In Episode 121 of The mbaMission Podcast, mbaMission Senior Consultant Harold Simansky and Managing Director Gavriella Semaya welcome Corey Laffel Solon, Gavi’s classmate in the inaugural Johnson Cornell Tech MBA cohort and currently the associate director of growth for Grubhub. Their discussion examines what differentiates the program and which candidates might benefit from its pace and focus.
Table of Contents
Learn Business by Building with Technical Teams
The Johnson Cornell Tech MBA combines business fundamentals with Cornell Tech’s interdisciplinary Studio curriculum. MBA students work alongside engineers and other technical specialists to develop products, test ideas, and address company challenges. This structure mirrors the cross-functional environment of technology-driven organizations, where leaders must communicate across product, engineering, strategy, and finance.
Corey and Gavi explain that the projects they worked on required more than learning frameworks in a classroom. Students participated in sprints, built business plans, presented ideas, and incorporated practitioner feedback. Applicants who learn best through experimentation and collaboration should examine the Studio model closely rather than evaluating Cornell Tech only through course titles.
Recognize What an Accelerated MBA Demands
A one-year MBA reduces the amount of time spent away from the workforce, an important advantage in a fast-moving industry. The compressed format also creates a meaningful trade-off: Students have less time to explore unrelated industries or reconsider their direction.
Before applying, identify the role technology plays in your goals. You do not need to plan to found a company or become an engineer. Applicants should, however, explain why working across business and technology matters to their future.
Compare Cornell’s One-Year, Two-Year, and 1+1 Paths
Candidates seeking a broad management foundation and more time to explore their options might prefer Cornell Johnson’s traditional two-year MBA. Cornell Tech’s 1+1 option offers another route: Students spend their first year in Ithaca building core business knowledge and their second year at Cornell Tech specializing in technology and innovation.
Compare these formats by asking what you need from business school. Do you need time to test several industries? Would a broader foundation strengthen your candidacy for your target role? Or do you already understand your direction and want intensive, technology-focused practice? Program length alone should not determine the choice; the learning model and career transition matter more.
Evaluate the Skills That Endure Beyond Your First Post-MBA Job
Corey and Gavi both credit Cornell Tech with developing their comfort with ambiguity, adaptability, and confidence working across disciplines. The program also connected students with practitioners, employers, investors, and a growing alumni community in New York’s technology ecosystem.
When assessing fit, consider more than a list of post-MBA employers. Ask whether the program will help you practice the way you expect to work—learning quickly, collaborating across specialties, making decisions with incomplete information, and turning ideas into usable products or strategies.
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