When Brad Mears, WG’26, got out of the U.S. Marine Corps, he thought about getting an MBA, but the timing wasn’t right. He had just begun working in the private sector and decided to get more professional experience before going to business school.
After eight years, first at PayPal and then the startup Figure, Brad was ready for school. He explains, “I realized that to grow as a leader, I needed a deeper understanding of business fundamentals. I’d developed strong product management skills but — to be truly effective in financial services — I needed the broader business toolkit that Wharton provides.”
A Career Built in Fintech
Brad’s career in tech started at PayPal, where he worked as a program manager. “It was an awesome place to start and get my foot in the door,” he says. But soon, he felt the pull toward a steeper learning curve and the chance to work directly in product management.
That led him to Figure, a fintech company that’s transforming capital markets through blockchain. Over the past six years, Brad has played a role in the company’s remarkable growth from a 100-person startup to a public company listed on Nasdaq (FIGR). “Being part of that journey has been incredible,” he says. “And now the opportunities ahead are bigger and more complex than when I started, which makes the timing of Wharton even more relevant.”
Why Wharton
Brad’s brother, a 2024 graduate of the Philadelphia EMBA cohort, had nothing but positive things to say about the program. Coupled with the GI Bill and Yellow Ribbon Program, which made the degree financially accessible, Brad knew he had found the right fit at Wharton’s San Francisco campus.
“Wharton was a no-brainer,” he says. “The opportunity to earn an Ivy League MBA while continuing to work in San Francisco and stay connected to the tech community was perfect.”
Classroom Insights That Translate to Work
From the start, the curriculum delivered immediate value. Courses in micro- and macroeconomics gave Brad new ways of understanding the products he manages, which are often in the housing finance space.
“On the micro level, it was eye-opening to learn about pricing and customer decision making,” he notes. “On the macro side, understanding how the Federal Reserve operates and how those decisions ripple through the financial industry was incredibly impactful. It gave me insights I use every day.”
Other courses have been equally relevant. “I loved the class on Disruptive Innovation because it’s so applicable to working in tech in the Bay Area. And Prof. Gad Alon‘s Scaling Operations class has been spot on for where we are as a company.” (Prof. Alon is Wharton’s Jeffrey A. Keswin Professor, as well as Director of the Jerome Fisher Program in Management & Technology.) “When I joined, we were small and growing fast. Now that we’re public, the issues we’re tackling are exactly what we discuss in class.”
The Wharton Community
For Brad, being back in a classroom setting is part of the appeal. “It’s refreshing to step into an environment where the stakes are lower than at work, while engaging in discussions with smart people who bring diverse perspectives,” he says.
His classmates, he adds, are a highlight. “There are so many impressive people in my cohort doing interesting things. We’re all at inflection points in our careers, and I know in five to 10 years I’ll be amazed by where everybody is.”
The San Francisco location has made the experience even more rewarding. “I ride my bike to class, and I’ve built a strong core group of friends here. Those relationships will last long after graduation.”
Balancing Family, Career, and School
Brad began Wharton with a newborn at home, so balancing school with a demanding job and family life has been challenging. The key to finding balance, he says, is clear communication, setting expectations, and prioritization.
“You have to be intentional about your time,” he says. “There will always be more you could do, but you can’t do everything. Be clear on what you want to get out of the program, protect time for family, and decide what’s enough for you. The program attracts high achievers, but you don’t have to say yes to everything.”
Looking Ahead
As Brad reflects on his experience so far, the combination of academic growth, career impact, and community stands out.
“It’s been demanding, but it’s worth it,” he says. “Wharton is giving me the tools, the perspective, and the network to continue growing as a leader — and that will pay dividends for the rest of my career.”
By Meghan Laska
Posted: November 10, 2025
