem, UC Berkeley (Haas)
“Professor Mohammed Nadeem immediately comes to mind. A member of the Haas Marketing Group, he teaches both undergraduate and MBA courses ranging from International Marketing to Marketing Management. What stands out most is not just that his classes are grounded in current business topics, but his genuine commitment to students long after they leave his classroom. He regularly invites current and former students to speak during class about professional and club opportunities, creating a platform for connection and mentorship. His office hours are among the most utilized I’ve seen and he is often in Café Think meeting one-on-one with students, offering guidance that extends beyond academics. Professor Nadeem truly embodies the four Defining Leadership Principles, Questioning the Status Quo by going above and beyond as an educator; Confidence Without Attitude through his humility despite an impressive academic and entrepreneurial background; Students Always in his unwavering commitment to mentorship; and Beyond Yourself in the lasting impact he makes outside the classroom.”
Ellie Hwang, U.C. Berkeley (Haas)
“My favorite business professor is Professor Tridas Mukhopadhyay. I’ve had the opportunity to work closely with him for three years as a Teaching Assistant, which has given me a deeper appreciation for his approach to teaching and mentorship. He is intentional about keeping his curriculum relevant, most recently working to incorporate AI-related content so students are learning content that reflects how business is actually practiced today.
What I admire most is how open he is to feedback and collaboration. Professor Mukhopadhyay consistently treats his TAs as partners rather than subordinates, inviting our perspectives and encouraging open discussion on how the course can be improved. He is always looking for ways to refine his teaching and ensure students leave with practical, transferable Excel skills. Working with him pushed me to think more critically about how decisions are made in the classroom and how small changes can meaningfully improve the student experience.”
Paige Yu, Carnegie Mellon (Tepper)
“My favorite business professor is Beth Schinoff because she pairs excellent teaching with a truly compassionate, student‑centered approach. She remembers the details students share – internship worries, family updates, career goals – and she follows up unprompted weeks later to check in, offer encouragement, or connect you with someone who can help. In her Organizational Behavior class, she created a community where every student felt known and welcomed; she invited quieter voices into the conversation, and she tailored guidance to each person’s path. It’s not just that she teaches well – it’s that she makes you feel like your growth genuinely matters to her.
Working with her as a teaching assistant has only deepened that impression. She is the professor who stays after class to talk through a tough decision; who sends a quick note before an interview to boost your confidence; and who celebrates your wins with real joy. She’s currently sponsoring an experiential course for me so I can complete my degree while working full time – an act of generosity that has changed what’s possible for me this semester. Professor Schinoff leads with kindness, remembers what matters to her students, and shows up, consistently and thoughtfully. I’m profoundly grateful for the example she sets, the kindness she leads with, and the mentorship she has given me.”
Julia Birchfield, University of Delaware (Lerner)
“My favorite business professor is Dyson School Senior Lecturer Terry Alexander. I still vividly remember my freshman spring in Introductory Macroeconomics, when I was catching up after having missed a few lectures while sick in the hospital. Instead of rushing through my questions, Terry took the time during office hours to sit with me and work through each lecture step by step, making sure that I truly understood the material and didn’t leave with any lingering questions. One phrase he said to me that stuck was this: ‘Not understanding something doesn’t mean that you aren’t good at it; it simply means that it hasn’t been explained in a way that makes sense to you yet.’ And even in a 400+ person lecture, he would always find ways to make the class feel personable and would remember your name in the hallways outside of class. His encouragement and true love for teaching made a lasting impact on me.”
Jonna Crocker, Cornell University (Dyson)
Kirsten Anderson, Georgetown University (McDonough)
“Having taken five classes with Professor Kirsten Anderson throughout my accounting major, I quickly came to regard her as my favorite professor at Georgetown. First, Professor Anderson’s class was one of the main reasons I decided to pursue the CPA, and since then, she has been extremely supportive in navigating this challenging process. Second, Professor Anderson truly knows how to make accounting topics more interesting by highlighting real-life examples that transfer into our daily lives.
Her classes delve deeper than just the technical rules, forcing us to consider the reasoning for effects on financial statements. For example, when discussing the 2018 change in the corporate tax rate, Professor Anderson had us review annual statements and report the effects from before and after. I remember being struck by how such a small change could have a significant impact on financial performance. On top of this, she makes challenging content seem simple by breaking it down step-by-step, ensuring each student understands it. Finally, she helps build our accounting major community throughout the semester, supporting first- and second-year students through mentorship and upperclassmen through networking. Thank you, Professor Anderson, for making accounting fun these past four years.
Luke Hogan, Georgetown University (McDonough)
“My favorite professor from time at Scheller has been Tim Martin. I have been lucky enough to take four classes with him over the past few years, and his structured, discussion-based teaching approach gives students unique insight into the high-level thinking behind operational decision-making. Professor Martin ties each lesson to the real world by walking students through cases with valuable perspective from his decade of supply chain industry experience. To make learning more meaningful, he often promotes group work and collaboration both inside and outside of class. In addition, Professor Martin is the type of instructor whose love for the subject is evident in how he shows up to class each day. His passion for operations and desire to see each student succeed, not only in his classes but in their careers and lives, are unmatched. I am grateful for the opportunity to have worked with and learned from him during my time at Scheller.”
Caroline Kern, Georgia Tech (Scheller)
“It has to be Professor Pankaj Jagtap. I’m currently in his IT Project Management class, and it is completely different from my other business courses. With over 25 years of experience driving technology-enabled change and leading digital transformation initiatives, he brings real-world stories and insight into every lecture. He doesn’t just teach the frameworks. In each class, he challenges us to think like project managers. He pushes us to participate, defend our reasoning, and apply concepts through real-world case scenarios rather than relying solely on homework, quizzes, and exams. I’ve genuinely enjoyed being a student in his class and look forward to continuing to learn from him.”
Alexander Lammayot, University of Houston (Bauer)
“Professor Anusha Vissapragada is my favorite business professor because she consistently challenges students to reach their full potential while fostering an engaging, supportive classroom environment. She connects deeply with her students and encourages us to push beyond the bare minimum, setting high expectations while genuinely believing in our ability to meet them.
What truly sets Professor Anusha apart is her unwavering support for her students. She is always willing to help, offer guidance, and make time for those seeking advice, academically and personally. Her mentorship creates a sense of trust and confidence that empowers students to take intellectual risks and grow.
Aravinda Garimella, University of Illlinois (Gies)
In addition, her real-world experience as a founder and former corporate professional brings business concepts to life. She integrates practical insights and personal lessons into her teaching, emphasizing resilience, accountability, and becoming better human beings, not just better professionals. Her combination of rigor, care, and real-world perspective has had a lasting impact on my academic and personal development.”
Sofia Iguaran, Hult International Business School
“My favorite business professor was Aravinda Garimella, who taught BADM 352: Database Design and Management. She is truly one of the best teachers I have ever had because she created a classroom environment where every student felt comfortable contributing and genuinely excited to participate. She explained complex database concepts in multiple different ways until everyone understood, always leading with patience and compassion. What stood out most was how deeply she cared about her students: not just academically, but as people – consistently checking in and making sure we felt supported. She connected technical material to real-world applications through her own professional experience, making a highly technical course engaging and meaningful, and I genuinely looked forward to every class.”
Christine Leung, University of Illinois (Gies)
Next Page: Favorite Business Professors From Indiana University to the Wharton School
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