NYU Stern Executive MBA Program

Meet Alex Gamhewa, Class of , Entrepreneur at Dance Education Initiative.

1. What inspired you to pursue your MBA through the NYU Stern EMBA program? Why did you choose the NYU Stern EMBA program?

"It was at a pivotal moment in my life. After 6.5 incredible years at Boston Consulting Group in Germany, I moved to New York, and with that leap came the courage to finally pursue something I'd been carrying since childhood: making dance accessible to those who feel shut out, whether by finances, fear, or circumstance.

Dance was my first love. I trained professionally in a ballroom in Saint Petersburg, but had to step away when finances made it impossible. That experience stayed with me. Now I want to create something that ensures others never have to choose between their passion and their circumstances.

I chose Stern because its values mirror my own: the belief that business can be a force for good. The program is intensely practical, grounding every concept in real-world application and it proved that almost immediately. At the first-ever NYU Stern x Lovable Hackathon, I built a working version of the DareToMove app in 90 minutes with zero code, then pitched it in two minutes to a room of 17 teams. My demo? I danced bachata and hip-hop on stage while the app cheered me on. We won.

I'm not just learning theory. I'm building the foundation to turn my vision into reality."

2. Which courses and professors helped empower you as a business professional?

“Professor Mike North's Leadership in Organizations course set the tone for my entire Stern journey. The Leadership Plan exercise forced me to articulate exactly what kind of leader I want to become and to honestly confront the gaps between where I am and where I need to be. The biggest lesson? Process over outcome. Leadership is a long game, and learning to embrace uncertainty while staying committed to growth has been transformative.

Professor Simon Bowmaker's Firms and Markets was another standout. He has a rare gift for making economic concepts accessible and immediately applicable. No prior economics background required. Completing that course felt like unlocking a new language for understanding how businesses create and capture value.”

3. What advice do you have for those who are thinking about getting their MBA from Stern and how they can make the most out of the EMBA program?

“My advice? Bring your A-game, but also bring your curiosity. Ask questions. Share your own story. The more you invest in relationships, the richer your experience will be.

Come with an open mind and be ready to be surprised. Yes, the professors are world-class, but some of the most profound learning will come from classmates. Our cohort is extraordinarily diverse: different industries, countries, life experiences. Every conversation is a chance to see a problem from an angle you never would have considered.”

Great news! We've extended the final application deadline to June 1st for the August 2026 start in NYC and DC. Applications submitted by May 15th will benefit from priority scholarship consideration, and we will continue reviewing applications after June 1st as space allows. Apply now: www.emba.stern.nyu.edu/apply

Last Saturday, we were thrilled to welcome our students’ friends and families to be an "EMBA for a Day” at Stern! Our guests got a taste of the experience, joining Professor Elizabeth Morrison for an engaging masterclass on "Collaboration, Conflict, and Negotiation”, and sharing time with students and faculty during their school day.

Ready to join the next cohort? Apply to our August 2026 start in NYC or DC by May 15th: https://emba.stern.nyu.edu/apply