The 2022 event featured some of your favorite conference activities, such as admissions case studies and the return of the applicant fair, as well as new programming with admissions officers addressing how their schools and admissions offices are responding to changing global circumstances.

Part 1: All Schools Days – Panels & Roundtables

The 2025 AIGAC Conference launched with two immersive All Schools Days, hosted at UC Berkeley Haas, where panelists from the top 25 U.S. MBA programs and the top 10 European MBA programs gathered for shared dialogue and exchange. These sessions were marked by six dynamic panels, each followed by roundtable discussions designed to deepen engagement in smaller, more intimate groups.

The six panels were as follows:

1. Admissions Flashback – A reflective discussion on how MBA admissions has evolved over time, featuring candid insights into changing applicant pools, strategic pivots post-COVID, and lessons learned across cycles.
   
   
2. Values, Sustainability, & Transformational Leadership – A thought-provoking session on how business schools are embedding ethical leadership, sustainability, and purpose-driven values into their admissions and curricula.
   
   
3. AI Odyssey – Schools explored the transformative role of AI in both admissions processes and curricular design, highlighting opportunities and challenges across the global MBA landscape.
   
   
4. The Vital Role of the Careers Team – Career services leaders and AdComs shared how closely aligned career outcomes are with admissions decisions and how career support is evolving to meet student expectations.
   
   
5. Is Essay Writing Passé? – This lively session examined the effectiveness of traditional essays in evaluating candidates, with discussion on emerging formats like video essays, prompts, and storytelling alternatives.
   
   
6. The Transformative Journey of the MBA – Schools emphasized the MBA as a deeply personal growth journey, reflecting on how applicants and programs co-create leadership development over two years.
   
   

Across all sessions, AIGAC members and admissions professionals agreed: the level of questioning, candor, and mutual respect produced rich conversations that advanced everyone’s understanding. These exchanges affirmed AIGAC’s role as a collaborative thought partner in the future of graduate management education. The roundtables, in particular, allowed for more voices—especially from smaller programs or new team members—to be heard, creating a space where insightful ideas emerged organically.

Part 2: Host School Highlights

 

UC Berkeley Haas (Monday, May 12)

The conference began with a warm welcome from the Berkeley Haas team, led by Eric Askins, and featured a comprehensive MBA overview, a tour of the innovative eHub for entrepreneurship, and a career-focused session by the Haas Career Management Group. A Master Class on AI for Business Leaders, taught by Professor Abhishek Nagaraj, stood out as a highlight—bridging business education with real-world technological relevance. The day concluded with networking, speed sessions, and a vibrant dinner hosted at Freehouse Restaurant.

Stanford Graduate School of Business (Wednesday, May 14)

At Stanford GSB, attendees engaged with Erin Nixon and the admissions team for an in-depth look at both the MBA and MSx programs. The agenda featured a listening workshop where GSB welcomed AIGAC member feedback—an unusual but deeply appreciated gesture. Attendees toured the Knight Management Center, attended a Q&A with the admissions panel, and closed the visit with a relaxed farewell reception in McCoy Courtyard, highlighting Stanford’s culture of openness and reflection.

UCLA Anderson School of Management (Thursday, May 15)

The final day at UCLA Anderson began with a warm welcome from Associate Dean Gary Fraser and a career presentation by Dean Tony Bernardo. A Master Class on AI, led by Senior Associate Dean Sanford DeVoe, emphasized Anderson’s academic rigor and digital leadership. A student-led campus tour, lunch with the admissions team, and an engaging student Q&A session gave consultants deeper context into the Anderson experience. The conference wrapped with a professional development session, a sunset reception on the veranda, and a farewell dinner at Wolfgang Puck’s stylish Westwood restaurant, capping off a week of exceptional insight and community.