Summer 2016 Villanova Business Magazine

Summer 2016

BUSINESS

VSB Ranked #1

Undergraduate Business School in the Nation by Bloomberg Businessweek

SPOTLIGHT / P10

Pankaj Patel, PhD, entrepreneur and dedicated teacher

DONOR / P16

Largest gift ever in support of the Center for Church Management

MOMENTUM / P23

Scoring big with Super Bowl ad research

Villanova Business is published semiannually for alumni and friends of VSB. It is available in print or online at business.villanova.edu.

Villanova University President the Rev. Peter M. Donohue, OSA, PhD, has announced the appointment of Joyce E. A. Russell, PhD, as The Helen and William O’Toole Dean of the Villanova School of Business effective August 1.

A leader in business education recognized for her commitment to teaching and research, Russell joins VSB from the Robert H. Smith School of Business at The University of Maryland. Stay tuned for more about Dean Russell in our next issue of Villanova Business.

FEATURES 2 COVER STORY Bloomberg Businessweek has named VSB the #1 undergraduate business school in the nation

6 FACULTY FOCUS 10 FACULTY SPOTLIGHT Pankaj Patel, PhD, Frank J. and Jane E. Ryan Endowed Chair in Strategy and Innovation

11 MOMENTUM 16 DONOR SPOTLIGHT VSB alumnus establishes The David Grenon Family Directorship

18 ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT Clare McGrory ’97 VSB, ’08 EMBA

27 STUDENT SPOTLIGHT Agnes Mukuiya’s journey from Nakuru, Kenya

INTERIM DEAN

Daniel Wright, PhD DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATION AND MARKETING

Cathy J. Toner ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATION

Shannon Wilson CONTRIBUTORS

Carrie Adkins-Ali Siobhan Arnold Claire Asmussen ’16 VSB Jeanette Ding ’16 VSB Nicole DiPaolo ’18 VSB Lizandra Fiske ’16 VSB Lauren Higgins Madison Meyer ’18 VSB Thomas D. Rodriguez ’16 VSB Brad Warmhold DESIGN AND PRODUCTION

Send comments and questions to: VSBCommunicationsandMarketing@villanova.edu.

Villanova Business, 800 Lancaster Avenue, Villanova, PA 19085-1678 610-519-5424 | business.villanova.edu Cover Photo: Angela Layne ’16 MBA, Christopher Abood ’16 VSB, Claire Asmussen ’16 VSB, Liz Fiske ’16 VSB and Sunny Wu ’16 VSB

Matthew Schmidt Design Follow us: @VU_Business Villanova School of Business Villanova School of Business

DEAN’S UPDATE

W

hen I began my term as Interim Dean of the Villanova School of Business, I was inspired by our faculty and their relentless drive to provide a world-class business education to our students; those same students who seize every opportunity to grow and thrive; and the incredible efforts of Patrick G. Maggitti, PhD, former Dean and current Provost, to make it all possible.

This past year has been no disappointment.

On the faculty side, Charles E. Zech, PhD, faculty director, Center for Church Management and Business Ethics, and professor of Economics, was recognized by the Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities for outstanding contributions to Catholic intellectual life. Read more about this on page 7.

Our students are making impressive strides as well. Agnes Mukuiya ’16 VSB graduated in May with a double major in Management Information Systems and International Business, and a minor in Business Analytics. While making the Dean’s list every semester, she filled her time with tutoring and volunteer work when she wasn’t busy studying. EY was so impressed that they hired her before she even graduated. Read more about her on page 27.

And in this issue’s Alumni Spotlight, you’ll meet Clare McGrory ’97 VSB, ’08 EMBA. A VSB student twice over, once for accounting and once for an Executive MBA, McGrory recently joined an elite team of professionals at Atairos, a $4.1 billion investment company, to serve as CFO and Chief Compliance Officer. Learn more about McGrory’s philosophy of success on page 18.

FROM THE DEAN Daniel Wright, PhD Interim Dean Villanova School of Business

To top it all off, VSB was ranked the #1 undergraduate business school in the nation by Bloomberg Businessweek in April.

I think I speak for the entire VSB community when I say I’ve never been more proud to a part of VSB. It is an honor and a pleasure to work with such inspired—and inspiring—individuals. I can’t wait to see what’s coming next.

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BUILDING

FUTURE

LEADERS

Villanova School of Business students, faculty, staff and alumni have always known that there is something special about a VSB education, and now the entire country knows it too:

Bloomberg Businessweek has named VSB the #1 undergraduate business school in the nation.

FEATURE

We Are #1

VSB Takes First Place in Bloomberg Businessweek’s National Ranking of Business Schools VSB students don’t just do good in the world around them; as these latest rankings show, they also do well in the business world … very, very well.

“By using a more detailed and thorough methodology for the employer survey this year, Bloomberg was able to better capture the prestige and respect that a VSB education carries in the workplace,” notes Jennifer Whinney, director of Accreditation & Strategic Initiatives. “We have great relationships with our employers because of the consistent strength of our graduates, and we can clearly see this reflected in our ranking.”

Perhaps University President the Rev. Peter M. Donohue, OSA, PhD, ’75 CLAS captures what all Villanovans feel by saying: “We know that Villanova is a special place, and this external recognition underscores our commitment to providing a truly exceptional academic experience for our students. As a University community, we take great pride in preparing our students for success and the number one ranking affirms the enormous value of a Villanova degree.”

HOW SCHOOLS WERE RANKED Bloomberg used four metrics to rank 114 undergraduate business schools: reputation among employers, student satisfaction, average starting salary and internships. The score for each metric was standardized, weighted and indexed to provide a rank of the overall B-school experience and career-launching potential.

Employer Survey

Salary Survey

When a recruiter sees VSB on a resume, they know the applicant embodies the values that the company is looking for, according to VSB’s #2 position in this most heavily weighted metric, counting for 40 percent of the total score. Bloomberg partnered with Cambria Consulting of Boston to survey 1,079 recruiters at 582 firms. The recruiters were asked to identify 10 schools from which they recruit and to assess each school on how its graduates generally rate on specific qualities the firm values. Schools were then ranked on both the recruiters’ overall scores, which demonstrates the quality of the school, and the number of ratings that it received, which demonstrates the reach of the school.

Students were also asked about their starting salaries for another 15 percent of the total score. Of all reporting students, 46 percent had accepted full-time jobs

by February 2016 and were included in the survey; by comparison, most VSB students had secured positions by this time. The average starting salary for these VSB graduates is $60,278, putting them in the top 25 percent of highest earners.

Student Survey For the second most important measure, counting for 35 percent of the total score, Bloomberg surveyed the class of 2016 at all 114 schools and received 27,327 responses.

Each student was asked about topics such as campus climate, career services, faculty and administrator responsiveness, student debt, and priorities in pursuing an undergraduate business degree. Villanova took spot #10, highlighting its commitment to providing a truly exceptional student experience.

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Internships Internships are a valuable tool for students to transition from college to the workplace, and often lead to full-time positions. Bloomberg surveyed how many students at each school had at least one internship, defined as at least 120 hours over six consecutive months of supervised, career-relevant work, and VSB students ranked #15, proving our commitment to career preparedness. In fact, 51 percent of VSB students who reported job offers will go on to work at the companies where they interned.

To see the complete ranking, please visit: http://www.bloomberg. com/features/2016-best-undergrad-business-schools/

While VSB has been among the top 25 business schools for more than a decade, Bloomberg’s new, more thorough methodology shows just how much VSB shines. “We updated how we rank undergraduate programs to put a bigger focus on the outcome most students want from B-school: the brightest possible career path,” Bloomberg explained in its results report. And the brightest path, they found, goes right through Bartley Hall.

HOW DID VSB DO? VSB performed exceptionally well in a number of categories, particularly the employer survey (#2), student survey (#10) and internships (#15). When all of the scores for all of the schools were evaluated, Bloomberg Businessweek found that VSB offers the best overall experience available.

“We’re constantly working to strengthen relations with top recruiters, which opens doors for our students and helps them obtain coveted positions, often well before graduation,” adds Daniel Wright, PhD, interim dean, Villanova School of Business. “We also have an incredibly strong alumni network to further support students throughout their professional lives.

The value of a strong network can’t be overstated.”

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN TO VSB? Ranking #1 offers students and alumni more than something to be proud of: It elevates the university to a new level. When a resume says VSB, companies who are familiar with the ranking will know that they’re looking at a candidate from the best B-school in the country. “Being ranked first can significantly impact the perspective of the marketplace,” said Patrick G. Maggitti, PhD, Villanova University Provost. “It is another tremendous affirmation of Villanova’s focus on student outcomes and the return on investment that we deliver for our students and their families.”

Faculty members, too, can boost their bragging rights as the purveyors of the country’s best business knowledge. “We have worked diligently to develop the most distinguished faculty in the nation,” notes Interim Dean Wright. “These luminaries of the business world are teaching VSB students how to be successful, ethical and thoughtful professionals who strive to make the world a better place.” \v/

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FACULTY FOCUS

“

As a professor of international business, traveling to regions of the world that are different from my origins and learning about differing business practices, outlooks and perspectives is crucial.”

Jonathan Doh, PhD

Speaks Internationally, Elevates VSB’s Global Presence Jonathan Doh, PhD, Herbert G. Rammrath Endowed Chair in International Business, professor of Management & Operations, and faculty director of the Center for Global Leadership has been giving a series of presentations around the world. These talks focus on the changing global economic and political landscape, its implications for managers and policymakers, and the need for scholars to focus more on research that has real-world implications.

In February, he was the keynote speaker for the AustraliaNew Zealand International Business Academy. Most recently, he traveled to Bocconi University in Milan, where he presented his latest research on the role of CEO compensation in international business decisions.

A sought-after speaker and Academy of International Business fellow, Dr. Doh frequently presents in North America, Europe, Asia and Latin America. In October 2015, he served as the keynote presenter at the Academy of International Business Northeast Annual Conference in Boston, and in December, he was a panelist at both the European International Business Academy Annual

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Villanova Business / Summer 2016

Conference in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and at the Iberoamerican Academy of Management Conference in Santiago, Chile.

As part of his executive and MBA teaching, Dr. Doh also leads graduate student groups to emerging markets, including a trip to Johannesburg and Cape Town, South Africa with the 2016 EMBA class in April, and the inaugural international immersion for the online MBA, which will include stops in Budapest, Hungary, Prague, Czech Republic; and Bratislava, Slovakia.

“By taking a leadership role in my academic communities, it provides me a unique perch to advance some of my views about how the international business scholarly community is, and is not, serving broader business and societal interests,” says Dr. Doh. “In addition, the opportunity to lead graduate students on intense immersion trips to countries facing a range of business challenges is very rewarding in that it provides them a unique experience that can be transformational for both their professional careers and personal lives.”

FACULTY FOCUS

Charles Zech, PhD

Receives Award for Outstanding Contributions to Catholic Intellectual Life Charles E. Zech, PhD, faculty director, Center for Church Management and Business Ethics, and professor of Economics at Villanova, has been awarded the Monika K. Hellwig Award for Outstanding Contributions to Catholic Intellectual Life. Bestowed by the Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities, the award honors an individual who has significantly advanced Catholic intellectual life.

Dr. Zech was an innovator in applying sound business practices to faith-based institutions, having authored or co-authored 12 books and more than 50 articles on various ways in which churches can meet their stewardship responsibility through good management. As the founding director of the Center for the Study of Church Management at Villanova University in 2004, he pioneered the effort to put theory into practice by educating church managers on sound church business practices. Dr. Zech established one of the nation’s first Master of Science degrees in church management at Villanova University.

Daniel Wright, PhD, interim dean, Villanova School of Business adds, “His academic expertise, strength of values and commitment have vastly improved how churches are run and have helped propel Villanova University to the forefront of church management education.”

“ Dr. Zech’s impact on the faith-based community is immeasurable.”

–Interim Dean Wright

Wayne Bremser, PhD

Promotes International Understanding of U.S. Progress on IFRS In December, Wayne Bremser, PhD, professor, Accountancy & Information Systems, discussed the United States’ journey toward adopting global accounting standards at the International Convergence Process: IAS/IFRS - US GAAP conference in Milan.

Approximately 130 countries use international financial reporting standards (IFRS) for public firms, but the United States is not yet among them.

“Convergence toward a single set of high-quality, globally accepted accounting standards is a worthwhile goal,” Dr. Bremser notes, but opponents to U.S. participation have concerns about control over standards, cost and quality.

“There are misunderstandings about why the USA has not adopted IFRS,” he says, “so it is important to have a dialogue with professionals from other countries whenever opportunities arise; we do not want misunderstandings to slow convergence.”

The conference was sponsored by Borsa Italiana S.p.A and by BP&A, Finance and Business Consulting.

“ Globally accepted accounting standards is a worthwhile goal.”

–Wayne Bremser, PhD

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FACULTY FOCUS

Blogging the Economics of Media Providers MARY KELLY, PHD

In 2014, VSB Assistant Professor Mary Kelly, PhD, Economics, started her own blog titled Media Convergence to stay on top of her game. Dr. Kelly decided to write the blog to showcase her expertise and knowledge about what was going on in the media space. “The best way I can do that is to write about it on a regular basis,” she said.

Her blog focuses on the fascinating media industry and how consumer preferences, technology and regulation are evolving rapidly. She argues that politically pressuring multi-channel video programming distributors to offer a la carte pricing is less relevant today because new competitors and changing customer needs are forcing companies to move in that direction on their own to maintain profitability.

By thinking and writing about the industry informally, she generates research ideas. “My 14-year career in the telecom industry and my scholarly interests in cable converge, allowing me to connect my previous experience and research efforts with what is currently happening in the industry” Dr. Kelly explains.

Dr. Kelly’s blog can be found at http://econmediatelecom.blogspot.com/

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Villanova Business / Summer 2016

FACULTY FOCUS

CHRISTOPHER KILBY, PHD

Discussing the Politics of Foreign Aid Christopher Kilby, PhD, professor, Economics and VSB Emerging Scholar in International Business served as a keynote speaker at the University of Pennsylvania’s fifth annual Penn Society for International Development (PennSID) Conference.

The conference gathered practitioners and academics to discuss the role of international organizations in economic development.

In “The United States and the World Bank: The Political Economy of Foreign Aid,” Dr. Kilby discussed how his research shows that World Bank lending activities favor U.S. geopolitical interests. In short, countries that are friendly to the U.S. enjoy fast-tracked development project preparation, tend to get more—and larger—loans, and are often exempt from the macroeconomic reform requirements that apply to non-friendly countries. The talk closed with a discussion of the implications of this U.S. influence.

“Politicization of international financial institutions undermines the international order and risks dramatically reducing the development effectiveness of these institutions,” Dr. Kilby stressed.

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FACULTY SPOTLIGHT

Pankaj Patel, PhD

“ How people manage risk has always fascinated me. If I am an entrepreneur, there’s a significant chance that I’ll fail. I’m always looking to understand how to mitigate that risk.”

When talking with Pankaj Patel, PhD, you quickly realize just how much he brings to Villanova. Dr. Patel joined VSB in 2015 as the newly created Frank J. and Jane E. Ryan Endowed Chair in Strategy and Innovation, a position that allows him to share his research and first-hand venture experience to inspire even more entrepreneurship within the VSB community. Most recently, Dr. Patel taught at Ball State University, an institution recognized for its entrepreneurship program. There, and as a PhD candidate at Louisville University, Dr. Patel published on a range of issues related to entrepreneurship, with particular focus on risk-taking.

An entrepreneur by nature

Dedicated to teaching

He’s especially interested in the risks of family-owned firms and whether family businesses are inclined to take on more or less risk, given the added responsibilities they shoulder. Part of that interest stems from his own experience.

Above all, he feels passionate about teaching. “I’m excited to expose students to innovation and help push them to think beyond their perceived boundaries,” Dr. Patel explains. In the fall semester, he taught an entrepreneurship course where students had to conduct a venture funding campaign. In four months, he led students through the process of identifying an idea and then creating and executing the funding campaign.

Born and raised in Mumbai, Dr. Patel grew up surrounded by entrepreneurs. His father, without a college degree, built a diamond business and most of his other family members also run their own businesses.

Dr. Patel even pursues his own ventures, in addition to his teaching and research. He’s currently involved with a reverse-supply chain management company that handles product recalls for small- to mid-sized companies and another firm focused on microfinancing.

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Villanova Business / Summer 2016

“I look to create an environment where failure isn’t punitive,” Dr. Patel explains.

He teaches a concept called the “lean startup” method, which looks at innovation and entrepreneurship as an experiment. It allows students to test their idea for a new product or business on a small scale to get feedback more quickly and adjust the business model more fluidly. “If they fail ‘small,’ students are more likely to learn, rebound and move ahead,” explains Dr. Patel.

In addition to teaching, Dr. Patel also looks to encourage social entrepreneurship at VSB, similar to his work with the Pan-Africa Youth Leadership Program (PAYLP) at Ball State University. PAYLP brought selected high school students from across Africa to the United States, where they explored entrepreneurial ways to fix community-based problems. “It was very illuminating for me, particularly as these students tried to find solutions for things that we take for granted,” Dr. Patel shares.

“I’m excited to be here and share these ideas with my students,” Dr. Patel concludes. “As I say to them routinely: ‘The gap between what could be possible and what is possible shrinks every day.’”

MOMENTUM

Summer Business Institute

Celebrates 20 Years In 1997, the Summer Business Institute (SBI) welcomed its first class of 35 non-business majors to spend 10 weeks of summer immersed in an intensive business curriculum culminating in a business minor.

Fast forward to 2016, where class size has tripled and over 1,400 students have recognized SBI’s unique educational value. Through SBI, students gain exposure to core business competencies and a robust professional development program. At the end of the 10 weeks, Villanova students earn a business minor and students from other institutions receive a business certificate. “An understanding of business concepts and exposure to professional development are assets to students in any major,” explains Associate Dean Melinda German.

Over the years, SBI graduates routinely acknowledge the advantages of the complementary coursework, including Laura Menard Fitzgerald ’00 CLAS, a member of the inaugural SBI class of 1997.

The strategy paid off for Fitzgerald, who went on to build a successful career in public relations and marketing with notable agencies in New York, Los Angeles and Chicago. More than 10 years ago, she opened her own firm, LiFt Consulting, LLC, which is recognized today as the preferred agency for Redken and L’Oréal salons across the country. “From the moment I learned about the opportunity, I knew it would be an excellent, efficient way to couple a Business minor with my Communications major. Strategy, in everything, is very important and attending SBI was the first step in my career strategy,” Fitzgerald notes.

“Through my studies [at SBI], and with the support of the VSB professors who remain available to advise me, I feel I have the knowledge and resources to understand questions that arise in business and implement dynamic solutions.”

–Priya Shah ’16 COE, ’13 SBI Once largely attended by liberal arts students, SBI now draws more than a third of its students from the Villanova University College of Engineering. Many, like Priya Shah ’16 COE and ’13 SBI, embrace the opportunity to study business in addition to their primary field of study. “I was intrigued by the marriage between engineering and business, especially as it relates to operations and risk management,” Priya explains.

After SBI, Priya interned at Goldman Sachs in risk management, and following graduation she will join the firm full-time as an operations analyst.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON SBI, VISIT BUSINESS.VILLANOVA.EDU/SBI

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MOMENTUM

Master of Accountancy Program

Enhanced to Equip Students with Leadership, Networking Skills VSB recently enhanced its Master of Accountancy (MAC) program with exciting changes to the curriculum. The biggest change is that the professional development classes are timed to complement the minimester format.

Students begin the program by taking a new leadership course that prepares them both academically and mentally for the rigors of the first minimester. After this minimester, and prior to the beginning of the second and final minimester, students will take a negotiations course that’s taught to bring together their other coursework using negotiations as the common thread.

Leadership Course (1st Half) The first half-class is taught by adjunct faculty members Jean McNeely and Mickey Zarra, both of whom held public accounting leadership roles at EY.

Negotiations Course (2nd Half) Both courses provide the soft skills that students need in order to be leaders. “They need the hard accounting skills, but after two or three years, they’re climbing the ladder and they need leadership skills, too” says Shelley Rhoades-Catanach, CPA, PhD, and faculty director of the MAC program.

McNeely and Zarra wanted the leadership course to be very practical, focusing on self-leadership as well as team leadership. The course is taught in the beginning of the MAC to allow students to apply what they learn to the rest of the program. In addition, the interactive part of the course is a great icebreaker for the students. “Having 35–40 students in a given cohort is helpful because it sets up their professional network as they launch their careers,” says Dr. Rhoades-Catanach The MAC program’s negotiations course was slimmed down into a three-day course and moved to the end of the summer session.

Taught by Quinetta Roberson, PhD, the Fred J. Springer Endowed Chair in Business Leadership, the negotiations course allows students to participate in a simulation experience and role-playing.

Assistant Professor Denise Downey, PhD, teaches in the undergraduate program and will be teaching an online course in the MAC program beginning in fall of 2016, focusing on analytics from an auditing perspective, regulatory development, technology development and globalization in auditing. A combination of practice and academics, the course will feature research articles on the issues, a podcast with professionals, thought-provoking discussions for the students and debates of regulatory issues. “One of the biggest demands from the audit firms in terms of students is to be ready in analytics, and Dr. Downey plans to inject some of the newer trends that are taking place in the audit world,” said Michael F. Peters, PhD, Chair, Accountancy & Information Systems and Alvin A. Clay Professor of Accountancy.

“We work hard to make it truly graduate work. It’s not just an extension of what takes place in an undergraduate setting.”

“ We want to make sure our graduates are not only prepared for the technical rigor of the accounting profession, but also prepared with the management skills they need to be good professionals.”

–Dr. Rhoades-Catanach

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MOMENTUM

Winning CE Team

Visits Comcast Headquarters Competitive Effectiveness (CE) is a required course that links the core concepts of both marketing and management through a consulting assignment with a business client. Each class is split up into five teams of approximately 10 students and is given a marketing challenge by executives from an assigned company.

This past semester, Ward Utter, instructor, Management & Operations and Jeremy Kees, PhD, professor, Marketing & Business Law and faculty director, Center for Marketing & Consumer Insights engaged Comcast Corporation as the client for one of the CE classes. The teams were tasked with promoting the X1, a new operating system of the Xfinity cable brand, to the millennial generation. As was the case with previous CE clients, Comcast selected a “winning” team from the class. As a result of their hard work, Comcast invited winning team members Mac Sullivan ‘18 VSB, Cassandra Trovini ’18 VSB, Owen MacKenzie ’18 VSB and Ryan Fulton ’18 VSB to their Philadelphia headquarters and asked them to share their presentation with the Comcast marketing team and other leadership team members.

This was the first time a winning team had been invited to a corporate office to present. The team was provided lunch and received valuable career advice from leaders in different departments. CE provides VSB students with a great opportunity to utilize the management and marketing knowledge taught in the classroom for a real-world project.

OCTOBER 2015

NOVEMBER 2015

SAP Co-Innovation Event

CUIBE International Case Competition

Jeanette Ding ’16 VSB, Khaing Zin Thet ’16 VSB and Sunny Wu ’16 VSB won second place at the inaugural SAP Co-Innovation Event. This was a two-day consulting case competition co-sponsored

by Deloitte, SAP and Wal-Mart, held at Deloitte University in Westlake, Texas.

Allison Meade ’16 VSB, Kyle Roffina ’16 VSB, Jacqueline Inserra ’16 VSB and Luke Waggoner ’16 VSB placed third in the sixth annual Consortium for Undergraduate International Business Education (CUIBE) International Case Competition. Ward Utter, instructor, Management & Operations, served as the faculty advisor for the team, which was sponsored by the Center for Global Leadership.

Villanova was one of 14 SAP University Alliance schools that participated, and each team of three had 11 hours to analyze a real-life business case centered on a fictitious global company who was facing business process challenges. The students were then tasked to develop an innovative recommendation to resolve these challenges with SAP solutions.

The Villanova team was coached by Liam Miller ’14 VSB, who is currently a Business Technology Analyst at Deloitte. Participants presented to top executives at the sponsor companies, and were able to leverage what they learned in the classroom and from previous internships. Jeanette, Khaing and Sunny were awarded $500 each for their efforts. This recognition exemplifies Villanova’s strong relationship with Deloitte and SAP.

Sixteen teams from the nation’s leading business schools gathered at Northeastern University in Boston to participate in the competition. They were asked to analyze a case about Amazon’s international operations, develop recommendations and build a presentation in less than two days’ time.

“I had a great experience at the CUIBE International Case Competition and enjoyed researching and presenting with our team,” said Allison. “We were able to apply the business principles and specific international topics we’ve learned in VSB and by studying abroad.”

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MOMENTUM

VSB Mentor Program Expands After a two-year pilot program established in January 2014, the VSB Mentor Program has expanded to serve more students.

The pilot program—which paired 200 undergraduate women from the classes of 2016 and 2017 with volunteer VSB alumni mentors—has proven to be so successful that it has grown to include mentoring opportunities for all VSB undergraduates, Master of Science in Finance and MBA graduate students.

Since the program’s expansion, student participation has increased more than

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MOMENTUM

M

elinda German, associate dean Undergraduate Business Program, saw an opportunity to bring alumni and students together to enhance students’ professional development.

A pilot was created and each student was individually paired with a mentor in their chosen field. Mentors supported the student’s career and professional development goals by offering tips on job searching, networking and communication. This personalized mentoring experience effectively built a bridge between the classroom and professional world.

Funding from the O’Donnell Center for Professional Development made the program’s expansion possible, firmly establishing mentoring as part of the VSB experience. New technology is enhancing mentee-mentor pair matching for more impactful relationships, allowing year-round mentor recruitment, and making program management more efficient and sustainable.

“Our vision for the VSB Mentor Program is to give every business student an opportunity to have a meaningful, individualized relationship with a professional mentor and establish a foundation for career development, success and fulfillment.”

Michele Gianforcaro ’89 VSB Assistant Director of Professional Development, Mentor Programs Since the program’s expansion, student participation has increased over 50 percent. One-third of the Class of 2018 undergraduates enrolled and used the new mentoring software to select their mentor this spring.

Alumni have enthusiastically embraced this opportunity as a novel way to give back and their participation has multiplied to support the program’s growth. “I’m very happy that more VSB students and alumni have the opportunity to get involved in mentoring. We can all benefit from mentoring throughout our careers,” said Gianforcaro. \v/

Michele Gianforcaro ’89 VSB

“ The power of the Villanova community is clearly having a positive impact on our students through this program.

We encourage both students and alumni to join the VSB Mentor Program.”

–Daniel Wright, PhD, interim dean, Villanova School of Business

If you’d like to make mentoring part of your VSB experience, please email Michele Gianforcaro at vsb.mentoring@villanova.edu Abigail Hiza ’11 VSB, alumni mentor (opposite page), Spencer Miller ’18 VSB, student mentee (above)

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DONOR SPOTLIGHT

VSB Alumnus Establishes

The David Grenon Family Directorship When David Grenon ’61 VSB of Sutton, Mass., reflects back on his time as a class officer during his years at Villanova, he has often felt the desire to give back to the school that supported his core beliefs. After all, he primarily chose to earn his Economics degree at VSB because of its liberal arts focus, the variety of business majors offered, and the faith-based curriculum—and has championed these values ever since.

After a very successful 40-year career, Grenon is now the retired founding president of The Protector Group Insurance Agency in Worcester, Mass., yet remains active in his community with his wife, Rosalie, whom he married just 10 days after graduating from Villanova. Grenon serves as a Catholic layman in the Diocese of Worcester, board member of Fallon Community Health Plan, director of St. Francis Community Healthcare Foundation, past chairman of Massachusetts Bio Medical Initiatives, and an honorary trustee of Assumption College, where he chaired their most recent capital campaign.

Always looking to do more good in the world around him, he recently contacted his alma mater to ask how he could help make a difference in the future of VSB’s Center for Church Management (CCM). “Supporting CCM aligned with our family’s core values and we wanted to help secure the future of the program,” Grenon said. “I’m concerned

about the financial stability of churches and their successive planning practices. Unfortunately, due to scandals within the Church, we’ve lost some credibility of serving as a moral compass; but it’s not too late to gain the trust back by becoming more accountable through programs like this.”

Grenon soon connected with Charles E. Zech, PhD, faculty director, Center for Church Management, and professor of Economics, and Kevin Noller, assistant vice president for Major Gifts, Office of University Advancement. They were honored by Grenon’s $1 million gift and helped him establish an endowed directorship: The David Grenon Family Director in the Center for Church Management.

This endowed directorship will enable the University to conduct a national search to attract a distinguished scholar to contribute to the program and ensure that VSB will continue to be the national leader in providing church management education and research.

“Through this gift, Villanova University reinforces the importance of its Catholic identity. What better way for VSB to exhibit how much it values its Catholic identity than by educating the Church’s clergy, lay leaders—including the many women who serve—and seminarians in the complexities of managing faith-based organizations?” noted Dr. Zech.

The largest gift ever in support of the Center for Church Management “I’ve been wanting to do something for Villanova that would be meaningful and encourage others to give back.”

–David Grenon ’61 VSB

David Grenon ’61 VSB, Rosalie Grenon, J. Michael Grenon ’92

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MOMENTUM

“This investment from the Grenon family truly makes a meaningful impact on our mission-driven program that leverages the tools of the business school,” stated Interim Dean Wright.

This endowed directorship is evidence of the value that Grenon places on the importance of good church management at all levels. While the Church itself is not a business, it does have a stewardship responsibility to use its resources efficiently, and that stewardship responsibility entails the use of sound business management practices, such as those that are taught in both the for-credit and not-for-credit programs offered by VSB’s church management program.

“VSB’s church management program is truly unique, and because it is the only program of its kind in the county, it has the opportunity to make the most impact.” –David Grenon ’61 VSB “Once I saw that the Archdiocese of New York matriculates up to 50 people into VSB’s Master of Science in Church Management, I knew the program had the potential to grow and reach more people,” Grenon continued.

When asked what he hopes for the future of this program, he responded, “I want to see this country’s traditional religions succeed in all churches, not just Catholic churches.

Therefore, church management must belong to the entire church, not just the ordained. Through this program, all people who take these courses will learn the responsibilities of church management and will hopefully also gain the authority to run it successfully.”

As a family man, Grenon did not want all the credit for his naming gift, which is why he insisted that it be named the David Grenon Family Director. He and his wife Rosalie are blessed with five children, 13 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

One of his sons, J. Michael Grenon ’92 CLAS, remembers his parents encouraging him and his siblings from a young age to give back to the community with their time or resources, complementing their Catholic education. “Over the years, we’ve noticed some of the challenges parishes and faith-based charitable organizations in our community face as the number of clergy has declined,” Michael said.

“Our hope is that this gift will help Villanova’s Center for Church Management lead the discussion about how to address those management challenges, thus building Villanova’s reputation as a thought leader. On a personal level, this gift is also an embodiment of the values my parents instilled in us since childhood and is yet another demonstration of them leading by example.” \v/

VSB Selected as Winner of Three 2015 MARCOM Awards This international competition recognized the creativity of marketing and communications professionals from over 34 countries this year.

Entries came from corporate marketing and communications departments of Fortune 50 companies, PR firms, production companies, advertising agencies and educational institutions around the world. Members of the Association of Marketing and Communications Professionals judged the awards, selecting work that they believed set new benchmarks for the industry.

Winners were selected from more than 200 categories and 6,000 entries, and VSB earned three awards and one honorable mention: Platinum Award Dean’s Fund for Strategic Initiatives Annual Report Gold Award Center for Global Leadership Annual Report Gold Award Applied Finance Lab Video Honorable Mention Faculty Video in the Dean’s App “Our team understands that effective marketing and communication strategies are vital to showcasing our exceptional student experience.

The Villanova School of Business is honored to be recognized for our creative efforts and we strive to continue sharing our story in a meaningful way,” said Interim Dean Wright.

VSB entries and a complete list of the winners can be found at www.marcomawards.com

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ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT

Clare McGrory If there’s one thing that’s helped Clare McGrory ’97 VSB, ’08 EMBA forge her path to the C-suite, it’s her propensity to learn from others. In fact, it’s the peer learning she sought at Villanova that very much influences her work today.

Getting started

Once in a lifetime

Clare McGrory started her career in traditional accounting—first at PwC and then briefly with a start-up supply chain management firm.

When fortunes turned for many start-ups in 2002, McGrory joined Sunoco for what she describes as “a truly amazing experience.”

Before leaving Sunoco in the fall of 2015, McGrory served as CFO during a major transformation of the company. She had a seat at the table and enjoyed contributing to that phase of the business. Then along came a unique opportunity.

“Sunoco was an interesting company made up of diverse business units,” she explains. “I worked with exceptionally good people—smart and of the highest integrity. I learned tremendously from them.”

During her first four years at Sunoco, McGrory transitioned from accounting to finance and subsequently became a business-unit CFO. In the midst of a steep learning curve in her new role, she also wanted to deepen her business and leadership skills.

“I waited to pursue my MBA until I could make the most of it,” McGrory explains. “I choose Villanova’s Executive MBA for its deliberate selection of students with diverse backgrounds. That integration of business disciplines supports the systems-thinking approach, which is invaluable to me.”

“ I learned most from those who brought a completely different perspective than mine,” McGrory describes. “Several classmates came to finance without any prior experience and it was eye-opening to see how they approached an area that I knew so well.” Considering multiple perspectives certainly wasn’t new to McGrory. The youngest of 10, she describes growing up in a strong family filled with all different personalities—something that helped her build the emotional intelligence to work well with others.

From her family, McGrory also got a taste for entrepreneurship. Thirty years ago, her parents started an architectural glass company that still thrives today. She credits the family business for making her comfortable with risk-taking, a quality that serves her well in her latest endeavor.

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Villanova Business / Summer 2016

In the fall of 2015, McGrory joined an elite team of professionals at Atairos, a $4.1 billion investment company formed under the leadership of Michael Angelakis.

The firm derives its name from the Greek word for partnership, which is no coincidence.

Atairos reflects the firm’s purpose: Invest in companies as long-term partnerships to share ideas and experiences to create value.

As CFO and Chief Compliance Officer, she finds it different from a business with hard products but appreciates the emphasis on collaboration. She describes Atairos in similar terms as Sunoco—working with highly experienced, talented individuals with deep integrity. “I love that we are building something here and that I’m learning,” shares McGrory.

“The entrepreneurial nature of it means I can contribute and make a significant impact.”

MOMENTUM

Alumni Microsite With the help of countless alumni and VSB’s marketing and communication team, VSB recently launched a microsite to promote its alumni and showcase their talents and successes in the hopes of continuing to attract the best students to VSB. To date, more than 100 alumni are featured on the site, with plans to continuously add more. Notable alumni include Chris Gheysens ’93 VSB, CEO and president of Wawa; Jim O’Donnell ’63 VSB, retired CEO of American Eagle Outfitters; and Scott O’Neil ’92 VSB, CEO of the Philadelphia 76ers, New Jersey Devils and Prudential Center.

Visitors to the microsite can find these outstanding alumni, their LinkedIn profiles, their favorite VSB classes and memories, and even suggested reading by visiting vsbconnect.org.

Share your success story!

The new microsite engages alumni and connects them to one another, and enhances the value of a VSB degree by allowing current students to contact alumni for professional development, networking, mentoring and career opportunities.

VSB Students Selected to Participate in

Envestnet Institute’s Wealth Management Certification Program The Villanova School of Business was selected as one of nine universities to participate in the Envestnet Institute On Campus pilot program, a wealth management e-learning platform and certificate program. Twenty-two VSB students— 17 undergraduates and five graduate students—are participating in the program.

Envestnet’s education program, which has been approved by the Money Management Institute, is taught at the student’s own pace. Students must complete a variety of educational activities which are strategically organized to provide a practical understanding of the wealth management industry.

Steve DeAngelis ’88 VSB, managing director at Goldman Sachs Asset Management, serves on the Board of Governors for the Money Management Institute and recommended Villanova for Envestnet Institute’s On Campus program because of VSB’s high-caliber student body.

“VSB is proud to be selected to participate in this valuable program. It provides an opportunity for our students to understand the connection between the theory and practice of wealth management.”

–Interim Dean Wright

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MOMENTUM

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Villanova Business / Summer 2016

MOMENTUM

VU Women in Tech Conference Informative & Inspirational During the spring semester, Villanova University presented the inaugural VU Women in Tech conference to celebrate women who are leading, innovating and inspiring with technology. This one-day event brought together more than 130 students, faculty, staff, alumnae and professionals to encourage women to explore the possibilities of technology-based careers; learn about successes and failures; engage in technology-driven discussions; and network across schools, disciplines and generations.

The speaker lineup included 18 distinguished women who have made their mark in technology. Karen Mazer, principal of Deloitte Consulting LLP, presented the keynote address before the conference broke into three tracks: leading with technology, innovating with technology and inspiring with technology.

Topics ranged from “Pairing Passion & Tech” to “U, UX & Awesomeness.”

To learn more about VU Women in Tech, visit VUWomenInTech.org.

“ Women are very much a part of the tech space and appreciate an opportunity to gather and share their interest.”

Sue Metzger, instructor, Accountancy & Information Systems, Department of Computing Sciences Sit With Me invites you to validate and recognize the important role women play in creating future technology by taking a small but symbolic action: Sit in a red chair and share your story. sitwithme.org Right: Celina Santiago ’16 CLAS; Opposite page, pictured clockwise from top left: Arta Szathmary, VSB adjunct faculty; Karen Stellabotte, Program Director, TechGirlz; Sue Metzger, instructor, Accountancy & Information Systems; Shannon Hedmann ’16 CLAS; Karen Wolok, CandiDate Philly; Lisa Farnin ’98 MSCS; Silvia Jaramillo-Regalado ’19 COE

21

MOMENTUM

Cuba Welcomes VSB

The Center for Global Leadership (CGL) organized a People to People educational exchange program to Cuba for 27 Villanova faculty, staff, alumni and guests in January. The trip offered participants the opportunity to experience firsthand the changing Cuban business environment through exploration of various cultural, political and economic traditions unique to Cuba.

I

n partnership with the World Affairs Council and Distant Horizons, CGL made this unique experience possible for the Villanova representatives. The cultural and educational visit included tours of El Trigal, Vivero Alamar, Centro Cultural Padre Felix Varela, Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes: Arte Cubano, Caritas Cubano, and the U.S. Embassy. Additionally, the group participated in multiple roundtable discussions with experts in Cuban relations, renowned authors, and government officials.

During their visit to Centro Cultural Padre Felix Varela, the group explored the center, which hosts educational seminars, art expos, film screenings, concerts and other cultural events. They heard from cultural director Gustavo Andujar, and stood where Pope Francis addressed students during his 2015 visit to Havana.

“Traveling to Cuba with the Center for Global Leadership provided me the opportunity to step briefly into the shoes of the Cuban people, and witness a moment in history. To more fully appreciate the perspective of the educators, economists, artists, farmers and charitable organizations with whom we interacted,

I constantly challenged myself to set aside my prior perceptions and consider alternative norms,” said Denise Hanes Downey, PhD, assistant professor of Accounting.

“As a result I walked away enlightened, curious and incredibly grateful for the interactions we shared.”

The trip concluded with a private tour of Caritas Cuba, organized by CGL Advisory Council member Al MartinezFonts ’81 VSB. Caritas Cuba is one of the few independent, non-governmental organizations in the country, and participants had the opportunity to conduct an onsite visit to the headquarters in Havana.

“The trip afforded the group an opportunity to see— and experience—Cuba at a pivotal moment in its transition. While Cuba faces serious challenges, there are also many potential opportunities,” said Jonathan Doh, PhD, the Herbert G. Rammrath Endowed Chair in International Business and the faculty director, Center for Global Leadership. “The Cuban people are clearly resilient, and this will be vital as they experience the next chapter in their history.”

“ Traveling to Cuba with the Center for Global Leadership provided me the opportunity to step briefly into the shoes of the Cuban people, and witness a moment in history.”

–Denise Hanes Downey, PhD

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Villanova Business / Summer 2016

MOMENTUM

SCORING

BIG

WITH SUPER BOWL AD RESEARCH

While many of us watch Super Bowl commercials purely for the entertainment value, a group of 55 VSB students have a much different—and more insightful— perspective. That’s because these students spent the 2015 fall semester analyzing years of Super Bowl ads, which generated a research study that attracted local and national media attention.

The story behind the study The study began as a class assignment given by Charles R. Taylor, PhD, the John A. Murphy Professor of Marketing. A nationally recognized expert on Super Bowl advertising, Dr. Taylor knew that many students shared his interest on the subject and he wanted to engage them in research to promote deeper analytical thinking.

For the assignment, students needed to examine the role of animals or celebrities in Super Bowl ads over the last five years. Students not only tracked the number of ads but also aggregated industry likability ratings and formulated their own analysis. They then conducted a longitudinal examination of the best and worst animal and celebrity ads of all time. “[Students] were given a twopage set of guidelines, but they really had to do a lot of critical thinking about what ads worked and what didn’t,” explained Dr. Taylor. “Many went above and beyond what they needed to do.”

Students turned researchers The experience demanded considerable time but yielded so much in return.

For some, like Bryan Fishkin ’17 VSB, watching the Super Bowl is now a different experience. “Ever since I can remember, I’ve looked forward to the Super Bowl as the greatest sporting event of the year,” said Bryan. “Now I see it as a platform for companies to advance their brands and their businesses, or not.”

For others, it expanded their capacity to think critically about advertising.

“We spent hours sifting through ads and data. It was tedious at first until I began to see why the ads worked,” described Christa Calangelo ’17 VSB. “We found that humorous ads outnumbered serious ones. At the same time, no one remembers the ones that make you laugh,” explained Erika Serhus ’17 VSB. “It’s not that humor isn’t effective, but the ones that make you think tend to stay with you longer.” Among the study’s other conclusions, students found that celebrity ads, while prevalent, performed below average, which surprised many. The study also caught the attention of several news outlets, including USA Today, NBC News, CBS affiliate KYW-TV and Forbes.com. *A my McCarthy ’16 VSB, in a report co-written with Jacqueline Aran ’16 VSB, Claire Asmussen ’16 VSB, Liz Fiske ’16 VSB, Lauren Keogh ’16 VSB and Anish Patel ’16 VSB.

--------------------------------------

“If done properly, including the right celebrities in the right storyline, with the right message, it may increase ad likability, social media buzz, and overall effectiveness of Super Bowl ads. In practice, however, this is often not the case.”

“Super Bowl Ads: What Works and What Doesn’t Work,” Forbes.com, February 2, 2016* --------------------------------------

MOMENTUM

FOURTH ANNUAL

Backpack to Briefcase Challenge This past academic semester marked the fourth semi-annual Backpack to Briefcase (B2B) Challenge where VSB juniors have the opportunity to showcase their problem-solving skills by working on solutions to real-world business issues while networking with industry executives. After spending hours debriefing their case, teams presented their solutions to a panel of volunteer judges comprised of current VSB faculty, alumni and business executives.

“ Receiving coaching from industry decision-makers who work on these types of challenges every day is one of the most valuable benefits to our students.”

Ward Utter, instructor Management & Operations, notes how beneficial this feedback is to students.

Following the presentation, teams were given feedback regarding their ideas and presentation skills, and the winning team earned a $2,000 grand prize. The competition in this event grows stronger every semester. ’17 VSB WINNING TEAMS Fall Semester

Spring Semester

Douglas Adams

Sullivan Healy

Christa Calangelo

Molly Ramsey

Stephanie Car

Ryan Robinson

Christopher Lee

Anastasia Schweiger

Elizabeth Suizzo

The forum’s theme, “Engaging Millennials,” highlighted the opportunities and aspirations of the millennial generation and attracted 230 attendees—the most ever.

ENGAGING MILLENNIALS The Sixth Annual Business Leaders Forum (BLF) was held on October 8, 2015, and brought together members of VSB Advisory councils, faculty and students for a day of networking and presentations from a variety of speakers.

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Villanova Business / Summer 2016

University President the Rev. Peter M. Donohue, OSA, PhD, ‘75 CLAS began the event with a State of the University, recapping University-wide achievements throughout the past academic year. Father Donohue and Daniel Wright, PhD, interim dean, Villanova School of Business, also awarded Kevin M. Curley ’80 VSB (opposite page, pictured upper right) The Rev. Joseph C. Bartley, OSA Alumni Medallion.

The Bartley Medallion is awarded annually to recognize alumni who have distinguished themselves in their careers while also demonstrating extraordinary service to their communities and to VSB. Curley currently serves as the CEO of Dallas-based Curley Financial Group, LLC, and has displayed a continued dedication to serving both the Dallas and Villanova

MOMENTUM

MARKETING STUDENTS ATTEND ADVERTISING CONFERENCES The Center for Marketing and Consumer Insights (CMCI) sent six students to New York City to attend two key professional advertising conferences.

Four students, Elise MacGuidwin ’16 VSB, Lauren Winschuh ’16 VSB, Mollie Reese ’17 VSB and Jennifer Ryan ’17 VSB, attended the Advertising Women of New York (AWNY) conference, participating in industry workshops on client management, creative and copy, and career strategies in advertising.

“AWNY gave me a great glimpse into the world of advertising. It showed current trends in methods and media to the differences between smaller and larger agencies,” said Mollie. “I networked with well-recognized companies, got relevant career advice, and learned about the culture of the advertising workplace in New York City.”

Two marketing majors, Audrey Eyring ’17 VSB and Fabiana Espino ’17 VSB, also attended ATS, a global programmatic advertising conference. Denise Colella ’95 VSB and SVP of Advanced Advertising Products and Strategy at NBCUniversal spoke at the event, donated tickets, and met with our students to talk about her career.

communities. Interim Dean Wright remarked on the strategic direction of VSB, as well as the competitive edge VSB has gained through its focus on engaging students and maximizing their impact. he also spoke with Provost Patrick G. Maggitti, PhD, about the impact of Villanova being ranked nationally for the first time.

Later, Carolyn Everson, ’93 CLAS, Vice President of Global Marketing Solutions at Facebook (pictured lower right), delivered the keynote address. She highlighted key behavioral trends in millennials to note for business leaders.

She also discussed the importance of today’s business leaders taking on a

The trip included a site visit to Google to meet recent hires, a talk with the in-house advertising team, and a tour of the offices (complete with scooters and ping-pong tables).

Students attended sessions on branding in the digital space, navigating the programmatic landscape and using data to maximize programmatic ad buys.

Giving marketing students the opportunity to participate in the real-time business landscape is a focus of CMCI and its Advisory Council members. CMCI plans to continue offering trips to these and other advertising conferences, as well as to conferences in sports marketing and sales. Exposure to best industry practices and to professionals in key marketing industries will provide the hands-on, practical application of key marketing concepts for our marketing majors, and help bring the major to life.

mentee role when working with millennials. The final presentation of the day featured a panel discussion titled:

“How Millennials are Changing the World.”

The panel featured recent VSB alumni Grace McGill ’14 VSB, CPA ’12 VSB, and Meredith Altenhofen Stebbins ’11 VSB, as well as Jack Daley ’99 VSB. Moderated

by Julie Pirsch, PhD, the panel discussed millennials in the workplace and how to bridge generational gaps. \v/

25

MOMENTUM

John Leahy, COO of KIND Healthy Snacks Inspires VSB Students

On November 12, John Leahy ’75 VSB, president and COO of KIND® Healthy Snacks, visited VSB to deliver a classroom lesson aimed to inspire young students interested in entering the financial field. He graduated from Villanova with a degree in business administration and used his experiences from VSB to enter the world of sales, marketing and supply chain management.

Leahy has visited Villanova each semester for the past five years to help demonstrate what it takes to create a successful business. He said, “Besides being a VSB alum, Philadelphia is my hometown. Nothing is more important than giving back as well as providing real-world discussion relative to today’s business environment.”

Before joining KIND in 2009, Leahy worked for more than 30 years, becoming well known in big corporations such as Playtex, Nestlé, Johnson & Johnson, and NBTY. Even though he was living the corporate dream, he wanted something more. When he discovered KIND, Leahy was inspired by their philanthropic focus and philosophy of creating great and healthy food that customers want to put in their bodies.

Leahy informed students how crucial it is to have a mission statement that everyone enjoys following. KIND’s mission is to spread and celebrate kindness, which is why Villanova celebrated World KINDness Day on November 13 to align with KIND’s mission with help from KIND University Ambassador (KUA) Madeline Shiley ’17 VSB. Through Madeline’s ambassadorship, VSB has been able to work with KIND. “Being a KUA is about bringing KIND to life on Villanova’s campus,” Madeline said. “I have seen the spirit of KIND being embraced every day at Villanova.

I love sharing what it means to do the KIND thing for your body, your taste buds and your world with all the students at Villanova!”

Leahy then explained that there is more to business than just making profit and let the students in on KIND’s strategic marketing sampling approach. “Sampling,” Leahy said, “is a way to interact with customers while allowing them to try delicious KIND snacks.” He sampled KIND’s new breakfast bars to the students and asked them for feedback about these new products.

Through Leahy’s visits, students have learned about different techniques that will help them become successful.

KIND’S MISSION IS TO SPREAD AND CELEBRATE KINDNESS, WHICH IS WHY VILLANOVA CELEBRATED WORLD KINDNESS DAY ON NOVEMBER 13.

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Villanova Business / Summer 2016

STUDENT SPOTLIGHT

Agnes Mukuiya Academically successful and service-oriented, Agnes Mukuiya ’16 VSB outshines most people her age. Yet what’s even more exceptional about Agnes is the dedication, perseverance and faith that brought her more than 7,000 miles away from home in search of an opportunity to grow and learn.

HER JOURNEY BEGAN NEARLY SIX YEARS AGO IN NAKURU, KENYA After completing high school in Nairobi, Agnes wanted to continue her education and experience another culture, but as she describes, studying abroad was far-fetched for a daughter of a single-parent household.

Undeterred, Agnes applied to Zawadi Africa, a Kenyanbased nonprofit dedicated to helping academically talented young women from economically disadvantaged backgrounds find scholarships to pursue higher education overseas. Through its affiliation with Villanova, Zawadi, which aptly translates to “gift” in Swahili, helped Agnes secure a scholarship to cover her tuition.

Even with the scholarship from Villanova University, Agnes still needed financial support to come to the United States.

That’s when her community rallied together to hold a fundraiser to provide the funding she needed to make the journey.

Since coming here, she’s rarely gone home, only visiting once in the last three years. Fortunately, she finds considerable support within the Villanova community.

Faculty and students alike ensure that Agnes never spends a break or holiday alone. In return, she gives back.

In addition to carrying a heavy academic load, Agnes graduated in May with a double-major in Management Information Systems and International Business along with a minor in Business Analytics, she found time to tutor students at Northern Children’s Services in Philadelphia.

Plus, for the last two years, she tutored fellow VSB students in micro- and macro-economics as well as business analytics. “I enjoy sharing knowledge,” Agnes explains. “It brings me so much joy to watch as someone goes ‘ah-ha’ and reaches that level of understanding.”

Agnes even spends her breaks volunteering. As part of Villanova’s Service and Justice Experiences, she has traveled to West Virginia and Kentucky to help with home repairs and other community-based projects. “It’s important to remember that other people struggle,” Agnes acknowledges. “Service is a key part of my college experience. It brings perspective to my learning.”

Clearly she’s found the perspective she needs. Agnes has made the Dean’s list every semester since arriving at Villanova—results not overlooked by prospective employers.

In fact, in the summer following her sophomore year, Agnes was recruited by EY for the first of two summer internships, which ultimately led to an offer to join EY full time after graduation. She will be a part of the Advisory Consultant Program—National Advisory Services Practice, hoping to focus on technology consulting.

“Remembering where I started, how far I have come, my current and future goals, and celebrating my small victories keeps me motivated,” Agnes explains. “My life is a gift from God and how I live it is my gift to Him. Each day, I renew my determination to be the best version of myself and give my all.”

27

VSB Dean’s Advisory Council (DAC) The DAC provides advice and guidance to the dean of the Villanova School of Business on important strategic initiatives under consideration at the school.

Josef “Joe” Allen ’89 VSB General Manager, Global Operations Center GE

Robert “Rob” Arning P ’17

Francis “Frank” I. Perier Jr. ’81 VSB

Christine James ’91 VSB

Michael “Mike” Petrane ’93 VSB

CEO & Director Redwood Trust

Vice Chair KPMG LLP

Managing Director Institutional Client Services Wells Capital Management

Dax Basdeo, PhD

William “Bill” M. Kelly ’72 VSB

Richard “Rick” Betz ’84 VSB

Peter Knobloch ’75 VSB

James “Jim” R. Boyle P ’14

Joseph “Joe” Lamastra ’83 VSB, P ’12, ’15

Chief Officer Cayman Islands Government Executive Vice President & COO Resolute Energy Corporation Chairman & CEO Zillion

Robert “Bob” B. Burke ’83 VSB

CEO Par-Four Investment Management, LLC

Kevin M. Curley ’80 VSB, P ’09 President & CEO Curley Financial Group, LLC

Joseph “Joe” V. Del Raso, Esq. ’74 VSB, ’83 VLS Partner Pepper Hamilton LLP

Peter P. DiLullo ’72 VSB CEO LCOR

Christine Dorfler ’97 VSB

SVP and CFO NBC Owned Television Stations

Kevin J. Dunphy ’82 VSB

Managing Director, Head of Public Finance Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ. Ltd

Mark Ford P ’11, ’15

CEO Blue Tee Corporation

Retired Chief Investment Officer Assembly

Chairman & CEO Sandbridge Capital

Gerard S. LaRocca P ’14

Managing Director & Chief Administrative Officer Barclays Capital

John G. Maxwell ’82 VSB

Chairman of the Global Board of Partners PricewaterhouseCoopers

John McCarthy P ’15

President & COO McCarthy Tire & Automotive Centers

Bill R. McDermott

Robert “Bob” A. McMahon ’79 VSB President, US Market Merck & Co., Inc.

Lisa M. Gray ’86 VSB

Robert Mulhall ’80 VSB, P ’07 – VUAA Liaison

Villanova Business / Summer 2016

Co-Managing Partner Convergence, LLC

Paul D. Ridder ’00 MBA President Tasty Baking Company

Kenneth “Ken” M. Roessler ’84 VSB President & CEO BWAY Corporation

Christopher “Chris” G. Ryan ’83 COE President, Americas; Pharmaceutical Packaging Systems West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc.

Michael A. Scully ’70 VSB Co-Chairman Scully Company

William “Bill” M. Shockley ’83 VSB, P ’14, ’16 Partner Tinicum Capital Partners

Celestine “Tina” Simmons, ’89 VSB

Stephen “Steve” Spaeder ’88 VSB

US Country Head and Head of Credit Markets Macquarie Group Limited

Jeffrey “Jeff” Miller ’79 VSB

COO Concord International Investments Group

John F. Phinney P ’17

Michael “Mike” McLaughlin ’88 VSB

Christopher Gheysens ’93 VSB - Chair

Peter Hofbauer ’84 VSB

Partner, Assurance Services EY

Senior Vice President, Human Resources, Central Division Comcast Corporation

Robert “Rob” J. McNeill Jr. ’88 VSB

Co-Founder & Managing Partner Phoenix IP Ventures

Retired EVP Finance and CFO Forest Laboratories, Inc.

CEO SAP SE

Executive Vice President Global Advertising Time Inc. President & CEO Wawa, Inc.

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Martin “Marty” Hughes ’79 VSB

Managing Partner, Greater Philadelphia Deloitte & Touche LLP President, Studio Operations The Walt Disney Studios

Partner, Assurance EY

SVP, Acquisitions and Development Equus Capital Partners, Ltd.

Christopher “Chris” J. Swift P ’17

Chairman & CEO The Hartford Financial Services Group Inc.

Michael “Mike” J. Thomson ’80 VSB President and COO SunCoke Energy, Inc.

William “Bill” Tucker ’81 VSB, P ’15 Executive Vice President, Media Relations 4A’s

Susan Wolford ’77 CLAS

Managing Director, Group Head of the Business Services and Media Group BMO Capital Markets Corp.

VSB STUDENTS DON’T JUST DO GOOD IN THE WORLD AROUND THEM; AS OUR #1 RANKING* SHOWS, THEY ALSO DO WELL IN THE BUSINESS WORLD …

VERY, VERY WELL. * BLOOMBERG BUSINESSWEEK’S 2016 NATIONAL RANKING OF UNDERGRADUATE BUSINESS SCHOOLS

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VILLANOVA UNIVERSITY

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THE VILLANOVA PART-TIME MBA. PART-OF-SOMETHING-BIGGER. We know that when you’re working towards something bigger, you can’t stop going to work. And since your MBA is just part of the big picture, we offer options that can fit into your ambitious life. Our world-renowned professors, students and network can help guide ever-evolving goals.

Because who you are today is only part of who you’ll be tomorrow.

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