Erika James knew that her performance as a leader would be scrutinised when she was appointed dean of the Wharton School in February. She is the first female head of the world’s oldest business school, founded at the University of Pennsylvania in 1881. She is also its first African-American dean.

By the time she took up the post in July, however, the business education world faced two new challenges — the economic fallout from the coronavirus pandemic and a focus on racial justice following the Black Lives Matter protests.

When we talk over video shortly after her official start at Wharton, Ms James is very upbeat. “Actually, it has felt — and I don’t want this to be misinterpreted — invigorating,” she says about her first few days in the job.