A week in Charlotte, North Carolina, enabled second-year MBA students from the University of Pittsburgh’s School of Business, home of the Joseph M. Katz Graduate School of Business, to take what they learned in the classroom and see it applied in the world. This trip, the culmination of an integrated management capstone course, provided insights into innovation and networking opportunities with influential executives, including alumni from Pitt Business and Pitt Law.
“The Capstone brought together strategy, finance, leadership, and analytics in a real-world setting, forcing me to connect classroom frameworks to live business decisions,” says Inaya Mander (MBA ’26). “The site visits and case discussions showed how cross-functional thinking is essential when solving complex business and economic challenges.”
Before visiting Charlotte the week of January 12, 2026, the students spent the fall semester engaged in lectures and classroom discussions on innovation. During the trip, they toured companies and spoke with industry leaders to learn how innovation is fostered and implemented.
“The capstone is where the MBA curriculum comes together,” says Associate Dean for MBA and Specialty Masters, Rebecca Badawy. “The students synthesize knowledge across disciplines and apply it in real-world business contexts, plus they learn about the powerful alumni community they will join once they graduate.”
Innovation in Business Operations
The following organizations helped create a meaningful experience for the students:
- At Wells Fargo, students learned about AI innovation and adoption strategy, technology deployment in a highly regulated environment, and how to prepare post-MBA for an executive role in the future.
- The Atlantic Coast Conference provided a tour and illustrated the intersection of technology and strategy. Students also engaged in a case discussion about how AI can reshape ACC business and operations.
- The Charlotte Regional Business Alliance discussed the region’s economic drivers, career opportunities, and vibrant business community. The organization also provided a hands-on case study exercise related to their strategy.
- At Pearl, Charlotte’s health care innovation district, founded by Advocate Health, students learned about managing complex change and innovation as a catalyst for impact. They also witnessed first-hand the power of ecosystems in supporting innovation as they toured the campus and saw the physical manifestation of partnerships between Advocate, IRCAD North America, and the Wake Forest University School of Medicine.
- TIAA shared their perspectives on innovation, leadership, and decision-making in a mission-driven organization.
- Tepper Sports & Entertainment enabled a tour of the Bank of America Stadium, and their executives discussed innovation as a calculated risk.
- A visit to Toter gave insights into how process innovation drives efficiency on the manufacturing floor and how continuous product innovation is necessary for market competitiveness.
“The biggest learning moment for me was seeing how much people and relationships drive business success,” says Gianna Clarke (MBA ’26). “Across every visit, it was clear that Charlotte’s growth is supported by intentional storytelling, strong stakeholder relationships, and leaders who show up authentically. It reinforced how trust, reputation, and long-term thinking are just as important as data or strategy.”
Alumni Share Time and Knowledge with Students
Abe Akhimiomoh (MBA ‘11) and Rich Sedory (JD ‘86) played a valuable role in coordinating visits for our students.
In addition, a panel of Pitt alumni, Alex Palmiere (BBA 2016), Terri White (MBA ’19), and Srikanth Varma Peruri (MBA ’11) shared their perspectives on networking, non-linear career paths, how AI is transforming business and the key skills students need to develop to stand out in the market.
Accelerate Your Career
At Pitt Business, we help students find the MBA program best tailored to their individual academic and career goals to provide the highest possible return on investment. Learn more about the options, which include: a 12-month accelerated format, 18-month full-time format, flexible part-time format, or dual/joint MBA degree options.