Warwick MBA recognised among Poets & Quants' top 100 students

MBA student Chaitanya Baboo has been named among the 100 Best & Brightest MBAs of 2026 by Poets & Quants.

The higher education media outlet puts together the annual list, now in its 12^th edition, to celebrate the most accomplished full-time MBAs from the top business schools around the world.

Chaitanya, of Hyderabad in India, made the list thanks to his track record that spans both campus leadership and tangible global impact.

At WBS, the 30-year-old founded the AI & Innovation Society, building one of the School’s fastest-growing student organisations that connects MBA candidates with industry leaders exploring the frontiers of AI.

Beyond the classroom, he has also contributed to education reform in Jamaica, helping design and scale the Caribbean island’s National Virtual School, a digital platform that has improved learning outcomes for tens of thousands of students and helped ease the nation’s teacher shortage.

Chaitanya said: “I’m incredibly honoured to be named among Poets & Quants’ Best & Brightest MBAs, representing Warwick Business School. I’m still processing it.

“My journey hasn’t been linear. I once dreamed of flying for the Air Force and lost that path to something beyond my control. So I chose to build instead: from helping create a National Virtual School in Jamaica impacting thousands of students, to shaping AI in education and founding the AI & Innovation Society at Warwick.

“None of this was handed to me. This recognition reflects the people and experiences that pushed me to keep building and the belief that where you start doesn’t define where you can go.”

Before joining WBS, Chaitanya served as Global Head of Sales and Strategic Projects at software firm Amber Group, where he worked across Caribbean and international markets. On completing the Full-time MBA he intends to pursue consulting roles centred on scaling AI-enabled systems across industries.

To compile this year’s Best & Brightest MBAs list, Poets & Quants contacted 89 business schools across the globe to nominate their best candidates. Responses were judged by the outlet’s editorial team according to four criteria: extracurricular involvement, academic and professional achievements, insightful responses, and faculty recommendations.

Overall, the Best & Brightest maintained a 50-50 split between men and women, with 55 graduates hailing from outside the US. Consultants McKinsey has hired five members of the class, followed by Amazon and the Boston Consulting Group recruiting four each.

Poets & Quants Senior Editor Jeff Schmitt describes the 100 students as the most indispensable members of their classes.

“They are the driving forces, the ones who always go above-and-beyond and find a way,” he said. “When I think of the Best & Brightest, two words come to mind: elevate and embody.

“In every situation, they elevate the ideas, energy, and teamwork of their classmates. In the process, they embody the values of higher education: curiosity, integrity, generosity, and accountability.

“You’ll find they pour themselves into everything.”

MBA Change Maker praised for Poets & Quants honour

Dawn Eubanks, Associate Professor of Behavioural Science and Entrepreneurship & Innovation and Full-time MBA Course Director, said Chaitanya’s recognition highlights both his individual contribution and the strength of the programme.

“Chaitanya’s achievement is a fantastic moment for the Full-time MBA and for Warwick Business School as a whole,” she said. “He is a true Change Maker as he not only generates ideas but builds platforms that create lasting impact for others. His leadership, curiosity and commitment to innovation exemplify what we strive to develop in our students.

“Chaitanya’s inclusion reinforces our growing global reputation for producing graduates who combine technical expertise with a strong sense of purpose.

“For Chaitanya himself, it marks another milestone in a career defined by building systems that create opportunities for others, whether in classrooms in Jamaica or within the collaborative environment of an MBA cohort.”

Discover more about the School’s Change Makers.