The Year in Review
After a tumultuous two years of figuring out how to adapt and thrive
in the face of COVID-19, fiscal year 2022 brought a steady return to
normalcy at Harvard Business School. It seemed like two different
years wrapped into one, beginning with an intense effort around
welcoming the entire community back and culminating in a joyous
crescendo of multiple commencements and alumni reunions—with
more than 23,000 in attendance, including graduates, friends, and
family members. Throughout it all, HBS faculty, students, and staff
displayed the resilience, flexibility, and innovative spirit that have
become our hallmark in these challenging times.
Students Arrive
More than 9,700 applicants sought a place in the MBA Program and
nearly 1,000 applicants in the Doctoral Programs; the acceptance
rate for both was highly competitive, at 13 percent and 3 percent,
respectively.
Fellowships in fiscal year 2022 were awarded to 817 MBA students,
with an average fellowship of $43,794.
- Students 1,013
- Applications 9,773
- Acceptance Rate 13%
INCOMING DOCTORAL STUDENTS
- Students 23
- Applications 995
- Acceptance Rate 3%
New Faculty
Twenty-three faculty members, including new tenure-track professors,
visitors, and practitioners, participated in START, a deep-dive
orientation to the School that took place virtually over three days in
July 2021 with one day on campus in August. The program provides an
overview of Harvard Business School and a window into research and
research support at the School, the case method, and the classroom
experience. Teaching faculty join study groups and practice preparing
and opening a case, and then receive feedback and advice from
experienced colleagues.
Faculty Promotions
Two faculty members were promoted in 2022.
FIELD Immersion Experience Returns
After a two-year hiatus because of COVID-19, the first-year required
Field Immersion Experiences for Leadership Development (FIELD)
course returned. Given the unpredictability of pandemic travel
restrictions, the program pivoted to focus on US challenges and
opportunities, taking more than 1,000 students to one of 15 domestic
locations. With a lens on the course’s three modules—contextual
intelligence, team effectiveness, and design thinking—teams took on
challenges in cities such as Tulsa, OK and Columbus, OH. Smaller
group sizes allowed for faster implementation of change and gave
students transferrable concepts and skills to leverage throughout
their careers.
FIELD Immersion Press Release
Synergies Across Executive Education & HBS Online
HBS Online and Executive Education were combined under one
management structure to reflect and respond to emerging trends
toward programs that utilize both in-person and online components,
and will further amplify HBS’s efforts in professional
development. Patrick Mullane, previously at the helm of HBS Online,
took on the newly designed role of Executive Director of Executive
Education and HBS Online, joining Professor Luis Viceira, who serves
as Senior Associate Dean for these groups as well. This new
organizational structure will allow the School to expand and
leverage opportunities across the constituencies and learners they
serve while further strengthening their individual positions and
managing their growth and long-term success.
FY22 was marked by a return to in-person learning. For Executive
Education this meant welcoming over 10,000 participants to campus in
Comprehensive Leadership, Focused, Global, and Custom programs. And,
while the HBS Online portfolio continued its rapid growth with four
new certificate programs and three new Certificates of
Specialization, it also hosted Connext, an annual gathering of
learners, in a hybrid format with over 1,500 attendees, as well as a
campus-based reunion for the Harvard Business Analytics Program’s
400 participants who had attended virtual immersions in 2020 and
2021.
Celebrating 100 Years of the Case Method
The 2021-22 academic year marked the centennial of the introduction
of the case method at Harvard Business School. The very first case,
General Shoe Company, was published in 1921, at a time when the
field of management education was still quite new. Dean Wallace
Donham strongly believed that the best way to teach business
education was by discussion, not by lecture. His visionary approach
had an impact on hundreds of other business schools, thousands of
companies, and millions of managers around the world. The case
method teaches students how to learn: to practice drilling down to
the root cause of issues, asking questions, and listening to others’
viewpoints. A
new website, an
exhibition by
Baker Library Special Collections, numerous community events, as
well as a video collection of faculty discussing their most
impactful cases marked the 100th anniversary of this pedagogy.
Case Method 100 Years Videos
100 Years of Harvard Business Review
The year 1922 was pivotal at HBS not only for the establishment of
the School’s signature teaching methodology, but also for the
creation of Harvard Business Publishing’s flagship publication,
Harvard Business Review (HBR). For the past century, HBR
has been required reading in executive suites around the world and a
sought-after platform for business scholars and thought leaders. In
2022, HBR highlighted its favorite articles and published a new
book,
HBR at 100: The Most Influential and Innovative Articles from
Harvard Business Review’s First Century.
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
Making the MBA Program More Affordable
Over the past several years, the School has taken measures to make
the MBA Program more affordable to students from different
socio-economic backgrounds. Last year, that involved implementing
a new approach to evaluating and awarding need-based scholarships.
In addition to individual income and assets, a student’s
socioeconomic background—including their family’s income and
assets—will also be considered in determining aid. This change
will help better account for intergenerational wealth differences
and help remove a barrier for outstanding candidates from lower
socioeconomic backgrounds, working toward the School’s goal of
strengthening diversity at HBS.
RISE Fellows
As part of the School’s
Action Plan for Advancing Racial Equity, 20 MBA students were selected as the inaugural recipients of the
Recognizing Individuals Seeking Equity (RISE) Fellowship. The fellows
were chosen for their demonstrated commitment to serving Black/African
American, Hispanic/Latinx, and other communities of color within the
US prior to enrolling at HBS.
The 2021 RISE fellows are MBA Class of 2023’s Adán Acevedo, Jerome
Fulton Jr., Amari Griffin, Tarebi John, Zoe Matthew, Alejandro Molina,
Ted Obi, Chidalu Onyenso, Lanita Patton, Nashae Roundtree, David
Velasquez, Mireille Verdonk; and MBA Class of 2022’s Siham Adous,
Aaron Hancock, Brian Hollins, Diego Salas, Devon Sanford, Lucas
Santos, Xonana Scrubb, and Tracey Thompson.
RISE Fellows Profiles Faculty & Staff Demographics
HBS has been publicly tracking and reporting on the composition of
faculty and staff with an eye toward identifying and responding to
trends.
- Total 322
- Female 28%
- Minority 28%
- Total 1,325
- Female 65%
- Minority 26%
Cash House Dedication
On April 11, 2022, James I. Cash, the James E. Robison Professor of
Business Administration, Emeritus, joined Dean
Srikant Datar, former Dean
Nitin Nohria, and University President Lawrence Bacow, to dedicate the newly
named and renovated Cash House. Cash, a prolific teacher, author,
mentor, and scholar of impeccable character, was the first Black
faculty member to receive tenure in 1985. One of the first campus
construction projects completed after the launch of the
Advancing Racial Equity plan, the renovation reflects the School’s efforts to partner with
minority-owned businesses and bolster job site diversity.
Sustainability on Campus & Beyond
Sustainability continues to be a top priority for HBS that cuts
across all aspects of our work from teaching and scholarship to
day-to-day operations. The School’s sustainability framework
focuses on emissions and energy; campus operations; nature and
ecosystems; health and wellbeing; and culture and learning. With
support from Operations, student leadership (Student Sustainability Associates Program), employee engagement (Green Office Program
and HBS Green Team volunteer staff), and Executive Education outreach, the entire community is engaged in this effort, all of which
ties back to our commitment to Harvard’s Sustainability
and
Climate Action Plan.
The School’s influence on sustainability and climate change
extends well beyond campus boundaries.
Faculty research
related to environmental issues comprises nearly 1,000 cases and
teaching materials currently available for use. The
Business and Environment Initiative
inspires innovation and action through activities such as the
popular
Climate Rising
podcast, reaching thousands of listeners around the world.
Campus Sustainability Metrics
-
16 projects have earned LEED certification, the globally
recognized symbol of sustainability achievement and leadership.
-
51% of Klarman Hall irrigation water was supplied by a rain
water tank in calendar year 2021.
-
9 green roofs on campus assisted with stormwater management,
which helped reduce pollution in the Charles River.
-
4 beehives contributed to bee health research and generated
honey for the campus.
Commencements
May 25–26, 2022 marked the first in-person Class Day and
Commencement in two years, with 770 students receiving their MBA
degrees in the Class of 2022. The day also marked the first
graduation of the MS/MBA Biotechnology: Life Sciences cohort of 11
students, a joint program among HBS, the Graduate School of Arts and
Sciences, and Harvard Medical School through the Harvard Department
of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology. In addition, 20 students in
the Doctoral Program earned PhD degrees in programs offered jointly
with the Harvard Graduate School of Arts and Sciences in the fields
of business administration, business economics, and organizational
behavior. Class Day remarks were made by Class of 2022 Student
Association Co-Presidents Brett Andersen and Irvin Gómez followed by
student Class Day speaker Peter James Kiernan, a faculty awards
presentation, as well as Class Day speaker Robert L. Ryan (MBA
1970).
Reunions and commencements were also held for those in the Classes
of 2020 and 2021, whose celebrations were virtual during the
pandemic. Saturday saw receptions and reunion activities, followed
by the opportunity on Sunday for students to join a procession to
Harvard Yard with Harvard University President, Lawrence Bacow.
Afterward, graduates crossed the stage at HBS and celebrated with
their families and friends.
Commencement Press Release
Dean’s Awards
Four members of the HBS MBA Class of 2022 were named the recipients of
the School’s Dean’s Award, which celebrates the extraordinary
achievements of graduating students who have made a positive impact on
Harvard, HBS, and/or broader communities through exceptional acts of
leadership. Aaron Hancock, Peter James Kiernan, Bethany Rolan, and
April Weathers were formally recognized during graduation week.
Dean's Award Press Release
Aaron Hancock
MBA 2022
Peter James Keirnan
MBA 2022
Bethany Rolan
MBA 2022
April Weathers
MBA 2022
Launch of the Digital, Data, and Design Institute at Harvard
The Digital, Data, and Design Institute at Harvard (D^3) strives to
educate the next generation of leaders, reinventing how companies and
organizations will compete and thrive in the age of artificial
intelligence. Based at HBS but open to all faculty across the
University, the Institute will leverage and extend the School’s
strengths and resources as well as University partnerships to bring
cross-disciplinary focus to key business and societal challenges.
The structure of the Institute encompasses research programs and labs
that drive foundational and applied research on topics critical to
business; engagement platforms that catalyze connections among faculty
members, companies, practitioners, and ideas outside of HBS; and a
core that provides key data and administrative services.
More on the Digital, Data, and Design Institute at Harvard
Institute for the Study of Business in Global Society Established
The Institute for the Study of Business in Global Society (BiGS)
brings together a community of students, scholars, and practitioners
to explore the role business can and should play in finding solutions
to complex societal challenges.
BiGS engages faculty from across the School and deploys a diverse
array of methodologies to explore how the power of business can be
harnessed to make capitalism work better. The goal of BiGS and its
faculty is to tie research to practice, developing insights, tools,
and metrics that managers can use to guide their decisions and
leadership goals.
During its initial phase, the Institute will focus on several key
areas, in partnership with related Initiatives and other faculty at HBS. Topics include race, diversity, and
inequality; climate change and sustainability; and economic inclusion.
The inaugural cohort of
BiGS Visiting Fellows
joined the School in fall 2022.
More on the Institute for the Study of Business in Global Society
New Venture Competition Turns 25
Celebrating a quarter century of innovation and entrepreneurship,
the New Venture Competition in March featured 20 student and alumni
finalist teams coming together to compete for a share of $315,000
cash and in-kind prizes. A parallel Tough Technology track
recognizes the unique challenges of companies commercializing
breakthrough technology. This year, 295 teams entered the virtual
competition—117 in the Student Business Track, 48 in the Student
Social Enterprise Track, and 130 in the Alumni Track. Since its
inception in 1997, there have been more than 6,700 participants, and
over $3 million has been awarded to the winning teams.
Winning teams
CashEx, Coprata, Carbon Vacuum, Fleetzero
Runners-up
ClearCut
Surgical, Collective, Feather Health
Crowd favorites
CardioPhi, ClearCut Surgical, SurgiBox
New Venture Competition Press Release and Team VideosRising Scholars Conference Hosted
The School hosted the Rising Scholars Conference, which originated at
Stanford Graduate School of Business in 2020, to support doctoral
student and faculty diversity. Through opportunities to gain feedback,
insight, exposure, and to expand academic networks, the virtual
conference brought together doctoral and postdoctoral students from
across the country who had the opportunity to present their work and
interact with faculty at HBS and other academic institutions.
Alumni Return to Campus
Honoring the School’s commitment to alumni whose in-person reunions
were converted to virtual gatherings due to the pandemic, Reunion
Celebration 2022 saw 37 MBA classes and 22 Executive Education
programs return to campus and reconnect over a span of six weeks.
More than 14,000 attendees engaged in on-campus discussions and
presentations, including over 100 faculty-led programs and
innovative new events like Alumni Dialogues and an Entrepreneurs
Exchange.
First HBS Fund Investors Society Challenge a Success
More than 500 alumni from the 15 most recent MBA classes (2007–2021)
participated in the first-ever HBS Fund Investors Society Challenge in
FY22. Together, they unlocked $1 million from Ben Faw (MBA 2014) and
his wife Julia Yoo, who sponsored the Challenge to motivate fellow
younger alumni to make leadership gifts to the HBS Fund. The Challenge
also helped set a new annual record for Investors Society membership
overall.
Mid-US Research Office Opens
The Mid-US Research Office opened in November 2021 and joins 10 HBS
research centers and eight regional offices located around the
world. In order to capitalize on the varied geographic, demographic,
and business make-up of the Mid-US region, the new office will be
the School’s first “networked” office, with the director, Alicia
Dadlani, based in Columbus, OH and additional staff and researchers
eventually operating from strategic locations throughout the region.
The center works closely with HBS faculty and experts in the field,
developing case studies, managing research projects, performing
in-depth field and on-line research, and representing the School.
Brand Identity Refreshed
The new year brought a refresh to Harvard Business School’s iconic
brand, the first in over a decade. In December, after nearly a year
of research, design, and collaborative effort, Marketing &
Communications unveiled the new wordmark, font, color palette, and
patterns that will represent the School in current and future
websites, publications, collateral, and advertisements. These new
materials will reflect a brand that is engaged, global, inclusive,
innovative, inspiring, and visionary, yet with a strong connection
to the overarching Harvard University brand.
Interview with the DesignersNew Leadership for Information Technology
Elizabeth Clark assumed the role of Chief Information Officer role.
Clark joined HBS in 2012 as managing director of educational
technology services. She has spearheaded initiatives ranging from
the successful implementation of several enterprise technology
solutions—including Canvas, Salesforce, ServiceNow, and Zoom—as well
as ongoing IT operational improvements. Most recently, as deputy
CIO, she led the development and deployment of hybrid and virtual
classroom models that enabled crucial pedagogical flexibility during
the pandemic.
New Leadership for Baker Library
Kenneth Peterson joined HBS as the School’s Executive Director for
Baker Library. Peterson leads his team in acquiring, creating,
managing, preserving, and disseminating information. Baker Library
provides a range of critical services to faculty, staff, and
students including research and course support, information and data
management services, and information products. They also manage
contemporary and historical collections, the HBS Art Collection &
Program, and a content management system and discovery platform.
Campus Art Installed
The HBS Art Collection & Program consists of over 1,000 original
works and serves as a key teaching and learning resource, inspiring
the HBS community to think creatively and incorporate art into their
lives. Four new sculptures debuted on campus as part of the School’s
ongoing contemporary sculpture program. A sculpture by Yinka
Shonibare CBE RA is a new addition to the C. Ludens Ringnes
Sculpture Collection, and a sculpture by Melvin Edwards and two
works by Thaddeus Mosley are on loan to the School for the 2021-2023
exhibition. They join campus sculptures by Mary Frank, Jaume Plensa,
John Safer, and Joel Shapiro in the School’s permanent collection.
Pictured: Wind Sculpture (SG) V, 2019, by Yinka Shonibare CBE RA.
Stainless steel armature with hand painted glass reinforced
polyester cast. 275 1/2 × 100 × 78 5/8 in. C. Ludens Ringnes
Sculpture Collection, Harvard Business School. © Yinka Shonibare
CBE. All Rights Reserved, DACS/ARS, NY 2022. Executive Education
Lawn, Harvard Business School.
Initiatives Fuel Research
Initiatives
are research-fueled communities of engagement where faculty,
students, and alumni connect with practitioners in the field to
develop insights that drive impact. Activities include awarding
fellowships, such as the Goldsmith Fellowship—established in 1988 by
the Horace W. Goldsmith Foundation and Richard L. Menschel (MBA
1959)—to encourage students from the nonprofit and public sector to
attend HBS. Monami Chakraborty, Joe English, Kendall Ernst, Furman
Haynes, Quintin Haynes, Vi Mai, Colin McWatters, Nikita Ramanujam,
Andrew Seo, Amara Warren, and Ava Zhang were 2021 Fellowship
recipients.
Other 2022 Initiative activities included the
Gender and Work Symposium, which turns a critical eye toward current ideas about how to
eradicate inequality, as well as the
Blavatnik Fellowship in Life Science Entrepreneurship, which is a one-year program for alumni in health care startups.
Recipients for 2021-22 were Dan Ahlstedt (MBA 2021), Nicole Black
(PhD 2020), Ying Kai Chan (PhD 2015), Jannine Versi (MBA 2014), and
Ananya Zutshi (MS/MBA 2021).
Executive Fellows Announced
The 31 members of the Executive Fellows Program for the 2021-2022
academic year—the largest cohort yet—leveraged their expertise as
practitioners to enhance teaching and learning at the School.
Activities in which they engage included: co-teaching courses and
Short Intensive Programs (SIPs) in the MBA program; offering
career counseling and development coaching; and delivering
workshop sessions. They also brought their expertise to the
School’s HBS Online and Executive Education programs by
collaborating with faculty in case development and other research
projects.
Executive Fellows Press Release Leadership Fellows
The Leadership Fellows program strives to develop a network of HBS
graduates with cross-sector experience who are committed to
addressing societal issues throughout their careers. The program
is based on University Professor Michael Porter’s vision of
developing a network of HBS graduates with cross-sector experience
who are committed to addressing societal issues throughout their
careers. 2022 Leadership Fellows include:
- Fatima AlBassam, City of Boston Mayor's Office
- Elizabeth Arenz, Environmental Defense Fund
- Sue Chuang, Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts
- Nikita Chuyko, MBTA
- Merve Ciplak, The Juilliard School
- Fiona Liao, Environmental Defense Fund
- Elisa MacColl, MassHealth
- Kaley Martin, City of Detroit Mayor's Office
- Marie Rose Muir, Boston Ballet
- Dan Segal, NewSchools Venture Fund
- Audrey Sheng, Whitney Museum of American Art
- Jenny Zhou, Harlem Children's Zone
Leadership Fellows Press ReleaseAlumni Achievement Awards 50th Cohort
Each year, the School recognizes a small number of outstanding alumni
by conferring on them its highest honor, the Alumni Achievement Award.
Throughout their careers, these distinguished graduates have
contributed significantly to their companies and communities while
upholding the highest standards and values in everything they do.
Exemplary role models, they inspire all those who aspire to have an
impact on both business and society. The 2022 awardees were:
Patricia C. “Tosh” Barron
MBA 1972
Former President, Engineering Systems; Former President, Office
Products Division, Xerox Corporation
Salman A. Khan
MBA 2003 Founder and CEO, Khan Academy
Naina Lal Kidwai
MBA 1982
Former Executive Director, Board of HSBC Asia Pacific; Former
Chair, HSBC India; Founder and Chair, India Sanitation
Coalition
Robert L. Ryan
MBA 1970
Retired Senior VP and CFO, Medtronic Inc.
IN MEMORIAM
- Barbara Cleary, Division of Research and Faculty Development, retired
- Colyer Crum, James R. Williston Professor of Business Administration,
Emeritus
- J. Ronald (Ron) Fox,
Jaime and Josefina Chia Tiampo Professor of Business
Administration, Emeritus
- Joseph (Joe) Dias, Restaurant Associates
- Susan Hamilton, External Relations, retired
- Elizabeth Karpati, MBA Program Office, retired
- Peter J. Martel, Human Resources, retired
- Jane McCormick, MBA Admissions, retired
- Dolores D. Mullin, Audio Visual Services, retired
- Alvin (Al) J. Silk, Lincoln Filene Professor of Business Administration, Emeritus
- Richard (Dick) Eugene Walton, Wallace Brett Donham Professor of Business Administration,
Emeritus
