Ethical responsibility
Ethical considerations are integral to the HBS experience. Courses like Leadership and Corporate Accountability within the Full-time MBA program teach participants about the “complex responsibilities facing business leaders today” and examine “the legal, ethical, and economic responsibilities of corporate leaders”.
Additionally, the student-led MBA Oath initiative encourages graduates to commit to creating value responsibly and ethically, reflecting a dedication to professional integrity. This voluntary pledge was kickstarted in 2009 by a group of Harbard Business School graduates with the goal of encouraging MBAs to prioritize the broader impact of their decisions. It promotes the idea that business is not just a means to personal or shareholder gain, but a force for societal good. The fact that the movement originated from students is a testament to the culture of ethical responsibility nurtured at Harbard Business School.
Leadership development
At the heart of HBS’s culture – and intrinsically connected to the ethical responsibility of the school – is a commitment to developing leadership skills. The required curriculum in the first year of the Harvard MBA program includes courses like Leadership and Organizational Behavior (LEAD), focusing on how “managers become effective leaders by addressing the human side of enterprise”.
Leadership development is crucial for MBA participants as it equips them to handle complex organizational challenges, inspire teams, and drive meaningful change. Students at HBS know this and make it a priority during their studies and personal growth journey. “I also know that as a leader, I will have to make difficult decisions. Leaders often make decisions based on the numbers alone, but I will also make it a point to look at who these decisions will impact. I will lead authentically not only for myself, but also for those on my team,” highlights Temi Olonilua, MBA Class of 2023.
Collaborative learning environment
One of the ways in which HBS fosters a collaborative learning environment is through the case method and study groups. The school makes a point of encouraging students to share diverse perspectives and learn from one another. Even the school’s values are more specifically referred to as “community values”, emphasizing the importance of supporting and being there for each other.
This emphasis on collaboration is deeply ingrained in the school’s structure, where tight-knit, smaller group interactions ensure that students build lasting relationships that extend well beyond their time in the Harvard MBA. “Although it is one of the largest business schools in the world, our educational approach provides the advantage of smaller groups by centering on sections of about eighty to ninety students who remain closely affiliated with one another throughout their educational programs and beyond,” according to Harvard Business School.
Diversity and inclusion
Since having diverse perspectives in class and outside of it is essential for enriching the MBA learning experience, Harvard Business School strives to create an inclusive environment for its students. The school actively works to address biases and promote gender diversity, acknowledging the need for continuous efforts to foster DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion) in leadership roles. “While it’s important to us that our students’ perspectives vary, they all share three characteristics. Our students are: business-minded, leadership-focused, and growth-oriented,” the official HBS website states, adding: “We deliberately create a class that includes different kinds of leaders, from the front-line manager to the startup founder to the behind-the-scenes thought leader.”
In the MBA Class of 2026 profile, women take up 45% of the class, while 35% of students are international. The 930 enrolled students come from 11 different professional industries, from Consulting to Military. For those interested, there are even breakdowns of GMAT and GRE scores as well as ethnicities represented in class.
“According to research, only a mere 3% of individuals holding an MBA identify as Latinas, and we have among the lowest representation in senior business positions and corporate boards. In part, the strong desire to challenge these statistics fueled my path to apply to HBS,” shares Ana Barrera, MBA Class of 2024 at HBS.
Innovation and adaptability
The culture at Harvard Business School encourages innovation and adaptability. Besides the Full-time MBA, various executive education programs like Leading and Building a Culture of Innovation are also available to help students develop the skills to “cultivate and embed an attitude of constant innovation and reinvention” within organizations.
Of course, the MBA curriculum strengthens this focus on innovation further. Participants have plenty of opportunities to explore real-world challenges and brainstorm creative solutions. By helping them flex their entrepreneurial thinking and providing access to resources such as Harvard Innovation Labs and the HBS Startup Bootcamp, the school empowers students to drive change in any industry they choose for their future.
It’s clear that Harvard Business School’s approach to MBA education goes beyond traditional business training. By emphasizing ethical leadership, collaborative learning, diversity, and innovation, the school prepares students to grow into future-ready leaders who can address global challenges. For those aspiring to make a meaningful difference – whether in business, or in society as a whole, the culture at HBS makes it possible to achieve that.
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