The Real Humans of the Emory Goizueta Business School Master in Management (MiM) Class of 2026 reflect a cohort defined by intellectual curiosity, collaboration, and a shared desire to have a meaningful business impact.
To start, Crow Thorsen entered the MiM program eager to deepen his business knowledge while continuing his involvement with the Emory Swimming & Diving team. A former Emory undergraduate with a background in psychology and international studies, Crow is exploring careers in consulting, nonprofits, and higher education, energized by Goizueta’s collaborative and supportive culture. Then, Ryland Mattoon arrived at Goizueta after a series of internships and roles spanning finance, biotech, food service, and startup business development. He is pursuing post-MiM roles in operations, logistics, or product and project management in tech or healthcare. We also meet Laila Darville, who transitioned from a classical music background at an HBCU to the MiM program to layer business strategy onto her creative foundation. Following an internship with the Recording Academy’s Nashville Chapter, she chose Goizueta for its people-first culture, early career coaching, small cohort, and experiential learning opportunities. Finally, Sammi Thiele joined the MiM program from a liberal arts and education background, bringing years of experience as a teacher, swim coach, and mentor. Drawn to Goizueta for the opportunity to compete athletically while building a business foundation, Sammi is exploring careers in the sports industry, with aspirations to work for a professional sports organization.
Read on for more of their stories.
