# In a dedicated feature, NYU Stern's two-year Full-time MBA Class of 2026 is highlighted, including nine interviews with first-year MBA students; Vice Dean for MBA and Graduate Programs Nate Pettit is quoted: "Meet NYU Stern’s MBA Class Of 2026."

1 School News October 17, 2024 ![Poets and Quants logo](/sites/default/files/styles/246w/public/assets/images/con_036687.gif?itok=YuUEYfSP)>

Excerpt from [Poets & Quants](https://poetsandquants.com/2024/10/17/meet-nyu-sterns-mba-class-of-2026/2/) — "People may associate numbers with facts, but what they often remember is how someone makes them feel. That’s why NYU Stern emphasizes soft skills – problem-solving, teamwork, empathy, flexibility, conflict management, communication – to complement their faculty’s quantitative prowess. For Stern, Emotional Intelligence (EQ) is a differentiator that enables students to build relationships, sell ideas, and grow professionally in a way that data alone can’t. In fact, EQ is the #1 quality that Stern weighs in admissions decisions, fostering a supportive community that values mutual respect as much as hard-nosed results."

[Read More](https://poetsandquants.com/2024/10/17/meet-nyu-sterns-mba-class-of-2026/2/)