Dean's Report (2021 – 2022)

Dean’s Report

July 2021 - June 2022

Dean’s Report

1. A Message from Dean Maryam Alavi

This past year saw the celebration of two important milestones for the College and Institute: the 20th anniversary of the groundbreaking of Technology Square and the 10th anniversary of the Scheller College of Business name. These milestones have allowed us to reflect on the great strides we’ve made towards fulfilling our vision of becoming a global leader in education, research, and inclusive innovation.

This past year, our vision and mission were codified with the introduction of a new Strategic Plan that will guide the school’s progress over the next five years. This plan was developed with the invaluable contribution of an engaged, diverse committee of faculty, staff, students, and alumni. As we work together to achieve our goals, Scheller will transition into a new era of even greater opportunity and growth.

Our upward trajectory is in full motion, as evidenced by the many recognitions we’ve received over the past year. Our undergraduate and MBA programs have been ranked top 10 among public institutions in the U.S., with top five specialties overall in business analytics, information systems, quantitative analysis, and sustainability. Furthermore, the undergraduate academic and career advising and MBA career services we provide have been ranked top five in the world.

Through it all, students remain our top priority. This past year, we focused our efforts on providing an educational experience steeped in innovation. Whether it was in the form of classroom learning, practicums, internships, or case competitions, we created the environment needed to cultivate ethical, tech-savvy leaders for the future of business. Accordingly, this year marked the launch of our very first online credit-bearing program - the Graduate Certificate in Business Analytics.

Our faculty also continued to excel in their roles as dedicated teachers, internationally regarded experts, and prolific researchers. Throughout the past year, they have fostered discourse and a deep understanding of emerging business areas such as analytics, digital transformation, fintech, supply chain innovation, sustainability, and more.

Through our shared resilience, creativity, and collaboration, we have accomplished so much over the last year. As our technology continues to transform at an ever-evolving rate, the value Scheller College creates will only grow. Thank you for your continued support as we progress on this exciting journey.

It is with great pride that I present to you the Georgia Tech Scheller College of Business Dean’s Report.

Maryam Alavi Dean and Stephen P. Zelnak, Jr. Chair Professor of IT Management

The Georgia Tech Scheller College of Business launched a new values-driven Strategic Plan to guide the school’s progress over the next five years. The plan includes new vision and mission statements and identifies four key goals we aim to accomplish. It will continue to function as an important roadmap to guide our path into a brighter future.

2. A Vision for the Future

Vision Statement

The Georgia Tech Scheller College of Business will be a global leader in education, research, and inclusive innovation to advance business and improve the human condition.

Goal #1

Develop our students into ethical leaders who understand how to innovate and leverage technology to address business challenges and opportunities for the benefit of industry and society.

Goal #3

Enrich the Scheller community and network by nurturing diverse perspectives and creating an authentic, compassionate, and empowering culture.

Goal #2

Influence scholarly discourse, management practice, and policymaking through high-impact research and thought leadership.

Goal #4

Steward our existing allocation of resources in people, programs, and infrastructure, while expanding and diversifying financial resources needed for continued excellence, growth, and innovation in support of the College mission.

Mission Statement

Through innovative education and research, the Georgia Tech Scheller College of Business cultivates ethical, tech-savvy, and business-smart leaders from a diversity of backgrounds who create value for business and society.

Midtown Atlanta’s Tech Square: 20 Years of Impact at the Intersection of Business, Technology, and Innovation

In the late 90s, Georgia Tech purchased eight acres “across the bridge” from its main campus on the east side of 5th street. By 2001, those eight acres had turned into 13 acres. Two decades later, this area of Midtown is now the bustling, vibrant jewel that is Technology Square, better known as Tech Square.

Celebrating the 10-Year Anniversary of the Scheller College of Business

This June marked the 10th anniversary of the renaming of the College of Management to the Scheller College of Business. The change was a result of the generosity of Mr. Ernest Scheller Jr., whose gift became the largest of its kind in Georgia Tech history.

In our pursuit of excellence, Scheller seeks to consistently and systematically improve the education it provides, year after year. This year is certainly no exception, and we are proud of the accolades and recognitions we’ve received from esteemed business publications.

3. A Year of Accolades

A Year of Accolades

Fortune Ranks Scheller MBA Top 10 in the U.S. Among Public Instiutions

Fortune Magazine released its inaugural MBA rankings list, and Scheller was ranked the No. 8 best full-time MBA program among public institutions in the nation.

Scheller Undergraduate Program Ranks Top 20 in the U.S., Top 10 Among Public Universities

U.S. News & World Report ranked the College’s undergraduate program No. 19 in the U.S. and five of its specialties were also ranked in the top 10 in the nation. The College ranked No. 3 in business analytics, No. 5 in management information systems, No. 5 in quantitative analysis, No. 9 in supply chain/logistics, and No. 10 in production/operations management.

Scheller MBA Recognized Again as a Top Tech Industry Feeder

Poets&Quants published a list of the top schools in the U.S. and Europe for a percentage of tech industry hires. Scheller’s MBA program came in at No. 4 overall, with 32% of graduates going into the industry at a median base salary of $130,000.

Scheller MBA Ranks Top Five in Sustainability Education Eight Years in a Row

Corporate Knights released its 19th annual Better World MBA ranking, and Scheller ranked No. 4 in the U.S. and No. 19 in the world for sustainability education in business. Scheller has ranked top five among programs in the U.S. every year from 2014 onwards.

Scheller MBA Ranks No. 2 in U.S. for Classroom Experience

The Princeton Review ranked the Scheller MBA program No. 2 for “Best Classroom Experience.” The ranking is based on data from a survey of nearly 26,000 students enrolled in MBA programs at 375 schools, as well as administrators from each school.

2022

Scheller MBA Career Services Rank No. 2 in the World for a Consecutive Year

The Financial Times ranked Scheller No. 2 in the world for its MBA career services, maintaining its position for the second year in a row. Scheller MBA graduates report an average 115% salary increase from graduation to three years following graduation, a 9% increase from 2021.

Scheller MBA Ranks Top 10 in Business Analytics, Information Systems, and Operations

U.S. News & World Report released its 2023 Best Business School rankings, and Scheller ranked No. 3 in business analytics, No. 4 in information systems, and No. 6 in production/ operations in the nation.

At Scheller, our mission is to cultivate leaders for a new era of business. From the moment they begin their educational journeys, our students gain access to a large portfolio of unique experiential learning opportunities. These experiences expand horizons, increase knowledge, and create connections for students, who go on to transform their careers and business itself.

4.

Cultivating Tech Savvy, Business Smart Leaders

Curriculum and Experiential Learning Innovation

“

Making the Business Case for Sustainability: 2021 Carbon Reduction Challenge

Summer

sustainability

the

year of the

work.

Through the Challenge, I was able to learn about optimizing packaging processes for global shipping. Also, pioneering this work at ABEC also allowed me to gain a deeper understanding of the company’s day-to-day operations.”

2021 marked

fifth

Carbon Reduction Challenge, which supports students in becoming

ambassadors at their places of

Partnering organizations included ABEC, City of Tucker, Delta Air Lines, Freeport-McMoRan, Solvay, Georgia Tech - Office of Campus Sustainability, and Marsh & McLennan Agency.

Suhas Yalamarti, BSBA ‘24 1st Place Winner, Carbon Reduction Challenge

Scheller Launches New Online Business Analytics Graduate Certificate

Scheller launched a new online Business Analytics Graduate Certificate, representing the first credit-earning online credential offered by the College. Coursework in the program is designed to expand knowledge and understanding of data in business.

For O’Grady, finance director for supply engine operations in North America at DS Smith, the Executive MBA program has had many highlights. None have stood out as much as the capstone project she completed as part of the program’s Global Business track, for which she worked with a team of four fellow students on a go-to-market plan for Panasonic Automotive North America.

“

Proper engagement with big corporations on meaningful projects is a really important part of the Executive MBA program. It is a great opportunity to see how different corporations work and build your network further.”

Catriona O’Grady, Executive MBA ’21

Impacting Global Business: Catriona O’Grady and the Executive MBA Capstone Project

Scheller MBA Gains STEM Designation

Scheller has received science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) designation for its Full-time and Evening MBA programs. MBA graduates will be able to declare an official concentration that appears on their transcript, choosing from 13 new concentration options.

Scheller rolled out Executive MBA curriculum changes designed to better cultivate leaders for a tech-driven world. Elective opportunities will be available during the summer and final fall semesters in areas such as cybersecurity, fintech, and global currencies, tech strategy, global product and brand management, and more. The curriculum also includes an increased focus on leadership and strategy.

TI:GER is a unique interdisciplinary program in innovation and entrepreneurship. The program allows Scheller MBA students to collaborate on building a technology-based business and also allows them to work with Creative Destruction Lab founders and startups.

Students Develop Recommendations for E-bike Rideshare Program in Clarkston, Georgia

Sustainability Fellows and Ambassadors Sol Haroon, Mark Leggiero, and Victoria Skinner partnered with a Georgia Tech Vertically Integrated Project (VIP) to examine the transportation gap in Clarkston, Georgia. Conversations with the city and county have been warmly received, leading to preliminary letters of intent for engagement.

Scheller Executive MBA Revises Curriculum, Adds Electives

TI:GER: Technology Innovation and Commercialization with Jonathan Giuliano and Kyle Winkler

“

Learning at a Global Scale

Scheller MBA Students Travel to Dubai for Sustainability-Focused Practicum

A group of Scheller Full-time and Evening MBA students traveled to Dubai as a part of the International Practicum course. During their trip, students immersed themselves in the culture, explored advancements in sustainability, visited the Expo 2020 Dubai, toured Dubai’s Sustainable City, and met with their clients in person.

On this practicum trip, my team and I witnessed firsthand the global efforts to improve sustainability and learned the importance of developing best practices that span cultural divides.”

Culture, Community, and Business Abroad: Scheller Executive MBAs Travel to Portugal and Spain

Full-time and Evening MBA students traveled to Portugal as a part of their International Practicum course. During the trip, students traveled to Lisbon, Sintra, and Evora to meet with their clients and International MBA students at the Nova School of Business and Economics.

Full-time and Evening MBA students traveled to Sweden and Denmark as a part of the International Practicum course. During their trip, students immersed themselves in the international start-up community, worked with a small company on their market entry strategy, and met with their clients in person.

Dubai Diaries: Scheller Executive

Students Reflect on Their International Residency in the Middle East

Scheller Executive MBA program students traveled to the Middle East as a part of their Analysis of Global Environments course. The international residency opportunity is designed to provide exposure to how business is conducted in other parts of the world.

Alexei Nikonovich-Kahn, Evening MBA ’23

Scheller Executive MBAs traveled to Portugal and Spain to learn more about their local cultures and companies, the unique business challenges of the region, and themselves.

Scheller MBA Students Hone Cross-Cultural Consulting Skills in Portugal

Scheller MBA Students Work with Clients in the Nordics

MBA

Career Impact for a Tech-Driven World

TI:GER Ph.D. Student Sets Up Oxford Immune Algorithmics (OIA) for $7M Raise

Oxford Immune Algorithmics (OIA), a biotech start-up, was part of last year’s Creative Destruction Lab cohort and are the creators of Algocyte, a remote health monitoring technology that uses AI to diagnose disease based on at-home blood tests. Amir Hejri was assigned OIA and dove into its product development, helping OIA raise $7M.

For students who have graduated from Scheller, success comes in many forms. Three Scheller graduates are among those who have chosen the path of making entrepreneurial dreams a reality through tenacity and hard work.

“

Sandoval, a Full-time MBA alumnus, was inducted into the Forbes Next 1000, a list that showcases sole proprietors, self-funded shops, and pre-revenue startups from every region of the country—all with under $10 million in revenue or funding.

I always had the vision of starting my own clean technology company to contribute to energy sustainability and resiliency objectives. Going to Scheller equipped me with the business fundamentals, communication skills, and strategic principles to make that dream a reality.”

From Scheller Student to CEO: Meet Tech Industry Founders Aaron Enten, Daniel Frye, and Jean Marie Richardson

Marcelo Sandoval, Scheller MBA Alum, Named Forbes 1000 Entrepreneur

Marcelo Sandoval, MBA ’14

On The Rise: Class of 2021 Scheller MBA Grads See Very Strong Employment Outcomes

Scheller MBA graduates have seen very strong demand from employers, with 97% of the class obtaining employment within three months of graduation, rising above pre-pandemic figures. Every Scheller MBA Class of 2021 graduate who was seeking employment is now employed or has an offer.

97%

Family, Travel,

and

Coffee: Meet Boarding Pass Coffee

Founder and Executive MBA Alum Murilo Farias Santos

Even though Santos loves coffee, he originally did not follow in his family’s footsteps of working in the industry. However, while Santos was in the Executive MBA program, his company Boarding Pass Coffee was born. From the company name to the beans themselves, Santos has woven in his love for his family, travel, and coffee.

Going the Extra Mile: Carlos Arango Combines Military Experience With an Executive MBA to Advance His Career

Arango is an Executive MBA alum, Air Force veteran, and now, management consultant at Accenture. Arango credits the networking opportunities the Executive MBA program provided for helping him secure his new role.

The Ray C. Anderson Center for Sustainable Business selected 20 graduate students representing the Full-time, Evening, and Executive MBA programs, as well as the Master of Sustainable Energy and Environmental Management program, and 16 undergraduate students representing a variety of majors for deepened engagement in sustainable business.

Each cohort, Executive MBA students nominate and select their peers to act as liaisons between program management, leadership, and the student body. This year’s Council members include Robert “Red” Daniel, Deepthi Krishnan, Ben McCormack, Chris Staufer, and Russell Toon. These Council members share a desire to serve their current students and influence the direction of the program moving forward.

2021 – 2022 Scheller Graduate Sustainability Fellows and Undergraduate Ambassadors

Meet the 2022 Scheller Executive MBA Student Council

Profiles in Student and

Benjamin Barnett Named Poets&Quants 2022 Best & Brightest Business Major

Barnett has been a Scheller Ambassador, a Dean’s Scholar, an undergraduate representative in Scheller’s Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Council, and a member of the Georgia Tech Student Government Association, to name just a few of his many accomplishments. Ben is now an associate consultant at IBM.

Abby Brenller Named a Poets&Quants 2021 MBA to Watch

Brenller was a sales and marketing coordinator for Xocolatl Small Batch Chocolate, an Atlanta-based craft chocolate maker focused on ethical trade and sustainable business, before pursuing her MBA. After she graduated, she landed a job as a consultant for Bain & Company in Atlanta.

Kara Pomerantz Named Poets&Quants 2022 Best & Brightest Business Major

Pomerantz helped create a new student organization called Diversity in Business, which was the first of its kind to have a DE&I focus. She was also an undergraduate representative in Scheller’s Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Council. Kara is now an associate with PricewaterhouseCoopers.

Prior to her MBA, Lunia moved to Atlanta to start Greenbroad, a legal-tech startup that helps the immigrant community apply for immigration benefits through their digital platform. She wants to transition to the tech industry as a product manager and help build financial products for traditionally underserved communities.

Newman has a background in warehouse optimization and implementation consulting. She is looking to continue to progress her career in the technology sector in an innovation centric role.

Prerana Lunia, MBA ‘24

Kelly Newman, MBA ‘24

Scheller College of Business with

Alumni Excellence

Introducing: Tomé Scholars Program

Sachin Suresh Pai Selected as a Poets&Quants

Pai was the vice president of finance for the Graduate Business Council (GBC) and an MBA student ambassador. He was also a first-place winner at the TCU Supply Chain Case Competition in 2020. He’s now an associate at McKinsey & Co.

Best

Annie Y. Lai Named Poets&Quants 2021 Best

William Todd Named Poets&Quants 2021

& Brightest Executive MBA

Lai is interested in leveraging data science to innovate in business healthcare as an Executive MBA student. She worked in the healthcare industry for 20 years and was elected to serve on the Student Leadership Team (SLT) for the Executive MBA Class of 2021.

Todd is a first officer (pilot) for JetBlue Airways. He chose Scheller for his Executive MBA “because it’s rigorous and Georgia Tech is well-known and highly regarded in the aviation industry.”

Redondo grew up in South Florida and attended Georgia Tech for his bachelor’s in mechanical engineering. After a career in natural gas, he is pursuing his MBA with the hopes of pivoting into a career in consulting.

Spearman is originally from New Jersey and studied mechanical engineering at Georgia Tech. He came back to Georgia Tech for his MBA to learn how to use technology and business to solve critical world problems like climate change, world hunger, and homelessness.

Christian Redondo, MBA ‘24

Jon Spearman, MBA ‘24

At Scheller, we seek to promote a culture of empowerment and engagement for all backgrounds and perspectives. We continuously strive to improve and extend best practices as we build a community where all individuals can thrive.

5. Building an Inclusive, Empowered Community

MBA Increases in Diversity: Fall 2021 Incoming Class Profiles

Scheller is committed to creating an inclusive, collaborative learning environment. Each year, the College sees increases in the diversity of its programs. For Fall 2021, Scheller enrolled 244 students into its Full-time, Evening, and Executive MBA programs, with an increase in women, underrepresented minorities, and veteran representation.

14 Scheller MBA Students Awarded Forté MBA Fellowship for Women

Scheller awarded 14 Full-time MBA women students the prestigious Forté MBA Fellowship. Students recognized as Forté Fellows exhibit exemplary leadership, represent diverse backgrounds, and demonstrate a commitment to advancing women in business.

MBA Team Wins Second Place at the National Black MBA Association Graduate Case Competition

Scheller Full-time MBA students Angel Daniels, Kerem Eroglu, Marshall Johnson, and Felicia Lamonthe won second place at the National Black MBA Association (NBMBAA) Graduate Case Competition. This year’s win is the highest the College has ever placed in the competition.

Seven Scheller Community Members Receive 2021 “Faces of Inclusive Excellence” Recognition

Each year, Georgia Tech’s Institute of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion recognizes faculty, staff, and students who are “committed to advancing a culture of inclusive excellence at Georgia Tech.” Scheller honorees include Katie Badura, Gail Greene, Kerri Nauth, Natasha Reed, Ursula Reynolds, Arianna Robinson, and Mary Eve Spirou.

Three Scheller Graduates of the Inclusive Leaders Academy Reflect on Their Experience

Three Scheller staff members graduated from Georgia Tech’s Inclusive Leaders Academy: Malvenia Dasher, Nicole Little, and Arianna Robinson. Students in the program learn three key traits that make an effective leader: self-awareness, social intelligence, and courage.

2022 René A. Simon Fellowship Awarded to Francesca Sally, First Black Graduate Business Council President

Sally was awarded the René A. Simon Fellowship for 2022. Evening MBA alum René A. Simon created the fellowship to support MBA students who serve in their communities, with preference given to qualified African American students with demonstrated financial need.

Black Tech Matters: The Future of Tech Talent in Atlanta

Atlanta is known as one of the most dynamic and diverse cities in the nation. Two Evening MBA alumni weigh in about Atlanta’s journey to becoming a place where Black tech talent and minority-owned businesses thrive: Desmond Dickerson, Future of Work Marketing Director at Microsoft, and Jonathan King, Product Manager at Microsoft.

Celebrating Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day: Reflections From the Scheller Community

We asked several Scheller students, faculty, staff, and alumni to reflect on this day of service and tell us what it means to them, the traditions they’ll observe, and how they planned to celebrate this year. Avielle Krug, Jewel Perkins, Savannah Thomas, Camerin White, and D.J. Wu weighed in.

A

Journey at the Intersection of Business, Technology, and Leadership: An Interview With Dean Maryam Alavi

In honor of Women’s History Month, MBA student Nammu Kumar interviewed Dean Maryam Alavi to learn about her unique background and inspiring journey in business and leadership.

“

Being a Black founder means that I can do it! I, too, can own and run a successful business. It means that in a business world dominated by white CEOs, Black people all over the world have the capacity to be just as successful in creating impactful businesses.”

Aboubacar Barrie, BSBA ’24

Chung, a Scheller undergrad alum, accomplished one of his bucket list items when he and his business partner, Sean Chang, were included in Atlanta Inno’s “25 Under 25” list in 2020 for the founding of their restaurant, Mukja Korean Fried Chicken. In the same year, the duo was included on the “Rising Stars” list by the Georgia Restaurant Association.

Music and STEM education have always been an integral part of MBA alum Spencer’s life. When he was ready to launch his own company, he gravitated toward his passions — STEM education and music — and founded ThinkLive! Inc., which uses DJ equipment and interactive strategies to help students excel in STEM classes.

Peter Chung’s Restaurant Brings Seoul Food to Atlanta

Charles Spencer’s NSF-Funded Technology Teaches STEM Using DJ Equipment

Scheller recognized our Black and AAPI student and alumni entrepreneurs through a series of profiles that spotlight their backgrounds, experiences, and advice.

Meet the Diverse Entrepreneurs of Scheller

Smith Drives Progress for Black and Women-Owned Businesses

Being a founder of two companies is an extraordinary feat, especially when your second company was launched during a pandemic. But Scheller MBA alum Smith was ready for the challenge because she saw firsthand how difficult it was for Black- and women-owned businesses to get funding in Atlanta.

Aboubacar

Barrie and His Fashion Brand Forenaire

Barrie is a Scheller undergraduate student and founder of Forenaire, a clothing company. He was one of 22 students among more than 700 applicants to win a scholarship from top fashion house Gucci. Observing young adults in casual clothes, he felt creating clothing that offered a polished, professional look was a niche market not being addressed by other designers.

At Scheller, I saw women and people of color becoming entrepreneurial leaders. I learned about emerging technologies and trends impacting the workplace and saw how things like the gig economy expanded the definition of entrepreneurship. More importantly, I began seeing entrepreneurship as a way to lead innovation and social change by supporting the success of products and services targeted at historically excluded groups.”

Kathryn Smith, MBA ’16

Connor Ford’s Journey as a Young Tech Entrepreneur

Scheller undergraduate alum Ford began his life as an entrepreneur while still in high school. Since then, he’s been involved in other entrepreneurial ventures including starting another company.

Kristen Daniel’s Latest Venture Brings Music Samples to Game Night

When the pandemic hit, MBA alum Daniel created a new game experience company, Heard It All Before. Players listen to song snippets via a QR code and race against the clock to name music originals and samples.

Kathryn

Student-Led Organizations

Scheller offers a diverse range of opportunities designed to enrich the student experience and impact the lives of others. One of the ways students give back and gain invaluable leadership experience is through student clubs and associations. Over the past year, students have stepped up to create and expand clubs that provide an invaluable source of community, networking, and growth.

Building a Community of Female Founders and Leaders

The past two presidents of the MBA Women in Business club, Nammu Kumar and Amanda Grupp, have been instrumental in the growth of the Women in Business Club and the formation of the Female Founders program. They seek to create a safe space for women to share and learn from their business experiences, forging a support network that goes beyond the Scheller classroom.

Meet the New President of Scheller Pride: Courtney Felinski Plans For Allyship Education, Intersectionality, and Growth

Felinski, a Full-time MBA student, has become the new president of the student club Scheller Pride. As president, she’s bringing her leadership skills from her time as a professional volleyball player and her strength for knowing what each person needs to be successful to her role.

“

Scheller Pride: The Origins and Hopes of Scheller’s LGBTQIA+ Club

As the founding president of Scheller Pride, Alex Ortiz envisioned the club as a student-led initiative with the goal of coming together as a community to create meaningful programming for its members and allies.

I needed a community where I felt I could connect with people and have a safe space to be myself as a LGBTQIA+ person. I also think it’s important to have this type of organization for future Scheller students. It is a necessity to know that people care about you and the LGBTQIA+ community.”

Angel Daniels, MBA ’22

Scheller MBA Students Launch Latin American Club

Scheller MBA students launched a Latin American Club with the help of inaugural club president and Evening MBA alum Kelci Reyes-Brannon. Reyes-Brannon wanted to start the club to provide a space for MBA students to connect with fellow members of the Hispanic/Latino/a/x/e community and its allies.

The Society of Women in Business (SWiB) represents undergraduate women and Women in Business (WIB) represents MBA women. Both clubs provide a forum for women to strengthen ties among themselves and the wider business community and find their confidence in the business world.

Translating Military Experience into a Business Future: The Story of the Scheller Veterans Club

MBA alums Drew Borders, Trevor Clark, Phil Mauro, Dan Murphy, and Corey O’Brien recognized the need for veterans to share experiences with each other. With help and guidance from Jim Kranzusch, Vietnam veteran and executive director for MBA career services at the time, the Veterans Club had its sponsor and was formed in 2016.

“A Rising Tide Lifts All Ships”: How Georgia Tech’s Women in Business Clubs Empower Students

Kelci

Reyes-Brannon, MBA ’22

We want to acknowledge how our culture is to be shared and celebrated as part of our personal and professional journey before, during, and after we complete our MBA.”

“

Dean Alavi invited Cooper, executive director of the Atlanta Committee for Progress, for the inaugural session of the Speaker Series for the 2021 – 2022 academic year. Cooper discussed improving income inequality in Atlanta through focusing on various areas where people of color fall behind.

Getting an education was a differentiator for me because now I can pay it forward. As I look to the future and look at those who are studying today and think about racial inequities, I’m grateful that you’re talking about diversity, equity, and inclusion.”

Shan Cooper, Executive Director of the Atlanta Committee for Progress

Shan Cooper

The Dean’s Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Speaker Series provides a way for top corporate and community leaders to engage in a dialogue with Dean Maryam Alavi, students, faculty, staff, and the wider public. These special events delve into important subjects including biases, inclusion challenges, and opportunities for growth and advocacy.

Dean’s Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Speaker Series

Dean Alavi hosted a virtual conversation with Shaw, president and global head of diversity, equity & inclusion at TurnkeyZRG, an executive recruiting firm specializing in the sports and entertainment industry. Shaw is also the former chief inclusion & diversity officer for Edelman, Marsh McLennan, Starbucks, and the Atlanta Hawks.

Dean Alavi hosted Frazier for a discussion on empowerment and leadership. Frazier is head of BlackRock’s Atlanta Innovation Hub and global head of business strategy for the Portfolio Management Group. She works with leadership teams to continue to build the firm’s presence in the area and strengthen engagements with clients, universities, and the local community.

Dean Alavi hosted Beyah, global chief talent officer of Huge, Inc., in a discussion about diversity, equity, and inclusion and actions to take to become an advocate for change in the corporate community and beyond.

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Pioneer Nzinga Shaw

Chanel Frazier, Head of BlackRock’s Atlanta Innovation Hub

Kali Beyah, Global Chief Talent Officer of Huge, Inc.

Scheller faculty serve to fuel the College’s dual mission of cultivating business leaders through teaching and producing impactful research that shapes the future of business. Our faculty actively contribute to society’s ability to solve the most complex business problems of our time.

6. Impacting the World Through Business Thought Leadership

Faculty Honors

Five Scheller Faculty Members Named Among Top 2% of Researchers Worldwide

In a new analysis of research impact from Stanford University and journal publisher Elsevier, five Scheller faculty members are among the top 2% of researchers in 22 scientific fields and 176 subfields: Maryam Alavi, David Ku, Naresh Malhotra, Frank Rothaermel, and Christina Shalley. The number is based on a composite score that incorporates factors such as the number of research papers published and number of citations those papers receive.

Nine Scheller Faculty Selected for Excellence in Teaching Award

Nine Scheller faculty members have been awarded the Student Recognition of Excellence in Teaching: Class of 1934 CIOS award - Katie Badura, Karie Davis-Nozemack, Jacqueline Garner, Aaron Hackett, Manpreet Hora, Eric Overby, Tatiana Rudchenko, Ravi Subramanian, and William Todd. Only 40 faculty across Tech were selected for this prestigious award.

Professor Frank Rothaermel Receives Theory-to-Practice Strategy Award From Vienna Strategy Summit

Rothaermel, who is the Russell B. and Nancy H. McDonough Chair in Business and Sloan Industry Studies Fellow, was awarded the 2022 Theory-To-Practice Strategy Award by the Vienna Strategy Summit. Rothaermel was selected for his groundbreaking work in strategic management and outstanding achievements in transferring strategic thinking from academia to the business community.

Xu and Yin, Information Technology Management Ph.D. alumni, won the prestigious INFORMS Information Systems Society Sandra A. Slaughter Early Career Award. The award is named in memory of the late professor Sandra A. Slaughter and recognizes “early career individuals who are on a path towards making outstanding intellectual contributions to the information systems discipline.”

Lizhen Xu and Dezhi Yin Win Sandra A. Slaughter Early Career Award at INFORMS

Beril Toktay Receives Sustainability Champion Award from the Global Electronics Council

The Global Electronics Council (GEC) honored Toktay, Brady Family Chair in Management and faculty director of the Ray C. Anderson Center for Sustainable Business, with a Sustainability Champion Award for her work through the Center.

Lizhen Xu Named a Poets&Quants 2022 Best 40-Under-40 MBA Professor

Xu joined the faculty of Scheller in 2011. In 2017, he was the youngest professor to receive tenure in Scheller at the age of 33. He serves as the associate director of Georgia Tech’s high-profile multidisciplinary M.S. in Analytics program and the co-director of Scheller’s Business Analytics Center.

Badura Named a Poets&Quants 2022 Best 40-Under-40 MBA Professor

Badura is the winner of the Georgia Tech CTL/BP Junior Faculty Teaching Excellence Award, as well as the Georgia Tech Student Recognition of Excellence in Teaching: CIOS Award. She has twice been recognized as a Georgia Tech Face of Inclusive Excellence and was the inaugural recipient of the Georgia Tech Scheller MBA Program Award for Service Excellence.

Katie

Faculty Research, Insights, and Partnerships

Scheller and Equifax Create Partnership to Advance Inclusive Fintech Innovation

Developing new ways to reach underserved, underbanked, and credit-rebuilding consumers is the basis for a new research partnership between Equifax and Scheller. As part of this initiative, Scheller’s Financial Services Innovation Lab will leverage anonymized Equifax data assets to further its innovative research with the goal of increasing consumer access to credit and supporting growth in fintech entrepreneurship in Atlanta.

Study Finds Use of Anger in Online Reviews Not Helpful, but Influential for e-Tailers Purchase Decisions

A paper by Samuel Bond and Han Zhang examines how emotional expressions of anger in a negative review influence the way the review is perceived by its readers. Their paper, “Anger in Consumer Reviews: Unhelpful but Persuasive?” challenges a well-accepted assumption by both researchers and practitioners that more helpful reviews are ultimately more influential.

The Implications of Relative vs. Absolute Rating Systems on Workforce Performance

Morvarid Rahmani and Chris Green published a paper in IISE Transactions detailing the effect performance reviews can have on performance. They describe two types of performance review rating systems used to assess employee achievements by examining The United States Army performance review system.

The Causes of and Cure for Inflation in the American Economy

Alex Hsu discusses the causes and future actions to help reduce inflation in the coming months and year.

Five Critical Questions About Supply Chain

Three Scheller faculty experts in operations management – Manpreet Hora, Vinod Singhal, and Ravi Subramanian – discuss the overarching causes, financial ramifications, and multi-pronged approaches to mitigate the impact of supply chain disruptions in the coming months and years.

Recycling Day

In recognition of National Recycling Day on November 15, WABE News conducted an interview with Toktay to discuss the effects of recycling infrastructure and Atlanta’s recycling efforts.

Sizing Up Atlanta’s Efforts to Reduce Waste: Beril Toktay Weighs in on WABE News for National

Rising Interest Rates: What It Means For the Economy and the Consumer

Scheller faculty experts Sudheer Chava and Alex Hsu discuss what the rise in interest rates means for the current economy and how it will affect average citizens.

Tim Halloran discusses the significant role that social media plays in influencing how companies react to war and the importance of listening to consumer needs when facing global decisions in war times.

John McIntyre and Diane Alleva Cáceres discuss their economic predictions for the Russian/Ukrainian war.

The Financial and Economic Ramifications of the Ukraine-Russia Conflict

How Social Media is Changing the Way Citizens and Companies React to War

How Can a DIY Paradigm Help Nonprofits Maximize Impact?

Karthik Ramachandran published a paper that sheds light on participatory design in action, asking under what circumstances is it most beneficial for nonprofit organizations to use do-it-yourself (DIY) as a design strategy, what drives an NPO to partially complete services, and how an NPO should optimize its offerings after adopting the DIY paradigm.

2022 Marketing Innovation Conference @ Scheller Returns to Campus

The annual Marketing Innovation Conference @ Scheller returned to campus, bringing together students, alumni, faculty, and members of the Atlanta business community. Presenters this year included marketing leaders from Inspire Brands, The Home Depot, and the Atlanta Braves.

Scheller Hosts 2021 Journal of Investment Management Conference

Scheller, along with partners Invesco and the Financial Services Innovation Lab, hosted the annual Fall Conference of the Journal of Investment Management (JOIM). The theme of the conference was “Climate Change: Investment Management Implications.”

Dean Alavi hosted a virtual conversation with Menear, chairman and CEO of The Home Depot. Menear discussed the company’s culture and its dedication to associates and customers, its strategy for getting through the pandemic, and how they’re moving into the future with a combination of in-store and digital customer experiences.

Dean Maryam Alavi Hosts Craig Menear, Chairman and CEO of The Home Depot

Work, Racial Equity, and Wellness Featuring Tiffany Johnson

Johnson talks about the connection between diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace and how to foster well-being, especially among those who have historically been held at disparity.

Pushing the Needle: Corporate Vaccination Mandates in the Age of Covid, Featuring Lucien Dhooge

Dhooge looks at ways different state governments manage vaccination mandates. He discusses the positives and negatives associated with vaccination mandates for private companies as well as employees and offers strategies for companies adopting mandates.

The Rise of Social Commerce: What it Means for Consumers and E-tailers

Featuring Michael Buchanan

Buchanan provides a brief history of social interactions and consumer trends on key social media platforms, like Facebook Marketplace, Instagram Shop, and Pinterest Shoppable Pins.

Applying a DIY Paradigm in Any Organization, Featuring Karthik Ramachandran

Ramachandran discusses ways an organization can achieve a positive impact for its customers in the face of financial or other constraints by providing unfinished products and services that participants can complete according to their own tastes and abilities.

Serving on a Non-Profit Board: What You Need to Know, Featuring Dori Pap

Pap, managing director of the Institute for Leadership and Social Impact at Scheller, shares her experience serving on various non-profit boards, covering the basics of boards and board service, including requirements, responsibilities, types of boards, how to get started, and more.

Scheller continued its Scheller Lunchtime Live livestream series on LinkedIn, highlighting the exceptional expertise of our faculty and alumni as they discuss relevant topics for the tech-driven, digital age.

Scheller Lunchtime Live Scheller Lunchtime Live

Product Placebo: Using the Placebo Effect to Improve Consumer Experience Featuring Aaron Hackett

Regardless of its competitive advantage, consumer perception of a product can be distorted by factors that have nothing to do with the product’s effectiveness. Hackett discusses how the placebo effect can improve the consumer experience and how to resolve the perception of a product using common marketing cues we all value.

The Effectiveness of Innovation Crowdsourcing, Featuring Professor Marius Florin Niculescu

Niculescu discusses approaches to innovation crowdsourcing and the role digital platforms play in the crowdsourcing process. During his presentation, he provides examples of successful industry initiatives including Salesforce’s IdeaExchange platform.

How to Analyze an Emerging Technology, Featuring Professor Eric Overby

Overby presents a structured method for analyzing an emerging technology, including its potential impact, the challenges faced, and how those challenges might be overcome. He uses 3D printed houses as an example to illustrate the method.

Translating Text Into Data Using Natural Language Processing in Analytics, Featuring Robbie Moon

Moon discusses some of the basic strategies of natural language processing (NLP), including both traditional approaches and more recent advances in machine learning. He uses both practical and research-based examples to illustrate the power of text as data.

“

The Creative Destruction Lab (CDL) is a non-profit organization that delivers an objectives-based program for massively scalable, seed-stage, science-and technology-based companies. CDL-Atlanta has its home within Scheller’s Strategy & Innovation area and is one of only three CDL locations in the U.S.

The Creative Destruction Lab Hosts Commerce Stream Session for Founders, Mentors, and MBAs

For the first time, entrepreneurs, mentors, industry and academic experts, MBAs, and Ph.D. students working with CDL gathered at Scheller for a special meeting. The CDL-Atlanta “Super Session” takes place four times during the nine-month program and is designed to help founders grow their start-ups.

The CDL experience is truly unique because it embeds MBA students in early-stage ventures to work with founders, their mentors, and investors. Not only do students help accelerate the ventures’ growth, they also benefit from observing founders, listening to mentors’ advice, and working with other experts in the CDL community.”

Jonathan Giuliano, Executive Director of TI:GER, Academic Lead of CDL-Atlanta, Professor of the Practice in Strategy & Innovation

Scheller’s Ray C. Anderson Center for Sustainable Business worked closely with corporate, government, nonprofit, and academic partners to create the Drawdown Georgia Business Compact, a state-wide business consortium aimed at achieving a just, prosperous, and sustainable transition towards net zero carbon emissions in the state of Georgia by 2050.

Scheller Lunchtime Live Creative Destruction Lab

Scheller Lunchtime Live Drawdown Georgia Business Compact

The Ray C. Anderson Center for Sustainable Business launched the Drawdown Georgia Business Compact, an inclusive and collaborative initiative focused on galvanizing climate action in Georgia.

Ray C. Anderson Center for Sustainable Business Launches the Drawdown Georgia Business Compact

The fulfillment of Scheller’s mission and vision is not possible without the support and contributions of our donors, friends, and alumni. We are humbled by their generosity and commitment to the College. This year, we have had the privilege of honoring some of our many supporters as a small gesture for the life-changing experiences their contributions have enabled.

7. Friends of the College

A Lifetime of Giving: The History and Impact of Dick Bergmark, IM ’75, Hon. Ph.D. ’22

With a lifetime of professional success and a recent honorary doctorate from Georgia Tech, Bergmark continues to pass along his knowledge and life experiences to help students, and his generosity has changed the lives of those who once only dreamed of going to Tech.

Mr. Bergmark made it possible for me to attend a school I never thought I could. My time at Georgia Tech was full of life-long lessons and the creation of long-term friendships. I would have never imagined that I would be able to travel the country and land my dream job in four short years. Thank you for everything, Mr. Bergmark.”

Brett Broughton, BSBA ’21

Ron Beerman: Supporting Tech by Creating Opportunities

Ronald J. Beerman, IE 1973, and Carol T. Beerman believe strongly in the value of higher education, particularly at the graduate level. The Beerman endowments allocated to Scheller are designed to help achieve the goals of recruiting top students and professionals while also recruiting and retaining the absolute best faculty.

Jean Marie Richardson: Building a Legacy

Richardson’s support of the Dean’s Innovation Fund was inspired by her service on the Scheller Advisory Board, her own student experience at Tech, and her appreciation for everything Scheller offers to students.

A Life of Determination and Generosity: Meet Roberta Scheller, Honorary Alumna ’13

From Roberta’s early years, she has shown a drive for making a difference and works to support education and community health and well-being. As a daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother, designer, graduate, and friend, Roberta’s legacy of determination, devotion, and generosity has touched and inspired countless lives.

Jacquelyn Renée Schneider Receives Outstanding Young Alumni Award

Schneider, BC ‘06, MBA ’18, was awarded the 2022 Alumni Association’s “Outstanding Young Alumni” award. The honor is one of the Alumni Association’s most esteemed Gold & White Honors awards.

Scheller Advisory Board Welcomes Seven New Members

The Scheller Advisory Board welcomed seven new members: Valentine Fontama, Marion Glover, Kimberly Keever, Tommy Lester III, Danny McCarthy, Beth Nowers, and Juan Perez. Board members help Scheller remain closely connected to alumni and current business leaders and monitor the priorities and needs of industry.

Scheller Celebrates 14th Annual Honors Day

Annual Honors Day awards are given to those who’ve demonstrated excellence in service and academics and are made possible through the philanthropic support of benefactors, alumni, corporate partners, and friends of Scheller.

Bob Torras: Creating Scholarship Opportunities for Coastal Georgia

Students from coastal Georgia who want to study business at Georgia Tech have a scholarship opportunity thanks to the generosity of Robert M. Torras Sr., IE 1955. The Robert M. Torras Sr. Scholarship Endowment Fund was established for high school students with demonstrated need who wish to attend Georgia Tech.

Scheller College of Business Advisory Board

Mark Alexander, MGT 1987

Thomas A. Avery, IMGT 1975

Kelly H. Barrett, IMGT 1986

Richard L. Bergmark, IMGT 1975, Hon. Ph.D. 2022

R. Allan Bradley, Jr., MSCI 1973

Mack P. Brothers IV, MSM 1992

Stephen M. Deedy, IMGT 1981

Lalit Dhingra

Elizabeth E. Evans, ChE 1995

Joseph W. Evans, IM 1971

Valentine Fontama

Robert M. Gilson, Jr., IMGT 1973

Marion Glover, IM 1965

Terry A. Graham, IM 1969

Tami D. Hudson, MGT Alumna

Dennis H. James, MGT 1992

Stephen M. Jordan, IM 1971

Kimberly Keever, MGT 1987

Anthony H. Kepano, IMGT 1986

Anthony P. Kimani, MD MOT 2014

Tommy L. Lester III, MBA 2011

Margaret E. Lovatt, MBA 2016

Michelle P. Bulgar Mabery, MBA 2014

William J. Magee, IMGT 1985

Daniel P. McCarthy, ME 1998, MSM 2000

Michael A. McCarthy, MS MGT 1986

Cooper N. Mills, Jr., IM 1968

Darlene J. Nicosia, MSM 1994

Beth H. Nowers, IMGT 1979

Gregory J. Owens, IMGT 1982

Juan R. Perez

Peter E. Quinones, MBA 2008

David P. Rowland, IMGT 1983

Jacquelyn R. Schneider, BC 2006, MBA 2018

Jean-Pierre Serani, MBA 2005

John H. Sherman III, IMGT 1982

René A. Simon, MBA 2018

Teresa M. Smith, IMGT 1983

Richard N. Speer, Jr., IM 1970

Kathy H. Waller

Tomoyuki Watanabe, MBA 2006

John R. Wells, IMGT 1984

Robert A. Anclien, IM 1969, MS IM 1970

Lawrence P. Huang, IM 1973

Gary T. Jones, IM 1971

A.J. Land, Jr., IM 1960

Ernest Scheller, Jr., IM 1952, Hon. Ph.D. 2013

Emeritus Members Student Representatives

Arul Gupta, BSBA 2023 Paroma Chakravarty, MBA 2023

Partner With the College

The Georgia Tech Scheller College of Business is committed to developing leaders who make technology their vehicle for driving change and improving the human condition. The Dean’s Fund for Excellence provides much-needed resources to help address the College’s most urgent priorities such as student recruiting and new revenue-generating initiatives, including infrastructure and content for virtual corporate programs, certificates, and degree programs.

For more information, please contact:

John Byrne Senior Director of Development john.byrne@scheller.gatech.edu 404.385.3878

800 W. Peachtree St. NW Atlanta, GA 30308 scheller.gatech.edu