S3 E4 | Exploration, Entrepreneurship, and Impact with Christopher Ghadban (Wharton)

In this episode, we sit down with Christopher Ghadban (WG ’23) to explore his unconventional path from a 2.7 GPA and initial MBA rejections to earning a 740 GMAT score in just five days and ultimately getting into Wharton. Chris shares how his early experiences founding a synthetic biology lab at 19, working in clinical strategy and innovation at AstraZeneca, and later moving into venture capital shaped his views on resilience, curiosity, and impact in the biotech ecosystem. He reflects on using Wharton as a platform for exploration, the real ROI of an MBA, and the mindset that helped him turn setbacks into success.

This episode is brought to you by Juno, the collective-bargaining platform that helps MBA students secure lower rates on student loans. Learn more at ⁠⁠juno.us/m7a

(00:00) M7A Sponsor: Juno

(00:34) Opener

(00:59) Introducing Christopher Ghadban

(02:13) Undergrad Academics

(03:13) Early Entrepreneurial Ambition

(04:43) Professional Experience at AstraZeneca

(06:19) Why MBA?

(07:55) Crafting an MBA Application Narrative

(11:20) Rejection and Reapplying

(15:24) Scoring a 740 on the GMAT

(16:53) Wharton as a Networking Platform

(18:10) Was a Wharton MBA Worth It?

(19:31) Post-MBA Career in VC

(23:54) Advice for Future Applicants