As the calendar year comes to a close, Georgetown’s McDonough School of Business is celebrating the successes, milestones, and accomplishments of 2023. We advanced key strategic initiatives, announced new programs, came together as a community, and took important strides in preparing global-ready leaders to make a difference in the world.

These moments would not be possible without the support of our entire community of students, alumni, faculty, staff, and friends who continue to embody the school’s mission as a leading Jesuit business school that inspires ethical leaders to serve the common good. 

Explore some of our top moments from 2023:

We expanded our global presence, traveled across the world to gain international perspectives in business, and elevated our thought leadership at the intersection of business and global affairs.

Georgetown McDonough Launches New Executive Master of Business Administration Program in the UAE

Georgetown McDonough announced the launch of its new Executive MBA program at the Dubai International Financial Center Academy to serve as a platform for senior decision-makers and executives to advance their international and regional business capabilities and gain a deeper understanding of how to lead public or private organizations in the Middle East, North Africa, and South Asia (MENASA) region and beyond.

Multifaceted Gift Supports Future Leaders in Global Business

Joseph (B’93) and Abigail (SFS’96) Baratta have made an $11 million gift to the McDonough School of Business to support Georgetown McDonough’s ambition to become the world’s premier destination to study global business.

Baratta Center Addresses the Future of Global Business During Inaugural Conference

Experts, policymakers, and members of the Georgetown University community came together at the McDonough School of Business for the inaugural Future of Global Business Conference to address topics such as global value chains, cross-border investing, artificial intelligence, and the future of globalization.

From Washington, D.C., to the World: Georgetown Custom Executive Education Expands Across the Middle East through the WIn Fellowship Program

Georgetown McDonough’s Office of Executive Education has expanded its corporate partnerships to the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, including its most recent client success story: the Women Innovators (WIn Fellowship) program.

• Georgetown Students Travel Across the Globe for Business Consulting Projects
• Georgetown McDonough Flex MBA Students on Traveling to Italy and Argentina with the Global Business Experience
• MSF Students Deliver Consulting Presentations Around the Globe
• Georgetown Startup Interns’ First Cohort Travels to Mexico City on a Business Expedition
• Georgetown McDonough MA-IBP Students Journey to Vietnam for their International Residency
• Exploring the Beat of K-Pop and Fashion: An EMBA Adventure in South Korea

We advanced research and dialogue on key topics facing the business world – and had some fun with it, too.

Business of Sustainability Initiative Convenes Experts to Address Decarbonization Strategies

Over 300 students, business leaders, policymakers, and sustainability experts gathered at Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business to discuss critical issues related to decarbonization strategies during the inaugural Leadership and Innovation Summit. The summit was hosted by the school’s Business of Sustainability Initiative, focusing on topics such as carbon offsets, renewable energy, and the supply chain and circular economy.

Financial Markets Experts Discuss Opportunities and Challenges at Annual Psaros Center Conference

The Georgetown Psaros Center for Financial Markets and Policy hosted its annual Financial Markets Quality Conference (FMQ) on November 15, 2023. Leading policymakers and industry leaders discussed key policy and regulatory issues impacting market structure, artificial intelligence and the financial sector, climate disclosure, digital assets, and crypto markets.

Georgetown’s Steers Center for Global Real Estate Convenes Experts to Simulate Climate Change Effects on D.C. Infrastructure

The Steers Center for Global Real Estate at Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business convened leading environmental, financial, and governmental stakeholders to discuss the issue of flooding and rising sea levels as it pertains to the future of real estate infrastructure in the Washington, D.C., area. 

AI Expert Reveals Top Tips for Students to Outsmart Artificial Intelligence

To get a better understanding of AI and what it means for students and the future of education, Nick Lovegrove, professor of the practice at Georgetown McDonough’s School of Business, explains what AI means for students today and how students can prepare to succeed in a society filled with AI.

Georgetown Study Finds Essential Workers Carry Brunt of Medical Debt

A new report released by Business for Impact at Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business found that asset-limited, income-constrained and employed (ALICE) patients are currently experiencing the most significant burden of medical debt in collections, do not qualify for medical debt forgiveness, and their financial hardship is steadily escalating.

Rachel Pacheco on Providing Practical Lessons for New Managers

In her recent book, Bringing Up the Boss: Practical Lessons for New Managers, Rachel Pacheco, assistant teaching professor of management at Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business, provides practical tips and tricks for new managers who are looking for ways to best serve their organizations and create positive work environments.

José Guerrero on Cultivating Trust in a Digital World

In his recent book he co-edited, Trust, Digital Business, and Technology, José-Luis Guerrero-Cusumano, associate professor of operations at Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business, examines the challenges facing digital trust in business and society as well as the impact trust has on social media and information technologies.

Hollywood Strikes Explained by a Labor Negotiations Expert

In Hollywood, while the strikes paralyzed the entertainment industry, shuttered production sets, postponed the Emmy Awards, and stalled multiple future blockbuster movies, Catherine Tinsley, an expert in business and conflict negotiations, explained the goals of the unions and studios, what leverage each side has, and how these strikes could impact fan-favorite TV shows and films.

We harnessed the power of innovation and entrepreneurship to serve the common good and positively impact society.

Georgetown Entrepreneurs Win $125,000 in Prizes During Annual ‘Bark Tank’ Pitch Competition

Eight student teams on a mission to make a positive impact on society presented their startup ideas to a panel of expert judges during the Leonsis Family Entrepreneurship Prize “Bark Tank” Pitch Competition on Thursday, October 26, 2023, at Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business, taking home $125,000 in prizes.

How Naomi Hansen (B’95) is Battling Food Insecurity Through Backyard Gardens

Each year, an estimated 54 million Americans will face food insecurity. It’s a massive problem expected to get worse, but Naomi Hansen (B’95) and her team at Fresh Food Connect have found a source that might contribute to the solution – backyard gardens.

Alumni-founded Budeli Promotes Visibility and Acceptance for LGBTQIA+ Entrepreneurs

Carlos Bello (MBA’22), founder and CEO of Budeli, created the company with the goal of breaking down additional financial barriers of traditional food delivery services. Today, Budeli charges a two dollar delivery fee, which accounts for the company’s food transportation costs to select apartment buildings, commercial properties, and other designated delivery locations.

Georgetown McDonough Alumnus Creates a Transparent Supply Chain for Coffee with ifinca

A trip to a rural area of Colombia led Alexander Barrett (EMBA’17) to launch his latest business venture, ifinca, a technology services company that uses patent-pending technology to create transparent supply chains and support local Columbian farmers from bean to cup.

Undergraduates Lead First Student-Run Venture Capital Summit on Campus

Georgetown McDonough undergraduate students Phoebe Martin (B’24), Devon Pasieka (B’25), Trip Gorman (SFS’24), Bryant Hill (B’24), Andrew Deves (B’25), Carolina O’Leary (SFS’25), and Quinten Dreesman (SFS’23) convened renowned leaders at the intersection of venture capital, entrepreneurship, and public policy for the first student-led Venture in the Capital Summit this past March.

We kept our Jesuit values in focus, remained committed to social justice, and identified new ways to foster and celebrate our diverse community.

Meet the Senior Working to Free a Wrongfully Imprisoned Man

When Justin Cassera (B’23) was in middle school, he watched a police officer pull up to his family’s home in small-town Colorado. The police officer handed his father official papers charging him with felony assault, a crime his father never committed. That experience has stayed with Cassera years later as he prepares to graduate from Georgetown, and has driven him to advocate for those who have been unfairly treated in the criminal justice system.

Evan Fossen: A Place to Thrive

Evan Fossen, director of events and brand experience at Georgetown’s McDonough School of Business, helped launch and now leads the university’s LGBTQ+ employee resource group (ERG), one of the first such affinity groups on campus. 

Leaving Behind a Legacy for First-Generation College Students, and Her Brother

Sofia Chen Ma (B’23) spent three of her four years at Georgetown on the student board, and most recently, as president of the Georgetown Scholars Program (GSP), a program for low-income, first-generation students. Here, she shares her path from Mexico to Georgetown, the legacy she leaves behind, and the person who inspired her to take risks.

Pivot Fellows Explore Two Sides of Personal Finance in Unique Course

George and Joy Comer know that people don’t make financial decisions based on the numbers alone. Their message resonates with the Georgetown Pivot Program Fellows, who often face added emotional, social, family, and financial pressures as returning citizens still finding their footing after returning home from incarceration.

Georgetown MBA Course Explores the Life of Work Through Poetry

An emotional, captivating, and thought-provoking panel took place in the Rafik B. Hariri Building as a group of Georgetown MBA students and alumni shared poetry based on life experiences to culminate the end of the Life of Work Intensive Learning Experience course.

We welcomed new faces and celebrated the return of alumni and friends on the Hilltop. 

Georgetown McDonough welcomed several new faculty members during the fall academic year who each bring their unique teaching experience and research expertise to our programs. Meet a few of our new faculty: 

• Heather Berry, professor of strategy
• Charles Dorison, assistant professor of management
• Alice Moon, assistant professor of marketing
• April Nguyen, assistant teaching professor of accounting
• Seyoung Park, assistant professor of accounting
• Kenneth Sawka, associate teaching professor of strategy

New MS-ESM Program Director Hopes to Inspire Future Leaders of Sustainable Business Solutions

Kerrie Carfagno, the newly appointed Master of Science in Environment and Sustainability Management (MS-ESM) program director, brings two decades of educational experience to Georgetown and a bold vision: to prepare students to make better business decisions that have a significant impact on our world.

McDonough Welcomes Over 200 Alumni Back to the Hilltop

Hoya alumni, family, and friends recently returned to the Hilltop for the 2023 Graduate Alumni Reunion. The event celebrated the MBA, Executive MBA, Global Executive MBA, Corporate International Master’s in Business, Executive Master’s in Leadership, M.S. in Finance, M.A. in International Business and Policy, and M.S. in Accounting classes of 1983, 1988, 1993, 1998, 2003, 2008, 2013, and 2018.

Georgetown Alumni Gather in San Francisco to Explore the Future of Work and Entrepreneurship at John Carroll Weekend

Georgetown alumni and friends recently met in San Francisco, California, for John Carroll Weekend to explore the Bay Area, reconnect with fellow Hoyas, and participate in topical conversations.

As we close out 2023, we thank you for your support of our school and programs. From all of us at McDonough, we wish you a happy new year and a prosperous 2024!