Episode summary
Businessweek Daily Bonus: A Focus on Business Schools | Bloomberg Businessweek
Bloomberg Businessweek Daily
· · Hosts: Carol Massar, Tim Stenovec · Guests: Dimitra Kessenides, Jenny Chatman, Eloïc Peyrache
Summary
Business school leaders said the biggest challenge is keeping pace with a fast-changing labor market shaped by AI, geopolitical turmoil, and higher costs. The host and a Bloomberg Businessweek editor argued that students now need more than technical skills; they need judgment, communication, and the ability to interpret data and lead with values. At Berkeley Haas, the dean said curricula are being refreshed month to month, with a fast-tracked AI certificate and more outside consultants helping faculty adapt courses.
Both guests emphasized that career development has become far more self-directed. The Berkeley dean said on-campus recruiting has largely faded and that many students are leaning into entrepreneurship or buying companies rather than following a traditional pipeline. She cited Berkeley’s strength in venture-backed startups and said alumni now help define the skills employers want.
HEC Paris’s dean said the environment is difficult, but in Europe the impact of AI on young graduates is less severe so far. He stressed that his school remains focused on social mobility, gender balance, and access, while noting that U.S. tuition and faculty costs are materially higher. He also said donors in France tend to focus on social mobility, while U.S. giving is more likely to support first-generation students and named facilities.
Key takeaways
- The Berkeley dean said business schools are updating curricula month to month and fast-tracking AI training to keep up with rapid technological change.
- The Berkeley dean said on-campus recruiting has largely disappeared, making career paths more self-initiated and pushing more students toward entrepreneurship.
- The Berkeley dean said Berkeley is the No. 1 university for venture-backed startups for the last 3 years, according to PitchBook.
- HEC Paris’s dean said AI is disrupting entry-level hiring in the U.S. more than in Europe, where students still generally receive multiple job offers.
- HEC Paris’s dean said tuition in Europe is about one-third to one-fourth of U.S. levels, with public subsidies and lower living costs helping hold prices down.
Notable quotes
“we're literally kind of month to month trying to figure out how we can provide our students with the knowledge and information and technology”
“it's that judgment piece, it's that communication piece, it's looking at data and figuring out how to interpret it and what stories it tells”
“the world is very different. Look at the geopolitical challenges that people, whether they're running their own business or stepping into another business, are going to face”
“we all see social anger rising in in all different countries. If, you know, if the world is on fire, there is no business, right”
How the episode opens
Bloomberg Audio Studios. Podcasts, radio, news. This is Bloomberg Businessweek Daily reporting from the magazine that helps global leaders stay ahead with insight on the people, companies, and trends shaping today's complex economy. Plus, global business, finance, and tech news as it happens. The Bloomberg Businessweek Daily podcast with Carol Massar and Tim Stenovec on Bloomberg Radio.
We've said it before, Carol. I think it's fair to say it again. We're kind of all dealing with a lot right now. Business leaders especially. — Do I do I go through the list? — Doing a yoga class on — Through the list?
Yes, please. — A list. Okay. — I know you have a — Ongoing war with Iran and rising energy costs and the volatility that it's brought. The quickly changing global landscape as countries increasingly look inward. — Mhm. — Of course, grappling with the rapidly developing AI environment and the tech environment. And many say that calls into question the need for humans to just get the job done.
It's a lot coming at us and it's been amazing how the conversation has evolved just here in 2026 and we're only just starting off April, but there's so much has been coming at us. Jenny Chapman is the Dean of Haas School of Business at UC Berkeley as well as the co-director of the Berkeley Center for Workplace Culture and Innovation Management of Organizations. Also with us is Dimitra Dimitra Kessenides.
She's Bloomberg Businessweek's senior editor who leads Businessweek's coverage of business school. This is a really important part of the Businessweek family. Welcome, welcome.
Jenny, we want to start with you because there is a lot coming at leaders the world at large. And we think about how you guys are thinking about your student population, coursework.
From the episode’s captions: roughly the first two minutes, lightly cleaned. Keep watching on YouTube →
Topics
- business schools
- workforce uncertainty
- ai talent and training
- economic uncertainty
- workplace culture
Companies and tickers mentioned
- BAC
- Bank of America
Watch the episode
Watch “Businessweek Daily Bonus: A Focus on Business Schools | Bloomberg Businessweek” on YouTube
Summary, takeaways and quote selection by Octagon. Quotes are short excerpts; the full conversation is in the episode.
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