Chalk up another win for Michigan Ross students.

A team of three Ross MBA students took home a victory at the recent Accenture MBA Innovation Challenge, continuing a three-year winning streak for Ross MBAs. Ross teams also won the challenge in 2017 and 2016.

This year, teams were asked to develop innovative solutions to a challenge faced by the Wounded Warriors Project, a national non-profit organization focused on providing aid to U.S. military veterans and service members injured in duty on or after September 11, 2001.

The winning team, consisting of Fox Herron, Andy Furbush, and Emmeline Cardozo, MBA ‘19, presented their plan to executives at Accenture and the WWP this past weekend, going head-to-head against teams from Cornell’s Johnson School of Business, Chicago Booth, and Duke Fuqua.

“We did feel a good amount of pressure to keep the streak alive,” said Furbush after the victory. “But, we trusted that the ideas we had were very solid and feasible. We all put in the work to create a truly valuable product, and we were rehearsed enough to be able to communicate that value to the judges.”

The team will now get the chance to work with the Wounded Warrior Project on implementing their suggestions and moving their ideas forward this spring.

“I wanted to do something to help this organization help those who have given so much for our country,” Furbush said. “Getting to implement these ideas … that’s probably the most rewarding aspect of this competition.”

Congratulations to the team and Go Blue!

Across the U.S., fewer than two percent of college students study abroad. But things are very different at Michigan Ross: at any given moment, hundreds of Ross students are scattered all across the globe, studying, taking classes, and interning and working for huge corporations and nonprofits.

In 2017 alone, more than 1,000 Rossers visited 49 countries, and student participation in these amazing learning opportunities is growing every year––by a lot.

2017 was the biggest year ever for global experiences at Michigan Ross, with 555 MBAs and 560 BBAs traveling abroad last year as part of their curriculum. That’s an increase of 21 percent and 16 percent, respectively, from the year before.

Ross is also an experience for international students, many of whom call Michigan their study abroad destination: 151 exchange students called our elite business school home in 2017.

Lucky for us, all of these international excursions make for excellent photo ops. So, we’ve gathered some of the most stunning photos taken by Ross students during their global excursions last year.

CHILE - GLOBAL PRACTICUM

In this Global Practicum course, students studied the Chilean wine industry and the factors that have contributed to its tremendous growth. Students conducted marketing strategy meetings with family wineries, company visits, and cultural activities in Chile during Spring Break.

Learn more about Global Practicum Opportunities

SPAIN - GLOBAL SEMESTER EXCHANGE

Picture by: Daniela Allen, BBA ‘18

During winter semester of junior year, U-M students have the opportunity to study abroad at one of Ross' many distinguished partner schools in cities as diverse as Helsinki to Bangkok. In Spain, students choose from six semester exchange programs, including two business schools. Daniela Allen, BBA ‘18, studied at the ICADE Business School in Madrid.

Learn more about Global Semester Exchange Opportunities

ICELAND - GLOBAL PRACTICUM

Picture by: Michelle Kim, BBA ‘19

The Sustainable Business in Iceland course, another Global Practicum offering, was led by Andy Hoffman, Professor of Management & Organizations, Natural Resources, and Sustainable Enterprise. Students met with CEOs from a variety of industries––banking, healthcare, fishing––and learned firsthand about the cooperative, community-based business ethos of the country. (Read about one student’s experience with the course.)

Learn more about Global Practicum Opportunities

NICARAGUA - GLOBAL SERVICE LEARNING

Picture by: Rui Zhong, BBA ‘19

During a one-week service learning program in Nicaragua, students constructed homes for families living in the city of La Joya while also learning about the local recycling industry, which is a huge employer for the area. Students took home lessons about the social impact of business, philanthropy, and poverty alleviation.

Learn more about Global Service Learning Opportunities

GHANA - WILLIAM DAVIDSON INSTITUTE GLOBAL IMPACT INTERNSHIP

Picture by: Tim Yuan, MBA ‘18

For this project in Ghana in partnership with the William Davidson Institute, Tim Yuan, MBA ‘18, conducted market research and planned the launch of a solar-powered vehicle targeted towards Sub-Saharan Africa. Tim’s photo is of Kejetia Market, the largest market in Africa with 45,000 vendors.

Learn more about Global Impact Internships With WDI

CROATIA - GLOBAL PRACTICUM

Picture by: Ibrahim Ijaz, Ford School of Public Policy

Cross-Culture Negotiation and Dispute Resolution, another Global Practicum offering, students learn legal and ethical frameworks for negotiation, psychological tools that enhance negotiation effectiveness, and negotiation strategies for dispute resolution, all with an added cross-cultural emphasis. Students put those skills to the test during a weeklong study in Croatia, where they meet business leaders and professors and complete a project with students from the Zagreb School of Economics and Management.

Learn more about Global Practicum Opportunities

COSTA RICA - GLOBAL IMMERSION

Picture by: Ashley Peper, BBA ‘18

Students in the Costa Rica Global Immersion course traveled to the country in May to learn how business is conducted in the Central American country. In addition to visiting companies engaging in sustainable practices, the students also hiked through rainforests, connected with faculty and students at universities, and had discussions with business leaders in Costa Rica, expanding their perspectives.

Learn more about Global Immersion Courses

CHINA - GLOBAL IMMERSION

Andrew Mei, BBA ‘19

This Global Immersion Course, also known as "Corporate Strategy in China," takes place for two weeks in May. Students travel to Beijing, Shanghai, and Shenzen. The course teaches students corporate strategy in China via company visits, cultural activities, and lectures with business scholars and professionals working in the field.

Learn more about Global Immersion Courses

MOROCCO - GLOBAL PRACTICUM

Picture by: Fatema Akhtar, BBA ‘20

Students in this Global Practicum course studied the social, legal, environmental, economic, and political climates in Morocco, and analyzed a particular company and industry of international trade with their research team. They also met with Moroccan business leaders and visit company offices and factories.

Learn more about Global Practicum Opportunities

SOUTH AFRICA - GLOBAL IMMERSION

Picture by: Meghan Petiprin, Ross Staff

During this course, students explored the important role of intellectual property law in modern global business activity through the unique economic, legal, political, and cultural landscape of South Africa. Journeying to Johannesburg and Cape Town, they connected with business leaders from large and small companies, engaged in lectures with local professors, learned about the country’s history, and caught a glimpse of lions, elephants, and rhinos while on safari.

Bonus Pictures:

We couldn’t resist sharing a few more pictures from the Global Practicum Course in Iceland — That Block M just looks so good!

Nearly 3 billion people around the world live in poverty, including 1 billion children. They survive on less than $2.50 a day.

Addressing this huge issue requires support from government, healthcare, education, business, and more. Where better to find all of those sectors working with the best and brightest researchers, teachers, and students in the world than at the University of Michigan?

Poverty Solutions, launched by U-M President Mark Schlissel in 2016, is a university-wide effort to explore and test models to ease the effects of poverty and broadly share that knowledge, while working with community groups and supporting active-learning options for students.

A new report chronicles the first full year of Poverty Solutions, highlighting the local, global, and national impact of the U-M community effort.

Michigan Ross Dean Scott DeRue sits on the Poverty Solutions Deans’ Governing Board and last year at Ross, professors Noel Tichy and Michael Gordon launched a collaborative project with Focus: HOPE, a nationally-recognized civil and human rights organization in Detroit, that aims to promote economic self-sufficiency among low-income residents. The program provides small grants to people and families to help them address economic challenges.  

This Ross project was one of dozens across the university in 2017.

See the full report of the incredible new initiatives launched and how they are affecting people in our state, country, and across the globe.

Read the 2017 U-M Poverty Solutions Progress Report

Students come from all over the country and the world to attend Michigan Ross, which makes it a pretty amazing place.

This week, you’re invited take a moment to celebrate, learn, and connect with the Ross community during a special series of events. The Ross Student Government Association has organized Diversity Week, with plenty of activities, lectures, and discussions taking place on the Ross campus.

MONDAY, FEB. 12

A Live Recording of Business Beyond Usual Podcast

Join Ramu Annamalai, host of the Ross podcast "Business Beyond Usual", for a talk show style dialogue with Ross staff, faculty, and students on the past year's events and controversial topics related to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
4:30-6:00pm
Robertson Auditorium

LISTEN to the recording:

Diversity in the Classroom: Design Thinking Pop-Up Workshop with Ross Faculty

Featured faculty: Ryan Ball, Jeffrey Sanchez-Burks, Carolyn Yoon
1:00-2:00pm | B3580

Register here

Screening & discussion of Wind River:
A film on that brings awareness to issues faced by Native Americans on the reservation
6:30-9:00pm | Blau Colloquium

Register here

TUESDAY, FEB. 12

MBW Allies presents "Why Can't We Agree on Consent?"
9:00-10:30am | Blau Corner Commons (B1590)

Register here

MBW presents "Your Identity at Work"
The Choices We Make in Appearance
1-2:00pm | B2560

Register here

Story Lab presents "Ross Winter Diaries"
5:30-7:00pm | Robertson Auditorium

Featured storytellers:

• Ignacio Calvo MBA ’18,  Rachel England MBA ’18
• Nathalie Flores MBA ’19, Eric Krostich MBA/MS ’18
• Rajiv Khattar MBA ’19, Bidnam Lee MBA ’19
• Charisse Wilkins, MBA ’19

Register here

WEDNESDAY, FEB. 14

HBSA presents "Moving On Up":
Upward Mobility & Leadership after Ross
12:00-1:00pm | B3570

Register here

MBA Council presents "Health Body, Healthy Mind"
12:45-2:00pm | Ross Colloquium

Register here

Developing a ground-up DEI Strategy:
Design Thinking Pop-up Workshop with the Erb Student Advisory Board
3:00-4:00pm | Blau Corner Commons (B1590)

Register here

Risky Business presents "Diversity Week Playlist Party"
5:30-6:30pm | Blau Corner Commons (B1590)

Food provided
 

THURSDAY, FEB. 15

Tech Club presents "Tech Cities"–– Can tech uplift a community without gentrifying it?
1:00-2:00pm | R0320

Lunch provided

Register here

Out for Business presents MBgAy
7:00pm doors open | 8:00pm show starts
Necto

Buy tickets here

FRIDAY, FEB. 16=

MBA Christian Fellowship presents "Faith in Business":
An Interfaith Discussion of How Beliefs Impact Business
1:00-2:00pm | B0570

Lunch provided

Register here

BBSA + Detroit R&B present
Charles Wright Museum of African American History Tour

10:30am-6:00pm | Detroit

Register here

SATURDAY, FEB. 17

Net Impact + the Partners' Club present "Brunch & Brainstorm"
Whether companies should establish programs that seek to recruit underrepresented minorities, what organizations can do to ensure equal gender representation in leadership, & more!

11:30am-1:00pm | R0320

Brunch provided

Register here

In the 2017-2018 academic year, Michigan Ross welcomed its first class of freshman students who will spend four years at Ross, instead of three years as previous BBA students have done.

One of those students is Johanne Vincent, BBA ‘21, who has already taken advantage of Michigan Ross’ many offerings (such as the Ross Summer Connections program) and has fallen in love with the school.

Now, Vincent has the opportunity to share those experiences with a larger audience, writing for Poets & Quants as a Campus Ambassador.

Vincent writes in her first blog on the site, which went live earlier this month, that Ross is full of sincere professors “who love what they do, and want you to love the subject they teach too.” She’s also impressed by her peers: “I’ve never met a group of students who were so motivated and driven to achieve their dreams and help their classmates do the same.”

Although business schools have a reputation for having a cutthroat culture, Vincent says Ross is different: “Michigan Ross definitely has a great student culture. From my experience and from what I’ve heard from other students, everyone is going to support you and help you rather than tear you down.”

Learn more about Johanne Vincent’s freshman experience at Michigan Ross

With more than 50,000 living alumni all around the world, it’s no surprise that Michigan Ross has been the catalyst for many long-lasting, life-changing relationships.

As the world prepares to celebrate their love this Valentine’s Day, we reached out to couples who met at Ross and asked them to recount their courtship.

The stories range from the unexpected, to the downright cute.

Whether or not you observe Valentine’s Day, you and your partner choose to skip, or you’re #foreversingle, these stories of love blossoming at Michigan Ross are sure to make you swoon.

YOU HAD ME AT JELLO

Julie and Jay Lichtenstein
BBA ‘95, BBA ‘93

Julie and Jay are celebrating their 20th wedding anniversary this year, having met when both were BBA students in 1992. Julie told us the whole, messy story of how they met during Greek Week:

“Jay was a junior and I was a freshman. We were paired together for an event outside the business school called the ‘Jello Jump.’ We had to jump into a large vat of green jello and pull out as many golf balls as possible in one minute. When we jumped in, I looked at Jay and said ‘I don’t jump into jello with just anyone!’”

Jay had to leave immediately after the event to interview for a summer internship position.

“He later told me he still had green jello stuck in his ears!” - Julie Lichtenstein

When Jay proposed to Julie four years later, the engagement ring was suspended inside a green jello mold.

Congratulations on 20 years of marriage!

A MISTY MEET-CUTE

Irene Chang and Michael Cho
MBAs ‘15

Irene and Michael met on the last day of their Michigan Ross orientation when they were both soaking wet.

It was a rainy day, and as they were both trying to dry off before the next orientation session began, they found themselves at the same table, sharing their backgrounds and what brought them to Ross.

But in true rom-com fashion, their instant connection was short-lived when Irene was pulled away to accept a furniture delivery.

They wouldn’t cross paths again for the rest of the semester. They attended classes, passed exams, worked on cases, prepped for interviews, lived their lives separately.

And then, Mike went to India for MAP, on a team with Irene’s close friend.

The close friend set them up, and after a few dates they found out they’d both be interning in Chicago together over the summer.

“That summer, we bonded over a love of good food and strong coffee,” Irene said.

“The rest is history!”

They’ll celebrate their second wedding anniversary on July 9.

STUDY BUDDIES FOR LIFE

Lynne and Robert Hessler
BBAs ‘76

Lynne and Robert had known each other for the entirety of their BBA education, having many of the same classes, and they considered each other friends.

When Bob started working the front desk of the business school library, where Lynne could often be found studying, things started to look a little different.

As Lynne describes it, they both may have had some ulterior motives behind their friendly dispositions.

“Secretly I think we each had other ideas,” she said.

The two eventually ended up going to the Spring Formal hosted by Lynne’s sorority, but their courtship was cut short by graduation and jobs in separate parts of the country.

“Sitting together at graduation, we thought we might never see each other again,” Lynne recounts. “But, Bob wrote me a letter (there was no internet then, can you imagine!?), I replied, and we continued a long distance romance until our marriage in the early 80s.”

Lynne and Bob have been married for 37 years and have three children, including Alexander Hessler, who graduated with his Michigan Ross BBA degree in 2015.

Go Blue!

Have your own story about meeting your partner while a student at Michigan Ross? We’d love to hear it - use this form to share:

Share Your Own Story

Analytics and statistics have taken over the sports world. In fact, the use of mathematics to provide a competitive edge is so ubiquitous, that it has become ineffective at giving one team an advantage over another.

That’s the premise behind a new program at Michigan Ross that aims to bring something back to sports that a cultural obsession with statistics pushed aside: The Team, The Team, The Team.

“Coaches have done a great job of using stats. However, they currently create competitive parity, but they no longer give teams a competitive advantage,” said Richard Wolfe, faculty director of the new Sport and Organizational Dynamics Conference, launching at Michigan Ross on Feb 22.

Enter the world of business and the lessons of organizational behavior research — which will be the innovation leading to new competitive advantages in sport.

Wolfe, along with conference co-director Kim Cameron, professor of management and organizations at Michigan Ross, have developed a two-day conference for sports professionals (general managers, head coaches, assistants, etc.) to meet with and learn from Ross professors and researchers, business executives, and other sports leaders.

Cameron said the conference will “cover the research-based factors related to organizations that will help teams excel. These aren’t things that are typically measured by coaches and sports organizations, but paying attention to them can unlock a lot of power.”

Among other lessons, the conference will teach attendees:

• How to use the lessons of business organizations to develop an optimum team culture
• How to cross cultural divides and get players from different countries and backgrounds to develop a sense of “one team”
• How to lead a group of specialists, each with different expertise and differing, sometimes conflicting perspectives

Cameron and Wolfe said this is a first of its kind conference. While there are a lot of events where teams can learn the ins and outs of analytics-based performance indicators, there hasn’t been one that focuses rigorously on team culture.

“There’s no doubt about it, this is the next big thing in sports,” Wolfe said. “The engine that will drive the next powerhouse teams to victory is organizational dynamics.”

Learn More about the Sports and Organizational Dynamics Conference

In the first ever episode of the Business Beyond Usual podcast recorded with a live audience, Host Ramu Annamalai, MBA ‘18 chats with classmates about some of the most challenging conversations happening in America right now.

LISTEN:

Click to open in iTunes | Click to open in Stitcher

How has the #MeToo movement and recent news about DACA and the dreamers impacted the world of business and business students? How has the climate on college campuses, and among students in MBA programs, changed in recent months? Students and admissions staff from the Michigan Ross School of Business join Ramu on stage for a wide-ranging discussion focusing on issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Panel includes: Ariana Almas, MBA '18; Ivan Aragon, MBA '17; and Bryan Johnson, Associate Director of Admissions

Recorded live during the Michigan Ross Diversity Week Kick-Off event on Monday, February 12, 2018.

It’s that time of the year again: When entrepreneurs from across the University of Michigan duke it out in a three-month-long battle for the best business idea.

What’s at stake? Cash prizes totaling $100,000 to help these eager founders and CEOs boost their startup’s success. 

The Michigan Business Challenge, hosted by the Zell Lurie Institute for Entrepreneurial Studies, is a multi-round competition for U-M students. It encourages entrepreneurial teams to test real-world business concepts by vetting financial models, conducting market research, and developing a complete business plan. Throughout the competition teams have the opportunity to win cash prizes, get feedback from business leaders, and expand their business network.

This year’s finalists beat out more than 60 other teams to make it to the finals. These startups have created innovations for cancer diagnostics, autonomous vehicles, green energy, expectant parents, alleviating hunger, and more. Of the 11 final teams, six include Michigan Ross students or graduates.

Join the Zell Lurie Institute in celebrating the 35th Annual Pryor-Hale award for best business at the MBC team showcase and awards reception. Watch innovation in action as the teams give their final pitches on Friday, Feb. 16 in the lower level of Michigan Ross from 1-6 p.m.

ALISE

​Sanmeet Jasuja (MBA/MSI ’18), Brian Shahbazian (MS ’18), Ryan Branch (BSE ’18), Minjeong Cha (PhD)
Advanced LIDAR Semantics (ALISE) is developing LiDAR devices with enhanced object recognition and reduced data processing capabilities leading to smarter and safer autonomous vehicles.

ARBOR AUTOMATION

​Alexander Mills (BSE CSE ’17), Owen Hughes (BS Math ‘21)
Arbor Automation is developing a cloud-based software service for the automated conversion of 3D design files to executable CNC machine code, which reduces labor costs for companies that manufacture hardware prototypes.

Clot Buster

Yang Liu (PhD ’19)
Clot Buster develops a medical device to safely and rapidly remove clot for treatment of vessel occlusion-caused diseases, including but not limited to stroke.

MedKairos Inc.

Michael Moore (MD ’21), Andy Kozminski, (MSE ’19, MD ’20)
One out of five biopsies have to be repeated due to the quality of the tissue collected. MedKairos has developed a platform that verifies the sample quality at the point of care so patients will only have to undergo the procedure once.

​PEDALCELL

Adam Hokin (BBA ’19), Anna Moreira Bianchi (MBA ’19)
PedalCell creates novel bike-powered phone chargers for the bike share industry that promote ridership usage by transforming traditional bicycle rides into engaging, motion-powered experiences. PedalCell was invited to Capitol Hill last summer to showcase its product.

Sonodontics

Jonathan Lundt (PhD, ’18), Nikita Jambulingam (MD/MBA ’18), Jonathan Macoskey (PhD, 19) Francisco De Orue Monteverde (MBA '18)
Sonodontics is developing an intra-oral 3D ultrasound scanning device for early diagnosis of gum disease.

Rent The Sari

Hira Baig (JD ’19)
Rent the Sari is developing a mobile/web-based platform for women to rent high-end, designer clothes from Pakistan and India. Our service caters to women who can’t otherwise find their choice of beautiful, South Asian fashion.

Quirk

Kiley Judge, Computer Science & History (LSA ’17), Rahul Agrawal Bejarano, Computer Science (COE ’18)  
Quirk crafts small-batch, locally made drinking vinegars from quirky fruits. Our refreshing vinegars are made from the freshest, most delicious fruit that would normally be rejected based on their size, shape, or color.

The Siegle Impact Track

The Michigan Business Challenge Seigle Impact Track, with prizes totaling more than $26,000, recognizes the business plan that best pursues a mission-driven goal. These awards aim to stimulate the creation of new businesses, products or services that prioritize social or environmental considerations.
 

Adelie

​Stef Rubinstein (MBA ’19), Tracy Wolfbiss (MBA ’19), Vanessa Lynskey (MBA ’19)   
Adelie is developing a digital platform to seamlessly manage parental leave for expectant mothers and fathers, reducing the stress and emotional burden placed disproportionately on women.

Canopy

Ann Duong (MHI ’18), Brandon Keelean (MDes ’18)
Canopy develops digital tools to help families talk about and make end-of-life healthcare decisions and then share those decisions through a legal document with loved ones and medical providers.

FoodFinder

Jack Griffin (BBA ’19)
​FoodFinder is a registered non-profit organization that uses a website and mobile app to make it as easy as it should be to locate and learn about your nearest free food assistance programs.

​PedalCell

Adam Hokin (BBA ’19), Anna Moreira Bianchi (MBA ’19)
PedalCell creates novel bike-powered phone chargers for the bike share industry that promote ridership usage by transforming traditional bicycle rides into engaging motion-powered experiences.

Mike Jandernoa, BBA ‘72, and his wife Sue have given a $4.3 million gift to the University of Michigan.

$1 million of the gift will establish a scholarship fund at the Stephen M. Ross School of Business, with the rest going towards efforts to improve math proficiency of Michigan children through a partnership with the University of Michigan.

The scholarship fund will offer need-based scholarship awards to incoming Michigan Ross undergraduate students.

"The Ross School aspires to develop business leaders who will challenge the present and enrich the future for the benefit of all. This very generous commitment from the Jandernoas helps to ensure that the most talented students—regardless of financial means—are able to achieve this aspiration," said Scott DeRue, Edward J. Frey Dean and Stephen M. Ross Professor of Business at Michigan Ross.

The rest of the Jandernoa’s gift will benefit TeachingWorks at the School of Education and expand fellowships at the Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy.

Most of the Jandernoas’ donation, $3 million, will be used to expand a TeachingWorks partnership in Grand Rapids focused on preparing and coaching teachers, particularly in mathematics education.

TeachingWorks is a national organization based in the School of Education and is dedicated to raising the quality of entry-level teaching and the learning of students in beginning teachers' classrooms.

With this gift, the Jandernoas wish to better prepare Michigan teachers and enhance students' mathematical capabilities, ultimately improving the number and quality of jobs.

In addition to their most recent donation, the Jandernoas have been exemplary donors and volunteers at U-M, giving more than $10.4 million in support of athletics, financial aid, the Medical School, and more.

Beyond philanthropic support, they have lent their time and expertise as chairs of the Victors for Michigan Campaign Steering Committee, the West Michigan Campaign Leadership Council, and numerous advisory groups across campus, including Sue Jandernoa's 10 years on the School of Education Dean's Advisory Council.

In 2007, Mike Jandernoa received the David B. Hermelin Award for Fundraising Volunteer Leadership — U-M's highest honor bestowed upon donors and volunteers.

Learn more about the Jandernoas’ donation

Five Michigan Ross students were recently named among the world’s 100 Most Inspiring MBAs, joining a select list of elite students from business schools around the world.

Second-year Full-Time MBA students Daryl Brown, Krystal (Kae) Bradford, Miguel Corral, and Matilda Narulita, along with Sanmeet Jasuja, MBA/MS ‘18, were selected from a long list of more than 2,000 applicants by the MBA World Summit.

The five Ross MBAs will travel to Cape Town, South Africa this March to participate in the MBA World Summit. According to the organizers, the summit is a yearly gathering of the world’s best MBA talent focused on “nurturing a collaborative culture, facilitating high-impact exchange, and championing interdisciplinary approaches to global business and societal problems.”

Brown, Bradford, Corral, Jasuja, and Narulita were chosen because of their academic and professional excellence, as well as their leadership skills and ability to motivate people and create change.

“We strongly put focus on the personality of each candidate,” said Laura Hoerhammer, spokesperson for the MBA World Summit. “We’re looking for people with a story to tell and a vision of the future. We want people who are able to inspire and motivate people to achieve greatness.”

For Bradford, the summit is an opportunity to grow her network of people passionate about the same topics that drive her.

“Social impact, corporate social responsibility, and sustainability are important topics that many of my MBA colleagues and I care deeply about,” Bradford said. “I am privileged to have the opportunity to collaborate with other MBA change agents around the world and to develop practical solutions to make businesses more valuable in terms of impact and profits.”

This will be the second time Narulita has attended the MBA World Summit event, having been selected to participate during her first year at Michigan Ross as well. Her experience should help the team get the most out of the weekend in Cape Town.

“Last year in Berlin I got the chance to connect and exchange insights with other high profile MBA students all over the world,” Narulita said. “I can't wait to meet even more inspiring people who share a similar value of leadership and collaborate with them to create solutions to some of the world's most challenging issues.”

For Sanmeet, who has been focussed on entrepreneurship, this is an opportunity to network with potential business partners and investors for his future endeavours.  

"My interest in entrepreneurship is fueled by my fellow MBAs who share my passion for technology and innovation,” Sanmeet said. “I am excited for the opportunity to connect with some of the best MBAs of this generation and learn their experiences of innovating in different countries around the globe."

Congratulations to these students! Go Blue!

Learn more about the Ross Full-Time MBA program

Header image: The 2017 MBA World Summit, image courtesy of Matilda Narulita

At Michigan Ross, spring break isn’t just a chance to lounge on a beach or binge on Netflix––it’s another opportunity to do something amazing.

From helping rebuild Puerto Rico to working with Alphabet in London, Ross students are making the most of their week off.

Check out eight Ross projects taking place around the world right now, and follow Michigan Ross on Instagram to see updates directly from students on several of the projects throughout the week.
 

Wolverine Disaster Relief in Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico is still suffering from the effects of Hurricane Maria, the worst storm in history to hit the island. Even though it happened five months ago, many residents still have difficulty accessing electricity, clean drinking water, and other basic necessities. A group of Ross students are spending the week in Puerto Rico, gutting and rebuilding homes. This project is largely self-funded by participants, with some expenses covered by the Ross MBA Council.  

Tauber Institute Trek to Germany

Seventeen students from the Tauber Institute for Global Operations are touring a dozen companies in Germany, including Amazon, Mercedes Benz, Pfizer, Deutsche Bahn, Siemens, and others, meeting with executives and getting an inside look at the operations of some of the world’s biggest companies. But it’s not all work and no play: their trek includes stops at museums, breweries and the Berlin Wall memorial.

Healthcare Delivery in Emerging Markets

In this yearly offering from the William Davidson Institute, 24 Ross students are spread across five countries working to provide solutions for clinics, nonprofits, and hospitals in developing countries. During winter semester, the students have worked remotely with the employees in Rwanda, Peru, India, Ethiopia, and Sri Lanka, and they are spending the week collecting data on-site.  

Learn more about these projects

FinTech Fieldwork With Alphabet (Google) in London

Ross students have been working with the financial technology department of Alphabet, Google’s parent company, over the course of winter semester. Their week in London includes on-site work with Alphabet employees and other company tours in the city, which is a major financial center.

Learn more about this program

Service Corps Alumni Program in Houston

Members of the Michigan Ross student club Service Corps Alumni will be traveling to Houston during spring break to work with All Hands And Hearts on their Hurricane Harvey Relief mission. The group will be working on cleaning out flooded homes in the North-East part of Houston, where damage from Harvey was particularly severe. The crew will do sanitation work as well as drywall and insulation installation.

Cross-Cultural Negotiation & Dispute Resolution in Croatia

In this Global Practicum course, Cross-Cultural Negotiation and Dispute Resolution, students spend the semester studying strategies to succeed in an increasingly global economy. Their week in Croatia includes practice negotiations with business leaders from around the world as well as lectures, company visits, and cultural activities.

Learn more about this program

Global Competitiveness in Brazil

The Global Competitiveness in Brazil course uses the country’s economy as a case study. During winter semester, students develop their cross-cultural competence while improving their understanding of Brazilian business and international business more broadly. Over spring break week, they are touring companies and taking on action-based fieldwork in Rio de Jañeiro and São Paulo.

Learn more about this program

Global Service Learning Program in Nicaragua

Thanks to the generous sponsorship of the Royal Bank of Canada, Ross BBAs have the unique opportunity to enroll in The Global Service Learning Program in Nicaragua during spring break week. Participants help construct homes for families living in the city of La Joya, where the recycling industry is a major employer. They learn first-hand how the industry simultaneously creates opportunity for the community while also contributing to cyclical social and economic dilemmas.

Learn more about this program

Image: Sara Armas / Shutterstock.com

Linda Fingerle, MBA ‘13, floated the idea of a collaborative venture fund to her Michigan Ross Executive MBA colleagues back in 2013 ― and they were more than receptive.

Just four years later, Tappan Hill Ventures has investments in 10 early-stage tech companies, a growing list of interested founders, and more than 40 fellow Ross alums in on the action.

And it all began with a just small group of Executive MBA students, with Fingerle, a CPA with a wealth of finance and venture capital expertise, and Walter Sahijdak, MBA ‘13, leading the charge. 

Tappan Hill focuses on early revenue tech companies that serve large markets previously underserved by recent progress in technology. The portfolio includes healthcare, security, marketing technology, industrial Internet of Things, blockchain, and insurance companies. Because they are very hands-on, the team is careful to keep the list short.

Fingerle and Sahijdak knew that to be successful in such an endeavor, a diversity of knowledge and skills would be critical. So they recruited a third partner, Carl Erickson, an active angel investor with a PhD in computer science, to add software and tech knowledge.

Fingerle says, “Choosing investments is always a unanimous decision. We have turned down deals and settled where we don’t agree, and I think that’s very healthy. It’s difficult, but we love the process.”

The Power of the Network

Tappan Hill Ventures has strong connections to Michigan Ross beyond Fingerle and Sahijdak. Of THV’s 75 investors, more than 40 are linked to Ross.

The EMBA network in particular has churned out eager investors. “It’s amazing how many accredited investors can be sourced through the EMBA program. Word got out, and now there are six different graduating classes with investors.”

The heavy concentration of Ross alums involved in the fund is a huge selling feature. Fingerle explains, “I get deal flow anywhere in the country because of the credibility of Ross.”

She also recalls an instance where she connected with an alum at P&G after reading his story in Dividend magazine. This led to an investment, as well as willing and brilliant talent to assist with due diligence.

There are also connections within the companies themselves. One deal was made with classmate and friend Jeff Mason, MBA ‘13, who is CEO of Groundspeed, an insurance technology firm. Fingerle notes that it’s “one of our best investments.”

Another company, Jool Health, was founded by Vic Strecher PhD, MPH, a professor with deep ties to the university. Jool is a health platform that promotes self-knowledge and positive, insight-driven change.

Leveraging Michigan Ross as a Resource

The THV team has had ample opportunities to apply what they learned at Ross. Fingerle says, “Young companies appreciate our knowledge and experience. Even as small investors, we’ve earned board positions.”

THV interventions have actually saved two companies. In one instance, the company’s founders had cut off communication. “We came in and played Switzerland and convinced them to stick it out. The one partner was an incredible marketer and found a buyer. It was sold to a growth company.”

Tappan Hill also helped to turn around a marketing tech company with a struggling board and governance difficulties. The three partners helped to bring in an executive chair who identified an opportunity for focus and product differentiation. Erickson, the non-Ross partner, was instrumental in this particular turnaround, with his domain expertise as the founder of Atomic Object. And the marketing classes that Fingerle and Sahijdak had while at Ross were critical in helping to evaluate the company’s pivot to a more desirable product/market fit.

“Marketing, finance, and business strategy classes have given us the framework to recognize opportunities in regard to market size, leadership, good co-investors, and raising money.”

Michigan Ross continues to be a valuable resource. “We’ve utilized the Kresge Library to research trends, and I solicit advice from professors as well. If it’s supply chain I’ll go back to Izak Duenyas or talk to Puneet Manchanda about marketing, and Tom Kinnear is an incredibly helpful adviser. You never feel like you’re imposing on them.”

Fingerle says, “In the beginning I saw a golden opportunity to stay engaged with people I really enjoy working with, who share a common interest and a goal of making money. It’s one thing to join a group, but it’s another to actually put money in it. EMBAs were believers and the catalyst that raised the fund.”

Learn More About Tappan Hill Ventures

The film industry awarded its Oscars Sunday night, and now the academic case writing community is handing out its version, with Michigan Ross Professor Amy Nguyen-Chyung taking a top honor.

Nguyen-Chyung’s case with Elliot Faulk, LSA ’14, a business controller at H&M in Stockholm, Sweden, won the Economics, Politics and Business Environment category at The Case Centre Awards and Competitions 2018. Their case, “Amazon in Emerging Markets,” follows Amazon’s entry into India, which took a different direction than its entries into China and Brazil.

Nguyen-Chyung and Faulk are the first Case Centre award winners from the University of Michigan. Faulk was a student in Nguyen-Chyung’s International Management course.

The case covers a lot of ground — market entry strategy, international business and politics, culture, emerging markets, and prior lessons. It prompts students to consider where Amazon should expand next, what business model it should use in its next market, and whether it should even expand or focus on current markets. Nguyen-Chyung teaches the case in her Global Strategy and International Management courses.

“While I use a variety of lesser-known company cases in my classes, I believe that when students already know the company, they can spend a lot more time focusing on understanding the context and problems,” Nguyen-Chyung, assistant professor of strategy, told the Case Centre.

The Case Centre Awards and Competitions have been presented annually since 1991 and are known as the case method community’s annual Oscars. These coveted accolades recognize worldwide excellence in case writing and teaching and also help to further raise the profile of the case method. Awards are presented to those outstanding cases that have been used in the largest number of organizations across the globe in the past year.

LEARN ABOUT THEIR CASE

SEE ALL THE WINNERS

Let’s face it: Michigan Ross Women are a force to be reckoned with.

They lead Ross clubs, launch innovative enterprises, and win awards by the droves. They’re competitive, ambitious, and especially supportive of each other as they take on the world of business. Between the powerful network and Ross experience, it’s no wonder that Ross women have left us impressed.

International Women’s Day is the perfect time to take stock of the recent amazing achievements of Ross students and alumni, as well as the Michigan Ross resources available to aid in their success. Check it out:

You’re going to want to get this one on the ‘gram: The 2018 Michigan Ross Commencement Ceremony will feature a keynote address from the Chief Operating Officer of one of the world’s most popular social media platforms, Instagram.

Marne Levine has served as COO of Instagram since 2014. Prior to her role there, Levine was the Vice President of Global Policy at Facebook, leading the company’s global public policy strategy.

Her pre-Facebook career was in government: she served as Chief of Staff of the National Economic Council in the Obama Administration and Special Assistant to the President for Economic Policy. She also served as Chief of Staff for Harvard University President Larry Summers and held a number of leadership positions at the United States Department of Treasury under President Bill Clinton.

She serves on the boards of several not-for-profits including LeanIn.org, the Urban Institute, and Women for Women International.

The Ross Commencement Ceremony will take place on Friday, April 27 at 3:30pm.

The Ross Commencement website has all the important logistical information, including graduation application deadlines and ticket allocations. Please check the site often, as updates are posted regularly.

University commencement activities will conclude with the University Commencement exercises on Saturday, April 28, 10 a.m. in the Big House. More details on this event are forthcoming.

Tech has become one of the most popular destinations for recent Michigan Ross grads: nearly 24 percent of last year’s MBAs accepted positions in the industry, and companies like Amazon and Microsoft are among the companies who hire the most Ross grads.

But fast-growing subcategories in tech means employers are struggling to find workers who have the skills necessary to succeed in the highly competitive space.

That’s where the portfolio of resources for Ross students comes into play. The Career Development Office, the Technology Club at Ross, and two new student-created clubs are setting Ross graduates up for even greater success in these kinds of careers.

DIAG: Helping students become data analytics experts before their first job or internship

On the job at Amazon, it’s not unusual for Lan Nguyen, MBA ‘16, to work with spreadsheets that have two or three million rows.

Working with that much data — and learning the tools to analyze it all — is something Nguyen often sees new employees struggle with, but she had an advantage. She was introduced to this kind of work when she was a part of the student group DIAG at Michigan Ross.

DIAG tasks Ross MBAs with using big data to solve problems for real-world companies. “We started the club because we were all in internships that required us to do a fair amount of data analysis, and we knew that this is a way a lot of MBA employers were moving,” said Nguyen, a founding member. “We thought it would be great if we could somehow enable students to work on data projects before they start their careers.”

Since DIAG’s founding four years ago, it has connected students with projects at Ford, Bosch, FIAT Chrysler, the Detroit Police, ABB Robotics, startups, and others. Many of these companies have worked with the group on several projects.

DIAG President Kevin Luo, MBA ‘18, likens the club’s work to “mini-MAP” projects that give students an understanding of data problems in real businesses. “In the real world, the data you’re given is often messy or insufficient, and figuring out how to work with that is what takes the most time,” he said.

Another benefit of the club is feedback from the companies and DIAG faculty advisors, which helps students learn how to present on the data in an effective and meaningful way, Nguyen said.

Learn more about DIAG

Arbor Esports: It's all fun and games and profit –– lots of profit 

When Tony Yuan, BBA ‘17, first launched a club to play video games at Ross, he was just looking for some other like-minded students to have fun with.

He had no idea it would grow into a career in one of the world’s fastest-growing industries.

Esports has seen tremendous growth in the last few years, with millions of spectators from across the world tuning in online for esport events. At the same time, sales agencies, companies, and sports teams have started backing players and teams the same way they do in other professional sports.

Yuan now works at a sales agency that represents many of the top tier gaming organizations. One of them is called Optic Gaming, which is currently the biggest gaming team in the world, and it’s backed by the Texas Rangers. The Rangers isn’t the only professional team getting in on the game: 17 NBA teams are participating in the inaugural season of its NBA 2K Esports League this spring. Disney plans to open an esports arena in Orlando this year. Gillette and Geico sponsor teams, as do celebrities Jennifer Lopez and Magic Johnson. Esports revenues are projected to hit $1.5 billion by 2020.

Why? It’s all about the marketing. Some events attract tens of millions of viewers, who are predominantly males in their twenties with disposable income.

“It’s a demographic that is increasingly difficult to reach through traditional methods,” Yuan said. “There’s not as much turnout on traditional sports like football and soccer, or via traditional venues like TV or radio. So now they’re looking to move to digital.”

“If these young viewers or players see their favorite esport player vouching for Gillette, they’re going to go to the store and buy Gillette, and they’re going to use Gillette for the rest of their lives.”

Yuan knows of many former Arbor Esports members who have gone on to work in the industry, which he describes as kind of a Wild West.

“There’s a lot of investment coming in, but not a lot of structure. Which is why we think the industry needs people who love esports, who understand esports, but also have a world-class business background,” Yuan said. “That’s why I am very thankful for the fact that I was able to receive a Ross education, and now I’m working on building the structure for esports to thrive on in the future.”

The club itself, currently led by Avantika Tiwari, BBA ‘18, has grown to attract hundreds of players across the area for gaming events, as well as thousands of dollars in sponsorships of its own. When Tiwari took over after Yuan graduated, she was set on the club fulfilling what she saw as its big potential. Participation doubled after she re-branded Arbor Esports and brought in sponsors for events, players, and gear. It’s more appropriate for a club that not only offers plenty of opportunities for fun, but also possible career connections too.

“Michigan Ross has a lot of graduates working in esports, generally working as project managers,” Yuan said. “As more graduates join the industry we’re going to support people who come out of Ross.”

Learn more about Arbor Esports 

Congratulations are in order for Tamika Curry Smith, BBA ‘95, on making the Top 25 Influential Black Women in Business list of 2018. She has been invited to accept an award from The Network Journal and Morgan Stanley at a New York City ceremony this week.

Curry Smith is currently the head of diversity and inclusion for Mercedes-Benz USA.

She has enjoyed an impressive career: She was previously the president of TCS Group, Inc., a firm that provides human resources and diversity and inclusion solutions; the director of diversity at Target Corporation; and director of diversity for Deloitte Consulting.

An active and enthusiastic Michigan Ross alum, Curry Smith serves on the Michigan Ross Alumni Board of Governors. She is also on the board of directors of the Georgia Diversity Council and the Atlanta Diversity Management Advocacy Group.

After earning her Ross BBA in accounting, she went on to earn an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management in 1999.

Congratulations, Tamika! Go Blue!

View the full list of 2018 Top Influential Black Women in Business

Amulya Parmar, BBA ‘22, is really bothered by the digital divide.

In fact, when he was in high school, he launched an eLearning platform to help people in developing countries learn basic computer and web coding skills. The organization, Third World Tutors, reached 30 countries before Parmar graduated.

“It made me realize the power of the internet,” Parmar said. “It also made me realize the huge disparity in internet access. The company couldn’t be everywhere we needed to be, simply because the lack of access, or reliable access.”

And he wanted to fix the problem, so when he started his first semester at Michigan Ross he wasted no time.

He quickly assembled a team: Bidnam Lee, MBA ‘19; Nathan Stevens, MBA ‘19; James Lorenz, BBA ‘22; and Margaret Fleming, MBA ‘19. They came up with a plan to completely revamp the current infrastructure of internet delivery using something called whitespace technology, which allows wifi to be transmitted in a manner similar to radio waves.

Though more affordable than broadband via fiber or satellite, startup costs and maintenance to implement this relatively new technology can be quite high. Parmar and his team have a plan to reduce those costs dramatically (as much as 95 percent) with a solar-powered device they are licensing to power a broadband tower. If a country or area wants a tower and solar power device, Parmar wants to help them purchase it by organizing a crowd investing campaign, with the goal of giving above-market-rate returns back to investors.

This plan differs from other technology companies’ ideas to bring internet to developing countries, Parmar said, because their plans rely on delivering it in almost exactly the same way as the U.S. “You can’t just port over a solution and expect it to work in Kenya. They’re not changing the problem,” he said. “We’re trying to approach this in a completely different way that is more equitable and affordable.”

Parmar is passionate about the problem because it’s more than just the broadband gap — it’s access to a critical resource for education and healthcare. “And it’s not just a third-world problem,” he added. “In residential Detroit, six out of 10 kids don’t have access to the internet.”

This potentially life-changing technology earned Parmar and his team a regional finalist position for the United Nation’s Hult Prize. They were among the 100 teams selected from more than 200,000 applicants from 120 countries. The Hult Prize, the biggest and most prestigious start-up competition in the world, offers the winning team $1 million to put their plan into action.

The team competed in the first round of the regional finals in Boston earlier this month, and although they did not win the regional competition, they have been recommended by judges for the wildcard round. Forty wildcard winners will be moving on to the world finals in London; Parmar and his team will find out if they are one of those 40 next month.

We can’t wait to see what the team does next. Congratulations, and Go Blue!

With so many podcasts out there now, how can you possibly choose which ones are worth your time? Here’s an idea: Check out the podcasts with a Michigan Ross connection.

Below, we’ve gathered the best episodes and series featuring Ross students and alums. Pick one, or two, or a few — we think you’ll like what you hear.

Side Hustle Pro with Nicaila Matthews, MBA ‘15

Hosted by Nicaila Matthews, MBA ‘15, Side Hustle Pro is one of the most popular business podcasts in the Apple iTunes store. Matthews, the head of digital marketing at NPR, launched Side Hustle Pro to inspire a new generation of African-American entrepreneurs. With a half million downloads within the first year of launching the podcast, it’s clear she’s doing just that.

Listen here

Career ReLaunch with Joseph Lui, MBA ‘07

“Making the effort to pursue meaningful work is absolutely worth it,” says Joseph Lui, MBA ‘07. Lui hosts Career ReLaunch, featuring true stories of people who have successfully navigated big career changes — a topic near and dear to a lot of our MBA students.

Listen here 

Almirah Radio Hour with Sheela Lal, MBA ‘19

​Sheela Lal, MBA ‘19, is co-founder of this podcast “dedicated to putting microstories under the magnifying glass.” The Almirah Radio Hour features a wide variety of topics, ranging from political activism, politics in the U.S. and India, #MeToo, self-care, and Indian culture.

Listen here 

Don’t have time to explore a full podcast? Check out these single episodes:

“Soar Like an Eagle and Never Look Back” | Women and Manufacturing Podcast 

​Priyanka Komala, MBA ‘13, shares her journey as a woman and mentor in the tech industry. Komala works for the National Academy of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, delivering web strategy and tech direction. This episode is presented by the Women and Manufacturing podcast, which features conversations between accomplished women in the industry.

Listen here 

“The Future of MBA Education” | HBR Ideacast 

Scott DeRue, the Edward J. Frey Dean of the Stephen M. Ross School of Business, says the old model of business school education is gone. It’s no longer good enough to sequester yourself on campus for two years before heading out into the world of commerce. DeRue discusses how the perceived value of an MBA education is changing in the digital era, and how MBA programs are innovating in response to individual and company demands. This episode is featured on Harvard Business Review’s Ideacast podcast.

Listen here 

“Label Me This” | The Findings Report 

Gluten free, organic, local, craft, artisanal — labels are everywhere, and they’re more powerful than we might think. Aradhna Krishna, the Dwight F. Benton Professor of Marketing, discusses her research on the hidden influences labels have on consumers in an episode of The Findings Report, which features the latest in consumer psychology and the science of marketing.

Listen here 

“#MeToo, Dreamers, and A Year of Difficult Conversations” | Business Beyond Usual

Business Beyond Usual is the Michigan Ross student-led podcast. In its first-ever episode recorded with a live audience, Ramu Annamalai, MBA ‘18, chats with classmates about some of the most challenging conversations happening in America right now.

Listen here 

And here are a few unreleased pods we have our eye on for the future…

Discussion with Ross Alum Cathy Bessant, The Most Powerful Woman in Banking

Cathy Bessant, BBA ‘82, will feature in an upcoming episode of the American Banker Podcast from American Banker magazine. Bessant, who was recently named the most Powerful Woman in Banking, will sit down with host Penny Crosman for a discussion Bessant said is “a vital topic every industry leader needs to prepare for: Responsible AI.”

Listen here soon 

Untitled project with Michigan Athletics

In a partnership with Michigan Athletics, Ross professors will join coaches and players for a new podcast series examining the intersection of business and sports. The first episode of the project was recorded earlier this month, featuring Ross Professor Kim Cameron and former Michigan Hockey Coach Red Berenson. Stay tuned for more information on the release of this podcast.