Wharton Stories: Nontraditional

Kathryn Gardner, L’20, WG’20 reflects on her WISE Fellowship with the Social Impact Accelerator, where she analyzed an innovative business model that helps a local staffing company tackle homelessness.

How a Staffing Company Can Tackle Pressing Social Issues

Ben Murray, WG’19, plans to use his Wharton MBA to efficiently scale his businesses in the film industry and beyond.

Why This Visual Effects Artist and Documentary Director Pursued an MBA

Natalia Villarman, WG’20, discusses her transition from working as an elementary school teacher to a career in talent strategy.

Why This Former Elementary School Teacher is Now Pursuing a Career in Talent Strategy

Erin Lomboy, W’21, shares takeaways from the Wharton Industry Exploration Program to Los Angeles on how students can make the most of their resources and look beyond traditional career paths.

3 Lessons This Undergrad Learned from Arts and Entertainment Leaders in Los Angeles

Greg Wallingford, WG’19, was practicing emergency medicine while studying full-time at Wharton, when MGMT 610 inspired him to create a leadership curriculum for physicians.

How a Wharton Class Inspired This ER Doctor to Equip Physicians with Leadership Skills

Working at the not-for-profit J. Paul Getty Trust, Michael de Vera, WG’20, came to Wharton to gain the skills, knowledge, and network to differentiate himself and accelerate his career.

Why This Investment Analyst Says Wharton’s EMBA Program is Worth Self Sponsorship

A nontraditional background has given Yifan Chen, WG’20, a unique perspective on why there’s real value in merging the worlds of tech and business.

Biology, Consulting, and Coding: How This MBA Found His Passion in Tech

From augmented reality to agriculture, these five Penn grads in the new Moelis Advance Access Program are taking risks their business passions before returning to Wharton for their MBAs.

Inaugural Moelis Fellows Share Why They Will Be Returning to Wharton for Their MBAs

How Wharton’s EMBA Program helped Kali Bhandari, WG’18, Camila Noordeloos, WG’18, and Autumn Huiatt, WG’18, launch a venture dedicated to solving gender inequality.

These Three EMBA Alumnae Founded a Startup to Rewrite Gender Stereotypes — and Children’s Classics

Student Robert Chen, WG’19, explains how a Wharton MBA can help “level the playing field” for first-generation college graduates.

How Wharton’s EMBA Program Adds Value for First Generation Students