April 8 marked a milestone at the University of Miami, commemorating the institution’s centennial and launching the Moonshot Project, Miami Herbert Business School’s ambitious strategic plan. The timing was intentional, honoring a century of achievements while charting a path toward the future.
Seven years before astronauts walked on the Sea of Tranquility in 1969, President John F. Kennedy challenged America to put a man on the moon by the end of the decade. Similarly, Miami Herbert Dean Paul A. Pavlou has set a bold timeline, giving the institution four years to achieve a top 20 ranking by 2029—the school's 100th anniversary.
Speaking from the stage of Storer Auditorium dressed in a UM-orange suit, tie, and shoes, Pavlou described the Moonshot Project as a collaborative, forward-thinking plan involving Miami Herbert faculty and staff.
“It’s not just to say we’re a top 20 school and feel good about our research and programs,” Pavlou explained. “I want the very best blue-chip companies to feel that way and recruit our students.”
The Moonshot Project seeks to accelerate Miami Herbert’s impressive rise in rankings in recent months. U.S. News & World Report’s Best Graduate Schools rankings place Miami Herbert among the nation’s top 50 full-time M.B.A. programs. Additionally, the Financial Times recently ranked the school No. 1 in the U.S. for M.B.A. job placement, and Poets&Quants named Miami Herbert's undergraduate program No. 1 in Florida and 21st nationally in its 2025 rankings.
Miami Herbert alumni hold prominent leadership positions across industries, further underscoring the school’s impact and potential.
These successes have not persuaded Pavlou to ease off the throttle.
“Career success is a critical part of our mission,” Dean Pavlou said. “We owe it to our students to provide them with exceptional career preparedness and opportunities.”
Miami itself is experiencing remarkable growth, and Pavlou sees the Moonshot Project as a key to forging stronger connections with local industries.
“We’re identifying Miami’s major industries, from finance and healthcare to technology, real estate, and supply chains,” Pavlou said. “We want local companies to see Miami Herbert as their prime source for talent.”
Pavlou explained that the strategic plan emerged from a fundamental question: “Where do we want to be as Miami Herbert in 2029, when we celebrate our 100th anniversary?”
His answer was clear: “We collectively decided we want to be a top 20 business school. Let’s make it happen!”
Click here to learn more about Miami Herbert’s 2025-2029 strategic plan.
