The Money Chase: Harvard Business School

Harvard Business School & the CEO Superstars

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The Campus

The Harvard Business School was incorporated in 1908 but it wasn’t until 1924 with the help of a $5 million fundraising campaign that construction of a campus began at its present location.
Posted 18 Dec 2008

The Harvard Business School was incorporated in 1908 but it wasn’t until 1924 with the help of a $5 million fundraising campaign that construction of a campus began at its present location.

Orientation

Students practice team building exercises during orientation.  Group Coordinator, Steve Chinosi: "The anxiety level on day one is high. And so, this day-- this model that we've designed really helps structure it, channel it, give it some focus so they know it's not just loosey-goosey."

Students practice team building exercises during orientation.  Group Coordinator, Steve Chinosi: "The anxiety level on day one is high. And so, this day-- this model that we've designed really helps structure it, channel it, give it some focus so they know it's not just loosey-goosey."

Women at HBS

In December 1962 Harvard Business School faculty voted unanimously to allow women to be admitted to the full MBA degree program. In April 1963, the first woman accepted admission to the MBA class of 1965. In the photo, Meg Whitman, class of 1979, stands outside her dorm.

In December 1962 Harvard Business School faculty voted unanimously to allow women to be admitted to the full MBA degree program. In April 1963, the first woman accepted admission to the MBA class of 1965. In the photo, Meg Whitman, class of 1979, stands outside her dorm.

Ann Moore, Class of 1978, CEO of Time Inc.

“About 10 % of my class I think was female. There were 8 of us in our section out of 80 people. It was clearly designed for men because there wasn’t any formal ladies room in Aldrich Hall. It gave me great delight to use a real ladies room, I have to tell you.”

“About 10 % of my class I think was female. There were 8 of us in our section out of 80 people. It was clearly designed for men because there wasn’t any formal ladies room in Aldrich Hall. It gave me great delight to use a real ladies room, I have to tell you.”

Class of 2010

Lisandra Rickards, the first person to attend college in her family, prepares to leave her home in Jamaica to attend HBS. She wants to return and help develop Jamaica’s economy: “I've really learned that it's the private sector businesses that drive economic growth. They're the ones that hire people, that give them a salary to take home, that give them a reason to leave home in the morning to be productive during the day.”

Lisandra Rickards, the first person to attend college in her family, prepares to leave her home in Jamaica to attend HBS. She wants to return and help develop Jamaica’s economy: “I've really learned that it's the private sector businesses that drive economic growth. They're the ones that hire people, that give them a salary to take home, that give them a reason to leave home in the morning to be productive during the day.”

An Alumni Case Study

Students discuss a case study based on Nantero, a nanotechnology company founded by HBS alumni Greg Schmergel, while Schmergel listens in. Every class at Harvard Business School is based on a real world business problem – it’s called the Case Study Method. Each case study poses a business problem and asks the student, “What would you do?”

Students discuss a case study based on Nantero, a nanotechnology company founded by HBS alumni Greg Schmergel, while Schmergel listens in. Every class at Harvard Business School is based on a real world business problem – it’s called the Case Study Method. Each case study poses a business problem and asks the student, “What would you do?”

Planning for the Future with a Career Counselor

Lena Sene, MBA 2009: “The landscape is changing as we speak. Who knows what's going to happen a month from now or 3 months from now?”

Lena Sene, MBA 2009: “The landscape is changing as we speak. Who knows what's going to happen a month from now or 3 months from now?”

Married Life at HBS

Spence and Maureen Miller, both HBS Class of 2009, met as undergrads at Princeton, got married last summer and returned from their honeymoon the morning HBS classes began this fall.

Spence and Maureen Miller, both HBS Class of 2009, met as undergrads at Princeton, got married last summer and returned from their honeymoon the morning HBS classes began this fall.

Kathy Giusti, Class of 1985, Founder of the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation

“I actually had a team of Harvard graduates that helped me write the first business plan for my foundation because I was by myself, you know, starting a company. I didn't think it was going to reach the level that it has today."

“I actually had a team of Harvard graduates that helped me write the first business plan for my foundation because I was by myself, you know, starting a company. I didn't think it was going to reach the level that it has today."

Jamie Dimon, CEO of JP Morgan Chase, Class of 1982, remembers working on case studies.

“There were three every night, and you had to learn how to do them. You know, you could spend eight hours on a case. So, you know, if you really want-- if you're one of those people who wants to know every little fact about every little case, you would be up all night. So you have to learn how to be efficient, and get to where you're going, and answer things quickly.”

“There were three every night, and you had to learn how to do them. You know, you could spend eight hours on a case. So, you know, if you really want-- if you're one of those people who wants to know every little fact about every little case, you would be up all night. So you have to learn how to be efficient, and get to where you're going, and answer things quickly.”

Jeffrey Immelt, CEO of General Electric, Class of 1982

“Every good business leader I've ever met is curious. And I think one of the things that business school brings out in a person is a thirst for knowledge, this unbelievable long-time, long-term passion for learning that is so important.”

“Every good business leader I've ever met is curious. And I think one of the things that business school brings out in a person is a thirst for knowledge, this unbelievable long-time, long-term passion for learning that is so important.”

Steven Schwarzman, CEO Blackstone Group, Class of 1972

“If you're scared to speak out and take a stand on things you will not succeed at Harvard Business School. So for people who were, I'd call them on the border line, who aren't used to doing that type of activity it brought them out. And it made them more self confident…or, in a few cases it broke them.”

“If you're scared to speak out and take a stand on things you will not succeed at Harvard Business School. So for people who were, I'd call them on the border line, who aren't used to doing that type of activity it brought them out. And it made them more self confident…or, in a few cases it broke them.”

Meg Whitman, Former CEO of Ebay, Class of 1979, remembers her first day of classes.

“It was scary. There's no question about it. And the guy on my right had been in the military for six years and had, you know, been in charge of thousands of troops. And you know how they tell you in the first, you know, look to your right, look to your left, it's in all likelihood one of the three of you will be gone. So I looked to my left, I looked to my right and I said, "Ooh. This maybe doesn't look so good for me." Find Out More:

“It was scary. There's no question about it. And the guy on my right had been in the military for six years and had, you know, been in charge of thousands of troops. And you know how they tell you in the first, you know, look to your right, look to your left, it's in all likelihood one of the three of you will be gone. So I looked to my left, I looked to my right and I said, "Ooh. This maybe doesn't look so good for me."

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