Favorite Business Professors Of The Class Of 2026

“Kate Christensen is my favorite business professor and a breath of fresh air as a business student. Kate Christensen conducts her class, M344 Creativity and Communication, as an MBA course. Kate teaches students the marketing impact made by all choices made by an individual or business using very timely case examples. These range from analyzing the industry implications of AI through creative choices made in AI Super Bowl commercials to the impact of Indiana Football’s 2026 National Championship win on our brand as IU students.

As she facilitates discussion, she actively challenges limiting assumptions and demonstrates how to better articulate strategic implications of our thinking.

Her classes also regularly build our creativity muscle with exercises such as writing down as many uses for a brick as possible and figuring out how to tie a rope without moving our fingers. Her course is highly engaging for students, without the use of any technology. She constantly connects our class analysis and assignments to her corporate experiences. My favorite quote from her is, “Business is basically one big group project, so get used to it now.” She teaches like a liberal arts professor teaching business, to build the creativity needed to make valuable choices in the age of AI.”
Cristina Grace Liberto, Indiana University (Kelley)

“My favorite business professor is Professor Sona Gala. She transformed Business Law from a required course into the intellectual foundation of my professional ambitions. Professor Gala teaches law as strategy. In her classroom, cases are not historical artifacts. They are frameworks for understanding innovation, intellectual property, competition, and risk. She challenges students to anticipate counterarguments, analyze facts with precision, and defend their reasoning with confidence. What distinguishes her most is her investment in her students. She expects excellence and provides the mentorship necessary to achieve it. Under her guidance, I did not simply learn legal principles. I developed the analytical mindset that confirmed my decision to pursue law school.”
Josh Mizrahi, Loyola Marymount University

“If I had to choose one favorite business professor from my college career, it would be Chris Winchester. Chris was my instructor during the first semester of my freshman year in Leading Self & Teams (BA 1011), and his impact has stayed with me ever since. He raised the bar for what I expected from a professor and consistently held us to high standards that pushed us to be our best. We were genuinely excited to come to class every day, and the experience of taking his course is something I will never forget.

Beyond the classroom, Chris has been an incredible mentor. He encouraged me to pursue a path that felt true to me. Without his guidance, I am not sure I would have realized as quickly that HR was the right career path for me. Through Chris, I discovered that I could combine my passions for DEI and creating impact through HR. I am extremely grateful to have had Chris as both an instructor and mentor so early in my college career. I will always value our relationship and strive to make others feel even a fraction of the support and importance that he made me feel.”
Mia McGraw, University of Minnesota (Carlson)

“Professor Gavin Kilduff. In his class Negotiations and Consensus Building, he taught us how to “expand the pie.” By this, he means instead of fighting for small slices, strive for win-win outcomes. My favorite part of his class was attending the lunches he held for his students, where we all grew much closer by sharing a meal. By the end of the semester, it felt like we had built a real classroom community. Professor Kilduff also has a knack for seeing our unique strengths, deliberately pairing us in scenarios where we would learn from each other best. In this way, he was the perfect negotiator himself, always looking for ways to “expand the pie” and maximize our learning opportunities. I enjoyed his course so much that I asked to join his lab as a research assistant the following semester. Professor Kilduff gave me the confidence needed to engage in difficult conversations about the causes I care about.”
Martin Wu, New York University (Stern)

“Professor Joe Marks made Investments one of the most valuable courses I took at Northeastern. More than any specific concept, he taught me how to think like an investor: weighing risk against return, recognizing what the market might be missing, and staying disciplined when emotions push you toward bad decisions. He genuinely cared about whether we actually understood the material and could apply it beyond the classroom. Plus, his approach to teaching went far beyond memorizing formulas, pushing us to think critically about valuation, question assumptions about market efficiency, and build our own models rather than blindly trusting someone else’s. Going to office hours with Professor Marks never felt like an obligation because he created an environment where asking questions – even basic ones – was always encouraged, and he’d take the time to walk through problems until the intuition clicked. His lessons have stuck with me well beyond the course.”
Aurrel Bhatia, Northeastern University (D’Amore-McKim)

“James Otteson has been the most impactful professor I have had. Before taking his course, I never considered that I could meaningfully integrate my faith into the pursuit of a business career, let alone understand my career as a true vocation. Through his teaching, he has broadened my perspective on how individuals can contribute to the common good and to society as a whole. He has shown me that helping to build the economy of one’s country can be a noble profession when pursued with integrity, purpose, and the right intentions.

After every conversation with Professor Otteson, I leave with renewed inspiration and much to reflect upon. He consistently challenges me to see situations from new angles and to think more deeply about the kind of person I hope to become. Because of his influence, I now view college not merely as a stepping stone toward a career, but as a formative time to grow as an individual and to thoughtfully integrate the many dimensions that make me who I am.”
Grace Zaucha, University of Notre Dame (Mendoza)

“Anyone who has taken a class with Professor Steve Denson knows that he is a fantastic mentor. I’ve taken courses with fabulous professors across the university, but Professor Denson stands out in particular because of his genuine love for teaching – a passion I could feel in his Negotiations class which I took in the spring of my sophomore year. He has a sharp eye for analyzing minute details, an infectious personality that motivates students, the most fascinating stories, and a talent for bringing people together – a skill he used to connect me with 30 new friends that I could say hi to in the hallways. The fact that successful alumni who had taken his class decades before me were willing to come back to lecture or sit in on our negotiations speaks volumes on the kind of professor he is and the impact he makes on the community. What I’m most grateful for, however, is how Professor Denson helped me find my own passion and connected me to what I’ll pursue after graduation. He has certainly changed my SMU experience for the better!”
Juliana Lu, Southern Methodist University (Cox)

“Professor Jon Stauffer is my favorite professor because his passion extends beyond the subject. He is the kind of professor every student hopes to have because of the lasting impact he makes. In his classroom, I learned not only the principles of supply chain management, but also meaningful life lessons about growth, professionalism, and confidence. Professor Stauffer has personally guided me through interview preparation, job negotiations, and important career decisions, and his mentorship has played a significant role in shaping my professional path. He pours into every student he interacts with, and I’m so grateful to have had him during my college career.”
Susan Liu, Texas A&M (Mays)

“Professor James Maxey taught me a lot of the technical and analytical skills that I use the most in my professional work in his Excel and Data Visualization courses. What made him the most impactful professor in my college career was not just what he taught, but how he taught it. Every class starts with a few dad jokes, so no matter how groggy I was from last night’s studying, I always started with a smile and a chuckle. He showed me that great teaching isn’t about credentials, it’s about caring deeply and equipping students with a toolkit that will outlast the classroom.

In all his explanations and lectures, he gives examples rooted in the real world and actual business problems he has faced in his career. That means classes and homework assignments feel less like an exercise and more like practice. Even beyond the classroom, running into Professor Maxey around Neidorff always means I have someone to chat with about extracurriculars or life. When he does stop you, he talks to you as if you are the only person in the room. It is rare to find a professor so personable that you find yourself wanting to take his courses twice just to spend another semester learning from him.

What I admire most about Maxey is his genuine love for teaching. As a retired industry professional, he has no incentive to continue teaching other than a true desire to support and develop his students. That desire is immediately evident in the way he can energize his classroom at 8:30am on a Monday. I am incredibly fortunate to have learned from him.”
José Manuel Salazar Bogado, Trinity University (Neidorff)

“Dr. Kyle Mayer, Vice Dean of MBA Programs and Professor of Management & Organization. Kyle’s been my mentor since before I started at USC—literally since I was a high school senior. What started as advising conversations turned into a real partnership: I proved I could tutor his Executive MBA students as a freshman, we traveled to conferences together, and I helped shape AI strategy for the MBA programs. But Kyle didn’t just give me opportunities, he created a platform where I could push myself and grow. He taught me that competence opens doors, but integrity and judgment keep you in the room. We’ve worked side-by-side for four years, and we will for many more. He’s shown me what thoughtful, values-driven leadership actually looks like. He’s become a lifelong mentor, and I wouldn’t be where I am without the partnership we built together.”
Ty Keough, USC (Marshall)

“My favorite business professor is Professor Katie McDermott. She consistently emphasizes the importance of kindness in business and at work, not just as an idea discussed in class, but as something she actively models with her students.

One lesson I will remember far beyond my time at UVA came from how she responded during an exam I was taking in her class when an emergency occurred on Grounds. She immediately set the exam aside and focused entirely on keeping us calm and supported. Watching her lead with compassion and steady judgment in a difficult moment showed me that leadership and character are revealed under pressure. That actions ultimately matter more than words do.

That experience shaped how I think about leadership. Professor McDermott showed me that strong leaders center people in uncertain moments. How you show up for others when things are difficult truly matters. I’ve done my best to pay this forward to my own students in various teaching assistant roles that I’ve held.”
Pranav Shah, University of Virginia (McIntire)

“Patrick Rishe (Dr. P). I have been fortunate to have had Dr. P as a professor for four classes throughout college. He is the main professor for the Business of Sports minor at WashU, and I have enjoyed every class I’ve had with him. Not only does Dr. P have interesting, engaging lectures, but he also incorporates industry experts as guest speakers into his class, which really enhances our learning experience of the sports industry. Dr P is super smart and has insane expertise. With a PhD in Economics, he brings a unique lens to analyzing the sports industry and the ever-changing dynamics of it.

Additionally, Dr. P cares about each and every one of his students, not just from an academic perspective but as whole individuals. He is always willing to listen, guide, and meet students where they are. Whether that is connecting students with sports industry professionals, like his friends at the St. Louis Cardinals or the Chicago Bears, or simply extending the offer to go grab a coffee or a bit to eat, Dr P truly wants the best for all his students and tries to know us on a personal level.”
Grace Ehlert, Washington University (Olin)

“My favorite business professor is Professor Mason Ashe. I took his Sports Law class without any prior interest in the field, but the way Professor Ashe engaged the class completely changed my experience. He has a unique ability to make complex material interesting and accessible, and he consistently encouraged students to speak up and share their perspectives. What stood out most, though, was how much he showed up for his students beyond the classroom. He advocated for us, made himself available, and genuinely cared about our growth and well-being. His commitment to his students and his passion for teaching made the class one of the most impactful experiences I had at Wharton.”
Leah Elesinmogun, Wharton School

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