The Wharton School’s MBA Class of 2027 brings together an inspiring mix of entrepreneurs, consultants, technologists, and changemakers with global perspectives and ambitious goals. Meet six new members of this class in this edition of our Real Humans: MBA Students series.
To start, Jullian Duran, a serial fintech entrepreneur, joins Wharton with extensive product leadership and startup experience. He’s using his fully-funded MBA as both a network refresh and a launchpad to scale a new venture alongside his brother. Stay tuned for his novel about the Hispanic American experience and call for civic engagement. From Mexico City, Lucia Cantillo combines consulting and nonprofit experience with a passion for disability inclusion. Having worked at Bain and Fundación Teletón México, she is pursuing Wharton’s MBA/M.Ed. dual degree in Education Entrepreneurship to gain the tools to build a scalable nonprofit that transforms opportunities for people with disabilities. Then, Ariana Katsanis, a Toronto native, brings nearly a decade of experience in tech and future-of-work strategy. Motivated to pause, reflect, and chart a more intentional career path, she chose Wharton for its leadership focus and global opportunities, with eyes on entrepreneurship and tech strategy.
We also meet Isha Kabra, a former Microsoft software engineer from North Carolina, who is blending her technical expertise with Wharton’s leadership and quantitative rigor. Pursuing the new AI for Business major, she aims to transition into product strategy roles in tech or investment management while also advocating for underrepresented communities. Backed by the Joseph Wharton Fellowship, Rajat Jain, who has six years of consulting experience at McKinsey and EY, chose Wharton for its world-class finance program and collaborative community. He’s hoping to refine his career direction while contributing through clubs like Out for Business, the Adam Smith Society and more. Finally, Vamshi Eppanapally, from New Jersey by way of the University of Chicago, has built his career in investment banking and private capital advisory, with a growing focus on secondaries. At Wharton, he’s eager to deepen his expertise in finance and entrepreneurship while also pursuing passions like hockey, DJing, and global treks with classmates.
Together, these students reflect Wharton’s trademark blend of intellectual rigor, collaborative spirit, and diverse perspectives, each bringing a unique vision for how they’ll lead, innovate, and make an impact during their MBA and beyond. Click through the following pages for their individual stories.
