Professors Receive Wyss Awards for Excellence in Mentoring Doctoral Students
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BOSTON—Harvard Business School (HBS) has announced the recipients of the 2025 Wyss Awards for Excellence in Mentoring Doctoral Students. Professor Elie Ofek and Assistant Professor Maria Roche have been selected for their work in the Doctoral Programs. The award, whose recipients are selected by doctoral students, recognizes faculty who provide exceptional mentorship and guidance to doctoral students. Established in 2004 through the generosity of Hansjoerg Wyss (MBA 1965), the Hansjoerg Wyss Endowment for Doctoral Education supports a broad range of efforts to strengthen the HBS Doctoral Programs, including fellowships and stipends for doctoral students, increased support for field research, new doctoral course development, teaching skills training, and the renovation of doctoral facilities on campus.  Professor Elie Ofek
Elie Ofek, the Malcolm P. McNair Professor of Marketing and co-unit head of the Marketing Unit, is regarded by students as a mentor who blends deep academic insight with personal warmth and genuine connection. “Professor Ofek has consistently shown genuine care for my research progress, job search, and overall well-being,” one student said. “In our research conversations, he brings remarkable clarity and insight, tackling problems and providing solutions that I hadn’t considered before.” Ofek’s research focuses on new product strategies in technology-driven business environments, exploring interactions between research and development and marketing decisions.  Assistant Professor Maria Roche
Maria Roche, an assistant professor of business administration, was praised by doctoral students for her creative approach to research and her ability to help students think outside the box in their research. “Professor Roche is great at helping us find ways to elevate our ideas,” a student said. “She provides great advice and I always leave our meetings feeling relieved, knowing I have potential and direction.” Roche’s research examines how knowledge turns into innovation and how micro-geographic environments—such as neighborhoods, buildings, or even offices—shape the process. For the outstanding nominations received, the following faculty have been named honorable mentions:
The winners and honorable mentions were selected from a pool of faculty nominees. In keeping with tradition, the main advisors of the selection committee chairs and award recipients from the past five years were excluded from consideration. |
Mark Cautela
mcautela+hbs.edu
617-365-9547
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