At Goizueta Business School, education goes beyond traditional business fundamentals. With a focus on innovation, leadership, and adaptability, the school equips students and professionals to thrive in a rapidly changing world. From integrating artificial intelligence into the curriculum to fostering entrepreneurship, advancing career outcomes, and shaping purpose-driven leaders, Goizueta blends rigorous academics with real-world application.
In this Q&A with Gareth James, John H. Harland Dean of Goizueta Business School, we explore how the school prepares its graduates to lead with impact across industries.
Harnessing AI for Business Success
Q: What AI-related courses, degrees, or learning opportunities are available to students? How do you include AI skills development in your MBA program curriculum?
At Goizueta, our commitment to AI spans education, research, and business engagement—positioning us as a leader in preparing individuals and organizations for the future. We integrate AI across both degree programs and executive education to ensure students and professionals are ready to thrive in a rapidly evolving, digital-first business world.
In Emory Executive Education, participants can pursue certificates such as Driving ROI with Analytics, Leading Digital Transformation, and Leveraging AI for Business Success. These programs build the skills to apply modern data strategies, navigate disruption, and lead with confidence.
Within our degree programs, particularly our MBA programs, AI concepts are embedded across core business disciplines such as marketing, finance, and operations, emphasizing its relevance across industries. Dozens of courses integrate AI skills development and dedicated electives, such as AI for Business and Data Management and AI, provide deeper exploration of the technology’s theoretical and practical applications. Students also engage in hands-on projects, case studies, and labs that allow them to apply AI tools directly to real-world business challenges. Our MS in Business Analytics program also offers a dedicated AI for Business track.
By blending technical fluency with leadership development, Goizueta ensures graduates not only understand the language of AI, but are also prepared to drive innovation and meaningful transformation in their organizations.
Building an Entrepreneurial Ecosystem
Q: What support or programs does Goizueta offer for aspiring entrepreneurs?
Entrepreneurship is a cornerstone of the Goizueta experience, powered by an ecosystem that helps students turn ideas into impactful ventures. The Roberto C. Goizueta Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation offers more than a dozen programs—from fellowships and incubators to experiential courses and funding opportunities—designed to support entrepreneurs at every stage and enable our students to refine, launch, and scale their businesses.
Goizueta also works closely with The Hatchery, Emory Center for Innovation, which is designed to empower students with the skillsets and mindsets to be purpose-driven and effective innovators and entrepreneurs.
With award-winning faculty, hands-on learning, and strong connections to Atlanta’s thriving startup community, Goizueta provides the resources, networks, and environment for students to experiment, iterate, and grow as confident entrepreneurial leaders.
Why Today’s Professionals Choose an MBA
Q: What are the top motivators you’re seeing driving professionals to pursue an MBA today? How has that shifted compared to 5+ years ago?
Today’s MBA candidates are looking for a blend of career advancement, adaptability, and purpose. While career growth and leadership development remain central drivers, we’re seeing new forces reshape why professionals choose an MBA.
- Resilience and flexibility: Economic uncertainty has heightened the value of the MBA as a way to build resilience, pivot across industries, and secure long-term career stability.
- Technology fluency: With AI, digital transformation, and data analytics reshaping every sector, students view the MBA as a way to strengthen both technical and strategic skills.
- Purpose-driven business: More than ever, the opportunity to lead with impact is what motivates students—through sustainability, inclusive innovation, or socially conscious business practices.
Compared to 5–10 years ago—when the primary goal of an MBA was to fast-track promotion or compensation—today’s students define success more broadly, prioritizing purpose and adaptability alongside prestige.
Career Support That Delivers Results
Q: What unique opportunities or programs do you offer to help grads rise above in today’s job market?
Goizueta is a top-20 MBA program with top-5 career outcomes. This achievement is no accident—but it driven by the intentional way we prepare graduates for success. Our curriculum blends hard and soft skills employers demand, from analytical thinking and evidence-based decision-making to leadership and technology fluency. Students apply these skills through client projects, experiential learning, and data-driven business challenges that mirror the realities of today’s workplace.
From day one, students also receive personalized support from our Career Management Center, where expert coaches help align career goals with market needs and provide tailored preparation for interviews, networking, and negotiations. Goizueta’s strong employer partnerships and global alumni network open doors to top firms and high-impact opportunities worldwide.
The proof is in the outcomes: record-high salaries and consistently outstanding employment results.
An Integrated Approach to Business Education
Q: Share one example of what makes your Full-time MBA program stand out.
Goizueta stands out for the way we drive both professional and personal growth through our integrated core curriculum. Unlike many business schools that teach accounting, marketing, finance, information systems, and management in isolation, Goizueta takes an interdisciplinary approach. Core courses link together through shared case studies, encouraging students to analyze challenges from multiple business perspectives.
Faculty also use co-teaching, with professors from different disciplines collaborating in the classroom. This approach provides a richer, more connected learning experience. The core curriculum culminates at the end of their first semester in Growth Week. During this capstone project, students synthesize and apply their learnings across all core courses to solve a complex, real-world problem for a corporate partner.
This distinctive approach ensures students graduate with so much more than just the knowledge of individual disciplines. They leave Goizueta armed with the ability to integrate insights, think holistically, and lead with impact.
Explore Goizueta’s innovative business programs and start shaping the future today.
