Darden Professor Listed Among the ‘Best 40 Under 40’ MBA Professors Globally

Gaurav Chiplunkar, an assistant professor in the Global Economies and Markets area at the University of Virginia Darden School of Business, has been named one of the nation’s best, young MBA professors.

Chiplunkar on Monday was included in the Poets & Quants “40 Under 40” list, compiled annually by the business-school-focused publication’s staff to highlight the most talented young professors currently teaching MBA programs around the world.

“Many of the professors on the list research the topics at the cutting-edge of business, technology and the future of work: AI, machine learning, sustainability, etc. Others engage directly with the biggest problems of the day,” Poets & Quants said. “Darden’s Gaurav Chiplunkar is analyzing a dataset with billions of individuals across 90 countries and spanning five decades. He’s looking to understand how economic development affects people’s movement through the work force.”

The publication reviewed more than 1,000 nominations from students, colleagues, administrators and professors to select this year’s list. Its editorial staff evaluated predominantly on teaching (70% weight in evaluations) and research.

On the teaching component, Poets & Quants considered the substance and quantity of nominations, as well as teaching-related awards. For the research component, the staff gauged the impact of a professor’s research by examining scholarly citations, media attention, research awards and grants.

Chiplunkar’s research focuses on studying the causes and consequences of various challenges faced by individuals in labor markets in low-income countries, with an emphasis specifically on the barriers faced by women and the youth. He also studies how policy reforms and digital technologies can help mitigate those barriers, as well as their implications on the allocation of resources and talent, and the resulting consequences on economic growth and productivity.

In his nomination questionnaire completed for Poets & Quants, Chiplunkar addressed his career trajectory and experiences. A sample of the topics:

I knew I wanted to be a business school professor when… My first class in a business school was actually as student during my PhD days. The MBA students came with notable accomplishments even before starting business school. This clearly reflected in rich and engaging conversations, with different perspectives on the same topic! This student-centric approach was extremely refreshing, and in sharp contrast to the teacher-centric monologue that I was used to. This experience motivated me to pursue a career as a professor at a business school and thankfully, Darden has provided me with all of that and much more!

What are you currently researching and what is the most significant discovery you’ve made from it? I am currently analyzing a large dataset, with billions of individuals across 90 countries spanning around 50 years, to understand how individuals transition across sectors and occupations with economic development.

Our findings reveal a striking narrative: while traditional economic progress has seen men migrating from agriculture to manufacturing and services, women, in contrast, are more likely to exit the labor force altogether, before re-entering at higher levels of economic development, and often within the service sector. Despite significant advancements over these decades, women continue to be disproportionately relegated to clerical and secretarial roles, with managerial positions remaining elusive, even in the most developed nations.

If I weren’t a business school professor… I would be a musician practicing Indian classical music, which I have learnt for over 15 years!

What do you think makes you stand out as a professor? A classroom at Darden has a global diaspora encapsulated within its walls. My aim is therefore not to dictate, but guide and support our students, as they navigate their own learning journeys by leveraging the wealth of insights and expertise within our diverse community.

Find the full profile on Poets & Quants.

The Poets & Quants recognition is not the first of its kind for Chiplunkar. In 2020, following his first year at Darden, Chiplunkar was named to Business Because’s “MBA Professor to Look Out For 2020” list.