Since arriving on campus in 2023, Dean Manoj K. Malhotra has wasted no time bringing his vision to the College of Business. With an already thriving undergraduate program, he has focused on growth opportunities in the graduate program, faculty research, and executive education.
The goal is for all future makers to become 360-degree leaders — technologically fluent, analytically rigorous, strategically minded, and grounded in human-centered leadership.
Think you know all there is about Lehigh Business? Here are five things that might surprise you:
The college is evolving for a tech-driven business world – including AI. The undergraduate curriculum and graduate programs are adapting to a dynamic environment where technology drives business transformation.
Carter Lyons ’97 discussed AI in the workplace as part of the 2025 Donald M. Gruhn '49 Distinguished Finance Speaker Series. Many institutions train students to use AI. Lehigh Business trains students to think critically about it. The curriculum embeds data, analytics, and decision-making across programs while keeping the human element central.
AI can assist analysis, but human judgment, ethics, and intuition remain essential. Graduates are prepared not just to use emerging technologies in their future careers, but to assess, shape, and lead with them responsibly.
For graduate students, the college is integrating AI throughout instruction, strengthening interdisciplinary programs for high-potential professionals. U.S. News & World Report ranked Lehigh No. 26 for Best Online MBA Programs in 2026.
For working professionals with senior management aspirations, the late Sanjay Shah MBA'89 established a path for executive education through the Vistex Institute for Executive Education. Shah’s legacy provides high-impact, short-duration programs for individuals and customized programs for organizations in areas such as AI, leadership, finance, and negotiation. Housed in the Business Innovation Building, the Vistex Institute uses flexible, technology-enabled classrooms designed for modern executive learning.
Faculty research extends far beyond the classroom. Attracting and growing a wealth of exceptional faculty is at the core of an elite Lehigh Business education. College of Business faculty are not only dedicated teachers but also leading researchers and thought leaders in their fields.
Professor Nevena T. Koukova works with students during a marketing class. Their work appears in respected academic and industry journals, addressing topics such as how hidden bias affects physicians’ judgment and how AI can play on your emotions. Over the past two years, faculty have published 32 papers in top-tier journals.
Many faculty members also bring extensive business experience, enriching the classroom with real-world insight.
The new AI in Business Research Lab, Behavioral Research Lab, expanded Bosland Financial Services Lab, and Bloomberg terminal room create spaces where theory, research, and application intersect.
Centers and institutes enable unique hands-on learning opportunities. Within the centers and institutes, students and faculty collaborate on real-world, relevant business challenges, accessing and contributing to an extensive body of research. These include: the Center for Financial Services, the Murray H. Goodman Center for Real Estate, the Small Business Development Center (in operation for 45 years), the Center for Supply Chain Research, and the Martindale Center for the Study of Private Enterprise.
Cedrique Wafula '25 stands outside the doors to the Lehigh Ventures Lab, a place that turns bold ideas into scalable, real-world startups. Together, they serve as bridges between academics and industry, enriching opportunities to learn beyond the classroom and make knowledge applicable in the professional setting.
Lehigh Business offers a wide range of experiential learning and networking opportunities. Students attend career treks, leadership seminars, industry summits, and case competitions, engaging with industry leaders, exploring disciplines, and tackling real-world problems. These opportunities often take students around the world.
The college is also a hub for entrepreneurship. Through the Baker Institute, students participate in programs such as the Hatchery (guiding ideation) and Eureka (supporting business model development). Lehigh Ventures Lab empowers students, alumni, faculty, and staff to turn bold ideas into scalable, real-world startups. The lab provides the structure, mentorship, funding, and resources to move ideas forward strategically, purposefully, and with impact.
Corporate and alumni partners fuel Lehigh Business, directly impacting student outcomes. For the Class of 2024, 96% of Lehigh Business undergraduates were employed, continuing education, or pursuing military or volunteer service within six months of graduation. Of those, 80% found employment, with an average starting salary of $78,359. Graduate programs boast similar placement rates.
College of Business graduates are recruited by the most recognized economy-driving companies such as Accenture, Amazon, Deloitte, EY, KPMG, PwC, Goldman Sachs, Microsoft, Walmart, and Wells Fargo, spanning industries including financial services, management consulting, accounting, information and technology, marketing and advertising, insurance, and real estate.
Lehigh Business relies heavily on alumni and corporate partners to strengthen its status as a top-ranked business school. They identify the skill sets needed to succeed in today’s job market and provide critical insight that shapes the Lehigh Business curriculum. Their willingness to mentor, network, and provide experiential learning opportunities is pivotal in helping students gain a competitive edge.
With more than 2,500 alumni mentors eager to support Lehigh students as they launch their careers, programs such as the Startup Academy allow students to work alongside founders and entrepreneurial leaders on business-critical milestones key to company growth.
Follow the Lehigh University College of Business on Instagram or LinkedIn to learn about upcoming events and engagement opportunities for the extended Lehigh community. Reach out to Nicole Rogai to learn about other initiatives or ways to get involved and support the College of Business mission.
Story updated on February 20, 2026; Originally published on February 07, 2024.
