Yale and Chicago Booth are studying the emotional side of search

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by an investor from University of Virginia
in Tampa, FL, USA

3h ago

Yale and Chicago Booth are studying the emotional side of search

I get a lot of questions from searchers about the financial and operational side of the journey, but the part that catches many off guard is the emotional one. The isolation, doubt, and long stretches lacking an indication you're on the right tack. So I was glad to see Yale and Chicago Booth taking it on directly. ^redacted‌ of Yale School of Management and ^redacted‌ of Chicago Booth are running an ETA Search Sentiment Study to track how searcher's well-being, resilience, and resolve shift before and during their search. They survey at signup to set a baseline, then quarterly to see how sentiment moves as the search unfolds. They're looking for (a) anyone who started or plans to start a search in 2026, (b) across traditionally funded, self-funded, and sponsored models, and (c) MBA and non-MBA entrepreneurs. Results will be aggregated and anonymized for the benefit of the entire community. If you're in the trenches or approaching your search, your honest answers could help the next wave of searchers walk in with valuable knowledge and insights. Learn more and sign up here: redacted

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reply by an admin 21m ago
from Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Portland, OR, USA

^redacted might be able to help spread the word on this :-)

reply by a searcher 9m ago
from The University of Chicago in Nashville, TN, USA

Hopefully we get to see the output here some day, it's something I hadn't considered when I got into search but have a great appreciation of it now after my process. I've met Mark and one of his cohorts of ETA students, I highly recommend getting involved if you are starting your search so you can help others go into this with eyes wide open!