Lauder Institute News

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

LAUDER'S MOST FASCINATING STUDENTS At the Lauder Institute, intellectual curiosity isn’t just encouraged—it’s celebrated. Across two cohorts of almost 150 students, a few stand out not just for their achievements but for how they think, engage, and inspire. In a new initiative this year, Brannen Dickson, Joselyn Salazar Garcia, and…Read More Read More

Three New LIV Locations Launched in March March 27, 2025 Students in the Armenia LIV visited the National Assembly of Armenia and met with member of Parliament, Sargis Khandanyan. (Photo courtesy of the National Assembly) During spring break 2025, the Lauder Institute broadened its global footprint with three new Lauder Intercultural…Read More Read More

2025 Lauder Africa Futures Symposium to take place April 4-5 Philadelphia, PA – March 6, 2025 – The Lauder Institute’s 2025 Africa Futures Symposium: Navigating Global Uncertainty will take place on April 4-5, 2025, at the Warwick Hotel in Philadelphia, PA. The symposium convenes leaders from business, academia, and government…Read More Read More

The Joseph H. Lauder Institute of Management and International Studies established the Jacobson Global Venture Awards in 2017 thanks to the generosity of Andrew Jacobson, WG’93, and Lauder alumna Marina Kunis Jacobson, G’93, WG’93. Venture Awards provide Lauder students with funding and resources to support their exemplary entrepreneurial ventures. Cash…Read More Read More

2025 Lauder Global Business Insight Report: Transforming Fractures for a Thriving Tomorrow The 2025 Lauder Global Business Insight Report is now available! This year's report, written by first-year Lauder students in the Class of 2026, explores the myriad ways in which nations, institutions, and individuals are tackling some of society’s…Read More Read More

Exploring Morocco: Lauder Culture Quest 2024 January 8, 2025 Morocco served as the vibrant backdrop for the December 2024 Lauder Culture Quest, an immersive program that brought together 50 Lauder students for a journey through the north African country’s diverse landscapes and rich history. Modeled after an Amazing Race-style competition,…Read More Read More

Launch of New Politics and Policy Program December 12, 2024 Philadelphia, PA – The Lauder Institute at the University of Pennsylvania proudly unveils its new Politics and Policy Program (PPP), a co-curricular initiative that empowers students to explore the critical intersection of business and politics through short-term independent field research.…Read More Read More

The Lauder Institute Returns to Mongolia for its Lauder Intercultural Ventures Program October 22, 2024 All images courtesy of Jen Mintzer The Lauder Institute recently led a group of students to Mongolia as part of its Lauder Intercultural Ventures (LIV) program. LIVs offer a week of deep immersion in another…Read More Read More

BRIDGING CULTURES, BUILDING CONNECTIONS: How Kenric Tsethlikai’s Native Roots Laid the Seeds for International Success Few people understand the inner workings of the Lauder Institute as well as Kenric Tsethlikai. As the Institute’s managing director since 2012, Tsethlikai has played an instrumental role in its operations, helping shape curriculum and…Read More Read More

All Else Equal Podcast now a Lauder Institute Co-Production, Expanding Content with Global Leadership Insights September 18, 2024 Philadelphia, PA — The Lauder Institute at the University of Pennsylvania is pleased to announce that the podcast All Else Equal: Making Better Decisions is now a co-production of the Lauder Institute…Read More Read More

 Journeying Around the Globe: 2024 Summer Immersion Summer Immersion for the Class of 2026 is now in progress. An essential component of the Lauder Institute’s International Studies curriculum, Summer Immersion takes first-year students on a global journey for five weeks, offering a unique blend of field-based and interdisciplinary learning. Under the guidance of faculty directors and ...Read More

AFRICAN NARRATIVES FILM SERIES The Lauder Institute and Penn's Center for Africana Studies are pleased to present African Narratives, a new film series that showcases global African cinema. The series will feature films that explore the diverse complexity of African life and culture and/or highlight the work of its new…Read More Read More

Jules van Binsbergen, Professor of Finance, The Wharton School June 25, 2024 University of Pennsylvania Provost John L. Jackson, Jr. has announced the appointment of Jules van Binsbergen, the Nippon Life Professor in Finance at the Wharton School, as the Lauder Professor and Anthony L. Davis Director of the Joseph…Read More Read More

Master's Thesis Winners Discuss Their Research Reginald H. Jones Research Prizewinners (Graduation 2024) / Pictured from left to right: Kenric Tsethlikai (Lauder Institute Managing Director), Karim Stinner (G24, WG24), Cristian Navarro Delgado (G24, WG24), Maithili Appalwar (G24, WG24) Each year at graduation, the Lauder Institute recognizes academic excellence by awarding…Read More Read More

Over the years, the Lauder Institute has been the birthplace of 68 marriages giving the phrase #LauderLove an even deeper meaning. But what about the couples that arrive at Lauder already married? What are the advantages and challenges of doing a 2-year joint degree program with your significant other? We…Read More Read More

CLASS OF 2024 GRADUATE SHOWCASE ALEXIA SAHUE Africa Program (French) "If you're seeking a transformative experience that shapes you into a dynamic leader, gently pushes your boundaries, and equips you for success in any professional landscape, Lauder is the place to be." Expand for Full InterviewYour hometown Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire…Read More Read More

April 22, 2024 This Earth Day, we highlight the noteworthy efforts of three Lauder alumni who are working actively in their careers to address complex and urgent environmental challenges and build a more sustainable future. All three alumni, who occupy a strategic position at the intersection of business and sustainability,…Read More Read More

New Lauder Course Explores Urban Design, Innovation, and Leadership in Cities Around the Globe April 10, 2024 A new course at the Lauder Institute, The City Paradox: Design, Innovation, and Leadership, explores the intricate nature of cities as both engines of prosperity and arenas of inequality and violence. Led by…Read More Read More

First Lauder Intercultural Venture to Georgia Featured in Penn Today April 1, 2024 Penn Today featured the Lauder Institute’s March 2024 Lauder Intercultural Venture (LIV) to Georgia in Eastern Europe. The venture was the LIV program's first visit to this location. With an "Edge of Empires" theme, the LIV provided…Read More Read More