The Wharton MBA Team-Based Discussion (TBD) 2025 - 2026

Wharton's Team-Based Discussion (TBD) is a glimpse into its collaborative learning culture; an exercise designed to evaluate how you engage, communicate, and problem-solve as part of a group. Think of it as a simulation of the teamwork you’ll experience in Wharton’s classrooms and learning teams.

The Wharton Team-Based Discussion Official Prompt (2025 - 2026)

Leadership development at Wharton integrates scholarship, relationships, and experiences that connect knowledge with action. The McNulty Leadership Program serves as the hub for this work, offering an expansive portfolio of experiential learning opportunities, including MBA Leadership Ventures. Ventures facilitate self-discovery, leadership, and character development. Participants are able to step out of their comfort zone, exceed personal limitations, and experience leadership firsthand. One key offering within the Venture Portfolio is Leadership Intensives (LI). Each LI is a consolidated, immersive, group-based experience lasting one to two days.

Wharton invites your team to propose a new Leadership Intensive (LI) to address increasing student interest. The LI proposed should be designed for Wharton MBA students and operate within a pilot budget of $25,000. All costs – including partner fees, facilitator payments, site or equipment rentals, and materials – must stay within this total amount. Transportation logistics will be arranged by Wharton and are outside the scope of your team’s planning and budget.

The program should be structured around a central theme that articulates and reinforces fundamental leadership principles. These principles will inform the program’s design and delivery, with the goal of producing specific, demonstrable learning outcomes. Consider how progress toward these learning outcomes will be assessed to determine whether participants have internalized and applied the intended skills and insights.

How to tackle the Wharton Team-Based Discussion Prompt 2025 - 2026

The McNulty Foundation believes that “leadership can be cultivated, especially at inflection points in people’s lives”. At Wharton, this manifests in the McNulty Leadership Program, where students can take on real-world leadership responsibilities in structured environments to build on this key skill.

Like the prompt says, there is an expansive portfolio of experiential learning opportunities that the Leadership Program offers. But this year’s Wharton TBD focuses on the more adventurous ones: MBA Leadership Ventures. These come in 2 types: Expeditions and Intensives. 

In simpler terms, an MBA Leadership Venture is an immersive, typically outdoors activity where you’ll be pushed out of your comfort zone, like an international trek or a group-based experience. The goal is to:

• Observe leadership or the absence of leadership first-hand

• Step out of your comfort zone

• Exceed personal limitations 

With Expeditions, you can expect to go on 6-8 overnight trips, typically international.

But what we’ll focus on in this year’s Wharton TBD is the Leadership Intensives (LIs). This is a 1-2 day consolidated and immersive group based experience that’s within driving distance of the school. 

Existing Wharton MBA Leadership Initiatives

So far, there are 2 on offer:

1. The MBA FDNY Intensive 1 day program: You’ll be immersed in the New York City Fire Department’s fire and emergency response training simulators at real FDNY facilities on Randall’s Island, NY.  You’ll be put through various scenarios requiring teamwork, leadership, problem-solving and decision-making skills.

2. The MBA Quantico Intensive 2 day program: You’ll be immersed in the U.S. Marine Corps Quantico Officer Candidate School’s Leadership Reaction Course and Combat Course to work on your fast decision-making, team-based problem solving, and effective strategic thinking skills. 

Both programs are physically intensive, and involve environments of uncertainty and challenge.

In this year’s Wharton TBD, you are asked to propose a new Leadership Intensive that will address student interest, all within a budget of $25,000. What your Leadership Intensive should include:

1. A program that spans 1-2 days, within driving distance.

2. The program theme should address student interest.

3. A budget plan including partner fees, facilitator payments, site or equipment rentals, and materials but excluding transportation logistics.

4. Specific, demonstrable learning outcomes that align with Wharton’s fundamental leadership principles.

The Wharton TBD format (2025-2026)

All Wharton TBDs are conducted virtually and include 5–6 participants (you and a small group of randomly assigned peers). Each year, the school releases a unique prompt related to Wharton’s programs or values. Your task is to brainstorm as a group, exchange ideas, and arrive at what Wharton calls a “tangible outcome.”

Your 35-minute discussion follows four key stages:

1. Pitch (1 minute): Each participant presents a brief proposal based on the prompt.

2. Discussion (25 minutes): The group collaborates to refine ideas and build consensus.

3. Presentation (5 minutes): The team shares its final concept.

4. 1-on-1 Interview (10 minutes): A short individual interview with a Wharton representative follows.

   
   

The group is responsible for managing the timeline. No one will keep time for you.

What the AdCom is really looking for is how you interact: your ability to listen, adapt, and collaborate effectively. They’ll be watching to see if you foster an inclusive environment, encourage quieter members, handle disagreements diplomatically, and contribute to a cohesive discussion rather than dominating it.

Each year’s TBD prompt is designed to test creativity and teamwork, not niche expertise. It typically relates to Wharton’s academic or extracurricular ecosystem, giving participants a chance to connect the discussion to their own interests or professional backgrounds.

Every year, we host mock Wharton TBD sessions that replicate the real TBD. Here's a play-by-play analysis of how our 2024-2025 TBD participants tackled the prompt.

Stage 1: The 1-Minute Pitch

Wharton recommends logging in about 10 minutes early to get comfortable and chat casually with other participants. Don’t start debating the prompt just yet, though!

When it’s your turn, use your minute wisely. Aim for clarity over detail. Speak at a steady pace, and make sure your teammates can easily follow your idea.

SWC’s Advice:

• Research the topic in advance so you can offer an informed perspective.

• Keep introductions brief.

• Align your idea with your personal story or application theme.

• Rehearse out loud, and test it on friends to check clarity.

• If needed, get feedback from an admissions consultant before the actual TBD.

Stage 2: The Group Discussion (25 minutes)

Once everyone has pitched, the team begins brainstorming which idea (or combination) to pursue. Often, groups merge similar proposals into one cohesive concept.

If your idea is selected, you’ll naturally contribute more background or data. Remember that this doesn’t make you the leader! You’ll need to balance contribution and collaboration to avoid coming on too strong.

SWC’s Advice:

• Be constructive: offer feedback tactfully and welcome suggestions about your own ideas.

• Respect airtime: aim to speak a moderate amount. Not too much, not too little.

• Keep things on track. Gently manage time and invite quieter members to join in.

• Stay professional. Even over Zoom, body language, facial expressions, and tone matter.

Choose a neutral background, dress in smart casual, and maintain a calm, confident presence throughout.

Stage 3: The Group Presentation (5 minutes)

For prompts like Wharton’s 2025-26 example, teams often divide presentation responsibilities so each person covers one key aspect. For example, the team might divide responsibilities as follows:

• Participant 1: Introduces the core LI theme and student interest.

• Participant 2: Describes the program schedule.

• Participant 3: Discusses budgetary allocations.

• Participant 4: Outlines specific key learning outcomes.

• Participant 5: Explains assessment methods to “determine whether participants have internalized and applied the intended skills and insights”.

  
  

SWC's Presentation tips:

• Keep your remarks concise and aligned with your notes.

• Watch the clock. Overrunning your time affects your teammates!

• Transition smoothly: use each other’s names for handoffs (e.g., “Now I’ll hand it over to Michelle…”).

  
  

Stage 4: The One-on-One Interview (10 minutes)

After the group portion, you’ll move into a short individual interview with a Wharton alum or admissions officer. You won’t know their background beforehand, so be prepared for a range of questions.

Typical topics include:

• Your contribution: What was your most meaningful input during the TBD?

• Team challenges: What was difficult about the discussion, and how did the group overcome it?

• Why MBA / Why Wharton: Use consistent reasoning from your essays and highlight relevant programs, professors, or clubs.

• Your question: You’ll get a chance to ask something, so prepare thoughtful queries that show genuine curiosity.

Want to watch recordings of our mock Wharton TBDs from previous years? Join MBAConsultant.com to get access.

---

Every year, we host mock team based discussions, and we strongly recommend joining to hone your pitch and discussion style. To learn more about the Wharton TBD, speak with one of our expert admissions consultants.