Lauder Institute News

Lauder Students Featured in Poets & Quants' MBA Class of 2028 Erik Kellomaki (left) and Mauricio Barrios (right) Two students from the Lauder Institute have been recognized in Poets & Quants' Meet the MBA Class of 2028.  Mauricio Barrios (G28, WG28), a student in Lauder's Latin America (Portuguese) program, is…Read More Read More

Beverly Danquah (G26, L26) on Her JD/MA Experience Beverly Danquah (G26, L26), a recent graduate of Penn Carey Law and the Lauder Institute, discusses her JD/MA journey in a new video from Penn Carey Law. Danquah reflects on how studying at Lauder has given her the opportunity to learn alongside…Read More Read More

A Lauder Intercultural Venture Explores South Korea’s Geoeconomic Balancing Act Published October 23, 2026 Scroll through to see photos → A meeting with Wharton alumnus and TCK Investments Co-CEO Mark Tetto (WG’07) in Bukchon Hanok Village A corporate visit to Coupang, a leading retail and technology company often called the…Read More Read More

Politics and Policy Program / Profile Matthew Yong’s Investigation of Language Equity in Hong Kong Matthew Yong (G26, WG26) Before arriving at Penn as a graduate student, Matthew Yong had spent four years teaching English online to students around the world. A Vancouver native pursuing a joint Wharton MBA and…Read More Read More

Politics and Policy Program Featured in Wharton Magazine Published July 11, 2026 Politics and Policy Program students visit Penn Washington (Photo: Jaycee Scanlon) The Lauder Institute's Politics and Policy Program (PPP) offers students a unique opportunity to explore how geopolitical and regulatory forces shape global business. Through workshops, international fieldwork,…Read More Read More

A Summer of Continental Shifts: Immersion Takes the Class of 2028 Around the World Published June 23, 2026 Scroll through to see photos from all our programs → The East and Southeast Asia–Japanese program visited the Kaminarimon Gate outside Sensō-ji Temple in Tokyo’s historic district of Asakusa. The Global program…Read More Read More

LAUDER CLASS OF 2026 GRADUATE SHOWCASE With the Class of 2026 nearing graduation, we spoke with four students about their experiences in the Lauder MA/Wharton MBA joint-degree program. They reflect on the challenges and advantages of completing two rigorous degrees in a two-year period, and share what lies ahead. Published…Read More Read More

From Clinic to Classroom: How Two Physicians Are Rethinking Healthcare Through Business Published April 5, 2026 From left to right: Lauder/Wharton Students Samuel Nathan (G27, WG27) and Dan Menéndez (G27, WG27) What drives a practicing physician to step away from medicine and pursue an MBA? For Samuel Nathan, a doctor…Read More Read More

Spring Intercultural Ventures Explore Geopolitics and Economic Change On the Ground Published March 25, 2026 Students visit the Dora Observatory in Paju, South Korea, a site that provides scenic views across the Demilitarized Zone at the South-North Korea Border. Photo by Lucienne Chiabra Earlier this month, the Lauder Institute led…Read More Read More

2026 Winners Announced in Milestone Year for Jacobson Competition Published February 13, 2026 The Lauder Institute celebrates the 10th anniversary of the Jacobson Global Venture Awards—Lauder’s flagship pitch competition for student entrepreneurs. Established in 2017 through the generosity of Andrew Jacobson, WG93, and Lauder alumna Marina Kunis Jacobson, G93, WG93,…Read More Read More

A Culture Quest Adventure Across Kenya January 16, 2026 In December 2025, six teams of Lauder students embarked on a Lauder Culture Quest journey to Kenya. This marked the 15th consecutive year of Culture Quest since its founding in 2011, when alumni Davis Smith (G11, WG11) and Greg Mitchell (G11,…Read More Read More

Lauder Institute Marks One Year of the All Else Equal Podcast Published November 17, 2025 The All Else Equal: Making Better Decisions podcast has marked its one-year milestone as a Lauder Institute–Stanford GSB collaboration. Co-hosted by Lauder Institute Director Jules van Binsbergen and fellow finance professor Jonathan Berk, the podcast…Read More Read More

Speaker Series Brings Pulitzer Prize-Winning Journalists to Lauder Published November 11, 2025 This semester, the Lauder Institute hosted two Pulitzer Prize–winning journalists as part of its Fall Speaker Series. David Barboza David Barboza, Co-Founder & CEO of WireScreen, discussed his investigative work mapping the hidden webs of corporate ownership and…Read More Read More

Bridging Tradition and Transformation: A Lauder Intercultural Venture in Oman and the UAE October 24, 2025 Over the October Fall Break, Lauder Institute students embarked on an immersive journey through Oman and the United Arab Emirates to examine how migration, innovation, and cultural memory shape urbanism in the Middle East…Read More Read More

The 'Practical' Magic of Marcy Bevan Published September 25, 2025 Anyone who has been through the doors of the Lauder Institute during its 40-year history has almost certainly met or heard of Marcy Bevan. As the long-time Director of Admissions and Alumni Relations, she is deeply woven into the story…Read More Read More

Lauder Internship Funding Powers Student Impact in Startups and Emerging Markets Published September 15, 2025 Class of 2026 Students From Left: Jhonny Georges, Dania Cortes Cervantes, Long Pham Since 2017, the Lauder Institute has supported select students with funding for summer internships around the world through its Leadership Immersion Internship…Read More Read More

Lauder Institute Launches Expanded Summer Immersion for Class of 2027, Introducing New Geopolitical Themes Published June 24, 2025 The Lauder Institute has launched its signature Summer Immersion Program for the Class of 2027—an intensive experience abroad that serves as a cornerstone of the Institute’s Master of Arts in International Studies,…Read More Read More

Statement on the Passing of Lauder Institute Co-Founder Leonard A. Lauder Published June 16, 2025 It is with profound sadness that The Lauder Institute at the University of Pennsylvania announces the passing of our esteemed co-founder and member of the Board of Governors, Leonard A. Lauder (W’54), at the age of…Read More Read More

LAUDER CLASS OF 2025 GRADUATE SHOWCASE Published May 2, 2025 As the Class of 2025 prepares to graduate, we sat down with four Lauder students to reflect on their journeys through the Lauder/Wharton joint-degree program. In candid interviews, they share what challenged and inspired them—from balancing the demands of two…Read More Read More

Lauder Institute Students Recognized by Poets & Quants Left: Mallika Patkar (G25, WG25) Right: Araceli Sandoval (G26, WG26) Two students from the Lauder Institute have been recognized by Poets & Quants as standout members of the MBA community. Mallika Patkar, named to the MBA Best & Brightest Class of 2025,…Read More Read More