Celebrating Our Class of 2026 Executive MBA Graduates

As commencement approaches, members of Notre Dame’s Executive MBA Class of 2026 reflected on the experiences and relationships that shaped their 22-month journey at Mendoza. Representing a wide range of industries—including technology, healthcare, finance, law, operations and nonprofit leadership—our 2026 graduates shared how the program challenged them professionally while also transforming them personally.

Abby Anderson

Head of Transaction Management & Strategic Initiatives, Global Transformation Office, Viatris

The Executive MBA helped Abby Anderson become what she described as a more “reflective and people-centered leader.” She was drawn to Notre Dame because of its values-based leadership philosophy and intentionally global structure, which exposed students to different cultures, economies and perspectives across four continents. Anderson described the relationships, global immersions and moments of challenge throughout the program as transformative both personally and professionally, particularly the way the experience blended financial fluency with empathy and judgment. During the EMBA, she transitioned from a leadership role in Technology at Viatris into the company’s Global Transformation Office. Her advice to future students is to “choose a program that aligns with your values, not just your résumé goals” and to fully invest in the experience and the people around them.

John Brosnan

VP Sales & Marketing, TPG Hotels, Resorts, & Marinas

For John Brosnan, Notre Dame’s emphasis on servant leadership and ethical business practices distinguished the program from others. He said the Executive MBA not only encouraged those values, but actively practiced them through classroom experiences, residencies and global immersions. Brosnan found the on-campus residencies vital because they allowed him to step away from daily responsibilities and fully focus on classmates, learning and personal growth. His advice to future students: “You’re being drawn to Notre Dame for a reason. Embrace it. Love it. Live it!”

Amber Clarke

Interim Director of Marketing, Simplus

For Amber Clarke, Notre Dame “felt like home” from the moment she stepped on campus. The Executive MBA gave her both the confidence and tools to pursue stretch opportunities, advocate for herself professionally, and strengthen how she communicates with executives. Clarke said one of the biggest surprises of the program was the strength of the community built within the cohort. During the EMBA, she advanced from Consultant to Senior Consultant and now serves as an Interim Director. Her advice to future students is to trust themselves and embrace the opportunity fully.

 

Jack Evans 

Co-Owner/Advisor, KJ&J Wealth

The Executive MBA reinforced for Jack Evans that leadership is ultimately about elevating others rather than pursuing personal recognition. He said Notre Dame stood apart because it focused not only on advancing careers but also on developing leaders capable of creating positive impact in the world around them. Evans deeply valued the relationships and sense of belonging he found within the Notre Dame community. He also said the program — and the Notre Dame network behind it — had a major impact on his business and perspective on leadership.

Justin Frost

Senior Operations Leader, Amazon

For Justin Frost, earning a degree from Notre Dame fulfilled a longtime personal goal while also expanding how he approaches leadership and decision-making. Throughout the Executive MBA program, he gained new perspectives by learning alongside classmates from a wide range of industries and experiences, while also applying coursework concepts directly to his daily work at Amazon. During the program, Frost was promoted from Area Manager to Operations Manager, an achievement that reinforced the value of the experience in real time. He highlighted the relationships built over the 22-month journey, noting that he never expected the cohort to become so close. Frost also valued learning from faculty who brought extensive real-world experience into the classroom through practical examples and insights. He described his classmates as “humble, driven, curious leaders that are and will continue to make a positive impact in their respective fields.” He encourages future students to build a strong support system at home and work to fully immerse themselves in the experience.

Bethany Hartley 

CEO and President, South Bend – Elkhart Regional Partnership

For Bethany Hartley, the Executive MBA experience delivered both immediate professional impact and personal growth. Throughout the program, she was able to apply new strategies and tools directly within her organization, from strengthening her coaching and mentorship approach to leveraging AI for greater efficiency. Having grown up near Notre Dame and working closely with the University previously, she was drawn to the distinctive sense of community that defines the Notre Dame family, as well as the opportunity to continue working full-time in an in-person program. The relationships she built with classmates became the highlight of her experience. She described the program as a dynamic, collaborative environment shaped by peers who were “tenaciously supportive and legendarily honest.”

Nathan Hummel 

Head of Financial Institutions, Allianz Trade –  Americas Surety & Guarantee

During the program, Nathan Hummel was promoted after founding the Financial Institutions group within Allianz Trade’s Americas Surety & Guarantee business, where he now serves as Regional Vice President. The timing of his Executive MBA journey allowed him to immediately apply what he was learning while building and scaling a new platform. Although Hummel entered the program focused on sharpening his thinking, communication and executive presence, he said the experience became just as personal as it was professional. Reflecting on that growth, he shared, “It also coincided with a revival of my Christian faith, which deepened the way I think about leadership, purpose, and responsibility.” He greatly valued his fellow cohort members’ insights and said he was surprised how much value came through self-awareness, leadership identity and aligning ambition with values, rather than academic content alone. Summing up the cohort culture as “high horsepower, low ego,” Hummel’s advice to prospective students is simple: “Just do it.”

Kimberly Kerry

Partner, Dentons US LLP 

For Kimberly Kerry, the Executive MBA strengthened both her leadership approach and her ability to navigate an increasingly global and technology-driven business environment. She said the program enhanced her strategic thinking and helped her incorporate emerging AI tools into her legal practice. Notre Dame stood out because it combined rigorous business education with a mission-driven approach centered on “Grow the Good in Business.” Kerry described her cohort as “a group of professionals that shared knowledge and experiences, and created an environment where support, collaboration, and regularly celebrating each other’s successes were part of the culture.” Her advice to future students was equally enthusiastic: “You will gain far more from the program than just business knowledge. You will challenge yourself, grow as a leader, build lasting relationships and learn more about yourself and your potential than you expected.”

 

 

Brian Lalonde

CEO, Iron Ranch Equipment

For Brian Lalonde, the Executive MBA experience quickly became about more than academics. He said the program created opportunities for “deep, impactful, real-world conversations” unlike any he had experienced before. He was surprised by how quickly strong relationships formed within the cohort. During the EMBA, Lalonde and four of his classmates launched Iron Ranch Equipment, turning their experience into both a leadership journey and an entrepreneurial venture. He said his cohort is a group committed to “creating lasting impact, changing the world and growing the good wherever we go.”

Vincent Mason

Vice President, JLL – PDS South Florida Market Lead

For Vincent Mason, the global perspective of Notre Dame’s Executive MBA program was a major draw. He said the experience changed the way he leads teams, evaluates talent, and approaches international business relationships. Some of his most memorable experiences came during global immersions in Singapore and Santiago, along with the connections built through the alumni network abroad. Mason said the program helped him become more fearless as a leader and gave him a deeper understanding of the financial responsibility that comes with business decisions. To Mason, his fellow EMBA graduates are leaders who understand the bigger picture, professionals committed to building the perspective, discipline and confidence needed for sustained success.

 

Chris Morehead 

Director of Experience and Operations, Newfields

For Chris Morehead, Notre Dame’s Executive MBA program became a defining leadership experience. He said the experience strengthened his ability to connect strategy, operations and the human experience “into something cohesive and lasting.” Morehead described the relationships built within the cohort as the defining part of the journey, saying what began as a class quickly became “a trusted network, a support system, and ultimately, a family.” He was also surprised by how dynamic and immediately relevant the learning experience felt, particularly in emerging areas like AI, where students and faculty worked through real-world challenges together in real time. Reflecting on the experience, Morehead encourages future students to “take the leap,” adding, “There will never be a perfect time, but if you trust yourself and commit to the experience, it will stretch you, shape you, and ultimately make you better than you ever could have imagined.”

Stacia Murphy 

VP of Growth & Partnerships, Iron Ranch Equipment

For Stacia Murphy, Notre Dame’s “Grow the Good in Business” philosophy aligned perfectly with the type of leadership she hoped to develop. She said the Executive MBA expanded both her business knowledge and her ability to connect relationship-building with strategic thinking, risk evaluation and decision-making. Murphy appreciated the cohort experience because of the honesty, diversity of perspectives and shared growth that emerged through conversations and team experiences. During the program, she and four classmates launched Iron Ranch Equipment, turning classroom concepts into real-world leadership practice. One lesson stayed with her most: “The best leaders don’t choose between the numbers and the people, they hold both.”

Michael Riley

Commercial Director – Head of Business Development Americas, Koch Technology Solutions

For Michael Riley, the Executive MBA strengthened both his financial decision-making and leadership perspective during a pivotal period in his career. He said the program gave him a more concrete approach to evaluating business cases and cash flows while also deepening his appreciation for mentoring people from different backgrounds and career stages. Riley was drawn to Notre Dame because of the program’s flexible format, global immersions and diverse cohort. The relationships built throughout the experience, especially traveling abroad together and sharing his family and life in South Bend with classmates, will stick with him. Midway through the program, Riley also navigated a major professional transition, successfully securing a new position within his organization while continuing the EMBA experience.

Matt Saines 

VP of Finance, True Value, Do it Best Corporation

The Executive MBA empowered Matt Saines to grow both professionally and personally, helping him become what he described as “a more empathetic leader.” He was drawn to Notre Dame because of the school’s reputation and found the relationships and connections built within the cohort to be one of the most valuable parts of the experience. During the program, Saines was promoted from Treasurer to VP of Finance, reflecting the leadership growth he experienced throughout the EMBA journey. He described the cohort as a group that “came together when it mattered despite our differences” and encouraged future students by reminding them: “You are capable of more than you think.”

Michael Stetson

Operations Systems Manager, CareTria

For Michael Stetson, the Executive MBA created new leadership opportunities and increased his visibility within his organization, leading to greater involvement in strategic conversations and decision-making. Stetson said attending Notre Dame was especially meaningful because of his personal connection to the University, while the relationships built throughout the program ultimately became the most valuable part of the experience. Reflecting on the experience, Stetson encourages future students to take the leap despite the challenges of balancing work, family and coursework, saying, “It is worth it in the end.”

Rylan Terrasse

Senior Recruiter – Early Talent Pipeline, AbbVie

Returning to Notre Dame for the Executive MBA fulfilled a long-held goal for Rylan Terrasse. As a Notre Dame undergraduate alumnus, he described the University as “a truly special place to learn, grow, and make lifelong memories.” Terrasse built incredible relationships with classmates and faculty, especially through the opportunity to travel internationally together during the program. He also reflected on how unique it was to share those global experiences with professionals from such a wide range of industries and backgrounds. His advice for prospective students was simple: “Go for it! The community you will build is incredible.”

Elin Wahman

Director of Strategic Initiatives, Annexstad Family Foundation

For Elin Wahman, the Executive MBA provided both confidence and community. She said the program gave her “a personal board of directors” — classmates she could rely on for insight and perspective — while also strengthening her confidence in executive conversations and leadership settings. Wahman chose Notre Dame because of the program’s collaborative culture and emphasis on growth rather than competition. The global immersions, especially Santiago, Singapore and Dublin, became some of the most impactful parts of her experience, helping her learn to lead more thoughtfully across cultures and perspectives. Her advice to future students: “Dive in and speak up.”

 

 

Don Whitney

Project Director, AECOM

For Don Whitney, the Executive MBA experience coincided with a significant professional milestone. During the program, he earned a promotion to Project Director at AECOM, reflecting the real-time career growth many students experienced while balancing demanding leadership roles and graduate coursework.