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.

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The Roberto C. Goizueta Award for Leadership is the highest honor given to a student graduating from Goizueta. Funded by The Goizueta Foundation, it is presented annually to two graduating Goizueta Business School students—one BBA and one MBA—who during their time at school have embodied the values and leadership qualities exhibited by Roberto C. Goizueta. These traits include a love of learning, inspirational leadership, creative thinking, courage and commitment, transparency and trust, and excellence and integrity.

Each honoree receives a $25,000 award and identifies the faculty or staff member at Goizueta who had the greatest impact on them during their time as a student. The faculty or staff members selected each receive a $5,000 honorarium. This endowed award was given to the business school in 2019 by The Goizueta Foundation in honor of Roberto C. Goizueta on the school’s 25th Naming Anniversary, and this is the fifth year the award has been given.

“At Goizueta, we are developing principled and impactful leaders and entrepreneurs, fostering innovation for a data and technology driven world, and providing our students with unique, experiential learning opportunities,” said Gareth James, John H. Harland Dean of the Goizueta Business School.

Students like Tia and John embody our values in action. We are immensely grateful to The Goizueta Foundation for allowing us to recognize our students who have left a lasting mark on our community through their servant leadership.

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

“We are proud to support The Roberto C. Goizueta Award for Leadership,” said Olga Goizueta Rawls, Board Chair and Chief Executive Officer of The Goizueta Foundation. “I congratulate Tia and John 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. Tia and John have shown they possess the leadership qualities to do exactly that.”

A Natural and Fierce Leader, Tia Bakhaya Makes it Her Mission to Raise the Profile of Women in Finance

“Tia is an academic superstar. She is one of the best students I have taught in my 35 years at Emory,” shares Jeff Rosensweig, associate professor of finance and director of The Robson Program for Business, Public Policy, and Government. “People ask whether EQ or IQ is more important for a leader. Tia has a superlative level of both. She is destined to be a leader of people doing the good work needed to move the world forward.”

In her time at Emory, Tia took every opportunity to nurture both her own growth and that of others, especially female students with an interest in finance. Wen Gu, associate professor in the practice of information systems and operations management, adds, “Tia’s extensive internship experience in the finance industry has provided her with the skills and knowledge to inspire and facilitate female students to excel in this field. As the president of Goizueta Women in Finance for the last two years, Tia has demonstrated her inspirational leadership by organizing events and mentorship programs for over 60 female students who are interested in pursuing finance.” Gu continued, “Her work has helped empower these students to overcome obstacles and achieve success in the industry.”

In recognition of her faculty mentor and professor, Bakhaya chose to bestow the $5,000 honorarium upon Rosensweig. “It takes a special kind of professor to not only teach well but to also make their students love learning. Dr. J is as distinguished as they come, but what truly sets him apart is the person that he is.” Bakhaya cites Rosensweig’s mentorship to herself and dozens of other students as the reason she selected him for this honor. Bakhaya went on to say, “He is a selfless advocate and is not satisfied unless his victories are used to help his students.”

John Schellhase Takes the Goizueta Real Estate Program to New Heights Through Fearless Innovation and Unmatched Ambition

John Schellhase is known throughout Goizueta Business School for his tactful networking skills, organizational prowess, and eye for opportunity. John was one of the primary organizers of Goizueta Business School’s first annual Emory Real Estate Conference held in April 2022 and the second event this spring. Drawing more than 600 attendees to a sold-out crowd, these events featured national powerhouse speakers and panelists from across the country, connected student and industry leaders, and cemented Goizueta’s leadership role in the real estate space. Roy T. Black, former director of Goizueta’s Real Estate Program and professor in the practice of finance, shares, “I thought that since the project was student-generated, it should start small and grow. John proposed that it should be national quality from the start. He created student committees and an alumni committee and carefully carved up the responsibilities so that he could handle his academic studies and his full-time job while creating this extremely ambitious project.”

Organizing the Emory Real Estate Conference was one of many impactful projects Schellhase took on during his time at Goizueta. He also spearheaded significant real estate-focused fundraising initiatives, organized numerous Dinner & Learn sessions for himself and fellow students, and worked with Black to lay the groundwork for a distinguished professorship to conceptualize a real estate center that advances thought leadership, education and innovation. Strengthening his leadership skills, he also served as president of the Center for Alternative Investments, teaching assistant to Klaas Baks, professor in the practice of finance and executive director of the Center for Alternative Investments, and started the Goizueta Real Estate Group by combining three separate real estate-focused organizations. On top of it all, Schellhase worked full-time as the Head of Hotel Lifecycle and Growth at IHG while pursuing his Evening MBA.

In selecting a faculty member to honor, Schellhase chose to present the honorarium to Baks. “Klaas is one of the best professors at Emory and leverages his vast experience to help students interested in alternative finance careers. He routinely opens his extensive network up which helps students gain experience and relationships in the industry,” Schellhase shares. “Additionally, Klaas has personally been a mentor to me and has dedicated time weekly to my growth and development. Without his knowledge or support, I would not be where I am today.”

Baks feels similarly about Schellhase. “Over the past several years, John has emerged as one of my brightest students. He devoted significant effort to organizing the Emory Real Estate Conference, and the results speak for themselves. No matter what you put on John’s plate, he’ll find a way to get the job done exceptionally well. Needless to say, John will go very far in his 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.

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The Roberto C. Goizueta Award for Leadership is the highest honor given to a student graduating from Goizueta. Funded by The Goizueta Foundation, it is presented annually to two graduating Goizueta Business School students—one BBA and one MBA—who during their time at school have embodied the values and leadership qualities exhibited by Roberto Goizueta. These values include a love of learning, inspirational leadership, creative thinking, courage and commitment, transparency and trust, and excellence and integrity. Each honoree receives a $25,000 award and identifies the faculty or staff member at Goizueta who had the greatest impact on them during their time as a student. The faculty or staff members selected each receive a $5,000 honorarium. This is the fourth year the award has been given.

“At Goizueta, we are preparing principled leaders to have a positive influence on business and society,” said Karen Sedatole, Interim John H. Harland Dean of the Goizueta Business School. “Students like Michelle and Kegan exemplify our core values in action. We value our partnership with The Goizueta Foundation and their unwavering support of convening the brightest minds to solve the world’s biggest problems.”

“We are honored to support this important award,” said Olga Goizueta Rawls, Board Chair and Chief Executive Officer of The Goizueta Foundation. “I congratulate Michelle and Kegan on receiving the Roberto C. Goizueta Award for Leadership and on their many important contributions to the Goizueta Business School community and their peers. Today more than ever, business schools must graduate students prepared to lead in a complex world. Michelle and Kegan demonstrate such leadership qualities.”

An Inspirational Leader: Michelle He Prioritizes Inclusivity

“Michelle is an exceptional student, and her superb academic record confirms her love of learning,” wrote Andrea Hershatter, senior associate dean and BBA program director, on the award nomination. As a principles-driven and mission-inspired leader, in her role as a resident advisor, she rallied students through a pandemic, creating community and engagement opportunities in unique and innovative ways. Serving as BBA Council president, He greatly expanded access to student clubs for all BBAs. “This delicate and crucial endeavor speaks to her values and her ability to work with and through others to achieve positive outcomes. Her leadership in creating a more inclusive community at Goizueta separates us positively from all of our competitors,” said Hershatter.

Professionally, He co-founded a VC arm of the Emory Entrepreneurship and Venture Management Club and worked at TechStars sourcing new ventures. Hershatter continued, “The courage with which she stood up to some aggressively passionate BBA leaders in changing our membership policies will leave us with a legacy of inclusiveness that I believe could only have happened on her watch.”

“It is a tribute to what others see in her character that she was appointed as the single undergraduate student representative to the Goizueta Business School Dean’s Search committee where I was not surprised at all to hear that she was a meaningful and thoughtful contributor,” Hershatter added.

In recognition of her faculty mentor, professor, and advisor, He chose to bestow the $5,000 honorarium upon Hershatter. “Andrea is a fearless advocate for all students, and her unwavering dedication to the BBA program is one that I greatly admire and hope to emulate,” He shared. “She has inspired me to reimagine norms and push the boundaries of conventionality.” Throughout her academic career, He was guided by the wisdom of Hershatter in that “no idea is too grand or unattainable.”

A Steady and Steadfast Leader: Kegan Baird Embodies Empathy and Pushes for Equity

Known as an unstoppable leader, stellar student, and teaching assistant, Kegan Baird, a graduate of the Goizueta full-time MBA program, managed many roles while attending the program. Not only did he serve as co-managing director of the John R. Lewis Racial Justice Case Competition, expanding the program to partner universities, he also was co-president of Goizueta Nonprofit Consulting, vice president of Goizueta Gives, and vice president of community outreach for the Goizueta Business Administration. Strengthening his leadership skills, he served as a Goizueta Advanced Leadership Academy Fellow, an Emory Marketing Analytics Center Fellow, a Delta Leadership Coaching Fellow, and an Impact Coaching Fellow. Notably, Baird also graduated at the top of his class academically.

His nominator, fellow 2022 MBA graduate Ivan Mosqueda-Ramirez noted, “On three occasions he has been awarded one of the Class of 2022 Core Value Awards, for Accountability, Community, and Diversity. Kegan has put these characteristics into action since his very first days at Goizueta.” Mosqueda-Ramirez continued, “As a member of the Consortium for Graduate Studies in Management, an organization with the mission of creating opportunities for African American, Hispanic American, and Native American individuals in business, Kegan demonstrated his courage and commitment by putting himself on the front lines of helping others while he, himself, was not part of any of the aforementioned populations. Rather than consider himself an outsider, Kegan leaned in with courage and let his actions speak for his commitment to working in service to humanity.”

In selecting the faculty member to honor, Baird chose to present the $5000 honorarium to Lynne Segall a 1999 Goizueta MBA graduate, and associate dean of management practice initiatives and senior lecturer of Organization & Management. “Professor Segall has been instrumental in my development as a leader, presenter, advocate, and individual over the past two years,” he wrote of her dedication to nurturing his personal and professional growth. “Through our conversations and interactions, she has helped me develop problem-solving, strategic thinking, communication, management, and countless other skills. When I wasn’t sure of my ability to take on the task of running JLCC, it was Lynne, alongside Willie Sullivan who gave me the confidence and support to do the job right and serve the competition. Lynne embodies all seven Goizueta core values and comes to work every day confident, prepared, optimistic, and ready to make a difference.”

Learn more about the meaningful work of The Goizueta Foundation.

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The Roberto C. Goizueta Award for Leadership is the highest honor given to a student graduating from Goizueta Business School. Funded by The Goizueta Foundation, it is presented annually to two graduating Goizueta Business School students—one BBA and one MBA—who during their time at school have embodied the values and leadership qualities exhibited by Mr. Goizueta. Candidates are evaluated based on key criteria including: a love of learning, inspirational leadership, creative thinking, courage and commitment, transparency and trust, and excellence and integrity. Each honoree receives a $25,000 award and identifies the faculty or staff member at Goizueta who had the greatest impact on them during their time as a student. The faculty or staff members selected each receive a $5,000 honorarium. 

“At Goizueta, we are preparing principled leaders to have a positive influence on business and society,” said Karen Sedatole, Interim John H. Harland Dean of the Goizueta Business School. “Students like Lori and Willie are shining examples of our core values in action. We value our partnership with The Goizueta Foundation and their unwavering support of convening the brightest minds to solve the world’s biggest problems.”

“We are honored to support this important award,” said Olga Goizueta Rawls, board chair and chief executive officer of The Goizueta Foundation. “I congratulate Lori and Willie on receiving the Roberto C. Goizueta Award for Leadership and on their many important contributions to the Goizueta Business School community and their peers, which have also helped to bring recognition to the school and its programs.”

Meet Lori Steffel 21BBA: Student Government President, Community Changemaker, and Teaching Assistant

With a deep commitment to scholarship and community, Lori Steffel maintained high honors during the COVID-19 pandemic while also serving as the Emory University Student Government Association president, overseeing four divisional councils, managing a $1.4 million budget, and balancing numerous campus leadership responsibilities. Steffel was also the lead teaching assistant for two core classes in the undergraduate curriculum: Strategic Management and Business Law. 

Among her many achievements, Steffel created an Undergraduate Student Leadership Council, initiated the Student Artisan Market and Emory Food Security Fund, co-launched the Emory Votes Initiative, and created a Transportation Committee to evaluate making shuttle routes more responsive to student needs during the pandemic. 

Steffel’s fellow BBA seniors and peer leaders wrote, “It is hard to find someone at Emory who Lori does not know or who has not been touched by her intellect and kindness. During her tenure as SGA President, she has been a fearless advocate for students and the Emory community.”

Inspired by her mentor and Professor in the Practice of Business Law Allison Burdette, Steffel praised the educator for whom she has been a teaching assistant.  “She weaves her students’ lives into class examples to help us remember the content, and she also takes an interest in us beyond the classroom,” Steffel wrote of Burdette. “All of this becomes even more impressive when you factor into account that she teaches every single student in the business school; her ability to connect with and support students is unmatched.” 

Meet Willie Sullivan 21MBA: A Powerful Voice for Justice

For opera singer Willie Sullivan, portraying the role of Alfredo in the Verdi opera “La Traviata” was both moving and powerful. With his rich tenor voice, he imbued awe within a hushed audience that savored his every note.

At that moment in his life, Sullivan could have no idea that he would graduate as a National Black MBA Scholar of Goizueta Business School’s Class of 2021, where his powerful voice would once again become the instrument for inspiring emotional response — this time in the realm of racial justice.

Ever conscious of how classroom learning can translate into real-world impact, Willie Sullivan, along with Goizueta leaders and classmates, conceived of, envisioned, and managed the execution of the inaugural John R. Lewis Racial Justice Case Competition. The competition inspired over 500 students from more than 50 universities and leading businesses including Walmart, HP, Johnson & Johnson, Truist Bank, Salesforce, and The Southern Company to create innovative and actionable racial justice initiatives for those companies. 

Associate Dean for Goizueta IMPACT Lynne Segall noted, “After hearing Willie talk about his vision, it was impossible for anyone to say no.”  

Sullivan also received the Fall 2020 MBA Core Values award for Courage. In February, he was honored with the Leaders in Corporate Citizenship “Rising Star” Award” by the Atlanta Business Chronicle. 

“As I have often said, real societal change is hard,” Sullivan noted. “It takes people showing up over and over again, even when the camera crews and media have moved on. It takes showing up when you are tired, stressed, or dealing with other issues.”

For her passionate support of the John Lewis Case Competition, Sullivan recognized Segall as the faculty member who most influenced his Goizueta journey. “Professor Segall stayed committed to this competition through family commitments, a large course load, and being an active member of her civic community,” he said. “I am still surprised with how much she is able to accomplish. I don’t even question it. I am just thankful she came into my life when she did in order to make my vision a reality, and to continue the work of John Lewis, Martin Luther King, and so many others for racial equality.” 

Learn more about the critical work of The Goizueta Foundation to inspire motivated young people to learn and succeed. Find out how The Roberto C. Goizueta Business & Society Institute is transforming business to solve society’s challenges through cutting-edge research, innovative programming, and principled leadership. 

The post Campus Student Leader and Racial Justice Advocate are Recipients of Emory University’s Goizueta Business School Roberto C. Goizueta Award for Leadership appeared first on EmoryBusiness.com.

Nominated by a member of the Goizueta community (faculty, staff or a fellow student), the award recognizes one graduating BBA student and one graduating MBA student who embody the values and leadership qualities exhibited by Roberto C. Goizueta. All nominations were reviewed by a selection committee comprised of BBA and MBA program deans, as well as faculty. The winner was chosen with six leadership criteria in mind:

• Love of learning
• Inspirational Leadership
• Creative Thinking
• Courage and Commitment
• Transparency and Trust
• Excellence and Integrity

“It’s an honor to be recognized for leading in a way that reflects the legacy of Roberto Goizueta,” said Major Waidzulis. “It’s also extremely meaningful because selection required nomination and support from a community of world-class faculty, staff, and colleagues at the Goizueta Business School who have inspired me over the past two years. I further believe the credit really belongs to the servant leaders that have influenced me over the years, and it makes me feel good knowing that I have been able to pay it forward by impacting the lives of others.”

Battat is humbled to be recognized in honor of the school’s namesake. “More than anything, this award is validation of the belief that we can all achieve more when we help one another,” Battat said. “While technically I may be the recipient, this award also recognizes the selflessness and support of my parents and peers, as well as Goizueta faculty, staff and alumni. Everything I did at Goizueta was an attempt to pay forward the support I received from those who helped me — and I probably fell short.”

A member of the IMPACT 360 Leadership Board, Major Waidzulis is one of only five full- time MBA students in the class of 2020 to complete each of the elective leadership courses offered at Goizueta (the Leader’s Reaction Course, the Leadership Coaching Fellows Course, Goizueta Advanced Leadership Academy course, and the Advanced Leadership Course), and the only student to serve as president of a student club (the Goizueta Veterans Club) at the same time. As a result, Major Waidzulis also received the MBA Certificate of Advanced Leadership.

Major Waidzulis joined the Army in 2008 and has led soldiers, paratroopers, and rangers in over 300 combat operations. While at Goizueta, he took a leadership role in mentoring and teaching Emory University ROTC cadets. Major Waidzulis also volunteered in veteran support organizations, like Bunker Labs Atlanta, to further the interests of Atlanta-based veteran entrepreneurs. He was also one of only two students selected to serve on the Emory University Veteran Task Force, created to address the issues facing veterans across the university, seek opportunities for them, and enhance the recruitment effort of undergraduate veteran students.

“When the Admissions team seeks an eloquent and passionate spokesperson for the MBA, J Waidzulis immediately comes to mind,” wrote Kate Piasecki, senior associate director of MBA Admissions Waidzulis’ nomination. Piasecki was one of four faculty and staff members to nominate Waidzulis. “J exhibits a love of learning at all levels and is always willing to share his personal story with candidates,” she added. “His personalized engagement serves to increase their understanding of why continued education is so important for transitioning military and non-military to enhance their careers.”

Nominated by Jan Barton, associate professor of accounting, and a fellow 20BBA classmate, Battat has served Goizueta’s finance community well. Battat led both the Goizueta Finance Group (GFG) and the Goizueta Investment Management Group (GIMG). While president of the GIMG, Battat increased female membership from 11 percent to 37 percent and enhanced community outreach by inviting several classes from nearby Druid Hills High School to campus to attend an introductory finance lecture. Battat’s love of finance began in high school, where he began to contribute, along with investors and industry experts, to SeekingAlpha.com, a crowd-sourced website that covers financial markets. Battat also created an online profile for the GIMG, expanding the club’s reach and exposure.

“He is also highly intuitive, introspective, and just plain delightful and a wonderful human being,” wrote Barton in Battat’s nomination. “He has the intelligence, skills, and perseverance to have succeeded academically and professionally in our BBA program. He also has the personal integrity and sense of humor necessary to be a valued classmate and colleague.”

As part of the award, the student recipients identified the faculty member most influential in shaping their time at Goizueta. Battat selected Jeff Rosensweig, associate professor of finance; director, the Robson Program for Business, Public Policy, and Government. and Waidzulis recognized Ken Keen, senior lecturer in organization & management and associate dean for leadership. Battat was the first undergraduate to serve as Rosensweig’s teaching assistant, and he was thankful that the professor took a chance on him. “I have been taught by many fantastic professors while at Goizueta, but never before has one taken such a selfless and invested interest in my personal success,” said Battat. “He has shared with me invitations to engage with over a dozen leaders across numerous disciplines, allowing me to build broad connections and to explore potential areas of interests. These unique opportunities are among the highlights of my time at Goizueta.”

Waidzulis credits Keen’s mentorship with helping him navigate career challenges and working with Waidzulis to “be more vulnerable with colleagues and faculty which led to more meaningful relationships and the ability to have a more positive impact in and out of the classroom,” Waidzulis explained. “He has enriched my life in more ways than I could every hope to give in return. My hope is that he understands that his legacy of leadership has become a part of who I am and will become a part of those I touch as a leader going forward.”

Rosensweig and Keen will each receive a $5000 honorarium.

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Roberto C. Goizueta Award for Leadership is the highest honor given to a student graduating from Goizueta Business School. Funded by The Goizueta Foundation, it is presented annually to two graduating Goizueta Business School students—one BBA and one MBA—who during their time at school have embodied the values and leadership qualities exhibited by Mr. Goizueta. Those are: a love of learning, inspirational leadership, creative thinking, courage and commitment, transparency and trust, and excellence and integrity. Each honoree receives a $25,000 award and identifies the faculty or staff member at Goizueta who had the greatest impact on them during their time as a student. The faculty or staff members selected each receive a $5,000 honorarium. This is the second year the award has been given.

“At Goizueta, we are producing talented, principled leaders intent on having a purposeful and positive impact on business and society,” said Erika H. James, John H. Harland Dean of the Goizueta Business School. “Michael and Jason are emblematic of our graduates and both of them richly deserve this important honor. I know that as they move into their careers, they will continue to reflect and promote Roberto C. Goizueta’s leadership values.”

“We are honored to support this important award,” said Olga Goizueta Rawls, Board Chair and Chief Executive Officer of The Goizueta Foundation. “I congratulate Michael and Jason on receiving the Roberto C. Goizueta Award for Leadership and on their many important contributions to the Goizueta Business School community and their peers. Today more than ever, business schools must graduate students prepared to lead in a complex world.  Michael and Jason exemplify such leadership qualities.”

While he was still in high school, Battat began writing for the financial website SeekingAlpha.com and at Goizueta used that experience to inform his roles as president of two prestigious student organizations, the Goizueta Finance Group and the Goizueta Investment Management Group. While earning his BBA, Battat had internships at three leading companies, Perella Weinberg Partners, Invesco and Heritage Capital. His other many activities at Goizueta include co-directing the Sophomore Finance Academy, serving as lead coach at the Goizueta Career Management Center, and serving as a teaching assistant for five courses.

Battat is on the Dean’s List and was a member of the Phi Eta Sigma Freshman Honor Society, and Omicron Delta Kappa Honor Society. He is also a member of Beta Gamma Sigma Honor Society and a 100 Senior Honorary.

“It is incredibly humbling to be recognized in honor of our school’s namesake,” said Battat. “More than anything, this award is validation of the belief that we can all achieve more when we help one another. While technically I may be the recipient, this award also recognizes the selflessness and support of my parents and peers, as well as Goizueta faculty, staff and alumni. Everything I did at Goizueta was an attempt to pay forward the support I received from those who helped me — and I probably fell short.”

Battat identified Jeffrey Rosensweig as the faculty member who had the greatest impact on his experience at Goizueta. In his nomination letter, Battat wrote, “Dr. Rosensweig’s mentorship is a material reason why I have the privilege of being recognized with this amazing honor. He inspires me to be similarly selfless and supportive to others, which has manifested within my leadership capacities. It is only fitting that I recognize Dr. Jeffrey Rosensweig, a world-class educator with identical values as Mr. Goizueta and who similarly impacts the Goizueta Business School and its students. For his selflessness, countless contributions and continued mentorship, Dr. Rosensweig is incredibly deserving of this nomination.” Rosensweig is an associate professor of Finance, and director of The Robson Program for Business, Public Policy, and Government Finance.

An active duty U.S. Army Officer, Major Waidzulis has served within infantry and special operations units. Since 2008, he has led the training and deployment of several teams in support U.S. military operations across the globe. As a student, he served as a coach for Goizueta’s Leader’s Reaction Course and his performance in a core course earned him an invitation to serve as a teaching assistant for it the following year. He served on the IMPACT360 Student Leadership Board, and in that capacity, worked with first-year MBAs taking the course. He was president of the Goizueta Veterans Association, led recruiting efforts to encourage veterans and active duty service men and women to pursue advanced business degrees, and taught Reserve Officer Training Corps cadets at both Emory and Georgia Tech.

“It’s an honor to be recognized for leading in a way that reflects the legacy of Roberto Goizueta,” said Major Waidzulis. “It’s also extremely meaningful because selection required nomination and support from a community of world-class faculty, staff, and colleagues at the Goizueta Business School who have inspired me over the past two years. I further believe the credit must be shared with the servant leaders that have influenced me over the years, and it makes me feel good knowing that I have been able to pay it forward by impacting the lives of others.”

Major Waidzulis also helped raise more than $39,000 for the Goizueta Business School Veterans Association. He was selected by his peers in the Goizueta Advanced Leadership Academy (GALA) program for the GALA GLUE award for holding his team together through success, failure and physical and mental fatigue.

Major Waidzulis identified Ken Keen, as the faculty member who had the greatest impact on his experience at Goizueta. In his nomination letter, Waidzulis wrote, “Lieutenant General Ken Keen is a great example of a servant leader and can best be described as humble with an edge. I appreciate the opportunities he has given me and his willingness to candidly share 36 years of military leadership experience and knowledge to mentor me into a high potential leader for others.”  Keen is a senior lecturer in Organization & Management and associate dean for Leadership. He is also a retired US Army Lieutenant General.

About Goizueta Business School

Business education has been an integral part of Emory University’s identity since 1919. That kind of longevity and significance does not come without a culture built around success and service. Emory University’s Goizueta Business School offers a unique, community-oriented environment paired with the academic prestige of a major research institution. Goizueta develops business leaders of today and tomorrow with an undergraduate degree program, a Two-Year Full-Time MBA, One-Year MBA, Evening MBA, Executive MBA, Master of Science in Business Analytics, PhD program, and a portfolio of non-degree Emory Executive Education courses. Together, the Goizueta community strives to solve the world’s most pressing business problems. The school is named for the late Roberto C. Goizueta, former Chairman and CEO of The Coca-Cola Company.

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Last year, Professor Jagdish Sheth turned 80 and shows no signs of slowing down. During this year’s commencement ceremony, he received the 2019 Thomas Jefferson Award. This prestigious award honors a faculty or staff member who has significantly enriched the intellectual and civic life of the Emory community.

For Sheth, Charles H. Kellstadt Chair in Marketing, who has won a number of awards, the Jefferson Award holds a meaningful spot.

“This award is really special because it is selected by a committee of university-wide peers,” says Sheth. “Also, it is special because the Jefferson Award reinforces the mission of an academic, which is to unlock the potential of others.”

Helping others find that potential is a passion of Sheth’s and has fueled his research and teaching. The breadth of Sheth’s work and activities were detailed in a six-page nomination letter from Erika James, John H. Harland Dean of Goizueta Business School, and seven others from across campus. The impact was not lost on the judges, all of whom are prior award winners.

“The committee was deeply impressed by the local, regional and international contributions Professor Sheth has made through his distinguished career at Emory,” says Carol J. Rowland Hogue, Jules & Uldeen Terry Professor of Maternal and Child Health, professor of epidemiology and director, Women’s and Children’s Center.

Sharing in the celebration with her father was Reshma Shah, associate professor in the practice of marketing, who won the Emory Williams Distinguished Undergraduate Teaching Award.

In other awards, Charles “Chip” Frame and Libby Livingston received the Donald R. Keough Award for Excellence. The award, named for and endowed by former Coca-Cola President and COO Donald Keough, is the school’s highest service award and recognizes extraordinary contributions by faculty and staff.

Ramnath K. Chellappa, associate dean, academic director of the Master of Science in Business Analytics program and associate professor of information systems & operations, is this year’s recipient of the Provost’s Distinguished Teaching Award for Excellence in Graduate and Professional Education Award.

In the fall of 2018, The Goizueta Foundation contributed a gift to endow the Roberto C. Goizueta Award for Leadership. This award, which is the highest honor a graduating BBA or MBA student can receive, recognizes two outstanding students who are academically sound and have demonstrated leadership tied to the shared characteristics of love of learning, inspirational leadership, creative thinking, courage and commitment, transparency and trust, excellence, and integrity. In accepting the award, student recipients identify the faculty or staff member who has been the most influential in shaping their time at Goizueta. Both students and faculty receive a cash prize in recognition of their noteworthy leadership.

Roberto C. Goizueta Award for Leadership

Student Award: Willi Freire 19BBA
Faculty Mentor: Nikki Graves

Student Award: Ted Kietzman 19MBA
Faculty Mentor: Daniel McCarthy

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