When Mrugesh Desai, WG’25, reflects on his experience in Wharton’s MBA Program for Executives (EMBA), one word comes up again and again: community. A student in the Global cohort, he says the program wasn’t just about sharpening business skills. It was about building deep, lasting relationships across continents.
Desai’s global mindset was shaped early. Born in Zimbabwe and raised in Zambia, he attended an international school with classmates from all over the world. “From a young age, I learned to appreciate different cultures and points of view,” he says. “That global exposure stayed with me.”
After attending college in Canada, Desai began his career at BlackBerry during its peak years, eventually managing a software product line. Later, he joined an early-stage media and technology startup that was ultimately acquired by Accedo, where he is now vice president for North America.
When Desai moved to Seattle for that role in 2021, a long-standing interest in pursuing an MBA resurfaced. However, with Accedo headquartered in Sweden and his work spanning travel across North America and Europe, his heavy travel schedule made attending traditional executive MBA formats impossible.
Then Wharton introduced the Global cohort. “The hybrid format was a perfect fit,” Desai says. “Wharton was the only place I applied.”
Like many prospective students, Desai wondered how a globally distributed program could foster connections. As a member of the inaugural Global cohort, he quickly learned that community at Wharton is built intentionally. “Whether virtual or in person, networking is proactive,” he says. “You need to make the effort, but the effort always pays off.”
Desai embraced every opportunity to connect with Global Modular Courses, Global Business Week, and Block Weeks. These became moments not only for learning, but for bonding. He made a point of sitting next to new classmates, branching out beyond his learning group, and meeting peers from the Philadelphia and San Francisco cohorts.
Within his own cohort, relationships extended well beyond the classroom. When Desai traveled for work, he reached out to contacts nearby, meeting classmates across Europe and Asia. A WhatsApp group also keeps the cohort close, with photos and updates reinforcing a sense of continuity. “Any time our cohort meets up, we make a point to share it,” he says. “It keeps the bond alive.”
In his second year, Desai looked for ways to give back. As a member of the Student Leadership Committee, he launched a virtual Global Leadership Speaker Series for his classmates. The idea was simple: leverage the cohort’s collective network to learn from leaders across regions and industries. Over time, the series featured founders of unicorn startups, CEOs, CFOs, and executives from pharmaceuticals and technology, spanning time zones and perspectives.
“It was another way to build relationships,” he says. “Not just with the speakers, but with classmates who were curious, engaged, and asking great questions.”
For Desai, the value of the Wharton EMBA goes far beyond academics. After more than 15 years in the same industry, the program pushed him intellectually and broadened his perspective. “Being around smart, driven people from different industries validates your own growth and challenges you to keep raising the bar,” he says.
Just as important was the global network Desai gained. “It’s the first time since high school that I was again surrounded by people from all over the world in an academic setting, working toward a common goal,” he says. “It feels like a Wharton family. If someone is in your city, you get together. Those relationships are authentic, and they last.”
By Meghan Laska
Posted: March 2, 2026
