Strategic Vision and Leadership: Zachary Cho Earns Top Honors from Poets & Quants

Poets & Quants' Best & Brightest honours top graduate business students at leading MBA programmes around the globe. According to P&Q, students are nominated for their “academic prowess, extracurricular achievements, innate intangibles and potential, or unusual personal stories.”  

Responsible Leadership in Action 

Originally from Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, Zach brought a unique combination of entrepreneurial spirit and disciplined leadership to his academic and professional endeavors.

Prior to his Global MBA, and after a career as Market Development Manager at Coca Cola Canada, he founded and managed Westcoast Poké. His business was not only a culinary success but also a model for operational sustainability and innovative business solutions. His commitment extended to his employees, particularly evident during the Covid-19 pandemic when he supported them through financial hardships, reinforcing the idea that responsible leadership involves supporting stakeholders through challenging times.  

During his time at EDHEC, Zach further developed his leadership style, focusing on strategic thinking and ethical practices. He chose EDHEC “because of its outstanding commitment to sustainability, demonstrated by its top ranking for ESG by The Financial Times, and the diversity it celebrates—not just in gender balance and age range but also in the rich tapestry of cultures represented by 30+ nationalities.” 

Success as a team 

Elected as a Class Representative, he effectively voiced his classmates' interests to university administrators. Additionally, his success in leading teams to victory in MBA case competitions, such as the Strategic Marketing Case Competition with ACS Clothing and the Sustainable Impact Challenge with SAP, highlighted his ability to merge strategic acumen with a commitment to sustainability. Furthermore, he has been involved in various initiatives that have had a meaningful impact on those around him. His leadership extended beyond academic competitions and class representation, offering mentorship and support to his peers, especially in navigating career challenges and personal development. 

Extending his academic endeavor, Zach was nominated for the prestigious CEIBS business school academic exchange, an opportunity that underscores his dedication to global business education and cross-cultural learning. 

Leading with Strategy and Ethics

Upon completing his MBA, Zach plans to pursue a career in strategy consulting, where he aims to apply his strategic insights to help businesses define actionable steps towards tangible outcomes, helping solve complex business challenges and influencing the success and direction of organisations.

Through thorough selection processes and generous scholarships, EDHEC ensures equal access for promising future leaders to its prestigious further education programmes, thus guaranteeing talent and diversity in its cohorts. The 2024 Global MBA cohort includes 30+ different nationalities out of which 47% are women. “Zach brings his unbounded entrepreneurial energy, drive, and curiosity to our MBA cohort. He is rigorous in his studies and embraces every opportunity to learn and grow. With a healthy competitive spirit and high academic standards, Zach has shown empathy, teamwork, and problem-solving skills in his leadership role as an elected Class Representative.” said Sandra Richez, Programme Director of the EDHEC Global MBA. “We are very proud of him. MBAs like Zach are what make the EDHEC cohorts outstanding.”

Zachary’s recognition by Poets & Quants as one of the Best & Brightest MBAs 2024 celebrates his past achievements and highlights his potential to lead responsibly in the future. This accolade also affirms the excellent education and leadership development programme provided by EDHEC Business School, preparing graduates like him to make a positive impact in the business world.