Honoring the Past, Envisioning the Future

In his farewell address to the community, Jon Levin reminisced about his initial days at Stanford GSB, reflecting on Professor George Parker’s welcome: “Jon, you’ve got the best job in the world.” This sentiment deeply resonates with me as I embrace the role of interim dean. With 24 years at the GSB, I’ve cherished the opportunity to collaborate with leading researchers, inspire emerging leaders, and engage with our esteemed alumni.

I am privileged to work with you to build on this strong foundation. Together, we will continue to challenge the status quo, drive innovation, and shape the leaders of tomorrow. As we approach the GSB’s centennial in 2025 — a pivotal moment to honor our past and envision our future — let me share a few highlights of the year ahead.

This academic year has kicked off with the arrival of the MBA Class of 2026. Together with our returning MBA2, MSx, and PhD students, our vibrant on-campus community now totals over 1,000. Our new head of admissions, Erin Nixon, MBA ’10, is already diligently working with her team to shape our next cohort.

We launched a new graduation requirement, Engaging with Differences, inspired by a collaborative student-faculty initiative. The curriculum promotes broad perspectives and fosters a culture where open, respectful discourse and constructive disagreement thrive — essential qualities for leadership in times of challenge and change. 

This approach informs many of our new endeavors, including the inaugural forum of the Business, Government, and Society (BGS) initiative held in April. Led by Professor Ken Shotts, who teaches our core ethics class, Leading with Values, the initiative will continue to host activities that advance issue-focused, cross-disciplinary research, education, and convenings addressing global challenges.

The GSB continues to expand its reach and impact. The newly established Initiative for Financial Decision-Making (IFDM), in collaboration with the Stanford Institute for Economic Policy Research and the Stanford Department of Economics, aims to elevate personal finance education and research. Supported by Charles Schwab, MBA ’61, and led by Professor Annamaria Lusardi, a world-renowned scholar on financial literacy, IFDM will develop new ways to bring these vital skills to the public.

Highlighting our commitment to empower leaders at every stage of their professional journey, the Stanford LEAD online executive program is poised to celebrate its 10th anniversary, boasting a global network of nearly 6,000 mid-career professionals from 110 countries. Our Pathfinder pilot program, offering GSB courses to Stanford students to complement their undergraduate education, has been an immediate success. Next year, we plan to expand this initiative and launch an online business essentials program targeting undergraduates and early-career professionals.

So, as we approach the GSB’s centennial, we are not only celebrating our rich history but also shaping a future of sustained excellence and influence. The search for our next dean, led by Stanford Provost Jenny Martinez and GSB Professor Neil Malhotra, is central to this pursuit. I am confident in their ability to select a visionary leader to guide us as we continue to innovate, inspire, and lead boldly into our next century.