George Ladner, Columbia Business School MBA Class of 2027
Age: 27
Hometown: I say “Philadelphia,” but was born in Charleston, South Carolina and grew up in Georgia, Pennsylvania, and Vienna, Austria.
Undergraduate Institution and Major: Dickinson College, Political Science and German
Pre-MBA Work Experience: U.S. Army Infantry Officer, Platoon Leader, 2021–2025
Why did you make the decision to attend business school? Why now?
I had the privilege of leading three teams of 40+ soldiers in the military and want to continue making that kind of human impact by leading teams in the corporate sector. While I have a leadership background, I recognized the need to build a deeper foundation in analytics and finance to effectively guide teams toward shared success.
Why did you choose Columbia Business School? What factors figured most prominently into your decision?
For many, New York City is an obvious draw, but what truly stood out to me were the people at Columbia Business School. Despite being a large program, Columbia Business School manages to foster a dynamic, international, and remarkably supportive environment. I’ve been struck by how personal the community feels and how genuinely students look out for one another. The combination of access to NYC and the supportive and diverse student body made Columbia Business School the clear choice for me.
What do you think is your most valuable or differentiating contribution to the Class of 2027?
Having lived in Vienna from 2010–2015 and later serving in Korea and Thailand through the military, I’ve developed a deep appreciation for working in an international space. Doing so has granted me the opportunity to learn from people with different perspectives and to expand my world view. Fortunately, I get to do the same every day at Columbia Business School, in classes from Strategy to Managerial Statistics.
Tell us a fun fact about yourself that didn’t get included on your application.
My twin sister is in her neurosurgery residency, my younger sister will represent “Team Inspire” in the NYC Marathon, and my fiancée just started her career as a lawyer. These women inspire me to push harder and have shown the power of surrounding oneself with driven and hard-working people.
Post-MBA career interests
I’m pursuing roles in general management, private equity operations, LDP’s, and the energy sector. I believe I can have the greatest impact in industries that quietly, but critically keep our country strong. I want to be the kind of leader who not only drives results, but also uplifts the people whose dedication makes these industries thrive.
Advice for Current Prospective Applicants:
–What is one thing you would absolutely do again as part of your application process?
I spoke with 2-3 current students at every school I applied to via a phone call. Those conversations gave me an honest perspective on culture, academics, and recruiting that you won’t get from an admissions event.
–What is one thing you would change or do differently?
I wish I had the opportunity to visit more campuses during the admissions process. I would recommend going to schools for prospective students to really immerse yourself in the school’s community, location, and see if it’s the right fit.
–What is one part you would have skipped if you could—and what helped you get through it?
Test prep is never the most exciting experience, but I made it manageable by treating it like training for a race. I built a three-month plan, integrated it with my workout routine, and tracked progress daily. Crossing off each completed task became a small but motivating ritual that gave me confidence in the work I had put in.
What is your initial impression of the CBS students/culture/community?
Columbia Business School moves quickly. Academics, recruiting, and social events all hit at once. What has impressed me is how the school creates a structure to make everything manageable; from clusters (the group of people you will take all your core classes with) and learning teams (a small team of 6-8 that you do group work with) to tutoring and career support. It’s a fast-paced environment, but you will never be left to navigate it alone.
What student organizations have you joined/are you hoping to join and why?
- Community Impact Club: An awesome way to engage with the city and give back locally.
- Veterans Club: This group has been incredibly supportive during my transition from the military. I look forward to continuing to assist Veterans as they navigate the MBA process and the corporate sector.
- Japanese Business Association: I joined to learn more about Japanese culture and business community. For me, it’s a great way to deepen my global perspective.
- Football Club: I grew up playing soccer and played for Dickinson College’s NCAA D3 team. This club is an awesome way to stay in shape and meet people from all over the world that play soccer and prefer to call it “football.”
What is one thing you have learned about CBS that has surprised you?
From the individuals who work incredibly hard to prepare our food, to the security team at the front desk who greet us with a smile, to the maintenance staff who keep the building so well cared for, I can’t say I was surprised, but I was impressed by the Columbia Business School’s amazing staff. These people do so much behind the scenes to make the CBS experience what it is. It’s easy to focus only on academics and recruiting, but the pride and effort of these teams make possible the culture and day-to-day life here. It is all one big CBS team here.
