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18 Sep 2023, 07:00
| FROM Madison(Wisconsin) Admissions Blog: Business Casual: September 2023 |
The Briefing New faculty bring future-focused business expertise to WSB Investing in top talent and impactful research, WSB welcomes eight new faculty members this fall. These thought leaders are well-versed in cross-disciplinary topics like artificial intelligence, climate change, and racial disparities, positioning them to address some of today’s most critical questions and help students think strategically about complex business issues.  UW–Madison students settle in for a new school year In recent weeks, thousands of Badgers left their hometowns and summer jobs to come to UW–Madison for a new school year. Besides buying new supplies and finding their classes, many students—and plenty of helpers—were pushing red carts, unpacking boxes, and making new friends on move-in day. New Badgers were also formally welcomed to UW–Madison at Convocation 2023 by Chancellor Jennifer L. Mnookin. This year’s freshman class is expected to be around 8,000 students and about 1,000 transfer students also join campus this fall.  WSB to add new real estate track in affordable housing and sustainable development In response to student and market demand, WSB will soon offer a new, graduate-level specialization in affordable housing and sustainable development, beginning in Fall 2024. The new track complements WSB’s current portfolio of real estate offerings and will prepare students for careers in residential and commercial real estate development, focusing on affordable and sustainable housing issues and financing. The Ticker
 Back to School Get Up, It’s Game Day! Picture this: You’re a student again at UW–Madison and it’s a crisp Saturday in September. You have an accounting assignment to complete and a marketing exam to study for—but both tasks will have to wait until tomorrow. Because today isn’t just any Saturday—it’s game day! You dress in red and white and join thousands of other students, alumni, and Badger fans at one of your favorite places on campus: Camp Randall. You cheer on Bucky, have a great time with your friends, and partake in all your favorite game-day traditions. For some Business Badgers, game day was among their most unforgettable experiences. See what fellow alums are saying about their favorite football memories. “In the late 1970s, the team wasn’t very good, but the stands were full and the students were engaged—but not always in the game! The Fifth Quarter gained recognition as the songs were expanded to engage the student section a lot more, and people stayed long after the game to enjoy the band and music. It was definitely an experience unique to UW–Madison and the Badgers, and we still enjoy it today.” —Cheryl Zima (BBA ’77) P.S.: Keep making game-day memories at this year’s Homecoming Bash!  Tip Sheet Calling All Volunteers! The Business Badger community is teeming with eager alumni willing to offer their time, expertise, and resources to WSB. This fall, take advantage of these impactful volunteer opportunities to give back and create positive change for your alma mater.
Looking for more? Check out these campus-wide opportunities:
Alumni Opportunities October 2–7: Check out online and in-person Homecoming activities from the Wisconsin Alumni Association. October 5–6: The flamingos are landing this ‘Flocktober’! Save the date for this year’s Fill the Hill event to support experiential learning at WSB. 175 years and counting: Explore events commemorating the 175th anniversary of UW–Madison’s founding. Job search resources: Use these online tools and videos to help plan a career move now or in the future. Stay connected: Network with other Business Badgers by joining the Wisconsin Business Alumni LinkedIn group. About Business Casual Every other month, alumni and friends of the Wisconsin School of Business will receive insider updates with news about our alumni, faculty, students, and programs. If you want to share Business Casual with friends, they can sign up at go.wisc.edu/wsb-biz-cas. Questions or comments? Email businesscasual@wsb.wisc.edu The post Business Casual: September 2023 appeared first on Wisconsin School of Business. |
18 Sep 2023, 14:00
| FROM Madison(Wisconsin) Admissions Blog: WSB Invests in AI Through Research and Learning |
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Artificial intelligence (AI) is changing so fast—and impacting society, industry, and education along with it—that keeping abreast of the tidal wave is both an exciting and daunting challenge. Enno Siemsen, associate dean of MBA and master’s programs and a professor of operations and information management at the Wisconsin School of Business, says addressing AI from both a teaching and research perspective is in keeping with the forward-thinking mindset the school has always maintained. “Our approach to AI is a response to what we’re seeing in the marketplace,” Siemsen says. “We’re always trying to stay on top of emerging topics whether it’s sustainability, DEI, or business analytics—and AI is a continuation of that.” The emergence of ChatGPT, an artificial intelligence chatbot, this past November kicked things up a notch. “I think that accelerated in the public mind the impact that artificial intelligence is having on business, and it really created a flurry of innovations which are going on right now across industries,” says Siemsen. “We want to make sure we prepare our students for that reality as best we can.” Teaching students about AI An upcoming WSB event will offer students the opportunity to learn more about the different aspects of AI and how to navigate and use them in the context of business fields. The applied learning session will introduce generative AI—an area of AI that can create images and other media—and large-language model applications like ChatGPT. “I believe a basic understanding is helpful for students to better understand the situations in which these tools are particularly powerful and how they can be applied in a business context,” says Dani Bauer, the Hickman-Larson Chair in Actuarial Science and a professor of risk and insurance with WSB. “This background also provides a glimpse into the limitations and potential challenges associated with their increased prevalence.” The three-part event will include:
The event takes place September 22 and will be co-led by University of Wisconsin–Madison faculty and industry partners such as Google, Mailchimp, and Velocity AI. The upcoming event is “one mechanism for how we integrate fast-evolving content into our curriculum,” says Siemsen, adding that another event will likely take place in the spring. In addition to hands-on learning opportunities like the generative AI event, WSB is embedding AI learning into its course offerings. The school already has AI-relevant courses across multiple programs and departments, and is currently developing a new course called Competing with AI for the redesigned executive MBA program. Siemsen expects that the school will continue to develop new AI curriculum to prepare WSB students as AI changes. “Our strategy with AI is to remain flexible right now because it is a very quickly evolving topic,” says Siemsen. Supporting AI research Just as WSB students are learning about AI through curriculum, so are WSB faculty exploring AI through their research. The school is committed to supporting research in emerging, in-demand fields, and AI is an important component of that investment. Jordan Tong, the Wisconsin Naming Partners Professor and a professor of operations and information management. “Over the last couple of years, I somewhat organically noticed there were a lot of WSB faculty working on human-AI interactions, including many new faculty members,” Tong says. “I decided to collect a list of people and research articles that people have either completed or are currently working on. Others started saying they’re interested in the topic even if they don’t have a completed paper yet, too. Then people showed some interest in learning about others’ work across areas on this topic.” The group held a gathering this spring in Grainger Hall, giving WSB faculty members an opportunity to share their research, collaborate, and to deepen their understanding of AI and its impact on industry and education. Recent examples of AI research from WSB faculty members include:
“How can we create a healthy online environment and how can we stimulate more effective user interaction on these platforms? Machine learning and the issues surrounding it are still pretty new,” He says. “Few studies have looked at the role of algorithms in community governance, so this idea got me very excited.”
“This space is very exciting overall, because I feel that the future of hiring, or AI-based hiring, is actually hybrid,” Chakraborty says. The post WSB Invests in AI Through Research and Learning appeared first on Wisconsin School of Business. |
05 Oct 2023, 11:00
| FROM Madison(Wisconsin) Admissions Blog: Thanks to Badger Consulting, Babcock Dairy Milks Its Cheese Gift Box Potential |
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Babcock Dairy is famous for ice cream, but it’s the cheese that may just be the store’s best-kept secret. Casey Whyte and Kari Backes, managers of the Babcock Dairy Plant and Store at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, went through a year-long process with an out-of-state firm to create a comprehensive business plan to take a fresh look at different segments of their business. It was successful, but overwhelming. Feeling like they needed assistance with deciding which parts of the business plan to pursue and where to start, they reached out to Michelle Somes-Booher, director of the Wisconsin Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at the Wisconsin School of Business. After reviewing the research and talking with the Babcock team, Somes-Booher recommended they focus on growing Babcock’s line of mail-order cheese gift boxes. Her suggestion felt right on target. After all, the Babcock ice cream brand didn’t need help. It pretty much sold itself—so much so that few people seemed to know that Babcock offered anything else, including their delicious cheeses. The state consistently leads the nation in cheese production, and Babcock was already carrying a wide array of award-winning cheeses in its gift boxes. It was the perfect gift, especially for Wisconsinites. All that was missing was better marketing. “We aren’t even capturing 5% of that audience,” that loves cheese, says Backes. A unique mission A campus entity since 1951, one of the aspects that sets Babcock Dairy apart from a typical small business is its mission. As a not-for-profit under the umbrella of UW–Madison’s Department of Food Science in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, both the plant and the store support the department’s research, teaching, and outreach mandate. “Our main mission is to support the department and to aid in the education of food science students going out into industry,” Whyte says. “We manufacture products to be sold to the consumer, which helps offset our costs as well as some of the departmental costs of teaching students. So, the goal is to become more financially stable to where we can provide greater assistance to the department.” Whyte says it’s critical that the plant and the store maintain a financial reservoir for large production equipment: A single replacement piece, such as a separator that divides milk and cream, can run in the hundreds of thousands of dollars. It also helps the plant and store prevail during unforeseen circumstances such as being shut down during much of the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as planned changes like the ongoing renovation of Babcock Hall, their building located on Linden Drive. “We need to be able to cover our operating costs without creating an undue burden to the rest of the college when something does happen,” says Whyte. “That’s why it was really important for us to develop a solid business plan that puts us in strong financial standing.” Badger Consulting To come up with an action plan,Somes-Booher connected Backes and Whyte with Badger Consulting, an all-student undergraduate consulting organization that offers pro bono consulting services to small businesses in Madison, and the organization’s president, Mitchell Carroll (BBA ’25). “The Small Business Development Center has been working with the Badger Consulting club for several years,” says Somes-Booher. “It’s wonderful to see the students connect with our clients. The work they produce is extremely helpful and clients really appreciate the insights.” SBDC is scheduled to do four projects with Badger Consulting this semester, and students check in regularly with Somes-Booher and SBDC staff on each project’s progress and scope. Carroll, who is majoring in finance, real estate, and risk management and insurance, while also pursuing a consulting certificate, says the club just finished fall recruiting and had a record number of applicants. The club sits at around 70 members, comprised of analysts, project managers, and several board members. Housed in WSB, the group is open to all majors on campus, not just business. “We love having people from all different majors,” Carroll says. “Consulting as an industry looks for individuals across engineering, computer science, STEM fields, and more. Because consulting is not just about business; it’s basically how you think, analyze data, and work on a problem to solve it.” Carroll completed a real estate development internship with RBH Group, LLC in the New York City metropolitan area over the summer and will be working for J.P. Morgan this summer as a real estate corporate banking analyst. He is confident that the skills he’s gained through Badger Consulting, through working with clients and leading projects, will translate well to his internship and throughout his career. Boosting the gift box business With Babcock Dairy, Carroll and fellow project manager Ethan Kofman (BBA ‘23) and four Badger Consulting student analysts, spent six to seven weeks meeting regularly with Whyte and Backes and researching the feasibility of growing the mail-order cheese gift boxes. Babcock’s cheese box options encompassed everything from a simple summer sausage and cheese box to a higher-end charcuterie box with items like Gouda, smoked cheddar, honey toasted pecans, and Wisconsin-based Potter’s Crackers. They had an established e-commerce presence, but needed to better define the target customer who was going to buy these products, says Carroll. Next, Carroll and Kofman looked at raising the visibility of the Babcock store within the campus community, particularly among students. They explored how Babcock might expand its gift box business into different geographic areas beyond Madison and conducted a pricing analysis and review of the competitive landscape. Carroll and Kofman also researched the lasting effects of COVID-19 and inflation on e-commerce, since small e-commerce businesses were hit hard by the pandemic. Their industry analysis unearthed some good news on that front: a projected $54 billion increase in corporate gift box spending through 2025. “The main thing was they have a great product and there’s a market for it,” says Carroll. “So, they can bridge that together and broadcast it.” Final recommendations Carroll and Kofman presented and delivered final recommendations to Babcock Dairy. The gift boxes had growth potential with students, parents, and alumni, but their takeaways primarily focused on targeting alumni and possibly their businesses. Alumni had a familiarity with the brand and a built-in nostalgia for their Badger years, which made them ideal customers. Plus, many were business owners and could potentially gift the boxes to their employees. The research also showed alumni were heavily clustered in Madison, making it a promising target market. Milwaukee came out as an important secondary market, and Minneapolis and Chicago as a third. Carroll and Kofman recommended increasing Babcock’s social media presence through Facebook, a prime avenue to connect with parents and alumni. They also saw value in the creation of a LinkedIn page for corporate alumni connections since much of Babcock’s interaction was with business students who tend to be very active on the social platform. Carroll and Kofman also gave pricing recommendations they had researched, comparing different cheese companies with similar product offerings, and gauging their pricing per ounce. They recommended Whyte and Backes think about ramping up the “storytelling” with their cheeses. As a custom box with Badger memories and associations for many, customers want to feel like there’s a story behind it to tell their guests, a tradition or feature that makes it special. “In the business world today, a lot of times consumers are looking to buy products, not for the actual product, but for the mission and ‘why’ behind it,” says Carroll. “We thought that if Babcock Dairy could really find their ’why,’ it would attract a lot more consumers.” “People look at cheese and say, ‘How could I ever incorporate that [at my table]?’” Backes says. “But in Wisconsin, we take it as, who doesn’t put cheese out at every gathering you have, right? So, making it a part of your family Thanksgiving, telling an ‘experience’ story—we are working on that piece.” Moving forward For Badger Consulting, the experience with Babcock was a positive one, Carroll says. “Helping out a UW–Madison business was really exciting for us,” says Carroll. “We all felt very passionate about it because we tried the product—it’s great—and we just wanted to give back, to help them in any way we can. As we went along, we realized that these clients are very busy, just with their day-to-day operations alone. They have a lot on their plate. So we were honored that they were willing to have us come to give them help.” For the Babcock team, seeing the students’ excitement and enthusiasm was fun because it brought a fresh perspective. “They just brought a light to it. It was wonderful,” Backes says. Backes and Whyte are reviewing the students’ findings and planning their next steps for implementation. “We are very grateful for Michelle’s help, the SBDC, and the students who helped us. We were extremely pleased with it, from beginning to end.” Wisconsin Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at the University of Wisconsin–Madison provides no-cost consulting and non-credit courses to help businesses from startup through growth. The nationwide SBDCs were established by the Small Business Administration in 1980 with legislation written by Wisconsin Sen. Gaylord Nelson. In 2022 alone, the Wisconsin SBDC worked directly with 423 consulting clients over 1,160 hours; helped clients obtain over $11.98 million in capital; helped 26 new businesses start; supported 1,472 jobs in Wisconsin; and hosted 40 training events. The post Thanks to Badger Consulting, Babcock Dairy Milks Its Cheese Gift Box Potential appeared first on Wisconsin School of Business. |
09 Oct 2023, 07:00
| FROM Madison(Wisconsin) Admissions Blog: Donors Fuel Programmatic Innovations and More |
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The Wisconsin School of Business (WSB) Fund allows the school to invest in new programs and initiatives that enhance the student experience and improve its reputation as a world-class business school. Contributions to the WSB Fund help the school provide top-tier resources that prepare students for post-graduation success. We are grateful for your investment in the WSB Fund within the last 12 months. Your gift is an integral part of our school’s ability to innovate, grow, and provide exceptional learning experiences. In addition to expressing our sincerest thanks, we wanted to celebrate with you and share key points of progress and impact that you helped make possible. WSB welcomes 8 new faculty members Eight new faculty members joined the Wisconsin School of Business this fall, reinforcing the school’s investment in top talent and impactful research. These bright minds bring a wealth of knowledge to WSB. They are thought leaders in cross-disciplinary topics like artificial intelligence, health care and climate change. Their expertise positions them to address some of today’s most critical questions and help students think strategically about complex business issues. Business Badger Launch creates community for direct admit students Business Badger Launch is a new, cohort-based undergraduate program that takes place the week before the fall semester starts. The signature program is designed to support traditionally underrepresented direct-admit Business Badgers as they begin their first year at UW–Madison. The program allows students to maximize their college experience by building connections with other WSB students, faculty, and staff. The cohorts will equip students with resources as they learn about time management, understanding their identity as a college student, study abroad opportunities, and how to jump start their career development. Real estate program adds new graduate track in affordable housing and sustainable development This fall, WSB’s Real Estate program launched a new Real Estate track in affordable housing and sustainable development.Meeting demand for two of the fastest-growing topics in real estate—housing affordability and sustainability—this new offering prepares graduate students for careers in both residential and commercial real estate development, with a focus on affordable and sustainable housing issues and financing. The track will provide students with tools to navigate these evolving areas of real estate and builds on WSB’s record of success in pairing a rigorous core curriculum with an applied learning experience component. The program is currently prototyping some of the track’s courses with current WSB students and will open for enrollment in 2024. Flexibility, innovation drive WSB’s redesigned Executive MBA WSB is proud to launch the newlyredesigned Executive MBA program this fall. Delivered through a combination of hybrid, online, and in-person learning, the flexible, 18-month program allows executive-level professionals to expand their skills and take their leadership abilities to the next level. Built on an innovative modular platform, the program includes four strategic modules: leadership development, and business management, strategy, and innovation. In addition to new and innovative courses, the redesigned Wisconsin Executive MBA features experiential learning and increased executive mentoring and career coaching. Applications for the Wisconsin Executive MBA Program will open in Fall 2023 for classes to begin in Fall 2024. The post Donors Fuel Programmatic Innovations and More appeared first on Wisconsin School of Business. |
17 Oct 2023, 12:00
| FROM Madison(Wisconsin) Admissions Blog: Photo Gallery: 2023 WSB Homecoming Bash |
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Business Badger alumni and friends gathered at Grainger Hall on a crisp autumn morning to celebrate their alma mater at WSB’s 2023 Homecoming Bash. Fan favorite Bucky Badger also joined the Homecoming fun, which included outdoor games, a tailgate brunch, face painting, live music, and good old-fashioned camaraderie. After the Bash, many alums kept the celebration going at Camp Randall. They watched the Badgers defeat the Rutgers Scarlet Knights—the first-ever matchup of its kind for a Homecoming game—by a final score of 24-13. [img]https://business.wisc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/WSB-Homecoming-Bash_102023_Z72_8298-1024x758.jpg[/img] With grins from ear to ear, Dan Gadow (BBA ’83) and his father, John Gadow (BBA ’56), throw up the “W” at WSB’s Homecoming Bash! [img]https://business.wisc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/WSB-Homecoming-Bash_102023_Z72_8319-1024x676.jpg[/img] UW–Madison alum Clare S. (BBA ’19) shows Bucky Badger some love in Grainger Hall. [img]https://business.wisc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/WSB-Homecoming-Bash_102023_NZ9_1228-1024x766.jpg[/img] Are we looking at a future Wisconsin Badger quarterback? Niko Bruksch shows off his football—and cornhole—skills at the Bash. [img]https://business.wisc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/WSB-Homecoming-Bash_102023_Z72_8217-1024x1003.jpg[/img] What could be better than a dance with Bucky Badger? You’ll have to ask alumna Katie Soyka (BBA ’02), who found herself the perfect dance partner in the courtyard. [img]https://business.wisc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/WSB-Homecoming-Bash_102023_Z72_8274-1024x740.jpg[/img] Dean Vallabh “Samba” Sambamurthy and Bucky Badger pose with Carrie Burton (BA ’86) and Mike Burton. [img]https://business.wisc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/WSB-Homecoming-Bash_102023_Z72_8381-1024x762.jpg[/img] So many Badgers joined in on the fun! WSB alumni Ken Thompson (MS ’94) and his sister, Patsy Thompson (BBA ’78), smile big for a family photo. [img]https://business.wisc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/WSB-Homecoming-Bash_102023_Z72_8341-1024x725.jpg[/img] Can you tell them apart? After getting his face painted, Peter Christnovich looked just like Bucky Badger! [img]https://business.wisc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/WSB-Homecoming-Bash_102023_NZ9_1189-1024x774.jpg[/img] The morning weather was brisk, but alumni and friends braved the autumn chill on October 7, bundled up in their best Badger gear, and enjoyed some tunes from the Sundogs! The post [url=https://business.wisc.edu/news/photo-gallery-2023-wsb-homecoming-bash/]Photo Gallery: 2023 WSB Homecoming Bash[/url] appeared first on [url=https://business.wisc.edu]Wisconsin School of Business[/url]. |
19 Oct 2023, 14:00
| FROM Madison(Wisconsin) Admissions Blog: Communicating Identity with Digital Labels |
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Cultural and societal changes over the past few years have contributed to a greater willingness to publicly integrate business and business owners’ identities. Google Places, Facebook, Amazon, Yelp, and similar websites and apps now provide visible support for equity, diversity, and inclusion by giving business owners the option of self-identifying by gender, race, etc., by adding digital labels to their online store listing—their “digital storefronts.” These labels are searchable, and visible on maps and lists, allowing for easier patronage by those seeking to support a business with a particular identity. Yash Babar of the Wisconsin School of Business explores whether such social identity signals impact consumer decision-making and retailer demand. The first study, using Google Places business profiles for Black-owned Chicago restaurants, experimentally manipulated Black and women-owned labels and examined patrons’ expectations (such as a desire to visit the restaurant) as well as their perceptions of restaurant quality. The findings suggested that the Black-owned digital label led to increased levels of patron expectation and perceptions of restaurant quality. Both labels had a positive impact on consumer decision-making and demand, driven principally by Black and politically liberal customers. In a follow-up experiment using Yelp business pages, consumers had a 6% additional willingness to pay for a business explicitly labeled as Black-owned vs. not. For the second study, Babar, an assistant professor of operations and information management, looked at Black- and women-owned labels from Yelp and Google Places in relation to foot traffic and customer visits with a sample drawn from restaurants across three U.S. metropolitan areas. The findings suggested a marked increase again in the number of visits in relation to the digital labels, predominantly for regions that historically voted Democrat. “In times where nearly all online services help a business express identity, online businesses need to be aware that by signaling gender or race of ownership, they might be expressing more than they think they are.” —Yash Babar A robust body of literature in fields such as marketing, economics, and hospitality gives credence to the notion that a distinguishable retailer identity can impact consumer demand, says Babar, but little to no research exists on identity signals and retailer performance. “We wanted to know not only whether social identity signals can impact consumer decision-making, but what should business owners know in terms of what kind of consumers get impacted and why?” Babar says. “We found that the Black-owned label, in particular, is a major driver pretty much across the board, and that the effects generally tended to align or resonate with liberal customers, women, and Black customers in general.” Study one’s data was taken from a controlled experiment where a final pool of 1,030 participants was selected from Prolific.co, an online research platform, over the span of a two-week period in October and November 2022. The pool was balanced in terms of gender and race (white and Black). Each respondent was shown 16 hypothetical business profiles selected at random and taken from a larger group of 80 Chicago-based bars, coffee shops, and eating establishments. Every profile shown was designed to include either a Black-owned or a woman-owned digital label—creating the possibility of a respondent seeing one, both, or neither of the labels when shown a business profile. Study two incorporated archival data on actual retailers’ label adoption from Google and Yelp, and then examined it against geospatial, third-party data from the data provider, SafeGraph. The analysis included three large U.S. cities—Boston, Chicago, and Memphis—and allowed for estimates of visitors to business establishments by examining foot traffic data, number of unique visits, length of visit, etc., for the period of January 2018 through April 2022. The final sample included 2,965 Chicago businesses; 1,746 Boston businesses; and 1,564 businesses in Memphis. This study reinforced through historical real-world data what the authors found to be true in the digital experiments. “Perhaps what’s most interesting in this work is that not only were people more likely to visit businesses they identified with more, but they also perceived dimensions of quality like food, service, and atmosphere of the same places differently based on signaled identity,” notes Yash. “In times where nearly all online services help a business express identity, online businesses need to be aware that by signaling gender or race of ownership, they might be expressing more than they think they are.” Future avenues of research might include the use of social identity labels in online advertising and different non-food/drink-based domains, including targeting ads by consumer demographic and political affiliation. Exploring consumer spending data in relation to establishment visits as well as the adoption of additional labels such as LGBTQ+ allyship could yield valuable insight and extend the work on the impact of social identity labels and retailer demand. The post Communicating Identity with Digital Labels appeared first on Wisconsin School of Business. |
27 Oct 2023, 08:00
| FROM Madison(Wisconsin) Admissions Blog: Fred Petri Posthumously Awarded WSB’s Distinguished Alumni Award |
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Friends, family, and fellow Business Badgers gathered on Friday, October 13, to honor real estate alum Fred Petri (BBA ’69, MBA ’70) and posthumously recognize him with the Wisconsin School of Business Distinguished Alumni Award. The award recognizes an exceptional professional career and honors alumni who make far-reaching impacts in the community, industry, and at UW–Madison. “This is a very prestigious honor,” said Vallabh “Samba” Sambamurthy, WSB’s Albert O. Nicholas Dean, at the award event. “We’re fortunate to count Fred not just as an alum, but as a friend and somebody whose passion for Wisconsin never left him.” The award was accepted by Petri’s life partner, Linda Morasch. Described by colleagues as one of the most well-connected, respected, and impactful real estate professionals in the nation, Petri passed away in 2021 after a 15-year battle with early onset Alzheimer’s disease. He was a quiet and humble supporter of many causes and organizations, including both UW–Madison and WSB, which he credited for helping to launch his career. “Fred truly leveraged his professional success to shape, to support, and to promote the Wisconsin Real Estate Program and the Wisconsin School of Business,” said François Ortalo-Magné, who served as the school’s dean from 2011 to 2017 and delivered remarks at the event. Prior to becoming dean, Ortalo-Magné served as a professor of real estate and chair of the Department of Real Estate and Urban Land Economics at WSB, where he saw Petri’s impact firsthand—including his role in the creation and naming of the James A. Graaskamp Center for Real Estate at WSB, as well as the development of new initiatives and programming to drive it forward. Together with his cofounders, Jim Curtis III (MS ’76) and EJ Plesko (BBA ’51, MBA ’52), Petri launched the center’s signature applied learning track, the Applied Real Estate Investment Track, in 2000. In 2017, Petri’s loved ones worked on his behalf to establish him as the 17th member of the Wisconsin Naming Partnership—an innovative philanthropic gift that preserves the Wisconsin School of Business name. With Petri’s investment in the partnership, the total of the collaborative gift to WSB reached $110 million. In posthumously recognizing Petri with the Distinguished Alumni Award, Ortalo-Magné said it’s not just about thanking Petri for all he’s made possible for students throughout the years—but also what he’ll continue to make possible going forward. “With this award, we want to collectively appreciate his contributions, but we also want future Badgers to know that he’s on that list of distinguished alums,” said Ortalo-Magné. “We want future Badgers to strive for that same professional excellence, that fierce commitment, and that humble generosity.” The post Fred Petri Posthumously Awarded WSB’s Distinguished Alumni Award appeared first on Wisconsin School of Business. |
27 Oct 2023, 18:00
| FROM Madison(Wisconsin) Admissions Blog: 5 Lessons in Leadership From TruStage CEO and President Bob Trunzo |
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Leadership is not a spectator sport. That’s according to Bob Trunzo—and as CEO and president of TruStage (formerly CUNA Mutual Group), he knows a thing or two about leadership. Trunzo joined the company in 2005 and became CEO in 2014. He calls himself the “least likely CEO”; if you had seen him 20 years ago, Trunzo says, you would have thought, “That guy will never be a CEO.” Yet over the course of his career, he learned to embrace active leadership, mastered the art of unlocking employee potential, and guided TruStage to greater success—helping customers build a better financial future along the way. Though his career is coming to a close with his planned retirement, he is eager to share his hard-earned wisdom with the next generation of business leaders. For an audience of Wisconsin MBA students, faculty, staff, and alumni, Trunzo gave his perspective on the importance of “leading by example” as part of the M. Keith Weikel MBA Leadership Speaker Series.  1. Put the customer front and center. To Trunzo, keeping a business on a successful trajectory isn’t all that complicated. Business success is ultimately rooted in customer satisfaction and retention—so it only makes sense to put customers at the center of every decision. “At the end of the day, if you really listen and you ask the right questions, your customers are going to tell you everything you need to know about your products and about your business,” Trunzo said. This was a major focus for Trunzo when he stepped into the role of TruStage CEO. Under his leadership, the company implemented a customer-centric strategy, which Trunzo made sure could be summed up in just “a couple bullet points.” The reason for the simplicity? So all employees could understand what they were working toward and why. “You need everybody in a 4,000-person organization to pull in the same direction,” Trunzo explained. “Because if they don’t, it is a mess.” “At the end of the day, if you really listen and you ask the right questions, your customers are going to tell you everything you need to know about your products and about your business.” —Bob Trunzo In some cases, better serving TruStage customers didn’t mean adding products or doing more. At times, it meant doing less. And while shutting down ineffective processes was a necessary task for Trunzo, it wasn’t an easy one. “The most difficult thing in an organization when you’re the CEO—and you all will see this as you rise up the corporate ladders—is making decisions to shut things down,” he said. “It takes more guts for a CEO to say, ‘We’re not going to do that, because we stink at it’ or ‘we can’t make money at it’ or ‘we don’t serve our customer the right way’ than throwing money at innovation in projects.” 2. Embrace change. According to Trunzo, any company that is stagnant is in trouble. Just as the world is constantly evolving, businesses also must adapt to stay relevant—and it’s up to a company’s leaders to anticipate the best next steps. To expand upon this philosophy, Trunzo cited a piece of advice he received from a professor in his executive MBA program: “Good CEOs operate the company day to day. Outstanding CEOs look over the horizon and plot a chart on where they want the company to go.” But the change required by future-focused leadership can be difficult—not only for the leaders but for everyone within an organization. “Change is messy,” Trunzo admitted. “It makes people uncomfortable; it makes people cranky; it makes people think, ‘Are we ever going to come out of this?’ And if you do it effectively, and if you do it focused, you’ll come out of it, and you’ll come out of it better—more in tune and more aligned with your customer.”  3. Prioritize culture. Trunzo has highly prioritized company culture during his tenure at TruStage. The reason is simple: People spend a lot of time at work, so he wants to make it the best possible experience for them. Under his guidance, the company created employee resource groups to connect people and help them feel valued within the company. The groups range from supporting single mothers to supporting members of the LGBTQ+ community. But ensuring employees feel valued and comfortable at work requires more than helping them find community; they need to know their leaders support them, Trunzo said. To illustrate this, he recalled that throughout 2020, when America was reckoning with a series of racial injustices, Trunzo made sure to discuss the events with his employees. The decision by many CEOs to ignore the tension baffled him. “How can you have a culture where you want people to feel that they can be their own self in the workplace and not talk about some of these issues?” he reflected. When it comes down to it, Trunzo’s motivation behind his actions stems from the desire to create an environment where people want to come to work. Doing so not only provides a better day-to-day experience for employees, but it also fuels employees’ passion for their role and the company. That passion is then reflected in their work, ultimately creating a better experience for customers. 4. Be an active, direct leader. Leaders should be bold, never shying away from taking charge. According to Trunzo, when leaders don’t step up and make decisions, people who are less qualified inevitably make them instead. This can create confusion and misalignment within an organization. “Come with a position; defend your position,” he said, and added, “Come with the facts and make decisions.” Of course, even when leaders bring the facts, they can make mistakes—but Trunzo said once he chooses a course of action, he doesn’t often look back. For one, he simply doesn’t have that luxury in his role. But for another, he understands that progress isn’t always linear. Sometimes an organization may take few steps forward, then sideways, before moving forward again. “It’s a journey,” Trunzo said. “Come with the facts and make decisions.” —Bob Trunzo 5. Consider your own needs. Trunzo encourages people to seek out a mentor. Mentors have played an important role in his career, even as CEO. While talking with colleagues or a significant other may be convenient, Trunzo advises finding someone specifically for this purpose—someone you respect, a role model. “It is incredibly therapeutic to talk to someone that’s not in the day-to-day morass that we’re all in,” he explained. He added, “You will be shocked sometimes at how narrow your vision is. … You’ll be shocked at what you’re missing.” Trunzo also stresses the value of making quality time for yourself in order to reset, which he admits is something he didn’t do enough of throughout his career. “Work-life balance … I had none. Don’t follow me,” he urged. This “me time,” as Trunzo calls it, is not only important for mental health, but it can provide sharpened focus, helping leaders be more effective in their roles and make better decisions. “It’s really important to think about how to fit that into your schedule,” Trunzo said. “Carve it out.” Bob Trunzo retired from his role as TruStage CEO and president at the end of September 2023. M. Keith Weikel Leadership Speaker Series at the Wisconsin School of Business enables Wisconsin MBA students to interact with and learn from accomplished business leaders and alumni. Executives from both the private and public sectors are invited to campus to address students. The series was established in 2004 with a gift by John J. Oros (BBA ’71) and his wife, Anne Wackman. Today, the series continues as the M. Keith Weikel MBA Leadership Speaker Series thanks to a gift by M. Keith Weikel (PhD ’66) and his wife, Barbara. The post 5 Lessons in Leadership From TruStage CEO and President Bob Trunzo appeared first on Wisconsin School of Business. |
01 Nov 2023, 11:00
| FROM Madison(Wisconsin) Admissions Blog: WSB’s Trusted to Lead Campaign Adds More Powerhouse Alumni |
The Wisconsin School of Business (WSB) is developing the next wave of business leaders who connect the dots that others don’t see and have the confidence to create the unexpected. Two more WSB graduates who illustrate these traits are now part of the school’s Trusted to Lead brand campaign. The campaign features personal stories about diverse paths into business, leadership values, and passions that act as catalysts for leaders to create something bigger than themselves. A total of eight profiles now share perspectives on what it means to be Trusted to Lead in business. Danielle Tiedt – chief marketing officer, YouTube Among these new profiles is the chief marketing officer of YouTube, Danielle Tiedt (BBA ‘96). As a master problem solver, she helps guide the largest video platform on the planet. “I’m not just growing a business—I’m helping millions of creative entrepreneurs and businesses grow. And it’s just the beginning.” Danielle Tiedt (BBA ’96), chief marketing officer, YouTube Tiedt joins other marketers in the Trusted to Lead campaign, such as Sennai Atsbeha (MBA ’09), VP of brand marketing at Gymshark, as well as other high-profile leaders in large consumer-facing corporations, including Cynthia Chu (BBA ‘99), growth and chief financial officer at Audible.  Noe Vital – co-founder and CEO, Vibez Golf Club Joining Danielle Tiedt is entrepreneur Noe Vital (BBA ‘15), who launched a startup company to change the game of golf. In partnership with multiple UW–Madison graduates, he is working to diversify the game and generate interest in golf, particularly among communities that haven’t had much exposure to the sport. “To me, boundaries are built to be knocked down.” Noe Vital, co-founder and CEO, Vibez Golf Club Vital joins other entrepreneurs looking to reinvent industries, including Kyle Nakatzuji (MBA ‘11), CEO and founder of Clearcover; Reena Vokoun (BBA ’98), founder and CEO of PassionFit; and Jake Wood (BBA ’05), founder of Team Rubicon and founder and CEO of Groundswell. Inviting viewers to be part of the next generation of business leaders, these alums share their stories and paths into business, which all started at the Wisconsin School of Business. As one of the first five business schools in the U.S., WSB has a strong history of developing leaders with determination and grit to take on businesses’ most impressive opportunities. The University of Wisconsin is recognized as #1 for producing the most Fortune 500 CEOs. Media Contact Leiah Fundell, public relations manager | leiah.fundell@wisc.edu The post WSB’s Trusted to Lead Campaign Adds More Powerhouse Alumni appeared first on Wisconsin School of Business. |
02 Nov 2023, 13:00
| FROM Madison(Wisconsin) Admissions Blog: WSB Alum Scott Finkelmeyer Shares Five Lessons From a Career in Sales |
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WSB Alum Scott Finkelmeyer Shares Five Lessons From a Career in Sales appeared first on Wisconsin School of Business. |
03 Nov 2023, 12:00
| FROM Madison(Wisconsin) Admissions Blog: Wisconsin School of Business Announces John and Anne Oros Professorship |
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The Wisconsin School of Business announces the John and Anne Oros Professorship, new awards that will advance the school’s strategic priorities and support faculty in research, teaching, curriculum development, and other key areas. The professorship is generously funded by John (BBA ’71) and Anne Oros (BA ’72), Badgers with deep ties to the University of Wisconsin–Madison. Four inaugural professorships were awarded to WSB faculty, each running for three-year terms and providing funding for individual projects and initiatives. “I am delighted to announce these four new term professorships,” said Vallabh “Samba” Sambamurthy, WSB’s Albert O. Nicholas Dean. “They are designed to recognize and incentivize faculty efforts through funding to support strategic goals of the Wisconsin School of Business, such as developing new courses, starting a new research program, or building corporate partnerships or grant opportunities.” The four awardees are: Yash Babar, assistant professor of operations and information management, for excellence in research and contributions toward development of new courses in digital strategy for the undergraduate curriculum. Florence Honoré, assistant professor of management and human resources, for an outstanding research profile on technology and entrepreneurship, and for developing course materials for entrepreneurship and inclusive leadership. Jirs Meuris, assistant professor of management and human resources, for excellence in scholarship in human capital management and development of a unique new course on people analytics for the school’s undergraduate and master’s programs. Sang Seo, assistant professor of finance, for excellence in research and contributions to redesigning the core undergraduate finance course. The post Wisconsin School of Business Announces John and Anne Oros Professorship appeared first on Wisconsin School of Business. |
03 Nov 2023, 13:00
| FROM Madison(Wisconsin) Admissions Blog: WSB Faculty Share Research on Generative AI |
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Wisconsin School of Business faculty are actively researching the use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) in a range of disciplines. Some of this work was in the spotlight recently as part of an applied learning day for Business Badgers. The event focused on generative AI—an area of AI that can create images and other media—and large language model applications like ChatGPT and was sponsored by WSB and co-led with industry partners. Vallabh “Samba” Sambamurthy, Albert O. Nicholas Dean of WSB, delivered the opening remarks, welcoming students to the event designed to give a foundational introduction to AI models and their application, the changes and challenges associated with the increased prevalence of AI tools, and the impact of AI on the future of work. Students benefited from presentations and panel discussions with top industry representatives including: Maruthy Vedam, director of custom chip development, Google; Levent Koc, principal engineer, Google; Glenn Fung, VP, head data science and machine learning, Liberty Mutual Insurance; Scott Culpepper, general counsel, Mailchimp; Dennis McRae, managing partner, Velocity AI; Ben Hayum, University of Wisconsin–Madison senior, Wisconsin AI Safety Initiative. Three faculty members from WSB’s departments of marketing and operation and information management shared insights from current works-in-progress relating to generative AI. Below are some takeaways from that ongoing research: Improving market research Traditional marketing research of past decades has relied on interviews, focus groups, and surveys. Today, researchers can add social media data to that mix by including social posts, video transcripts, and other user-generated content. The result is a wealth of rich textual data to analyze—and that’s something large language models can help with, says Ishita Chakraborty, Thomas and Charlene Landsberg Smith Faculty Fellow and an assistant professor of marketing. Neeraj Arora, Arthur C. Nielsen, Jr. Chair in Marketing Research and Education and professor of marketing, and Yohei Nishimura (MS ‘23) on how large language models can be used to automate the monitoring of market research data. Previously, researchers needed to use natural language processing (giving computers the ability to mimic and reproduce speech patterns through inputting examples the computer model can replicate) to detect a consumer failure, such as a missed flight or a stolen credit card, when working with online customer feedback data. Now, ChatGPT can cut through a significant amount of the human labor involved. “It’s much more cost effective now because that question [of urgency] can probably easily be answered by just asking the large language model, ‘Hey, I have this consumer query. I missed a flight. I need help now. Is this urgent?’” Chakraborty says. A second tier of the study looks at data generation and the in-depth interview used by marketing firms, which requires multiple steps including survey design and monitoring of the execution. “The most important thing is you need respondents, and you need quality respondents that have to be different—they have to come from different demographics,” says Chakraborty. “[Our research asks] which arms of this whole design can we really automate? For example, can we have synthetic respondents who can be prompted to behave like certain people and give you answers? Or a hybrid where real people are still taking the surveys, but the large language model is the one moderating this interaction? We’re experimenting with these different arms.” Identifying what to generate Generative AI is now capable of producing many types of content usable in advertising, from images to music. As a creator, given the proliferation of images on the web and the existence of generative AI, the tricky part is deciding which content is best to use. Standard A/B testing (comparing two versions of a prototype to see which one works best) is not a realistic approach when billions of variations can be produced in one click. Remi Daviet, assistant professor of marketing, proposes to leverage the power of several types of AI to solve this problem. The goal is to efficiently train a second AI to predict the performance of each ad variation and to recognize the best performers. By carefully generating batches of ads to be informative and testing them, the predictive AI rapidly learns to identify ads that are appealing to viewers. The challenge is that training the predictive AI is expensive and demands ad performance data, says Daviet. This is why a method is developed to maximize informativeness, thereby drastically reducing the number of ads that need to be tested in the field. When the algorithm identifies that a type of design does not work, it stops generating variations of this design and instead focuses on the more promising ones. “We train the predictive AI to learn what is a good ad and to predict their performance,” says Daviet, who is working with his team on deploying the model and testing it in the field. For the study, Daviet and Nishimura are working with a Japanese travel agency to design and test imagery that creates a desire to explore the world. “We are thinking that maybe if we can generate landscapes in ads that create this desire to travel, we can be more effective,” Daviet says. Early results suggest that his approach is able to generate ads that outperform 99.9% of their pairs after fewer than 50 designs tested. Exploring whether to ban generative AI in Q&A communities Qinglai He, assistant professor of operations and information management, wanted to buy a gift for a friend’s wedding recently, but instead of a registry, the bride informed her that she and her future husband were asking only for cash. New to this tradition, He later wondered: How much is appropriate? WSB Invests in AI Through Research and Learning” The post WSB Faculty Share Research on Generative AI appeared first on Wisconsin School of Business. |
13 Nov 2023, 08:00
| FROM Madison(Wisconsin) Admissions Blog: Business Casual: November 2023 |
The Briefing Alum Scott Finkelmeyer shares lessons learned from a career in sales Creating the right atmosphere. Putting people over product. Working smarter, not harder. These are just some of the lessons that Scott Finkelmeyer (BBA ’99) has picked up during an illustrious sales career at Siemens, GE HealthCare, and now, Cortechs.ai. As a guest lecturer, he’s now sharing what he knows with students at WSB and beyond.  Move over ice cream: Babcock Dairy taps into the cheese gift box market Everyone knows that Babcock Dairy is famous for its delectable ice cream—but what about its award-winning line of cheeses? Hoping to grow in this space, the business teamed up with Badger Consulting—an undergraduate organization that offers consulting services to small businesses in Madison—and the Wisconsin Small Business Development Center to increase sales and visibility for its line of cheese gift boxes.  WSB celebrates first cohort of professional MBA graduates WSB’s Professional MBA Program, which launched in 2021, recently graduated its first cohort of 40 students. With nearly 150 students currently enrolled, the program continues to expand its offerings in customizable curricula with four new badges throughout 2023 and into 2025: Real Estate, Global Business, Social Responsibility, and Strategic Growth. The Ticker
Back to School Keeping Up with Artificial Intelligence New advances in artificial intelligence (AI) technology are surfacing rapidly and impacting every industry, making one thing abundantly clear: AI is here to stay. That’s why the Wisconsin School of Business is investing in cutting-edge new research and educating future business leaders on both the advantages and challenges of AI. At a recent event, WSB students received a foundational introduction to generative AI—a technology that can create images and other media—and large-language model applications like ChatGPT. WSB faculty members also shared insights from recent research projects on generative AI. Their ongoing work looks at how AI can create and test specific imagery for marketing campaigns, the pros and cons of AI-generated responses in online chat forums, and more. Learn more about WSB’s investment in AI. Tip Sheet What’s the “Deal” with Holiday Shopping? The holiday shopping season is quickly approaching! That means crowded stores, stacks of packages outside houses, and countless sales and deals to sift through. To get ready for the upcoming sales season, we asked Evan Polman, associate professor of marketing at WSB, for some advice. Here are his tips: Timing is everything. As the holiday season approaches, retailers initiate their holiday sales and promotions. To determine the ideal timing for your purchases, it’s beneficial to weigh your options. If you’re looking for the absolute best deals, you might consider waiting until Black Friday or Cyber Monday. However, keep in mind that popular items may run out of stock quickly. Another critical decision is whether to shop online or in store. Online shopping provides convenience, allowing you to browse and buy from the comfort of your home, often with a wider selection. Many online retailers offer early deals, making it an attractive option for those who prefer to stay cozy on the couch. On the other hand, in-store shopping can be a tactile and social experience. If you love the atmosphere of holiday decorations and the thrill of finding unique items, visiting a physical store might be more your style. Some retailers offer exclusive in-store discounts or promotions, which can make in-person shopping enticing. What’s the best approach? It’s essential to assess your needs, preferences, and the urgency of your purchases. If you’re eyeing a specific item or anticipate high demand, it’s wise to start shopping now or during early sales. Whether you prefer online or in-store shopping—the choice ultimately depends on your comfort, convenience, and the shopping experience you seek. Alumni Opportunities New Business Badger community: Join Badgers in Tech Chicago on LinkedIn. Special delivery: The next issue of Update magazine will be available in mid-December! Past events: Watch previous EdgeUp webinars, Badger Executive Talks, or The Business of… events. Job search resources: Use these online tools and videos to help plan a career move now or in the future. About Business Casual Every other month, alumni and friends of the Wisconsin School of Business will receive insider updates with news about our alumni, faculty, students, and programs. If you want to share Business Casual with friends, they can sign up at go.wisc.edu/wsb-biz-cas. Questions or comments? Email businesscasual@wsb.wisc.edu The post Business Casual: November 2023 appeared first on Wisconsin School of Business. |
20 Nov 2023, 16:00
| FROM Madison(Wisconsin) Admissions Blog: WSB’s Markus Brauer Shares Inclusive Environments Research on UW–Madison’s Badger Talks Live |
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Human behavior can be complex—and the drivers behind it may not always be what we think they are. Let’s say someone you know never recycles, for whatever reason. But then that person buys a house in a new neighborhood where recycling bins are visible on trash day each week. That individual’s recycling behavior will change independent of any belief system because their context has changed, said social psychologist Markus Brauer, a University of Wisconsin–Madison professor of psychology, affiliate professor of marketing faculty with the Wisconsin School of Business, and the executive director of campus’ new Institute for Diversity Science. evidence-based research—was just one of the insights he shared with an online audience to illustrate the connection between our surroundings and behaviors during a recent episode of the UW–Madison’s Badger Talks Live. Titled “The Latest Research Around Creating Inclusive Environments,” the talk touched on topics including:
To learn more about Brauer’s work and how inclusive environments can be created, watch the recap in full: Office of State Relations and housed under UW Connects statewide outreach. The post WSB’s Markus Brauer Shares Inclusive Environments Research on UW–Madison’s Badger Talks Live appeared first on Wisconsin School of Business. |
22 Nov 2023, 12:00
| FROM Madison(Wisconsin) Admissions Blog: Growth Mindset Research from WSB’s Anyi Ma Featured in Harvard Business Review |
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New research by Anyi Ma on the growth mindset and minimum wage was featured recently in Harvard Business Review. In a piece titled “A Growth Mindset Can Boost Support for Increasing the Minimum Wage,” Ma, an assistant professor of management and human resources at the Wisconsin School of Business, and her co-authors looked at the growth mindset in relation to minimum wage workers. joined WSB in 2023 from Tulane University where she was an assistant professor of management. The post Growth Mindset Research from WSB’s Anyi Ma Featured in Harvard Business Review appeared first on Wisconsin School of Business. |
01 Dec 2023, 06:00
| FROM Madison(Wisconsin) Admissions Blog: UW at 175: WSB Alums Share Memories of Making the Grade |
 It’s a tale as old as time. Or, at least as far back as 1848… Just about every UW–Madison student who has stepped foot on campus over the past 175 years could tell you a story about the experience of attending classes, hitting the books for exams, or—frankly—cutting loose after the tests are finally over. As today’s students prepare for another season of final exams—and look forward to celebrating the end of another semester—five Business Badgers reflect on some of their favorite academic memories. Eat, Sleep, Study “It was the summer of 1982 and I was behind on credits. I booked myself as solid as I could in summer session courses, including a three-week business law course with lots of hours packed in. I learned a ton in the class, and became a total convert to those intensive sessions, where you eat, sleep, and live the material. This was the most convivial, fun, and collaborative group of students of my entire bachelor’s studies. We were clearly in it together.” —Susan Stemper (BBA ’83, MS ’87)  Pass the Test, Pass the Pitcher “There was nothing better than finishing spring exams and heading to the Union to celebrate with friends.” —Robert Pieper (BBA ’89) Post-Exam Clarity One of my favorite memories dates back to my first year on campus. I was returning to Ogg Hall from an algebra exam. The exam was at night near the ‘old’ Commerce building. As I crossed near Abe Lincoln on Bascom Hill, I noticed the lights of State Street stretching toward the Capitol. I stopped, studied the lights, and thought, ‘that’s an amazing sight.’” —Brian Hale (BBA ’81, MBA ’87)  Putting the ‘View’ in Reviewing “Studying by Lake Mendota will always be a favorite memory.” —Thomas Pamperin (BBA ’70, MBA ’73) Summer Lovin’ “I loved taking summer classes and I stayed in Madison every summer—even taking seven credits over one summer and graduating that August. The weather is fantastic. The Terrace is amazing. The slow pace of taking one or two classes at a time allowed for focus. I loved all of it.” —Taura Prosek (BBA ’93) This story is Part 2 in our ongoing alumni memories series. You can read more from WSB alums, including their favorite football memories. You can also join the anniversary celebration on UW–Madison’s 175th anniversary website, and by using #UW175 on social media. The post UW at 175: WSB Alums Share Memories of Making the Grade appeared first on Wisconsin School of Business. |
14 Dec 2023, 10:00
| FROM Madison(Wisconsin) Admissions Blog: The Wisconsin School of Business Celebrates 2023 Winter Graduates |
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What’s one of the gifts in store for some Business Badgers this holiday season? (Hint: It’s something that can’t be given; it must be hard-earned). This weekend, the Wisconsin School of Business will award diplomas to 116 undergraduate students and 27 graduate students during the University of Wisconsin–Madison winter commencement ceremony. After completing hours of coursework, engaging in student organizations and career exploration, and landing internships and first jobs, WSB’s newest graduates are ready to make a difference as trusted leaders. Student spotlight: Meet graduate Nick Kempf One of December’s outstanding graduates is undergraduate business student Nick Kempf (BBA ’23). Raised in Appleton, Wisconsin, the accounting and finance, investment, and banking major found his niche in leadership early on. Kempf became a leadership program intern with WSB’s Accenture Leadership Center (ALC) during his sophomore year and completed the first-ever Leadership at Lambeau retreat in 2022 before returning as one of the program’s student leaders the following year. He also earned UW–Madison’s Leadership Certificate. In high school, “I was pretty quiet, didn’t talk to many people, didn’t really see myself as a leader,” Kempf says. But his confidence started to grow as he took on different roles. By college, “it seemed like more of a natural place to be.”  Nick Kempf (BBA ’23) facilitates a breakout session as a student leader during the 2023 Leadership at Lambeau summit. Photo by Paul L. Newby II “I felt like leadership was always something that intrigued me because it’s something that you can continually improve,” Kempf says. “I liked the fact that it’s not something that you have to be born with. For my work at the Accenture Leadership Center, it’s really about helping other students reach that realization for themselves.” While still an intern with ALC, Kempf designed the Leading for Change badge, the newest badge in WSB’s Business Badger Badges program. “When Nick says he’ll get something done, you can count on him to do so, plus five other things that he takes the initiative to do,” says Julie Duffstein, director of leadership and engagement for WSB’s undergraduate program. “Nick put together learning outcomes based on the UW–Madison Leadership Framework, created workshops that brought a business lens to the badge competencies, and led the creation of the curriculum for our ChangeForum—the experiential component of the badge,” Duffstein says. “Nick’s legacy at WSB will live on well beyond his time here.” From 2022 to 2023, Kempf served as president of the Undergraduate Business Council, WSB’s government body for the school’s undergraduates. Seeing a missed opportunity for connection, Kempf instituted an ongoing “Coffee with the Dean,” giving WSB students a forum to share ideas and get to know Vallabh “Samba” Sambamurthy, WSB’s Albert O. Nicholas Dean. Kempf’s campus commitments and activities have not come at the expense of academic achievement. He’s consistently maintained a 4.0 GPA throughout his college career—his December graduation is a semester early—and he’s been a recipient of numerous awards and scholarships, including WSB’s Business Badger Leadership Award and UW–Madison’s Robert A. Jerred Excellence Award, William F. Vilas Scholarship, and the Velna Wells Scholarship Award. The future is bright Throughout it all, Kempf also completed two summer internships with global assurance, tax, and consulting firm RSM. Post-graduation, he will join the firm in their Madison office as a tax associate. commencement ceremony will be held at 10 a.m. CT Sunday, December 17 at The Kohl Center. The post The Wisconsin School of Business Celebrates 2023 Winter Graduates appeared first on Wisconsin School of Business. |
21 Dec 2023, 14:00
| FROM Madison(Wisconsin) Admissions Blog: The Wisconsin School of Business: Top Stories From 2023 |
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From the arrival of talented new faculty to the development of new programs that meet student, industry, and societal demands, 2023 was an exceptional year for the Wisconsin School of Business. Here’s a look at some of our top stories of the year based on readership: Wisconsin Real Estate Program To Add New Graduate Track in Affordable Housing and Sustainable Development A new track focused on affordable housing and sustainable development gives students the tools to navigate this evolving area of real estate and builds on WSB’s record of success of pairing rigorous core curriculum with valuable applied learning experiences. The New Minds of Business: With Future-Focused Outlooks, WSB Welcomes 8 New Faculty Members With expertise ranging from climate change to artificial intelligence, eight new faculty members joined WSB, taking their cross-disciplinary knowledge into the classroom and exemplifying the school’s continued investment in research and thought leadership. Introducing the Redesigned Wisconsin Executive MBA An accelerated 18-month program delivered in a flexible format, WSB’s newly redesigned executive MBA program is tailored to professionals ready to level up their leadership. New Campaign From the Wisconsin School of Business Showcases the Next Generation of Business Leaders In the next phase of its Trusted to Lead campaign, WSB highlights 20 students—all emerging leaders driven by different purposes, values, and backgrounds—who are forging their own paths into business. Job Shadow, Career Trek Programs Give WSB Students the Jump on Career Success Two WSB career programs, job shadows and career treks, allow Business Badgers to try different careers on for size during their undergraduate journey. WSB Invests in Professional MBA Program, Celebrates First Cohort of Graduates The first cohort of students in WSB’s new professional MBA graduated from the program, which features a flexible, hybrid format and a curriculum built around customizable badges. New Model for Career Customization Positions WSB Students for Success Thanks to WSB’s expanded career development services, Business Badgers can design their own personal route to success with access to 40+ career pathways, a dozen badges, and new career tracks built around in-demand fields like data analytics and technology. WSB Spring 2023 Graduates: Writing the Story of What Comes Next Four standout WSB graduates share words of wisdom for future Business Badgers. 5 Student Entrepreneurs To Keep an Eye On Meet five University of Wisconsin–Madison student entrepreneurs—with business ideas ranging from AI for job seekers to a clothing store in a barbershop—who demonstrate why the university remains a leading innovation incubator. Thanks to Badger Consulting, Babcock Dairy Milks Its Cheese Gift Box Potential Say cheese: Known primarily for its ice cream, Babcock Dairy takes its cheese gift boxes to the next level with help from WSB’s Badger Consulting Club. The post The Wisconsin School of Business: Top Stories From 2023 appeared first on Wisconsin School of Business. |
21 Dec 2023, 16:00
| FROM Madison(Wisconsin) Admissions Blog: Photos: Highlights From 2023 at the Wisconsin School of Business |
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A moment may be fleeting, but photos captured offer lasting memories for years to come. The Wisconsin School of Business had plenty to celebrate in 2023—from experiential learning opportunities to unforgettable moments at commencement. Below are some favorite photos from Paul L. Newby II, WSB senior photographer, and photographer Josh Prado.  Vallabh “Samba” Sambamurthy, Albert O. Nicholas Dean of the Wisconsin School of Business, meets with Jay Rothman, president of the Universities of Wisconsin, in March. The two visited WSB’s Multicultural Center as part of a tour of Grainger Hall.  Jason Li, a WSB undergraduate student, participates in a career trek to Chicago in March to learn more about careers with some of the city’s major firms.  Jack Bradway (MBA ’87), events manager with the Harley-Davidson Museum, poses in front of the company’s display of gas tanks for a feature in WSB’s Update magazine.  Dean Sambamurthy addresses WSB graduates and their families during May’s undergraduate commencement celebration at the Alliant Energy Center in Madison.  Wisconsin MBA graduate Muslimabonu Juraeva poses with her baby—and future Business Badger hopeful—after UW–Madison’s commencement ceremony in May.  WSB graduates Angie Kettleson, Lajzoo Vang, Lissy Kettleson, and Jessica Chavez capture a memorable moment during commencement at Camp Randall.  Graduating Business Badgers find a moment in the light during WSB’s undergraduate commencement celebration at the Alliant Energy Center in Madison.  Student leader Nick Kempf (BBA ’23) collaborates with fellow participants of WSB’s signature Leadership at Lambeau summit at the Green Bay Packers’ famed Lambeau Field in Green Bay.  Anthony Turner Jr., an academic advisor, shares a laugh as he helps guide incoming business students during the Student Orientation, Advising, and Registration (SOAR) program in July at College Library.  WSB graduate students tour a construction site in Madison for hands-on learning about retail and housing development.  A WSB student shares notes with members of the Grainger Center for Supply Chain Management executive advisory board member during an on-campus meeting in fall.  WSB alumni came back to Grainger Hall in October for the annual Homecoming Bash, filling the air with school spirit and unmatched devotion to Bucky Badger.  Malgy Ashton, a student in WSB’s master’s of business analytics program, gives readers a peek into his life as a graduate student for a story in Update magazine. The post Photos: Highlights From 2023 at the Wisconsin School of Business appeared first on Wisconsin School of Business. |
05 Jan 2024, 13:00
| FROM Madison(Wisconsin) Admissions Blog: Set Yourself Up for Success With MBA Preparatory Courses |
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Maybe you’ve been out of school for a while—or maybe you’re coming from a field that doesn’t require much math. While it can be intimidating to enter an MBA program where quantitative skills play an essential role in the curriculum, don’t worry. You can still be ready to hit the ground running when your program starts. MBA preparatory courses are a useful tool for brushing up on your quantitative skills, especially if you aren’t planning to take an entrance exam like the GMAT or GRE. While there is a variety of prep courses out there, the Wisconsin School of Business admissions team particularly recommends two: GMAC Business Fundamentals and MBA Math. GMAC Business Fundamentals GMAC, the makers of the GMAT exam, has partnered with Kaplan to create an online MBA preparatory program consisting of three courses: finance, accounting, and statistics. The courses—authored and reviewed by faculty from various business schools—include self-paced, bite-sized lessons and lectures as well as regular assessments to test your subject mastery. Upon completion, you’ll receive a score report that you can share with as many schools as you’d like. You can buy individual courses for $99 or all three for $199. MBA Math The scope of MBA Math is a bit broader than the GMAC Business Fundamentals, covering finance, accounting, statistics, economics, and spreadsheets. The online course is 24 lessons and self-paced. You’ll watch videos, solve problems, and take quizzes—and when you’ve finished the course, you’ll receive a transcript that you can share with up to 10 schools free of charge. This program costs $149. Are these courses for me? Prep courses can be beneficial for any MBA student, regardless of your background or the program you’re entering. In addition to helping you grow your quantitative skills, these courses will serve as a refresher on how to “think academically,” preparing you for a smooth transition into the classroom. They can help you boost your application and start your program with confidence. We especially recommend these courses, however, if you don’t have a quantitative background and aren’t taking an entrance exam. These courses are particularly relevant for our professional and executive MBA students, as the programs do not require a test score to apply. Similarly, our full-time MBA program offers a GMAT/GRE waiver policy for students with a U.S.-accredited bachelor’s degree and two years of experience; these courses can act as a lower-cost alternative to those tests. Depending on your experience, the admissions team may recommend or require that you take a prep course prior to applying to or starting your MBA program. Questions? Get in touch! Our admissions team would be happy to discuss these courses and your background to find out if they would be a good fit for you. The post Set Yourself Up for Success With MBA Preparatory Courses appeared first on Wisconsin School of Business. |
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Hi Generic [Bot],
Here are updates for you:
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Tuck at Dartmouth
AGSM at UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA RIVERSIDE
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