“I’ve always been fascinated by getting into students’ minds and seeing the world through their eyes,” says Nate Pettit, Vice Dean for MBA and graduate programs. This empathetic curiosity fuels his teaching philosophy and his desire to help students rise to the challenge. “It’s not about unrealized potential,” he clarifies, “it’s about helping students pursue what they want but may be too afraid to chase.”

This passion for teaching is what makes Nate Pettit a perennially popular professor, one who was also named a Poets&Quants top “40 under 40” professor in 2017. One reason may come from his love of standup comedy and seeing the classroom as a performance space where everyone in the room has agency. “There are overlaps between stand-up comedy and being a professor,” he observes. “You can do the same material with different audiences, and it hits completely differently. Reading the room and being flexible feeds into my philosophy of making the classroom an exciting place to be.”

For Pettit, success is not measured in accolades or attendance numbers but in the energy and connection he aims to foster. “My proudest moments are when I see high energy and engagement in something I’ve created for students,” he reflects. “It’s about the buzz in the room, the laughter, the connections happening.”

In that same vein, he sees students as active participants, and encourages them to see themselves the same way. As founder of the School’s Leadership Accelerator, he puts that approach into practice through simulated experiences that push students to think on the spot, act, reflect, and learn, all with the support and encouragement of their classmates. “Students would come into a class not knowing what to expect and face a problem they have to act their way through, working with other people to try out different approaches and solutions, learning along the way,” explains Pettit. “In real life, you can’t redo a conversation with your manager. But class is like a batting cage. You see the pitch, take a swing, and try again. The only way to work through the challenge is to be there with other people, trying, failing, and trying again. That’s where the learning happens.”

To Pettit, teaching is a unique opportunity to inspire students to thrive in ambiguity. “Anytime someone willingly puts themselves outside their comfort zone, they’re saying yes to change,” he explains. Whether it’s a small step, like raising a hand in class, or a bold career pivot, Pettit puts a premium on what he calls “productive discomfort.”

This idea of gaining confidence, to lean into areas that present challenges, is at the core of what Pettit wants for students, especially as they evaluate their career options. “We have a significant portion of our class that wants to go into areas like entertainment and media, or gaming and sports, fashion and luxury, real estate, and venture capital, to name a few, but don’t feel confident doing so given that these industries have less structured recruiting than finance and consulting.” To Pettit, encouraging students to pursue their interests and equipping them with confidence is paramount. “Seeing students overcome fear and pursue what they want is incredibly rewarding,” says Pettit.

Pettit emphasizes that the School is equipped to meet the demand of diverse career interests and that having alumni who work across different industries right here in New York City is a huge asset. He shared that more and more alumni are engaging with the School either formally through the Executive-in-Residence program or informally by just coming into the classroom and being available to chat with students. “It’s really a matter of helping the students feel confident in taking the less trodden path.”

As the new Vice Dean of MBA and Graduate Programs, Pettit is excited to help expand immersive and experiential learning opportunities for students either in the classroom or through workshops and other programs. Pettit also hopes to generate the kinds of experiences that will keep students connected to the School when they become alumni. “Leaving Stern doesn’t make you a finished product. Your time here should be a stepping stone in a 20-step career. I see a great deal of opportunity for long-term engagement and lifelong learning, and we are always working to build more.”