The start of a new year is a symbolic clean slate. It’s a chance to embrace fresh opportunities, set ambitious goals, and imagine what lies ahead.

It’s also a great time to pause for a moment of reflection. Before diving headfirst into the demands of work, school, or life’s daily rhythm, we can appreciate the journey we’ve traveled over the past year. It’s a chance to celebrate our achievements, reflect on the lessons learned and challenges faced, and carry forward the wisdom we’ve gained.

So, before we launch full steam ahead into the new year, let’s take a look back at some of the most compelling and memorable stories that defined 2024 on EmoryBusiness.com.

Welcoming Impressive Inaugural Classes to Two New Programs

Meet the Inaugural Cohort of Goizueta’s New Master in Management Program

One of Goizueta Business School’s newest additions is the Master in Management degree, a program for recent college graduates with liberal arts and science majors. Spanning 10 months, the program acts as a “fast track” option for students to gain business skills to complement their undergraduate work. Among the inaugural cohort, 38% graduated from an Emory University program, with a total of 84% of the class graduating from their undergraduate programs in 2024.

Meet the First Cohort of Goizueta’s New Master in Business for Veterans

Goizueta Business School launched a new graduate degree last year, and the first cohort of students started in May. The Master in Business for Veterans program is led by Retired U.S. Army Lieutenant General and Associate Dean for Leadership Ken Keen. 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.

Experiential Learning Opportunities Abound

MBA Students Explore Denmark’s Model for Work and Well-being

This summer, more than 25 MBA students from Goizueta Business School ventured out of the classroom and across the globe, traveling to Copenhagen, Denmark to explore how the Danes approach their short work week (standard 37 hours), while having some of the most productive companies in the world. The immersive experience is part of a new course at Goizueta, Life Design for the Modern MBA, focused on helping Goizueta students—who are passionate, ambitious, and often working in overdrive—to find meaning and fulfillment in both career and life.

Team Building with Taste: Lessons in Leadership from the Kitchen

At first, Yaqi Liu 26BBA wasn’t keen about getting up early on a Saturday to cook. But over the course of the day, Liu changed his mind. “It was a really good experience,” he says. That experience is called “Team Building with Taste.” It’s a cooking competition in the style of Bravo network’s “Top Chef,” except with the ultimate goal of improving team dynamics. The challenge is a part of the undergraduate BBA program’s Team Dynamics and Leadership class. Over multiple weekends this fall, student teams were given a $50 budget, a set time to plan and shop, and one hour to cook and plate their meals. The teams then presented their dishes to a panel of judges.

How HackATL Fosters Future Changemakers

A lot can happen in 48 hours. For Selina Kao 27BBA, that was the turnaround time afforded her team at this October’s HackATL competition. Their mission? Transform a fledgling business idea into an actionable plan. Hosted by The Roberto C. Goizueta Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation of Emory University’s Goizueta Business School, this year’s event—powered by a dynamic collaboration between InnovATL, the City of Atlanta and the center—brought together more than 300 students from across the Southeast. After two days of frenetic brainstorming, building, and pitching transformative start-up initiatives to a panel of judges, the top teams took home over $13K in prizes.

Accomplished Alumni Create Meaningful Impact

Goizueta’s Veterans: Meet Matt Smith

In February 2025, Matt Smith 01MBA will retire as a two-star major general for the U.S. Army. His story is unique because of its many twists and turns. Smith joined the Army in college, before heading to the corporate world in Atlanta in the late 90s and enrolling in Goizueta Business School’s MBA program. However, it wasn’t long before Smith realized that the military was where he was meant to be. He resumed active duty for the Army in 2019, and 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. Smith says the skills he gained from earning an MBA have helped set him apart as a military leader. Now he’s he’s giving voice to Goizueta’s veterans as part of the advisory board for the new Master in Business for Veterans program.

Meet Marnie Harris: Building Hotels with Purpose

When Marnie Harris 20MBA was an undergraduate biomedical engineering student, she dreamed of building a more accessible world. Harris helped found The Excel Program at Georgia Tech, a certificate program for students with intellectual disabilities. When Harris graduated, she stayed on to welcome the first cohort of Excel students. But she soon came to believe that creating meaningful employment for this demographic must begin inside business, where the jobs are. So, Harris enrolled in Goizueta Business School’s MBA program, where she received the Woodruff Scholarship, Emory’s most prestigious named scholarship, awarded to Emory applicants who want to make a positive social impact. Now, Harris serves as the director of business and marketing strategy at Pavilion Development Company. There, she’s developing and franchising the Shepherd Hotels brand, which focuses on employing staff with intellectual disabilities.

Holistic Health Starts at Home: Meet Kyle Brown

After enrolling in the One-Year MBA program at Emory’s Goizueta Business School, Kyle Brown 20MBA became interested in holistic living and the various ways cannabidiol (CBD) could improve one’s health. Brown soon teamed up with his aunt, an expert gardener and advocate of natural medicine, who had long been growing her own herbs for healthful teas. The duo developed a series of CBD tea formulas, and ultimately launched their brick-and-mortar cannabis bar Bookstore Gallery. While its products assist in pain management on an individual level, Bookstore Gallery leads the charge of healing on a community level. Brown’s holistic healing mission comes to life through diverse events, including therapy-focused happy hours, game nights, tailgates, spoken word poetry, men’s mental health meetups, and creative outlets like “Puff and Paint.”

Groundbreaking Research from Goizueta’s Brightest Minds

Mitigating Bias in AI: Sharing the Burden of Bias When it Counts Most

From directions on Google Maps to job recommendations on LinkedIn, by now, we’ve all grown accustomed to AI systems’ integration in nearly every aspect of our daily lives. But are AI systems fair? The answer to this question, in short—not completely. Fortunately, some dedicated data scientists are working around the clock to tackle this big issue. One of those data scientists is Gareth James, who also serves as the Dean of Goizueta Business School as his day job. In a recent paper titled “A Burden Shared is a Burden Halved: A Fairness-Adjusted Approach to Classification” Dean James—along with coauthors Bradley Rava, Wenguang Sun, and Xin Tong—have proposed a new framework to help ensure AI decision-making is as fair as possible in high-stakes decisions where certain individuals—for example, racial minority groups and other protected groups—may be more prone to AI bias, even without our realizing it. 

Hiring More Nurses Generates Revenue for Hospitals

Underfunding is driving an acute shortage of trained nurses in hospitals and care facilities in the United States. American nurses are quitting in droves, and that’s bad news for patient outcomes. For beleaguered administrators looking to sustain quality of care while minimizing costs (and maximizing profits), hiring and retaining nursing staff has arguably become something of a zero-sum game in the U.S. But could there be potential financial losses attached to nurse understaffing that administrators should factor into their hiring and remuneration decisions? Research by Goizueta Professors Diwas KC and Donald Lee, as well as recent Goizueta PhD graduates Hao Ding 24PhD (Auburn University) and Sokol Tushe 23PhD (Muma College of Business), would suggest there are.

Training Innovative AI to Provide Expert Guidance on Prescription Medications

A new wave of medications meant to treat Type II diabetes is grabbing headlines around the world for their ability to help people lose a significant amount of weight. The two big names that come to mind are Ozempic and Wegovy. However, both medications come with a host of side effects, and are not suitable for every patient. Many clinics and physicians—particularly in smaller communities—do not have immediate access to expert second opinions needed to make decisions about prescription medications such as these. That’s one of the reasons Karl Kuhnert is using artificial intelligence to capture the expertise of physicians like Caroline Collins MD through the Tacit Object Modeler, or TOM. By using TOM, Kuhnert and Collins can create her “decision-making digital twin.” Though there are a number of ways TOM could be useful to the healthcare industry when prescribing medications, not least among them is the potential to expand access to the expert opinions of medical specialists to rural areas experiencing significant health disparities.

Help keep the great Goizueta stories coming with a gift of support to Emory’s 2O36 campaign.

The post The Best Stories of 2024 from Goizueta Business School appeared first on EmoryBusiness.com.

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.

The post Meet the First Cohort of Goizueta’s New Master in Business for Veterans appeared first on EmoryBusiness.com.

The Roberto C. Goizueta Award for Leadership is the highest honor a student graduating from Goizueta can receive. Funded by The Goizueta Foundation, the school awards this honor to two students who embody a love of learning; inspirational leadership; creative thinking; courage and commitment; transparency and trust; and excellence and integrity. The Goizueta Foundation established this endowed award at the business school in 2019 in honor of Roberto C. Goizueta on the school’s 25^th Naming Anniversary.

Honoring the Award Recipients

“At Goizueta, we are preparing principled leaders to have a positive influence on business and society,” says Gareth James, John H. Harland Dean of Goizueta Business School.

Students like Jonathan and Nick have left an enduring mark on Goizueta. I can’t wait to see the ways in which they will continue to thrive and leave their mark on the world.

Gareth James, John H. Harland Dean of the Goizueta Business School

“We are immensely grateful to The Goizueta Foundation for their commitment to preparing the future’s brightest minds to lead business forward,” says James.

Ross and Brown each receive a $25,000 award. They have also identified a faculty or staff member at Goizueta who had the greatest impact on them during their time as a student. Each faculty and staff selected receives a $5,000 honorarium.

“We are proud to support The Roberto C. Goizueta Award for Leadership,” says Olga Goizueta Rawls, Board Chair and Chief Executive Officer of The Goizueta Foundation. “I congratulate Jonathan and Nick on their many important contributions to the Goizueta Business School community and their peers. Today more than ever, business schools must prepare students to lead in an ever-changing world. Jonathan and Nick have shown they possess the leadership qualities to do exactly that.”

Jonathan Ross Honored for Strong Moral Compass and Putting People First

During his time in business school, Ross has embodied the values of Goizueta. He achieved academic distinction in his coursework and served as a fellow for the Business & Society Institute. He also exhibited superior strategic insights by taking first place at two intercollegiate case competitions. An inspirational leader, Ross is a sought-after mentor, sounding board, and teammate, who shares an authentic concern for others.

While serving as president of the Emory Impact Investing Group, Ross created a new way to educate potential new members about the different aspects of impact investing. This ultimately led to the creation of an ‘early analyst’ experience for students. Ross took it upon himself to create open lines of communication with the administration to help adapt to new policies and procedures implemented for students.

Ross also served as president of the Goizueta Consulting Group. He and fellow club leaders revamped the group’s website and resources to better serve members. He created networking nights, casing workshops, and a mentorship program.

“In every interaction, Jonathan considers the weight of his decisions against what is ethical, what is allowed, and most importantly, what is intended,” staff nominations noted. “What this means is that he asks questions that may result in an answer that he does not like or that creates more work for him. But his moral compass is always pointed in the direction of what is right.”

Strength in the Goizueta Community

Receiving such an award is an honor for Ross, who feels fortunate to have such a supportive and helpful community.

“I am incredibly honored to have been selected for the Robert C. Goizueta Award for Leadership,” Ross says.

During my time as a Goizueta student, I was incredibly lucky to have access to many mentors and resources. The students above and below me helped me to find my passions and community.

Jonathan Ross 24BBA

“Faculty like Professor Roberts have equipped me with skills and guided me toward resources,” Ross continues. “Staff members like Dean [Andrea] Hershatter have made Goizueta the incredible place that it is. They have all contributed deeply to my success and inspired me to give back to the community.”

Honorarium Recipient: Peter Roberts

In recognition for his mentorship, Ross selected Peter Roberts to receive one of this year’s $5,000 honorariums. Roberts serves as a professor of organization and management at Goizueta. He is also the academic director of specialty coffee programs at the Business & Society Institute.

Professor Roberts has taught me the importance of utilizing my studies at the intersection of business and society. He consistently pushed me throughout college and my recruitment to consider how I could remain involved with social impact at school and after graduation.

Jonathan Ross 24BBA

“I would not have the direction I do if it were not for Professor Roberts,” Ross says. “With that said, his impact extends far beyond my experiences. As one of the founders of Goizueta’s Start:ME program and an internationally recognized supporter of the sustainable coffee industry, he has embraced impact and business and used his faculty to help hundreds of students do the same.”

Nick Brown Rises to the Challenge and Helps Students Succeed

There was never a doubt that Nick Brown knew how to take on a challenge. With a military background guiding him, Brown served as president of the Finance Club at Goizueta. There, he implemented improvements to the recruiting process, doubling the amount of investment banking interns from the previous year. By uncovering issues in the recruitment process, Brown created a more balanced evaluation criteria to help students succeed.

“Nick has always stepped up into roles and responsibilities to help his classmates,” fellow student Harman Lindsey 24MBA says. “Coming out of the military, Nick was very much behind a lot of civilian peers to start. That never stopped him from stepping up and being ready to assist and help his classmates.”

As an active member in the Finance and Veterans Clubs, fellow students appreciated his honest advice. “Nick’s character is unwavering,” Goizueta student Patrick Forrestal 24MBA says. “As a Marine, he learned to always stand for that which is right. He carries that ethos with him to this day.”

Sharing the Honor

Receiving this award is a momentous accomplishment for Brown who wishes to share this honor with everyone who helped him along his journey.

Receiving the Roberto C. Goizueta Award for Leadership is an extraordinary honor. It underscores the values and vision that Roberto C. Goizueta exemplified for Emory’s business community.

Nick Brown 24MBA

“This recognition is deeply meaningful,” Brown says. “It connects my journey to the legacy of an individual who profoundly shaped our institution. I share this honor with my supportive family, fellow students, faculty, staff, alumni, and the Marines I have served with. They have all greatly influenced my development. This award is a testament to the high standards of integrity and leadership we uphold at Goizueta Business School.”

Honorarium Recipient: Ken Keen

Brown recognized Lieutenant General USA (Ret.) Ken Keen, associate professor in the practice of organization and management and associate dean for leadership, as the faculty member who most impacted his MBA journey.

Lieutenant General (Ret.) Keen’s dedication to developing principled leaders to have a positive influence on business and society inspires all of us at Goizueta. His steadfast support for veterans and his mentorship have been instrumental in my personal and professional growth.

Nick Brown 24MBA

“His guidance has taught me to effectively apply the skills and experiences from my military service and MBA education in meaningful ways as I embark on this new chapter of my career.”

Find out how Goizueta Business School is preparing principled leaders to have a positive influence on business and society.

Learn more about the meaningful work of The Goizueta Foundation.

The post 2024 Robert C. Goizueta Awards: Students Recognized for Exceptional Leadership appeared first on EmoryBusiness.com.

We mark the official start of the new year with celebrations on January 1. New Year’s is a time for new beginnings and a chance to start fresh. We revel in the possibilities and opportunities the new year brings. Frequently, it is a time for goal setting. Perhaps you’ve even made a New Year’s resolution or two?

But New Year’s is also a time to pause, if only for the briefest of moments, before we return to work, school, or whatever regularly scheduled programming life has in store for us. It’s a chance to take a pulse on the current state of things. We reflect on the past year, bask in the glow of its high points, and appreciate lessons learned from the challenges we faced.

So, before we launch full steam ahead into the new year, let’s take a look back at some great stories you may have missed this past year on EmoryBusiness.com.

Students Write Notes to Themselves for the Future

Every August, the students in Goizueta Business School’s Full-Time MBA programs gather for Keystone. It’s a week of giving back through volunteering and catching up with classmates after a summer internship. Students take the opportunity to pause, reflect, and project. As part Keystone, they write a letter to their future self, not to be opened for at least five years. The letter-writing experience has been a Goizueta MBA tradition since 2012.

Emory Entrepreneurship Summit Features Renowned Shoe Designer Stuart Weitzman

Goizueta Business School hosted the 7th annual Emory Entrepreneurship Summit March 30-31. One of the highlight’s of this year’s was the keynote address from Stuart Weitzman. Known for his commitment to prioritizing function as an integral element of fashion, Weitzman encouraged those in attendance to pursue their passions. He shared insights with a packed room of aspiring entrepreneurs and innovators in the form of a number of his truisms—or as he prefers to call them, “Stu-isms.”

Goizueta Launches Graduate Business Degree for Veterans & Active-Duty Military

Emory University’s Goizueta Business School announced in July the launch of its new Master in Business for Veterans. The program is a fully accredited 11-month degree for active-duty military, veterans, National Guard, and Reserve personnel. Spearheaded by Retired U.S. Army Lieutenant General and Associate Dean for Leadership Ken Keen, as well as Faculty Lead Professor JB Kurish, the program will be guided by an advisory board of high-level business executives, several of whom are both retired military and graduates of Goizueta. The working professional program began accepting applications in August 2023 with the first cohort of veterans starting classes in May 2024.

Goizueta Business School Introduces New Master in Management Program for Recent Graduates

This past summer, Goizueta introduced its new Master in Management program. It’s designed specifically for graduates with a non-business major who are looking to level up their undergraduate degree. Experienced professors who are experts in their respective fields help students develop a foundation of with business knowledge and skills. Best of all, students can complete the Master in Management program in just ten months. This provides a fast-track option for students to gain a valuable business education and expand their career options.

Virtual Reality Revolutionizes Classroom Learning

Jill Perry-Smith is bringing an entirely new dimension to Goizueta’s Executive MBA program. Her focus: navigating difficult conversations and finding effective conflict resolution strategies. Through the use of virtual reality (VR) and artificial intelligence (AI), Perry-Smith, senior associate dean for strategic initiatives and professor of organization and management, hopes to provide more students with experience in dealing with interpersonal conflict.

Goizueta Faculty Work to Help the LGBTQ+ Community Thrive

Emory University’s Goizueta Business School and the LGBTQ Institute at the National Center for Civil and Human Rights are partners in the second survey of LGBTQ+ Southerners, released in April 2023. The study is a follow up to the 2017-18 inaugural survey, which was conducted by the Institute and George State University. This newly released study aims to help fill a critical research gap, looking at an understudied group with a larger data set.

The Voice of Alexa: How Speech Characteristics Impact Consumer Decisions

Rajiv Garg is associate professor of Information Systems & Operations Management at Emory’s Goizueta Business School. Garg conducts research that explores the impact of artificial intelligence voices on consumer behavior and purchase intent, along with partners at HEC Paris and The University of Texas at Austin.

So, here’s the question: Can the voice of Samuel L. Jackson sell you an office chair? Read on to find out.

Playing Ball: How One Goizueta Graduate Has Scored Big in the NBA

Meet Lauren Cohen 00BBA, who recently entered her 24^th season with the National Basketball Association (NBA). But she doesn’t play basketball. She’s the vice president of partner management and operations lead for the NBA’s global partnerships group.

Cohen credits two things with the stability and tenure she’s enjoyed at the NBA: the people she works with and her opportunities to change roles every few years. But it all started with the strong foundation she build at Goizueta.

Preparing Workers of the Future

The future of work. What does it mean?

For Goizueta Business School graduates, the future of work is an exciting prospect, and they are ready for it. These workers of the future are embracing their passions and pursuing multiple careers. They are making business decisions for the betterment of society and leveraging technology to enhance their skills. On top of that, they are learning how to lead dispersed, remote teams.

Goizueta graduates don’t fear the future. They embrace it.

Talking about the Business of Healthcare

Healthcare is a business like many other industries, but instead of just making money, healthcare workers must also save lives. Navigating patient care and profitability is a unique challenge that neither business professionals nor doctors are able to address alone.

Goizueta helps bridge that gap. We teach clinicians the fundamentals of business and teach business professionals how to apply their knowledge specifically within the healthcare field.

Help keep the great Goizueta stories coming with a gift of support to Emory’s 2O36 campaign.

The post The Best Stories of 2023 from Goizueta Business School appeared first on EmoryBusiness.com.

Lieutenant General USA (Ret.) Ken Keen began his journey at Goizueta Business School in 2013. That’s when he first accepted the new position of associate dean of leadership. Since then, he’s become an an integral member of the faculty. His most recent initiative is spearheading the new Master in Business for Veterans program. It comes after a decade of developing programming and coursework designed to instill MBA students with the leadership acumen they need to succeed in business and in life.

“You need to learn how to inspire, influence, persuade, show empathy, listen to others, communicate effectively, and be present,” says Keen. “These programs allow students to put leadership into action.”

Forging Future Leaders

Leading by example is a core tenet of Keen’s curriculum, as evidenced in the many hands-on learning opportunities he oversees.

Through the one-day Leader’s Reaction Course, every Goizueta MBA student tackles several challenging obstacles at the U.S. Army post at Fort Moore, learning leadership along the way. The Goizueta Advanced Leadership Academy offers students the opportunity to put their skills to the test in a high-pressure, weeklong sailing adventure. In the Delta Air Lines Leadership Coaching Fellows program, students work one-on-one with an executive coach. They train to become peer coaches for other MBA students, learning to effectively interact with teams and individuals to improve performance.

People often ask Keen about the importance of leadership programming in higher education. “It’s important that students have a balance between learning hard and soft skills,” says Keen. “If you want to make a huge difference in society and business, you must know how to lead others effectively.”

Leading Beyond the Classroom

Today, Keen puts his own leadership skills to work in and out of the classroom. He currently serves on the advisory boards of HOPE Atlanta, the Witness to War Foundation, and the Foundation for Atlanta Veterans Education and Research. He also acts as Chairman of the Board of the U.S. Army Ranger Hall of Fame.

Keen often speaks to students about “showing up” as leaders. He tells them that good leaders know when to roll up their sleeves and do the work they’re asking others to accomplish.

I often remind my students that leadership is easy, but leading is hard.

Ken Keen

Spoken like a true leader.

The Master in Business for Veterans is specifically for military veterans, active duty, National Guard, and Reserve personnel looking to transition to a civilian career in business. The program leverages veterans’ management and leadership experience from the military. It pairs this experience with the business knowledge needed to transition into a wide range of industries. Learn more here.

The post Meet Ken Keen: Teaching Lessons in Character and Confidence appeared first on EmoryBusiness.com.

Built with flexibility in mind, students can continue to work as they earn a graduate business degree that contains all the core business courses of an MBA in less than a year. Every student will be offered a mentor and one-on-one career coaching. Eligible students can combine G.I. Bill and Yellow Ribbon benefits (pending VA approval) to cover the entire cost of tuition for the degree.

During the year, students will put knowledge and leadership experience to work in hands-on learning opportunities, honing their leadership, finance, marketing, data analytics, and operational strategy skills. All students will also participate in Goizueta IMPACT for Veterans, during which they will address strategic issues within various organizations, including Fortune 100 companies, non-profits, and start-ups.

Building the Advisory Board

Spearheaded by Retired U.S. Army Lieutenant General and Associate Dean for Leadership Ken Keen, as well as Faculty Lead Professor JB Kurish, the Master in Business for Veterans program will be guided by an advisory board of high level business executives, several of whom are both retired military and graduates of Goizueta.

“The advisory board was formed to counsel us on how to develop and facilitate a program that will be highly effective and beneficial for veteran students,” said Keen.

They will take a close look at the curriculum, provide ideas for how to help our veteran students transition to civilian careers, and guide how we approach career services.

Ken Keen

Raising funds for scholarships will be another core focus for the board, as these funds will help cover the cost of tuition for some students. Board members will also leverage their widespread connections to help set up corporate partnerships with companies in Atlanta and across the southeast.

Lorenzo Suarez, Managing Director of the Master in Business for Veterans program, adds, “The advisory board will provide invaluable advice to our candidates and help them reach their full potential. These individuals have had successful careers in business, so they know what a great job candidate looks like and can ensure our students exceed expectations.”

The inaugural Board of Advisors includes:

• Matt Zames: Founder, Zames Group; Board Member, Institute for Veterans and Military Families
• Matt Smith 01MBA: Major General, U.S. Army Commander Joint Task Force; North U.S. Northern Commander
• Tom Beaty 97MBA: Founder and CEO, Insight Sourcing Group Holdings, Inc.; Founder, Witness to War Foundation
• Patmon Malcom 03MBA: Partner, EARNEST Partners
• Boe Young 89MBA: Major General (Ret), U.S. Army; CEO and Founder, Peacemaker Partners LLC

An Ongoing Commitment to Veterans

Goizueta’s veteran-focused programming also includes funding opportunities and student-led groups. All admitted veterans eligible for and applying Post 9/11 – GI Benefits at 100% to the Master in Business for Veterans program will be awarded a Yellow Ribbon Scholarship from Goizueta. The combination of GI Benefits and the Yellow Ribbon Scholarship will cover all tuition and fees for the program. Enrolled students are also eligible to apply for the Master in Business for Veterans Student Support Fund, which can be applied towards tuition, books, fees, travel, housing, or other expenses incurred while in the program.

On the student side, the Goizueta Veterans Club offers veterans a place to gather and build lasting friendships. Additionally, the Goizueta Business School Veterans Association works to advance the careers of military veterans and active-duty service members by mentoring student veterans to overcome the unique issues that military veterans face as they transition to the civilian workforce.

According to Suarez, Goizueta’s dedication to supporting veterans was evident from day one. “From how I was received at the welcome ceremony and the immediate outpouring of support, it feels as though the entire city of Atlanta is ready to welcome veterans with open arms.” Suarez served eight years on active duty, with his last position as a commander in the Rakkasans (3^rd Brigade, 101st Airborne). After leaving active duty, Suarez transitioned to agile software development in banking technology.

Alongside Keen, Suarez and the advisory board will establish significant in-person recruiting initiatives at the nine major military bases in the region.

The Master in Business for Veterans application opens August 1, 2023, with the first cohort of veterans starting classes in May 2024.

Learn more about the Master in Business for Veterans program.

Your support makes 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.

The post Keen, Suarez, and Board of Directors Steer the Master in Business for Veterans Program Toward Success appeared first on EmoryBusiness.com.