This year, three individuals with ties to Goizueta Business School’s undergraduate Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) program made the list: Evelyn Duan 17BBA, Dumebi Egbuna 18BBA, and Clara Wasserman 26BBA.

What I love so much about these three women being recognized is that this list not only honors their efforts individually, but also shows the range and versatility of our amazing BBA students.

Andrea, Hershatter, Associate Professor in the Practice of Organization & Management and Senior Associate Dean of Undergraduate Education

“Evelyn was a finance superstar from the moment she entered the undergraduate BBA program and Dumebi was always insightful, creative, and people oriented, as I had the good fortune to witness firsthand when she took my entrepreneurship class,” says Andrea Hershatter, associate professor in the practice of organization and management and senior associate dean of undergraduate education. “It’s incredible that Clara is just starting out and has already accomplished so much. In addition to founding an important youth advocacy venture, she is completing a BBA depth in organization and management, a political science major in Emory College, and her Master of Accounting. It is such a privilege to have these wonderful women represent the undergraduate BBA program.”

Dumebi Egbuna: Social Impact

Dumebi Egbuna 18BBA launched Chezie with her brother, Toby, after they both faced the difficulties of navigating corporate America as Black, Nigerian immigrants. Although the pair’s original idea was a variation of Glassdoor, a company review website, the duo now works with people teams at companies to create a more inclusive and safe work environment by leveraging the impact of employee resource groups.

The company handles the data-driven, administrative side of DEI initiatives and employee communities so that the companies can focus on the bigger picture, filling any gaps that exist in the staff experience. Egbuna actually began the company while she was still working full-time at IBM.

“Building something from scratch has been one of the most challenging-yet-rewarding experiences of my life,” says Egbuna. “As founders, my brother and I are fully responsible for the success of this business. While that pressure is real, it’s also what makes the wins feel so meaningful.”

Egbuna says seeing Chezie recognized by Forbes has been on her vision board for years.

“More than anything, I want to look back on my life and know that I’ve left my mark on the world. This honor is a reminder that I’m doing work that truly matters. I want people who look like me to be able to show up authentically in any space, and knowing that I’m helping create safe, inclusive workplaces makes this recognition even more meaningful,” says Egbuna.

Evelyn Duan: Finance

Evelyn Duan 17BBA is the vice president at Sixth Street Partners, a global investment firm. In her role, Duan primarily works with software companies and has contributed $500 million in investments to major corporations, including Bloomreach, SnapLogic, Veracode, and Heap.

In response to her recognition by Forbes, Duan said on LinkedIn, “[I feel] incredibly honored to be named a Forbes 30 Under 30 in finance. [I’m grateful] to be part of the team at Sixth Street, where I’ve had the privilege to learn, grow, and contribute.”

Beyond her 9-5, Duan also serves as a mentor. She uses her experiences as a first-generation immigrant to help other international students through Ascend, a global network for Pan-Asian professionals.

Clara Wasserman: Social Media

In June 2020, Clara Wasserman 26BBA was stuck at home during the COVID-19 pandemic—and constantly online.

“I felt that my usage of social media was not benefiting my mental health,” recalls Wasserman.

At the time, she watched an interview by the YouTube channel Jubilee, interviewing a teenager named Emma Lembke. The conversation was about digital wellness and social media advocacy. After watching the interview, Wasserman reached out to Lembke, and the two co-founded LOG OFF.

The youth-led nonprofit provides children, teenagers, and young adults with the tools and resources to create healthier relationships with social media and online platforms. They also host events and campaigns, such as their recent “Forks Up, Phones Down” movement aimed at staying present when eating with friends and family.

“What I truly appreciate and value about my work at LOG OFF is that I can see a real-time difference in how our advocacy impacts people’s lives and their perspectives on social media,” says Wasserman, who assists with fundraisers, campaign conception, designing educational material, and facilitating marketing with other organizations as co-founder.

For Wasserman, the Forbes recognition is “surreal.” This partnership and project began when she was in high school. To receive such a significant honor while still in college has been gratifying.

“For the organization to receive such a nod from Forbes really propels our mission and energizes us to keep on moving forward. It shows that our work matters to people, and there’s still so much work left to do.”

Discover how Goizueta empowers the next generation of business leaders—learn more about our undergraduate program.

The post Goizueta Alumni and Student Recognized by Forbes 30 Under 30 appeared first on EmoryBusiness.com.

This year’s team included Saanvi Sood 25BBA; Catherine Ly 26BBA, chair of competitions; Sean Walsh 26BBA; and Yashonandan Kakrania 26BBA 26MAcc, team captain. They recently traveled to New Zealand to compete in the Champions Trophy Case Competition at the University of Auckland—and they won third place.

“In the Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) curriculum, our undergraduate students gather and analyze data, model outcomes, deconstruct multi-layered problems, think creatively and strategically, and make actionable recommendations. They also present with confident professionalism,” says Andrea Hershatter, senior associate dean of undergraduate education and associate professor in the practice of organization and management.

“I saw all of those capacities in action with the team, along with their resilience, drive towards continuous improvement, and superior sportsmanship. I could not have been prouder of the outcomes they achieved and, especially, the way they competed.”

The Story Starts in California

In the spring of 2024, a group of Goizueta undergraduate students traveled to the University of Southern California for the Marshall Case Competition: Jonathan Ross 24BBA, Harrison Coorey 24BBA, Michelle Li 24BBA, and Sood.

Unbeknownst to the team at the time, this event was a qualifier for the international event in New Zealand. In fact, it was one of only two qualifying events that exist in the United States.

The team flew to Los Angeles with the intention of having fun and doing their best—and they won first place.

“It was an incredible honor and such a privilege to win first place and represent Goizueta, especially as a newly established team,” says Sood.

Some teams prepare for months on end, often with professional coaches, but the Goizueta students had an advantage: The undergraduate business curriculum includes cases and presentations in class.

“Our success was a big testament to our Goizueta education because it’s so practical and hands-on,” says Sood, who used a skill she learned in a data analytics course to help the team win the Marshall Case Competition.

A Trip to New Zealand

As a result of the first place honor in California, Goizueta secured a spot in the Champions Trophy Case Competition in New Zealand. Since most of the team graduated in 2024, Sood was tasked with recruiting new members.

Her selling points were the opportunity to connect more deeply with Goizueta peers and meet students from programs around the world. Sood shared how valuable the experience is in putting the skills learned in class or through internships to the test in high-pressure, real-world scenarios that require collaboration. For younger classmates, case competitions are great talking points for job interviews.

The team also secured funding to fully cover the trip and all expenses through the Robson Program for Business, Public Policy, and Government and the support of Jeffrey Rosensweig, director of the Robson Program and associate professor of finance.

“The funding was a testament to Goizueta believing in our ability to do well, but also wanting us to have meaningful experiences, regardless of what the outcome is,” says Sood. “A lot of people in the Goizueta community came together to make this happen, and it’s something that I will be truly appreciative of when I look back at my time at Emory.”

The International Competition

The Goizueta team arrived at the Champions Trophy Case Competition surrounded by teams who regularly compete at the international level. What made the competition even more unique—in addition to the location and prestige—was that teams were not allowed to use the internet…for anything. Participants were forced to use the skill sets of their teams and even create paper slide decks for their presentations.

“I actually liked the fact that there was no internet allowed,” says Ly. “It made us really test our critical thinking in a straightforward manner, rather than worrying about how slides looked.”

Because of this added challenge, Ly says the key was a deep understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of each teammate so that, together, they created a “strong dynamic.”

“No team is perfect, and no one is ever ‘fully ready,’ but as long as you’re willing to give your 110%, adapt, and be open to feedback, that’s all that matters,” says Ly.

For Kakrania, one of the exciting aspects of a case competition is problem-solving a real world business issue. An additional challenge the Goizueta team faced was thinking about New Zealand culture and companies for the cases, rather than approaching the competition from the U.S. perspective.

“It’s been incredible to witness the team’s rapid growth,” says Kakrania. “The chance to represent Goizueta at one of the biggest case competitions in the world filled me with immense pride. I wanted to not only compete at the highest level, but also showcase what makes Goizueta stand out as a top business school on the global stage.”

The team achieved that goal: They have since received numerous invitations to participate in case competitions at other universities in Europe, Asia, and Canada.

“Case competitions are one of the most exciting and rewarding experiences you can have as an undergraduate,” says Kakrania. “I’ve learned how to work effectively in teams, leveraging diverse backgrounds and skill sets while refining ideas through collaboration.”

The Future of Goizueta’s Case Competition Team

Kakrania says the team plans to start incorporating more outside-of-class practice to help prepare members for a wide range of business challenges.

“The case competition team welcomes all interested undergraduate BBA students,” says Hershatter. “Case competitions are a phenomenal learning experience and can provide truly transformational opportunities.”

Interested students can start in small, internal events before participating in intercollegiate and international events. Email Paula Zwillich to find out how you can join.

Ready to take on your own real-world business challenges? Learn more about Goizueta’s hands-on undergraduate business degree.

The post Goizueta Case Competition Team Wins Big Abroad appeared first on EmoryBusiness.com.

The purpose of these awards is to recognize individuals and groups from across Emory University and the greater Atlanta area who have “led with love and peace, while advocating for justice for all.”

This year’s theme is “Uplifting Humanity: Creating a Future of Justice and Equity Through Compassion and Service.”

The awards are centered around a quote from King: “The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands [in] times of challenge and controversy.”

Meet Goizueta’s Nominees

Vernon Smith: Senior Associate Director of Student Life and Engagement

This year, Goizueta has two nominees for the Community Service Awards: Vernon Smith and Start:ME.

Smith is the senior associate director of student life and engagement at Goizueta. He was nominated due to his leadership skills and impact on the Keystone experience.

When Smith joined Goizueta’s MBA program office, he assumed responsibility of Keystone, an annual event for the MBA students that features a community service day. During his time of leading this particular event, he’s focused on partnering with Atlanta metro-area organizations that address the needs of people affected by institutional racism and social injustice, explains Smith’s nomination.

“Under Vernon’s leadership, the past two years have been remarkable in terms of Goizueta’s engagement and impact on these important communities. By channeling the efforts of our students in this direction, Vernon has truly uplifted the people in our community who have been underserved and often forgotten.”

Smith says his nomination has left him with pride and gratitude. “It means a lot to me that people notice the work I try to do each day. Dr. King’s example shines bright, showing us that true change comes when we stand up for fairness, equality, and helping others—even when it’s tough.”

This recognition tells me that it matters to create welcoming spaces, lift up those who need to be heard, and make sure our spaces are places where everyone feels like they belong, are appreciated, and can make a difference.

Vernon Smith, Senior Associate Director of Student Life and Engagement

Start:ME

Start:ME, an initiative of Goizueta’s Business & Society Institute and Goizueta’s group nomination, began in 2013. The program provides entrepreneurs in under-resourced areas of Atlanta with 14-weeks of free business skills, training, mentorship, and grant capital.

Since its inception, Start:ME has trained 500 microbusiness owners in the Atlanta area, including 83% led by people of color, 74% female-led, 22% immigrant-led, and 62% led by individuals from low-to-moderate income households. The program welcomed its largest cohort to date earlier this year.

“Entrepreneurship is a pathway to economic empowerment—creating opportunities for income and wealth generation, local jobs, and serving local needs. This program provides crucial training and funding for individuals who have historically been denied or overlooked for investment support,” reads the nomination.

“Start:ME’s economic impact on our community is significant. Start:ME alumni employ more than 800 people, operate 84 brick-and-mortar locations, and generate annual revenues of $24 million. Start:ME’s seed investment pool has provided $420,000 in peer-selected start-up capital, which has positively impacted the business opportunities of those historically marginalized. Start: ME has meaningfully improved the lives of participants and strengthened the economic vitality of our community.”

This year’s event will be held on February 26 in the School of Public Health.

Learn more about Goizueta Business School’s Business & Society Institute and its programs supporting entrepreneurs and inclusive economic development.

The post Goizueta Nominations for the 2025 Martin Luther King Jr. Community Service Awards appeared first on EmoryBusiness.com.

Join us in celebrating Veterans Day throughout the month of November, as we profile three remarkable veterans in the Goizueta community, each on a unique path but united by their shared commitment to excellence, both in service and beyond.

At Goizueta Business School, supporting veterans and active-duty military members has long been a core value, woven into the school’s identity. Goizueta welcomed its inaugural class of the new Master in Business for Veterans program earlier this year. The fully accredited 11-month program is designed for active-duty military, veterans, National Guard, and Reserve personnel. It provides tailored resources and experiences to help veterans transition into business leadership roles.

The new program is only the most recent testament to Goizueta’s enduring dedication to those who have served our country. This year, Goizueta also celebrates its largest cohort of veteran students across all programs.

Meet Matt Smith 01MBA

In February 2025, Matt Smith 01MBA will retire as a two-star major general for the U.S. Army.

After almost 32 years of service, Smith can relax—even though he’s not quite sure what that looks like just yet.

The Beginning

Smith’s story is unique because of its many twists and turns. He joined the Army in college because it provided him a four-year scholarship—the Navy only covered three years. Naively, he admits, he considered the Army the next step after being an eagle scout.

“It just seemed like a natural progression to me, but the story I tell young officers to this day is I had not realized the magnitude of the responsibility when I raised my right hand and got commissioned as an officer of the United States,” admits Smith.

As a brand-new platoon leader in 1994, Smith and his troops deployed with only eight hours’ notice after Saddam Hussein attempted to cross a border the U.S. had imposed.

Smith recalls doing very well during his training at then Fort Benning (now Fort Moore). However, it wasn’t until he landed in Kuwait and took in the scene—armored equipment and live ammunition—that the reality of his responsibilities sunk in.

A plane of his troops would soon arrive and look to his instruction and guidance to keep them safe.

I remember thinking to myself, after sailing through all these courses, “I should have studied harder when I was at Fort Benning,” because in that moment, it got very serious. This is not some advanced form of Boy Scouts. It’s a life and death endeavor.

Matt Smith 01MBA, Major General, U.S. Army

Luckily, the mission didn’t turn into a gunfight, recalls Smith, but that moment of crystallization, the magnitude of his role, informed every decision he has made moving forward.

“I think the units I was in at the times we got ordered to go overseas for both Iraq and Afghanistan, in some immeasurable way, benefited from that early experience.”

But before those future deployments, Smith left the Army and headed to the corporate world in Atlanta in the late 90s.

A Temporary Corporate Calling

Smith took a job as a financial advisor for Morgan Stanley and joined the Georgia National Guard to remain in some version of service, which required one weekend a month and two weeks in the summer. In an effort to help him move up the corporate ladder, Smith also enrolled in Goizueta Business School’s MBA program.

After graduating in 2001, he landed a job at IBM as a global marketing manager. In a review session in 2003, he asked about future leadership opportunities; Smith wanted to know when he’d be given more responsibility.

The answer: Maybe in five years.

For someone who had been responsible for dozens of people and millions of dollars of equipment in his early twenties, Smith realized that the military was where he was meant to be.

I’m not aware of another career, line of work, or professional environment where you can be responsible for so much at respectively young ages.

Matt Smith

“It’s not just the leadership; it’s the human interactions,” says Smith.

“There is no model. Not even artificial intelligence can calculate all the permutations or variables, so it was very exciting in that regard, and I think that’s what kept me going.”

A Career in Command

Smith remained active-duty for the Georgia National Guard from 2003 – 2019. Then, he resumed active duty for the Army and began working for the Department of Defense.

His first role was in the Pentagon as the deputy director of operations for the Army and later for the National Guard Bureau, a position that was perfectly suited for someone with such a robust background in service. For three years, he directed the global operations of both branches.

In December 2022, he stepped into his current role as commander of the Joint Task Force – North. His team has helped federal agencies with interdepartmental coordination and assisted U.S. Border Patrol when they needed additional observation help.

For years, Smith feared that he wasn’t reaping any benefit from that long-ago MBA degree, but his wife, Laura Balser 94BBA 01MBA, insisted he was wrong. She said the value was how it transformed him as a leader.

In retrospect, I openly tell her she was right all those years. Looking back, I can see how my MBA experience made me different as a military leader.

Matt Smith

“As I became more senior, the benefits of the MBA became even more apparent,” shares Smith.

The knowledge of business and finance, an understanding of accounting: These skills allowed him to advise policy makers on significant decisions. It was the skills he gained from earning an MBA that set him apart as a military leader, most of whom don’t have backgrounds in business or economics.

Giving Voice to Goizueta’s Veterans

In 2003, Smith learned about Goizueta’s own Lieutenant General, Retired, Ken Keen. Keen’s son, who was in college at the time, was part of Smith’s company.

“There’s a saying in the military: Three beats two every day. When a three-star says to a two-star, ‘I’d like you to help me with this.’ You say, ‘Yes, sir.’”

Smith became involved with Goizueta when Keen, an associate professor in the Practice of Organization & Management and associate dean for leadership, joined the school. Smith participated in several Leadership Reaction Courses. Now he’s part of the advisory board for Goizueta’s new Master in Business for Veterans program.

The program is designed for veterans, helping them leverage their existing skills and experience for their transition into the civilian, corporate world. The advisory board provides suggestions for the future of the program, and Smith shares that the board has a diverse mix of backgrounds.

Smith praises the program for including the core of a traditional MBA, but “the beauty of the program is that it capitalizes on students’ years of prior service as a means of jump starting whatever their next thing is going to be,” explains Smith.

“Business is one of the major factors that shapes the way the world is, and it’s central to our country,” says Smith. “The Master in Business for Veterans program gives them a fundamental understanding of business.”

Experts in the Human Condition

Smith likes to say that service members have a PhD in the human condition, a phrase someone said to him about his own experience years ago.

Service members likely soak up more data points on the human condition than anyone else at the same respective age.

Matt Smith

“Most of these data points were in very, very stressful environments,” says Smith. “I think, in retrospect, I have developed an insight into the human condition that is valuable and priceless.”

Smith believes that knowledge and awareness of how humans interact is a skill that all service members acquire, often at a young age.

“There is an essence to what these service members bring to a civilian environment that is very unique and special—different than anybody else who works for a firm—and that is valuable. The trick, I think, for those of us senior veterans is to communicate that return on investment to the hiring entity,” says Smith.

So, while Smith may not have any immediate plans for his retirement, he already knows this: He will be spending his future advocating for fellow veterans—and the value they bring to the civilian world.

Goizueta Remembers and Honors this Veterans Day

Veterans Events in November

Veteran in Leadership Speaker Series
Nov 21, 6 – 9 p.m., Featuring Takiesha Waites-Thierry, Bank of America: Learn More

Master in Business for Veterans Information Session at Goizueta
Nov 23, 11 a.m.–1 p.m., online or in person: Register Now

Learn more about Goizueta’s new Master in Business for Veterans program.

Find out how the Goizueta MBA takes students beyond business as usual. 

The post Goizueta’s Veterans: Meet Matt Smith appeared first on EmoryBusiness.com.

This Veterans Day and throughout November, join us in celebrating veterans as we profile three remarkable members of the Goizueta community, each on a unique path but united by their shared commitment to excellence, both in service and beyond.

At Goizueta Business School, supporting veterans and active-duty military members has long been a core value, woven into the school’s identity. Goizueta welcomed its inaugural class of the new Master in Business for Veterans program earlier this year. The fully accredited 11-month program is designed for active-duty military, veterans, National Guard, and Reserve personnel. It provides tailored resources and experiences to help veterans transition into business leadership roles.

The new program is only the most recent testament to Goizueta’s enduring dedication to those who have served our country. This year, Goizueta also celebrates its largest cohort of veteran students across all programs.

Meet Wyatt Smeltzer 25MBA

When Wyatt Smeltzer 25MBA reflects on his eight-year stint in the Army, his story is punctuated with a lot of crazy tales—of adventures he signed up for as additional training—from jumping out of helicopters and swimming to the shore with all his gear to roughing it in the jungles of the Philippines for three months.

Smeltzer jokes that, looking back, he cringes to think about rappelling 100 feet out of a helicopter and the other adrenaline-fueled activities that once filled his days. At the same time, he admits that those experiences were some of the reasons he stayed in the Army.

War is a terrible thing, but seeing the bigger picture—traveling to different countries—gives you a very humbling perspective. It made me a more well-rounded person.

Wyatt Smeltzer 25MBA

Now, Smeltzer, who left the Army as a captain, is taking on a new challenge—getting his MBA at Goizueta. He is now filling his time contributing to student organizations and finding ways to help other veterans, all before he graduates in May and begins a new career in the civilian world.

How It Started

Smeltzer grew up in Pennsylvania and joined the Pennsylvania Army National Guard after high school to pay for college. During his first month in college, he saw a poster for Army ROTC and, as the saying goes, the rest is history. After college, Smeltzer reported to Fort Lee, Virginia, the first of many stops on his journey.

While Smeltzer had planned on becoming a police officer or state trooper, the Army decided he’d excel in supply chain and logistics.

Leading Logistics in the Army

Though he had not taken any supply chain classes in college, the Army sent Smeltzer to leadership courses for training. Over the course of his Army career, Smeltzer’s charge grew from 55 to 75 soldiers. He held titles including regional transportation planner and logistics company commander.

The last title he held was supply management officer. In this role, he created and executed a $21 million project plan, which provided logistics to more than 5,000 U.S. and foreign military service members for 50 days across three Hawaiian Islands.

Whether it was moving people or equipment, Smeltzer tackled all aspects of supply chain management during his time in the Army—a transferrable and valuable skill set that would serve him well in the future.

Smeltzer served one deployment during his service, and it was in the middle of COVID-19. His job was to transport soldiers who operated and maintained the communications of air-to-surface missile launchers in the Middle East. Navigating the required quarantine for these individuals during this time added an extra challenge to the task at hand.

His largest strategic contribution overseas was removing equipment from Afghanistan. During this time, the leader of an Iranian group was killed, which resulted in retaliation on U.S. bases in Iraq.

“At the time, I wasn’t privy to all of this information. My mission was just to move this equipment to other places,” says Smeltzer. “After that happened, it felt good to play a part in moving the equipment that shot down those missiles so no U.S. soldiers were hurt or killed—I actually made an impact.”

Time to Go

One of Smeltzer’s final acts in the Army was a six-month long internship, a transition period, where he worked for the Department of Defense’s POW/MIA Accounting Agency. The group works to find the roughly 70,000 missing in action and prisoners of war, going all the way back to World War II. During his internship, Smeltzer assisted with nearly 200 cases, some of which are now being resolved.

“It was my proudest personal military achievement,” recalls Smeltzer.

It was a really awesome closure to my military experience, meeting the families who didn’t know what happened to their loved one for 60 or 70 years and getting to say, “Hey, we found them.”

Wyatt Smeltzer 25MBA

Smeltzer’s last station was in Hawaii, where he got to work alongside a diverse group of people. A large portion of his unit were U.S. ethnic minorities and a third were women.

“You get to learn about different cultures,” says Smeltzer, who also met several U.S. immigrants who joined the military as a path to citizenship. “It’s very interesting the things you learn and the stories of these people.”

Smeltzer admits he never pictured himself as a leader, but that is a skill he learned, honed, and refined during his service. Through the Army, Smeltzer says he was able to test his leadership skills and become a better version of himself.

The most rewarding part of being a leader in the Army was the tons of opportunities to help other people, like young soldiers who wanted to go to college.

Wyatt Smeltzer 25MBA

Smeltzer helped dozens of aspiring soldiers apply for and enroll in college. He also taught basic financial literacy courses.

Back to Business School

When he decided it was time to leave the Army, business school seemed like the next logical step. Several of his friends went to business school to help with the transition from military to civilian life, gaining the confidence to transfer the skills they’d learned and experiences they’d had to a corporate career.

“It’s really surprising how similar the work I was doing in the military is to the real world,” shares Smeltzer.

Smeltzer praises Professors Lynne Segall and Renée Dye as well as the IMPACT program, which provides students with a safe space to work with real clients on real problems.

IMPACT was the perfect transitional class for someone who is pivoting careers. It was a perfect practice run for my internship.

Wyatt Smeltzer 25MBA

He says the class taught him how to create frameworks for projects, communicate with executives, and produce high-quality work.

“A lot of people think that people in the military are rigid thinkers, but we have a lot of flexibility to think strategically.”

Smeltzer spent the summer working for Deloitte’s Enterprise Performing Practice, where he put his military supply chain and logistics skills to work—and where he’ll return after graduation. He hopes to find projects in the trucking or airline industries.

When Smeltzer isn’t in class, he’s found every possible way to give back. He helps fellow veterans apply to Goizueta, assisting them through the enrollment process as  a member of the MBA Veterans Club. He’s been a Delta Leadership Coaching fellow, president of the Goizueta Management & Operations Club, vice president of the Goizueta Technology Association, and vice president of communications for the Goizueta Business Association. He’s also served as a member of the Consulting Association and Nonprofit Consulting Club.

Through his role in the Nonprofit Consulting Club, Smeltzer has been able to give back to the greater Atlanta community, too. This experience included a project that helped a women’s shelter relocate and reorganize their transportation system.

“I love helping people out, and I love being around my peers. They’re so smart. You hear some horror stories of other business schools being super cut-throat, but it’s the exact opposite at Goizueta,” says Smeltzer. “I’ve built great friendships and that surprised me. I thought it would be more business and work relationships, but I genuinely know a lot of these people really well.”

“These friendships will last for a long time.”

Goizueta Remembers and Honors this Veterans Day

Veterans Events in November

Salute to Service at Goizueta: A Veteran Preview Event
November 7-8: Registration is now closed.

Veterans Salute to Service Dinner and Keynote Kyle Eberly
November 8, 5-8 p.m.: Registration is now closed.

Emory University Veterans Day Ceremony
Nov 11, 11 a.m.: Register Now

Emory University Veteran Day Alumni Event
Miller-Ward Alumni House, Nov 11, 6-8 p.m.: Register Now

Veteran in Leadership Speaker Series
Nov 21, 6 – 9 p.m., Featuring Takiesha Waites-Thierry, Bank of America: Learn More

Master in Business for Veterans Information Session at Goizueta
Nov 23, 11 a.m.–1 p.m., online or in person: Register Now

Learn more about Goizueta’s new Master in Business for Veterans program.

Find out how the Goizueta MBA takes students beyond business as usual. 

The post Goizueta’s Veterans: Meet Wyatt Smeltzer appeared first on EmoryBusiness.com.

“The combination of an undergraduate degree in liberal arts, science, or engineering and this specialized business degree prepares students to excel across industries. The demand for management professionals in the southeast region is projected to grow significantly. Our program positions graduates to seize these opportunities as well as explore careers worldwide,” said Gareth James, John H. Harland Dean of Goizueta, about the start of the degree.

The inaugural cohort has an average age of 22. Of these students, 38% graduated from an Emory University program, with a total of 84% of the class graduating from their undergraduate programs in 2024. The class is 62% female, 34% international, and 41% under-represented minority.

“We are delighted with our incredible inaugural class in the Master in Management program,” says Usha Rackliffe, associate dean and academic director for Master in Management program and associate professor in the Practice of Accounting. “They have fantastic accomplishments—some in sports, others in academics, ranging from music and entertainment to psychology and pre-med. They come from amazing schools around the country.”

The cohort includes:

• – An exercise science major with a minor in psychology who wants to gain critical business knowledge to open her own practice in sports psychology.
• – An environmental science major who hopes that by adding business skills to her science background she will be able to have greater impact as she works toward a more sustainable future.
• – A philosophy major who wants to work in a DEI role to create spaces that emphasize the importance of a workforce that reflects our communities and the world.
• – A sociology major interested in pursuing people-focused marketing that drives meaningful connections.
• – An English major wanting to combine his multi-lingual arts background with core business skills to help more small and medium-sized business owners flourish.
• – A music composition major who wants to modernize orchestral ensembles and develop sustainable models for arts organizations.
• – A psychology major who will be attending medical school and wants to bring a strong business skillset into the medical field as a physician.

“The program allows students to level up their undergraduate degree by leveraging their skills and passions in a professional environment. It provides the knowledge and tools to launch a career with confidence in just 10 months,” says Rackliffe.

The curriculum is structured to build this knowledge and confidence in three ways, explains Rackliffe. First, the program covers the foundations of business, including accounting, finance, information systems and operations management, marketing, and organization and management. Students also have the choice between electives that both “expand on their areas of interests while strengthening their technical expertise.”

Lastly, the program also requires an in-depth project with a real company, so students gain the experience of applying their new skills and knowledge to complex, real-world problems. At the end of the project, they’ll be able to provide “meaningful, informed business recommendations,” according to Rackliffe.

As Goizueta students, they’ll have access to career coaching, workshops, mentors, and the global Goizueta alumni network.

“With their broad range in backgrounds, I am blown away by what they have in common: a passion to do great things, a fierce ambition to succeed, and a commitment to excellence. We are excited to be a part of their journey,” says Rackliffe.

Learn more about the new Master in Management program.

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“It’s like I never graduated,” Mendéz jokes. “I’ve always been involved with the school, so I never left campus.”

Somehow, between his role as a director at ScottMadden, a management consulting firm, and serving on the alumni board of his undergraduate alma mater, he has found time to give back to the Goizueta Business School community.

Mendéz can be found among the coaches at the summer Leadership Reaction Course, a role he’s held for 10 years. He jokes that being a coach is an opportunity to “play Army” again, where he served for nine years.

He is also an active mentor at Goizueta, especially for the school’s rapidly growing veteran community. Mendéz has assisted the school’s admissions team by conducting interviews of applicants, and he helps with recruitment for ScottMadden. It’s not uncommon to find his schedule packed with phone calls or coffee chats with current Goizueta students or alumni.

“I always feel like I’m blessed, regardless of where I’m at in life, and it’s always been because somebody extended a hand to me,” says Mendéz. “If I could be that helpful stranger for the next person, then I’m happy to give back.”

For the last three years, he’s also served on Goizueta’s alumni board, where he’s recently stepped into the role of president.

Leading the Way as President

Fellow board members must nominate a candidate for board president, and Mendéz says he was honored to have been nominated—and recognized—by his peers.

Given the short tenure of the role of president, at only one year, Mendéz has no plans to shake things up.

“We want to make sure we have a core group of folks, so as we move forward, we can continue to build on what we have and not try to reinvent the wheel every year.”

The board operates through four committees: student engagement; alumni lifecycle; the nominating committee—always on the lookout for new members; and the mentorship committee, which spearheads Goizueta’s alumni mentor program.

The alumni mentor program is one of the biggest undertakings for the board. This program pairs current students with an alumni mentor for the year. It has gained such popularity in the last few years that they’re always seeking mentors to join, which Mendéz says is a good problem to have.

Coming in spring 2025, the board hopes to host panels and more events for Goizueta’s specialized masters degrees, such as the Master in Management and the Master in Business for Veterans, which had their inaugural cohorts this year.

“I’m an MBA, so I can say that we get a lot of love,” jokes Mendéz. “We want to create a panel of alumni from these newer specialized programs so they can share their stories and journey.”

Mendéz says the hope is that these panels can answer questions, such as what kind of jobs are available for graduates with certain degrees and expertise. These specialized programs often have a large percentage of international students, so panelists offering recommendations for how to experience Atlanta could also benefit students.

The alumni board acts as a bridge between the business school and it’s alumni. In between that is the student body, and they become alumni very quickly.

David Israel Mendéz 15MBA

The goal is to keep students engaged and help them see the benefit of Goizueta’s strong, global alumni network (25,000 and counting) so that they might become active alumni, too.

“Goizueta is not a commuter campus. There’s a community—a fraternity almost—that you’re a part of for life, and that’s the idea that we’re trying to build upon through the alumni board,” explains Mendéz. “We want to support the next generation of students who are up and coming and need a hand or advice.”

We’ve all been there. I always feel like, if we could all influence five people around us, imagine the impact we could have together.

David Israel Mendéz 15MBA

Are you interested in becoming an alumni mentor or contributing to the Goizueta alumni network? Contact the Goizueta Business School alumni office at gbsalumni@emory.edu.

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Out of this year’s incoming class of 48 students, nearly half of them bring previous work experience with them to the program. It is this variety of backgrounds and perspectives that can create a more enriching learning environment. In addition, 21 percent of the class has another Emory University degree, and 32 percent of the group are women.

This year’s cohort represents countries from around the world, including Austria, China, Dominican Republic, Hungary, India, Nepal, Norway, Russia, Spain, Taiwan, United Kingdom, and the United States..

“Already in its third year since inception, the program’s enrollment has grown by almost 50 percent. This year’s diverse cohort of students represents 12 countries from around the world, and 60 percent of our students received their undergraduate degree from a U.S. university,” says Zuzana Hlavacova Gurung, associate dean of Goizueta’s specialized masters programs.

When May approaches, this new group of students will be well-equipped to launch or elevate their finance careers in sales, trading, investment management, fintech, or investment banking. The program has an impeccable job placement rate, too.

“With 97 percent career outcomes for our first graduating class, we cannot wait to see what this year’s class accomplishments will be,” says Gurung.

Goizueta’s Master of Finance degree offers unmatched experience and industry know-how through a unique analyst immersion built throughout the program. Learn more.

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Goizueta upholds many storied traditions that span programs and graduation years. Undergraduate students participate in an orientation retreat as well as the iconic graduation year photo. First-year MBA students have the legendary clap-in and Goizueta Coca-Cola Toast.

For the second-year MBA students and students from the One-Year MBA program, it is Keystone, two days of volunteering, networking, and self-reflecting.

“Keystone was created in 2012 to reunite and merge our returning students from the two full-time MBA programs. Over the years, it has blossomed into a rich tradition. It now includes a community service day and the writing of a five-year goals letter. We also welcome our first-year MBA students with another Goizueta tradition, the annual clap-in and Coca-Cola toast,” shares Brian Mitchell, associate dean of full-time MBA programs and Goizueta Global Strategy & Initiatives.

Day of Service

One of the hallmarks of Keystone is the day of service, during which students volunteer at organizations across Atlanta. This year, Ross Hegtvedt 25MBA, the vice president of community outreach, led the charge. While researching potential sites, Hegtvedt included a combination of existing partners as well as new organizations across the city.

“I grew up here in Atlanta and fervently believe that Atlanta influences everything. So I love this city,” says Hegtvedt. “I really wanted to share it more with my classmates.”

The volunteer locations included Atlanta Children’s Shelter, Atlanta Community Food Bank, Flowing with Blessings, First African Community Development Corporation, New Life Community Food Alliance, Amico Farms, Trees Atlanta, and Zoo Atlanta.

Volunteers learned how animals at the Zoo were fed during the winter. Some of their classmates learned how to properly care for Atlanta’s trees. Still others played chess with unhoused community members and helped with laundry and shower services.

At Goizueta, community is a core value, and business and society are interwoven.

“This tradition and the spirits that animate our service exemplify the best of Goizueta’s culture and values,” says Hegtvedt.

Creating a Lasting Impact

This year’s total volunteer turnout and service hours per person were the highest yet. The group of 96 students worked on 10 projects and volunteered 290 service hours.

“I’m so grateful that this is a tradition at Goizueta,” shares Hegtvedt. “I wanted folks to take advantage of this opportunity. It’s a chance to practice reflection, service, and even being present with issues we might not encounter everyday but that countless others do.”

Pooja Bhatt 25MBA is president of the Graduate Business Association. She spent her day of service at a local food bank, which was able to serve more people than normal thanks to the extra hands. The presence of the extra volunteers also created a unique opportunity for the students to apply their classroom knowledge.

“As MBA students, we leveraged our innate problem-solving mindsets while volunteering, identifying opportunities to optimize the servicing assembly lines. This allowed us to reduce bottlenecks and enhance the efficiency of the food distribution process, in real time,” recalls Bhatt.

While Hegtvedt organized the event, Bhatt helped identify ways the two programs could network and interact and even heard classmates wondering when they can give back next.

The Famous Keystone Letter

There’s one tradition all alumni can look forward to when returning to campus, whether for their five-year reunion or just a quick visit with Mitchell after the five-year mark: They receive the letter they wrote to themselves during their own Keystone experience.

“The letter-writing tradition is rather interesting,” says Bhatt, who shared that her words have a tendency to come true. In her application letter, she expressed an interest in being “intensely involved” in the Goizueta community. Now, she’s “enjoying the fruits of those seeds I planted.”

While writing her letter, Bhatt asked classmates she was sitting next to for their signature or to write a little note – similar to the signing of yearbooks at the end of the school year.

“I’m sure those will be an interesting thing for us to discover when we open these letters at our reunion!”

Goizueta’s Full-Time MBA programs are the only top-ranked MBA offering world-class academics and small-by-design classes delivered in a dynamic, global city.

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“The mission of the Executive Women of Goizueta is to create a community that advances personal and professional leadership for Goizueta women and allies,” explains President Nicole Rife 16EvMBA.

Rife, a senior director of product management of money movement at Conservice, joined Executive Women of Goizueta in 2020 after working with the last president. Rife served two years on the conference programming committee before joining the organization’s board in 2022. Before becoming president herself, she held the roles of general programming chair, sponsorship chair, and vice president.

“It’s a privilege to serve as president of the Executive Women of Goizueta board this year,” says Rife. “Our community of Goizueta women, supporters, and allies inspires me daily.”

The group also gained two new board members this year. Setu Shah 15MBA joins as engagement and general programming co-chair, and Hope Cowan 88MBA as marketing co-chair. Shah is the founder and CEO of Financial Doula, and Cowan is the principal consultant at Hope Cowan Consulting.

The remaining board members include:

• – Vice president: René Hallock 20EvMBA, director of integrated marketing at Intuit Mailchimp
• – Marketing co-chair: Abby England, principal at Abby England Consulting
• – Sponsorship co-chairs: Caren Lusk 13MBA, senior director of strategic insights at Optum Insight, and Missy Taylor 22EMBA, president of Dagger
• – Conference programming co-chairs: Jen Kostyrna 04C 18EvMBA, director of product management of identity solutions at LexisNexis Risk Solutions, and Lorry Perkins 15EMBA 17L, head of global talent and transformation enablement office at Nike
• – Conference logistics co-chairs: Liz Wolfe 16MBA 16PH, product portfolio lead at McKesson, and Tara Hornsby 24EMBA, senior director at Ankura
• – Treasurer: Julie Friedberg 87C 23EMBA, vice president of development at Kindle Energy
• – General programming co-chair: Kristy Hoffman 17EvMBA, principal and senior client advisor at Bessemer Trust
• – Awards and scholarship chair: Kuki Gandhi 15EvMBA, director of product and business strategy at ROSALIND
• – Outgoing president: Tara Halfon 14EvMBA, senior people strategist at Truist

The organization will hold several other professional growth and social events throughout the year, including their annual Advancing Women in Leadership Conference on March 28. Updates for all events can be found on the group’s social media platforms.

One of this year’s events is a virtual one. Taking place on September 26, it will feature Brandon Smith, an adjunct faculty member of Goizueta’s Executive Education program. Smith is also president of The Worksmiths, LLC, an executive coaching and leadership development firm. He is known as the “Workplace Therapist” and hosts his own podcast.

“Executive Women of Goizueta’s goals and purpose are strengthening our community of Goizueta women and allies. We do this through impactful event programming, providing more scholarship opportunities, enhancing personal and professional leadership development for our members, and expanding our professional networks to create more opportunities for advancement and support,” shares Abby England.

England attended the annual conference in 2023 and joined the group as a way to stay connected to Goizueta.

“I get to work with experienced business leaders on the board, who are passionate about creating opportunities to help women connect and grow. It is deeply fulfilling,” says England.

Whether someone has interest in financial giving, holding a board or committee position, or simply attending an event, the Executive Women of Goizueta are always looking for eager alumni and allies to join their community.

Would you like to find out more our thriving community? Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, or LinkedIn, or reach out to emoryexecwomen@gmail.com. 

The post Introducing the 2024 Executive Women of Goizueta Board appeared first on EmoryBusiness.com.

This year’s group of full-time students (129 in total) bring with them an average of 6.2 years of work experience. That background knowledge will serve them well as a foundation for the classes they’ll take, leadership opportunities they’ll seize, and complex, real-world business problems they’ll solve over the course of their two years at Emory University.

The benefit of the Two-Year MBA program for this class is a unique combination. They will be able to study with this level of elite faculty and classmates in a learning environment that is as small and close-knit as we are.

Brian Mitchell, associate dean of Goizueta’s full-time MBA programs

“It is an enormous benefit for students to be able to develop where they can be seen and heard as valued members of a strong community. They also get to have that experience in a world-class city where they still have access to many of the top organizations in the business world,” shares Brian Mitchell, associate dean of Goizueta’s full-time MBA programs and Goizueta Global Strategy & Initiatives.

The class of 2026 includes 32% women, 45% U.S. minority, and 45% international students.

Just a few of these stellar students include:

• – An ICU nurse who worked in surgical, transplant, and COVID units. This student was also a travel nurse in Maryland, Massachusetts, and Arkansas.
• – A recording artist who worked for Arcade Song Publishing, Sony Music, Columbia Records, and the Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music.
• – The founder and designer of the company Five One Three Designs, who also designed the book The World of Dad Jokes.
• – A Frito-Lay product manager who also served as the co-director of Camp Kesem and raised $70K to run this camp for children whose parents have cancer.
• – The founder of Tierra Unidad, Gwinnett County’s first bilingual community garden, which aims to teach Latinos about emerging farming practices. This student also created a risk assessment report for the Tokyo Olympics.
• – The co-founder of Activ24 Foods and Oils, a community focused on high-quality organic food products and cold-pressed edible oils that operates in 10 districts in India.
• – Some other incoming students include a professional race car driver, vice president of strategic client group at Truist, Coca-Cola brand manager, and a petroleum engineer.

The group also includes 19 members of the armed forces. Among the veterans, one is a decorated Green Beret officer, with a bronze star, who led a 12-month Special Forces team during the 10-day Battle of Hasakah.

“The Class of 2026 is exceptional in a number of ways,” reflects Mitchell. “They bring exceptional academic preparation, with an average undergraduate GPA of 3.5, across the widest range of majors and disciplines we have ever had in the program. Those perspectives are going to lead to enriched experiences inside and outside of the classroom. They are going to challenge each other – and us – to think about the world through different lenses. This is the key to building empathy as a leadership characteristic, so I have particularly high hopes for this class.”

Interested in learning more? Find out how the Goizueta MBA takes students beyond business as usual. 

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The Master in Business for Veterans program is led by Retired U.S. Army Lieutenant General and Associate Dean for Leadership Ken Keen.

“The Master in Business for Veterans cohort joins a strong Goizueta military and veteran community that has built a culture of supporting one another through their transition, educational journey, and pursuit of their personal and professional goals,” says Keen.

What makes the program unique is we work with each one of them individually, making it personal, as they work to apply their leadership experiences gained through military service toward seeking careers in the business world.

Ken Keen, Lieutenant General (Retired), U.S. Army, and Associate Dean for Leadership

“This program will help them build their network, business skills, and propel them to achieve their purpose beyond service in the military,” says Keen.

Meet the Class of 2025

The inaugural cohort of this working professional program includes 31 students. Among them are two Air Force, 19 Army, five Marines, and five Navy veterans and active duty service members.

These men and women have decorated and accomplished backgrounds, including several careers of service to the United States.

A few of the notable backgrounds include:

• – President of an open-source intelligence and technology company
• – A director of project management at a cybersecurity company
• – An Army veteran with 30 years of commissioned officer service
• – Three former Rangers with over 25 combat deployments
• – A practicing, board-certified registered dietitian and licensed nutritionist
• – A Naval intelligence officer with 12 years on the job
• – A lawyer, who received his degree from Emory University’s School of Law, and has also taught for almost 40 years

This new program is tailored to the experiences of service members. It aims to help them apply their military skills to civilian life.

“After deciding to retire after 23 years in the Army, I was looking for a graduate degree program. I needed one that could help me leverage my leadership, relationship-building, problem-solving, and strategic planning skills into the private and corporate business sectors,” shares Phil Paquette 25MBV, who served as an Army command sergeant major.

Goizueta’s strong reputation, combined with its dedicated support for military veterans, made it an ideal choice.

Phil Paquette 25MBV

“I am most excited about the future, where I will apply my military leadership and graduate education to real-world business challenges. The Master in Business for Veterans program’s focus on practical application and case studies will provide opportunities to do just that. I also look forward to collaborating with fellow veterans and learning from their diverse experiences.”

Learn more about the Master in Business for Veterans program.

Community and alumni support make this program possible. If you are interested in contributing to support veteran students enrolled in the program, please email gbsalumni@emory.edu to speak with the Goizueta Advancement and Alumni Engagement team.

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