Edmond Chan, WG’25, had always dreamed of earning a Wharton MBA. But with a young family in Hong Kong and work that required frequent travel, he found the commute to Philadelphia or San Francisco for the School’s traditional Executive MBA program simply not feasible. That all changed in 2023 with the launch of the program’s Global cohort. That cohort, which will graduate its first class of students in May, combines online and in-person learning, making the prestigious Wharton MBA more accessible for professionals worldwide.
Before Chan became part of the cohort, though, he had one final hurdle to consider: He was transitioning from a role at financial technology firm ZA to the helm of ZeroPlus Group, a company in the accessories and toy space with locations across Asia. Could he manage the responsibilities of growing a company, raising two children, and traveling around Asia, all while pursuing an MBA? Chan decided the challenge was worthwhile. “My background was in business development and entrepreneurship, but to successfully scale my business, I needed the advanced financial skills a Wharton MBA could provide,” he says. “I was eager to apply what I’d learn directly to my new role and scale the company regionally or even globally. Given the new program format, I could manage my commitments much more effectively.”
Alfonso L. Corcuera, WG’25, a director at ACON Investments, found himself in a similar position. The long and unpredictable commute from Mexico City to Wharton kept the Executive MBA program out of reach for him. With the announcement of the Global cohort, though, Corcuera saw the opportunity to pursue his dream. “I had transitioned from investment banking to private equity and became heavily involved in the day-to-day operations of our portfolio companies,” he says. “I wanted a Wharton MBA to deepen my understanding of business and join a community of top private equity professionals. Wharton is the best business school in the world, and I wanted to be a part of it.”
Even though she is based in the U.S., Sona Sundaramurthy, WG’25, faced comparable commuting challenges. She lives in a small town in rural Indiana where the nearest airport is 60 miles away, so making it to Wharton would have been a logistical nightmare. But the Global cohort changed her calculus. “I was managing a team of 170 employees across the U.S., Colombia, Ireland, and Switzerland,” recalls the Zimmer Biomet senior director. “When Wharton announced the Global cohort, my COO said, ‘High potential goes to Wharton. You should go to Wharton.’ The hybrid format and focus on global business were a perfect fit for my career.”
Read the full story in the Wharton Alumni Magazine
By Meghan Laska
Posted: May 5, 2025
