“These awards highlight the extraordinary commitment of our faculty and staff,” says Dean Gareth James. “Our faculty drive innovation in the classroom and through their groundbreaking research, while our staff provide the critical support that enables every member of the Goizueta community to thrive. Together, their dedication shapes the student experience and amplifies Goizueta’s impact on business and society at large.”

This year’s honorees represent the best of what Goizueta and Emory stand for: passionate educators and visionary leaders who make a meaningful difference every day. Join us in celebrating the 2025 recipients of our most prestigious faculty and staff awards. 

Keough Staff Award 

Associate Dean of Full-Time MBA Programs and Goizueta Global Strategy & Initiatives Brian Mitchell has been selected as our 2025 Keough Staff Award for Excellence recipient.  Brian is recognized for going above and beyond his formal responsibilities through servant leadership, deep student engagement, and tireless mentoring. He has established safe, supportive spaces for students, championed curriculum innovation, including inclusion-focused coursework, and played a pivotal role in integrating one-year and two-year MBA cohorts to foster unity and shared purpose. 

Brian’s long-term impact includes driving strategic enhancements to the MBA program and expanding Goizueta’s global partnerships.  He is known for his creative and innovative leadership, applying both corporate and academic expertise to reimagine curriculum design, experiential learning, and cross-disciplinary collaborations.  

The Keough Award is named after Don Keough, a legendary former President of The Coca-Cola Company, and a symbol of business excellence. This award honors a long-term contributor to the school who has made a significant impact and a sustainable contribution to Goizueta Business School. 

Emory Williams Distinguished Undergraduate Teaching Award 

Assistant Professor in the Practice of Marketing Marina Cooley has been named our 2025 recipient of the Emory Williams Distinguished Undergraduate Teaching Award which recognizes a faculty’s outstanding commitment to undergraduate teaching. 

A Goizueta 2012 MBA alumna and Assistant Professor in the Practice of Marketing, Marina is known for her innovative teaching, student engagement, and course development—including the highly popular Content Marketing elective. Her teaching emphasizes “sticky ideas,” storytelling, and the power of curiosity-driven innovation. 

Beyond the classroom, Marina is conducting research on work/life balance and helped launch the Life Design program as part of our BBA curriculum redesign. 

The Emory Williams Distinguished Undergraduate Teaching Award is presented to faculty members from each of Emory’s four undergraduate schools during commencement every year. “The award celebrates the pinnacle of teaching excellence, honoring faculty who have profoundly impacted their students’ academic journeys,” says Wei Jiang, vice dean for faculty and research and Asa Griggs Candler Professor of Finance. The award was established by Emory Williams, a 1932 Emory College alumnus and longtime trustee, to recognize a record of excellence in undergraduate teaching. 

Provost’s Distinguished Teaching Award for Excellence in Graduate and Professional Education 

Associate Professor in the Practice of Finance Kevin Crowley has been selected as Goizueta Business School’s 2025 recipient of the Provost’s Distinguished Teaching Award for Excellence in Graduate and Professional Education. 

Kevin, an associate professor in the Practice of Finance, is celebrating his 20th year at Goizueta. With a distinguished background in investment banking at Deutsche Bank and J.P. Morgan, he brings invaluable real-world expertise to his teaching. He has consistently received strong teaching evaluations, receiving high marks for his emphasis on applied theory, practical skills and real-world context.  Kevin brings theory to life by incorporating relevant transactional (deal-making) experience into the classroom.   

Students report that Kevin is always available outside of class to support their understanding of the course material.  In addition to his strong teaching capabilities, last year Kevin served on the MBA Curriculum Re-design Committee. 

The Provost’s Distinguished Teaching Award for Excellence in Graduate and Professional Education recognizes outstanding scholars who excel as teachers within formal and informal educational settings. “This award honors exceptional teaching and recognizes those who guide their students with passion and expertise,” says Alicia Sierra, director of human resources and diversity. 

One faculty member in each of Emory’s seven graduate and professional schools receives the award in recognition of the important role of exceptional teaching in graduate and professional education. 

2025 Roberto C. Goizueta Award for Leadership Recipients and their Honorees 

2025 Roberto C. Goizueta BBA Recipient

25BBA Saanvi Sood exemplifies inspirational leadership through her dedication to empowering others and making a tangible impact. She spearheaded a fundraising campaign in honor of EIIG’s 10-year anniversary, successfully raising over $150K to support microloans and consulting services for underserved entrepreneurs in Atlanta. Under her leadership, EIIG engaged over 240 analysts in the past fall semester, making it the largest student organization at Goizueta. Despite her significant contributions, Saanvi consistently redirects praise to others, ensuring that those around her feel valued and empowered.

 Saanvi repeatedly looks for ways to help students at all levels of educational success. For the highflyers, Saanvi organized a case competition trip to New Zealand. When her case competition team qualified to go to New Zealand, Saanvi was able to leverage her network to find a way to get enough supplemental funding to allow the team to travel to New Zealand. She looks for ways to turn no into yes. 

The strongest evidence of the excellence and integrity others see in Saanvi is demonstrated by her leadership roles at Goizueta. In addition to being elected president of EIIG, she led the Data Science Club, served in three TA positions and was selected as the head BBA CMC coach (over 24 other BBA seniors who are coaches).  She was also a Robson Program Fellow, as a Business and Society/Social Enterprise Fellow and was one of only two students on the QTM alumni Council Steering Committee.  She is viewed by all as exemplary across every aspect of leadership embraced by Mr. Goizueta.  

BBA Faculty Honoree: Jeff Rosensweig, Associate Professor of Finance  

Professor Jeffrey Rosensweig, or as his students lovingly call him, “Dr. J”, is dedicated to advancing the intersection of business and government, while keeping student mentorship at the heart of his work. Passionate about shaping the leaders of tomorrow, he is not only an invaluable guide, but also a lifelong advocate, role model, and friend. Whether it be major professional guidance or personal life advice, he is always just a phone call away. Despite his vast network of esteemed economic and political leaders, he will always make time for his students. 

“This past year, Dr. J supported a team of myself and three other Goizueta students to compete in the World Case Champion’s Trophy in New Zealand, giving us the opportunity to represent Goizueta on a global stage and create our most memorable college experience,” says Saanvi. “His support is a testament to his commitment to student advancement, as well as his confidence in the Goizueta curriculum and experience.”  

2025 Roberto C. Goizueta MBA Recipient

25MBA Sasha McNair has inspired her peers through her commitment to academic excellence and student leadership. As Co-President of the Goizueta Consulting Association, she has mentored and guided countless students, helping them navigate the competitive consulting recruitment process. She’s done it with a mind for development and community that the club was sorely lacking. She’s always put the students she serves first and leads with humility, empathy, and a strong vision, making a lasting impact on the Goizueta community. 

Under Sasha’s leadership, the Goizueta Consulting Association expanded its reach and resources, introducing new initiatives such as structured interview boot camps and alumni engagement programs. She also contributed fresh perspectives to the Black MBA Association and GWIB, encouraging cross-club collaborations that enhanced the student experience. 

Known for her authenticity and integrity, Sasha fosters an environment of trust within her teams. Her peers admire her for her open communication style, ensuring that all voices are heard in decision-making. She leads with honesty and accountability, strengthening the cohesion and credibility of the organizations she serves. 

MBA Faculty Honoree: Ama Ampadu-Fofie, Director of Culture, Inclusion & Belonging 

“Ama has been one of the most impactful staff members throughout my MBA journey,” shares Sasha. “Not only has she shown up for me at crucial moments in my Emory career, but she has also been a listening ear when I needed it most.”

“During our first interaction, I told Ama that I felt a tinge of imposter syndrome. She looked at me with surprise and said, Why? And now I know why she was so surprised. She helped me build back up my confidence and I’m leaving here a stronger professional, student, daughter, and friend. I can’t thank her enough for how she poured into me and continues to pour into many of the Black women and men in our program. Having her as a visible part of the school administration not only empowers us in spaces that could make us feel small but also provides a safe place to land when we need to talk to someone who just understands.”

This Roberto C. Goizueta Award for Leadership is the highest honor given to a graduating student in the BBA and MBA programs. It is presented to the graduating student who best exemplifies six criteria: a love of learning, inspirational leadership, creative thinking, courage and commitment, transparency and trust, and excellence and integrity. In addition, this award recognizes the key role Goizueta faculty and staff play in students’ development. The selection criteria reinforce the already existing BBA Creed and MBA Core Values practiced daily at Goizueta Business School.  In sum, the goal of the Award is to recognize the brightest minds who can solve the biggest problems with integrity, ingenuity, and grit. After being selected for the Award, each recipient will identify the faculty or staff member who has had the biggest impact on them during their time as a student at Goizueta.

Goizueta Program Faculty Teaching Awards 

Emory and Goizueta also award those exceptional faculty who exhibit academic excellence in each department. These awards go to individuals who represent their departments with outstanding education and lead the professionals of tomorrow. We would like to recognize them here. 

• BBA Distinguished Educator: Shankar Ramachandran, Associate Professor in the Practice of Finance 

• Evening MBA Distinguished Core Educator: Rod McCowan, Associate Professor in the Practice of Organization & Management  

• Evening MBA Distinguished Elective Educator: Klaas Baks, Professor in the Practice of Finance  

• Executive MBA Distinguished Educator (Core): Shehzad Mian, Associate Professor of Finance  

• Executive MBA Distinguished Educator (Elective): Kevin Crowley, Associate Professor in the Practice of Finance  

• Master of Finance (MF) Distinguished Educator: Kevin Crowley, Associate Professor in the Practice of Finance  

• Master of Finance (MF) Distinguished Educator: Nicholas Valerio, Professor in the Practice of Finance 

• Full-Time One-Year MBA Distinguished Accounting Educator Award: Usha Rackliffe, Associate Professor in the Practice of Accounting 

• Full-Time Two-Year MBA Distinguished Accounting Educator Award: Suhas Sridharan, Associate Professor of Accounting 

• Full-Time Two-Year MBA Distinguished Finance Educator Award: JB Kurish, Professor in the Practice of Finance 

• Full-Time One-Year MBA Distinguished Finance Educator Award: JB Kurish, Professor in the Practice of Finance 

• Full-Time MBA Distinguished Information Systems & Operations Management Educator Award: Steve Walton, Professor in the Practice of Information Systems & Operations Management 

• Full-Time MBA Distinguished Information Systems & Operations Management Educator Award: Wenjun Gu, Associate Professor in the Practice of Information Systems & Operations Management 

• Full-Time One-Year MBA Distinguished Marketing Educator Award: Marina Cooley, Assistant Professor in the Practice of Marketing 

• Full-Time Two-Year MBA Distinguished Marketing Educator Award: Ryan Hamilton, Associate Professor of Marketing 

• Full-Time Two-Year MBA Distinguished Organization & Management Educator Award: Rod McCowan, Associate Professor in the Practice of Organization & Management 

We are immensely proud to celebrate the accomplishments of our faculty. Through their transformational work, they push industries forward, prepare the next generation of business leaders, and solve today’s toughest business problems. 

The post Celebrating Goizueta Excellence in Teaching, Service, and Support  appeared first on EmoryBusiness.com.

The ruling of Bostock v. Clayton County, Georgia stated that discrimination due to sexual orientation and/or gender identity is a direct violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, thereby also protecting transgender people.

Despite this decision, and the positive measures that have come about, 46 percent of LGBTQ+ workers experience unfair treatment at work in their lifetime, according to a 2021 study by UCLA School of Law Williams Institute.

Cultivating a Culture of Inclusivity

Goizueta Business School is committed to breaking down the barriers that LGBTQ+ individuals face in the workplace and creating a more inclusive, supportive, and encouraging work environment. For several years, Goizueta has hosted “Out in Business,” a panel during which alumni can share their experiences about being out–or not–in the workplace with current students and LGBTQ+ allies.

“Goizueta is a very welcoming place to be and to work for LGBTQ+ people. We have LGBTQ+ people at every level of leadership,” says Jamie Harrell 16EMBA, business intelligence and data analytics lead for Goizueta. “One of the challenges we face is making that known.”

Harrell was Goizueta’s first openly transgender graduate, and when asked about the significance of that statement, she quotes Charles Bolden, the first Black administrator of NASA, who said, “It doesn’t matter being first until or unless there’s a second.”

Authentic YOU: Fostering Positive Self Awareness

For “Out in Business,” Harrell happily took on the role of staff sponsor again this year, as she’s sponsored and moderated the panel in the past. This year’s event was driven by the determination of a recent Goizueta graduate: Eliana Kavouriadis 22BBA.

When I first came to Emory University, I was interested in business, and I never saw my queer identity being relevant in that.

Eliana Kavouriadis

After attending a conference about being authentically you at work, Kavouriadis says her awareness shifted. She realized that she didn’t have to separate her personal and professional life. Emboldened by her experience, Kavouriadis, who was the president of Goizueta Pride’s undergraduate group, set out to create a greater sense of community.

Kavouriadis worked with Harrell and various organizations around the school to have the event this April. And what once would have drawn a crowd of maybe 15 people, recalls Harrell, attracted a room full of folks. More than 50 people attended the event. Goizueta students were also able to earn class credit, which Kavouriadis believes made an impact on attendance.

“It’s important to get the message out to people who wouldn’t normally come to this kind of event. Otherwise, it would just be preaching to the choir,” Kavouriadis says.

Alumni Talk Workplace Inclusion, Harassment, and Tips for the Future

This year’s alumni included Shawn Scott 09T 15EvMBA, partner sales senior manager for MuleSoft Enterprise Business at Salesforce; Rachelle Kuebler-Weber 16MBA, vice president of marketing for Southern Veterinary Partners; and Bobby Wilson 20BBA, analyst for Insight Sourcing Group.

Wilson notes, “Although we all identify as LGBTQ+ professionals, our experiences and beliefs differ, but these differences facilitated a productive dialogue.”

Panelists discussed whether they were out or not at work and the challenges associated with their decision to make a part of their personal life public. They provided advice for navigating job searches as an LGBTQ+ individual and tips on what to look for in a company’s culture (hint: don’t fall for good marketing alone). They touched on handling inappropriate workplace behavior and how allies can help create a more inclusive space.

It’s important to extend grace to one another. Even as a member of the LGBTQ+ community, I don’t always get it ‘right.’ If and when people make comments or are behaving in a way that is alienating members of the team, there are ways to stand up and offer corrective guidance without shutting down the conversation, embarrassing people, or ignoring the issue. In my experience, people tend to be open to having a conversation and finding ways to do better in the future.

Shawn Scott

Scott credits his time at Emory, both as a student and employee, as being critical to his coming-out journey, and he–much like the other alumni on the panel–was more than willing to jump at the opportunity to share their experiences with future graduates.

“Visibility matters. People need to see that they can live authentically at work and not have to hide who they are in order to be successful in business,” says Scott. “While we’ve made progress in many areas, being out at work is not without its challenges. An event like this provides a venue for those of us who have encountered these challenges to share our experience to better equip others in their own coming out at work journey.”

“Providing students with a safe space to learn about how to engage as they shift into the world of business is critical,” says Kuebler-Weber. “They need to know people like them exist. They need to be empowered to feel comfortable in their own skin and be authentic at work. If these events help them do that, then it’s time well spent.”

The “Out in Business” alumni panel is a joint effort between Goizueta’s Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, the DEI Council, BBA Goizueta Pride, and the Advancement and Alumni Engagement Office. Goizueta is committed to sharing different voices and creating a safe space for everybody. Learn more about our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.

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Learn more about Goizueta’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.

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For business news and personal finance, the library’s materials can be tapped remotely by alumni. “We license databases that can support their lifelong learning and personal enrichment.” Business Librarian Malisa Anderson-Strait says. “We can offer a personal consultation to alumni to identify internet resources and/or help them to identify internally licensed resources within their organizations.”

Gain Intelligence: Online Alumni Access to Databases

Goizueta alumni seeking personal growth development can register through the online alumni portal to access Goizueta-licensed databases, journals, and guides. Anderson-Strait says alumni come to the library with questions ranging from industry-specific topics, to how to manage their career roles, to how to license a database for their company, to how they should conduct certain searches.

In the case of complicated business research questions, navigating the many resources may be a daunting task. Librarians will assist alumni with research support to answer their questions effectively and efficiently. Alumni may be quickly directed to government or public databases. In addition, librarians are available to teach alumni advanced Google search strategies as well as advise about selections of subscriptions to high-quality databases.

Knowing Where and How to Look for a Correct Answer

The internet presents an overabundance of information, sometimes from less than reputable sources. For data searches, “The key question is who is creating the information? Who is tracking this? Are there trade associations to consult? Who out there is researching this topic, and are they credible?” Anderson-Strait asks. “Sometimes a full market research report will cost thousands of dollars, but we can find white papers or data sets that can help.”

Goizueta librarians are skilled, inquisitive researchers who enjoy problem solving. “We’ll point our alumni to facts buried in Google. We have strategies to help them get targeted and credible results. We try to maximize what is out there because so many associations publish a wealth of content. It’s just a matter of surfacing the facts.”

Every search starts with a question, which Anderson-Strait encourages alumni to submit on their Ask an Alumni Librarian page or send via email. Business librarians share research responsibilities and will assign the question to the liaison with the most expertise.

As campus reopens more fully, librarians look forward to meeting with more alumni in person again. Consultation appointments are encouraged and will be conducted for domestic and international alumni over Zoom, via phone call, or in person. Protocols continue to evolve, but the library team is hopeful that restrictions will continue to ease.

“Business intelligence is our buzz word. We’re in the business of creating folks who approach research thoughtfully and make sound business decisions,” Anderson-Strait says. Goizueta students are taught to make credible, well-resourced, and well-researched recommendations for coursework. An experienced professional guided by Goizueta’s librarians gain a competitive advantage.

Anderson-Strait says, “When you’re making multimillion dollar decisions, pushing a project, or launching your business or marketing campaign, you’re using really informed credible data, you’re considering the risks, and you’re looking at credible sources. We can help.”

Do you have an inquiring mind and need help with a research task? Schedule a consultation today with Goizueta Business Library. The library is located on campus on the entry level of the Woodruff Library, just to left of the lobby at 540 Asbury Circle, Atlanta, GA 30322.

Effective July 1, general campus-wide visitor restrictions are lifted. Visitors are welcome to access campus; however, certain public-facing spaces may enforce additional restrictions or limitations including reduced services, scheduled appointments, or other measures. Learn more about our visitor policy.

The post For Business Intelligence, Goizueta Business Library Excels at Being Resourceful appeared first on EmoryBusiness.com.

Today, she is senior vice president of marketing and franchise planning for Turner Sports and Bleacher Report for WarnerMedia. Giving back is important to Barash, who served on the Goizueta Alumni Board for nine years. When students and alumni ask her for advice, which is often because she guest lectures and speaks on alumni panels, she leans in. Education is a critical component of her business success.

“I learn from Goizueta students all the time,” she says. “Their perspective is different than mine. While I’ve worked in TV for a long time, the current generation consumes media differently than I did, and I’m constantly thinking about those choices of technology, content, and the marriage of the two.”

Barash started her current position in March 2020 but before she could unpack her office and meet her team, the pandemic sent everyone home to work. League and tournament schedules were suddenly ruled by uncertainty.

Barash surfs these changes with skills amassed over three decades. When her second job —marketing Internet software “before anyone knew what the Internet was”— ended in a layoff, she chose Goizueta for her MBA because it was a top 25 business school in a big city with small classes.

“I wanted a holistic picture of business,” she says, and in the slow economy of the early 1990s, she developed skills at each job that transferred to the next. She leveraged licensing expertise from housewares to move into packaged goods at Diageo, one of the world’s largest producers of spirits, where she learned marketing. She broke into entertainment as a director of worldwide marketing for Warner Bros. consumer products working on Harry Potter. She spent a decade in marketing, branding, and franchise planning for Cartoon Network.

“It’s not always about moving up. Sometimes I accepted a lower title to get the experience I wanted,” she says repeating advice that she gives the Goizueta community. Another Barash tip: Don’t just learn your job, learn the business, and you’ll find your next opportunity. “Flexibility is crucial. You’ve just got to look at everything as an opportunity, including change, which is the No. 1 thing these days.”

As an MBA student, she got involved in the community through a work-study position with Associate Dean of Engagement and Partnerships Julie Barefoot, who rarely forgets a name and consistently stays in touch. Barash approaches her relationships with the same intentionality.

Intentionality also became Barash’s guiding principle in 2020 as she has led a team that could not meet in person.

“There was no more running into someone in the break room, and that meant being really intentional to develop relationships with my colleagues and team,” she said. “It will be interesting to see how that experience influences the way we operate in the future.”

As a member of the Goizueta Alumni Network, resources and services are available to you. Whether you seek data for current projects, are looking to strengthen the skillset of your team, contemplating a career change, or launching your own enterprise, the access provided by these offerings will enhance your intellectual property and extend the value of your degree.

The post Intentionality Catapulted Career of Tracy Barash 93MBA appeared first on EmoryBusiness.com.

The 10-month MSBA program bridges the divide that exists between business, tech, and data by creating a business data scientist — one who speaks the language of business while being technically savvy and fully trained in data science.

The centerpiece to accomplishing this goal of creating future business data scientists is the Capstone Project during the Spring semester that builds on students’ foundational training in the areas of statistics, managing big data on the cloud, machine learning, and data visualization.

Student consulting teams work with business and data leaders in Fortune 500 firms, as well as small startups, guided by Ramnath K. Chellappa, associate dean & academic director of Master of Science in Business Analytics and Goizueta Foundation term professor of Information Systems & Operations Management, along with Panagiotis Adamopoulos, assistant professor of Information Systems & Operations Management, and mentored by MSBA Managing Director Scott Radcliffe. Projects are vetted carefully to ensure they add true value to the client firms, while strengthening the workplace readiness of the MSBA graduates.

Students apply data and technical skills to solve clients’ business problems using firms’ proprietary data, and in some cases also integrating with publicly available datasets. Deliverables include a robust technical handover package with empirical models, code, and cleansed data, a business deck explaining the benefits and methodology, and an executive dashboard developed on a visualization platform such as Tableau.

Radcliffe notes, “During my many years as an analytics leader in industry I learned that technical skills are table stakes for the business data scientist. Our broader approach to real-world analytics consulting experience enhances the ability to understand the right problem, articulate the problem, and define the fundamental data requirements,” he explains. “Our students learn skills to build trust among team members, create a reliable working environment, and accelerate productivity in project management.”

Student Teams Work with Real-World Client Data Challenges

Clients rely on Goizueta MSBA students to work with sensitive data and solve real-world data challenges. Project vetting and team assignment is an involved process. Radcliffe and Chellappa, meet with industry partners and their business and data specialists. Project definitions are created. MSBA projects involve proprietary datasets with significant liability implications for the clients, so a concurrent engagement with the firms’ legal and IT security divisions is established.

On ‘pitch day’ for students, project sponsors showcase their business problems and students rank their preferences. Through an optimization algorithm, skill-balanced teams of four students are matched to each project.

Chellappa points out, “Our program is special in that we find one unique project per team, so we end up working with about 11-14 firms in many verticals from healthcare to retail to banking.” Projects may address fraud detection, marketing, human resources, or other functional areas. “We aim to offer students a broad exposure to different industry applications.”

MSBA Students Gain Career Advantages with Real-World Data Analytics Skills

For students, the time and work invested in a Capstone project can pay huge dividends by opening doors to careers in business data analytics.

For recent graduate Mary Boken 21MSBA, that real-world experience combined with the knowledge gained in the program led to a job offer with Invesco prior to graduation for the company’s technology rotational program called “ITAP” (Invesco Technology Associates Program).

“Capstone was a great experience that allowed me to experience the challenges that come along with a real-world data project.” she said. “It was also a good opportunity to work with business partners to align the needs of the business with the capabilities of the team, constantly striving to achieve alignment between different stakeholders.”

For Boken, whose capstone team project involved predicting bust-out fraud detection for Truist Bank, the Capstone project was a good exercise to help her thoroughly understand the business problem and the available data before jumping into a solution.

“I learned how to lead a technology project and manage a project end-to-end, which will be useful at any stage in my career,” she said. “I also learned how to turn business requirements into technical solutions, and on the other end, communicate technical results as actionable insights to business partners.”

Boken’s cohort and recent graduate Grace Jieru Zeng 21MSBA agrees. “The program last year was vigorous but rewarding, where I substantially enhanced my business mindset and data science competencies. I feel more prepared than ever to start my career journey in the field.” Zeng has recently accepted a position as a business intelligence analyst in the Supply Chain Department with The Home Depot. “I am very excited to leverage the knowledge I have learned at school to create value and impact,” she said.

Goizueta Builds Corporate Partnerships for Long-Term Growth

In addition to providing invaluable real-world experience for students, the Capstone project is helping to forge important relationships with Fortune 500 companies and startups. Capstone sponsors also are heaping praise on MSBA students and the impact the projects have on their companies. To date, some 18 companies have worked in partnership with students on projects.

“It’s been nothing but positive,” said Saurabh Parikh, Chief Data & Innovation Officer with CONA Services. “We liked that the project was approached with a view of solving a real-life business problem and not only from a technology point of view.” Although this was the first engagement with Goizueta, Parikh noted that CONA looks forward to partnering more “on projects that allow students a real-life platform to put their skills to use,” and that allow the company to “gain from fresh thinking and access to a talent pool.”

Anqi Zou, Vice President, Enterprise Data Manager for Truist Bank agrees. “Our overall experience has been extremely positive to say the least,” she said. “Students from MSBA have always taken a methodical approach to our business problems and delivered tangible results with good-quality code, as well as thought-out presentations to our business and analytics leaders.”

Truist has been a sponsor of the capstone project since 2019 and has welcomed “at least 10 Goizueta MSBA graduates” to join the company. MSBA students have worked on capstone projects across multiple lines of business at Truist, including deposits account attrition and fraud detection use cases. 

Zou views Truist’s partnership with Goizueta as a win–win for her company and Goizueta. “We have recruited diverse and competent talent coming out of the program, conducted multiple Capstone projects using innovative approaches that drive business impact, and broadened our teammates’ horizons through MSBA-hosted events, such as the Business Analytics Conference.”

Perhaps most important for students, the real-world experience the capstone project offers sets them apart from the competition, according to Taiyi “Phillip” Fang 19MSBA. He accepted a position soon after graduation with Truist, having worked with the company on a Capstone project related to addressing credit card fraud. Today, he serves as vice president, data scientist II and leverages data analytics to build fraud detection models.

“The MSBA program is built in a way that suits the need for both technical and businesspeople,” he said. “What makes MSBAers different is that with the similar level of technical competencies, we have better business sense and the skill to communicate technical terms to non-technical people.” It is this perspective and ability to build a bridge between business, data, and technology that will continue to set MSBA students up for success for years to come.

Read more about Goizueta Business School’s Master of Science in Business Analytics.

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The defining moment of the BBA program’s Business Communication Strategy or “BComm” course is the end-of-semester Professional Communications Strategy Case Competition. This past spring, executives from Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA) asked three-dozen BComm student teams how they would introduce Mercedes-EQA, the automaker’s new, all-electric crossover SUV, to Gen Z consumers (those born between 1995 and 2010). Headquartered in Atlanta, MBUSA is responsible for the distribution, marketing, and customer service for all Mercedes-Benz products in the U.S.

Over the course of a month, the student teams worked on their presentations for MBUSA. The teams then presented their strategies to their BComm professors—Molly Epstein, professor in the practice of Organization & Management, Nikki Graves, associate professor in the practice of Organization & Management, and Daphne Schechter, senior lecturer of Organization & Management. The professors then chose five teams to advance to the final presentation.

One of Graves’ student teams, “The Game(s) of Reaching Gen Z,” took a calculated risk—one that would ultimately result in the team commanding first place in the competition. Rather than present a more typical, multi-pronged communication strategy, the team committed to a singular approach—gaming.

“The team’s ideas were really creative and different. However, their argument had holes,” said Graves. She told The Game(s) team that she’d send it forward as a finalist if the students were willing to work to improve their presentation.

However, when Graves had the team deliver its revised presentation on the afternoon before the competition, it did not meet her expectations. “I was seconds away from pulling them from the competition,” said Graves.

Face an Obstacle, Overcome It, and Shine

Graves gave the students a choice. Either fail to overcome an obstacle and learn from the experience, or “face an obstacle, overcome it, and shine,” she said. When one of the students asked what it would take for Graves to keep the team in the competition, Graves told them that by midnight, she’d need to see a presentation that incorporated the arguments and presentation skills she’d asked for. The students took the challenge and agreed to meet with Graves a mere five hours later.

“By 11pm, they had pulled that thing apart and put it back together again, and when they ran through it, it was spectacular,” said Graves. “One factor that distinguishes Goizueta students is their unfathomable determination in overcoming challenges.”

“It was definitely a little nerve-wracking,” said Zach Cohen 23BBA, a member of The Game(s) team. “She was really proud of us and that was super encouraging and an awesome moment.”

In the past, Mercedes-Benz has integrated its vehicles into lifestyle games such as The Sims, Mario Kart, and others. “The Game(s)” team’s approach was to build on that. “We were looking for unique ways to reach Gen Z and that was the gaming market,” noted Marawan Elgohry 23BBA. While some Game(s) team members were avid gamers, others, like Sadie Schwartz 23BBA and Zach Feldman 23BBA were not.

Schwartz and Katherine Dong 23BBA wanted to incorporate Mercedes-Benz’ reputation as a luxury brand into the mix. This posed a problem. “Gamers don’t have reputations as buying luxury,” said Dong. When Schwartz discovered an article describing how luxury brands such as Louis Vuitton and Marc Jacobs used gaming to market their products, it all came together. In addition to showcasing Mercedes-EQA as a “taste of luxury” in its presentation, the team also advocated that MBUSA highlight the vehicle’s “clean speed” in racing games such as Forza and Rocket League.

Every team in the finals suggested leveraging social media influencers on platforms such as TikTok or Instagram, but The Game(s) team took the idea a step further. It suggested that MBUSA advertise on the gaming site Twitch, as well as partner with eSports outlets such as League of Legends. Doing so, noted Elgohry during the presentation, would provide “substantial ROI just by participating” in the rapid growth of the gaming industry.

“My team’s greatest strength was their consistent collaboration,” noted Prisca Sielaff 22BBA, the team’s student coach who had competed in the BComm case competition in 2020. “That allowed them to create an innovative, novel solution for MBUSA.” 

The MBUSA executives—Doug Robertson, Brand Strategy Lead, Jim Edwards, EQ Product Manager, Jordan Lalor, Senior Social Media Specialist, along with Jennifer Steele, GVP, Managing Partner, SapientRazorfish, and Drummond Berman, Group Creative Director, Merkley + Partners—agreed. “People pay a good amount of money for games, and if you don’t do it right, any sort of marketing can be seen as a real intrusion,” Berman told Team Game(s) after its presentation. “What I liked is that you’ve justified your presence there by actually using the benefits of this vehicle.”

“Just the mention of media impressions and ROI and those KPIs—that’s very much what we do in the real world with every campaign,” Robertson saidas he announced that the executives had chosen The Game(s) as the winner of the competition. “You really applied that realistic professional filter, so job well done.” The executives also gave the team kudos for its emphasis on Mercedes-Benz being a luxury brand.

Creative Growth Strategies for Gen Z Buyers Impressed Executives

Other strategies included Team Hear/Learn/Play with the EQA’s advice to launch a blog on Instagram and to create documentary-type films for Netflix and YouTube. The Natural Habitat of EQA team suggested MBUSA act as an official sponsor of Coachella, the annual, multi-day, music and arts festival in California, where celebrities and artists would be shuttled between venues in a Mercedes EQA.

Team The Car That Gen Z Built and team The EQ Way, which the MBUSA executives chose as runners up in the case competition, both noted the lack of electric vehicle charging infrastructure in the U.S. and recommended establishing a partnership with ChargePoint, an electric vehicle charging company. Additional strategies included the creation of a financial or “environmental impact calculator” to make EQA owners “feel proud of the unique and tangible impact” they were having on the environment, noted Eve Abraham 23BBA during The EQ Way team’s presentation.

Like the Game(s) team, team EQ Way had a story of its own. Earlier in the semester, differing communication styles kept the team from meshing. With hard work and the help of Graves and the team’s teaching assistant and coach Leigh Holbrook, The EQ Way team overcame its issues.

“The students went well beyond the foundational communication skills we taught in class. They evolved and bonded as a creative team, successfully traversed every challenge, integrated feedback, and really tapped into their collective creative genius,” saidHolbrook. “Their success came from recognizing and embracing the value of their collaborative vision.”

“For me, the most important take away will be playing your role in any team to the best of your ability, and that means learning what exactly your role is and how to execute it,” explained “EQ Way” team member Grant d’Adesky 23BBA.

“When you trust your teammates and have confidence in them, you can really elevate your project and make it so the result is something better than what we could have done individually,” explained Lia Rubel 23BBA, a member of The EQ Way team. “I feel like I grew in so many ways—especially working on a team where everybody brings in unique skills and knowledge. I learned from everyone here and all my teammates. It was really cool to see myself and everyone grow throughout the project.” Looking back on the competition, Graves felt good about her decision to push her students to do better. “The communication strategy that we teach in 365 (the BComm course) rests on pillars of critical thinking skills, such as the analysis, interpretation, and evaluation of data. Students learn to create and evaluate inferences, and to explain their ideas clearly,” she said. “These two teams further demonstrated the ability to self-reflect, which allowed them to step away from emotional and stressful situations and evaluate how they could better perform.”      

Our BBA students bring structured problem solving and communication skills to address real-world challenges. What problems can we help your organization solve? To learn more, please email Darius.Woody@emory.edu, director of corporate relations for Goizueta Business School. 

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As discussed at this year’s Fourth Annual Goizueta Business Analytics Conference, held virtually in May, data, machine learning, and algorithms play an important role in both perpetuating and addressing inequity and prejudice within organizations. Hosted by Goizueta’s Master of Science in Business Analytics (MSBA) program, the annual conference brings together alumni and industry partners in the business analytics, machine learning, and AI field to discuss the issues and trends. The conference also showcases select analytics projects from the MSBA students’ Capstone Projects, which involve real-world student projects in partnership with Fortune 500 companies.

Goizueta’s MSBA program creates business data scientists who reside at the intersection of business, data, and technology.

It is this focus on addressing real-world issues such as the relationship between business, society, and data that makes Goizueta’s MSBA program unique, according to Ramnath K. Chellappa, associate dean and academic director of Master of Science in Business Analytics. And feedback from alumni and industry partners has been very positive. “They think it’s fantastic that we are addressing these critical business topics,” Chellappa said.

The conference is an opportunity to showcase the expertise the MSBA program has to offer to potential students, as well as to industry partners. Each year, Scott Radcliffe, MSBA managing director, identifies the right partners and alumni to participate depending on the conference theme. And he works with some of the same industry partners to identify and coordinate real-world data projects for MSBA students to work on as part of the program’s Capstone Project. A few of the projects highlighted this year involved collaborative student projects with Cox Communications, Truist, and Publisher’s Clearing House.

Addressing Business and Society Issues through Analytics

Similar to previous focuses, the MSBA Annual Conference again this year held true to Goizueta’s mission of providing a positive impact to business and society. Last year’s conference explored the use of business analytics in reacting to the COVID-19 pandemic.

For this year’s theme – Organizational and Societal Implications of Data and Algorithmic Bias – Addressing Prejudice – four industry experts provided insight on how data and analytics play an important role in both perpetuating and addressing inequity and prejudice, depending on how it’s applied within a particular field.

“As a program focused on data-driven solutions to business problems, it is important to hear back from experts using and implementing a variety of techniques involved in the program,” said Chellappa. “At the same time, it’s also a celebration for our graduating students, and an opportunity to showcase their projects,” he said.

This year’s panel of experts included:

Julian Adler – Director of Policy and Research, The Center for Court Innovation

Bahman Engheta – Senior Principal Data Scientist, Medtronic

Genevieve Macfarlane Smith – Associate Director, Center for Equity, Gender and Leadership, UC Berkeley Haas School of Business

Adrianne Pettiford – Head of Client Insights and Analytics, Pymetrics

“While many firms are becoming aware of these biases, not all of them have yet formulated clear strategies to address these issues,” Chellappa said. “Technology can have unintended consequences and perpetuate bias if one isn’t paying attention.”

The speakers related real-world experience mitigating unintended bias in the justice, healthcare, and human resources fields.

“AI will disrupt businesses across all industries,” said Genevieve Smith, adding that AI could account for $15.7 trillion to the global economy by 2030. “It’s critical for current and future business leaders to understand ethical implications of AI and what responsible practices are,” she said. The ultimate goal, she said, is to unlock data’s value responsibly and ethically.

Adler agreed. “We are just scratching the surface between reconciling the efficiencies of AI and machine learning with the real ethical issues and value questions in the justice space,” he said.

Radcliffe added, as regulatory and legal systems play catch up to the evolving technology, it’s imperative for people working on these models to ensure that data built on algorithms and machine learning are fair and free of biases.

In Goizueta’s innovative, STEM-designated Master’s in Business Analytics program, we combine the languages of business, data, and technology. You will learn data visualization, machine learning, managing big data, social network analytics, business analytics, and more. We bring together knowledge from three fields — management, information systems/computer science, and applied statistics — to solve business problems. This is how you become a business data scientist. Learn more.

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“During college, you know, we’re all kind of ‘figuring it out’ — figuring out how to grow up in different ways,” Vasudeva said. “I think learning things from that and then applying them in the ‘real world’ and as an alum interacting with my alma mater were actually the greater growth experiences.”

To help other students “figure it out” and provide a more inclusive environment, Vasudeva joined GALA, the Emory LGBT alumni group known as the Gay and Lesbian Alumni at the time, first as a member and thereafter as co-chair.

“My main goal was to create stability as an organization and modernize,” Vasudeva said. “Get back to what we were really good at doing, which was fundraising, hosting social events, and, finally, advocating and supporting Emory LGBTQ+ undergrads and grad students. We also needed to modernize ourselves in that we needed to change our name because we were known as the GALA Alumni Association, but that wasn’t necessarily representative of all the identities, not that just exist within queer culture, but also that exist even within our own cabinet.”

One of the largest impacts Vasudeva had was through his work with the GALA Legacy Fund. Through planning events, such as the annual Blue Jean Brunch, his team raised $100,000 and endowed this fund, which supplements the budget of Emory’s Office of LGBT Life.

“The most rewarding experience was seeing how fundraising through the GALA Legacy Fund directly goes to positively impact current queer students at Emory,” Vasudeva said. “At my age now, I’m in my 20s, I like to say, ‘I can’t really write huge checks, but what I can give you is my time and energy and passion.’ And hopefully that creates a positive and constructive impact on the queer community.”

Vasudeva’s time, energy, and passion earned him recognition at the Pride Awards by the Office of LGBT Life as Alumnus of the Year. “It’s humbling but also a motivating factor to now continue to drive impact to a pretty marginalized community,” he said.

Community Strength Builds through Campus Allies

Marché Simpson, director of regional networks, diversity, and inclusion for alumni association and herself named 2020 Ally of the Year, said engaging in conversations and showing up for these communities is a big part of being an ally.

“I think what it means to be an ally is to be able to show people care and respect and empathy no matter what, and not one particular group but everyone, and to help people get access to opportunities they wouldn’t normally have access to,” Simpson said. “People see where your heart is and what you’re trying to do ultimately, and if your allyship is not coming from a good place when you’re trying to be there for a person, they sense that.”

For Vasudeva, among many others, Simpson is excited to see all the change he drives. “The world needs him, and the world is calling him,” she said.

The Connection between LGBTQ+ Inclusivity and Human Rights

Vasudeva has also taken his work in diversity, equity, and inclusion beyond Emory and into the greater Atlanta area as a corporate committee member for the Atlanta chapter of the Human Rights Campaign (HRC). There, he worked with prospective sponsors on how to be a sponsor and how the HRC can best support their organization with more LGBTQ+-inclusive practices.

Vasudeva said his long-term aspiration is to work in the intersection of human capital and diversity. Throughout his consulting career, he hopes to advise clients and companies on the best way to answer this question: “How do you create and drive a culture transformation that makes all individuals feel included, such that they can share their opinions and drive better outcomes as a team?”

For more information on Goizueta’s longstanding commitment to all aspects of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, please visit emory.biz/equity. Have specific questions or need assistance? Reach out to your Goizueta Business School Safe Space Allies who have been trained to help and support members of the LGBTQ+ community at Emory.  

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After a tumultuous year of uncertainty, compassion, and hope, Goizueta graduates from each of the school’s undergraduate and graduate programs celebrated the milestone moment of their Commencement, heralded by the Atlanta Pipe Band as is Emory tradition. 

To mark the occasion of this year’s Commencement ceremonies, Emory University President Gregory. L. Fenves recognized the “remarkable, resilient Class of 2021 and the Class of 2020.” About them he wrote, “These graduates have overcome unprecedented challenges to learn, grow and discover. I’m excited about the bright future that is ahead of them, and I can’t wait to see all they will accomplish as alumni of Emory University.”

Goizueta held diploma ceremonies for students in programs including BBA, Evening MBA, Executive MBA, Full-time MBA, and Master of Business Analytics.  A special Commencement ceremony was held for the Class of 2020, whose celebration was held virtually last year due to the pandemic. 

John H. Harland Interim Dean Karen Sedatole acknowledged recent student experiences. “What surprised me most and made me most proud – is how much we’ve found together. We’ve found trust and teamwork. We’ve found flexibility, prioritized what’s most important to us, and found a renewed commitment to shaping the world around us,” she said. “This perspective, the skills you’ve gained, and the experiences you’ve had will stay with you. And I’m confident that they will make you a stronger team member, a stronger leader, and a stronger global citizen.”

Upon conferring the degrees, Fenves cited, “Graduates … you are charged with conducting the world’s business with integrity and skill. You are the drivers of innovation, helping to expand the boundaries of what can be achieved in commerce, trade, finance, technology, accounting, and more. As leaders and entrepreneurs, you enter an ever-changing marketplace … with the training and experience to make a powerful impact on society.”

Dr. Anthony Fauci Receives Emory University President’s Medal

President Fenves wrote, “Only five individuals have received both an honorary degree and the Emory President’s Medal—President Jimmy Carter, Congressman John Lewis, His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Dr. William Foege, and Ambassador Andrew Young. Dr. Anthony Fauci will join that short list of iconic figures, and we couldn’t be prouder.” Fauci received an honorary degree from Emory in 2003.

President Fenves wrote, “During the past year, Dr. Fauci’s name has become synonymous with truth, clarity, and medical expertise. As chief physician to our country in the midst of a pandemic, he has become one of the most trusted voices in medicine for millions of Americans, and we are excited to honor him as part of Emory’s 176th Commencement.” 

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Fauci addressed the graduates and guests virtually as he shared insight into recent events. “This has been an extraordinary, challenging, and difficult year. I have had the opportunity and privilege to be part of the public health and scientific response to the COVID-19 pandemic. This global health crisis has changed the landscape of all of our lives,” he said. “Such times call upon all of us to work together.”

He continued, “If there are any lessons that we have learned from this pandemic, they are these. One: science will provide the solution to this pandemic as we have seen with the rapid and successful development of multiple safe and highly successful vaccines. Two: societal divisiveness is counter-productive in a pandemic. We must not be at odds with each other since the virus is the enemy – not each other. Hopefully, as we move forward, our collective commitment, tireless efforts, passion, and resilience will help us achieve a successful end to this unprecedented public health emergency.” 

With wisdom gained from years of service to the public health of the world, Fauci noted, “Only by working together with our partners in academia, industry, and the community will we be able to rapidly achieve this goal and be prepared to respond to future infectious diseases and outbreaks. Once again, thank you so much for this great honor.” 

Fenves concluded, “Emory’s motto, ‘the wise heart seeks knowledge,’ is exemplified by Dr. Fauci’s many decades of public service,” Fenves says. “Indeed, it is his wise heart, and the knowledge he has provided, that have helped us get through a year like no other.”

For more Commencement memories, stories, and ceremony details, and videos, please visit commencement.emory.edu. To view the Emory Commencement program, visit here. With insight from the Emory University Historian Gary Hauk 91T, read about the history of Commencement at Emory in “The Feast of Reason and the Flow of Soul.”

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As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to change how we work and learn, organizations, including business schools, are not only having to adapt to survive but also are reevaluating their business models for a new reality. 

In 2020, Goizueta faculty pivoted to online teaching and were quick to adopt new interactive tools and applications, including online case discussions, breakout room technologies, online polling, and many others, according to Anandhi Bharadwaj, vice dean for faculty and research. To strengthen the teaching transition, Goizueta established faculty forums, discussion boards, tips, and idea sharing.

“The ability to not only adapt but to innovate is critical,” said Nicola Barrett, chief corporate learning officer at Goizueta Business School. “As with other sectors, higher education and executive development is undergoing significant change from new entrants, new technologies, and changing expectations of professionals and organizations.”

“For Goizueta, the time is now to explore the benefits and possibilities of digital learning and what it means for the future of teaching,” she said. Digital learning tools provide a perfect fit for busy working professionals as more individuals appreciate the flexibility of being more productive from the comfort of their home, she notes. 

Denys Lu, Goizueta’s chief technology officer, agrees and explains that digital learning enables everyone to take a more active role in the learning process. “The way students want to learn today is very different than 10 or 20 years ago when the most important person in the room was the teacher,” he said. “Now, everyone contributes and learns from one another, including the teacher.” 

Setting the Pace for Change

If 2020 was about adapting teaching methods and keeping pace with change, 2021 is about setting the pace and exploring the future of business education. Even before the pandemic, Goizueta was looking ahead to future learning innovations. “The goal is not to use digital learning to replace all of our traditional classrooms but to reach a different audience AND provide a top-notch educational experience,” said Jaclyn Conner, associate dean for Executive MBA. Conner has been spearheading the teaching innovation efforts. 

With three next-generation global classrooms, hologram technology, and augmented and virtual reality projects being developed, Goizueta is poised to take digital learning to the next level by providing business professionals with a truly immersive, dynamic experience from anywhere in the world.  

“Digital learning offers an opportunity to expand Goizueta’s global reach and offer an amazing learning experience that other schools do not provide,” according to Lu. 

By eliminating the need for travel for many working professionals, the technology draws in a more expansive set of students both domestically and internationally with a greater diversity of thought, experience, and culture. “To really enhance the level of conversations and engagement in the classroom, you have to bring people in who are as different as possible,” he said. “That’s what digital learning enables. It breaks the barriers for people who can’t afford to travel for a length of time.”

Investing in a More Dynamic, Interactive Student Experience 

Digital learning is another important way to further develop and hone business leaders that shape and drive organizations, according to Barrett.

“The future of work and the future of learning are so intertwined with technology that we must constantly challenge ourselves to imagine more effective ways for professionals to enhance and broaden their perspectives, learn new skills and tools, and adopt more successful behaviors,” said Barrett.

Goizueta is leveraging a generous donation from The Goizueta Foundation to move forward on teaching innovations in three key areas: virtual classrooms, holograms, and virtual reality or gamification. This summer, Goizueta’s Executive Education and EMBA students will be the first to experience The Roberto C. Goizueta Global Classrooms, which create online and hybrid learning opportunities that don’t sacrifice one-to-one connection.

Goizueta has partnered with X20Media—a third-party vendor—to power the digital learning platform that drives each of the three Global Classrooms. With multiple camera angles and state-of-the-art audio, faculty and students will be able to see and hear each other through a wall of 20 to 40 high-definition monitors positioned with each student’s video feed assigned to a monitor, all in a familiar format. 

The Global Classroom technology involves a lot more than just connecting students on a Zoom-type call. Making this possible is new in-house talent hired to run a production or control room in which production members can communicate with professors in real time regarding questions and topics that arise in the online chat. This allows students to interact with each other and the instructor. Conner likens the production or control room to a sophisticated TV studio. “It’s Zoom on steroids,” she said. Goizueta’s in-house instructional designers will work with faculty to help them prepare to fully leverage the world-class platform, and each session will be recorded for those who can’t attend or want to review.

Perhaps the greatest advantage, notes Conner, is the system’s learning analytics, which are the hardest to collect in a traditional learning environment. Faculty can conduct real-time polls to get the “temperature of the room” on any given topic. “The ability to use a digital platform to capture that data to provide to the instructor in real time is revolutionary,” Conner said. “As you are teaching, managing a chat board is almost impossible. But having a system that is looking for commonalities and provides a report showing keywords mentioned a number of times by a significant number of students — that is a game-changer!” 

In addition to real-time data analytics, the system also allows for greater flexibility and collaboration through break-out room options, white-board technology, and sharing of common assets to store files and presentations. 

Expanding Reach with “Pop-up” Classrooms, Holograms, and VR

Goizueta encourages faculty and staff to explore new technology and innovative approaches to teaching by funding high-impact proposals from the Experimentation Zone. The Experimentation Zone has enabled faculty and staff the freedom to explore additional learning opportunities by proposing ideas to create virtual reality learning experiences.

Expected to be in use later this year, holograms will allow Goizueta to invite guest speakers from all over the world, appearing as if they are right in front of students. Holograms also would make “pop-up” classrooms possible in locations around the world. This method is far less expensive than sending a faculty member to far-away places like Shanghai or Rome for in-person instruction. In the long run, this technology is expected to increase flexibility for new programs and create unique opportunities for innovation. 

Additionally, gamification or the use of game-like virtual reality (VR) simulations can pave the way for immersive learning experiences without incurring the costs of associated travel to off-campus locations or relying on external partners to create these learning experiences. 

Faculty are excited to explore how VR and holograms can enhance the student learning experience, Conner said. Barrett has co-submitted and received approval for two proposals involving virtual reality, including one with Lieutenant General USA (Retired) Ken Keen, senior lecturer in Organization & Management and associate dean for leadership. They are developing a customized VR crisis leadership simulation that transports learners into “real-world” scenarios. The simulation is designed to be flexible with unexpected challenges inserted mid-simulation to test business decisions, leadership behaviors, change management, and communication strategies. The simulation allows for forward-looking learning when dealing with a crisis or challenge as opposed to case study review to see how a company handled a previous crisis. 

“This simulation will make Goizueta unique,” said Keen. “What will differentiate this innovative crisis simulation will be how it uses state of the art technology, like virtual reality and holograms, to put leaders in roles within an organization, where they must deal with both sudden and smoldering crisis events that represent current research and future challenges.”

Barrett, along with Professor in the Practice of Organization and Management Michael Sacks, also proposed a VR negotiator simulation that has the potential to revolutionize how educators teach and research negotiations while providing a potential revenue stream through corporate education.

“Our goal with both the crisis leadership simulation and the VR negotiator is to provide our executive participants with highly relevant and engaging learning situations that can better assess and build competencies and provide practice opportunities, faster, more effectively, and with less variability than the current approaches most providers use,” Barrett said. “By standardizing negotiation practice, we will be able to take biases out of the experience and better evaluate, for each learner and for each negotiation, based on multiple data points over the negotiation rather than on the outcome alone.” 

For Steve Walton, professor of Information Systems & Operations Management, having the opportunity to explore how this technology can be integrated into the educational experience makes it interesting and fun. “This creates an opportunity to think creatively about what digital learning really means.” 

Walton’s proposal to create a virtual reality experience of the Delta TechOps facility has been approved for a prototype this year. Walton regularly takes his students to the Delta TechOps facility but the VR learning experience, developed in partnership between Goizueta and Delta, would enable every section of process and systems courses across every Goizueta program to have the learning experience. It will also allow Delta to experiment with augmented and virtual reality at TechOps to further its own business.

The Future of Digital Learning

“It is an exciting time to be in higher ed as we are constantly challenged to reimagine ‘what’s next’ and how do we better help professionals, managers, and executives adopt new mindsets, skillsets, and toolsets to lead their organizations,” Barrett said. 

But investing in technology by itself is not the end goal, Bharadwaj notes. Leading in the digital learning space means figuring out how to use it to add significant value for students and organizations.

“What you want students to remember is not the technology but the experience and how it enhanced their life,” said Lu. As a result of the increased flexibility and collaboration that digital learning tools provide, we will see more and more of this type of technology, Lu noted.

For Goizueta, digital learning tools will be one more differentiator from the competition while providing greater global reach.

“Technology will continue to be an important enabler, and we will continue to invest, learn, and adopt new technologies,” said Bharadwaj. “We will use technology to increase our school’s reach, to stay connected with our students and alumni on a global scale, and to improve our range, which is our ability to do more things in more meaningful ways to improve business and society.” 

Learn more about Goizueta’s Executive MBA program and Executive Education.

The post The Future is Now – Goizueta’s Digital Learning Innovations to Enhance Student Experience, Strengthen Global Reach appeared first on EmoryBusiness.com.

On any given day, you can find Saira Raza, business librarian for Emory’s Goizueta Business School, eagerly assisting students in locating the perfect reference for a project. Then later that evening she switches from librarian to musician, effortlessly serenading an audience with the strings of her cello.

“I am one of those people who is interested in a lot of things and can’t pick just one. Thus, I became a librarian,” Raza said.

Saira means princess in Urdu, a language spoken in Pakistan and parts of India where her father’s family originated. She is super inquisitive, a visual artist, musician, songwriter and producer; an awesome combination for a librarian.

Raised in upstate New York, Raza has degrees in international and Africana studies along with a master of library science from the University of North Texas. She worked as a corporate librarian for Lehman Brothers and later King & Spalding before joining Emory.

In her role at Goizueta’s business library, Raza supports students in the PhD and executive MBA programs, which entails aiding students in detailed research on companies, industries, class projects and career exploration. She enjoys the discovery and vibe of the doctoral students while feeling a kindred spirit with the EMBAs.

“I am someone who went back to school while working full-time, so I am able to relate to the EMBAs in a way that is helpful and valuable,” Raza said. “I know the challenge of coming back to school when you haven’t been for a really long time. Being witness to their journey is my favorite part, and when they graduate, I am in tears because their kids are there to see the culmination of their hard work.”

Music and art also serve as an emotional high for the multi-talented librarian.

“I joined the church choir at age five or six because I really wanted to sing. I began playing the cello at age 10,” Raza said. “I’ve always found a way to make room for music and art in my life.”

Throughout college and a variety of jobs, including running a coffee house in Atlanta’s West End, Raza has nurtured her creative side. An accomplished musician and songwriter, she performs as Sister Sai and has produced four albums, won numerous awards and, recently, began providing and writing music for short and feature-length films. Her futuristic and moody music perfectly complements many films.

“Sometimes I create music for a film and other times, filmmakers I know want to use music I’ve already composed,” Raza said. Today, Raza is melding the academic with the artistic as she undertakes several music projects at Emory.

She is the sound editor for an upcoming video tribute to the late Pellom McDaniels, who was the curator of African American collections at the university’s Stuart A. Rose Manuscript, Archives, and Rare Book Library. He passed away in April.

“I‘ve (also) been asked to help with the music for a new podcast series still under development for the library,” Raza added. “I’m really excited about the possibilities. I like this direction for me.”

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