For students like Kenny Sandhu, WG’26, in Wharton’s MBA Program for Executives, the decision to return to school is as much a family commitment as it is a personal one.
When looking at programs, Wharton’s San Francisco cohort stood out immediately. With its proximity to Silicon Valley and emphasis on innovation, it aligned closely with Sandhu’s entrepreneurial interests.
Still, the decision wasn’t easy. Admitted to a local program in Chicago, he and his wife weighed the practical realities of raising three young children, including a newborn who was due a few weeks before he would start school.
“There was real concern about how we would manage everything,” says Sandhu. “But when I visited Wharton’s campus in San Francisco and experienced the supportive, collaborative community, it felt different. We knew it was the right fit and worth the commute.”
Building a Support System at Home
After committing to Wharton, the couple began planning. Sandhu’s mother would move in for a few months after the baby was born to help care for the children. They also found a daycare down the street from their home as well as a nanny in the afternoons, ensuring his wife wouldn’t have to carry the full load alone.
“It’s not just about logistics,” Sandhu explains. “It’s also about being thoughtful with your time and making sure your family feels supported throughout.”
Even with these systems in place, the schedule was demanding, especially when Sandhu opted to partake in elective Block Week classes and Global Modular Courses (GMCs) that would take him away for several days in addition to alternating weekends.
When Life Doesn’t Pause
Those challenges became even more acute when his family faced health scares. One of his children, who has asthma, was hospitalized during the program. “That was one of the toughest moments,” he recalls. “Thankfully, everything turned out okay, but those are the moments where you really feel the weight of being away.”
And yet, Sandhu and his wife never questioned his decision to stay the course.
A World-Class Experience with Immediate Impact
For Sandhu, the value of the program is clear.
“The experience has been incredible,” he says. “The curriculum is immediately applicable to my business. There’s no compromise on quality. This is a world-class MBA with some of the brightest faculty and classmates around the globe.”
As a startup founder and CEO, Sandhu has been able to bring insights directly from the classroom into his work, strengthening both strategy and execution in real time.
Experiential learning opportunities have been particularly transformative. A recent GMC in India reshaped how he thinks about markets and growth. “It expanded my perspective in a way I didn’t expect,” Sandhu explains. “I now see opportunities I wouldn’t have recognized before.”
Finding Community and Lifelong Connections
Equally impactful has been the Wharton community. Through classes taken on the San Francisco and Philadelphia campuses, Block Weeks, and GMCs, Sandhu has built close relationships with students across all three cohorts.
“You don’t expect to form such deep friendships at this stage in life, but you do,” he says. “This isn’t just a network. It’s a family.”
That sense of connection extends to Sandhu’s role as a parent. He is part of informal groups of EMBA parents who share advice, updates, and encouragement. Sandhu also makes a point to integrate his family into the experience whenever possible, attending events together and introducing them to classmates and their families.
Advice for Parents
For prospective students balancing family life, Sandhu offers practical and honest advice: Be intentional.
“When you’re home, show up fully, especially for your partner,” he says. “And recognize that your family is part of this journey. In many ways, they’re doing the MBA with you.”
A Shared Return on Investment
For Sandhu, the rewards extend far beyond career advancement.
“The growth, the knowledge, the people — it’s all worth it,” he says. “Not just for me, but for my family and what we’re building together.”
Read more about Kenny Sandhu’s entrepreneurial journey in Penn’s Venture Initiation Program (VIP).
By Meghan Laska
Posted: June 15, 2026
