Companies are always fighting for customers and top talent. They want to be first, the best—the most profitable and respected. And they’re constantly searching for any small edge they can find.
Spot a gap? Fill it. Notice a trend? Project it. Sense weakness? Exploit it. Frame, plan, invest, recruit, train. The truth is, the core principles haven’t changed much. In every business failure, one theme keeps coming up: the biggest threat is a failure of imagination.
Business schools face the same challenges. In analytics, the question remains: How do you gather the right data to spot the right patterns so you can take the right action? With AI, leaders are wrestling with how it works, how fast to adopt it, and how far to push it. Then there are the timeless questions: When do you follow the crowd—or strike out on your own? Where should you focus resources for the highest return? And, of course, how do you structure your operations to seize the best opportunities?
These are the questions keeping business school administrators awake at night. Some of their solutions are bound to inspire action. At IMD Business School, the program has revamped its curriculum to teach skills AI can’t replace. Vanderbilt’s Owen Graduate School is pouring $700 million into a Florida campus to serve the most underserved graduate business market in the U.S. Indiana University’s Kelley School now lets full-time MBA students take their second year online, helping them return to work sooner. Meanwhile, ESSEC Business School is reimagining business education entirely through its Rise and Transcend strategies.
These moves make these schools ones to watch in the coming year. How are they breaking from tradition? Why does it matter? What are the early results? Since 2016, Poets&Quants has tracked programs taking risks to enhance the MBA experience. From curriculum overhauls to doubling down on strengths, here’s what the most innovative schools are doing to reshape how business will be done tomorrow.
Kellogg Global Hub
Twenty years is a long time. In that span, Northwestern’s Kellogg School has cycled through five deans and built a 415,000-square-foot Global Hub along Lake Michigan. Back in 2004, Philip Kotler stood alongside Peter Drucker as the most influential business thinker. The Cubs hadn’t yet broken the Curse of the Billy Goat. And analytics, AI, and remote work were still futurist concepts.
Back then, Bloomberg Businessweek’s ranking was the most influential—and Kellogg reigned as the world’s top MBA program. They led from the Jacobs Center, a dated homage to 1970s high school aesthetics. Since 2004, Kellogg had settled into the M7 pack, unable to reclaim its #1 spot in any major full-time MBA ranking.
Until now.
Out of nowhere, Kellogg jumped 11 spots to rank first in Poets&Quants’ 2024-2025 MBA ranking—a weighted blend of The Financial Times, U.S. News, Bloomberg Businessweek, LinkedIn, and Princeton Review rankings. Kellogg’s rise broke Stanford GSB and Wharton’s grip on the top spot, which they’d traded since 2017. Now, Kellogg leads despite its highest individual ranking (2nd) coming from The Princeton Review, which only carries 10% weight in P&Q’s methodology.
Oddly, Kellogg didn’t make huge strides in any ranking except Princeton Review (where it was unranked the previous year). It climbed from 9th to 6th in The Financial Times, helped by improvements in alumni networking and weighted salary. With U.S. News, Kellogg actually slipped to 3rd. But it vaulted from 7th to 3rd in Bloomberg Businessweek, boosting scores in four of five categories—ranking 4th in Networking, 5th in Compensation, and 10th in Learning. These three rankings make up 80% of P&Q’s weight.
LinkedIn accounts for another 10%, and Kellogg moved from 6th to 5th there. But Kellogg secured the top spot thanks to The Princeton Review, which ranks schools across 18 dimensions. Kellogg landed in the top 10 in 12—more than any other school. It scored top 10 averages in five quality-of-life categories based on student surveys: Family Friendliness (2nd), Classroom Experience (3rd), Administration (7th), Best Professors (8th), and Campus Environment (8th). When Princeton Review asked students about curriculum, Kellogg had the highest average score for Management courses, plus 4th for Consulting, 4th for Non-Profits, and 6th for Marketing.
That was enough to dethrone Stanford GSB, which dropped from 3rd to 15th in The Financial Times and barely appeared in Princeton Review.
Can Kellogg hold onto #1? It’s early, but signs are promising. The Class of 2026 hit gender parity after hovering near 48-49% the previous three years. The average GMAT rose two points to 733. On outcomes, Kellogg lost ground in pay and placement—but so did nearly every peer except Columbia Business School. Call it a draw.
That means Kellogg’s future may hinge on student sentiment. Like Tuck and Haas, Kellogg attracts students who value culture and fit. It starts with teamwork. Legend has it, Kellogg students attend over 200 meetings in two years—by design. The school sees the future of work as collaborative, requiring flexibility, communication, cultural understanding, and relationship-building to manage diverse teams. These experiences give Kellogg MBAs an edge, says Greg Hanifee, associate dean for degree programs, in a 2024 P&Q interview.
“Group work is still central at Kellogg. Every course is team-based. We create pods of six to seven students so they bond deeply. There’s camaraderie and competition, but everyone knows the team matters more than the individual. After 11 years here, I’ve seen students come for the group experience, experiential learning, global travel, and the idea that community is everything. They learn they can achieve great things by relying on each other.”
This spirit starts even before campus. KWEST (Kellogg Worldwide Exploration Student Trip) happens each summer, where 20-25 students meet at the airport without knowing their destination. For the first few days, they can’t share personal details like education or past jobs until the “Big Reveal.” KWEST strips away labels, helping students see who their classmates are, not what they are, says 2024 grad Elizabeth Willis.
After a week in places like Thailand or Malta, MBAs keep building these bonds when they arrive at the Global Hub, says second-year Brandon Fazal. “Kellogg students are some of the most energetic, open-minded, friendly people I’ve met. The first weeks were electric—everyone’s open to chatting, planning dinners, or weekend trips to Chicago.”
Innovative programs also help Kellogg stand out. The MMM program combines an MBA with an M.S. in Design Innovation through the Segal Design Institute at McCormick School of Engineering. It dives into AI and human-centered design. In another McCormick collaboration, Kellogg launched MBAi, a joint MBA and MS in Design Innovation spanning five semesters. Emily Haydon, assistant dean for admissions, calls it an “AI-focused MBA” blending machine learning, data science, and business fundamentals. Graduates leave ready to bridge tech and business.
“My MBAi gave me strategic and analytical tools to execute on the job,” says Alfredo Sone Scassi-Buff, a 2023 MBAi grad. “More importantly, it gave me frameworks I’ve used to help clients. On the AI side, the focus on both technical details and business strategy has been key—not just in building AI products but in using AI to build products.”
The degree also helped him build a network, even at Boston Consulting Group. “I collaborate with Kellogg alumni at BCG, some now mentors guiding my career. Whether diving into data or crafting strategies, the synergy between MBAi’s rigor and BCG’s expertise shines.”
Beyond culture, resources, and programs, Kellogg’s staying power comes from its location. It’s an urban school just 30 minutes north of Chicago—home to 15 Fortune 500 companies, a thriving startup scene, world-class dining, arts, and (occasionally) relevant sports teams. Northwestern’s Evanston campus offers a quiet, spacious college town. Students get the best of both worlds: the energy of the city or the peace of suburbia.
“Evanston’s tight-knit feel lets Kellogg students connect inside and outside class,” says Catherine Malloy, graduating this spring. “I love seeing familiar faces at Cubs games or coffee shops. Living steps from 600+ classmates creates camaraderie I’ll never take for granted.”
EDHEC Business School
If you think EDHEC came out of nowhere, you haven’t been paying attention.
Last year, the French school dropped 10 spots to 57th in The Financial Times MBA ranking. It didn’t even crack Bloomberg Businessweek’s top 10. But behind the scenes, EDHEC has been pouring resources into ESG and entrepreneurship—and it paid off. In November, Poets&Quants ranked EDHEC as the top MBA program for entrepreneurship.
How? For starters, EDHEC dedicates 55% of its electives to entrepreneurship—the highest percentage of any school. It also boasts the most entrepreneurs-in-residence (347 in 2023-2024). Entrepreneurship is so ingrained that 100% of EDHEC MBAs engage with startups, and over 60% take entrepreneurship electives.
The school also ranks among the best for startup funding, incubator space, mentorship hours, and faculty teaching innovation. Its entrepreneurship track is the most popular, drawing 27% of the latest graduating class. By graduation, 13% had launched their own venture, and another 10% joined startups.
Entrepreneurship isn’t confined to EDHEC’s Nice campus. The TechForward incubator is based there, where students pitch to investors. But EDHEC also has an incubator in Lille’s historic Jean Arnault campus and rents 110 workstations at Paris’ Station F, the world’s largest startup hub (home to 1,000+ startups and 150 funds). Dean Emmanuel Métais says EDHEC incubates ~100 startups yearly and offers three hours of one-on-one coaching per student with serial entrepreneur Edgardo da Fonseca.
EDHEC doesn’t just teach entrepreneurship—it lives it. In 2012, the school spun off Scientific Beta from its EDHEC-Risk Institute, selling it eight years later for €200 million. The proceeds funded the EDHEC-Risk Climate Impact Institute and a €40 million venture fund, GENERATIONS Powered by EDHEC, backing startups that are “Responsible by Design” (RED).
But EDHEC’s ambitions go beyond entrepreneurship. Its Generations 2050 plan, backed by €270 million, allocates €112 million for campus upgrades and €40 million for green finance. Another €41 million splits between sustainable entrepreneurship and EDHEC AI, while faculty will grow from 170 to 270.
Running through 2028, Generations 2050 has three goals:
- Net-positive models (not just net-zero), including a Centre for Net Positive Business to fight food insecurity and construction emissions.
- Advancing climate science via a Climate Finance School and the EDHEC-Risk Climate Impact Institute.
- A Transformative Journey—a learning path for managing organizational change using economics and environmental tools.
“From the start, EDHEC focused on the human side of business,” says Métais. “We believe business must have a positive impact. Through research and education, we prepare students to transform society.”
EDHEC’s 9,500 students span Nice, Paris, London, and Singapore. Its 10-month MBA hosts ~80 students from 30 countries yearly, alongside a 16-month EMBA and top-ranked MiM (4th globally, per FT).
Recent launches include:
- A Global Economic Transformation & Technology (GETT) Europe Master’s, partnering with Imperial College and ESMT Berlin.
- A 24-month Online MBA (€39,000), blending green finance, AI, and digital “learning expeditions” (virtual company tours).
“We offer an outstanding experience at a reasonable cost,” says Métais. “And our MBA is on the French Riviera—lifestyle matters too.”
Vanderbilt Owen Graduate School of Management
Florida has 22 million people—but just one top-50 MBA program (with ~120 students). Compare that to Texas (30M people, six top-50 programs) or Georgia (half Florida’s population, three top-30 programs).
That gap spells opportunity—and Vanderbilt’s Owen School is seizing it.
Last April, Owen announced a game-changing expansion: a new West Palm Beach campus for 1,000+ master’s and doctoral students, with an estimated $700 million investment and 80-90 faculty. The plan includes a business school and a college of computer science/AI, built on seven acres of government land.
“There’s been a huge flight of capital to South Florida,” says Dean Thomas Steenburgh. “This aligns with our brand and taps into explosive economic growth—like real estate.”
The move is bold in an era where many schools are retreating from the two-year, on-campus model. But Owen has momentum:
- Rankings jumps: 20th (U.S. News, up from 27th), 20th (Bloomberg, up from 25th), 19th (LinkedIn, up from 21st).
- Top-3 scores for Faculty, Family Friendliness, and Campus Environment (Princeton Review).
- A healthcare powerhouse, leveraging Nashville’s 900+ healthcare firms (including HCA Healthcare, $65B revenue).
Owen’s Leadership Development Program (LDP), co-run with Korn Ferry and Hogan, is another standout. 90% of grads complete it, gaining skills in communication, executive presence, and teamwork.
“LDP gives students Fortune 500-level coaching,” says Bailey McChesney, admissions director. “It’s tailored, flexible, and makes them more competitive.”
Structurally, Owen uses “Mods” (quarterly terms) to expose students to more topics. Its new Convoy Conference (a mix of SXSW and Davos) brings 100+ alumni and industry leaders to campus for networking and panels on VC, PE, and startups.
With a $55M renovation of its Management Hall complete, Owen is eyeing bigger swings—like Florida. “We don’t do anything second-rate,” says Steenburgh. “Business schools are expensive.”
IESE Business School
Get bigger. Get better. Get bolder. That’s the mantra for IESE, the Iberian Ivy known for case method rigor, global reach, and humanistic values.
In May, IESE announced a 20% increase in its MBA intake—from 350 to 420 students, the first expansion in eight years. Demand was even higher: 445 enrolled, with applications up 16% and women hitting a record 40%. The Class of 2026 is 88% international, with no single nationality above 14%.
“Bigger programs attract recruiters,” says Prof. Mireia Las Heras. “And a larger alumni network means lifelong connections.”
IESE’s case-study focus means 600 cases and 4,000 pages of reading in two years. “Every case had someone who’d lived it,” says ’24 grad Markus Kaschnigg. “You realize your ‘obvious’ solution only covers 10-30% of the problem.”
The school thrives on ESG and entrepreneurship:
- #2 MBA for ESG (Financial Times).
- 30% of grads start businesses within five years.
- Barcelona’s 5th-ranked startup ecosystem (per StartupBlink) fuels opportunities.
“Barcelona is terrace-weather year-round,” says ’24 grad Emeline Beltjens. “Not too big, not too small—perfect for cycling to Christmas markets or the beach.”
Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College
Some schools measure success in rankings. Others track endowment growth. At Tuck, they measure it in satisfied students – and by that metric, 2024 was a banner year.
Applications skyrocketed 36% for the Class of 2026, hitting an all-time high of 2,734. While peer schools like Columbia and MIT saw similar jumps, Tuck remained fiercely selective at just 31.2% acceptance. The incoming class brought higher GMATs and GPAs too.
When the job market wobbled in 2024, Tuck proved resilient. While three-month placement dipped slightly to 91%, that still bested peers like NYU Stern (86%) and Duke Fuqua (85%). Even more impressive? Average compensation actually **rose 300∗∗to300∗∗to200,200 while rivals saw declines.
But the real proof is in alumni satisfaction. Tuck scored a 9.724/10 in FT’s survey – second only to Stanford GSB among top programs. This loyalty shows in their wallets too: Tuck’s recent campaign
Why such devotion? It starts with Tuck’s famously tight-knit community in Hanover, NH. “The number of leadership opportunities matches the number of students,” says ’23 grad Andrew Key. First-year James Lewis calls it a “24×7 MBA” where classmates bond over hiking, apple picking, and ski trips.
The school keeps innovating too:
- Tuck Sprints: Short courses on timely topics
- Tuck Compass: A “Personal Board of Advisors” (leadership coach, alum, career advisor)
- Team of 100: Alumni donors funding scholarships
As first-year Ignacia Ulloa Peters puts it: “Swimming in the Connecticut River by summer, gravel biking through fall foliage, skiing in winter – this access to nature was why I chose Tuck.”
IMD Business School
Imagine being ranked #1 in Europe four of the last five years. Most schools would rest on those laurels. Not IMD. When AI started disrupting management roles, they tore up their playbook.
“We reorganized everything,” says MBA Dean Omar Toulan. “I’ve yet to see an AI system that can lead. You still need human judgment and courage.”
Starting January 2025, IMD focuses on 10 irreplaceable skills:
- Systems thinking
- Pattern recognition
- Structured problem-solving
- Decision making
- Scenario planning
- Divergent/convergent thinking
- Quantifying strategies
- Asking good questions
- Storytelling
- Strategic presence
AI now helps grade presentations, but humans still lead. The new Future Lab immersion in Singapore exposes students to AI applications, while all alumni get access to IMD’s GenAI platform with lecture recordings and research.
“We’re not defensive about AI,” says Toulan. “We teach students to partner with it.”
Kelley School of Business
Two years out of work is a big ask. Kelley’s solution? Let MBAs take their second year online.
The new Full-Time +Flex MBA addresses the “opportunity cost” dilemma. Students complete Year 1 in Bloomington, then can work while finishing online. At ~$145K average starting salaries, this helps grads recoup costs faster.
“We’re first movers here,” says Vice Dean Patrick Hopkins. The program leverages Kelley Direct’s top-ranked online platform (#1 in U.S. News).
Kelley’s strengths run deep:
- #4 career services (FT student survey)
- Top 10 marketing faculty (Princeton Review)
- Me, Inc.: A 3-week intensive helping students craft their personal brand
- Academies: Industry immersions in consulting, healthcare, and more
“Coming from LA, I love how close everything is here,” says ’23 grad Brittany Bolden. “You build deeper connections when classmates live minutes away.”
Tepper School of Business
At Carnegie Mellon’s Tepper School, they’ve turned the “quant jock” stereotype into a superpower. While famous for analytics, Tepper balances this with surprising warmth.
The school’s Intelligent Future initiative embraces AI across coursework:
- Marketing classes use LLM-based consumer simulations
- The Swartz Center for Entrepreneurship partners with corporations on AI solutions
- All students benefit from CMU’s top-ranked computer science resources
But don’t mistake this for a tech-only program. Students complete 2,000+ coaching sessions annually, and the Accelerate Leadership Center focuses on emotional intelligence and cultural humility.
“Professors start from basics,” says ’22 grad Shravya Amarnath. “There’s tons of support – tutors, study groups, office hours.”
The approach works: Tepper cracked Bloomberg’s top 10 in 2024, ranking #3 for entrepreneurship.
Wharton School
When Wharton moves, the business education world watches. Their latest play? Going all-in on AI.
The school is:
- Giving all MBAs ChatGPT Enterprise licenses
- Launching a Wharton AI Research Fund
- Creating an Education Innovation Fund for AI curriculum
- Partnering with Penn’s world-class engineering school
“Fluency in AI isn’t optional anymore,” says Deputy Dean Nancy Rothbard.
With 240+ faculty stars like Adam Grant and over 100,000 alumni, Wharton has unmatched scale. It shows in rankings (#1 in FT and U.S. News) and program breadth (21 majors, 200+ electives).
First-year Claire North appreciates the flexibility: “I can take healthcare, entrepreneurship and blockchain courses while getting core business skills.”
ESSEC Business School
France’s ESSEC is betting big on transformation. Its RISE (2020-2024) and Transcend (2024-2028) strategies blend humanistic values with future-ready skills.
Key moves:
- Metalab for Data, Technology & Society: Cross-disciplinary research hub
- ESSEC Momentum Studio: Incubator for “DeepTech for Good” startups
- Career Learning Labs: Industry-led workshops in luxury, finance, and more
“We’re not just transferring knowledge,” says Dean Vincenzo Vinzi. “We’re creating actors of change.”
The revamped Global MBA now focuses on sustainability, digital, and innovation. Applications jumped 54%, proving students want this mix.
With campuses from Singapore to Morocco and a new Hybrid EMBA, ESSEC is walking its talk about global impact. As Vinzi puts it: “Business must solve society’s challenges.”