Harvard Business School alumni: 21 famous MBA graduates you should know

Founded way back in 1908, Harvard Business School (HBS) has produced some remarkably notable alumni—and will likely continue to do so.

When you enroll in an MBA program, you’re signing up for a highly interactive experience and the opportunity to earn a well-recognised qualification that can propel your career forward. You’re also embarking on a journey that connects you to a diverse and influential network. Nowhere is this more evident than at Harvard, where students come from a wide range of dynamic and inspiring backgrounds.

From CEOs of some of the world’s largest corporations to influential political figures—including a US President—Harvard’s MBA boasts an illustrious alumni network.

Why researching alumni before choosing a business school matters

Before we explore the notable alumni who have walked the halls of Harvard Business School, you might be wondering how this information can benefit you.

Researching alumni before selecting an educational institution is a highly valuable practice. It provides insight into the diverse career paths available after earning an MBA, offering real-world examples of success.

Additionally, it helps you contextualize and validate the significant investment of time and money, giving you greater confidence in your decision.

Here are 21 notable alumni from Harvard Business School’s MBA program.

Harvard Business School Notable Alumni

1. Henry Paulson 

©Treasury Department, used under this license

MBA Class of 1970

Former US Secretary of the Treasury & CEO of Goldman Sachs

Henry, or ‘Hank’, Paulson’s career has flitted between finance and politics, from working at the Pentagon to becoming CEO of Goldman Sachs in 1999

In 2006, he transitioned into politics, taking up the role of the 74th Secretary of the Treasury under President George W. Bush and leading the nation’s response to the 2008 financial crisis.

A committed conservationist, he now runs the Paulson Institute, which promotes sustainable economic growth and a cleaner environment, and serves as executive chairman of TPG Rise Climate, the largest private equity platform dedicated to climate investing.

Hank Paulson is also the author of two bestselling books, On the Brink and Dealing with China.

2. Sheryl Sandberg 

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MBA Class of 1995

Former Chief Operating Officer at Facebook

Facebook’s rise to success has often been credited not only to Mark Zuckerberg’s technological prowess but also to Sheryl Sandberg’s strategic genius. 

After graduating from Harvard, Sheryl Sandberg held roles at McKinsey & Company and Google, before meeting Mark Zuckerberg at a party in 2007. She went on to serve as Chief Operating Officer at Facebook until August 2022, when she stepped down to focus on her philanthropic work.

She is the founder of the Sheryl Sandberg & Dave Goldberg Family Foundation, which aims to build a more equal and resilient world through initiatives such as leadership programs for women and scholarships.

Alongside her corporate career, she has been widely recognised for her contributions to corporate feminism, and is author of the bestselling book Lean In: Women, Work, and the Will to Lead.

Sheryl Sandberg graduated from Harvard Business School with an MBA with highest distinction.

3. Jim Koch

©US Department of Labor, used under this license

MBA Class of 1978

Founder of Brooklyn Beer Company

If you’ve ever cracked open a Samuel Adams beer, you have Jim Koch to thank. 

From a family of brewers, it all started when he made up a batch of his family recipe lager in his kitchen. This became Samuel Adams Lager, and the company steadily grew into the Boston Beer Company, one of America's best-known breweries.

After stepping down as CEO, Jim Koch remained active in the alcohol for two decades and in August 2025, he returned to lead Boston Beer Company—proof that the mindset shaped by an MBA never truly fades.

4. Michael Bloomberg 

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MBA Class of 1966

Founder and CEO of Bloomberg

Michael Bloomberg is one of the most recognizable public figures in the US, as founder of multi-billion-dollar media group Bloomberg and having spent an 11-year stint as New York mayor.

The Bloomberg Center at HBS is named after his father, William Henry Bloomberg, and funded by his foundation. Through Bloomberg Philanthropies, he has donated more than $25 billion to date, for which he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by Joe Biden in 2024—the nation’s highest civilian honor.

5. Ann Sarnoff 

©Mike Pont, used under this license

MBA Class of 1978

CEO of Warner Bros

In the summer of 2019, Ann Sarnoff was named as the first female CEO of Warner Bros, considered one of the ‘Big Five’ American film studios. 

This is not Ann’s first big media job, in a career that has included being chief operating officer (COO) at the Women’s NBA, VH1, and at BBC North America. 

She has earned several awards and honors throughout her career, including being named to Forbes’ “The World’s Most Powerful Women” list in 2021 and receiving the Inspiring Women Award in 2012 from Harvard Business School itself.

6. Steve Bannon

©Gage Skidmore, used under this license

MBA Class of 1985

Former White House chief strategist

Nicknamed ‘the Great Manipulator’ by Time Magazine in 2017, Steve Bannon is perhaps best known the man who orchestrated Donald Trump’s first election victory. He’s the same man who, just eight months into the job, was sacked from his role as Trump’s chief strategist. 

Steve Bannon’s rollercoaster career has taken him from the US Navy, to Goldman Sachs, via an MBA at Harvard. 

He also co-founded alt right platform Breitbart News, was a vice president for the data hacking organization Cambridge Analytica, and has produced 18 films during his career. And despite the school’s prestige, the letter of the law still applies to Harvard grads, and Steve Bannon also spent time in prison for contempt of Congress and has been found guilty of fraud.

7. Elaine Chao

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MBA Class of 1979

Former US Secretary of Transportation

Elaine Chao was the first Asian-American woman to hold a position in the presidential cabinet, when she was appointed as US Secretary of Labor under George W. Bush. 

Born in Taiwan, she immigrated to the US with her parents at the age of eight, and later served in several positions in Reagan and both Bush administrations, as well as becoming director of the US Peace Corps. 

In 2017, she was appointed to Trump’s cabinet as the Secretary of Transportation, where she served until 2021. 

In addition to her MBA, Elaine Chao holds 38 honorary doctorates, including one from Georgetown McDonough School of Business in 2015.

8. Robert McNamara

©John F Kennedy Presidential Library, used under this license

MBA Class of 1939

Former US Secretary of Defence

When President John F. Kennedy asked him to be his Secretary of Defense, Robert McNamara replied that he didn’t know anything about government.

He got up to speed fast, and played a key role in de-escalating the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962, and has been credited for reducing the Pentagon’s willingness to deploy its nuclear arsenal. 

Later, he became President of the World Bank, where he oversaw a major expansion—hiring thousands of staff, widening its geographic reach, and increasing lending to more countries.

9. Robert Kraft

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MBA Class of 1965

Billionaire sports investor

Not to be confused with Kraft Foods, Robert Kraft’s Kraft Group is a diversified holdings company in everything from sports and entertainment to real estate. 

His sports portfolio includes the six-time Super Bowl-winning New England Patriots, as well as soccer team New England Revolution. In 2017, he made a foray into eSports, buying the eSports team Boston Uprising. 

The MBA holder also ranked 20th on Forbes’ 2026 “The World’s Richest Sports Team Owners” list.

10. Mitt Romney 

©Gage Skidmore, used under this license

MBA Class of 1975

Republican senator

Former Bain & Company CEO Mitt Romney is probably best remembered for his failed presidential bid in 2012 against the incumbent Barack Obama. 

As the senator for Utah he voted to impeach President Trump, and became the first and only senator to vote to convict a president of their own party. 

11. Stephen Schwarzman

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MBA Class of 1972

Co-founder of Blackstone Group

In 1985, Stephen Schwarzman left Lehman Brothers, an investment banking company, and set up the Blackstone Group with a fellow employee. 

The venture made him a multi-billionaire, and Blackstone is now the world’s largest alternative investment firm, with $1.2 trillion in assets under management as of September 2025.

Stephen Schwarzman is also the author of the New York Times bestseller What It Takes: Lessons in the Pursuit of Excellence, which has sold over a million copies worldwide and draws on his experiences in business and philanthropy.

12. George W. Bush

©US National Archives, used under this license

MBA Class of 1975

43rd President of the USA

George W. Bush followed his father into politics, first becoming the Governor of Texas before being elected the 43rd president of the United States. 

He famously led the US into conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan, and was criticized for the country’s response to Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Bush Jr. remains the only US president to have earned an MBA. 

13. Jennifer Hyman & 14. Jennifer Fleiss

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MBA Class of 2009

Founders of Rent The Runway

Clothes sharing economy platform Rent The Runway was born when Jennifer Hyman and Jennifer Fleiss met during their MBA in 2009.

The site allows users to rent, rather than buy, renowned designer clothing—an idea conceived by Hyman after seeing her own sister agonize over her outfit choice for a wedding.  

Jennifer Fleiss has since left Rent the Runway to join Jetblack, while Jennifer Hyman continues to lead the company and also serves on the board of directors of Estée Lauder Companies.  

15. Ulf Mark Schneider

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MBA Class of 1993 

CEO of Nestle

German-born Ulf Mark Schneider is the former CEO of global fast moving consumer goods (FMCG) giant Nestlé, appointed to the role in 2016. 

He was named for the role after 15 years at the top of multibillion dollar healthcare group Fresenius. 

According to a recent LinkedIn post, Ulf Mark Schneider is set to take up the role of chairman at Siemens, as well as serve as a board member of Roche, a global leader in pharmaceuticals.

16. Mark Pincus

©Christopher Michel, used under this license

MBA Class of 1993

Co-founder and former CEO of Zynga

Mark Pincus has launched multiple internet ventures, but his fourth—game developer Zynga—has made the biggest impact to date. 

Known for hits such as FarmVille and Words With Friends, the company went public in 2011 with a $1 billion IPO.

17. Andy Jassy

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MBA Class of 1997

CEO of Amazon

Andy Jassy replaced Jeff Bezos as CEO of Amazon in 2021 after previously founding Amazon Web Services. He joined Amazon within days of completing his Harvard MBA—the same year the company went public—and has since played a pivotal role in its growth to a valuation exceeding $1 trillion.

He is also a part-owner of the Seattle Kraken, a professional hockey team playing in the National Hockey League.

18. Meg Whitman

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MBA Class of 1979

US Ambassador to Kenya and former CEO of eBay

Meg Whitman acted as CEO of eBay from 1998 to 2008, where she oversaw an increase in the company's sales from $5.7 million to $8 billion.

Later, she ran for governor of California in 2010 as a member of the Republican party, losing to Democrat Jerry Brown. 

In December 2021, Meg Whitman was nominated by Joe Biden as United States Ambassador to Kenya, a position she held until November 2024.

19. Sal Khan

©Sal Khan/LinkedIn

MBA Class of 2003

Founder of Khan Academy 

Inspired by the success of tutoring his cousin in math using Yahoo’s notepad, Sal Khan was inspired to create the YouTube channel, Khan Academy, which has since amassed 8 million subscribers and more than 2 billion views. 

In March 2023, the company released Khanmigo—an AI-powered teaching assistant.

Beyond Khan Academy, he also serves as a Vision Steward and board member at TED.

20. Jamie Dimon

©Jamie Dimon/LinkedIn

MBA Class of 1982

CEO of JPMorgan Chase 

Jamie Dimon began his career as a consultant for the Boston Consulting Group (BCG). 

In 2000, he was appointed the CEO of Bank One, until its merger with JPMorgan Chase in 2004. He then became the COO of JPMorgan Chase, assuming the role of CEO two years later.

21. Dan Lin

©Gage Skidmore, used under this license

Film and television producer, founder of Rideback 

MBA Class of 1999

Dan Lin’s MBA summer internship helped catapult his career. He was offered a junior position at Warner Bros. Pictures after graduation. He went on to work his way up to senior vice president of production before founding his own company, Lin Pictures (now known as Rideback since 2018).

He has produced several notable films, including The Invention of Lying (2009), The Lego Movie (2014), and It (2017).

In 2024, he became chairman of Netflix Film.