Like many children, Eva Reiling 21BBA wanted to be an astronaut when she grew up. “I would always watch those ‘Future of Space’ or ‘The Future of Flight’ videos on YouTube, where it shows future models of airplanes and spaceships,” Reiling said. “I always thought that was so cool.”

Perhaps less typically, she also carried around a little notebook in which she wrote down business ideas. “I always wanted to start a company when I was little,” she said.

When it came time to apply to college, her interests hadn’t changed. Unwilling to set aside her love of STEM subjects or her passion for entrepreneurship, Reiling enrolled in the dual degree program—upon graduation, she will hold a bachelor of business administration from Goizueta and a bachelor of science in engineering from Georgia Tech.

Reiling’s talent and ambition have not gone unnoticed. This year, she was one of a select group of students to receive a Brooke Owens Fellowship. Created to honor space industry pioneer and pilot Dawn Brooke Owens, the fellowship facilitates mentorships and paid internships at leading aerospace companies for undergraduate women interested in a career in the aerospace industry.  

Reiling first heard of the fellowship at an internship fair she attended as a sophomore: A recruiter mentioned it and urged her to apply. She scrawled “Brooke Owens Fellowship” on the back of his business card and forgot about it.

Months later, she stumbled across the fellowship again on a college job board and began to read through the extensive application process. She knew well the value in programs geared toward women in STEM: In high school, she had attended an all-women’s engineering camp, which helped her realize she wanted to be an engineer. Moreover, she knew she would have to work hard to build a network in the aerospace industry. While she comes from a family of entrepreneurs, she is the first one to “go anywhere near” a STEM field, as she put it.

She applied for the fellowship. “I felt like if I put the work in, that I could be pretty competitive,” she said.

Allison Kays, assistant professor in the practice of accounting, more than agreed. “When Eva first told me about the program I thought, ‘Wow, was this program made for you?’” Kays said. “Eva’s charisma, work ethic and enthusiasm for life make her a natural leader. These qualities in combination with her unique dual degree in business and engineering make her the perfect candidate for the fellowship.” Kays, who taught Reiling for two semesters, wrote her letter of recommendation.

Still, when she received the good news, Reiling was in shock. She is the only industrial engineer in the 2020 cohort. She is the only business student, too. “It was a very good surprise,” she said.

The fellowship matched her with Airbus, where she will work as a space systems intern for OneWeb Satellites, a joint venture between Airbus and OneWeb that aims to mass produce satellites for the first time.

“I’m really excited to work at Airbus. I don’t really know what to expect,” Reiling said—the company has been vague about her job duties until her background check clears. But she is most excited to meet the other young women who received the fellowship: Six of them attend Georgia Tech, and the group met for coffee recently. “They all seem so happy to be in the fellowship also. They’re constantly talking in the group chat. I think it’s very awesome, the community that they all have been making.”

Despite her childhood dreams of space travel, Reiling never expected to end up pursuing a career in the aerospace industry. After landing an internship at NASA as a high school senior, contract work with a NASA contractor as a Goizueta student, and now the fellowship match with Airbus, Reiling said, “I guess the universe wants me in aerospace.”

One thing her experience has taught her is that anyone can thrive in the aerospace industry—not just engineers. During her internship with NASA, she met a UGA School of Journalism graduate who was in charge of nasa.gov’s online newsletters. “You wouldn’t expect a writer to work at NASA,” Reiling said. “If you have a love for space but you’re not going into engineering, you can still be part of that community, which is really cool.”

As for her plans in the industry, Reiling said, “I’m very excited to just jump right in.” But her ultimate goal is start her own business in the tech industry.

Kays is confident Reiling will achieve whatever she puts her mind to. “I am so impressed with Eva’s ability to juggle both business and science classes, all while maintaining a big smile on her face,” she said. “She is one smart cookie, and I have no doubt that she will continue to impress us and her future employers.”

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To celebrate, we asked student leaders from Goizueta’s Class of 2020 to reflect on this year’s theme and describe how they will help forge a gender equal world.

Shirley Gao 20MBA/MPH

President, Goizueta Healthcare Association
Managing Director, Goizueta Impact Investors
Social Enterprise @ Goizueta Fellow

It took less than 40 years to put a man on the moon, but recent research suggests it will take another 202 years to close the economic gender gap on our own planet.

According to the 2019 World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap Report, very few countries around the world are prepared to meet the challenges and harness the gender parity opportunities posed by the changing nature of work. What gives?

The good news is that there are ways to close gender gaps in the workforce. In business school, we are taught “what gets measured gets done,” meaning that regular measurement and reporting keeps us focused on the goal at hand. Wherever I end up working, I’m committed to being a loud voice, raising questions around how my company is tracking: What kind of results are we seeing in organizational culture surveys? What does our data say around promotions and attrition by gender? Have we encouraged our partner organizations, like supplier or vendors, to also include diversity and inclusion goals within their reporting systems? Are we even tracking these metrics at all? I’m hopeful by raising my voice around these issues, we can get closer to a more gender equal world – way, way before the year 2222.

Allie Untracht 20MBA

Program and Platform Lead, IMPACT360 Student Leadership Board
Vice President of Marketing, Net Impact

I believe that a key aspect of a gender equal world is an environment where women share opportunities and pull one another up as they rise through the ranks, instead of knocking each other down. Women have a tendency to view other women as their competition in the workplace, and that perspective is destructive. I personally have been extremely lucky to experience the benefits of working with some very strong and talented women here at Goizueta, and I’ve seen what we can accomplish when we work together. I think that if more women had the opportunity to have experiences like that, it could change behavior. In addition to fostering that kind of environment, I believe it’s critical to connect women to opportunities that they’re well suited for, and encourage them to pursue those opportunities. Building communities where women encourage and support one another is critical to progress.

Priyanka Desai 20BBA 

Founder, Undergraduate Impact Investing Society
Chief Operating Officer, Emory Impact Investing Group
Resident Advisor, Raoul Social Innovation Hall

To me, a gender equal world calls for both the equality of women and equality between women. We can, and absolutely should, advocate to elevate women’s voices – in politics, in the workplace, and in the media. But in doing so, we must make certain that women rise together. I intend to advocate for the representation and success of women across boundaries like nationality, gender identity, race, and socio-economic status. In the corporate world, there is sometimes a feeling among underrepresented minorities, including women, that there are a limited number of “spots” for us. This breeds a sense of competition between women that is exactly contradictory to the unity that makes women powerful. Throughout my career, I plan to build community with female colleagues, fight for the representation and hiring of intersectional identities, and speak with all women in mind. There is real power in coming together, and I intend to leverage it to fight for a more equal world.

Tracy Weldon 20MBA

Director of social impact, Goizueta Impact Investors (GII)

I am Tracy Weldon, a black woman in the full time MBA program at Goizueta Business School.  It is important for me to ensure that women and people who look like me are positioned to receive equal opportunities throughout their life. While most companies have initiatives to increase diversity in the workplace, I believe each person, regardless of gender, should work to create an equal world.  

Here are the two of the strategies I use that can be replicated and enhanced by everyone:

1. Mentorship with young women. Mentorship can happen organically or formally through volunteerism with community organizations. Upon graduation in May, I will be volunteering with a local track club. It will be a great experience for girls to see examples of careers in both sports and business.
   
2. Recognizing and sharing the recognition of successful women. This is often an under-utilized tool. It is my goal to socialize and normalize the idea that women are successful, and are involved in every aspect of a business. We all should want to be a part of a society that sees and acknowledges the unique skills of women, but one that does not treat us differently because of them.

Devon Sullivan 20BBA

Career Management Coach, BBA Career Center
Senior Representative, BBA Council
Social Enterprise Fellow and BBA Fellow Liason, Social Enterprise @ Goizueta
Teaching Assistant, Goizueta Business School
Editorial Board, Asbury Circle Publication
Member, 100 Senior Honorary

Growing up, during my time in college, and especially within Goizueta’s BBA Program, I’ve felt the positive impacts of a community fighting for gender equality. I’m constantly inspired by the positive female role models in the BBA Program that remind me that a gender equal world can exist, where both men and women can excel.

I’ve benefitted from supportive peers and mentors, which makes me all the more adamant to fight for equality beyond Emory’s campus. I interned last year for Grounds for Empowerment, an accelerator program run by Goizueta’s Social Enterprise Center that supports women coffee farmers in Central America. I heard stories first-hand from these women that illustrate the continual need for women-focused programming, and how much self-confidence an economic mobility these programs can provide. 

Overall, I forge a gender-equal world through my community, learning about inequality, and using that knowledge to actively champion equity in the workplace and the world.

Tierra Evans 20MBA

President, The Goizueta Real Estate Group

I am building a career in the commercial real estate industry, one that is and has been dominated by white males. As black woman in the field, I will forge a gender equal world by staying present, taking risks and creating opportunities for other women along the way.

The female presence is powerful. Increasing the representation of women in a workplace not only creates a better work environment for everyone, but also changes perceptions about the value that women can bring to the table. 

Taking risks and being a change-agent within my field will allow me to move up and gain more power within an organization. I hope that doing this will empower other women to do the same. Lastly, we as women have a responsibility to create opportunities for other women on the path to a more gender equal world.

Overall, I want my thoughts, actions and words to demonstrate that women can do and be anything.

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Rosilyn Chirayath 20MBA hadn’t planned to enter the competition. She only attended the pre-competition business plan workshop to learn how to develop a business idea. But when Christina Cartwright 20MPH approached her about a medical-bill negotiation service, she immediately saw the potential.

Not long before the workshop, Chirayath had sought care for a medical emergency. Afterward, the hospital bill was staggering. On the advice of a friend, Chirayath did something most Americans don’t realize is possible: She negotiated her medical bill.

The result of Cartwright and Chirayath’s collaboration was a plan for Blue Lighthouse Advocates, a service that provides patients with customized negotiation plans. That concept was among the three winners, and Cartwright and Chirayath were one of three teams that split the $1,500 prize pool.

The competition helped Chirayath understand what goes into developing a business. “Great ideas are all around us,” she said. “Even once you find one, development is an iterative process. There are so many decisions to be made, yet all need to happen in tandem.”

Working on the business plan for Blue Lighthouse Advocates provided Chirayath and Cartwright with the enthusiasm they will need to follow through on the concept. “We saw the huge potential it can have in the market,” Chirayath said. “I think we are on board with pursuing the idea further.”

Brian Murphy 20MBA gained insight into the pediatric rehab industry from listening to his girlfriend, an accomplished speech pathologist, describe her experiences on the job. Her perspective on the speech pathology therapeutic process helped inform the idea behind Murphy’s business plan, a telehealth platform focusing on connecting children in rural Georgia with speech-language pathologists. He recruited Rima Pai to join his team, which they called B&R, Inc.

The team’s concept for empowering patients and increasing access to care through telehealth earned them their place in the three-way tie for first place.

Murphy says he intends to pursue the plans laid out in his team’s presentation. “Emory, and the broader Atlanta ecosystem, offer incredible support systems to help commercialize ideas. I feel incredibly fortunate to be able to apply these resources to implementing my plan,” he said.

After conducting the research necessary to present a comprehensive plan to the judges, Murphy emerged with one major takeaway. “Georgia is a place of opportunity,” he said. “There is so much room for improvement in its rural healthcare.”

GHA Business Plan Winners

• Ascent Analytics: Sharvil Patel (Emory College of Arts and Sciences), Aditya Jhaveri (Emory College of Arts and Sciences)
• Blue Lighthouse: Rosilyn Chirayath (Goizueta Business School), Christina Cartwright (Rollins School of Public Health)
• B&R Inc: Brian Murphy (Goizueta Business School), Rima Pai (Rollins School of Public Health)

Judges

• Amelia Schaffner, director of entrepreneurship at Goizueta
• Renee Dye, associate professor in the practice of organization and management at Goizueta
• Josh Schwartz, chief business development officer at Epion Health and venture partner at Jumpstart Capital

The annual Goizueta Healthcare Association’s (GHA) Business Plan Competition is an interdisciplinary, real-world challenge in which Emory graduate student teams present ideas and associated business plans to a panel of judges. The spirit of the competition is to focus on ideas conceived and developed to provide a meaningful solution to big problems related to health. By participating, students develop an understanding of consumer-facing healthcare through presenting an entrepreneurial solution that provides consumers with more power in making healthcare decisions.

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— Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

“Mobilizing for justice, advocating for change” was the theme of the 28^th annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Service Awards Program, sponsored by Goizueta Business School, the Rollins School of Public Health and Emory School of Medicine. And this year’s fireside chat speaker truly embodied that theme.

Asha F. Jackson is not only the chief superior court judge for Dekalb County, she is also the founder of Project Pinnacle, a mandatory, year-long program for non-violent offenders under 25 years old.

“These are real people,” Jackson said of the participants in Project Pinnacle. “They’re not just numbers or statistics on my docket. They have really compelling stories. They’re talented. In some respects, they were misdirected, or never had resources to be able to learn how to take care of themselves and to navigate an educational system.”

Jackson was interviewed about Project Pinnacle and her perspective on Dr. King’s legacy by Carol E. Henderson, vice provost for diversity and inclusion, chief diversity officer and advisor to the president at Emory.

The program is now in its tenth year and continues to garner support from the community. Jackson said that word-of-mouth among community leaders who donated their services helped promote the project and expand its resources. Businesses and individuals began to approach Jackson to see what they could do to help. “It’s a ripple effect,” she said. “It’s been really incredible.”

“I love that,” Henderson commented, “Because what you’re demonstrating is one person can make an impact.”

Referencing King’s ability to bridge racial, religious, and other societal divides, Henderson asked Jackson how she saw his legacy being carried out in the future, especially for young people who are wondering how to mobilize for justice.

“In this decade in particular, I think citizens are becoming smarter and they’re asking more questions,” Jackson said. “And I’m happy to see that. We owe it to ourselves in this era to be informed first and foremost.” She emphasized the importance of seeking out information and consulting subject matter experts on issues before reacting to them. “Beyond that, though, I think this is where you see people shine. I think we’re in a time and an era that is calling for people to be leaders.”

At the conclusion of the conversation, Henderson asked Jackson a more personal question: What would she tell her 20-year-old self about the journey ahead?

Jackson hesitated to express any regrets or a desire to change the past. “I think in a journey, there is supposed to be joy and pain,” Jackson said. “The pain helps you to remember you’re human. The pain is often what propels us to take the next step or to become curious or to want to do something different or to shift your position—so you need that.” As for the advice she would give her younger self? “Just keep pressing forward, just keep going, don’t have any regrets, don’t sweat the small stuff.”

Henderson in turn reflected on the same question. “If I were to talk to my 20-year-old self, I would want to tell myself I am enough. And if I knew that, then I would stay with the gifts that I’m given and continue to utilize those on moving forward to contribute to humankind.”

Presentation of the 2020 awards followed the fireside chat, along with a performance by the singing group D’Vine.

In her closing remarks, Goizueta Dean Erika James congratulated the award recipients and thanked Jackson and Henderson for their moving conversation. “Thank you for the work you’ve done with Project Pinnacle and the difference that you’re making in the lives of so many young people in Atlanta,” she said, addressing Jackson. “And Dr. Henderson, you concluded by making the remark, ‘I am enough.’ Thank you for helping us remind ourselves that we’re always good enough, no matter where we are in life.”

2020 Community Service Awards Recipients

• Atlanta Homeward Choir
• BLKHLTH
• Open Hand Atlanta
• Azadeh Shahshahani/Project South

Gallery

Photos by Jerry Reid

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Ifrah Khan 17BBA, co-founder of Usit, grew up babysitting. Over time, she developed a network of contacts through her parents and teachers. When she moved to Atlanta for college, however, she no longer had access to her babysitting community. To find babysitting work, she relied on a Facebook group run by her sorority. That was when she realized how challenging it could be for both sitters and parents to find each other, especially on short notice.

To address this problem, Khan created Usit, an on-demand babysitting app that connects households with college students from accredited universities in Georgia.

When building Usit, Khan also wanted to create an alternate avenue for her peers—especially women—to participate in the gig economy. Driving Uber or Lyft isn’t always safe, and most college students aren’t in a position to become Airbnb hosts. Khan wanted to give her fellow college students the opportunity to make extra income safely and easily.

As more and more parents and sitters used the app, Khan saw even more benefits than she expected. “Once I launched it, I saw the opportunities it brought to students,” Khan said. “More than just the gigs, it was the connections and the network.” She saw pre-law students connect with parents who were lawyers, job-seeking seniors making connections with executives at locally-headquartered companies—all through babysitting gigs booked on Usit.

When developing the app, Khan’s priority was to make sure it was simple and easy to use: “the perfect app that I would want as a college student, and the perfect app that a busy parent would want.” The user-friendly interface is a reflection of Khan’s greater goals for Usit. “We don’t want to be just tech-enabled,” she said. “We want to be a high-tech company.”

Khan’s interest in technology started at Goizueta. Originally, her goal was to get a job in finance after graduation. Once at Goizueta, she found herself enjoying her tech-focused classes, like Intro to Coding with Benn Konsynski, the most. Then she traveled to San Francisco on a trip organized by Goizueta’s Career Management Center, where she had the opportunity to visit offices of tech companies like Airbnb. “That was so exciting to me,” she said. “My whole world changed.”

Since launching in early 2017, Usit has attracted a growing user base and made significant progress without fundraising. Now working to raise the company’s first round, Khan is ready for the next step. “It’s time to really get down, disrupt the industry, and dominate the market.”

***

“I wanted to do more. I wanted to build something.”

That’s why Matt Golden 01BBA left a successful career in IT and finance consulting to co-found MapHabit, a visual-mapping system that helps individuals with cognitive impairment establish healthy routines.

Golden experienced how cognitive decline affects family and caregivers first-hand when his uncle and mentor was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s. Golden witnessed his uncle’s struggles as the disease progressed, and saw how his own relationship with his uncle changed and how the disease impacted family members. “That whole experience really changed my perception on life,” Golden said. It wasn’t until much later that he would channel that experience into a business he hopes will help others in similar situations.

Golden met neuroscientist and Emory Professor Emeritus of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences Dr. Stuart Zola by chance—they live on the same block. While Dr. Zola was out walking his dog, the two started talking. They drew on Zola’s neuroscience expertise and Golden’s experience in implementation and fundraising, and formed MapHabit.

With no cure for Alzheimer’s disease, lifestyle interventions and behavioral changes like those promoted by MapHabit are the biggest key to slowing or even preventing cognitive decline.

Golden said MapHabit can also benefit individuals with other types of cognitive impairment, like children with special needs or patients with mental illnesses. Giving individuals the tools to complete daily routines on their own helps them feel empowered, Golden explained, and that can be more effective than following instructions from a caregiver or parents.

MapHabit works, Golden said, because it’s simple. “Even if you’re non-verbal, even if you speak another language, if you’re presented a series of pictures in a logical order, you can follow that,” Golden explained. “I think that’s why a lot of people have invested their time and savings in us, because they believe that a simple approach is really what is needed.”

MapHabit was recognized early on by Georgia Research Alliance, an Atlanta-based nonprofit that coordinates research efforts between Georgia’s public and private sectors. The National Institute of Aging, a division of the National Institutes of Health, also contributed funding along with private investors.

Encouraged by their early success, Golden and Zola are focused on using visual maps to help as many people as possible. “We want this to be the standard of care for anyone with cognitive impairment,” Golden said. “That’s our ultimate goal.” They hope to expand from the assisted living and home health spaces into the consumer, long-term care insurance and hospital systems, both in the U.S. and abroad. “With a low-cost, non-invasive tool like this, we believe we can get worldwide adoption over the next five years,” Golden said.

About RAISE Forum

RAISE Forum was founded in 2014 by Barry Etra, president of angel investment group Keirestsu Forum Atlanta, as a vehicle for bringing together startups and investors from across the Southeast. The Forum helps keep early-stage companies in the region by funding them locally. Now an integral part of the Entrepreneurship program at Goizueta, RAISE Forum is held in the Spring and Fall at Emory University. To learn more about the event, visit www.raiseforum.com.

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“The BBA CMC team continues to drive strong results year over year due to the caliber of and demand for Goizueta BBAs,” said Jane Hershman, senior director of Goizueta’s BBA Career Management Center. “Our strong 2019 results are more than a reflection of the job market.”

Salaries on the rise

2019 BBA graduates saw significant increases in both salary and signing bonuses from previous years. The mean base salary for 2019 grads was $69,036, an increase of $2,739 from 2018, and the median signing bonus was $7,500, an increase of $2,000.

“Our 2019 salary and bonus numbers reflect consistent successful placement outcomes in traditional areas of business, like financial services and consulting, which continue to be desired first destinations for BBA graduates,” Hershman said.

Salaries were highest for BBA graduates entering the financial services and consulting industries, and more than half the graduating class entered the workforce via one of these two industries.

Additionally, Hershman explained, emerging industries are attracting a growing number of BBA grads. “The increase in salary and bonus this year can also be partially attributed to increased student interest in emerging areas of business, such as data science and software engineering,” she said. Graduates who entered the technology and science field had the highest signing bonuses, averaging $12,430.

National, global network of Goizueta BBA alums continues to expand

2019 saw an increase in the number of BBA graduates who took positions outside of the South and Northeast regions of the U.S., with marked increases in employment in the mid-Atlantic, Midwest and internationally.

“We are especially excited about increased student interest in new markets – we saw an uptick of students accepting full-time offers in cities like Chicago and Washington, DC, which historically haven’t been on our students’ radar,” said Sarah Leist, associate director of employer relations for the BBA Program. Due to these trends, future graduates will benefit from stronger alumni networks in more regions, which Leist said the BBA CMC team is working to help build. “We are looking forward to leveraging our young alumni to make inroads and new connections in these areas and cities alike,” she said.

On the job experience leads to high placement rates

The most recent BBA grads also expanded their horizons while still in school. International internships were up from 7% in 2018 to 9% in 2019 across 11 countries (up from 9 in 2018).

Nearly all graduates (97%) participated in an internship during their time at Goizueta, whether in the U.S. or beyond. Students’ internships mirrored their eventual job placements, with financial services, consulting and accounting topping the list of industries. Students were well-compensated for their time, earning an average of $27.49 an hour at their internships.

Graduates have a reputation for excellence

Graduates of Goizueta’s BBA program continue to be highly sought after by top hiring companies, including many in the Fortune 500. The academically rigorous BBA program, with its focus on leadership and experiential learning, paired with a hands-on team of dedicated professionals at the Career Management Center, sets up graduates to pursue their loftiest dreams.

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As a successful brand manager and strategist, Rodbell worked for a who’s who of top tier companies like Cartoon Network, Coca-Cola and Georgia-Pacific before a 70’s cover band concert, by Yacht Rock Revue, inspired him to go his own way…producing cocktails in a can.

“The perfect complement to that kind of sound and music is a Mai Tai,” Rodbell said. Unfortunately, the venue offered only beer and overpriced wine. Rodbell recalled thinking, “I really wish I could have a Mai Tai right here, right now.”

That experience helped inspire a life-changing business idea which led Rodbell and his longtime friend Charles Sain to co-found Post Meridiem Spirit Company. Earlier this year the company launched its first line of five authentic, ready-to-drink cocktails—including a Mai Tai.

“This is what I do for a living now: make little cans,” Rodbell said.

Rodbell’s first step was to confirm a marketplace opportunity for canned cocktails. While products like Bud Light’s Lime-A-Rita or White Claw hard seltzer are popular, they don’t contain real spirits. This is by design: government regulations limit where products containing real spirits can be sold. By using malt liquor, companies ensure their products can remain on the shelf at grocery and convenience stores.

Meanwhile, ready-to-drink products that do contain real spirits are often packaged in the standard 12-oz can of soft drinks and beer.

Here is where Rodbell and Sain found a gap. “We thought, ‘They’re doing it wrong. What’s it going to take to do it right?”

Packaging the ready-to-drink cocktails in small, pocket-sized cans eliminates the need to use filler products and enables the drinks to remain true to proper cocktail proportions. Using real imported liquor and fresh ingredients like real fruit juices means Post Meridiem cocktails taste like they were freshly prepared by a bartender.

Rodbell hoped this approach would attract young, quality-conscious consumers. “Millennials really crave authenticity and transparency,” he said. “People are concerned about calories. They don’t want artificial chemicals. They want something natural.”

Although Rodbell was already a seasoned professional who believed in his product, to launch the business effectively required a lot of discovery and  more time than he expected.

“Build, measure, learn,” Rodbell said. The phrase was met with knowing nods from the BBA students: It’s an adage that comes up often in their classes when studying the Lean Startup methodology. “It happens in the real world,” Rodbell said. “And it’s a good model.”

When looking for trends, Rodbell told the students, “Even if you’re focused on one category, look at other spaces.” Rodbell took a cue from RXBar protein bars and Spindrift sparkling water, brands that use high-quality ingredients to distinguish their products from competitors. “When you’re very clear about what your ingredients are, people connect with it.”

Rodbell also sought advice from other Atlanta-area beverage entrepreneurs. “I didn’t think I knew anyone in the liquor world,” he said, but was surprised to realize he did. “Your network’s bigger than you think it is,” he told the students, adding, “Don’t burn any bridges with any friends here—you’re going to need them later in life!”

For Rodbell, it was time to disrupt a category that lacked authenticity. “I just love the satisfaction I get every time I have a sampling opportunity, and the taster goes, ‘That’s a real cocktail.’” The students, who had the opportunity to try PM Spirits at a special post-talk cocktail Kegs in the Courtyard, strongly agreed. But the best compliment Rodbell receives is when tasters ask him, “Why didn’t someone do this sooner?”

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“The healthcare marketplace is not really equipped to change. The more innovative and disruptive your product is, the more you’re most likely displacing something that a lot of capital has already gone into.”

This insight, from Jim Millar, founder and principal of the Vine Group and principal of CVG Advisors, was shared with investors, entrepreneurs and members of the Goizueta community at the Miller-Ward Alumni house on September 19. He pointed out that while logic dictates that if a product works and save lives it will be well-funded, “that’s not reality.” He advised entrepreneurs to go into capital raising with a good understanding of what their product may be displacing.

Millar was one of the leading inventors, investors and entrepreneurs in the healthcare industry discussing innovation in healthcare on the RAISE (Retention and Advanced Investment for the Southeast at Emory) Forum “Rise” Panel, a popular panel event that provides interested members of the public an opportunity to network and hear from industry experts ahead of the biannual, invitation-only RAISE Forum, which brings together early-stage companies based in the Southeast with potential investors and mentors.

Millar was joined by Dr. Scott Boden, chairman of the orthopedics department at Emory School of Medicine and vice president of business innovation at Emory Healthcare; Dr. Angela Fusaro 01C 17WEMBA, co-founder and CEO of Physician 360; and Dr. Arik Hanannel, CEO and co-founder of FUSMobile. Steve Brett, executive coach and founder of Presentation TuneUps, moderated the panel.

The panelists discussed the challenges that make change and innovation—difficult endeavors in any industry—even harder within the healthcare landscape.

Navigating the necessary regulations is often one of the first hurdles entrepreneurs face after demonstrating the efficacy of a new product or technology. But it’s far from the last.

Like any innovation, a new healthcare product must also make economic sense to have any chance of success. In the healthcare industry, there is an additional consideration: will insurance companies cover its use? “And still, this is not even the highest step,” said Hanannel, “because even after you get regulator approval and get coverage, the next, bigger step, is medical acceptance.”

Physicians, nurses, or other healthcare workers must be willing to embrace the change an innovation necessitates. “Sometimes the thought leaders aren’t the end users,” Boden pointed out. And end users like physicians may not be interested in trying something new.

“They’re trying to get through their day, which is packed and packed with more volume, and they’re trying to improve quality, and the last thing they’re trying to do is new and different and changing routines,” Boden said.

So far, Fusaro and Hanannel have been able to find success despite the harsh environment for entrepreneurs.

Physician360 faced potential pushback from primary care physicians: Fusaro’s telemedicine platform offers simple diagnostic services that often eliminate the need for a trip to the doctor’s office. “The challenge there, the opportunity there, is how you frame that,” Fusaro said. In her conversations with primary care physicians, Fusaro emphasized how her service steps in when physicians can’t: after hours, on weekends, at short notice. “Part of the challenge is getting that level of understanding,” Fusaro said. “There’s a lot of ongoing conversation about that.”

Hanannel’s focused ultrasound technology can serve as an alternative to surgery or radiotherapy, potentially transforming the treatment of many medical disorders. Hanannel feels confident FUSMobile hits the right balance. “We’re at a cheaper, faster, better version,” he said. “It’s a disruptive value in a non-disruptive envelope.”

At the conclusion of the discussion, the panelists shared their visions of healthcare innovation over the next decade. In the coming years, the panelists hope to see a cure for cancer, elimination of stigma from mental health treatment and advancements in the human-machine interface and data analytics.

The event was hosted by Charles Goetz, distinguished lecturer in entrepreneurship and senior lecturer in organization and management at Goizueta; Amelia Pane Schaffner, director of entrepreneurship at Goizueta and RAISE Forum co-founder Barry Etra.

The next RAISE Forum is November 15, 2019 at Goizueta Business School. For more information visit http://www.raiseforum.com/candidate-application

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Students accepted to the BBA program attended Orientation at Kaplan Mitchell Retreat Center August 25 – 26. The overnight retreat is designed to facilitate students’ transition into the BBA program while beginning the process of building leadership capacities like resilience, interdependence, and coping with risk and ambiguity. The retreat includes team-building activities as well as academic sessions on advising, career services and study abroad.

Teams of students rotated through various activities over two days, including a ropes course culminating in a zipline return to the ground, a construction project in which teams build a boat that will support two members across a pool and interactive community-building sessions. In the evenings, students were free to mingle and get to know one another around the campfire or a board game. “This structure allows students to get to know one another in a variety of ways and inevitably ends up forming long-lasting friendships and teammates for class projects,” said Jessica Lowy, assistant dean of Advising and Academic Affairs for the BBA Program. “We often hear from students that they’re relieved when they walk into their core classes their first week and are able to recognize the faces of their teammates and new acquaintances from the retreat.”

Carlos Gutierrez Aza 20BBA participated in Orientation after being accepted to the BBA program last year. Before Orientation, Gutierrez Aza felt unsure about his decision, questioning whether the program was a good fit for his goals and personality. After attending the retreat, his outlook changed. “It introduced me to the values and creed of the program that changed my outlook on the culture,” he said. “And it got me more and more excited about my education as I learned of all the resources, opportunities, and valuable lessons I was about to immerse myself in.”

Gutierrez Aza returned to BBA Orientation this year as a student leader, this time with the goal of understanding his place in the Goizueta community. As he candidly shared his experience with the incoming students, Gutierrez Aza was able to reflect on it more deeply and understand it better himself. In turn, he encouraged the students to set personal goals and continuously reflect on them. “At the end, seeing them accomplish those goals and express their achievement verbally allowed me to understand the Goizueta values even better, and to find my place as a leader in the community,” Gutierrez Aza said. “I think having a positive impact on these students is the best form of legacy I can have.”

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Before each semester, BBA students participating in Goizueta’s international exchange program pack their bags and embark on a journey to live and study at partner institutions around the world. This year, 41 Goizueta students set off to spend the Fall semester in 11 different countries across four continents. In turn, Goizueta welcomed 48 students to the United States.

Siddhant Jalan first heard of Emory University while in high school in Chennai, India.

“One of my closest friends was applying to the U.S. for undergraduate studies, and he kept telling me, ‘Emory’s such a great university for business,’” Jalan said.

Completing an undergraduate degree in the U.S. wasn’t feasible for Jalan, but when he saw Emory listed as an option for an exchange program, he jumped at the chance.

Jalan is a senior studying Marketing at Singapore Management University. He is excited to take courses in data visualization, meet new professors and see what kind of teaching styles they use.

“I’m interested in learning the latest things going on in the industry and I think this is the best place to be for that,” he said.

According to the BBA Program office, approximately 23% of BBA undergraduate students participate in full semester-long exchanges and around 4% participate in short-term global programs during their time at Goizueta.

Catalina Murguia 20BBA and Kaitlyn Iwanowicz 20BBA spent their Spring semester in France studying at the American Business School of Paris. This semester, they are serving as liaisons for incoming exchange students.

The pair shared their experiences and advice during an international student orientation last week.

After studying in France, Murguia said she understands what it’s like to experience true “culture shock.” She advised the incoming students to keep an open mind and utilize all the resources available on campus.

“You have everything,” she said. “It’s like a resort. So take advantage of it.”

Iwanowicz’s advice for incoming students is to simply watch and learn. She watched how the French did everything, from navigating public transit to buying vegetables at the grocery store.

Her technique paid off.

“I knew I made it when French people started asking me for directions,” she said.

For Jalan, studying abroad is an opportunity to break out of a routine and refresh his educational experience with new ideas, people and environments. In doing so, he hopes to learn more about himself.

Self-discovery was an important component of Murguia’s experience as well.

“I would recommend to BBA students to study abroad because you step out of your comfort level and challenge yourself to a new language, culture, and way of life,” she said. “You truly get to know a lot about yourself, how you handle situations and how you can make the most of things.”

Jalan is determined to make the most of his time in Atlanta.

“I just hope it doesn’t fly by. Everyone one tells me exchange will go just like ‘this,’” he said, snapping his fingers. “I hope to make as many memories as I can, so even if it does fly by, I can smile about it with no regrets.”

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The students were tasked with creating a communication strategy in which SurveyMonkey appeals to enterprise buyers. They were then asked to develop cross-channel messaging for enterprise marketing decision-makers.

Professor in the Practice of Organization and Management Molly Epstein teaches a section of the course, along with Associate Professor in the Practice of Organization & Management Nikki Graves and Senior Lecturer in the Practice of Organization & Management Jenn Crenshaw.

“Instead of using published cases, we partner with a client whose organization seeks creative solutions to complex problems. Our students develop their critical thinking skills by analyzing complicated real-world situations for which there is no one ‘right’ answer,” Epstein explained. “The ambiguous nature of the case competition challenge encourages students to explore multiple pathways to a solution and discover creative approaches to ‘messy,’ complex problems.”

The students prepared for the final presentations throughout the semester: In the first half of the semester, they developed their self-awareness and mastered communication strategy. Then, incorporating feedback they received on various written documents and presentations, they polished their professionalism and communication skills.

Along the way, the students connected with and learned from innovative leaders. SurveyMonkey CEO Zander Lurie met with students informally and shared his leadership journey and experiences creating a culture that powers the curious. Chief Marketing Officer Leela Srinivasan met with students twice, once via videoconference to introduce the case, and once in person to judge the final presentations and select a winning team. Also present at the final presentations was Sabrina Leblanc, director of sales.

After the final teams presented, Srinivasan thanked all the students for their hard work. “We just saw five really different and inventive presentations that had very thoughtful answers to the question we posed. I like that you each have your own interpretation of it. We deliberately left it somewhat ambiguous so that you could choose to pursue a different strategy, and I think we got a lot of really interesting answers and proposals as a result. I’m genuinely really impressed,” she said.

Srinivasa and Leblanc selected Team Banana Nut Bread as the winner. The team included

• Madison Cherry
• Sydney Zirlin
• Hunter Goldberg
• Kate Bachman
• Farhan Hossain
• Gaby Lai

Epstein sees the case competition as a valuable opportunity for students to analyze and develop solutions to the types of complex problems they will inevitably encounter in their careers. “Working with SurveyMonkey enabled students to understand the ways in which collecting data can improve relationships, create responsive organizational cultures and connect with customers.”

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The conference was co-sponsored by Goizueta Business School, Executive Director of the Emory Institute for Drug Development and Samuel Candler Dobbs Professor of Chemistry Dennis Liotta, Emory University Senior Vice President and General Counsel Stephen Sencer and Pfizer.

“AHIA is very excited about the African innovators we are working with this year,” said Charles Goetz, professor of entrepreneurship at Goizueta. “The health products they have developed have the potential to save thousands of lives each year. At AHIA, we are committed to helping African scientists bring new and affordable health solutions to the people in Africa who need them.”

Amelia Shaffner, director of entrepreneurship at Goizueta, helped organize the conference. “There are so many amazing innovators in Africa working on novel healthcare solutions with the potential of saving lives in cost-effective ways,” Shaffner said. “AHIA brings them together in a stimulating setting where they can gain important experience, learn how to maximize their impact, and grow through multi-disciplinary collaboration and support.”

Faculty for the symposium also included George Painter, CEO of DRIVE and Emory Institute for Drug Discovery; Emory Law School Professor and TI:GER Program Director Nicole Morris and Joseph Rowan, a partner at Von Seidels Intellectual Property Attorneys in Johannesburg.

Eleven Goizueta MBA candidates traveled to Johannesburg to work with the innovators on the mechanics of starting, developing and marketing a business. “We can’t be successful alone,” Marnie Harris 20MBA said at the conclusion of the conference. “There is huge power in cross-cultural, cross-expertise teams and I really valued being able to work on one of them.” MBA students will lead the follow-on work with selected innovators over the next year in the form of a directed study.

Taylor Montes de Oca 20MBA especially appreciates the opportunity to continue the work accomplished at the conference. “So many programs go into Africa to provide guidance, but oftentimes very little comes of it. AHIA makes it possible to continue the working relationship with some of these innovators to truly help develop their business model,” Montes de Oca said.

Law and science students who attended to work with the innovators also found the trip invaluable. “I left this weekend feeling like there is a wealth of knowledge available to solve pressing healthcare issues that is yet to be fully tapped solely because the necessary expertise is unavailable to new entrepreneurs,” said Bennett Gillogly 21JD. “Getting this group of innovators and students together truly opened my eyes to what can be accomplished once we improve the way we collaborate. I am feeling very inspired and am already planning different ways I can start my own venture to help others with their innovations. This trip was a transformative moment in my education.”

2019 AHIA Innovators

• Mejda Khaled, CURE: A company focused on developing 3D printed bionic hands
• Aloys Rukundo, HELLOMED: An online platform that helps deliver medicine and care to the homes of patients living with chronic diseases
• Olutayo Ifedayo Ajayi, JAYREVERSAL: An innovation that uses high potassium isotonic fluid to reverse sickle cells
• Maureen Etuket, MATERNAL PPH WRAP: A non-invasive device aimed at reducing the blood loss for women experiencing post-partum hemorrhaging
• Archana Bhaw-Luximon, NANOCURE: A novel scaffold made from locally available biomaterials for tissue regeneration, targeting diabetic wound healing
• Ahmed Sherif Attia, NEOSEP FAST: A rapid, simple, and inexpensive diagnostic to identify one of the most common causative agents of neonatal sepsis
• Denis Ogwang, WATERKIT: An innovation that uses data science and machine learning to reliably provide clean water

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