Our latest insights, ideas, and information in response to the global pandemic.
Virtual Programming
A series of faculty-led programs, originally recorded for and with HBS alumni, on how to manage businesses and teams through the pandemic.
Faculty Interview Series
Chief Marketing & Communications Officer Brian Kenny hosts a weekly Zoom interview with faculty, sharing perspectives and advice on navigating through the Coronavirus crisis.
Harvard on the Front Lines
How those in the broader Harvard community are contributing in the fight against COVID-19.
Campus Chronicle
2021
Jan
13 Jan
Lessons from teaching in COVID times
The pandemic has transformed education at Harvard, requiring students and faculty to innovate with online learning. During a recent plenary, deans from across campus looked back on the year with a sense of achievement — and a bit of fatigue as well.
06 Jan
A MESSAGE FROM DEAN SRIKANT DATAR
New Dean Srikant Datar talks about his background, immediate objectives, and recent accomplishments. What makes HBS so special? What makes him proud? What is he most looking forward to? Learn more about our new Dean—during his first few days on the job—in this special episode of the HBS podcast Staff Stories.
04 Jan
Making Harvard Home for the Holidays
As HBS was hunkering down for winter vacation during a global pandemic, members of the community shared why and how they planned to spend their holidays on campus.
2020
Dec
15 Dec
The New Hot Wedding Destination: A Hybrid Classroom
Elena Komarova, an instructional designer in HBS IT, and her fiancé were scheduled to get married in July 2020 in Tuscany. Due to the pandemic they had to cancel their plans. Instead, they found an alternative location that would allow their family, friends and colleagues to join in remotely, and that had a personal meaning for Elena: a hybrid classroom.
07 Dec
A Special Thanksgiving Meal
To celebrate and recognize a most unusual holiday this year, Operations and Restaurant Associates opened Spangler Dining Hall for a special meal on Thanksgiving Day. Forty-nine students and 16 on-campus essential staff were served a complimentary traditional Thanksgiving feast, prepared and served by RA. The meal included roasted turkey and gravy, mashed potatoes, cornbread stuffing, salad, stuffed sweet potatoes, brussels sprouts, and three types of pie.
2020
Nov
30 Nov
Pies for essential staff
Last week, essential on-campus staff, who have been keeping the campus running since the pandemic began, received pies to thank them for all of their dedication and hard work.
18 Nov
New Mural at 135 Western Avenue
This October, Boston-based artist Sophy Tuttle transformed the facade of the old New England Deposit Library at 135 Western Avenue, contributing to Walls on Western, a mural-focused public art program of Zone 3 intended to highlight Boston area artists with a connection to the Allston and Brighton area. Sophy’s nature-focused mural takes up over 3,000 square feet, making the seventh mural in the series the largest one yet.
13 Nov
Student Pespectives on the Case Method
Even during a pandemic the Case Method has defining role in the HBS experience.
2020
Oct
21 Oct
HBS and Harvard’s Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology Receive $25 Million
Gift from The Chris and Carrie Shumway Foundation to Support Leadership in Life Sciences
HBS and Harvard’s Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology (HSCRB) have received a $25 million gift from The Chris (MBA 1993) and Carrie Shumway Foundation to fund programs promoting leadership in life sciences, including the MS/MBA Biotechnology: Life Sciences, a joint degree offered by HBS and the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences and Harvard Medical School through HSCRB
17 Oct
Creating the HBS Hybrid Classrooms: Collaboration, Experimentation, Equity, and Innovation
Faced with multiple uncertainties for the fall 2020 semester, a team of faculty, staff, and students created a unique remote and in-person learning experience that maintains the integrity of the case method pedagogy while ensuring the health and safety of the community.
10 Oct
Srikant Datar Named Dean of Business School
Srikant Datar, the Arthur Lowes Dickinson Professor of Business Administration and the senior associate dean for University affairs at Harvard Business School (HBS), will become the School’s next dean on Jan. 1, 2021.
9 Oct
Harvard Business School Announces Establishment of The Joseph Bower Family Fund
HBS has received a gift from Joseph L. Bower, Donald K. David Professor of Business Administration, Emeritus, to support and strengthen case writing. The Joseph Bower Family Fund will enable faculty members to produce cases with deep learning and insights about important phenomena in business. To begin, the fund will provide support for cases focused on advancing racial equity and the unique challenges facing Black managers, and with diverse protagonists.
02 Oct
Building a Just and Climate-Ready Economy in a Post-COVID World
In recognition of Climate Week, our Business and Environment Initiative organized a University-wide conversation on the scientific basis of climate change and the risks and opportunities it poses for business. Rebecca Henderson, John and Natty McArthur University Professor, and Daniel Schrag, Sturgis Hooper Professor of Geology, teamed up for "Building a Just and Climate-Ready Economy in a Post-COVID World."
2020
Sep
29 Sep
James Cash Honored in HBS Building Renaming
HBS announced that it would honor James I. Cash, a retired HBS faculty member known for breaking barriers for Black people and for his leadership at the School, by renaming a building on its campus. The new Cash House name was unveiled in a virtual town hall attended by faculty, staff, and students.
17 Sep
SEI WELCOMES FIRST-YEAR MBA STUDENTS
In early September, first-year students around the globe logged on for a virtual and warm welcome to the HBS Social Enterprise community by faculty, administrative leaders, and second-year students. The Kick-off was an opportunity for incoming students to meet fellow classmates, and learn about social enterprise related opportunities and resources.
11 Sep
PRIMO Goes Virtual
This summer HBS launched it's first virtual version of the Program for Research in Markets and Organizations (PRIMO), which introduces undergraduates to academic business research. The 2020 program was distinctly different beyond just being online, as it was also the first time that it was open to any undergraduate student in good standing at an American college or university.
04 Sep
Air Quality and Safety at HBS: A Q+A with Facilities Management
Doug Scatterday, senior director of Facilities, and Rich Stewart, director of Facilities, talk about monitoring, evaluating, and upgrading HVAC systems for students return to campus.
2020
Aug
28 Aug
Re-Opening Shad Fitness: Q+A with General Manager Sue LaRose
Shad General Manager Sue LaRose talks about all of the many changes that she and her team have put into place for the community’s health and safety.
28 Aug
A Virtual Welcome to the MBA Class of 2022
Dean Nitin Nohria, along with Professors Jan Rivkin and Matt Weinzeirl, welcomed new MBA students to Harvard Business School, encouraging them to reflect on the leaders they want to become and to dream bigger together.
21 Aug
Dining Re-Entry: Q+A with HBS Food Service Management
This Q&A with HBS Food Service Management highlights new changes and regulations, what the community can expect in the dining facilities, and how everyone can assist in their efforts to provide delicious, thoughtful, and healthy food in a safe and efficient manner.
19 Aug
HBS Re-entry Pilot Day: An Inside Look
Read a first-hand account of how the school's recent re-entry pilot day went from a participant.
14 Aug
"Dear Harby" Provides Comic Relief
"Dear Harby," an Instagram meme account run by students, provides comedic commentary on life at HBS.
10 Aug
Drawing on Experience
Jo Tan (MBA 2021) has filled three notebooks with illustrations inspired by her first year at HBS. She draws to preserve emotions, experiences, and memories and then shares them on Instagram.
03 Aug
Faculty Series Concludes
The Front Row series, which began in mid-May, concluded with a session on the importance of having a clear strategy in today’s turbulent world. Designed to maintain intellectual connections between faculty and students, the series comprised intimate chats, small seminars, and large webinars on a wide range of topics.
2020
Jul
27 Jul
Summer Fellows Focus on Racial Equity
In a Social Enterprise Initiative blog post, five MBA students who received summer fellowships to work with organizations and on projects related to racial equity and justice, talk about their work.
22 Jul
From Teacher to Student
An MBA student and former teacher reflects on her first year of learning from HBS’s amazing professors, who, she says are simply in a league of their own. She describes them as “conductors, bringing together 90 discordant voices and opinions to create a symphony.”
16 Jul
Student Club Convenes Food Security Panel
The Food, Agriculture, and Water Club, along with Professor Forest Reinhardt, hosted a panel of experts last week to explore the pandemic’s exacerbation of global food insecurity. The panelists included the US Permanent Representative to the United Nations Agencies for Food and Agriculture.
13 Jul
Virtual Admissions Programs
Two MBA Admissions programs designed for groups who are traditionally underrepresented in business school and corporate America had went online this summer due to the pandemic. The virtual format drew exponentially more prospective students than ever.
10 Jul
What HBS Faculty Are Reading This Summer
Faculty members share their summer reading lists—drawing from the worlds of technology, history, and fiction to inform their work on campus.
08 Jul
Summer Fellows Respond to COVID-19
This year, a record 162 MBA students received summer fellowships from HBS’s Social Enterprise Initiative to work with organizations and on projects that have significant social impact. In a blog post, 13 of the fellows talk about their work focused on COVID-19 response.
07 Jul
Front Row Series Continues into Summer
Front Row, a series of virtual events launched in May, continues to intellectually engage MBA students through connections with professors and special guests. Recent topics include what business must do to foster diversity and equity with a Snap vice president, and how to successfully reopen K-12 schools with the superintendent of Boston Public Schools.
06 Jul
Helping Gig Workers
Charlotte's NBC News affiliate featured FinGig, a free resource created by two MBA students to help self-employed workers apply for the Paycheck Protection Program. FinGig, which the students founded with support from the Harvard Innovation Labs, has helped more than 400 small businesses.
01 Jul
Playbook for Returning to Campus
A new section of the coronavirus website provides information about returning to campus for MBA students, doctoral students, and executive education participants.
2020
Jun
17 Jun
All Hands on Deck
An article in the June issue of the HBS Alumni Bulletin highlights how the School has mobilized, adapted, and innovated to support students during the pandemic.
11 Jun
Digital Mosaic Commemorates Past Year
A digital mosaic commemorating the 2019-2020 academic year comprises hundreds of photos submitted by HBS students, faculty, and staff. In aggregate, the images depict the iconic Baker Library.
10 Jun
Executive Education Goes Virtual
Beginning in July, HBS Executive Education will offer a new portfolio of virtual programs. These include online versions of on-campus offerings such as Driving Corporate Performance, as well as brand new programs such as Leading Difference for High Performance. Additional programs will continue to launch in the months ahead.
09 Jun
Four Professors Honored with MBA Teaching Awards
The graduating Class of 2020 selected Josh Margolis, Kristin Mugford, Sophus Reinert, and Ting Zhang to receive Faculty Teaching Awards. The awards recognize the professors' excellence and dedication to teaching, and for the positive impact they had both and in and out of the classroom.
05 Jun
Student Venture Features Portable Ventilator
A Boston Globe article features Umbulizer, which developed a reliable, low-cost, and portable ventilator and was cofounded by MBA/MD student Sanchay Gupta. The startup won a grand prize in last month’s Harvard President’s Innovation Challenge and recently received emergency use authorization from the FDA.
04 Jun
Baker Scholars Named
At last week's Commencement ceremony, 50 students were named Baker Scholars. The designation,
Students graduating with High Distinction have earned both First and Second Year Honors and their combined academic accomplishments over their two years put them in the top 5% of the graduating class. These graduates are known as the George F. Baker Scholars.
01 Jun
Meet the Newest Leadership Fellows
Seventeen graduating MBA students have been named Leadership Fellows and will spend the next year bringing their talents to high-impact roles in nonprofit and public-sector organizations, such as the Environmental Defense Fund, Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, and the City of San Jose.
2020
May
29 May
Commencement Recap
Yesterday, HBS celebrated Class Day and its 110th Commencement exercises online. The livestream featured HBS student and alumni speakers, a Harvard-wide keynote by Washington Post executive editor Marty Baron, HBS Dean Nitin Nohria’s Commencement address, and the conferral of diplomas to 932 graduates by section.
28 May
Dean's Award Winners Announced
Nine members of the MBA Class of 2020 have been named recipients of the prestigious Dean’s Award, which celebrates the extraordinary achievements of graduating students who have made a positive impact on Harvard, HBS, and/or the broader community through exceptional acts of leadership.
26 May
From the Front Lines
Poets & Quants profiles a general surgery resident who will join the MBA Class of 2022. He talks about working on the coronavirus front lines, navigating the admissions process while working long shifts at a Boston hospital, and what he hopes to do with his MBA.
22 May
Portrait Project Musings
Meet the students who participated in this year’s Portrait Project. Read their intimate and candid responses to a simple question posed by Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Mary Oliver: "Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?"
21 May
Welcoming Admitted Students
The MBA Admissions team welcomed MBA students admitted in round two through a series of virtual events held throughout the month April.
20 May
Watch the President's Innovation Challenge
Tune in tomorrow night for the President's Innovation Challenge Awards Ceremony, where 25 student and alumni teams from across Harvard will showcase their ventures and vie for prizes totaling $510,000. Register to receive the link.
20 May
Virtual Wedding Bells Ring
Last weekend Gavin Ovsak (MBA/MD 2020) and Parisa Fallah (MD 2020) tied the knot in the HBS dorm where they first met--joined virtually by 200 guests on Zoom. HBS dining staff helped make the occasion special by preparing dinner and a wedding cake for the newlyweds. The couple is among 150 Harvard medical students who moved to the HBS campus to promote social distancing.
18 May
Anything Goes
In the latest “My New Normal” blog post, staff member Danielle Kost writes about working from home while caring for two young children.
15 May
Meet the 2020 Doctoral Graduates
After defending their dissertations virtually, this year’s doctoral graduates are going on to research and teaching positions at the world’s leading business schools and universities, while advising top corporations, nonprofits, and policy organizations. Learn more about them on the Commencement website.
13 May
Moving Executive Education Online
In a Q&A, Joanne Cornetta, the director of program delivery, talks about what it was like for her team to cancel Executive Education programs and how they are shifting future programming online.
14 May
Managing Through Crisis: Innovation, Mission, and Leadership—a Q+A with Harvard i-lab’s
Matt Segneri
Matt Segneri started his new role as Bruce and Bridgitt Evans Executive Director of the Harvard i-lab on March 9. The following morning Harvard announced the move to remote online learning, and shortly thereafter most departments around the University began working remotely. We Zoomed with Matt to ask about what it’s like to begin a new position under these conditions, and what the i-lab is up to now.
12 May
New "Front Row" Series
“Front Row,” a new series of virtual events designed to intellectually engage MBA students through connections with faculty members, launched this week. Participants will be able to discuss current events, preview next year’s elective courses, delve into faculty research, and more.
11 May
How MBA Families are Balancing Classes and Kids
MBA students who are also parents have faced distinctive challenges in balancing classes and kids during the pandemic. A HarBus article talks with four first-year MBA families.
11 May
New Class Day and Commencement Website
On Thursday, May 28, HBS will hold virtual ceremonies celebrating the graduation of the Class of 2020. Visit the newly designed site for the schedule of events, latest updates, student profiles, and more.
08 May
Reflections on Pandemic Symposium
In a Harbus article, Tanishq Bhalla (MBA ’21) shares his key learnings from “Perspectives on the COVID-19 Pandemic," a daylong symposium for first-year MBA students held on April 14.
08 May
Spring a Cappella Concert Goes Virtual
A recording of the "Heard on the Street" spring concert is now available on YouTube. The MBA student a cappella group made creative use of Zoom to perform virtually last month.
07 May
How India Research Center Has Adapted
In a Q&A, Anjali Raina, executive director of the India Research Center, talks about how the pandemic has changed how her team is working.
05 May
Deferral Option for Admitted Students
Poets & Quants and the Harvard Crimson both reported that HBS is the only business school to offer admitted students the option to defer starting the MBA program for one to two years.
6 May
Crisis Leadership Lessons from Shackleton, Former Presidents, and Experts from HBS
and HKS
“In the crucible of a crisis, in all that calamity and uncertainty—when those waves are rolling and high, and the winds are strong—leaders get better in these moments.”
04 May
MBA Student Reflects on New Normal
Jo Tan (MBA 2021) shares her thoughts, photos, and illustrations in “A Day in the Life Journal: My New Normal,” a blog where students and other members of the HBS community reflect on life during the pandemic.
01 May
HBS Faculty Weigh in on Economic Impact
A Harvard Gazette story on the pandemic's economic impact features insights from five HBS faculty, as well as Larry Summers, a University professor and former U.S. treasury secretary who gave a virtual talk for HBS students and alumni last week.
2020
Apr
30 Apr
Faculty Show Their Lighter Sides
Faculty members read aloud from student reviews of their courses in a humorous “Dear Harby” video that won last week’s “HBS Got Talent” charity event.
30 Apr
How the Pandemic is Affecting Community Organizations
People featured in the Harvard Gazette’s “To Serve Better” series, including Rye Barcott (MBA 2009), reflect on how the pandemic is affecting their organizations. Barcott is cofounder and CEO of With Honor, a cross-partisan nonprofit that works to elect veterans to Congress and support their agendas.
30 Apr
New Grant Program for Local Nonprofits
Harvard is piloting a new grant program, administered by the Ed Portal, that will provide funding to Allston-Brighton nonprofit organizations working to address urgent needs exacerbated by the pandemic.
29 Apr
How the Digital Initiative Is Adapting
In a Q&A, the director of the HBS Digital Initiative, David Homa, talks about how his team is adapting. Most notably, they quickly turned their annual Digital Summit, which typically attracts 500 people to campus, into an online event that drew a record 1,300 attendees.
28 Apr
New Coronavirus Course in Development
The pandemic is being incorporated into the curriculum across Harvard. For example, faculty in the MS/MBA Biotechnology: Life Sciences program are developing a new course that will focus on the virus, its interaction with cells, and the therapeutic, epidemiological, and ethical challenges of the pandemic.
27 Apr
Student Activities Go Virtual
In a Q&A, Director of Student Activities Mike Murphy talks about how his team is working to support students and ensure their safety while providing meaningful opportunities to connect online.
23 Apr
Grammy Winner Randy Jackson Joins Student Show
The judges for last night’s “HBS Got Talent” included Randy Jackson, the Grammy-winning producer and beloved “American Idol” judge, as well as HBS Dean NItin Nohria. The student fundraiser raised over $20,000 for pandemic relief.
22 Apr
Crash Course in Saving a Family Business
While completing her first-year MBA studies online, Jiyoon Han (MBA 2021) is also working to help save her family’s business, Bean&Bean Coffee Roasters, by developing an e-commerce site and reaching out to a Rock Center entrepreneur-in-residence for advice.
20 Apr
New Venture Competition Held Online
The finale of the 23rd annual HBS New Venture Competition was conducted entirely online, and the winners were announced last week. Twenty student and alumni teams—winnowed down from 241 entrants—vied for $300,000 in cash and in-kind prizes.
17 Apr
“HBS Got Talent” to Bring Community Together Online
A new School-wide charity event will bring students, faculty, staff, family, friends, and alumni together online and raise money for pandemic relief on Wednesday, April 22, at 7 p.m. The event will feature ten acts, such as a beat boxer, ballet dancer, and comedian, as well as live commentary by an emcee and panel of judges.
17 Apr
Celebrating Earth Day 2020
HBS is commemorating Earth Day’s 50th anniversary with Earthfest, a month-long series of online events, including a pantry challenge, virtual tour, and several talks.
15 Apr
Students Spearhead Unique Fundraising Campaign
Students Carmi Medoff and Becca Milian (both MBA 2020), with guidance from several faculty members, are spearheading "The MBA 1200," a campaign that encourages HBS and other MBA students to donate some or all of their stimulus checks to support local residents, businesses, and relief efforts.
15 Apr
Helping Students Navigate the Changing Job Market
In a Q&A, managing director Kristen Fitzpatrick talks about how HBS Career and Professional Development is helping students navigate the changing landscape for internships and jobs.
14 Apr
Professor to Advise on Reconstruction in Italy
Professor Rafaella Sadun has been tapped by Italy's government to serve on a new Reconstruction Task Force, reporting to the prime minister. The group will provide guidance on when and how to reopen the Italian economy.
14 Apr
MBA Students Procure PPE for Boston Hospitals
WGBH reports that Sophie Bai (MBA 2020) and a team of classmates are working to procure thousands of face shields and goggles from China and send them to Boston-area hospitals—creating a new PPE supply chain.
13 Apr
New SEAS Building Opening Delayed
Harvard’s new Science and Engineering Complex (SEC), located across from HBS in Allston, is moving its planned fall opening to the spring '21 semester due to the temporary suspension of construction work by the City of Boston.
13 Apr
How MBA Admissions Is Adapting to Crisis
In a Q&A, MBA Admissions Director Chad Losee talks about how his team is adapting its activities to support prospective and admitted students.
08 Apr
Staff volunteers play key role in online classes
Online Learning Facilitators (OLFs) have been key to holding classes online. These staff volunteers from across HBS host the Zoom platform for each class, manage class participation, coordinate breakout rooms and document sharing, and provide support to the faculty to ensure that discussions flow smoothly.
07 Apr
Lessons learned from moving classes online
This Cold Call podcast features Professor Srikant Datar talking about how HBS brought 1,800 MBA students and 200 faculty online in under two weeks. This special episode discusses the challenges of scaling under pressure to maintain the highest level of participant-centered learning possible, the lessons learned, and how this crisis may change the way we teach and learn forever.
02 Apr
HBS Food Service Management in the age of Covid-19
On the HBS campus, we look to Restaurant Associates (RA) for thoughtful, delicious, creative meals; for a smile and quick conversation as we wait for our sandwich or check out with our plate of hot food; as well as for catering and service at our many events. We sat down with Andrew Falzone, director of campus and food services, Todd Mulder, RA general manager, and David Fillippetti, RA executive chef, to ask them about what this experience has been like.
02 Apr
Mayors Get Real-Time Advice
Nearly 400 mayors are receiving real-time advice on public health and crisis response through the Bloomberg Harvard City Leadership Initiative, a joint venture between HBS and Harvard Kennedy School. Guest speakers have included former president Bill Clinton, former New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg (MBA 1966), and HBS professor Dutch Leonard.
01 Apr
MBAs Fight COVID-19
Through the HBS COVID-19 Taskforce, a group of MBA students are working with the HBS administration to coordinate the student response to COVID-19 within the Harvard community and beyond. The task force has created an online matching platform that connects MBA students with projects that need MBA skills.
2020
Mar
31 Mar
Startups Help Stop the Spread
More than a dozen current and former participants in the Harvard Innovation Labs’ Venture Incubation Program are creating products and services that have the potential to reduce the spread of the virus, improve patient care, and create community when in-person gatherings are not possible.
26 Mar
First Virtual Faculty Meeting
The School’s first virtual faculty meeting saw record attendance, with more than 250 faculty members participating.
25 Mar
Rapid Digital Transformation
The HBS IT department had to equip and prepare faculty, students, and staff to go from a traditional in-person learning environment to all-digital in just 10 days. For CIO Ron Chandler, that meant a lot of coordination, preparation, and purchasing. In a Q&A, Chandler talks about this high-speed digital transformation.
24 Mar
Professor Reflects on Teaching Online
In a LinkedIn post, Professor Frances Frei reflects on her first day of teaching via Zoom. She found that participation was even greater online than in person and enjoyed focusing on the course’s content. “It was a relief to go deep on leadership topics that were not specifically about our global pandemic,” she wrote.
24 Mar
Crisis Management Program for Alumni
Today HBS launched Crisis Management for Leaders, a five-part series of faculty-led programs offered free to all alumni. A unique collaboration between Executive Education and Alumni Relations, the series exemplifies how HBS can mobilize quickly to support alumni in lifelong learning. More than 7,000 alumni have already signed up for at least one session.
23 Mar
“V-Day” Deemed a Success
HBS’s effort to move classes online by today—dubbed “Virtual Day” or “V-Day”—saw 54 classes transitioned online with only a handful of technical difficulties with breakout rooms and file sharing. More than 20 IT staff members were on hand to provide triage, and key systems such as Canvas and Zoom all sustained the increased load.
23 Mar
Free Online Resources for Educators
Harvard Business Publishing has launched a collection of online resources available free to educators worldwide. The collection, which will be updated regularly, includes webinars, articles, guides, and other resources to help instructors adapt quickly to online teaching.
21 Mar
Virtual Doctoral Defenses
As classes prepare to move online, HBS saw its first two doctoral students defend their dissertations virtually.
2021
Jan
13 Jan
Lessons from teaching in COVID times
The pandemic has transformed education at Harvard, requiring students and faculty to innovate with online learning. During a recent plenary, deans from across campus looked back on the year with a sense of achievement — and a bit of fatigue as well.
06 Jan
A MESSAGE FROM DEAN SRIKANT DATAR
New Dean Srikant Datar talks about his background, immediate objectives, and recent accomplishments. What makes HBS so special? What makes him proud? What is he most looking forward to? Learn more about our new Dean—during his first few days on the job—in this special episode of the HBS podcast Staff Stories.
04 Jan
Making Harvard Home for the Holidays
As HBS was hunkering down for winter vacation during a global pandemic, members of the community shared why and how they planned to spend their holidays on campus.
2020
Dec
15 Dec
The New Hot Wedding Destination: A Hybrid Classroom
Elena Komarova, an instructional designer in HBS IT, and her fiancé were scheduled to get married in July 2020 in Tuscany. Due to the pandemic they had to cancel their plans. Instead, they found an alternative location that would allow their family, friends and colleagues to join in remotely, and that had a personal meaning for Elena: a hybrid classroom.
07 Dec
A Special Thanksgiving Meal
To celebrate and recognize a most unusual holiday this year, Operations and Restaurant Associates opened Spangler Dining Hall for a special meal on Thanksgiving Day. Forty-nine students and 16 on-campus essential staff were served a complimentary traditional Thanksgiving feast, prepared and served by RA. The meal included roasted turkey and gravy, mashed potatoes, cornbread stuffing, salad, stuffed sweet potatoes, brussels sprouts, and three types of pie.
2020
Nov
30 Nov
Pies for essential staff
Last week, essential on-campus staff, who have been keeping the campus running since the pandemic began, received pies to thank them for all of their dedication and hard work.
18 Nov
New Mural at 135 Western Avenue
This October, Boston-based artist Sophy Tuttle transformed the facade of the old New England Deposit Library at 135 Western Avenue, contributing to Walls on Western, a mural-focused public art program of Zone 3 intended to highlight Boston area artists with a connection to the Allston and Brighton area. Sophy’s nature-focused mural takes up over 3,000 square feet, making the seventh mural in the series the largest one yet.
13 Nov
Student Pespectives on the Case Method
Even during a pandemic the Case Method has defining role in the HBS experience.
2020
Oct
21 Oct
HBS and Harvard’s Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology Receive $25 Million
Gift from The Chris and Carrie Shumway Foundation to Support Leadership in Life Sciences
HBS and Harvard’s Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology (HSCRB) have received a $25 million gift from The Chris (MBA 1993) and Carrie Shumway Foundation to fund programs promoting leadership in life sciences, including the MS/MBA Biotechnology: Life Sciences, a joint degree offered by HBS and the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences and Harvard Medical School through HSCRB
17 Oct
Creating the HBS Hybrid Classrooms: Collaboration, Experimentation, Equity, and Innovation
Faced with multiple uncertainties for the fall 2020 semester, a team of faculty, staff, and students created a unique remote and in-person learning experience that maintains the integrity of the case method pedagogy while ensuring the health and safety of the community.
10 Oct
Srikant Datar Named Dean of Business School
Srikant Datar, the Arthur Lowes Dickinson Professor of Business Administration and the senior associate dean for University affairs at Harvard Business School (HBS), will become the School’s next dean on Jan. 1, 2021.
9 Oct
Harvard Business School Announces Establishment of The Joseph Bower Family Fund
HBS has received a gift from Joseph L. Bower, Donald K. David Professor of Business Administration, Emeritus, to support and strengthen case writing. The Joseph Bower Family Fund will enable faculty members to produce cases with deep learning and insights about important phenomena in business. To begin, the fund will provide support for cases focused on advancing racial equity and the unique challenges facing Black managers, and with diverse protagonists.
02 Oct
Building a Just and Climate-Ready Economy in a Post-COVID World
In recognition of Climate Week, our Business and Environment Initiative organized a University-wide conversation on the scientific basis of climate change and the risks and opportunities it poses for business. Rebecca Henderson, John and Natty McArthur University Professor, and Daniel Schrag, Sturgis Hooper Professor of Geology, teamed up for "Building a Just and Climate-Ready Economy in a Post-COVID World."
2020
Sep
29 Sep
James Cash Honored in HBS Building Renaming
HBS announced that it would honor James I. Cash, a retired HBS faculty member known for breaking barriers for Black people and for his leadership at the School, by renaming a building on its campus. The new Cash House name was unveiled in a virtual town hall attended by faculty, staff, and students.
17 Sep
SEI WELCOMES FIRST-YEAR MBA STUDENTS
In early September, first-year students around the globe logged on for a virtual and warm welcome to the HBS Social Enterprise community by faculty, administrative leaders, and second-year students. The Kick-off was an opportunity for incoming students to meet fellow classmates, and learn about social enterprise related opportunities and resources.
11 Sep
PRIMO Goes Virtual
This summer HBS launched it's first virtual version of the Program for Research in Markets and Organizations (PRIMO), which introduces undergraduates to academic business research. The 2020 program was distinctly different beyond just being online, as it was also the first time that it was open to any undergraduate student in good standing at an American college or university.
04 Sep
Air Quality and Safety at HBS: A Q+A with Facilities Management
Doug Scatterday, senior director of Facilities, and Rich Stewart, director of Facilities, talk about monitoring, evaluating, and upgrading HVAC systems for students return to campus.
2020
Aug
28 Aug
Re-Opening Shad Fitness: Q+A with General Manager Sue LaRose
Shad General Manager Sue LaRose talks about all of the many changes that she and her team have put into place for the community’s health and safety.
28 Aug
A Virtual Welcome to the MBA Class of 2022
Dean Nitin Nohria, along with Professors Jan Rivkin and Matt Weinzeirl, welcomed new MBA students to Harvard Business School, encouraging them to reflect on the leaders they want to become and to dream bigger together.
21 Aug
Dining Re-Entry: Q+A with HBS Food Service Management
This Q&A with HBS Food Service Management highlights new changes and regulations, what the community can expect in the dining facilities, and how everyone can assist in their efforts to provide delicious, thoughtful, and healthy food in a safe and efficient manner.
19 Aug
HBS Re-entry Pilot Day: An Inside Look
Read a first-hand account of how the school's recent re-entry pilot day went from a participant.
14 Aug
"Dear Harby" Provides Comic Relief
"Dear Harby," an Instagram meme account run by students, provides comedic commentary on life at HBS.
10 Aug
Drawing on Experience
Jo Tan (MBA 2021) has filled three notebooks with illustrations inspired by her first year at HBS. She draws to preserve emotions, experiences, and memories and then shares them on Instagram.
03 Aug
Faculty Series Concludes
The Front Row series, which began in mid-May, concluded with a session on the importance of having a clear strategy in today’s turbulent world. Designed to maintain intellectual connections between faculty and students, the series comprised intimate chats, small seminars, and large webinars on a wide range of topics.
2020
Jul
27 Jul
Summer Fellows Focus on Racial Equity
In a Social Enterprise Initiative blog post, five MBA students who received summer fellowships to work with organizations and on projects related to racial equity and justice, talk about their work.
22 Jul
From Teacher to Student
An MBA student and former teacher reflects on her first year of learning from HBS’s amazing professors, who, she says are simply in a league of their own. She describes them as “conductors, bringing together 90 discordant voices and opinions to create a symphony.”
16 Jul
Student Club Convenes Food Security Panel
The Food, Agriculture, and Water Club, along with Professor Forest Reinhardt, hosted a panel of experts last week to explore the pandemic’s exacerbation of global food insecurity. The panelists included the US Permanent Representative to the United Nations Agencies for Food and Agriculture.
13 Jul
Virtual Admissions Programs
Two MBA Admissions programs designed for groups who are traditionally underrepresented in business school and corporate America had went online this summer due to the pandemic. The virtual format drew exponentially more prospective students than ever.
10 Jul
What HBS Faculty Are Reading This Summer
Faculty members share their summer reading lists—drawing from the worlds of technology, history, and fiction to inform their work on campus.
08 Jul
Summer Fellows Respond to COVID-19
This year, a record 162 MBA students received summer fellowships from HBS’s Social Enterprise Initiative to work with organizations and on projects that have significant social impact. In a blog post, 13 of the fellows talk about their work focused on COVID-19 response.
07 Jul
Front Row Series Continues into Summer
Front Row, a series of virtual events launched in May, continues to intellectually engage MBA students through connections with professors and special guests. Recent topics include what business must do to foster diversity and equity with a Snap vice president, and how to successfully reopen K-12 schools with the superintendent of Boston Public Schools.
06 Jul
Helping Gig Workers
Charlotte's NBC News affiliate featured FinGig, a free resource created by two MBA students to help self-employed workers apply for the Paycheck Protection Program. FinGig, which the students founded with support from the Harvard Innovation Labs, has helped more than 400 small businesses.
01 Jul
Playbook for Returning to Campus
A new section of the coronavirus website provides information about returning to campus for MBA students, doctoral students, and executive education participants.
2020
Jun
17 Jun
All Hands on Deck
An article in the June issue of the HBS Alumni Bulletin highlights how the School has mobilized, adapted, and innovated to support students during the pandemic.
11 Jun
Digital Mosaic Commemorates Past Year
A digital mosaic commemorating the 2019-2020 academic year comprises hundreds of photos submitted by HBS students, faculty, and staff. In aggregate, the images depict the iconic Baker Library.
10 Jun
Executive Education Goes Virtual
Beginning in July, HBS Executive Education will offer a new portfolio of virtual programs. These include online versions of on-campus offerings such as Driving Corporate Performance, as well as brand new programs such as Leading Difference for High Performance. Additional programs will continue to launch in the months ahead.
09 Jun
Four Professors Honored with MBA Teaching Awards
The graduating Class of 2020 selected Josh Margolis, Kristin Mugford, Sophus Reinert, and Ting Zhang to receive Faculty Teaching Awards. The awards recognize the professors' excellence and dedication to teaching, and for the positive impact they had both and in and out of the classroom.
05 Jun
Student Venture Features Portable Ventilator
A Boston Globe article features Umbulizer, which developed a reliable, low-cost, and portable ventilator and was cofounded by MBA/MD student Sanchay Gupta. The startup won a grand prize in last month’s Harvard President’s Innovation Challenge and recently received emergency use authorization from the FDA.
04 Jun
Baker Scholars Named
At last week's Commencement ceremony, 50 students were named Baker Scholars. The designation,
Students graduating with High Distinction have earned both First and Second Year Honors and their combined academic accomplishments over their two years put them in the top 5% of the graduating class. These graduates are known as the George F. Baker Scholars.
01 Jun
Meet the Newest Leadership Fellows
Seventeen graduating MBA students have been named Leadership Fellows and will spend the next year bringing their talents to high-impact roles in nonprofit and public-sector organizations, such as the Environmental Defense Fund, Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, and the City of San Jose.
2020
May
29 May
Commencement Recap
Yesterday, HBS celebrated Class Day and its 110th Commencement exercises online. The livestream featured HBS student and alumni speakers, a Harvard-wide keynote by Washington Post executive editor Marty Baron, HBS Dean Nitin Nohria’s Commencement address, and the conferral of diplomas to 932 graduates by section.
28 May
Dean's Award Winners Announced
Nine members of the MBA Class of 2020 have been named recipients of the prestigious Dean’s Award, which celebrates the extraordinary achievements of graduating students who have made a positive impact on Harvard, HBS, and/or the broader community through exceptional acts of leadership.
26 May
From the Front Lines
Poets & Quants profiles a general surgery resident who will join the MBA Class of 2022. He talks about working on the coronavirus front lines, navigating the admissions process while working long shifts at a Boston hospital, and what he hopes to do with his MBA.
22 May
Portrait Project Musings
Meet the students who participated in this year’s Portrait Project. Read their intimate and candid responses to a simple question posed by Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Mary Oliver: "Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?"
21 May
Welcoming Admitted Students
The MBA Admissions team welcomed MBA students admitted in round two through a series of virtual events held throughout the month April.
20 May
Watch the President's Innovation Challenge
Tune in tomorrow night for the President's Innovation Challenge Awards Ceremony, where 25 student and alumni teams from across Harvard will showcase their ventures and vie for prizes totaling $510,000. Register to receive the link.
20 May
Virtual Wedding Bells Ring
Last weekend Gavin Ovsak (MBA/MD 2020) and Parisa Fallah (MD 2020) tied the knot in the HBS dorm where they first met--joined virtually by 200 guests on Zoom. HBS dining staff helped make the occasion special by preparing dinner and a wedding cake for the newlyweds. The couple is among 150 Harvard medical students who moved to the HBS campus to promote social distancing.
18 May
Anything Goes
In the latest “My New Normal” blog post, staff member Danielle Kost writes about working from home while caring for two young children.
15 May
Meet the 2020 Doctoral Graduates
After defending their dissertations virtually, this year’s doctoral graduates are going on to research and teaching positions at the world’s leading business schools and universities, while advising top corporations, nonprofits, and policy organizations. Learn more about them on the Commencement website.
13 May
Moving Executive Education Online
In a Q&A, Joanne Cornetta, the director of program delivery, talks about what it was like for her team to cancel Executive Education programs and how they are shifting future programming online.
14 May
Managing Through Crisis: Innovation, Mission, and Leadership—a Q+A with Harvard i-lab’s
Matt Segneri
Matt Segneri started his new role as Bruce and Bridgitt Evans Executive Director of the Harvard i-lab on March 9. The following morning Harvard announced the move to remote online learning, and shortly thereafter most departments around the University began working remotely. We Zoomed with Matt to ask about what it’s like to begin a new position under these conditions, and what the i-lab is up to now.
12 May
New "Front Row" Series
“Front Row,” a new series of virtual events designed to intellectually engage MBA students through connections with faculty members, launched this week. Participants will be able to discuss current events, preview next year’s elective courses, delve into faculty research, and more.
11 May
How MBA Families are Balancing Classes and Kids
MBA students who are also parents have faced distinctive challenges in balancing classes and kids during the pandemic. A HarBus article talks with four first-year MBA families.
11 May
New Class Day and Commencement Website
On Thursday, May 28, HBS will hold virtual ceremonies celebrating the graduation of the Class of 2020. Visit the newly designed site for the schedule of events, latest updates, student profiles, and more.
08 May
Reflections on Pandemic Symposium
In a Harbus article, Tanishq Bhalla (MBA ’21) shares his key learnings from “Perspectives on the COVID-19 Pandemic," a daylong symposium for first-year MBA students held on April 14.
08 May
Spring a Cappella Concert Goes Virtual
A recording of the "Heard on the Street" spring concert is now available on YouTube. The MBA student a cappella group made creative use of Zoom to perform virtually last month.
07 May
How India Research Center Has Adapted
In a Q&A, Anjali Raina, executive director of the India Research Center, talks about how the pandemic has changed how her team is working.
05 May
Deferral Option for Admitted Students
Poets & Quants and the Harvard Crimson both reported that HBS is the only business school to offer admitted students the option to defer starting the MBA program for one to two years.
6 May
Crisis Leadership Lessons from Shackleton, Former Presidents, and Experts from HBS
and HKS
“In the crucible of a crisis, in all that calamity and uncertainty—when those waves are rolling and high, and the winds are strong—leaders get better in these moments.”
04 May
MBA Student Reflects on New Normal
Jo Tan (MBA 2021) shares her thoughts, photos, and illustrations in “A Day in the Life Journal: My New Normal,” a blog where students and other members of the HBS community reflect on life during the pandemic.
01 May
HBS Faculty Weigh in on Economic Impact
A Harvard Gazette story on the pandemic's economic impact features insights from five HBS faculty, as well as Larry Summers, a University professor and former U.S. treasury secretary who gave a virtual talk for HBS students and alumni last week.
2020
Apr
30 Apr
Faculty Show Their Lighter Sides
Faculty members read aloud from student reviews of their courses in a humorous “Dear Harby” video that won last week’s “HBS Got Talent” charity event.
30 Apr
How the Pandemic is Affecting Community Organizations
People featured in the Harvard Gazette’s “To Serve Better” series, including Rye Barcott (MBA 2009), reflect on how the pandemic is affecting their organizations. Barcott is cofounder and CEO of With Honor, a cross-partisan nonprofit that works to elect veterans to Congress and support their agendas.
30 Apr
New Grant Program for Local Nonprofits
Harvard is piloting a new grant program, administered by the Ed Portal, that will provide funding to Allston-Brighton nonprofit organizations working to address urgent needs exacerbated by the pandemic.
29 Apr
How the Digital Initiative Is Adapting
In a Q&A, the director of the HBS Digital Initiative, David Homa, talks about how his team is adapting. Most notably, they quickly turned their annual Digital Summit, which typically attracts 500 people to campus, into an online event that drew a record 1,300 attendees.
28 Apr
New Coronavirus Course in Development
The pandemic is being incorporated into the curriculum across Harvard. For example, faculty in the MS/MBA Biotechnology: Life Sciences program are developing a new course that will focus on the virus, its interaction with cells, and the therapeutic, epidemiological, and ethical challenges of the pandemic.
27 Apr
Student Activities Go Virtual
In a Q&A, Director of Student Activities Mike Murphy talks about how his team is working to support students and ensure their safety while providing meaningful opportunities to connect online.
23 Apr
Grammy Winner Randy Jackson Joins Student Show
The judges for last night’s “HBS Got Talent” included Randy Jackson, the Grammy-winning producer and beloved “American Idol” judge, as well as HBS Dean NItin Nohria. The student fundraiser raised over $20,000 for pandemic relief.
22 Apr
Crash Course in Saving a Family Business
While completing her first-year MBA studies online, Jiyoon Han (MBA 2021) is also working to help save her family’s business, Bean&Bean Coffee Roasters, by developing an e-commerce site and reaching out to a Rock Center entrepreneur-in-residence for advice.
20 Apr
New Venture Competition Held Online
The finale of the 23rd annual HBS New Venture Competition was conducted entirely online, and the winners were announced last week. Twenty student and alumni teams—winnowed down from 241 entrants—vied for $300,000 in cash and in-kind prizes.
17 Apr
“HBS Got Talent” to Bring Community Together Online
A new School-wide charity event will bring students, faculty, staff, family, friends, and alumni together online and raise money for pandemic relief on Wednesday, April 22, at 7 p.m. The event will feature ten acts, such as a beat boxer, ballet dancer, and comedian, as well as live commentary by an emcee and panel of judges.
17 Apr
Celebrating Earth Day 2020
HBS is commemorating Earth Day’s 50th anniversary with Earthfest, a month-long series of online events, including a pantry challenge, virtual tour, and several talks.
15 Apr
Students Spearhead Unique Fundraising Campaign
Students Carmi Medoff and Becca Milian (both MBA 2020), with guidance from several faculty members, are spearheading "The MBA 1200," a campaign that encourages HBS and other MBA students to donate some or all of their stimulus checks to support local residents, businesses, and relief efforts.
15 Apr
Helping Students Navigate the Changing Job Market
In a Q&A, managing director Kristen Fitzpatrick talks about how HBS Career and Professional Development is helping students navigate the changing landscape for internships and jobs.
14 Apr
Professor to Advise on Reconstruction in Italy
Professor Rafaella Sadun has been tapped by Italy's government to serve on a new Reconstruction Task Force, reporting to the prime minister. The group will provide guidance on when and how to reopen the Italian economy.
14 Apr
MBA Students Procure PPE for Boston Hospitals
WGBH reports that Sophie Bai (MBA 2020) and a team of classmates are working to procure thousands of face shields and goggles from China and send them to Boston-area hospitals—creating a new PPE supply chain.
13 Apr
New SEAS Building Opening Delayed
Harvard’s new Science and Engineering Complex (SEC), located across from HBS in Allston, is moving its planned fall opening to the spring '21 semester due to the temporary suspension of construction work by the City of Boston.
13 Apr
How MBA Admissions Is Adapting to Crisis
In a Q&A, MBA Admissions Director Chad Losee talks about how his team is adapting its activities to support prospective and admitted students.
08 Apr
Staff volunteers play key role in online classes
Online Learning Facilitators (OLFs) have been key to holding classes online. These staff volunteers from across HBS host the Zoom platform for each class, manage class participation, coordinate breakout rooms and document sharing, and provide support to the faculty to ensure that discussions flow smoothly.
07 Apr
Lessons learned from moving classes online
This Cold Call podcast features Professor Srikant Datar talking about how HBS brought 1,800 MBA students and 200 faculty online in under two weeks. This special episode discusses the challenges of scaling under pressure to maintain the highest level of participant-centered learning possible, the lessons learned, and how this crisis may change the way we teach and learn forever.
02 Apr
HBS Food Service Management in the age of Covid-19
On the HBS campus, we look to Restaurant Associates (RA) for thoughtful, delicious, creative meals; for a smile and quick conversation as we wait for our sandwich or check out with our plate of hot food; as well as for catering and service at our many events. We sat down with Andrew Falzone, director of campus and food services, Todd Mulder, RA general manager, and David Fillippetti, RA executive chef, to ask them about what this experience has been like.
02 Apr
Mayors Get Real-Time Advice
Nearly 400 mayors are receiving real-time advice on public health and crisis response through the Bloomberg Harvard City Leadership Initiative, a joint venture between HBS and Harvard Kennedy School. Guest speakers have included former president Bill Clinton, former New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg (MBA 1966), and HBS professor Dutch Leonard.
01 Apr
MBAs Fight COVID-19
Through the HBS COVID-19 Taskforce, a group of MBA students are working with the HBS administration to coordinate the student response to COVID-19 within the Harvard community and beyond. The task force has created an online matching platform that connects MBA students with projects that need MBA skills.
2020
Mar
31 Mar
Startups Help Stop the Spread
More than a dozen current and former participants in the Harvard Innovation Labs’ Venture Incubation Program are creating products and services that have the potential to reduce the spread of the virus, improve patient care, and create community when in-person gatherings are not possible.
26 Mar
First Virtual Faculty Meeting
The School’s first virtual faculty meeting saw record attendance, with more than 250 faculty members participating.
25 Mar
Rapid Digital Transformation
The HBS IT department had to equip and prepare faculty, students, and staff to go from a traditional in-person learning environment to all-digital in just 10 days. For CIO Ron Chandler, that meant a lot of coordination, preparation, and purchasing. In a Q&A, Chandler talks about this high-speed digital transformation.
24 Mar
Professor Reflects on Teaching Online
In a LinkedIn post, Professor Frances Frei reflects on her first day of teaching via Zoom. She found that participation was even greater online than in person and enjoyed focusing on the course’s content. “It was a relief to go deep on leadership topics that were not specifically about our global pandemic,” she wrote.
24 Mar
Crisis Management Program for Alumni
Today HBS launched Crisis Management for Leaders, a five-part series of faculty-led programs offered free to all alumni. A unique collaboration between Executive Education and Alumni Relations, the series exemplifies how HBS can mobilize quickly to support alumni in lifelong learning. More than 7,000 alumni have already signed up for at least one session.
23 Mar
“V-Day” Deemed a Success
HBS’s effort to move classes online by today—dubbed “Virtual Day” or “V-Day”—saw 54 classes transitioned online with only a handful of technical difficulties with breakout rooms and file sharing. More than 20 IT staff members were on hand to provide triage, and key systems such as Canvas and Zoom all sustained the increased load.
23 Mar
Free Online Resources for Educators
Harvard Business Publishing has launched a collection of online resources available free to educators worldwide. The collection, which will be updated regularly, includes webinars, articles, guides, and other resources to help instructors adapt quickly to online teaching.
21 Mar
Virtual Doctoral Defenses
As classes prepare to move online, HBS saw its first two doctoral students defend their dissertations virtually.
Business Impact Center
A research hub for policymakers and business practitioners to understand the impact
of coronavirus on the economy and global business.
1/19 Coronavirus update
- 19 JAN 2021
1/12 Coronavirus update
- 12 JAN 2021
Programs and content to help alumni manage and lead in their firms and communities.