When Michael Christensen took on the role of deputy vice dean of the Wharton MBA Program for Executives (EMBA), he continued doing what he has always done at Wharton: championing students and the learning experience.
Since joining Wharton’s Management Department in 2022, Christensen has taught EMBA students across all three cohorts, gaining a close view of what he says makes the program distinctive: the caliber of the students, the depth of classroom conversations, and a shared commitment to community and lifelong learning.
Now, as deputy vice dean, he brings that faculty perspective to an expanded role focused on strengthening the academic experience for current and future executive MBA students.
Building the Best Possible Academic Experience
Christensen’s primary goal in his administrative role is “ensuring that every student has an exceptional learning experience. Wharton has so much to offer, and I want to focus on how we bring the best of our faculty, ideas, and resources together for students.”
That includes attracting outstanding faculty, supporting professors in becoming even more effective teachers, and continually evolving the curriculum to meet the needs of experienced executives.
For Christensen, innovation also means enhancing how students learn. “I’m particularly interested in creating even richer experiences for Global cohort students by exploring new technologies and teaching approaches that make virtual learning more interactive and engaging,” he says.
Staying Connected to Students
Although his responsibilities have expanded, Christensen has no plans to leave the classroom.
He continues to teach courses on Strategy & Competitive Advantage, Business Model Innovation, and Strategic Implementation, subjects that explore not only how organizations develop winning strategies but also how leaders successfully execute them.
Remaining an active faculty member is intentional. Christensen explains, “It’s important that students know who I am and that I’m not just a name that appears in emails.”
Whether he’s sharing meals with students during class weekends, visiting Block Week courses, or simply listening to students’ experiences, Christensen believes those conversations are essential to continually improving the program.
“If we’re going to provide the best educational experience possible, we need to understand who our students are, what they want, and what their experiences at Wharton and at their workplaces are like today.”
Learning Never Stops
Christensen’s commitment to continuous improvement extends beyond his own classroom.
One of his priorities as deputy vice dean is observing colleagues in the classroom to learn from them. “I want to experience the classroom from the students’ perspective,” he says. “Our faculty are world-renowned, and we have so much to teach each other. One of the most important things I can do, and what we as faculty members can do, is to simply show up, watch, and listen.”
He sees that same mindset reflected in the Executive MBA community itself.
“Our students are accomplished leaders, but they’re also remarkably humble learners,” says Christensen. “They challenge ideas, share experiences generously, and genuinely want to keep growing.”
A Winding Road to Business Education
Christensen describes his career path to Wharton as a bit unconventional.
As an undergraduate at Harvard, he initially planned to study economics before discovering a passion for the history of art and architecture. After graduation, consulting eventually led him to business school, where he planned to pursue a career in design consulting.
Instead, an unexpected realization changed everything.
“I was trying to figure out what came next,” he recalls. “Then one day I thought, ‘What if I became a professor?’ It felt like a lightning bolt because I loved teaching.”
That moment ultimately led him to earn a Ph.D. in business administration and begin his teaching career at Wharton, a role he considers his “dream job.”
A Community That Extends Beyond the Classroom
Christensen’s commitment to students reflects lessons learned growing up.
His father, Harvard Business School Professor and author Clayton Christensen (author of the best-selling book, “The Innovator’s Dilemma”), instilled the importance of hard work, service, and helping others, regardless of your role or the stage of your career — values that continue to shape how he approaches teaching and leadership.
Today, those values often appear in small but meaningful ways. Michael Christensen helps students move into new homes, delivers meals to growing families, brings homemade baked goods to class, and makes time to connect with students outside formal coursework.
That sense of community is one of the qualities he believes distinguishes the Wharton Executive MBA experience.
Looking Ahead
As Christensen begins this new chapter, his vision is straightforward: Build on the strengths that have made Wharton’s Executive MBA one of the world’s premier programs while continuing to innovate for the future.
By Meghan Laska
Posted: September 14, 2026
