The Columbia Business School MBA Class of 2027 reflects the program’s hallmark mix of ambition, global perspective, and diverse professional experiences. In this Real Humans: MBA Students, meet some new students who bring a wide spectrum of stories and goals to Morningside Heights.
Claudia Saunders, a former professional track athlete sponsored by Brooks and Under Armour, enters CBS eager to channel her firsthand exposure to brand strategy into a career in sports and beauty marketing. Joining her is Anna Liedtke from Germany, who led digital banking at Fuerstlich Castell’sche Bank and is now leveraging Columbia’s prime New York location to pivot into investment banking. London native Greg Bragg adds a distinctive angle with six years in asset management and ESG research, supported by a full scholarship, as he explores opportunities in consulting and sustainability.
Isabel Wu, a Harvard-trained applied mathematician and former product manager at Enova, Vimeo, and Wayfair, is blending her technical and creative background with Columbia’s collaborative culture to continue her career in product management. From the Bronx, vaccine scientist and Pfizer manager Nathaniel Garcia brings both frontline scientific experience—helping develop the COVID-19 vaccine—and business-side perspective from the Office of the CEO, with aspirations to drive impact in pharma and biotech consulting. Finally, U.S. Army Infantry Officer George Ladner rounds out the group, bringing leadership experience from commanding platoons overseas and a passion for international collaboration as he transitions to the corporate world.
Together, these CBS students exemplify the school’s blend of intellectual rigor, career ambition, and a community committed to supporting one another as they pursue new challenges in business and beyond. Read on for their stories and MBA admissions advice.
