closeEvents & Promotions
| Last visit was: 27 Apr 2024, 00:18 |
It is currently 27 Apr 2024, 00:18 |
Customized
for You
Track
Your Progress
Practice
Pays
07:00 PM PDT
-08:00 PM PDT
08:00 AM EDT
-09:00 AM EDT
10:00 AM PDT
-12:00 PM PDT
10:00 AM EDT
-10:30 AM EDT
11 Jan 2024, 16:00
| FROM Madison(Wisconsin) Admissions Blog: Potential Impact of Generative AI on the Workplace, Society |
 Artificial intelligence (AI) is evolving rapidly. The predictions about the technology’s implications are vast—ranging from huge productivity gains for businesses to increased unemployment and from advancement in medicine to proceeding too fast for societal good. As part of a commitment to invest in AI research and education for students, faculty, and staff, the Wisconsin School of Business sponsored an applied learning forum co-led with industry partners. Panelists included: Scott Culpepper, general counsel, Mailchimp; Dennis McRae, managing partner, Velocity AI; and Ben Hayum, University of Wisconsin–Madison student and member of the Wisconsin AI Safety Initiative. They shared their perspectives on a variety of generative AI topics, including the effects the technology could have on business, its ability to do good and cause harm, and cautions to consider. Below are excerpts from the discussion: Why should organizations care about generative AI and invest resources into it? Why should they not think of this as just another fad? McRae: Think about what generative AI offers in terms of value. You’re getting your productivity saved. I use it in all the work I do today, and it makes me so much more efficient. After the productivity gains, you start to innovate. If you don’t do something as a business today, what happens to you against your competitors? If your competitors start that journey, and they’re getting the productivity gains, the new revenue models, and the transformation to become more cost effective and better able to compete, what happens to the company that decides to do it a year later? Do you think they’re going to be able to catch up? I don’t know. My personal opinion is I don’t think they’re going to be able to. Should we, can we hit the pause button as a society? Culpepper: Practically, no. The horse is out of the barn. We’re there, and I don’t think we’re ready for it as a society, but we’re going to have to get ready. From my perspective, I think about the best we can do as a society is to try and regulate it; and that is going to be extremely challenging. It’s going to take a lot of time. I end up on the side of regulation. I think it has to be there. What are the essential ethical questions businesses should consider when deploying generative AI? Hayum: There are important ethical considerations like making sure algorithms aren’t biased or discriminatory, making sure to maintain people’s privacy if their personal data was trained on, perhaps not training on personal data or intellectual property in the first place, and not using exploitative labor to build your datasets. Then, we can look to the future and contemplate the blaringly obvious ethical consideration of “Let’s not allow the development of AI to be used for horribly dangerous capabilities.” AI as a technology can be thought of as the ability to solve problems. We can solve plenty of great ones for the world as well as plenty of terrible ones. Terrible ones might include using AI to build biological weapons that lead to pandemics, execute cyberattacks that destroy critical infrastructure, target misinformation attacks to an individual’s preferences and biases by scraping their online social media activity, or concentrate power to authoritarian surveillance states. What do you think are the most essential skills humans have that AI can’t replace? McRae: I think a lot of it’s the physical work. Every machine needs to be maintained, and until that becomes autonomous with some level of a robot, you’re still going to need somebody to take care of the physical assets. There’s always some level of physical maintenance that needs to be done. Hayum: I don’t think there are any skills that in the long run AI won’t be able to replace. I don’t expect my kids to need to have jobs in 20 years. But, in the meantime, I’d say having either: one, expertise in particular niche areas; or two, really good interpersonal skills are very safe career bets. Is there a way that we stop mass unemployment from happening? Culpepper: It’s just a question of what do we want to be as a society? And we make that decision; and that’s an advantage we have. If we decide we want to be a different kind of society, guess what? We can. And so that is the answer. Can we have regulation that does some things very, very differently because we want a different kind of society? Absolutely. I’m actually very hopeful; I’m not calling for doom from this yet. We’re going to go through a rocky period, but in the end, it’s for us to decide what kind of society we want to be. WSB Faculty Share Research on Generative AI. The post Potential Impact of Generative AI on the Workplace, Society appeared first on Wisconsin School of Business. |
18 Jan 2024, 14:00
| FROM Madison(Wisconsin) Admissions Blog: WSB’s Chia-Jung Tsay Wins 2023 Best Paper Award From Diversity in Management and Organizations |
|
Chia-Jung Tsay, Bruce and Janice Ellig Professor in Management and an associate professor of management and human resources at the Wisconsin School of Business, is the recipient of the 2023 Best Paper Award from Diversity in Management and Organizations (DMO). a panel event held last year hosted by Harvard Business Review. “Further, they were more likely to make the attribution that those absences were due to family or personal reasons and not for work activities. We also found that this type of noticing and assuming didn’t play out in the same way for the male employee.” Tsay’s research focuses on the psychological processes that influence decision making about performance, as well as the role of perception, expertise, and nonconscious biases in professional selection and advancement. She joined WSB in 2021. The DMO conference was founded by David Peter Daniels, Presidential Young Professor and an assistant professor of management and organization with National University of Singapore Business School. It was co-chaired by scholars from Columbia University, Stanford University, and the University of Virginia. The post WSB’s Chia-Jung Tsay Wins 2023 Best Paper Award From Diversity in Management and Organizations appeared first on Wisconsin School of Business. |
19 Jan 2024, 10:00
| FROM Madison(Wisconsin) Admissions Blog: Meet the 2023-24 Wisconsin School of Business External Advisory Board |
|
The Wisconsin School of Business External Advisory Board (EAB) has welcomed five new members to its ranks for the 2023-2024 term. Additionally, returning EAB member Carrianne Basler (BBA ’91), managing director of AlixPartners, has been named board chair. The EAB, reconstituted in 2020, is comprised of more than 30 business leaders and WSB alumni. Members play a critical role in advancing the reputation and reach of the school, shaping WSB’s strategic direction and operational priorities, and serving as ambassadors and philanthropists within the business community and alumni network. “It has been gratifying to see the Wisconsin School of Business continue to have such a positive impact on students,” says Basler, who previously served as the board’s vice chair. “One area that I’m hoping to focus on in the coming year is increasing awareness in the broader business community of the world-class programs we have at WSB. While we are often modest about our highly ranked programs, like real estate or risk and insurance, there’s great potential to increase awareness of these offerings—and our talented students.” EAB members serve at the invitation of Vallabh “Samba” Sambamurthy, Albert O. Nicholas Dean of the Wisconsin School of Business. Terms run for two years and can be renewed once. The opportunity to give back to WSB—while working directly alongside school leadership—is what attracted new member Tim Harkness (BBA ’89) to the board. “The Wisconsin School of Business gave me the perfect foundation to build my entrepreneurial career,” says Harkness, founder and CEO of Unchained Labs. “I reengaged directly with the school a few years ago through the Venture Fund program, which let me see Dean Samba in action. I was blown away by his approach and leadership. I love to support people who have vision and can get things done and I couldn’t be happier to help him fulfill his vision for the school.” With the new board members in place, Basler says she looks forward to building upon past initiatives and priorities that the EAB has championed—including a focus on supporting underrepresented students—that have resulted in better learning opportunities and career outcomes. “Employers have limited recruiting resources, and they want to draw from a school that has not only fantastic programs, but a well-rounded set of potential applicants,” says Basler. The five new EAB members this year include: • Talicia Bashford, president, Assured Partners • David Eisenberg, chief strategy officer, LiveRamp • Tim Harkness, CEO and founder, Unchained Labs • Darryl Lewis, partner, Banneker Partners • Singari Seshadri, head of portfolio, Nike Valiant Labs View the full External Advisory Board roster. The post Meet the 2023-24 Wisconsin School of Business External Advisory Board appeared first on Wisconsin School of Business. |
22 Jan 2024, 08:00
| FROM Madison(Wisconsin) Admissions Blog: Business Casual: January 2024 |
The Briefing Meet the members of WSB’s External Advisory Board WSB’s 2023-2024 External Advisory Board has added five new members. These individuals work with WSB leadership and returning board members to help shape the school’s strategic direction and operational priorities to expand reach and reputation. Board members also serve as WSB ambassadors and philanthropists within the business community and alumni network.  Research from WSB’s Anyi Ma featured in Harvard Business Review Anyi Ma, an assistant professor of management and human resources at WSB, and her co-authors examined the growth mindset in relation to minimum wage workers in a recent study. Now published in Harvard Business Review, their findings show that managers who believed that their employees’ intelligence could grow were more likely to want to increase compensation received by minimum wage workers.  [b]Business Badgers reflect on their favorite academic memories[/b] To commemorate UW–Madison’s 175th anniversary, five WSB alums shared some of their fondest academic memories, including favorite campus study spots, summer classes in Madison, post-exam celebrations, and more. “There was nothing better than finishing spring exams and heading to the Union to celebrate with friends,” says one alum. The Ticker
 Back to School Logging On and Leveling Up Tomorrow, hundreds of Business Badgers will leave their cozy dorms and apartments and set out for the first day of spring semester classes. They’ll sit in new lecture halls, shake hands with new professors, find new study spots—and continue working towards their academic and career goals. But in-person learning is just one of the many ways to level up your business education at WSB. With the new Master of Science-Business: Data, Insights, and Analytics (MSDIA), students can earn a graduate degree in business analytics in two years without leaving their homes or pausing their careers. Delivered 100% online, the program prioritizes flexibility while providing a future-proof, advanced curriculum to help students thrive in business analytics. Here’s what the first week of your spring semester might look like if you were an MSDIA student at WSB: You have already completed orientation and attended a live meeting where you met classmates and Cody Baldwin, director of the program. You are now ready to take your first class: Business Statistics Using Python. The course is taught on a learning platform called Canvas. You also use a handout to follow the lectures and take notes. In labs, you practice the concepts before working on the assignments. Because assignments are open two weeks in advance, you work ahead and submit them when it’s convenient for you. You posted a question about an assignment and the instructor was accessible and responsive. Some of your classmates provided helpful suggestions as well.  Tip Sheet Tell Me A Story…With Data! When it comes to data, it’s not just about the information you collect or the insights you discover. It’s also about how you present those findings and captivate your audience in a meaningful and memorable way. Check out these tips from Daniel Bauer, a professor of risk and insurance at WSB, to boost your data-storytelling skills.
Learn more about data storytelling. Alumni Opportunities February 16: Register now for WSB’s annual Master of Science-Business: Analytics (MSBA) Career Fair hosted at Grainger Hall. Network with MSBA students who are trained in the cloud, have solid coding skills, and more! Contact Amanda Kost to secure your space. February 27: Join WSB and the Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies for a virtual event: Planet, People, Profit: Careers in Corporate Sustainability. March 22: Attention Chicago Business Badgers! If your organization seeks cloud and coding-trained business analytics talent, join WSB at the MS in Business Analytics Chicago Career Day. Contact Leslie Taylor to network with over 75 astute analytics students and enjoy refreshments! Class Notes: Tell us what’s new in your life! Submit a Class Note to share updates with fellow Business Badgers. Email us your memories: In honor of UW–Madison’s 175th anniversary, we want to hear your stories about the impact of your WSB education. Your response might be featured in an upcoming story! Stay connected: Update your contact information with WSB. 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: January 2024 appeared first on Wisconsin School of Business. |
25 Jan 2024, 10:00
| FROM Madison(Wisconsin) Admissions Blog: WSB Adds to Graduate Portfolio with Fully Online Business Analytics Degree |
|
The Wisconsin School of Business continues its investment in business analytics and adds to its portfolio of master’s degree offerings with the development of the Master of Science-Business: Data, Insights, and Analytics (MSDIA), the school’s first fully online program offering. Cody Baldwin, who serves as MSDIA program director, witnessed this demand firsthand from the runaway success of WSB’s in-person Master of Science-Business: Analytics (MSBA), launched in 2019. The program currently ranks #8 in the U.S. among business analytics master’s programs according to QS World University Rankings. Last year, WSB received 600 applications for only 120 spots and currently holds a 100% post-graduation placement rate. From conversations with alumni and employers to prospective students and WSB faculty, Baldwin and his team kept hearing a similar message about the interest in analytics and the desire for an online delivery format with a more flexible, part-time program pace. With that feedback in mind, the creation of an MSDIA degree felt like a natural progression that built upon the MSBA’s design and successes. “We’ve honed the curriculum, we’ve honed the projects and experiences, and we took those lessons learned and applied them to the online program,” says Baldwin. “We know how to do analytics. We know how to build analytics talent.” Cross-disciplinary curriculum, standout cloud expertise MSDIA students must complete 15 courses (30 credits) taken asynchronously throughout the two years they are in the program. Courses are designed to weave key topics and trends throughout, such as data visualization, robotic process automation, and ethics. Students will come away with experience using analytics tools like Python, R, SQL, Tableau, AWS, and Snowflake. “This program has ignited my passion to educate and inspire the world of volleyball.” –Assistant Coach Annemarie Hickey (MS ’25), UW-Madison women’s volleyball team One of the unique aspects of the program is that it’s cross-disciplinary—not housed in a specific department like in many business schools. “That was intentional,” says Baldwin. “Philosophically and literally, it is separate. We have faculty that teach in risk and insurance, finance, information systems, etc. It’s challenging sometimes from a scheduling perspective but it’s worth it.” Another differentiator from other analytics programs—and it’s a key one—is the focus on cloud computing. “We were hearing from employers about our in-person program that it was great that our students have these foundational analytics skills, but they wanted them to be able to do it in a cloud computing environment,” Baldwin says. Baldwin himself is an analytics expert, having managed global teams on $60 million analytics portfolios for HP prior to entering academia, where he taught analytics at Brigham Young University–Hawaii as an assistant professor before joining WSB. “We’ve built that expertise and the coursework in cloud computing and it gives students an edge,” he says. “Most other analytics programs haven’t gotten there yet.” Amazon Web Services, the leading cloud platform in existence, chose WSB as one of only a handful of academic partners in the analytics and analytics programs arena. The program has also invested in top instructors: Cloud computing expert Katie Gaertner joined WSB this fall as a business analytics lecturer in the Department of Risk and Insurance, teaching MSDIA’s Data Visualization and Cloud Technologies course. She brings extensive experience in data analysis, data science, and cloud computing from her time as an analyst in both the public and private sectors, including for three Utah governors and most recently in the financial industry as a machine learning engineer leading cloud data strategy. Gaertner says her course is designed to prepare students for what they will encounter as analytics professionals. During the class, students are assigned Amazon Web Services accounts that they use to perform hands-on labs using real-world data. “To be a competitive job candidate in today’s data industry, a student needs to have a clear understanding of cloud technology: what it is, what it can do, its advantages, and its drawbacks,” Gaertner says. “They should also feel comfortable navigating cloud data tools like data lakes, scalable data warehouses, and machine learning services.” Community and connection One of WSB’s biggest priorities with an online program was to create a sense of community and connection where students can thrive. With nearly half of the MSDIA’s first cohort hailing from outside of Wisconsin, including several located internationally, creating that relationship was key. Baldwin credits Suzanna Park Hogendorn, the program’s student services specialist, with “setting the tone” of students feeling comfortable reaching out to her. “We’ve built that expertise and the coursework in cloud computing and it gives students an edge. Most other analytics programs haven’t gotten there yet.” –Cody Baldwin, MSDIA program director “I am invested in our students’ success,” says Hogendorn, who says students need and value that sense of community and structure. “In all my communications, I emphasize that they can rely on me for support and assistance. “ Thanks to Hogendorn, the rolling admission cycle has also served as an excellent connection point, Baldwin says. When students apply, the admissions team reviews it almost immediately, and Hogendorn can then reach out to welcome them. “They already know early on that they have support,” says Baldwin. “That’s one thing that we were really concerned about is that they feel like they’ve got the support they need. They feel like they’re a Badger.” Sky’s-the-limit potential Students graduating from the program have a wide range of industries and areas of focus to choose from. Some common job titles for analytics graduates include everything from data analyst and data engineer to inventory or sports analyst. Annemarie Hickey (MS ’25), an MSDIA student and assistant coach for the University of Wisconsin–Madison’s women’s volleyball team, is using her data analytics knowledge in the field of sports analytics to improve athletic performance. She says the MSDIA program “has empowered me to revolutionize” how she approaches coaching. “This program has ignited my passion to educate and inspire the world of volleyball,” says Hickey. “Armed with the knowledge and insights gained through the MSDIA, I’m determined to share this valuable information with fellow coaches, athletes, and enthusiasts. I believe that by promoting the use of data and analytics in volleyball, we can elevate the sport to new levels, helping players reach their full potential and fans can gain a deeper knowledge of the game. The MSDIA has empowered me not only to excel in my coaching role but also to contribute to the broader volleyball community’s growth and understanding.” Baldwin says he looks forward to the MSDIA’s continued success and the success of its students. “The reward for me comes a year or two after graduation, when students come to campus and talk about what they’ve learned and how this program has helped them. We’ve had success in this area [of analytics] before and this program is going to produce similar success.” The post WSB Adds to Graduate Portfolio with Fully Online Business Analytics Degree appeared first on Wisconsin School of Business. |
30 Jan 2024, 13:00
| FROM Madison(Wisconsin) Admissions Blog: 5 New Faculty Members Share the Moments That Shaped Their Passion for Teaching |
|
A new semester means bold ideas, fresh faces, ambitious goals, and exciting opportunities to learn. From lecture hall to lab, virtual or in-person, renowned faculty from the Wisconsin School of Business continue to prepare the next generation of business leaders one class at a time. Read on as five of WSB’s newest faculty share the unforgettable stories and moments that inspired their passion for teaching. 1. Ewelina Forker, assistant professor, Accounting and Information Systems “It’s such a privilege to be a part of someone’s pursuit to better themselves, personally and professionally. My undergraduate degree is in industrial engineering, and I received my doctoral degree in accounting from Emory University. Even growing up, I think I’d set in my mind this boundary that I must not be a good writer—I was a ‘science and math person.’ After Emory, I wrote a letter to a teacher from my junior year of high school to thank her. She had pulled me aside one day and said, ‘You are an incredible writer, I know that you don’t know this, but you are.’ If she hadn’t planted that seed and seen something in me that I didn’t see in myself, then I wouldn’t be here, because most research is all about writing, clearly and concisely. So, taking the time to find things in students that they may not know themselves can really set them up for opportunities that they would not have thought were possible.” 2. Anyi Ma, assistant professor, Management and Human Resources “I feel like the classroom is not just a place to share knowledge. I had just started teaching in 2020, right when covid started. A few students came up to me after my negotiations class in tears, telling me they were really grateful for our class because they needed that social connection, and our class was very interactive. That really struck me and I am still thinking about the lesson behind it. In the end, we are humans. I’ve really tried to build a sense of micro community within my classes ever since.” 3. Philip Mulder, assistant professor, Risk and Insurance “We all learn in different ways, and explaining something helps me learn it, too. Teaching was always a big emphasis at Kalamazoo College, where I went as an undergraduate, and I still hope to provide that same level of quality in my own teaching. I had a math instructor there, Professor Fink. If something came up in class that he didn’t know, he’d say, ‘Oh, we’re learning together now.’ He really had a lot of enthusiasm for the subject material and was excited to teach it.” 4. Tarun Kushwaha, professor, Marketing “The quickest way for the new knowledge, i.e., state-of-the-art research, to be put into practice is evangelizing it through students in the classroom. The very same students are also the source for the next research idea. Thus, I not only enjoy teaching, I see it as a learning opportunity.” 5. Stuart Craig, assistant professor, Risk and Insurance “One of my first economics professors would give us exams that were way too long to finish, but they were similar to the problem sets he gave us throughout the semester. The whole idea was to reward practice, because how far you got depended on how much you had practiced up to that point. I don’t like to give exams like that, but I really appreciate the emphasis on effort. Learning to think like an economist doesn’t require you to be a math genius—you just have to have a growth mindset and practice applying the tools.” The New Minds of Business: With Future-Focused Outlooks and In-Demand Expertise, WSB welcomes Eight New Faculty Members” “WSB’s Fabio Gaertner Wins 2023 Distinguished Teaching Award” “WSB’S Evan Polman Receives Distinguished Teaching Award” The post 5 New Faculty Members Share the Moments That Shaped Their Passion for Teaching appeared first on Wisconsin School of Business. |
13 Feb 2024, 15:00
| FROM Madison(Wisconsin) Admissions Blog: UW at 175: WSB Alums Share Their Badger Love Stories |
 Some lucky UW–Madison graduates leave campus with much more than a degree… They leave with relationships strong enough to last a lifetime. Whether it’s a best friend or a romantic partner, many alumni have their own Badger love story—and really, what’s better than that? With Valentine’s Day upon us, and UW–Madison continuing its 175th anniversary celebration, five Business Badgers share memories of meeting their BFFs and BAEs on campus. Three for Three “We recently celebrated our third wedding! After meeting in Grainger Hall during our MBA programs, we got engaged in September 2020 and had a small legal ceremony in March 2021. We were finally able to celebrate with friends and family—first in Lima, Peru, and then in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. We were joined by fellow Badgers, friends, and family at all three weddings!” —Karl Krueger (MBA ’19) and Vania Arias (MBA ’18)  Around the World “My favorite memory is meeting lifelong friends from all over the globe, including but not limited to India, Indonesia, and Russia. Before I went to UW–Madison, I figured the majority of the students were from the Midwest. I didn’t realize how diverse the school is and how it really pulls students from all over the U.S. and internationally.” —Paul Laughlin (MBA ’17) A Marketing Match “I met my future wife in the atrium of Grainger Hall in January 1996. We had mutual friends in the school of business. She was in the A.C. Nielsen Center for Marketing Analytics and Insights, and I was in the Center for Brand and Product Management, and we were discussing internship opportunities for the upcoming summer. We got engaged five years later near Observatory Hill as alumni.” —Boyd Miller (MBA ’96)  Friendship and Fraternity “My favorite memory is meeting my lifelong friends in the southeast dorms. We re-chaptered the Delta Tau Delta fraternity in 1982 and it has tied us all together—men and women—over these last 42 years. I’m lucky to have such great friends.” —Steve Stiloski (BS ’87, MS ’89) More Than a Mentor “As a first-year MBA student, I was paired with a second-year MBA student and mentor in the A.C. Nielsen Center. I met him for the first time in a breakout room on the fourth floor of Grainger Hall and immediately knew I was in trouble. I liked him. Fast forward, we have been married for four years, have a fur baby, and live in Seattle thanks to the careers we found through WSB.” —Susannah Maiken (MBA ’18) This story is part 3 in our ongoing alumni memories series. You can read more from WSB alums, including their favorite football moments and academic 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 Their Badger Love Stories appeared first on Wisconsin School of Business. |
20 Feb 2024, 15:00
| FROM Madison(Wisconsin) Admissions Blog: Can Dark Data Improve Planning Processes for Businesses? |
|
Dark data: It’s the large quantities of information that companies routinely collect from day-to-day operations and don’t always use—and even pay to store. The sheer volume of readily available data has untapped potential for helping businesses make better decisions, yet most firms are not employing it. Ewelina Forker shared insights from her working paper, “The Informativeness of Dark Data for Future Firm Performance.” An assistant professor of accounting and information systems at the Wisconsin School of Business, Forker’s study examines dark data and future firm performance in the context of the medical technology industry. Through a research collaboration with a large U.S. medical technology company, Forker did a textual analysis of dark email data using over 200,000 anonymized emails from more than 200 employees working in a planning capacity across the firm’s sales, operations, and accounting sectors. The findings suggested that employee emails, “a kind of ubiquitous form of dark data,” Forker says, “are actually quite valuable in being able to predict future firm performance because they contain soft information that traditional information sources such as predictive analytic models and formalized forecasting processes weren’t able to capture.” “Thought Leaders” is produced by the CPA Ontario Centre for Sustainability Reporting and Performance Management in the School of Accounting and Finance at the University of Waterloo. Watch the video: The post Can Dark Data Improve Planning Processes for Businesses? appeared first on Wisconsin School of Business. |
22 Feb 2024, 11:00
| FROM Madison(Wisconsin) Admissions Blog: Annual Arts Business Competition Celebrates Arts Entrepreneurship, 2024 Finalists |
|
The Bolz Center for Arts Administration is set to host the 15th annual University of Wisconsin–Madison Arts Business Competition, a campus-wide event highlighting student arts entrepreneurship ventures. Designed to incubate new thinking and innovative ideas, entrants develop and submit a detailed proposal for an arts venture of their choice. The finalists then pitch proposals for their projects to a panel of judges for the chance to win up to $2,000 in monetary support. Judges for the 2024 competition include: Dr. Roxie Hentz, founding executive director of CEOs of Tomorrow; Brandon Hughes, booking agent and founder of Revel Talent Alliance; and Helen Lee, assistant professor of glassworking in the Art Department and faculty director of The Studio Creative Arts Community. This year’s competition will take place February 28 at the Wisconsin School of Business. Sarah Marty, director of the Bolz Center for Arts Administration. “In the years since, over 50 undergraduate and graduate students at UW–Madison have received funding. We’re excited to share this year’s projects with others and hope that you can join us for the event.” The three finalists, including two Bolz Center Master of Arts-Business: Arts and Creative Enterprise Leadership (MA-ACE) candidates, are: Cornhusk Collective Founder: Giselle Olivia, MA-ACE candidate The Cornhusk Collective is an artist collective that supports artists, strengthens cultural ties, and contributes to the healing and vitality of the Oneida Nation of Wisconsin. Artists practicing traditional, hybrid, and contemporary art forms will come together to create. They will connect in shared spaces to build community through art and design opportunities that benefit the collective and community. Madison Gamer Symphony Orchestra Founder: Ben Carlee, Doctor of Musical Arts candidate The Madison Gamer Symphony Orchestra (MGSO) is an innovative initiative to rejuvenate symphonic music and bridge generational gaps through the transformative beauty of video game soundtracks performed by a professional symphony orchestra. Founded as a doctoral project at UW–Madison by Ben Carlee, MGSO aims to captivate diverse audiences with exceptional orchestral renditions of beloved gaming compositions. Tufting with Tony Founder: Tony Sansalone, MA-ACE candidate Tufting refers to a textile process in which a threaded needle pierces through a fabric to create loops or piles. Through social media platforms, artists showcase their tufted creations, share their processes, and connect with a global audience, thus allowing for significant growth in awareness and appreciation in the United States. Sansalone has partnered with Wheelhouse Studios, located in UW–Madison’s Memorial Union, with the intention to host and promote classes and workshops. The Arts Business Competition is supported by UW–Madison’s Division of the Arts, the Wisconsin School of Business, and WSB’s Bolz Center for Arts Administration. Master of Arts-Business: Arts and Creative Enterprise Leadership program. The post Annual Arts Business Competition Celebrates Arts Entrepreneurship, 2024 Finalists appeared first on Wisconsin School of Business. |
27 Feb 2024, 15:00
| FROM Madison(Wisconsin) Admissions Blog: Unlocking Economic Potential |
|
(MADISON, WI) As the White House announces a groundbreaking $623 million grant to enhance the electric vehicle (EV) charging network across the United States, Yash Babar, assistant professor of operations and information management at the Wisconsin School of Business, presents compelling insights into the economic implications of EV infrastructure expansion. research delves into the intricate relationship between EV infrastructure and local economies. “Once the supercharger is installed, if it is a rapid supercharger, there’s a 4% increase in the traffic in those neighboring locations,” notes Babar, highlighting the tangible impact of rapid charging stations on nearby businesses. Moreover, Babar’s research emphasizes the equitable distribution of EV charging infrastructure. “By strategically locating charging stations within close proximity to businesses, the spillover effects on local economies are maximized,” he explains. These insights provide a roadmap for sustainable economic development alongside EV expansion. Babar’s research also underscores the significance of partnerships with companies like Tesla in advancing EV infrastructure.”Tesla says to stores, ‘Hey, install these EV chargers—we will pay for it,’” Babar points out, highlighting the potential for win-win collaborations between EV manufacturers and businesses. With the ambitious grant aiming to bolster the EV charging network nationwide, Babar’s research serves as a timely and invaluable resource for policymakers, stakeholders, and businesses. His work provides tangible evidence of the economic benefits of EV infrastructure expansion, guiding efforts towards a future where EV charging stations power vehicles and fuel economic vitality in every corner of the nation. For interviews or further inquiries, please contact: Leiah Fundell Social Media & Public Relations Manager, Wisconsin School of Business | UW-Madison leiah.fundell@wisc.edu Unlocking Economic Potential appeared first on Wisconsin School of Business. |
29 Feb 2024, 12:00
| FROM Madison(Wisconsin) Admissions Blog: Badger Alums Discuss Sustainability, Profitability, and Career Insights |
|
Planet, People, Profit: Careers in Corporate Sustainability 2024 Consumers and stakeholders are placing significant value on environmental, social, and governance (ESG) investments. That’s inspiring business leaders across every industry to ramp up their efforts to create an ecosystem where profitability and sustainability can thrive. Additionally, business professionals from all career stages are looking to break into this in-demand field and make a positive impact of their own. Five UW–Madison alumni joined the Wisconsin School of Business and the Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies for a virtual event on Thursday, February 27: [b]Planet, People, Profit: Careers in Corporate Sustainability[/b]. During an engaging panel discussion, these sustainability experts discussed industry and career insights in the emerging corporate sustainability field—and fielded a few questions. [b]How have you fostered both sustainability and profitability at your company?[/b] According to [b]Ben Mand (BBA ’97)[/b], chief executive officer of Harmless Harvest, many of the things you do for people and planet can also have a positive impact on your profit and loss statement. For example, investing in regenerative organic farming—a practice that both increases wages and reduces Harmless Harvest’s carbon footprint—is also driving better yields for the business. [b]Aaron Magness (BBA ’00)[/b], chief marketing officer at Thistle, shared a similar experience. By raising his company’s minimum wage to $20 an hour, he’s experienced less turnover, benefitted from an easier recruiting process, and garnered more positive experiences with customers. That’s helped contribute to a healthy bottom line—and create opportunities for sustainability success. “You can’t have a positive impact on the planet if you’re out of business,” says Magness. [b]What skills or experiences are employers looking for in the sustainability space?[/b] When it comes to the sustainability industry, it’s not about what specific experiences you have, but rather, the breadth of experiences that you bring to the table. [b]Alexandra Rossen (BA ’20)[/b], senior associate for sustainability and ESG at PwC, also emphasized that experience doesn’t necessarily mean jobs or internships. For individuals still in school, participating in sustainability clubs, consulting teams, and capstone courses are just a few ways to show interest in the field to boost your résumé. [b]Kimberly Blundy (MS ’04)[/b], foundry operations manager for Caterpillar Inc., also recommended community volunteer opportunities—especially those that allow you to flex your leadership skills. Despite working in different sectors and having unique sustainability practices and goals, all panelists agreed that breaking into this industry starts with one thing: passion. To truly succeed, [b]Cindy Bohlen (BBA ’88)[/b], chief mindfulness officer of Riverwater Partners, says passion “should be in your DNA.” Watch the full conversation above or on the [url=https://www.youtube.com/@wisconsinschoolofbusiness]Wisconsin School of Business YouTube page[/url]. The post [url=https://business.wisc.edu/news/badger-alums-discuss-sustainability-profitability-and-career-insights/]Badger Alums Discuss Sustainability, Profitability, and Career Insights[/url] appeared first on [url=https://business.wisc.edu]Wisconsin School of Business[/url]. |
29 Feb 2024, 16:00
| FROM Madison(Wisconsin) Admissions Blog: Business Writer in Residence 2024: WSB Welcomes Lauren Weber, The Wall Street Journal |
|
Lauren Weber, a reporter with The Wall Street Journal, will be the visiting Business Writer in Residence (BWIR) at the Wisconsin School of Business from March 11 to March 14. Based out of New York, Weber covers work and the workplace for WSJ’s corporate bureau. An award-winning writer, Weber has been a reporter at Reuters and Newsday, and is the author of the 2009 book, In Cheap We Trust: The Story of a Misunderstood American Virtue, an exploration of American frugality. Since its inception in 1989, WSB’s BWIR program has brought in journalists of national stature to meet with the Business Badger community, share expertise, and connect with renowned faculty on the latest research and educational trends. Past business writers have hailed from publications such as USA Today, Forbes, Marketplace Morning Report, NPR, and The Washington Post. BWIR is part of the University of Wisconsin–Madison’s longstanding Journalist in Residence Program. BWIR Program of Events The week’s schedule includes three panels on the future of business, featuring Weber in conversation with WSB faculty and distinguished alumni in industry. The forums will be held at Grainger Hall and are open to students, faculty, and staff. Throughout her visit, Weber will be embedded at WSB, connecting and collaborating with the campus community. Her itinerary includes meeting individually with WSB faculty, visiting first-year business students at campus’ Business Connect Learning Community, a Q&A with WSB undergraduate student leaders, a breakfast presentation with the school’s MBA and master’s students, and knowledge exchanges with staff and faculty from divisions such as Career Forward. Weber will also meet with the Introduction to Reporting class at UW–Madison’s School of Journalism and Mass Communication. Panel Schedule Open to students, faculty, and staff, these events include a roundtable discussion followed by an audience Q&A. Monday, March 11, 1–2:30 p.m. 1310 Grainger Hall (The Plenary) The Future of Society: Reimagining Corporate Responsibility in a Rapidly Changing World As the line between business and societal challenges continues to blur, consumers and communities demand innovative, lasting solutions. Weber and a roundtable of boundary-pushing WSB faculty will delve into creative ways business leaders can be at the vanguard of tackling systemic issues including housing justice, sustainability, and equality. Panelists: Fabio Gaertner, professor of accounting and information systems Erik Mayer, assistant professor of finance Ann Terlaak, associate professor of management and human resources Christopher Timmins, professor of real estate and urban land economics Tuesday, March 12, 11:30 a.m.–1 p.m. 4151 Grainger Hall (Director’s Room) The Future of Leadership: Building Agile, Engaged Teams Through Inclusive Practices Inclusive leadership isn’t just a trendy phrase—it’s a crucial capability that holds the power to unleash untapped potential and ignite groundbreaking creativity. Weber, joined by faculty and WSB External Advisory Board member, Kurt Kober, will explore the ever-evolving landscape of essential skills and mindsets tomorrow’s business leaders must cultivate to foster vibrant, engaged teams. Lunch will be provided. Panelists: Kurt Kober, general manager of apparel and a vice president of commercial strategy and planning, The Honest Company Jirs Meuris, assistant professor of management and human resources Chia-Jung Tsay, associate professor of management and human resources Wednesday, March 13, 4–5:30 p.m. 2520 Grainger Hall The Future of Work: How Technological and Social Disruption Impact the Workplace and Workforce As AI influences career trajectories and phenomena such as “quiet quitting” capture the attention of millions, professional success may look and feel a bit different for entry-level workers. Weber and WSB faculty will explore the emerging technologies, evolving trends, and pivotal questions shaping the next generation of business leaders. Panelists: Barry Gerhart, professor of management and human resources Katie Krueger, senior lecturer of marketing Enno Siemsen, professor of operations and information management The post Business Writer in Residence 2024: WSB Welcomes Lauren Weber, The Wall Street Journal appeared first on Wisconsin School of Business. |
01 Mar 2024, 10:00
| FROM Madison(Wisconsin) Admissions Blog: Donor Support Fuels Student Success |
|
WSB Students Shine at Local, National Case Competitions The WSB supply chain management program celebrated two big wins in February. A team of WSB undergraduate students kicked things off by taking first place in the Kohler Wisconsin Undergraduate Supply Chain Case Competition, a supply chain competition hosted at WSB. Then, a day later, a team comprised of four WSB graduate students took the top prize at a national graduate supply chain case competition at Texas Christian University (TCU). There, the powerhouse WSB team beat out students from 15 other universities—including heavy hitters like Arizona State, Rutgers, and USC.  From left to right, WSB’s winning team at TCU: Tobias Kern (BBA ’23, MS ’24), Juhi Goenka (MBA ’25), Sajal Dixit (MBA ’24), and Saurabh Pappu (MBA ’24). Photo courtesy of TCU Neeley School of Business MBA Spring Consulting Practicum Project This year, MBA students participating in the Consulting Practicum are working with a Wisconsin-based, youth educational program, Upham Woods Outdoor Learning Center. Upham Woods’ challenge to students is to create a plan for growth that is aligned with the organization’s mission. Fourteen cross-disciplinary teams will create a strategic plan that meets the growth objective with a focus on five areas: Marketing, Philanthropy and Fundraising, Programming, Equity, and Systems and Data Management. The semester long project provides students with the opportunity to use skills learned in the classroom in a hands-on environment. Students will present their plans to Center leadership on May 3. MSBA Career Day in Chicago In March, the graduate employer relations team will take approximately 80 Master of Science-Business: Analytics (MSBA) students to Chicago for the annual Spring Career Day. During this signature event, students will network with firms that seek cloud and coding-trained business analytics talent. In addition, students will have the opportunity to learn from regional tech industry leaders during Talking Tech in Chicago, an in-person event where alumni experts will share insights on how generative AI will transform the role of the tech professional. WSB’s Anyi Ma featured in Harvard Business Review Anyi Ma, an assistant professor of management and human resources at WSB, and her co-authors examined the growth mindset in relation to minimum wage workers in a recent study. Now published in Harvard Business Review, their findings show that managers who believed their employees’ intelligence could grow were more likely to want to increase compensation for minimum wage workers. The piece also notes that words frequently used to describe low-wage workers and their positions, such as “unskilled” or “dead-end jobs,” could likely have a negative impact on how managers perceive employee intelligence and growth potential—an idea that helped shape their hypothesis. Donor Support Fuels Student Success appeared first on Wisconsin School of Business. |
11 Mar 2024, 07:00
| FROM Madison(Wisconsin) Admissions Blog: Business Casual: March 2024 |
The Briefing Alumni experts talk sustainability in business at recent event On February 27, five UW–Madison alumni shared industry and career insights during Planet, People, Profit: Careers in Corporate Sustainability. During the virtual event, sustainability leaders from companies like Harmless Harvest, Thistle, and Riverwater Partners engaged in a lively panel discussion about ESG efforts, profitability, career pathways, and more.  WSB’s Chia-Jung Tsay wins 2023 Best Paper Award Congratulations to Chia-Jung Tsay, the Bruce and Janice Ellig Professor in Management at WSB, on receiving the 2023 Best Paper Award from Diversity in Management and Organizations. Together with her co-author, Tsay identified and analyzed the construct of time surveillance in the paper, “Gendered Time Surveillance and Suspicions at Work and in Professional Roles.”  Research suggests dark data may help businesses make better decisions WSB’s Ewelina Forker, an assistant professor of accounting and information systems, recently shared research on dark data—the large quantities of information that companies collect from users. Forker’s study examined dark data and future firm performance in the context of the medical technology industry, specifically looking at dark email data. Forker shared her findings in a recent presentation for the University of Waterloo’s video series. The Ticker
Back to School 175 Years of Memories During UW–Madison’s 175th anniversary celebration, the Wisconsin School of Business has been spotlighting spectacular alumni memories. Kicking off the series in September 2023, we shared a variety of football memories from alums who wished that game day was every day. “Watching the Badgers beat Michigan to open the 1981 football season. It was an eruption of euphoria from Camp Randall to State Street and beyond.” —Jim Horton (BBA ’82, MS ’84) As finals season approached in December 2023, we asked alums about their favorite academic memories—and received only A+ submissions. “Studying by Lake Mendota will always be a favorite memory.” —Thomas Pamperin (BBA ’70, MBA ’73) Love was in the air during the month of February, so we told some oh-so-sweet Business Badger love stories. “As a first-year MBA student, I was paired with a second-year MBA student and mentor in the A.C. Nielsen Center . . . Fast forward, we have been married for four years, have a fur baby, and live in Seattle thanks to the careers we found through WSB.” —Susannah Maiken (MBA ’18) Read more football memories, academic remembrances, and Badger love stories—and keep your eyes peeled for our next installment in April, where we’ll share memories about the lighter side of student life. Want a chance to have your memory featured in an upcoming article? Submit this form to share how your WSB education has helped you make a positive impact in the community. Tip Sheet Spring Cleaning—It’s for Work, Too! Believe it or not, the official start of spring is a mere eight days away—meaning it’s almost time for traditions like spring break, spring training, and yes, spring cleaning. But we’re not talking about cleaning behind the refrigerator or dusting the ceiling fan. We’re talking about getting organized at work—especially when it comes to project management. Scott Converse (MBA ’03), an instructor and program director with WSB’s Center for Professional and Executive Development, offers three helpful tips for dusting the cobwebs out of your project management processes. Alumni Opportunities March 21: Last chance! Register now to connect with tech experts, students, and fellow alumni at our upcoming event: Talking Tech in Chicago. April 6: Come on down to Grainger Hall for a fun and interactive scavenger hunt in celebration of UW–Madison’s 175th Anniversary! April 12: Join us for “Mission-Oriented Leadership” with Peter Faricy, an upcoming event at Grainger Hall that will also be livestreamed. This event is part of the M. Keith Weikel Speaker Series. April 16–17: Save the date for UW–Madison’s annual day of giving: Day of the Badger! Job search resources: Use online tools and videos to help plan a career move now or in the future. Get 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: March 2024 appeared first on Wisconsin School of Business. |
19 Mar 2024, 15:00
| FROM Madison(Wisconsin) Admissions Blog: Empowering Leaders: Redesigned Wisconsin Executive MBA Expands Focus on Communication and Coaching |
|
Business is changing. In response, the Wisconsin Executive MBA Program is changing too. After three years of research and development, the Wisconsin School of Business’ launch of the redesigned executive MBA is just around the corner. In addition to a hybrid format and modernized curriculum, the program now features a more comprehensive emphasis on executive communication and expanded opportunities for executive coaching. “Business today demands more agile communication,” says Jean Sink, director of career management for MBA and master’s programs. “The program was updated to better prepare leaders to thrive in both the modern and future workplace. We have dedicated resources to making sure we’re elevating not just the experience for our students, but also the impact they can make on their organizations.” Executive communication: Practical skills to increase engagement Empowering Leaders: Redesigned Wisconsin Executive MBA Expands Focus on Communication and Coaching appeared first on Wisconsin School of Business. |
25 Mar 2024, 12:00
| FROM Madison(Wisconsin) Admissions Blog: Study Reveals Impact of Unionization on Customer Satisfaction |
|
(MADISON, WI) A new study led by Ishita Chakraborty, assistant professor at the Wisconsin School of Business, unveils crucial insights into the effects of unionization on customer satisfaction in the service industry. Amid a surge in union labor movements across various sectors, including tech giants and popular service chains like Starbucks and Chipotle, Chakraborty’s research fills a critical gap by examining the downstream implications of unionization on customer experiences. published in the prestigious Journal of Marketing Research, focuses on the recent Starbucks unionization wave as a case study. The research analyzed over 370,000 online reviews from 4,071 Starbucks stores and found a statistically significant decrease in average review ratings following unionization. This decline in customer satisfaction was primarily attributed to negative sentiment towards service quality, particularly employee behavior. Notably, the findings suggest that management responses, such as anti-union tactics and non-participation in negotiations, may contribute to decreased employee satisfaction, subsequently impacting customer perceptions of service quality. “Unionization in the service industry has far-reaching implications, affecting not only employees but also customer experiences,” said Ishita Chakraborty. “Our study underscores the need for businesses and policymakers to consider the holistic impact of labor relations on all stakeholders. By shedding light on the complexities of this dynamic, we aim to inform strategies that promote both employee welfare and customer satisfaction.” For interviews or further inquiries, please contact: Leiah Fundell Public Relations Manager, Wisconsin School of Business | UW-Madison leiah.fundell@wisc.edu Study Reveals Impact of Unionization on Customer Satisfaction appeared first on Wisconsin School of Business. |
29 Mar 2024, 12:00
| FROM Madison(Wisconsin) Admissions Blog: UW at 175: WSB Alums Share Memories of the Lighter Side of Student Life |
 Let’s face it: UW–Madison has a bit of a goofy side… Perhaps it’s the inevitable result of combining an endlessly creative student body with rigorous exams and long winters. Whatever the case may be, Badgers have always excelled at finding ways to blow off a little steam—and after 175 years, they’ve gotten really, really good at it. To celebrate April Fools’ Day, and UW–Madison’s big anniversary, five Business Badgers reflect on the lighter side of the student experience, from jokes and gags to participating in silly (but important!) rituals with friends and classmates. Shouting Out Loud “We came in second place in the ‘Yell Like Hell’ competition between the dorms (me!) and the fraternities and sororities. This was Fall 1982 and the theme was ‘Bucky Blasts Off.’ Our routine was taken from the movie “Stripes.” It was so much fun for a new freshman.” —Judy Heffron (BBA ’86)  Cabin Fever “I remember sledding down Bascom Hill using cafeteria trays. And I was on campus when they filmed the movie Back to School with Rodney Dangerfield!” —Jamie Zorn (BBA ’86) In a Bind “My good friend and I each went to get our thesis bound. At the binding store, we were shown the various colors and told the most common choices were black or dark blue. We then saw bright yellow was an option—which we chose knowing that ours would always stand out in the grad office bookcase. To this day, they still do!” —Bryan Rives (MA ’89)  What Will They Do Next? “I loved all the surprises from the Pail and Shovel Party, like the Statue of Liberty on Lake Mendota and the pink flamingos on Bascom Hill!” —Michael Manning (BBA ’80) Rock Star Parking “I assume any statute of limitations has expired. During my time at WSB, I purchased a sports car that sat pretty low—low enough that I discovered it would actually go under the parking barrier to get to Grainger Hall’s lower level of parking, opening up many more parking possibilities.” —John Fischer ([b]BBA ’97)[/b] This story is part 4 in our ongoing alumni memories series. You can read more from WSB alums, including their favorite football moments, academic memories, and Badger love stories. 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 the Lighter Side of Student Life appeared first on Wisconsin School of Business. |
01 Apr 2024, 07:00
| FROM Madison(Wisconsin) Admissions Blog: Climate Change, GoFundMe, and Catastrophic Risk: A Conversation with Philip Mulder |
|
To someone who studies uncertainty for a living, question marks around the long-term impact of climate change pose an important research challenge, says Philip Mulder, an assistant professor of risk and insurance at the Wisconsin School of Business. “How can we design insurance markets to be more resilient in the face of climate change while still protecting vulnerable people and communities?” Mulder says. “Insurance markets are going to be a key determinant of who bears the costs of climate change … [and] whether we have a just and equitable climate transition.” Mulder joined WSB in 2023 from The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. Along with insurance, his research interests include climate finance, real estate and household finance, and environmental economics. Much of his work explores how households, insurers, lenders, and governments adapt to dynamic climate risk. He is the recipient of numerous research awards including the American Academy of Actuaries Award for Research and the Geneva Association’s Ernst Meyer Prize in Risk and Insurance, both in 2023. WSB: Tell us about your work in the insurance and disaster space. Mulder: Broadly speaking, a lot of my research has focused on how well insurance markets work for catastrophic risks. The direction that I come at it from is that catastrophic risks are unique relative to health or life because they can be so correlated and so concentrated: If one geographic area gets hit by hurricane, for example, then everyone in that vicinity has a claim. So what has happened in those spaces is, first, when you look at, say, flood insurance, that’s something that is primarily offered by the government through the National Flood Insurance Program. It therefore becomes a big public policy issue, so you can study it from a public policy perspective. “How can we design insurance markets to be more resilient in the face of climate change while still protecting vulnerable people and communities?” —Philip Mulder But second, you also now have private insurers who are starting to deal more and more with risks in places that previously hadn’t been thought of as facing quite the same magnitude of risk, such as the wildfires we just saw on Maui. We’re seeing insurers having to face the pressure of more and more concentrated risks—and consequently, those insurers exit. Now, state governments are stepping in for wildfire risk in California or hurricane risk in Florida, much as the federal government has already done for flood. So I look at both public and private insurers and try to understand how they can better manage those risks. In the case of flood insurance, I’ve found that when the public sector provides accurate information and sets risk-based prices, it leads to much better outcomes. The National Flood Insurance Program borrows less to pay for claims and homes are built to better withstand floods. Even though high-risk households are being charged more for flood insurance, they are actually more likely to insure because they also know they have this high flood risk. WSB: You have some interesting research in crowdfunding and wildfire recovery. What were some of the takeaways from that study? Mulder: I have a working paper where we’re looking at how people recover from wildfires, specifically Colorado’s Marshall Fire, which occurred in the Boulder area in December 2021. Many of the homeowners affected by the fires set up GoFundMe campaigns—essentially fundraising—to supplement their insurance. What we found was that the support from GoFundMes does kind of serve much of the same role as traditional insurance. Individuals who raised more on GoFundMe were still able to, for example, buy a car the following year after the disaster or they would have fewer delinquencies on their credit cards. Money to Burn: Crowdfunding Wildfire Recovery Neglected No More: Housing Markets, Mortgage Lending, and Sea Level Rise Mismeasuring Risk: The Welfare Effects of Flood Risk Information The post Climate Change, GoFundMe, and Catastrophic Risk: A Conversation with Philip Mulder appeared first on Wisconsin School of Business. |
01 Apr 2024, 09:00
| FROM Madison(Wisconsin) Admissions Blog: A Banner Year: WSB Releases Employment Outcomes for Undergraduate Class of 2023 |
|
Wisconsin School of Business graduates from the undergraduate class of 2023 are breaking new ground—and breaking records in the process. A recent report from the school’s undergraduate program reveals that this past year’s cohort is not just positioned to succeed: They’re already thriving post-graduation across multiple key areas. Based on comprehensive data from almost 900 of the program’s 950 graduates, the report touts significant growth across multiple categories, including record compensation levels, high job placement, and a rise in emerging areas of student interest. Highlights include:
Career Forward The recent outcomes are due in no small part to the Career Forward program, an initiative the school launched in 2021. Designed as a comprehensive, customized approach to career development and planning, the program provides individualized support and resources throughout every step of an undergraduate student’s career journey. “This is illustrative of two full years under the Career Forward model,” says Brett Jones, director of employer engagement for the undergraduate program. “It shows that Career Forward is working: We’re starting to deliver on the promise of what this could be. We are starting to see signs through the data of how students are placing and how different employers are engaging.” While at WSB, undergraduates benefit from a team of career coaches, academic advisors, alumni, and career pathway consultants within the business majors to support students in developing individualized career blueprints. Students can choose from a myriad of career pathways across 12 majors and a variety of certificates, expanding their view of what is possible as early as their first days on campus. “This is illustrative of two full years under the Career Forward model. It shows that Career Forward is working: We’re starting to deliver on the promise of what this could be.” —Brett Jones “Career Forward helped create a better line of sight for students into what they can do with these majors at the school,” says Melissa Leffin, director of career engagement for the undergraduate program. “You come into the business school, and you’ve got 12 majors to pick from. Your initial reaction is, ‘I’ve got 12 different jobs I can go get!’ We’ve basically taken that to another level by saying, ‘No, there are actually around 40-plus different pathways that these major and certificate combinations can lead you to, especially when combined with co-curricular experiences.’ I think what it’s allowed us to do is to provide more nuanced and industry-focused guidance to students. And it helped them demystify the process.” Behind the numbers High employment rate: The fact that 94% of WSB’s undergraduate students have a job after graduation and stay personally connected with the school “is one of our biggest pride points,” says Leffin, particularly since WSB has a bigger student body—more than 3,500 students make up the undergraduate program—than many of its peer institutions. Since Career Forward’s inception, one of its key goals was to allow the school to deliver results at scale by helping all students succeed, not just a select few. The design allowed students to take advantage of career planning services early on in their educational experience and to tailor that exploration specifically to their individual desired career outcomes. This year’s data also revealed continued growth in placing students in emerging markets, particularly in the Northeast and West. Business Badgers accepted positions in New York City in the double digits, a prime destination coming second only to Chicago. After New York City, Denver ranked as the most popular metro area for WSB undergraduates outside of the Midwest. Increase in salaries: A certain amount of salary increase is to be expected based on placing students in some of the high-demand career pathways, says Jones. But he’s witnessed more of an “across-the-board rise” of salaries on average than before. “We’ve experienced about a $10,000 increase in the average starting salary for all of our undergraduate business students over the last two years.” Growth in areas of focus: Both Leffin and Jones agree that they are proud of the growth they have seen in areas of focus and career pathways over the past few years. “We’ve seen a lot of growth in consulting, growth in some of the really competitive areas of finance, and around analytics and insights within marketing and tech,” says Leffin. “These are areas that before Career Forward did not have a lot of resources built out for them. We’ve implemented those and have seen that effort return dividends and placements.” And the program’s career pathway consultants are integral to building out these resources and industry insights. As career experts embedded in each academic department, they’re able to provide specialty knowledge and direct connections to field-relevant faculty and alumni. A dedicated Badger network: Helping students get that first job is an all-hands-on-deck endeavor involving a dedicated undergraduate career team of 13, top faculty, and a worldwide network of alumni and employers excited to connect and support undergraduate Business Badgers. This past year, the career engagement team created a résumé book of all students still seeking jobs—even those post-graduation—and leveraged the enthusiasm and connections in alumni and employer networks. “Our coaches know the students they are working with, and our employer team knows their employers and the specific roles students are looking for so that they can make those matches,” says Leffin. “That really tailored support is what helped us get those numbers and is something we’re really proud of.” Expansion and innovation The program is already seeing increased student participation: The undergraduate team witnessed 281 more career coaching appointments during Fall 2023, a 22% increase from the previous year. Looking ahead, Jones and Leffin hope to build on the success their teams have established, as well as continue to innovate. The program’s career treks, for example, have yielded particularly excellent results: Of the top ten hiring companies this year, nine of them hosted a career trek for WSB students. “When I started here seven years ago, we were largely reactive, supporting industry by executing on more traditional recruiting functions like career fairs and company presentations,” Jones says. “While those events are important and we do them very well, we spend almost half of our time on what we call ‘supporting student career exploration and development through signature experiences.’” Those are visits to employers, case competitions, job shadowing, and similar activities, Jones says, and it’s where they started to see a shift and an “evolution” take place. On a recent trip with students to Walgreens HQ in Chicago, Jones says, industry executives were blown away by the level of questions WSB students were asking, and reported that over half of the students on the trip had applied for the company’s open position. “They are seeing the value of our students representing themselves. WSB students are impressing them and they are making it a priority to hire Badgers.” New Model for Career Customization Positions WSB Students for Success Job Shadow, Career Trek Programs Give WSB Students the Jump on Career Success WSB Launches Undergraduate Career Forward Program The post A Banner Year: WSB Releases Employment Outcomes for Undergraduate Class of 2023 appeared first on Wisconsin School of Business. |
01 Apr 2024, 15:00
| FROM Madison(Wisconsin) Admissions Blog: Forward-Thinking: WSB Launches Flexible, Bold Curriculum Amid Changing Business Landscape |
|
Business today is at an inflection point. Globalization, disruptive technology, corporations reimagining and reframing their vision of success—this intersection of challenges and opportunities requires new skills, knowledge, and mindsets. In an evolving landscape, it’s critical to learn how to connect the dots others don’t always see. With a bold reimagining of its undergraduate program, the Wisconsin School of Business is preparing its students to lead where there’s no blueprint. Learn how the improvements to career advising, curriculum, and instruction will equip students for the realities of a changing business landscape. 
Integrating new topics, new mindsets In the spirit of continuous improvement, WSB modernized the undergraduate curriculum to prepare students to compete on the global stage. “Business professionals will need a broader framework than what traditional business education has offered,” says Brian Mayhew, Arthur Anderson Alumni professor in the Department of Accounting and Information Systems and associate dean of WSB’s undergraduate program. “What will differentiate future undergraduates is the ability to synergize technical skills with their human abilities to design, create, innovate, and apply informed judgements to critical business decisions.” Beginning in fall 2024, WSB will begin a gradual rollout of four new two-credit undergraduate courses, designed to refine students technological, ethical, and innovative skills to lead in an increasingly complex business landscape. Reimagining the undergraduate curriculum with flexibility and innovation in mind to develop agile, holistic leaders. Sustainable Capitalism Students will examine the interplay between business, governments, and civil society. Coursework will take a system-level view to explore the role of this interplay in managing free markets and balancing the wellbeing of firms with the wellbeing of society and the natural environment. Human Centered Design and Business The course looks at basic principles and business processes—like understanding the customer experience—and explores approaches for building these elements into a product or service. It will be delivered in partnership with the University of Wisconsin–Madison’s School of Human Ecology (SoHE) design group, a recognized driver for design thinking and innovation on campus and beyond. Cloud Based Analytics An extension of the cloud-based analytics curriculum used in WSB’s popular MS in Business Analytics program, students will learn how to work within the cloud including organizing data, running analyses, and different methods of managing big data. Integrated Strategic Leadership A capstone course, Integrated Strategic Leadership introduces experiential learning at scale, helping integrate the mastery students have achieved through the business core curriculum and putting that knowledge into action through cross-functional teams engaged in experiential learning projects working directly with companies. The reimagined curriculum reflects the technological advances and social and ethical challenges students will encounter as business leaders. “A number of leading business schools have started developing system-level classes like this one and I am excited that WSB is part of that forefront. For the past two or so decades, much of the teaching on corporate sustainability in business schools has focused on how firms can drive operational changes to become more sustainable,” says Ann Terlaak, associate professor of management and human resources, who designed and will also teach the Sustainable Capitalism course. “These changes are good and necessary, but it has become clear that they are insufficient for meaningfully addressing today’s sustainability challenges. For that, business also needs to drive systemic changes. And for that, business leaders need to comprehend the system. This is exactly where the Sustainable Capitalism class comes in. It will equip students with an understanding of the larger system within which business operates and the role that business plays in making this system more sustainable.” Supporting a holistic student experience During their time at WSB, and in conjunction with this new curriculum, students will also benefit from a flexible range of co-curricular, high-impact experiences that immerse them in real-world business settings. These experiences, which include corporate treks, study abroad, case competitions, and student organizations, not only help them continue to customize their experience, but also gives them hands on practice. “These changes and the increased flexibility that comes with them is about creating customization with purpose for students,” says Mayhew. Building on this range of applied learning experiences and the new Integrated Strategic Leadership course, students will benefit from an increasing number of immersive leadership experiences, and WSB plans to continue growing these offerings for students. This increased flexibility along with changes to the curriculum were implemented by looking at the full student experience, so as students find their paths into business, they’ll also be supported by a 360-degree network of support services including academic advising, career development, and success coaching that helps them flourish and develop an intentional path through the program. “Our support model helps student thrive. Everything they need to succeed is here, they just need to activate it. The goal is to gradually help our students learn how to identify and access the resources they need when they need it most. We want to help them build a sense of self-reliance and we need to offer these services at scale,” Mayhew says. The bold new curriculum along with this full student experience will allow WSB to do what it does best: Prepare the next generation of business leaders. In a time when change is the only constant, WSB students are writing the story of what comes next. The post Forward-Thinking: WSB Launches Flexible, Bold Curriculum Amid Changing Business Landscape appeared first on Wisconsin School of Business. |
|
|
||
Hi Generic [Bot],
Here are updates for you:
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Tuck at Dartmouth
AGSM at UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA RIVERSIDE
 |
