The Keys To Success Lie Behind These Doors...CNBC's "THE MONEY CHASE: INSIDE HARVARD BUSINESS SCHOOL," Reported By CNBC Anchor Carl Quintanilla Premieres On Wednesday, December 17, At 10pm

The CNBC Original Production Offers Rare Access To One Of The Most Elite And Influential Institutions In The World

For 100 years it has turned out many of the world's top leaders in business and government including: U.S. Treasury Secretary Hank Paulson; billionaire co-founder of the Blackstone Group, Stephen Schwarzman; former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney; New York City Mayor and self-made billionaire Michael Bloomberg, and President George W. Bush. The rewards of a Harvard MBA are apparent, but what is life really like inside those hallowed halls and how does the school shape future leaders?

CNBC, First in Business Worldwide presents, "The Money Chase: Inside Harvard Business School," anchored by CNBC's Carl Quintanilla premiering Wednesday, December 17 at 10PM ET.

With an annual tuition of $80,000 and some 8,600 applicants for just 900 spots, many students feel the pressure from their first day on campus. Quintanilla goes behind the ivy-covered walls to attend classes, interview professors and talk to current students about their expectations, fears and ability to cope with the intense competition and relentless workload. One of these students is Lisandra Rickards, a young woman from Kingston, Jamaica, who is the first in her family to attend college and whose goal is to help her country's troubled economy. Quintanilla also profiles second-year students Spence and Maureen Miller, a married couple who applied separately to HBS -- he, while serving as a Navy Seal in Iraq.

Quintanilla interviews well-known alumni who share memories of their triumphs - and stresses - at Harvard Business School. Among them: Jamie Dimon (1982) Chairman, President & CEO JP Morgan Chase; Ann Moore (1978) CEO, Time, Inc.; Jeff Immelt (1982) CEO, General Electric; Stephen Schwarzman (1972) CEO, Blackstone Group; Meg Whitman (1979) Former EBay CEO; Richard Edelman (1978) President & CEO, Edelman Public Relations and Kathy Giusti, Founder & CEO, Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation.

"The Money Chase: Inside Harvard Business School," also explores the role of business schools as its students enter a troubled economy. As Meg Whitman asks, "Will entrepreneurship still be alive and well? Will risk taking be alive and well? I think it will be, but it is an unsettled time," she adds.

For more information including web extras and extended video clips, log onto: http://insideharvardbiz.cnbc.com.

Carl Quintanilla is the co-anchor of CNBC's "Squawk Box" (7AM-9AM ET).

Mitch Weitzner is the Executive Producer of "The Money Chase: Inside Harvard Business School," Lori Gordon and Bob Waldman are the producers. Jonathan Wald is the Senior Vice President, Business News at CNBC.