ATLANTA – May 21, 2025 – Emory University’s Goizueta Business School has awarded a full-tuition scholarship to its prestigious Evening MBA program to Penny Nyokabi, a standout alumna of Usher’s New Look (UNL). The scholarship celebrates the 25th anniversary of UNL and nearly 15 years of collaboration between Emory and UNL to transform lives through education, leadership, and opportunity.

The Usher’s New Look MBA Scholarship at Goizueta is awarded to a graduate of UNL’s Moguls in Training (MIT) program, a flagship college and career readiness initiative that provides mentorship, life skills, and leadership development to students navigating higher education. Nyokabi will begin the MBA program in Fall 2025.

“Education has always been at the core of Usher’s New Look,” shares Grammy Award-winning artist and UNL founder Usher Raymond IV. “This scholarship represents the next chapter in helping our students not only dream big but lead big. I’m proud to see our longtime partnership with Goizueta evolve into a transformational opportunity.”

Nyokabi, a first-generation college graduate who has worked in the tax field for PwC, The Home Depot, AT&T and currently QGEnda, holds both a BA in Business Administration and a Master of Taxation from Georgia State University. She now seeks to broaden her business acumen in areas such as global markets, strategy, and operations.

“Penny embodies the mission of Usher’s New Look—to help young people find their spark and create generational impact,” shares Cammie Rice, Chair of the Board for Usher’s New Look. “This scholarship is more than a gift; it’s a celebration of what’s possible when we invest in potential. We are incredibly proud of Penny and grateful to Goizueta Business School for believing in her journey.”

Goizueta’s Evening MBA program is consistently ranked among the best in the nation, known for its rigorous academics, industry connections, and emphasis on practical, real-world learning for working professionals.

“Our program is designed for driven professionals ready to take the next step in their leadership journey,” shares Jaclyn Conner, Associate Dean of Goizueta’s Evening and Executive MBA programs. “Penny’s passion for growth and her deep connection to the values of both UNL and Goizueta make her the perfect choice for this award. We are honored to welcome her into the Goizueta community.”

The MIT program spans the college years and equips students to thrive in school, career, and life. Participants engage in monthly sessions led by UNL alumni and industry leaders, exploring topics from financial literacy to graduate school prep. Graduates earn a Global Leadership Certificate validated by Emory University, with curriculum developed by Goizueta faculty.

Reflecting on the impact of UNL and the Moguls in Training program, Nyokabi shares “As a first-generation college student, the organization’s guidance and resources were instrumental in my success, offering scholarships and mentorship that allowed me to navigate higher education with confidence. More than just financial assistance, UNL fostered an environment where my academic, business, and social skills could develop and thrive.”

When asked about the impact of the scholarship, Nyokabi adds “This opportunity will be a crucial step in bridging the gap between technical expertise and strategic decision-making. I’m eager to apply what I learn to drive meaningful impact in my career and beyond.”

To learn more and get involved with Usher’s New Look, visit ushersnewlook.org.

To learn more about Goizueta’s MBA programs, visit goizueta.emory.edu.

About Emory University’s 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 on success and service. Emory University’s Goizueta Business School offers a unique, community-oriented environment paired with the academic prestige and rigor of a major research institution. Goizueta develops business leaders of today and tomorrow with a Bachelor of Business Administration, Full-time MBA (Two-Year MBA & One-Year MBA), Evening MBA, Executive MBA, MS in Business Analytics, Master of Finance, Master in Management, Master in Business for Veterans, Doctoral degree, 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.

About Usher’s New Look

Founded in 1999 by Usher Raymond IV and his mother Jonetta Patton, Usher’s New Look (UNL) is a 501(c)(3) organization that transforms the lives of under-resourced youth by developing passion-driven global leaders. UNL’s unique 10-year program begins in middle school and continues through college and career, equipping students with the tools to succeed academically and professionally. Its college-level Moguls in Training program prepares students for life’s marathon with mentorship, career development, and a leadership curriculum backed by Emory University. To date, UNL has impacted more than 50,000 youth around the world.

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With dreams of building a more accessible world, Harris helped found The Excel Program at Georgia Tech, a certificate program for students with intellectual disabilities. She and a student advisory board researched comparative programs, drafted a curriculum, and solicited buy-in from the University. In addition, the program focuses on finding internships that prepare students for their careers. When Harris graduated, she stayed on to welcome the first cohort of Excel students to Georgia Tech.

Discovering the Power of Business

But Harris soon came to believe that creating meaningful employment for this demographic must begin inside business, where the jobs are. Harris wanted to make that happen, so at the encouragement of one of her mentors, she started applying to business schools.

I realized business was really the way that change would happen. It will be the business community harnessing the value these individuals bring. 

Marnie Harris 20MBA

In choosing Goizueta Business School, where she earned an MBA in 2020, Harris found a flexible program that allowed her to pursue her natural impulse to innovate.

She spent a semester honing financial modeling skills working with coffee growers in Guatemala and another creating a marketing strategy for a wheelchair manufacturing entrepreneur in Uganda.

Harris received the Woodruff Scholarship, Emory’s most prestigious named scholarship, awarded to Emory applicants who want to make a positive social impact and leave a lasting imprint on the University through their leadership, academic performance, and lifelong relationships.

Launching the Shepherd Hotel

Though Harris is no longer an engineer, in many ways she still thinks like one, seeing opportunities to solve complex challenges. After graduation, a Goizueta classmate and fellow Woodruff scholar introduced her to Rich Davies, president of Pavilion Development Company, who together with Rick Hayduk, a long-time hospitality executive, was building a hotel in Clemson that prioritized employing staff with intellectual disabilities in collaboration with ClemsonLIFE, similar to the Excel program Harris had started at Georgia Tech.  

As part of the development team for the flagship Shepherd Hotel, Harris built the core of the brand and its marketing strategy, and structured a collaboration with Clemson University and ClemsonLIFE. Harris is now developing the Shepherd Hotels brand through franchising. She works with experienced developers and operators looking to bring a Shepherd Hotel to their university home. Harris supports these franchisees to build collaborations with universities and their Inclusive Postsecondary Certificate Programs, driving best practices toward processes, strategies and technology to employ a collective number of adults with intellectual disabilities in hospitality.

“One of the things that we decided very early on was that … local buy-in and ownership was really important,” Harris says.

I love getting to work with our partners and to see the concept become theirs. I know we’re successful when our partners talk about our Shepherd Hotel rather than your Shepherd Hotel.

Marnie Harris 20MBA

Eighty percent of people with intellectual disabilities are underemployed, Harris says.

“If you looked at that statistic across most other populations, it would be staggering. I think as we become staggered by that number, we see a massive population of people that have incredible potential that we’re leaving on the sideline.”

A Humanitarian Vision

The franchise effort has the energy of a startup in the humanitarian space—a priority for Harris.

It’s so fun. I like that it’s creative, and I like that it’s purposeful. We’re creating boutique hotel experiences where we target building teams that include 30 percent individuals with intellectual disabilities. I love the purpose-driven aspect of it.

Marnie Harris 20MBA

All the jobs are mission critical, and many involve customer interaction.

“People want purpose-driven experiences where they feel genuinely appreciated and valued when they stay somewhere,” she says. “I also think employees are just looking for better workplaces. We have tried to create a workplace with a grace-filled atmosphere where people with disabilities can be successful. Everyone benefits, including our non-disabled employees who work in an environment where they feel valued and purposeful in their work.”

Building Inclusive Workplaces

Harris says her background taught her how to “take these massive problems and turn them into solvable parts.” She envisions building a workplace at Shepherd that acknowledges the very full and busy lives employees have, so people can build their careers, their families, and their interests at the same time.

“We’re all people outside of work too, and there is a work-life integration that has to happen in order to make a more diverse and equitable work environment,” Harris says. “I am really hopeful that we can maintain the principles of integrity that we’ve been able to launch the Shepherd brand with, and carry that into growth, knowing some of the challenges that takes.”

Your support of scholarships helps us attract and retain top students and improve the diversity and talent of our student body. Our goal is to create equal access and opportunity for all students with the talent and abilities to drive business forward, regardless of their ability to pay. Support scholarships today!

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Goizueta believes in nurturing talent and fostering the leaders of tomorrow. With this exclusive scholarship, made available this year by generous donors, Goizueta is not only opening doors, it is also building bridges to future success. Whether graduates dream of revolutionizing industries, leading global teams, or launching their own ventures, this scholarship paves the way for their journey.

• Master in Management: A graduate business degree designed exclusively for recent graduates with liberal arts and sciences majors. The 10-month degree builds on your bachelor’s degree with a strong business foundation setting you up for expansive career opportunities.
• Master of Finance: Created by finance industry insiders, the 10-month, action-based program is for versatile thinkers (no finance experience needed) ready for next gen finance careers in sales and trading, investment management, FinTech, investment banking, and more.
• MS in Business Analytics: This 10-month program combines business, data, and technology to make you an effective business data scientist for a data-driven world. Pursue a track in AI in Business, Business Analytics, Marketing Analytics, or Supply Chain Analytics.

This is an opportunity to earn a top-tier business education from world-class faculty with a deeply connected network of peers and mentors at 50% the normal tuition rate. Apply soon as applications only will be accepted until seats are filled and few spots remain. Questions about these programs or this scholarship, should be directed to Mary Hall, Director of Specialized Masters Admissions, at gradadmissions1@gbs.emory.edu.

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Scholarship candidates are nominated from Goizueta’s Executive MBA, perhaps without their knowledge, which makes receiving a letter stating you won the scholarship all the sweeter.

“I was stunned to realize that I was nominated for the scholarship,” says this year’s recipient Anne Marie McKenzie-Brown MD 91R 25EMBA 91R. “I checked the email many times to make sure they had the right person.”

They certainly did: McKenzie-Brown is not only a dedicated student in the EMBA program, but she also carries a wealth of knowledge and experience in the healthcare field that began when she graduated from medical school in 1987.

Now, she’s a professor of anesthesiology and the vice chair of professional development for Emory’s Department of Anesthesiology.

A History in Healthcare

McKenzie-Brown comes from a family of hard workers—she learned her determination and work ethic by observing her parents. The family left Jamaica at the end of McKenzie-Brown’s time in high school. But her father left beyond even more—his anesthesiologist practice and the legacy he created as founder of the Jamaica Anesthetist Association.

When they arrived in Maryland, her father had to start all over. He became a resident again at the age of 56.

Though her mom was not in the medical field, she was the one who encouraged McKenzie-Brown to pursue her passion for pain management and helping others.

“She was my strength,” shares McKenzie-Brown.

Her mother started her career in America as a bank teller. Despite having no previous experience, she worked her way up to become vice president of human resources.

I am thankful for the many women throughout my career who encouraged me to try ‘one more time,’ who supported my career when I was filled with uncertainty.

Anne Marie McKenzie-Brown

While working as the director of the Grady Pain Clinic, McKenzie-Brown had two pregnancies and a miscarriage. She says her supervisor at the time was unsupportive about what she was going through. Because of these experiences, McKenzie-Brown now ensures she’s the kind of leader who supports working mothers. 

“We need leaders who are encouraging, who meet people where they are. We need to see them for who they are and help them achieve their highest potential,” she says.

McKenzie-Brown started her career directing the pain clinic at Grady. She then opened a satellite pain clinic in Fayette County. That move led her to become the clinical director of the Emory Pain Center. She then progressed to take on the role of pain division chief and program director for the Emory Pain Fellowship. As program director, she overhauled the fellowship curriculum—a controversial decision. However, that adjustment has led to collaboration across the university. One of the graduates is now the pain division chief.

“I am proud to have been involved in developing the careers of many female faculty, first in our division and now in the department.”

McKenzie-Brown’s current role is professor and vice chair of professional development at Emory University School of Medicine. She enjoys having the opportunity to inspire other faculty who may feel stuck in their careers as she once did. While McKenzie-Brown has now achieved full professorship, her path to that goal was long and full of challenges.

 “My desire is to give back the lessons that I have learned. I want to help clear the path for other women leaders,” she shares.

The Foreign Language of Finance

McKenzie-Brown admits that she has long dreamed of getting her MBA. However, she put off her return to the classroom until her two daughters were adults.

McKenzie-Brown first planted the seed of continuing education when she was a division chief in the Department of Anesthesiology. She struggled to understand the financial aspect of running the division. She soon realized that in order to achieve her leadership goals, she needed the continuing education to bridge the knowledge gap.

“While medicine is a service industry, I wanted to be fiscally responsible as a leader,” she says. “I also aspire to be a leader in our healthcare system. I would like to understand the thought process of the large-scale financial decisions and the strategy behind those decisions.”

In 2023, McKenzie-Brown earned her Business of Healthcare certificate from Goizueta. The program is designed for existing healthcare professionals and only requires four courses, often taken over the span of less than three months. Courses cover cost and performance measurements in healthcare, continuous operations improvements, and how to be a strategic leader. Students can also apply the credits toward the EMBA degree.

“We have encouraged a growth mindset in our children,” McKenzie-Brown shares. “I wanted my girls to see me living out this principle of life-long learning, even though it’s hard. The program is challenging, and I have loved every minute of it.”

If you’d like get involved with Executive Women of Goizueta, follow us on Facebook, Instagram, or LinkedIn, or reach out to emoryexecwomen@gmail.com.

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Tom says he fell in love with Susan within three weeks of meeting her.

The duo have since led successful careers. After graduating fourth in his class and putting hours at the pool as a varsity swimmer, Tom went on to spend much of his career in real estate law and actively works with clients in the industry. Susan spent many years working in finance, including for AT&T while still in graduate school, before she switched gears and became a middle and high school teacher, a job she found very rewarding.

A Philanthropic Legacy in Education

But there’s so much more to the Bisanzes than their impressive careers; they’re also active philanthropists. The couple’s newest endowment to one of their beloved institutions is the Susan Hill Bisanz BBA Scholarship Endowment for students in Goizueta’s accounting program, where Susan spent her formative years.

This scholarship is the sixth that the pair have endowed for students at universities and prep schools. “Students are tomorrow’s leaders. Since attending school today is so expensive, this is one of our ways of contributing to a better tomorrow,” says Susan.

Another contribution they’ve made to Emory is the Thomas L. Bisanz Endowed Scholarship for the Center of Transactional Law and Practice within the School of Law, where Tom served as a member of the advisory board for eight years.

Beyond Borders: The Bisanzes’ Global Impact

However, the scholarships are only one facet of the Bisanzes’ philanthropy. The couple have also donated a main building and apartment building to a hospital complex in Uganda. The facility is dedicated to providing health care to mothers and their children. Additionally, they have funded 16 clean water projects for schools in Kenya.

“We live by one of our favorite lyrics. ‘To whom much is given, much is required,’” says Tom. He works in the residential rental business as a real estate attorney, broker, developer, and investor, in addition to being an owner of apartment properties and single-family rental homes.

Tom has been immersed in the world of real estate since he was born. His father was a home builder and apartment developer and owner, and both of his brothers owned and managed apartments. “The residential rental business has always been in my DNA,” he says.

The pair now live in Dallas, Texas, and within driving distance of their three children and five grandchildren.

Looking for opportunities to give back? Your support of scholarships helps us attract and retain top students and improve the diversity and talent of our student body. Give today!

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Taking stock, the financial reality for many Americans can be frightening. The average U.S. household holds over $96,000 in debt, and 30 percent of adults don’t have enough savings to cover a $400 emergency. A quarter of non-retired Americans have no retirement savings or pension. And one in five adults share in a student loan debt that totals a staggering $1.6 trillion.

When Galanis and Goizueta classmate Rene Meza 18MBA realized they shared a passion for financial education, they dug into the numbers. What they learned presented an opportunity. “Neither of us had financial education growing up, and we both felt strongly that significant improvements should be made in how we teach the next generation about finance,” Galanis says. The two conducted a deep dive into industry research. “We discovered we are at an inflection point in education systems across the country, with states rapidly adopting financial education standards in the classroom at a rate the country has never seen before.”

Finance is a lifelong journey. Thus, we’re on a mission to ensure everyone has access to premium personal financial education and improve financial futures for generations.

Rene Meza 18MBA, co-founder and CEO of Lemoney Learning

With optimal timing, Lemoney Learning launched in Texas and offers free courses aligned with state financial education standards. “Each course comes with content, supplemental materials, and documented standards alignment so teachers know exactly what lesson maps to each standard,” Galanis explains. 

The company “provides our learning platform free to educators and learners because we believe it must be free so that those who need it most will always have access to it,” Galanis says. “We partner with local financial institutions interested in getting involved with their communities as well as provide additional, hands-on support to education districts interested in doubling down on their investment in financial education.”

Financial education is one of the most empowering things we can provide to young learners. Confidence with money can unlock limitless opportunities.

Lemoney Learning Co-founder and President Michael Galanis 18MBA

Making the Leap into Entrepreneurship

On the path to his dream of becoming an entrepreneur, Galanis gained critical work experience. At Bain & Co., he took part in problem solving across industries and sharpened his skills presenting to executives. As a general manager for DoorDash, he edged closer to the startup world. “Working at a larger tech company to build and launch a product allowed me to test out a lot of the core skills required to build a business in a relatively safe space,” he says. At Reify Health, he gained insight into the corporate lifecycle following Series C managed growth. Galanis worked closely with the company founders. “I realized that if I wanted to be an entrepreneur, it was time to make the jump.”

Now, in Lemoney Learning’s first year, change is steady, and progress plentiful. “There’s such a pressing need for quality resources in this space that our biggest challenge is getting our name out there vs. having to convince anyone to use our product once they know about it,” Galanis shares. “We’re focused on Texas for this upcoming school year and already have districts across the state using our platform to teach financial education to students. Our plan is to ‘get it right’ in Texas and then grow from there. Georgia is next on the list!”

Galanis looks back at his MBA experience and praises Goizueta professors for building a foundation of core principles and business values. Professor in the Practice of Finance JB Kurish was a role model to Galanis. “We’re a financial education platform, so our whole goal is to make financial education enjoyable and impactful,” he says. “I’ve never seen anyone do it quite as well as JB.”

Galanis also recalls that Professor Kevin Coyne encouraged students to think from multiple perspectives to fully understand the critical elements. “This still holds true and has proved immensely valuable,” Galanis says.

Launching a new business is all about understanding multiple perspectives and delivering a solution that is both valuable and readily adopted. Those two don’t always happen together. Having a clear process for how to work through that has been helpful.

Michael Galanis

To future entrepreneurs Galanis advises, “Be honest with yourself. Taking the jump is a big professional and personal commitment, so make sure you really want to do it.” Many would-be entrepreneurs wait to gain more professional experience, including Galanis. “That’s how it was for me. Now that I’m on the other side, I can confidently say nothing can ever really prepare you other than just going for it. If you’ve got an idea you’re passionate about, a business model you’re confident in, and a personal life that can support the lifestyle, go for it.”

Reflecting on his startup experience, he recommends, “Listen to your customers. Every entrepreneur likely starts thinking they have a great solution to a problem. In most cases, their first idea is probably wrong (or at least, slightly off target). Ours certainly was,” he shares. “Your customers or users are often great at pointing at things they like and the things they don’t like. The quicker you listen to their feedback, the easier your life becomes.”

About the Robert W. Woodruff Scholarship

Robert W. Woodruff was a renowned businessman and philanthropist who headed The Coca-Cola Company for many years and gave generously to Emory University. The founding and signature scholarship of the Emory Scholars Program is named in his honor. Woodruff’s personal creed read, “There is no limit to what a man can do or where he can go if he doesn’t mind who gets the credit.” Woodruff Scholars leave a lasting imprint on Goizueta Business School and Emory University through their leadership, academic performance, and lifelong relationships. Learn more about this and other scholarship opportunities at Goizueta.

At Goizueta, students come first. Your support of scholarships helps us attract and retain top students Give today!

Whether you’re looking to accelerate your career or make a career pivot, our full-time MBA programs prepare you to challenge business as usual and become the innovators who disrupt it. Learn more here.

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

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

Building the Advisory Board

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

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

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

Ken Keen

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

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

The inaugural Board of Advisors includes:

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

An Ongoing Commitment to Veterans

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

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

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

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

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

Learn more about the Master in Business for Veterans program.

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

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That’s why in 2008, long-time faculty member, Jagdish Sheth, Charles H. Kellstadt Chaired Professor of Marketing, created the Sheth Fellow scholarship. The funding supports young scholars, so they can focus on their studies—and not the financial burden of further education, which Sheth faced while working on his PhD.

“The $500 grant at the University of Pittsburgh enabled me to complete my dissertation in time. It saved me one year. With gratitude, it is my turn to pay forward,” says Sheth.

To date, these funds have helped over 120 students pursue their PhD in one of Goizueta’s programs.

This year, the 2023 Goizueta Business School Sheth Fellows are:

• Shizhen Chen 26PhD, Information Systems & Operations Management
• Hayden Gunnell 26PhD, Accounting
• Ashlyee Freeman 26PhD, Organization & Management
• Lori Kim 26PhD, Marketing
• Arielle Lewis 26PhD, Organization & Management
• Felix Nguyen 25PhD, Marketing
• Eva (Yifan) Yan 26PhD, Accounting
• Hanyu Zhang 26PhD, Marketing

“I am a very strong believer that the mission of an academic, of a university, is to unlock the potential of others,” says Sheth. “We want to inspire others to do the same.”

At Goizueta, students come first. Your support of scholarships helps us attract and retain top students and improve the diversity and talent of our student body. Give today!

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Executive Women of Goizueta (EWG) hosted its “Advancing Women in Leadership Annual Conference” at the Emory Hotel & Conference Center on Friday, March 3rd. This year’s theme, “Building Leadership Capital: Strategic Investing for Personal, Career and Business Growth,” was incorporated into all aspects of the day-long event, from the fireside chats to the breakout sessions.

With more than 250 attendees, the event kicked off with an introduction from current EWG president, Danielle Donnelly 17EMBA who shared, “I so look forward to this conference, not just as a board member, but as an attendee, because it creates a space, a community for women to be their whole selves, to be inspired, to discuss the topics that matter to us as women, to feel heard and to unpack the challenges we face as women, as leaders, as mothers, as friends, as coworkers, as daughters and caregivers.”

Donnelly, chief strategy officer with FKA, introduced Gareth James, dean of Goizueta Business School, who congratulated EWG on its 20th anniversary. James then introduced Marina Cooley 14MBA, professor of marketing, who acted as the event’s emcee.

The conference’s first fireside chat featured Chanel H. Frazier, managing director, global head of business strategy for the Portfolio Management Group and head of the BlackRock Atlanta Innovation Hub. Frazier was interviewed by Qaadirah Abdur-Rahim 11EMBA, head of community strategy, BlackRock Atlanta Innovation Hub. Frazier credited sponsorship with helping her navigate corporate power structures. She encouraged the audience to sponsor others. “If you want a gut check, have a young professional come to you and ask you why you made a certain decision,” she said.

In the second fireside chat, Jill Perry-Smith, professor of Organization & Management, senior associate dean, strategic initiatives, interviewed Tiffany Willis 15EMBA, vice president and head of investor relations, Starbucks. The two spoke about goal setting and achieving those goals. “I’ve been very intentional about what I want in life,” said Willis. ”When I think about my goals, I think about what skills I need to get there, what that gap is. And I look at every opportunity as, ‘What skills will that give me?’”

Over the years, Willis has participated in several EWG events and was happy to be a part of this year’s conference. “I remember sitting in the audience and listening to esteemed speakers and accomplished leaders in whatever aspect of life they were in—corporate America or not-for-profit or some other business—and feeling inspired. I knew that if I had the opportunity to share my story or give any insight into my accomplishments that helped someone else feel inspired and motivated, I would want to do that.”

Goizueta and EWG poured knowledge and insight into me not only during my time as a student but also after I graduated. I definitely want to take the opportunity and pour into others.

Tiffany Willis 15EMBA

The final fireside chat of the afternoon highlighted Thai Randolph, CEO, Hartbeat and co-founder, Sugaberry. Interviewed by Dr. Kanika Sims, health equity strategist, physician, assistant professor of medicine at Morehouse School of Medicine and founder of Invest Inclusion, Frazier talked about the arc of her career. “If we place so much emphasis on particular status or particular destinations, you realize that when you get there it doesn’t fulfill you, you’re still wanting something else,” Randolph said. “It locks us into a very fixed concept of what success and fulfillment looks like.” Randolph emphasized how important purpose has been to her—finding “that thing you do that makes you special in the way that you do it,” she said. “My success in doing that thing shouldn’t be defined by my title is or how much money I make.”

Over the course of the morning, there were four panel discussions. The “Future of Work: Leading Teams in a Hybrid Environment,” panel was moderated by Ketiwe Zipperer, senior leader in Deloitte Consulting’s Mergers, Acquisitions and Restructuring Practice, and included panelists Jenn Graham, founder and CEO of Inclusivv, Nikki Coleman, COO, We Are Rosie, and Eileen Lee, co-founder, The Lola.

Paige Hartsfield, founder, Big Cheese, led the “War Games: The Great Resignation,” discussion.

The “Owning Your Worth” panel included Jasmine Burton 22MBA, serial impact entrepreneur, nonprofit founder and board member, Angelique Stewart 18EMBA, vice president of client support and global practice leader at Sovos Digital, Dominique Giovine, vice president, control division, Moët Hennessy USA, and Zipperer.

Moderated by Kt McBratney, co-founder and chief community officer at OwnTrail, the “Aligning your Career with Your Purpose” panel included Sims, Ambassador Susan Coppedge, executive director, Georgia Legal Services Program, and Lola Banjo 11MBA, vice president of GTM Strategy and M&A products, Salesforce and founder & chief designer at Silver & Riley, a travel and fashion accessory brand.

EWG also handed out several awards during the conference. The 2023 Guiding Star Award scholarship went to Myra Herring 18EvMBA. Herring is a wellness coach and founder and CEO of Capri Brand, LLC, a personal branding company.

The 2023 Bridge Award recipient was Jennifer Davis, chief strategy and marketing officer and the author of “Well Made Decisions.”

Each year, EWG awards a $5000 Scholarship Award to an aspiring Goizueta Executive MBA candidate. This year’s award went to 24EMBA candidate Katie Kolonic, vice president & medical director at AllMed Healthcare Management.

Conference sponsors included Cisco, KPMG, Protiviti, UPS, and WestRock.

About Executive Women of Goizueta

Launched 20 years ago by Sarah O’Brien 03EMBA, EWG’s mission is to create a community that facilitates, promotes, and inspires women’s personal and professional leadership development. EWG is open to women who are Goizueta alumnae, current executive and evening MBA students, as well as BBA graduates that have professional experience. EWG’s “Advancing Women in Leadership Annual Conference” is open to the entire Emory University community and to friends of the school.

Learn more about Goizueta Business School’s Executive MBA and Evening MBA programs.

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“That scholarship has been invaluable to my educational journey,” explains Elgohry.

The scholarship has been incredibly useful from the peace of mind it’s offered and the opportunities it’s given. It’s been essential and really allowed me to focus on ensuring I am a positive force on campus, rather than constantly worrying about if I could even be here.

Elgohry

Free from the financial burden of funding his education, Elgohry set his sights on a very specific, ambitious path: double majoring in quantitative science and business, obtaining a master’s degree in business analytics, and participating in any student clubs and projects at Emory that interested him.

And juggle it all, he has. A quick skim of his resume is a humbling experience for the reader: Elgohry is a college-and-graduate-school student managing a campus job and leadership positions in multiple clubs, who has also maintained an impressive GPA the entire time.

“The passion I have helped me get through my path,” says Elgohry, who will become a business analyst for CarMax after graduation this spring. “The biggest thing is always being proud of what you’re doing.”

The Power of Passion

The college experience is a short one, so Elgohry has taken advantage of every opportunity he can chase, while making sure each item he adds to his resume is one that interests him. That passion has become the fuel for crazy, busy weeks and days when he sometimes feels he may have overcommitted.

I am fortunate enough to be in a job that I enjoy and in organizations that I care about and feel like I’m making positive change.

Elgohry

Over the past four years, Elgohry wrote a bill while in the Student Government Association that redistributed over $2 million in fees to Emory College and Goizueta. Previous attempts at passing this bill, for more than a decade, were unsuccessful, but Elgohry’s version passed unanimously. “I gained a lot of satisfaction from seeing a bill that I worked really hard on, and felt really passionate about because it will improve the lives of students, pass.”

He also helped organize the Goizueta-famous weekly KEGs event for students as a member of Goizueta’s BBA council: “There was just the immediate satisfaction of seeing people enjoy that event every week.”

As a member of Emory’s Impact Investing Group, he helped a local business, Carrot Dog, through financial projections, a patent application, and securing a commercial kitchen.

He welcomed hundreds of freshmen to Emory as an Ignite leadership mentor and BBA orientation leader.

He’s currently the treasurer of the MSBA student body, hoping to “do right by my fellow MSBA peers and ensure we get the most value out of the fees we pay,” and the lead technician of Emory’s Student Technology Support team, troubleshooting and repairing dozens of student computers every week.

But Elgohry’s favorite experience has been contributing to Emory’s Entrepreneurship and Venture Management organization (EEVM) as president, treasurer, and director of HackATL. After participating in HackATL as a freshman, Elgohry joined the leadership team of EEVM for the next three years and helped put on the well-known event.

“Seeing 300 students compete and enjoy themselves every year is always such an incredible experience,” he says.

The people in the organization gave me motivation at every turn to be the best version of myself so I could take EEVM to new heights.

Elgohry

In addition to all the rewarding and robust extracurricular activities, Elgohry says it was Goizueta’s “unique blend of offerings,” such as coming into the business school with a foundation in liberal arts and classes that combined business and data, that allowed him to complete a double major and graduate degree within four years.

His education has prepared him to venture into the workforce, armed and ready to continue making a difference for others.  

At Goizueta, students come first. Your support of scholarships helps us attract and retain top students and improve the diversity and talent of our student body. Give today!

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The New Orleans-native found Emory University during the basketball-recruitment process. Williams began playing basketball when he was 5 years old and always dreamed of suiting up in college.

He became enchanted with Emory upon visiting campus, and, growing up business-minded, he was impressed by Goizueta. “My passion for business is why I chose Emory—because of its prestige and everything it brings to the table,” says Williams.

At Goizueta, his studies concentrated in strategy and management consulting and marketing.

He said he was always interested in learning about what drives people to buy certain products, and he wanted a major that allowed him to be creative. He liked both consulting and marketing and figured, “Why not combine the two and see where they take me?”

Williams said simple lessons on how to properly network yourself, give presentations, and engage an audience are tools that have helped him in his emerging career.

Goizueta does a great job of preparing you for the future. It wasn’t really based on degrees as much as it was on you learning and growing, not just as a student, but as a person. I’m using skills that I learned from Goizueta and applying that to my everyday life.

The Goizueta Network in Your Corner

Looking to satisfy a taste for something new and play one more year of basketball after losing his senior season to the pandemic, Williams stuck around Goizueta to pursue his master’s degree.

Williams was a fellow and fund beneficiary of the John E. Robson Program for Business, Public Policy, and Government at the Goizueta Business School. The Robson Program strives to better prepare graduates to lead complex organizations by fostering proficiency in issues of business, government, and public policy from diverse perspectives.

In taking part of the Robson Program, Williams became close with Jeffrey Rosensweig, the program’s director, who developed into a mentor figure for Williams.

“Professor Rosensweig is just an awesome guy who you want in your corner,” Williams says. “Professor Rosensweig knows somebody in some industry that interests you. He’s very well connected, and he looks out for students.”

As part of the program, Williams said he, along with other fellows and MBA students, participated in events where they could network with industry professionals, which provided him with opportunities to grow, learn, and connect with others.

Williams pursued Goizueta’s STEM-credentialed Master of Science in Business Analytics, a full-time, immersive 10-month program designed to turn students into business data scientists. The program features real-world, project-based learning that combines business, data, and technology.

Williams said his graduate year was his most challenging at Emory. Compared to his undergraduate experience, where he was pursuing deep passions in marketing and consulting, data analytics was a completely different wheelhouse for him.

“This degree is more analytically based—it’s numbers and something I felt I didn’t necessarily have in my repertoire,” says Williams. “Most people, when they choose a degree, they know ‘that’s what I want to do.’ For me, I just wanted to try something different. I was optimistic that I might find something new that I’m passionate about.”

Williams is also the first student-athlete in the program.

While competing on the men’s basketball team, he racked up the accolades, contributing to three conference championships, being a three-time all conference player, holding the number five slot in program history for scoring, and securing the Emory record for most three-pointers made in school history—which he achieved while in the rigorous MSBA program.

His advice for other student-athletes: Don’t give up.

“It’s extremely hard, and you’re going to be tested academically and athletically, probably, like you’ve never been tested before,” he says. “Don’t give up and just keep going, and if you need anything, reach out to the people that surround you because they want to help.”

Two months post-graduation, Williams started at McKinsey & Company as a business insight fellow. He is signed to a two-year contract for a rotational program on an integrative path. He said he chose this program to satisfy the curious part of himself that is always looking to try new things.

“I’m not fully set on a specific thing I want to do for the rest of my life,” he says. “I figured, why not join this program with McKinsey, learn different things about different industries, meet different people, and then continue to go from there?”

His first rotation allows him to flex his business analytics muscles by performing commercial banking insights.

One of the most rewarding moments in his professional career, he said, was putting the skillsets he learned at Goizueta in practice at McKinsey.

“I was presenting to a bank with my manager and co-worker,” recalls Williams. “When I was done, I realized, ‘Wow, I learned how to present at Emory, where I only presented to my classmates and my friends, and that prepared me to be able to have a meeting with these managers from this big-time bank.’ That was a big moment. It was a reward that showed me that when you put your time into something, it’s going to pay off.”

For the time being, because Williams has been pouring his energy into his work with McKinsey, he’s had to put basketball on the back burner. However, his dream is to combine his love for business and basketball and become a general manager for an NBA team. He is optimistic that his work ethic will get him there.

“I’m always trying to be better than I was the day before,” says Williams. “You have to keep going. Nobody can stop you but yourself.”

Your support of scholarships helps us attract and retain top students and improve the diversity and talent of our student body. Our goal is to create equal access and opportunity for all students with the talent and abilities to drive business forward, regardless of their ability to pay. Support scholarships today!

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When Entrepreneurs Share Their Failures, Early-Stage Founders Benefit from the Experience

In an Instagram-perfect world that seems obsessed with success, Christy Brown is more than happy to talk about her failures. In fact, she’s proud of them. “I have founded and exited four of my own companies,” says Brown. “I’ve had a lot of successes, but the way I can help early-stage founders the most is from my failures. In my opinion, that’s where we learn.”

A serial entrepreneur with more than 20 years of experience, Christy Brown is now an Entrepreneur-in-Residence (EiR) for The Roberto C. Goizueta Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation. She lends her expertise to Goizueta students who dream of starting their own businesses, and she gives it to them straight.

“All entrepreneurs think that our ideas are amazing, but that does not mean that anyone is going to buy it. I give founders the tools to really ensure that there is consumption for their idea,” says Brown. “My interest in working with founders is focused on how to save them time and money and on customer conversations and customer discovery. Entrepreneurs must have organic conversations with potential customers to determine if anyone even cares about the problem they’re solving.” Read the full story.

Goizueta Students Travel to Norway & Explore Social, Cultural, and Geopolitical Landscape

To prepare students to become principled leaders in an interconnected world, Goizueta developed Global Experiential Modules (GEMs), which are delivered multiple times per year for MBA students.

“Empathy and cultural competence are critical in the development of principled leadership. Goizueta’s Global Experiential Modules align with our strategic priorities to deliver truly distinctive lessons on business and its role in service to humanity,” says Brian Mitchell, associate dean for Goizueta Global Strategy and Initiatives. “These are so much more than just ‘trips’ because the experiences are contextualized by experts in history and culture.” Discover more about GEMs.

Students and Speakers Unpack Artificial Intelligence in Media and Entertainment Industry at the 2022 MSBA Conference

At the fifth annual Goizueta Business Analytics Conference, topics included AI and machine learning in decision making, media personalization, and audience targeting. Industry experts in the crowd were also Goizueta alumni, including women data scientists from the MSBA program who participated in the alumni panel, “MSBA Women in Media and Entertainment.” The women spoke about what drew them to their roles and this industry, advice for graduating students, and what it’s like to be a woman in a traditionally male-dominated field of data science.

“The MSBA program equipped me with strong data science and analytics skills, and it also enhanced my problem-solving skills. The conference was a great chance to learn and discuss opportunities and challenges in the media and entertainment industry,” says Lancy Mao 18MSBA, business data scientist at Google. “As we are exploring better personalization in a more privacy-preserving way, AI and machine learning have become more important.” Learn more about what’s new in AI and data analytics.

Certified B Corps: Students Explore Business as a Force for Good

With more than 5,300 certified B Corps globally and rising, “We are educating students about B Corps by taking part in the movement,” says B Corp Learning Lab instructor Brian Goebel 09MBA, managing director of the Business & Society Institute. “It’s a win-win all around.”

The B Corp Learning Lab and a growing number of other social and environmental impact activities (such as the Start:ME accelerator program, Net Impact Club, Peachtree Minority Venture Fund, and Grounds for Empowerment) demonstrate Goizueta’s strategic belief that business and society together can deliver a more equitable and sustainable world. When businesses and business education shift, other stakeholders benefit, too.

“The B Corp certification is a powerful and transparent way for companies to verify their social and environmental commitments,” says Wes Longhofer, academic director of the Business & Society Institute. “Because the assessment process is so tangible, students get hands-on experience on how companies can both measure their impact and set meaningful targets and goals. It also fits the educational mission of our Institute of putting theory into practice.” Dig into the process in the full story.

Inaugural Emory Real Estate Conference Draws Influential Leaders for a Sold-Out Crowd

Goizueta Business School hosted the inaugural Emory Real Estate Conference for more than 550 real estate professionals and investors. The keynote address was delivered by Sam Zell, founder, and chairman of Equity Group Investments, a self-made billionaire who serves as chairman of several companies listed on the New York Stock Exchange. In addition to a panel discussion on “Capital Market Insights: Trends and Disruptors,” Colleen Keating, CEO, FirstKey Homes, offered her perspective on the rise of single-family rentals (SFR) as an asset class.

One of the nation’s top real estate markets, Atlanta has seen significant growth over the last few decades. Given Emory University’s location and the growing renown of Goizueta’s 15-year-old real estate program, the conference’s student co-chairs John Schellhase 23EvMBA and Bernard “Bern” Clevens 22MBA saw hosting an Emory and Goizueta-branded conference as a great way to unite real estate professionals, serve the greater Atlanta community, and showcase the Emory and Goizueta brands. Gain more real estate insight.

Executive MBA Ranks 6th in Nation by Financial Times

The Executive MBA program at Emory University’s Goizueta Business School continued to climb in the rankings, recognized as the 6th ranked EMBA program nationwide, according to a recent Financial Times report. Delivering on its promise to provide world-class educational experiences and opportunities, the program also garnered notable gains internationally, rising to 36th in the world.

At Goizueta, the Executive MBA program provides the breadth of business acumen and depth of expertise that a seasoned professional or current executive needs to drive organizational value.

Jackie Conner, associate dean of the Executive MBA program

“It offers a personal, deeply immersive, and hands-on experience that expands an individual’s leadership capacity,” says Conner. Read the full rankings report.

Goizueta Supports Active-Duty Service Members and Veterans with Student Scholarships, Fellowships, and Public Service Award

“One of the most important aspects and strengths of the Goizueta military and veteran community is how they support one another through their transition, MBA journey, and pursuit of their goals,” says Ken Keen, Lieutenant General, Retired, U.S. Army and Goizueta associate dean for leadership development and senior lecturer of Organization & Management who also serves as Goizueta’s military advisor. “We seek to make it personal and help every veteran as they apply their skills and leadership experiences gained through military service toward seeking careers in the business world.”

“Goizueta does a great job of making the veterans feel valued,” says Goizueta Military Scholarship Recipient Matthew Ball 23MBA. Ball served as squad leader for the U.S. Army’s 75th Ranger Regiment with six combat deployments across Afghanistan, Iraq, and Syria. At Goizueta, he leads the Goizueta Veterans Club for 2022-2023, which has 18 full-time MBA students and 21 Executive MBA and Evening MBA students for a total of nearly 40 active members. “To me it is even more impactful that donors want to take part in assisting the educational growth and career advancement of our student vets.” Learn more about Goizueta’s commitment to veterans.

Goizueta Business School Faculty Rank in the Top Two Percent of Scholars Worldwide

Seven faculty members of Goizueta Business School were honored in Stanford University’s World’s Top 2% Scientists, a prestigious worldwide ranking of researchers for their career-long impact.

The study, published in the journal PLoS Biology, is based on the bibliometric information contained in Elsevier’s Scopus database that includes more than 160,000 researchers from the more than 8 million scientists considered to be active worldwide, taking into account 22 scientific fields and 176 subfields. Read more about our esteemed Goizueta faculty.

Goizueta Trailblazers Pave the Way for Growth and Opportunity in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

“Our history is illuminating,” says Jill Perry-Smith, senior associate dean of strategic initiatives. Perry-Smith is charged with leading the school’s DEI strategies and notes, “It is important to recognize trailblazers and have an opportunity to think through the events of the country and world as they collide with our local history.”

In recognition of our journey, Goizueta created Black History at Goizueta, a timeline of significant milestones throughout our institution’s history. In 2020, Goizueta launched the Common Read program, providing a forum for self-education and a safe space for honest dialogue for those seeking to be allies. Last fall, Goizueta launched the Peachtree Minority Venture Fund through The Roberto C. Goizueta Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation—a million-dollar venture capital fund focused on empowering underrepresented founders. In December, Goizueta announced the addition of a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion concentration for Full-Time MBA programs. And earlier this year, Goizueta announced the winners of the John R. Lewis Racial Justice Case competition, engaging leading students to examine how companies can address racial injustice within their organizations. Learn more about Goizueta trailblazers.

Do Grammy-Winning Pop Artists Take More Creative Risks Than Their Runners-Up?

Taylor Swift has had a career marked by an evolution in sound and style. Swift emerged into the industry a country star and was later rebranded a pop icon. She’s gone on to explore alternative rock and indie folk sounds.

Research by Giacomo Negro, professor of Organization & Management and professor of Sociology (by courtesy), suggests Grammy award wins may be credited as the catalyst for these changes. Gain more insight from this faculty research.

Emory Business digs into stories that matter. Keep reading to meet the change makers, the trend setters, and the leading influencers shaping business today.

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