CARLSONFALL 2020 SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT

The Voice Jael Kerandi (’21 BSB) led students through unprecedented crises

THE MAGAZINE FOR ALUMNI AND FRIENDS FALL 2020

THE CARLSON SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT MAGAZINE CARLSON FOR ALUMNI AND FRIENDS

Opposite: Murals and tributes honor the DISCOVER life of George Floyd in south Minneapolis. 3 Start-Up News Cover and right: Jael Kerandi, the 7 3 People, 3 Questions first Black student body president, 8 Faces of Carlson led students through COVID-19 and protests with steady purpose. FOCUS : UNPRECEDENTED TIMES Photography by Nate Ryan. 10 Faculty Insights Below: Four savvy alumni are building 14 Close-Up: Alumni business models and products that can help their businesses—and 18 their customers— The Voice thrive, even during a global pandemic. How Jael Kerandi (’21 BSB) led fellow students through COVID-19 and the murder of George Floyd

18 24 A Port in the Storm Tomme Beevas (’11 CEMBA) is reinventing the way a restaurant can serve its community

30 Alumni Profiles

ENGAGE

35 News & Notes

36 Executive Spotlight

38 Giving

42 Alumni Happenings

44 Class Notes

48 5 Things I’ve Learned 30

FALL 2020 | CARLSON SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT 1 FROM THE DEAN Building Connections START-UP NEWS More Important Than Ever DISCOVER

“No [person] is an island.” Our last magazine explored the world and our months, the Carlson School’s faculty and English poet John Donne’s place in it. The themes remain, but we’ve seen 1,532 staff responded admirably. “Our faculty 17th-century words remain immense change these last six months. Here in responded to this shift with resiliency and true. In a world where nearly Minnesota and across the United States, addressing Carlson School flexibility, never losing sight of the students’ graduates learning objectives in the process nor everything has changed, systemic racism is finally at the forefront. It participated the research opportunities that became our need to interact with shouldn’t have taken George Floyd’s murder to do so, in virtual available for study,” says Alok Gupta, each other has not. In but now there is an urgency I have not seen before. commencement associate dean of faculty and research. fact, building connections You’ll learn more about a current student who is Staff in career services, academic is more important than ever before. leading the push for social justice on our campus advising, and other departments swiftly 1,000 stepped in to provide ongoing support to Staying connected today is easier, but building as well as about a business using its resources in a students. In a volatile job market, career or sustaining relationships via a screen is difficult. new way to be a force for good in its neighborhood. registrants for services staff helped solidify internships I have a new appreciation for the in-person Also, learn how COVID-19 has forced changes in first-ever virtual and job offers for many. experience of meeting one another: non-verbal cues research agendas, teaching, medical technology, 1st Tuesday are obvious, there are no frustrating technology and healthcare in our community. Finally, with a STUDENTS SAFELY RETURN HOME At the onset of the pandemic, more glitches, and you’re not constantly watching general election closing in, discover an alumnus who 300 than 280 Carlson School students were yourself in a box. But we must not let those is at the intersection of business intelligence, an studying abroad. In a matter of weeks, minor annoyances stop us from interacting. uncertain and uneven economy, and political polling. class sections the staff at the Carlson Global Institute At the Carlson School, I’m so proud of how our It is safe to say that this is the most interesting moved virtually coordinated the travel plans of each in four days student, no matter where they were. community has put in the dedication and effort time of our lives. Despite all its challenges, it is All students returned home safely. to build connections, no matter how hard it is. inspiring innovation and needed change. It is also “I’m incredibly proud of our team, Faculty members holding additional office hours anxiety-inducing and can be utterly exhausting. 45% who worked diligently with our partners to meet student needs. Students collaborating I encourage each of you to step away from the around the world to ensure the safety of all of our students,” says Steve Parente, around the world to work on projects. Classes screen, from the headlines, and from the daily increase in career services associate dean of global initiatives. engaging virtually with business leaders. Staff grind. Take time to recharge and refocus on appointment Despite COVID-19–related travel coordinating logistics to keep us moving forward. ways you can be a force for good in a world that year-over-year challenges, large international experiential Businesses helping each other solve complex issues. I am convinced is changing for the better. learning programs, such as the MILI Valu- ation Lab and Global Business Practicum, Warmest regards, continued virtually without missing a beat.

Operating Virtually EVENTS CONTINUE VIRTUALLY All Carlson School events moved virtual, Carlson School Community Comes Together reaching more people. Sri Zaheer, During Pandemic Changes The school hosted its first virtual com- Dean, Carlson School of Management mencement on May 16. The long-standing 1st Tuesday Speaker Series had its highest When the COVID-19 outbreak forced In just four days, more than 200 attendance ever, when more than 1,000 the University to operate virtually, the courses and 300 sections moved to a people registered for the May event. whole Carlson School community sprang remote format, an undertaking which The school, in partnership with the into action to make the most of this demanded faculty to rethink how they Executive Education and Marketing & “new normal.” could deliver their courses online. The Communications teams, launched the “The COVID-19 pandemic presented school’s Information Technology team “Leadership in the Age of Disruption” challenges for all of us at the Carlson made sure the school had the technolog- series, which allowed faculty members School and across the world,” says Dean ical capabilities it needed to make the to contextualize the ways businesses Sri Zaheer. “But I am so appreciative of transition go smoothly, and provided and the economy were being disrupted how each and every person at the school hours of training to faculty and staff. by the pandemic. The series also stepped up to make sure our operations While shifting modalities of instruction included virtual events about the future continued as close to normal as possible.” from in-person to online typically takes of business in this “new normal.”

2 UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA ILLUSTRATION: SOL COTTI FALL 2020 | CARLSON SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT 3 START-UP NEWS

Carlson School combining a year of intentionally designed New Seminars, Classes Entrepreneurship and Launch Minnesota, Through the program, the Carlson School course work, an experiential project an initiative of the Minnesota Depart- has hosted virtual courses designed for Announces a Number with a real client, the opportunity to gain Aim to Help Minnesota ment of Employment and Economic pre-launch and early-stage technology of Diversity Initiatives professional work experience through Entrepreneurs Development, designed to accelerate the entrepreneurs, as well as seminars on an internship, and job preparation. growth of startups and amplify Minne- early-stage startup funding, how to In the wake of the murder of George The new degree is designed for recent The Carlson School has added new sota as a national leader in innovation. build an inclusive business culture, and Floyd and too many others, the Carlson graduates or early career professionals. programming to educate the state’s an introduction to financial modeling, “Entrepreneurship is vital in any School immediately began work to create entrepreneurial community. along with many others. There is also a A new Integrated Bachelor of Science economy, but especially during these a more welcoming place for students, mentorship program available, tapping in Business / Master of Arts in Human A new online platform, called MN Venture unprecedented times,” says John Stavig, faculty, staff, visitors, and more. into the University’s wide network Resources & Industrial Relations degree Builders, launched April 2020. The site program director at the Holmes Center. within the entrepreneurial community. A Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Action program allows students to earn both shares information to connect entre- “These courses and seminars will allow Work Group, charged by Dean Sri Zaheer, degrees with only one additional year of preneurs with courses, competitions, us to build an even more robust entrepre- MN Venture Builders continues spent the summer months listening to classes. This degree provides a struc- seminars, mentors, and connections to neurial scene in the state of Minnesota.” the Holmes Center’s leadership in each other, colleagues, students, and tured option to complete both the BSB the state’s entrepreneurial ecosystem to supporting entrepreneurs through Within its first few months, more than 150 alumni. The group is working with the and MHRIR degrees in an efficient and early-stage technology entrepreneurs programs such as MIN-Corps, Grow entrepreneurs participated in the quar- school’s executive committee on taking timely manner while still maintaining the across the state of Minnesota. It is a North, Women’s Entrepreneurship terly lean startup courses and webinars. some immediate steps. rigors of the curriculum. collaboration between the Carlson (WE*), and MN Cup, the largest state- School’s Gary S. Holmes Center for wide startup contest in the country. “This work is of the utmost importance,” The final new program is the Master of says Dean Sri Zaheer. “We have begun Science in Business Analytics Program/ implementing many of the workgroups Master of Science in Finance joint degree suggestions, including initiatives focused program. This dual-degree program on our internal culture and processes, as capitalizes on market demand for “Entrepreneurship well as on pipeline programs and educa- graduate-level students who are trained tion for the lager business community.” in both business analytics and finance is vital in any In order to jump start these initiatives, domain knowledge. The degree, effective economy, but Zaheer has committed $1 million in now, will give students current, leading funding to support the work group’s knowledge to add value to their work and especially recommendations. organization as a whole. during these The 19-person Diversity, Equity, and Additionally, the Carlson School Inclusion Action Work Group, led by launched 13 new graduate certificates. unprecedented Professor and Accounting Department Designed for working professionals, Chair Pervin Shroff, included a cross- Graduate Certificates offer high-impact times.” — JOHN STAVIG section of students, faculty, and staff learning in 13 specific topic areas, from from a variety of diverse backgrounds. Leadership for Managers to Business Analytics. These certificates consist The DEI work group took part in a number of 12 credits (four to six courses) of of listening sessions and reviewed survey graded, transcripted coursework that Two Carlson School results from faculty, staff, and students to can be applied to a master’s degree. MBA Students Receive “The DE&I Action Work develop their initiatives. National Awards Liz O’Brien, ’20 MBA, and Kevin Bubolz, Group was truly an School Launches • Master of Marketing Degree ’21 MBA, were recently recognized Three New Degrees, effort that required us • Integrated Bachelor of for their innovation and leadership. 13 Graduate Certificates all to be open, honest, Science in Business / Carlson O’Brien became the first Carlson School School Master of Arts in Three new degree programs and a suite of student to be honored with the Edie Hunt Human Resources & Industrial and humble. It has been more than a dozen graduate certificates Inspiration Award from the Forté Foun- Relations degree program will make their debut at the Carlson School dation. This annual award recognizes a both challenging and woman who aligns with Forté’s mission as part of its continued focus on expanding • Carlson School Master of to launch women into fulfilling, significant rewarding to collaborate educational opportunities for recent Science in Business Analytics careers through access to business graduates and established professionals. Program/Master of Science in education and professional develop- on this with others from Finance joint degree program One new option, which will begin recruit- ment, as well as candidates who exhibit ing students this fall while launching in Fall a track record of working to increase across the school.” • Plus 13 new graduate 2021, is the Master of Marketing Degree. and/or encourage women’s interest in certificates — PERVIN SHROFF This 9-month, 32-credit program pro- vides a strong foundation in marketing by

4 UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA ILLUSTRATION: JAMES STEINBERG ILLUSTRATION: STUART BRADFORD FALL 2020 | CARLSON SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT 5 START-UP NEWS 3 PEOPLE, 3 QUESTIONS

business school or business careers 1. What are 2. What’s your 3. What’s your through innovation and leadership. Not only was I able you reading? favorite website? dream job? At the Carlson School, O’Brien was to meet people who involved in the Graduate Women in Business Board and the Forté are already in the Foundation, served as a diversity business industry, graduate assistant, and was selected The Color of Law: A Forgotten The Ringer. It’s a mixture I’ve volunteered with kids for the to co-chair the Carlson School Wom- but I was also able History of How Our Government of pop culture and sports. last 20-plus years, coaching en’s Leadership Conference. O’Brien Segregated America. This They cover everything from both basketball and football. was also named one of the “2020 to connect with book highlights housing policy Game of Thrones to Anthony I see sports as a great way MBAs to Watch” by Poets & Quants. other students of and unconstitutional laws that Bourdain and mock NBA to connect with kids, teach Bubolz, a former Army helicopter pilot, created opportunity for some Drafts. A lot of range! leadership skills, and solve became the first Carlson School stu- color who had the and left others out. As we talk problems. When I retire, I’ll dent to be named a Tillman Scholar. about racial equality, this book likely find a position as a sports same interests.” provides a great example of the director for a youth program. He was among 60 U.S. service members, Joffrey Wilson systems that have been in place veterans, and military spouses named — NINI DANG, ’24 BSB ’99 BSB that have created inequity. This to the Pat Tillman Foundation’s 12th book is also important because class of scholars. Tillman Scholars are Director of Inclusion and it highlights the importance selected based on their high potential for Diversity at Mortenson of policy to drive change. impact, demonstrated through a proven activities. The 2019-2020 cohort track record of leadership, continued included 36 students, 61 percent of pursuit of education, and commitment of whom are African American or Black, 58 their resources to service beyond self. percent female, and more than half who were in their senior year of high school. Bubolz, who discovered a passion for The Argumentative Indian by Refinery29—especially the A dream job of mine would be therapy dogs while serving in Afghani- “One of the important things for me was Amartya Sen. Lately, I have been “Work & Money” section. where I can combine my artistic stan in 2014, says his goal is to help chil- the different connections I was able to missing my home country a lot. creativity and analytical skills dren develop their reading skills through make through the Emerging Leaders of I first read this book a decade to contribute to society. ABOVE: Liz O’Brien, increased access to therapy dogs. Color program,” Dang says. “Not only was ago and revisiting it now takes top, and Kevin “I’m asking you to I able to meet people who are already me back to simpler and happier Bubolz, bottom, in the business industry, but I was also times. This collection of essays received national see the present Emerging Leaders able to connect with other students of highlights India’s identity through recognition for their outstanding challenges not as of Color Program Leads color who had the same interests.” its history, and how debate, dia- work this year. Deeksha Jha logue, and intellectual pluralism to New Enrollments “Going through the ELOC program ’19 MSBA shaped the country. It smashes obstacles, but as made me much more comfortable with Data Scientist stereotypes and celebrates India This semester, Aisha Mohamed and pursuing a business school and going opportunities to re- in a way I haven’t seen before. Nini Dang, both ’24 BSB, became the to the Carlson School specifically,” It’s a different perception of examine your why first students to begin their studies at Mohamed adds. “Everybody was so India that needs to be read. the Carlson School after participating welcoming and willing to help me with and create positive in the inaugural cohort of the Emerging any questions I had. You could really Leaders of Color program (ELOC). see the passion everyone had.” change together.” I am re-reading Bottle of Lies: They’re not so much a website, I am in my dream job. Full disclo- The free, selective, eight-month program Mohamed and Dang are joined by 11 other — LIZ O’BRIEN, ’20 MBA The Inside Story of the Generic but there are a few podcasts sure—I worked for a management Aisha Mohamed, provides opportunities for underrepre- students from ELOC who enrolled at other Drug Boom by Katherine Eban. I follow diligently. Land of consulting firm between my MBA ’24 BSB sented high school students to expe- colleges at the University of Minnesota. rience and learn about business at the The book paints a damning por- the Giants and Work Life by and PhD, and loved it. But, being Carlson School. Students attend monthly trait of the generic drug industry Adam Grant have insightful a faculty in a Big 10 university workshops where they are exposed to using the 2013 Ranbaxy Scandal stories. I don’t follow comedy setting is more fulfilling in every business classes, Carlson School faculty as the setting. It highlights the will- much, and standup comedy possible way. Here, I am constantly members, potential career options, ingness of pharmaceutical com- even less, but Patriot Act by surrounded by some of the smart- leaders of the local business community, panies to promote substandard Hasan Minhaj (on Netflix, bad est, most intelligent, and dynamic mentorship from a current Carlson Rachna Shah and potentially harmful agents and language alert) is surprisingly people. Besides teaching and School student, and college preparation Professor, the thinning edge of U.S. regula- good for its astute observations researching, I can travel, and work Nini Dang, ’24 BSB Supply Chain Operations tory power in a rapidly globalizing about the society we live in. with managers and/or policymak- pharmaceutical industry. The ers—the opportunities in my role book substantiates my research, are limitless. Imagination and avail- and is a must-read, particularly able time are the only constraints. for generic drug consumers.

6 UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA FALL 2020 | CARLSON SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT 7 FACES OF CARLSON

Among our greatest Hollies Winston Samantha Clute Christopher Danner achievements at the Carlson ’13 MBA ’21 MBA ’21 BSB Chair and CEO “The community of Compass at “My biggest source of inspiration and School are the connections at Guaranteed America, Inc. Carlson has been really meaningful also my biggest source of gratitude to me in my own personal journey. My during this time has come from many “A vision of what a better world can we have made to each other process towards my identity in the of the folks in our society who are look like inspires me. We always LGBTQ community wasn’t really as continuing to go to work each day and to the school. Our Faces talk about gaps for people of color, clear or clear-cut as I thought it was so that we can have the goods and African Americans, and I always say, supposed to be. I walk through the services we need to survive and get of Carlson series showcases ‘Well, what does that world look like world holding a lot of privilege. I’m a through this time together, and that’s when—African Americans especially— cis, white, straight-passing woman. everyone from our healthcare workers the perspectives of our we define what success is and we And I feel like, in many ways, I haven’t to those in our food and agriculture decide our destiny?’ When we get to felt like I was gay enough and that sector. Obviously, these essential inimitable students, faculty, that place, you’ll see a very different my relatively peaceful coming-out services don’t always provide them world with a lot more resources for experiences and my very accepting with the choice of being able to stay staff, and alumni, highlighting everybody. Because when you do family and friends make me feel a Tracy Keeling home and stay protected like the remove those gaps and you allow Associate Director, rest of us, but, I am just so thankful what inspires them and people to express themselves, MBA and MS programs for all of them doing that on a daily generally, in this country, you unlock makes them proud of their basis so that we can emerge stronger, a ton of opportunity. And if you want “Right now in my life I’m most proud collectively, and have what we need Shaker Zahra to measure it in terms of economics, of the volunteer work I’m doing work and communities. to get through this together.” Professor, Strategic Management you unlock a ton of revenue, GDP, all with Greyhound Pets of America & Entrepreneurship Department those things that matter. But more Minnesota. GPA MN is a local chapter “I’m most proud of the fact that I importantly, you just unlock a ton of a national nonprofit that finds have gotten to know so many people of potential across the arts, across permanent forever homes for racing from so many cultures, from so many business, across politics. So that’s greyhounds when they retire from places around the globe, and my what motivates me, is a vision of their careers on the track. I’ve been life has become better and richer the world where people can follow volunteering with them since I because of these connections. It’s their own destiny and vision.” adopted my first retired racer nearly something I never dreamed would 10 years ago, and I’m currently happen to me, and probably is starting my second two-year term the highlight of everything in my as president of the board. It’s just life. It defined what I did and how so gratifying to introduce the public I did things and I cannot tell you to these gentle, loving, 45-MPH how important that has been.” couch potatoes, and see the dogs settle into their retirement homes and to life as a beloved pet.”

little bit less qualified to participate in LGBTQ spaces and discussions. I realized through my engagements with Compass and more broadly with the community that it’s created, that my voice matters and that walking forward with my lesbianism as openly expressed as my privilege provides me the best platform to advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts across the business community.”

8 UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA FALL 2020 | CARLSON SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT 9 FOCUS FACULTY INSIGHTS Dynamic Disruption BY JOEL HOEKSTRA

Last spring, as the U pivoted to online instruction to help slow the spread of COVID-19, Carlson School instructors and students found themselves adjusting and adapting at warp speed. The results were insightful—and for some, invigorating.

Among Beth Campbell’s academic dislike the virtual environment, but there interests is the study of interpersonal are some advantages,” she says. “We need “In this environment, dynamics and teams in the workplace. to look at the obstacles and think, Could students really So, as you might expect, Campbell, parts of this be a feature, rather than a bug?” an assistant professor of Work and appreciate Organizations, has taken a keen interest DRAWING THE MAP in how teams and worker interactions Professor and Marketing Department discussion and have changed amid the pandemic. When Chair Vlad Griskevicius compares the employees have to social distance or work shift to online instruction at the Univer- being able to from home, how does it affect produc- sity to the explorations of Sacagawea and learn from each tivity, morale, and business in general? Lewis and Clark in the American West. Campbell has been particularly “There was no map,” he says. “You drew other. The art of interested in virtual onboarding. “What the map as you went along.” For some is the most effective way to embed professors, it was exciting. For everyone, teaching in Zoom is someone in your company culture? We it was a challenge. “You had four days used to think it required workshops to figure it out,” Griskevicius notes. about asking really with bad muffins and coworker happy The Carlson School faculty banded good questions.” hours to get new employees to bond,” together in online discussion groups to Campbell says. “But maybe that’s not consider solutions. “We had an immense — VLAD GRISKEVICIUS necessary.” The jury is still out, she amount of communication with each admits, but she’s working closely with a other and lots of cooperation,” Griskev- large Twin Cities professional services icius says. But in the end, different peo- Griskevicius believes the pandemic firm—she can’t disclose the name—to ple adopted different approaches—and experience has irrevocably altered online study onboarding practices that are some were more successful than others. learning. “Most students—and their effective in the current circumstances. The department polled students at parents—are afraid of virtual learning COVID-19 has not only reframed the end of the semester to gain insights because they’ve never had a good Campbell’s views of interpersonal into what worked and what didn’t in experience,” he says. “But once they see interactions in the workplace, the online instruction. Griskevicius says the a well-designed experience, it radically pandemic has also made her more aware highest marks were given to instructors alters how they look at education. of communication in the classroom. who took a hybrid approach, mixing There’s a belief that in-person instruc- “There are unexpected benefits to online short video lectures (“If it’s over seven tion leads to a better outcome, but this learning,” she says. “I think it amplified minutes, it’s too long!”) with team experience is showing us that we can the voices of less-vocal students. I activities and small-group discussions design a virtual class that’s also highly heard some students contributing in a convened in virtual breakout rooms. engaging, high-quality, and impactful.” way that I couldn’t always hear when “In this environment, students really I’m in a 50-person lecture room.” appreciate discussion and being able THE ART OF TIME TRAVELING The experience has made Campbell to learn from each other,” Griskevicius Svjetlana Madzar teaches the capstone look at challenges—in business, in teach- says. “The art of teaching in Zoom is course for international business ing—with fresh eyes. “People initially about asking really good questions.” majors. A senior lecturer in Strategic

10 UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA ILLUSTRATIONS: FRANCESCO CICCOLELLA FALL 2020 | CARLSON SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT 11 FACULTY INSIGHTS

Management and Entrepreneurship them online would make the hours drag. WRESTLING WITH REAL-LIFE who has served on the guest faculty “Three hours on Zoom is just a challenge PROBLEMS of educational institutions in France, for us all,” Vohs says. “It forced me to When people started fretting about short- Germany, India, and Spain—and has get really creative. I would sit on my ages of toilet paper and hand sanitizer last led students on international residency kitchen table the morning before the spring with the onset of the COVID-19 trips to Austria, Chile, Cuba, Hungary, class trying to figure out what I could pandemic, Professor Kingshuk Sinha took and Peru, among other places—Madzar do that would make it more fun.” note. But he was confident that manufac- tries to impress upon her capstone At one point during the term, Vohs turers would catch up with demand. He Beth Campbell students the specific challenges that asked the class to watch Tiger King, a pop- was more concerned, along with people arise when business goes global. “We ular Netflix documentary about the life of in the medical community, about the focus on the strategic challenges of an eccentric zookeeper named Joe Exotic. worldwide supply shortage of PPE and working across borders,” she says. Students may have thought the assign- ventilators, and the lack of capacity in Madzar had just started teaching ment was unusual, but Vohs connected hospitals and ICUs needed to care for the the capstone class when COVID-19 the show to readings on consumer behav- surging volume of COVID-19 patients. upended normal life around the planet. ior. “We looked at the academic theories “You want supply chains to be reliable, Her international students went about human motivation and applied responsive, resilient, and responsibly home—to New Zealand, Spain, and them to the show, which is an unbridled managed,” Sinha says. “But as manufac- Ukraine—and Madzar had to learn how display of human ambition,” she says. turing has become more global, supply Vlad Griskevicius to navigate time differences and technol- “We also asked explored questions like, chains are more and more vulnerable to ogy issues as classes went online. Carlson ‘Do people feel the same level of love for natural and manmade disasters. We’re School students returning from canceled their pets as they do their children?’” seeing the effects of that right now.” study-abroad programs were allowed to For many, the COVID era has dimin- As the pandemic rewrote the rules of join the class, and many had stories to ished overall happiness, so Vohs asked business and life around the world, Sinha tell related to the hardships of crossing her students to immerse themselves in reworked his spring semester graduate borders. “The students had recent literature about the topic. “I think we’re elective “Supply Chain Management in the experience with the communication all realizing that we can derive meaning Healthcare and Medical Device Sector” to issues and challenges that pop up when from small things,” Vohs says. “You don’t focus specifically on the delivery of medi- Svjetlana Madzar you move from one country to another,” have to buy a Mercedes to be happy. cal supplies and healthcare in COVID-19 Madzar says. “In some sense, this was Right now, we’re discovering that you can times. “The problems we are facing now a real-time, real-life experiment.” get meaning from small things, like just are not problems that we have ever faced Dividing her students into teams, getting coffee at your local coffee shop.” before,” he says. “I felt it was important for Madzar deliberately mixed one student In the end, Vohs was impressed by her students and me to wrestle with immediate in another time zone to each cohort. students’ willingness to stay on task. “I real-life problems. The design and delivery The result? Students had to learn to didn’t think I’d be able to expect much, of the course was occurring on the fly.” coordinate schedules and work through given all the chaos,” Vohs says. “But my His students rose to the occasion. cultural misunderstandings at a distance, students were 100 percent right there.” One team developed their final course much as they would in global business. paper on the end-to-end supply chain Kathleen Vohs Madzar believes that the global for ventilators, taking into account experience actually helped her students the various stakeholders, challenges bridge differences and form emotional of affordability and coordination, connections. “We realize that everyone “As manufacturing stockpiling, and the role of government. is going through the same hardships,” has become more Another team analyzed the COVID- she says. “In some sense, borders 19 care supply chains of a large U.S. and cultural differences don’t matter. global, supply chains state, addressing issues related to PPE, We’re all grappling with the virus.” hospital beds, plasma donations, racial

are more and more disparity, mortuary capacity, and future Kingshuk Sinha TEACHING WITH TIGER KING vaccinations. “The students really PhD classes typically meet for multiple vulnerable to natural immersed themselves in the problems hours at a time each week, and when all and manmade and were creative in their solutions,” University classes went online, Professor Sinha says. “We all learned something Kathleen Vohs approached hers with disasters. We’re about health care and COVID—and trepidation. “It was tough, really tough,” gained some insight into what needs to Vohs says. In the classroom, she explains, seeing the effects happen to prepare for the future. It is discussions move with a fluidity and the most live course I’ve ever taught.” lively energy that make them dynamic of that right now.” and interesting. She worried that holding — KINGSHUK SINHA

12 UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA FALL 2020 | CARLSON SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT 13 CLOSE-UP: ALUMNI

SURVEY BY TIM GIHRING HOW MORNING CONSULT, LED SAYS >> BY MICHAEL RAMLET (’09 BSB), IS HELPING COUNTRIES AND COMPANIES NAVIGATE A WORLD TURNED INSIDE OUT.

Morning Consult, the polling firm, is a relative newcomer to the question business. Its CEO, Michael Ramlet, co-founded the firm seven years ago, before he was old enough to rent a car. But its scope and agility has given it formidable insight—what it calls data intelligence—into virtually every aspect of modern life. It surveys more than 20,000 people a day around the world, about everything from whether they trust the president to whether they trust the tap water. Late last year, having asked people about the economy and their finances for more than two years, Morning Consult began sharing what it knew with the Federal Reserve. “We figured they were one of those organizations that is always looking for a better sense of what’s going on in the economy,” recalls Ramlet. “Little did we know it would soon be of tremendous importance.”

14 UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA FALL 2020 | CARLSON SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT 15 CLOSE-UP: ALUMNI

By spring 2020, with much of the AMBITION, SERVED EARLY NEW POLLS, NEW INSIGHTS or demographics to better understand world in lockdown, Morning Consult Ramlet grew up outside Madison, Wis- The online approach was partly their audience. Economic Intelligence, was flooded with data requests. John consin, a center of academia and politics, pragmatic, Dropp says, as Morning which offers clients the consumer Leer, an economist with Morning and eventually was drawn to both. He Consult lacked the calling centers of confidence data that banks and gov- Consult, was talking to international was a school government kind of kid. established polling firms and the money ernments were clamoring for when the agencies who were suddenly having “Pretty precocious,” he says, “always to staff them. But cutting the cord pandemic hit, is the latest product. regular morning briefings. He was liked to talk with people.” A top seller of has also opened new opportunities for Isenstein says the company’s evolution talking to the central bank of Ger- wrapping paper for the school fundraiser. research, from showing people videos has not dimmed its start-up enthusiasm. many, which was building a real-time When he entered the Carlson School, to having them read long articles. When the decision was made, this indicator of the country’s economic in 2005, he quickly sought out mentors. And, of course, it offers anonymity. past spring, to fast-track the release of activity. They all needed the latest data. He met about once a week with John In 2015, with Donald Trump lead- Economic Intelligence, it was all hands “Everyone knew the global economy Stavig, director of the Gary S. Holmes ing fellow Republicans in the polls, on deck—even as employees were holed Morning Consult saw a chance to up at home. “It was probably 10 days test this. They surveyed about 2,400 from when we said we need to seize Republicans, starting online and then the moment and get our data out to Morning Consult’s daily consumer continuing either online, with a live when we launched,” Isenstein says. The interviewer over the phone, or with first iteration went out in an email, not confidence surveys are more like sonar an automated voice. Sure enough, unlike Ramlet’s original newsletter. pings, telling us where we are in the Trump performed 6 to 8 points better Data, of course, has no intelligence of when people didn’t have to admit its own. It’s only as good as what people vast ocean between traditional reports. their preference to a live interviewer. do with it. In the wake of the pandemic Morning Consult had the first real and unrest, Morning Consult has revealed evidence of “shy Trump supporters.” a declining materialism among Ameri- cans, who say they’re less likely now to was in freefall,” says Leer, “but it was Center for Entrepreneurship. He would arrive closer to brunch than breakfast buy everything from clothing to refrigera- difficult to measure precisely.” commandeer the office of Assistant if he had been out the night before. Yet tors. “Brands have a hard challenge ahead For much of the past century, eco- Dean of MBA and MS programs Phil it still felt important to Ramlet and his In the wake of the pandemic and unrest, Morning of them,” Ramlet says. “Many are going nomic information has trickled out in Miller, who then ran the school’s readers, who finally gave it a proper name to have to totally rethink how they go to quarterly reports, the way one is encour- Consulting Enterprise. He asked Asso- after Ramlet surveyed them: Morning Consult has revealed a declining materialism market and reach consumers.” aged to check on investments. Morning ciate Dean of Global Initiatives Steve Consult. It was the company’s first poll. Ramlet is especially interested in Consult’s daily consumer confidence Parente—who was then the professor among Americans, who say they’re less likely now the reaction of Gen Z, the largest and surveys—the same five questions, asked and director of the Medical Industry GOING ONLINE most diverse generation yet, who are over and over—are more like sonar Leadership Institute—to advise him Back in 2006, Ramlet had interned to buy everything from clothing to refrigerators. beginning to emerge from college into pings, telling us where we are in the on his senior thesis, one of the first at in the U.S. Senate, where he met Kyle a world as unprepared for them as they vast ocean between traditional reports. the business school since the 1940s. Dropp, a fellow Wisconsinite. They are for it. Companies were already In March, during the scramble to In fact, Ramlet told Parente he’d were the first interns to arrive that ABOVE: Ramlet start-up funding, and Parente helped “That survey put us on the map,” Ram- struggling to reach Gen Zers—many assess the pandemic’s fallout, the chief spare him the hour a week of advising, summer, and for a month it was just addresses a full Ramlet set up an LLC using Legal let says. Morning Consult now counts half are almost entirely disconnected from economist of Moody’s Analytics called instead presenting him with something the two of them. They stayed in touch house at the Zoom and a Wells Fargo account. They the Fortune 500 as clients and is valued the news sources and experiences of McNamara Alumni Morning Consult’s model “the future.” he’d already been working on: a kind as Dropp went on to earn a PhD just needed something to survey. around $300 million. Ramlet, who is in older Americans. Then came 2020. Center. Morning Consult had in fact been of news reader, summarizing articles in political science from Stanford, They decided to poll whether the his early 30s, got married in Chicago two Morning Consult began tracking preparing to package its comprehen- about the healthcare industry and policy. thinking about political persuasion young and uninsured would sign up for days before the “shy Trump voter” release the worldviews of Gen Z in April. Two sive economic data sets, including its He’d been emailing it every morning and how to measure its effects. health insurance through the exchanges and has remained there, while a couple months later, after the death of George daily consumer confidence survey, to a growing list of subscribers. Polls were still largely conducted by established by the Affordable Care hundred employees are spread from Cali- Floyd, a majority of 13- to 23-year-olds in a new product called Economic “Here was this brash, young soph- landline telephone then, even as fewer Act. It was an important question: the fornia to D.C., connected by Zoom. surveyed said the pandemic and the Intelligence, which can divvy up data omore who comes barging into my people were picking up. Ramlet, who exchanges were about to open, and their Libby Isenstein, who came to Black Lives Matter movement were by more than 100 variables. It was office, saying, ‘You don’t know me, calls this approach “deeply inefficient success depended on the participation of Morning Consult in 2016, is now the the most impactful events of their slated to debut in the fall. Instead, it but you will,’” recalls Parente. He was and wildly expensive,” was intrigued by young, healthy people. They built a simple company’s Vice President of Product lifetimes. Many were worried about their was released in April. “It felt like it impressed, if bemused. He eventually Dropp’s research into reaching people WordPress website, surveyed 2,000 people and has helped it expand from political education and future prospects. Almost was in the public interest,” says Leer. took Ramlet on trips to Washington, online and by cell. He envisioned a online—roughly twice the usual number— polling to contracting for custom all of them said the world is unfair. Since then, of course, almost every- D.C., introducing him in health policy media company writing up the results and found that a strong majority planned surveys to developing its own prod- Yet most also said they now believe thing has become uncertain: the way we circles. After graduation, Ramlet got a of more immediate, more robust polling to sign up. They released the results a day ucts. Brand Intelligence, its flagship they can change the world. Indeed, work, the way we learn, the way we shop. job there in a prominent new think tank, than anyone else had attempted—as before the exchanges went live, and the product, tracks what people in several Ramlet says, if people are listening to But to someone like Ramlet, whose busi- working on healthcare policy just as the he put it, “the Bloomberg Terminal White House led its afternoon briefing countries think about thousands of them—people in business and govern- ness is uncertainty, the path forward is a Affordable Care Act was taking root. of public opinion research data.” with the Morning Consult survey. brands and goods. Its subscribers, ment who want to know what the future matter of asking the right questions—so But Ramlet never stopped sending By 2013, Ramlet and Dropp were “Two weeks later we got a $168,000 who mostly work in marketing and holds—then Gen Z is already changing long as we’re prepared for the answers. out his newsletter. It might go dark for ready. Parente and a fellow angel check,” Ramlet says, from a Fortune 500 communications, can organize the data the world, one survey at a time. weeks at a time if he got busy. It might investor had given them $30,000 in healthcare company. however they want, comparing brands

16 UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA FALL 2020 | CARLSON SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT 17 UNPRECEDENTED TIMES

Jael Kerandi “It could have (’21 BSB), former student been me. body president and Carlson School student, It could have used her seat at the table been my brother. to lead fellow students through COVID-19 and It could have the murder of George Floyd. been my sister...”

AS TOLD TO NICOLE NORFLEET

18 UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA PHOTO: NATE RYAN FALL 2020 | CARLSON SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT 19 UNPRECEDENTED TIMES | THE VOICE

I avoided watching the video. I knew trauma awaited. I can still hear it in my I decided to write a letter to the head: When George Floyd called out for his mama, he called out to all mothers. Gabel administration demanding My family moved to the United States from Nairobi, Kenya, when I was they sever ties with the Minneapolis 18 months old. It was an opportunity for my father to give his children a chance at a better life—the “American Police Department. And I wanted dream.” The chance to take advantage of the opportunities that would alter people reading it to know that a your life. My parents invested in our learning and often reminded us of Black woman wrote this letter. A the importance of our education and told us to never forget who we were. Black woman who was tired of seeing But the life my parents wanted us to have here looked different based on her people killed at the hands of the color of our skin. Philando Castile and Jamar Clark were killed when I was in high school, but I vividly remember law enforcement. A Black woman the murder of Trayvon Martin. I was young. I remember being in the car, supporting the 6 percent of Black hearing the verdict on the radio. I was stunned and so confused: How could students on campus. the verdict go any other way? From that age, I just remember thinking: What can I do? I nearly felt helpless. But the murder of George Floyd, this alignment with their actions. The end of that year, I ran for vice president was different. It felt different. I was murderous actions of the Minneapolis and I was elected to serve that fall. exhausted, we were exhausted by the police department were not. President Gabel and I started our terms injustice that plagued our community. It After working with people I am close on the same day, July 1, 2019. The next was my time to do something, to stand with on the completion of the letter, I semester, our president resigned and I against the injustice that I had seen attended the first protest on Chicago had the chance to represent over 30,000 students as student body president. I for far too long. I knew that I could Avenue. What I saw only solidified the Kerandi was do something. At that moment, I felt need for justice. That evening, during served in that capacity until July 2020. involved with empowered. I stood on the shoulders our executive board meeting, we voted Throughout my involvement with stu- student government of many, and through that and the on the approval of the letter. It was dent government, starting my freshman and advocacy from her first days at courage given to me by God, I could unanimous. There was no time to wait. year, we had been long advocating for the the University; by advocate for justice, for what was right. support of Black students on our campus. the end, she was I decided to write a letter to the This didn’t start on This included our Reclaim & Rename serving as the first Gabel administration demanding they initiative to remove the Coffman name Black student May 26, 2020. body president. sever ties with the Minneapolis Police I started out in student government from our student union, as well as renam- Department. And I wanted people as an intern my first year, in a program ing a few other buildings on campus, reading it to know that a Black woman designed to get students involved in because the history continues to margin- wrote this letter. A Black woman who advocacy. As the chair of the athletics alize many of our students. It has resulted was tired of seeing her people killed subcommittee on the Sexual Assault in larger, broader conversations around at the hands of law enforcement. A Task Force, I advocated for student University history and diversity and inclu- that comes with a 19-credit semester. running for student government, way administration, and their single most Black woman supporting the 6 percent athletes, working very closely with sion. I continued to advocate for students I also was still working my job as a back in fifth grade, on up through high important role is to advocate for of Black students on campus. then-MSA President Trish Palermo to all throughout my collegiate tenure, Carlson Ambassador and working in the school. I was so humbled by the trust students who elected them. That My request was the bare minimum, modify the sexual misconduct policy. including trying to improve relationships leadership minor. It was challenging, people were instilling in me and our advocacy and being able to elevate knowing that “it is our job as an In my second year, I served as MSA with the University police department. but the village that raised me is the organization to get things done. They voices was really important to me. institution to exert whatever pressure Ranking Representative to the Board Then the pandemic hit. I was same village that would sustain me. trusted my leadership, discernment, To hold office is a privilege I do not we can to keep our students safe and of Regents. I advocated to the Board navigating all of the logistics that came My joy was etched in the fact that and direction. When students trust take lightly, and even beyond that demand justice in our city and state.” of Regents in regards to non-resident, along with representing students in students trusted student government you to do the work, it fills your cup. representation matters. When you The policies the University held on non-reciprocity tuition and the support a time of unprecedented crisis, while in a way I hadn’t seen before. And this Student leaders and student get to the table, you have to use your Diversity and Inclusion had to be in of Black students on our campus. At the supporting my own academic work was the realization of my dreams of government have access to voice. Our lives depend on it.

20 UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA FALL 2020 | CARLSON SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT 21 UNPRECEDENTED TIMES | THE VOICE

This was so much bigger than me. To me, this decision was for the young Black girl in third grade who will one day come to this institution— and my hope is that one day she will experience an institution that supports her progression and success. Her reality should be different.

Somebody texted me: letter created inspires me. We can make Community change, it can happen quickly, and it will members gather in “Jael, Jael, Jael.” be meaningful. Universities are made south Minneapolis I was in shock when I saw President to pay their respects up of a collection of academics with a Gabel’s response. I broke down and to George Floyd plethora of knowledge, intellect, and cried. This was so much bigger than me. at his memorial. perspective. It is time we use it to better To me, this decision was for the young the lives of the very students they serve. Black girl in third grade who will one day In a perfect world, anti-racism will come to this institution—and my hope is be taught early in the home and in the that one day she will experience an insti- primary sector (K-12) of education. So tution that supports her progression and the leaders we raise will be prepared success. Her reality should be different. to live in a world where equality I still haven’t heard from Chief Clark, and equity are recognized in their the University police chief. He never entirety. So it doesn’t happen here. replied to an email, accepted a meeting This fight is not over. We won’t let request, or answered a question. Never it. Every time I think I’m getting tired, even an acknowledgement. But I will I have a conversation with someone continue to ensure that as an institution that reminds me, no, we’re still here. that values the needs of tuition-paying We aren’t done yet. Every time I think students, the safety of Black students protests have died down, I see people will be considered in the totality of are still out there and still doing this campus safety. work. Everytime I think about taking There were so many people who didn’t a break, I remember the many people believe in this, but I had no interest in who tell me, “WE got this.” The listening to the naysayers. I had faith people who have our back for us is us. this was possible. The beauty of this was the domino effect: Student body My village has raised me and held presidents nationwide started reaching me up. Since day one, my parents and out to me, because we had provided siblings have been extremely supportive. a foothold. It empowered student My mom called me Queen Esther. She advocates to use their voice—the role we said, “God wanted you to be in this should have—to lead policy changes and position, at such a time as this. There’s social justice at universities. We must a reason you were put here.” When ensure we don’t get stuck in the creation you have that to stand on, you have of a task force or publishing blanket nothing to fear. One day, we will win. statements. The momentum that the

22 UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA FALL 2020 | CARLSON SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT 23 UNPRECEDENTED TIMES A Port in the Storm Tomme Beevas (’11 CEMBA) is reinventing the way a restaurant can serve its community.

BY ALEX WEST STEINMAN

FALL 2020 | CARLSON SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT 25 UNPRECEDENTED TIMES | A PORT IN THE STORM

Tomme Beevas is a father, an entrepreneur, problems with a business solution.” And people, organizations, and movements. “Where are our Black banks? Fifty and a movement builder who effortlessly naturally, he sees business playing a major “Investing in the community doesn’t years ago, they were thriving until they got and quickly weaves history lessons, policy role in the pursuit for Black liberation. mean losing money and good will alone. burned down,” he says as he reflects on knowledge, and recipes throughout The distribution site was just the first Investing in the community should be Black Wall Street and the Tulsa Race Mas- his conversation. He transcends the step toward applying those business treated like a normal investment,” he says. sacre that resulted in a white mob bomb- limits former corporate leaders often solutions towards Black liberation. “We are asking people to invest in this ing the Greenwood economic district in find in themselves, unable or unwilling Pimento Relief Services is evolving with corporation and reimagine the instru- 1921 Tulsa, Oklahoma. He says he recog- to believe another world is possible. the needs of the community, officially ments of liberation because everyone has nizes the importance of centering Black After winning the Food Network’s Food “We are asking people to invest in this incorporating as a B Corp to build more something they can bring to the table.” voices in the growth and development of Court Wars in 2013 at Pimento Jamaican structure and expand its impact. Beevas Beevas defines that liberation as Pimento Relief Services. And he’s ready Kitchen’s Burnsville Center location, corporation and reimagine the instrument wants to create a sustainable, long-term the economic, political, and social to use his rich understanding of history Beevas resigned from his position at model for community support that moves advancement of Black communities, and future analysis to provide the bold, Cargill as director of global community of liberation because everyone has beyond emergency relief and into com- investing in ownership of businesses visionary leadership this movement needs. involvement, and opened a second location munity prosperity. The B Corp will take and land, rewriting what he calls In order to make this happen, Beevas is in March 2016: Pimento Jamaican Kitchen instruments they can bring to the table.” a holistic approach to equitably investing “herstory,” and providing resources for currently bringing community experts to on Eat Street in South Minneapolis. A — TOMME BEEVAS in the economic development of Black political candidates to run and win. the table to take on these three pillars of

On left, bags of donations are organized and sorted for those in need. Right, Beevas offers up takeout served up with his signature brand of hospitality.

Crowds gather outside Pimento Jamaican Kitchen— which became known as Pimento Relief Services—in south Minneapolis, the flashpoint of the uprisings following the murder of George Floyd in May of 2020. staple of feel-good, authentic Jamaican National Guard. In some areas, the says in response to the uprising and liberation. Each committee is reimagining cuisine, Beevas has built a gathering spot uprising brought the destruction of vital the community support that followed. “Let me be honest and clear: what funding mechanisms, educational for more than food. “My superpower is community grocery and supply stores, Within a few days, Pimento turned The secret sauce is [the movement] opportunities, and foundational structures convening people who don’t normally get leaving residents and families without its entire operation into a donation are needed to build out an organization together. Pimento is like Jamaica, where access to food and basic necessities. collection and pick-up site for the com- has people who reflect the community that can support the movement. everyone can come together,” he says. Almost overnight, supply collection munity—an effort that became known as “All options are on the table. With the That’s just what Pimento became and distribution sites popped up across Pimento Relief Services. Staff and vol- in its leadership. That’s how we’re able distribution efforts, we fed 4,000 people for organizers, donors, and those in the Twin Cities, with donations arriving unteers fed more than 4,000 people and in the first couple of weeks. The question need in the aftermath of the murder from all over the state—even across the raised $70,000 to provide emergency to represent and serve a community.” is how do we prevent these people from of George Floyd on May 25, 2020. In country. From churches to restaurants, support. “Who’d have thought Pimento, — TOMME BEEVAS needing to come back for more next the weeks following the Memorial parks, and small businesses, community a Jamaican restaurant, would provide week? We need to figure out how to fill Day tragedy, protests rippled through organizers mobilized quickly for safe these kinds of services?” Beevas says. that gap until the food deserts are closed Minneapolis, as did opportunists who aid distribution, sometimes through As an immigrant from Jamaica, he or there’s an oasis there,” says Beevas. took to the streets destroying prop- daily Twitter and Instagram posts. often reflects on how Americans approach “Imagine if 3M, Target, Cargill, and the erty—leading to the unprecedented “Nobody thought the revolution was community needs. “I’ve been studying University of Minnesota were putting in deployment of the entire Minnesota going to start in Minneapolis,” Beevas Americans, and they tend to solve the resources to solve these problems.”

26 UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA FALL 2020 | CARLSON SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT 27 A PORT IN THE STORM

He believes individual people and the business community can reimagine the instruments of liberation if they all bring something to the table and believe in the movement over the moment. He knows the vision for a better future is going to take more than a quick fix. “They must see Black businesses as a part of growing our economy, and not just on Black business day.” There’s been a wider uptick in the interest and number of ways to support the Black business community in the months following the uprising, but there’s still much more work to do in the investment and advancement of Black people. Minnesota has the largest education and economic gaps in the country for people of color and it’s been widely reported, including by Forbes, that Black-owned businesses receive far less investment than their white counterparts. There are also gaps in business leader- ship opportunities. Though Black Amer- icans represent 13.4 percent of the U.S. population, they make up only 1 percent of CEOs in the Fortune 500, according to Fortune magazine. Minnesota has zero representation in this executive leadership role, despite being a central hub for major corporations. Beevas says shifts of leadership at the top need to happen in order to better represent the communities they respectively serve. Despite these disparities, Beevas says he believes the corporate community is ready to step up and into this move- ment. “We have the willpower, bridge, resources, and commitment to truly make Minneapolis a model city for the world. This is something we all need to fix.” But, he adds, the movement doesn’t necessarily need corporate America to move the needle, either. “If the corpo- rate world chooses not to step up. that’s OK, too. Let me be honest and clear: The secret sauce is [the movement] has people who reflect the community in its leadership. That’s how we’re able to represent and serve a community.” Though he is managing a changing business, a family, and his well-being throughout multiple crises, he’s stayed positive about the city he loves and its future: “I have that Jamaican resiliency. A hurricane means more street parties.”

28 UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA FALL 2020 | CARLSON SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT 29 ALUMNI PROFILES

Belief in the importance Leading While of affordable, accessible primary healthcare for The World Waits everyone led Thompson BY BRIDGET BURNHAM Aderinkomi and his co-founders to launch Nice These savvy alumni are building business models and Healthcare in 2017. products that can help their businesses—and their customers—thrive, even during a global pandemic.

The COVID-19 pandemic has shifted implemented a COVID-19 protocol screening, testing, treatment, and the pace and order of lives around the and unique screener, quickly collecting “People should have population management for employers world—literally. Seismologists around critical data for patients, providers, and looking to mitigate risk and protect the world have observed that the policymakers during the pandemic. With the same level of employee and customer safety. The Earth is actually vibrating less as many each success, Pearce is validating what company also recently announced a of us take a step back to reprioritize was once only a theory: that the right access to quality partnership with Upfront Health, a and refocus, according to an article in technology, deployed at scale, can revo- primary care at patient communication and engagement Nature, among others. But, if you listen lutionize how healthcare is delivered. platform designed to address health carefully, there is a steady hum of activity When he started Zipnosis in 2009, the same cost, no systems’ need to engage patients who from people and organizations whose Pearce knew that the cell phone would have been delaying care and preventive purpose and principles have put them in be the clinic of the future. His belief matter what.” visits because of COVID-19 by encour- a position to accelerate, rather than slow in the potential for smart virtual care — THOMPSON ADERINKOMI aging them to book necessary care. down, during this crisis. Several Carlson led him to leave his job at a medical “We have the technology and infra- School alumni are among the leaders technology startup to dive into the world structure to power every virtual visit the world is counting on to decide of telemedicine while also studying and reinvigorate the healthcare system,” what needs to be done next and act. at the Carlson School. With a robust The second half of the company’s Pearce says. “This is the time to step up.” Their stories illustrate the resil- understanding of healthcare’s challenges name comes from “gnosis,” the Greek iency and determination that will and an appreciation for how e-commerce word for knowledge, referring to POWERING RELIABLE carry us through this challenging was transforming consumer experiences, Zipnosis’s use of data to help triage PRIMARY CARE time, and their impact is moving us Pearce set out to build technology that care minimize in-person contact Sometimes, the most significant toward a stronger, more connected, would advance care while saving costs. when appropriate, and maximize mark of success is staying the course and more compassionate world. “Zipnosis started with the question, capacity. Using smart technology while everything around you changes. ‘How do we bring a consumer-grade on the front end of care reduces 99 As other healthcare organizations TAKING TELEMEDICINE interface into healthcare?’” Pearce says. percent of documentation for pro- struggled to anticipate and respond TO THE NEXT LEVEL “We looked at responsive, customer-cen- viders and helps drive costs down. to peaks and lulls in demand during Telehealth is in the spotlight for its role tric platforms like Amazon and Stubhub The rapid explosion of demand for COVID-19, Nice Healthcare continues in providing care during coronavirus. and how we could modify the technology virtual care has put a lot of pressure on to run operations as planned. With the Jon Pearce (’09 MBA), founder of to fit healthcare needs and regulations.” health care companies, but Pearce is addition of new protocols and personal Zipnosis, a white-label virtual care The “zip” in Zipnosis represents the proud of how his team and the Zipnosis protective equipment, and a short platform that powers virtual triage consumer-focused component of the model have performed under stress. pause on elective, preventive visits, and visits for 51 large health systems model that allows patients to access care “We scaled at historic rates in his- Nice is still doing what they say they do Jon Pearce, founder across the country, is proving that wherever and whenever they choose by of Zipnosis, a “Zipnosis started toric measure,” says Pearce. “We had best—providing convenient, affordable a new model for virtual care can answering a series of questions designed white-label virtual intense moments, but the technology primary care to their members. transform the future of healthcare. to help providers assess and guide care. care platform that with the question, and the service withstood a historic “A healthcare company shouldn’t Zipnosis saw an increase of 3,600 Although they can see a provider via powers virtual stress test with an A-plus outcome benefit or suffer during a pan- triage and visits ‘How do we bring percent in utilization during the video, telephone, or in-person, a large when other methods didn’t.” demic,” says Nice Healthcare CEO, for 51 large health first 11 days of the COVID-19 crisis. percentage of visits triaged through systems across the a consumer-grade With proof that their tools for Thompson Aderinkomi (’11 MBA). While some telemedicine providers Zipnosis are delivered through asyn- country, is proving powering better virtual visits are “People should have the same level floundered with long wait times, the chronous visits, meaning providers that a new model interface into working, there’s no stopping point in of access to quality primary care at average wait time for a Zipnosis visit review patient answers on their own for virtual care can sight for the Zipnosis team. On June the same cost, no matter what.” transform the future was just 10 minutes. When the CDC time and contact patients through the healthcare?’” 15, the company rolled out ZipCheck, That belief in the importance of of healthcare. issued guidance around screening for most appropriate channel to provide — JON PEARCE an end-to-end return-to-work solution affordable, accessible primary healthcare COVID-19, Zipnosis immediately their diagnosis and treatment plan. that manages the ongoing COVID-19 for everyone led Aderinkomi and his

30 UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA ILLUSTRATION: PETER GRUNDY FALL 2020 | CARLSON SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT 31 ALUMNI PROFILES

co-founders to launch Nice Healthcare DEVELOPING A LIFE-SAVING specialists use to manually resuscitate FEEDING MINNESOTA’S Leach knew she’d need help on the Leach recalls one community clinic who in 2017. The idea behind Nice is simple: MEDICAL DEVICE WITHIN DAYS patients. But getting any product ready FRONT LINE marketing side and immediately thought had set aside money to feed their staff, Remove the complexity and intermedi- When Jim McGurran, (’17 MBA) got a for FDA approval is far from easy. Like many recent grads, Shannon of Lizzy Ullyot (’21 MBA), whom she and after receiving meals from Frontline, aries wherever possible and pass the cost call from his lifelong friend, Dr. Steven McGurran’s previous involvement Leach’s post-graduation plans look had met through their mutual volunteer was able to re-allocate those dollars back savings on to the customer. With Nice’s Richardson, a cardiac anesthesia fellow in the engineering and regulatory a lot different than she predicted. work through Carlson 4 Community. into the needs of the organization. model, employers purchase a member- at the University of Minnesota, about an side of medical product development Fortunately, as a veteran of the con- Ullyot, whose internship had fallen “Healthcare workers are putting in ship plan that offers their employees and idea for a low-cost, scalable mechanical and his time in the Carlson School’s stantly-changing food industry (she through due to COVID-19, was excited long hours under difficult conditions,” dependents unlimited video visits, chat ventilator model to help patients with Medical Industry Leadership Institute worked at Izzy’s Ice Cream for 13 years), to use her skills to make an impact while Leach says. “Providing them a global visits, home visits, and in-home labs and COVID-19, he was all in. The call (MILI) Valuation Lab, equipped him to she was prepared to pivot. So, when learning more about the food industry. array of food brings joy and relief from X-rays for less than a dollar a day with happened on Sunday, March 15, and by efficiently gather and understand the fellow alumni, Maggie Thomas, told her “I have always wanted to go into the physical and emotional stress.” no out-of-pocket fees. Nice even carries the end of the day Monday, McGurran, a requirements and take action quickly. about an opportunity to help launch consumer packaged goods,” says Frontline also relieves pressure common prescription drugs and delivers product development director at MGC “A lot of what I learned in the MILI a local chapter of Frontline Foods, an Ullyot. “Shannon and I have a lot of for restaurant owners who are trying them to employees at home or work. Diagnostics, a Minnesota–based medical Lab came into play in my approach complementary skills, so this was an to hold on as revenue slows. To keep overhead and administra- technology company, had his entire to this opportunity,” says McGurran. exciting way for me to jump in and “For restaurants running on razor-thin tive costs low, Nice forgoes having a contribute while getting to learn from margins and trying to keep staff and stay clinic in favor of in-home visits and her background in the food industry.” out of debt, an order from Frontline Jim McGurran, does not accept insurance. It’s not from 100 to 300 meals helps keep them a product just about simplicity, however. Nice development afloat while also keeping them con- strives to provide the highest level director at MGC “Feeding meals nected to the community,” says Ullyot. of patient satisfaction possible. Diagnostics, a Angelo Giovanis, CEO and head chef “We measure success by how the com- Minnesota-based to people who at The Naughty Greek, says working medical technology pany affects the people it interacts with company, had his with Frontline kept him in business in the short term and the long term,” entire software need them while and gave him hope during a dark time. says Aderinkomi. “We’re not just trying team working on supporting local He says, “I will never forget the to extract as much value as possible.” prototypes for a feeling I got when I saw the smiles and Recent grad and The effects of Nice on members and low-cost, scalable the desperation on people’s faces when mechanical food-industry businesses brings employees during the pandemic have ventilator model. veteran Shannon I was handing out food. I felt human. been positive. Whereas many healthcare Leach, top, quickly communities Frontline made me feel human.” consumers are skipping or delaying pivoted her career Keeping that connection to human primary care visits, Nice members are “We were identifying problems and plans at the together during this needs and community are core prior- “We were facing pandemic hit. on track with the number of visits the roadblocks, finding component uncertain time.” ities for Leach, Ullyot, and Frontline organization would have expected to see partners, and making build-or-buy Lizzy Ullyot, as they move forward. Frontline a moment of bottom, joined before the pandemic. And while many decisions based on feedback and data.” — SHANNON LEACH recently announced that it will join Leach to help her clinics in the primary care sector have unprecedented They were doing all of that at a launch the local World Central Kitchen, an established had to furlough or lay off employees, very rapid pace. By Tuesday, March chapter of Frontline nonprofit that uses the power of food Nice’s model provides a more predict- need and a very 17—just two days after his call with Foods, connecting The two applied for and received to heal and strengthen communities able and secure revenue stream, and Dr. Richardson—McGurran’s team local restaurants to a Sands Fellowship and launched the through times of crisis and beyond. real threat to the frontline workers thus, more employment security. The was ready to transfer the initial needing a boost. Twin Cities chapter of Frontline Foods Leach plans to continue work with company recently launched the Nice healthcare system.” Coventor design to Protolabs for in April. They fundraised and made Frontline remotely as she relocates to Return Program to help employers further development and testing. open-sourced effort to deliver meals connections with local restaurant Colorado in August to resume her job protect against COVID-19 at work with — JIM MCGURRAN From there, other companies jumped to hospital staff from local restaurants, owners and healthcare providers, search for her next opportunity in opera- online assessments and live consulta- in to help meet FDA requirements she shifted her focus from job search to eventually raising more than $93,000 tions in the natural foods industry. Ullyot tions with a Nice Healthcare provider. for things such as testing and labeling. start-up mode. With her background in and providing 6,800 meals purchased will return to school in the fall with While Aderinkomi remains focused software team working on prototypes. Just a month after that initial call, operations and her passion for food as a from 11 local restaurants to health- an even stronger desire to deploy her on expanding the model he believes “When Steve called, I knew we on April 14, the University of Min- uniting force, Leach (’20 MBA) saw the care workers across Minnesota. business skills to help the community. will improve access to affordable care, had to get moving right away,” says nesota gained FDA Emergency Use brilliance in the Frontline Foods model. Frontline Twin Cities also responded “My experience with Frontline he hopes people will take a critical look McGurran. “We were facing a moment Authorization for the Coventor. “I saw how Frontline Foods and to community needs following the showed me how creative companies at what else needs to change to make of unprecedented need and a very real “If you had asked me before March World Kitchen were able to quickly unrest after the murder of George and organizations can use resources healthcare work better for more people. threat to the healthcare system.” if it was possible to design and scale a adapt to the changing needs during the Floyd in Minneapolis, extending meal to help the community,” says Ullyot. “We need to ask, ‘Why is an The concept for the Coventor, as medical device for the market within crisis,” says Leach. “Feeding meals to delivery to people who were protesting “Wherever I go next, I want to keep industry that consumes 20 percent it would later be called, was relatively a month, I would have said no,” says people who need them while supporting and cleaning up the damage to the city. that spirit of positive, focused collab- of our nation’s productivity laying simple. The first iteration focused McGurran. “But I’m always amazed local businesses brings communities Running with their lean team of two oration to make the world better.” people off?’” says Aderinkomi. on adding an attaching an automated by how resilient, creative teams can together during this uncertain time.” and a few volunteers, Leach and Ullyot “Where is that money going—and mechanism to an “Ambu” bag that collaborate to solve problems.” were fueled by stories from the field. could we be spending it better?” paramedics and emergency medicine

32 UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA FALL 2020 | CARLSON SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT 33 ENGAGEMENT & GIVING Global Alumni NEWS & NOTES Network ENGAGE

The work of building made the difference in providing crucial financial Affinity Networks connections among our assistance to those in need and the flexibility to shift alumni, friends, and business to distance learning. Connect with and support fellow Carlson School alumni with similar backgrounds and partners has never been as In this final year of the University’s Driven experiences. By joining one of the Carlson critical—nor has it required campaign, the Carlson School has much to be School’s Alumni Affinity Networks, you can as much creativity—as we grateful for and also much yet to accomplish. Now, be part of a supportive group of Carlson address the challenge of more than ever, it is clear that scholarships are the School alumni, and help to build a stronger, systemic racism and adapt difference-maker in recruiting underrepresented and inclusive alumni community. to the limitations of the pandemic. In response to first-generation students. I am thrilled that Carlson The Carlson School Alumni Affinity Networks the murder of George Floyd and too many others, School alumni have led the University community include: Alumni of Color, Carlson Women Connect, LGBTQ+, and Military and Veterans. our advancement team has committed to examining in answering the Bentson Foundation Challenge our own role and responsibility in responding to the to support low-income, Pell-eligible undergraduate A group of Carlson We invite individuals who identify with School alumnae these affinities and allies to participate. needs of our community and advancing racial justice. students (read more about early participants in the enjoy networking Opt-in to one or more mailing list to receive Our commitment to serving all alumni, including our challenge on page 40). Your generosity and dedicated and socializing at a past Carlson Women communications with news and events BIPOC alumni, is unwavering and driving innovation commitment to our students continue to inspire and Connect event. at z.umn.edu/carlsonaffinity. and change in the way we conduct our work. energize us as we hit Driven’s home stretch. During these past months, the steadfast support from our community has been incredible. We are so Sincerely, Remembering Volunteer and Leader New Investors grateful for the ways so many of you answered the Curt Sampson ’55 BSB Circle Levels call to support Carlson School students. Beyond the The University of Minnesota and his family also hosted the Carlson Day Gifts to the Carlson important efforts of mentoring and hiring students Carlson School communities at the Races at their Canterbury Park School are investments who are entering a turbulent job market or seeking Travis Smith, Assistant Dean continue to mourn the loss this racetrack, welcoming thousands of in the future—they allow out internships, your philanthropic generosity has Institutional Advancement summer of alumnus and University Carlson School alumni over many years our inquisitive and driven Curt Sampson, champion Curt Sampson, ’55 BSB. at what was then the School’s largest students to discover ’55 BSB annual alumni event. and chase their passions, regardless of Sampson was a long-time leader at their financial means. Investors Circle the University and Carlson School, In recognition of his contributions to benefactors make it possible for the serving as a University of Minnesota the University, Curt was honored with Carlson School to deliver a transformative Foundation Trustee and on the Carlson the Outstanding Achievement Award education, one that empowers our stu- By the Numbers School Board of Overseers. Curt and his in 1996. We remain grateful for all dents to find their career paths, hone the wife, Marian, were incredibly generous the gifts Curt shared with the School Since March, the Carlson skills they’ll need to flourish, and develop philanthropists to the University, and our community throughout his School has gone almost 5,000+ 60% 1st as leaders who will shape our world. supporting student scholarships and distinguished life and express our entirely virtual, including Number of alumni and Percentage of increase in First ever global event, critical University initiatives. Curt and continued condolences to his family. In appreciation of the support of our alumni, how we connect with friends registered to attendance for the popular engaging alumni all around faculty, staff, and friends, the Carlson alumni and friends. participate in Carlson School 1st Tuesday Speaker the world with a faculty School has reimagined how we recognize And the Carlson School virtual events since April Series since going virtual speaker in Minneapolis our Investors Circle donors with a variety community has embraced Catherine Mathis Selected to Hall of Femme of privileges at distinct giving levels: virtual engagement—here Catherine Mathis, ’75 BSB, ’79 MBA, Mathis joined a class featuring 15 other are some highlights. was inducted last month into PR public relations leaders. Inductees MAROON ($1,000–$2,499) Week’s Hall of Femme. Mathis, who into the Hall of Femme are nominated SILVER ($2,500–$4,999) sits on the Carlson School’s Board of by industry peers and must be among Overseers, is currently the Senior Vice the most senior level communications GOLD ($5,000–$9,999) Catherine Mathis, President and Chief Communications professional at their agency, brand or PLATINUM ($10,000–$24,999) ’75 BSB, ’79 MBA Officer at McGraw-Hill Education. Prior non-profit organization. 2020 marks DIAMOND ($25,000 and above) to McGraw-Hill, Mathis held executive the fifth year ofPR Week celebrating positions at Standard & Poor’s and these industry leaders. The New York Times company. Learn more by visiting our website at z.umn.edu/investorscircle.

34 UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA FALL 2020 | CARLSON SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT 35 EXECUTIVE SPOTLIGHT

As Minnesota and our country work Forward, to address systemic racism and injustice, what do you see as the role of your own company and businesses, One Flash at a Time generally, in promoting equality? Our responsibility is to continue to sup- BY WADE RUPARD port the initiatives we have in place in the communities we serve. Additionally, As the CEO and president of one of the largest in light of the tragic death of George dental insurance providers in the nation, Floyd and the resulting unrest, we’re encouraging individuals and groups to Delta Dental of Minnesota, Rodney Young have ongoing, honest conversations. understands the powerful impact businesses Our hope is to inspire interactions internally, and then, hopefully, our can have on the communities they serve. team members will continue those conversations in their homes. Our initial Through a variety of initiatives, large African Americans and other thought is if you have conversations at and small, Young and his staff have people of color experience large home with your significant others and demonstrated time and again that disparities in health outcomes. your children, more conversations will businesses can be a force for good. How does Delta Dental work to branch out from there. We’re trying to Young spoke to the Carlson School address those disparities? create our own mini-flashpoints that of Management about his career path, We—and I share this with great will improve individual awareness in how Delta Dental is helping address pride—have a couple of mechanisms and around the issues of inequities. issues in underserved communities, that we’ve been utilizing for quite some We are also trying to ensure that our the role of “flash philanthropy” in time. Annually, Delta Dental’s corpo- corporate culture is one that recognizes their company culture, and more. rate giving through our Community the challenges associated with systemic Benefits Organization supports groups racism. We routinely communicate in You’ve worked at various medical that help underserved communities. an attempt to ensure our team members companies and served on various We also have our Delta Dental of are educated and well-informed on boards dedicated to health. Why Minnesota Foundation with a mission the most recent topics affecting our are you drawn to this sector? to improve access to oral health and communities and nation. We have Rodney A. Young and more than likely stay. To-date our I refer to myself as our “team captain.” Interestingly, it’s a sector I didn’t overall health that provides grants established a corporate-wide objective DMD program has successfully helped We all have our roles and responsibilities know I was going to be drawn to until to organizations across our state. that each individual, on a monthly basis, OFFICIAL TITLE ten dentists establish their practices as a team and when we fulfill those I was recruited into pharmaceutical We also instituted “flash philan- advances their understanding of the Chief Executive Officer in rural towns across Minnesota. roles on our team, we typically win. sales out of college. I discovered the thropy,” a term we coined to describe inequity problem. We believe learning A final thought on leadership traits: In and President at Delta healthcare industry offered significant how we rapidly engage in our com- and understanding are required first What leadership traits do you live by? my experience, true leadership is measured Dental of Minnesota opportunities. If you think about it munity. About four or five years ago, steps toward making a difference. I have a list: 1) Be a good listener. I’ve by the success of the whole—the team. in plain terms, your health is one of when I was visiting New York, I saw found this bonds individuals to your the most important things in life, a group of individuals perform a flash Many rural communities suffer from LENGTH OF TIME leadership style. 2) You must always be What advice would you give to thus healthcare is very important. mob presentation. It inspired us to a lack of access to dental care. AT THE COMPANY honest. For 3) and 4) Trustworthiness current Carlson School students? I find the healthcare industry think about how we could help specific How is this issue being addressed 8 years and integrity are two traits that are not I typically advise people to look out rewarding based on the ability to help organizations—go in, help in the ways by Delta Dental and others? optional. 5) I believe you have to be five years from now and envision where others. I’ve had the good fortune to most needed, and then let the work get We created a program called Dedicated to HOMETOWN positive in how you lead. 6) It’s obvious your life and career will be. Wherever work in prestigious organizations like done. A recent example was a homeless Minnesota Dentists (DMD) through our St. Louis, Missouri but often overlooked: Be prepared and you see yourself, create a mental plan 3M’s Healthcare Division and Baxter shelter, People Serving People, right Delta Dental of Minnesota Foundation. do your homework. 7) Staying on top of for what you need to get there. Then International. I’ve also led two med- down the block from our offices. One This program was established to help your game is critical. What I mean is to document your plan. Make sure you FAVORITE ACTIVITIES tech corporations selling products in of our team members happened to walk pay off dental school tuition for dentists stay current with technology, business visualize, capture your goals along with OUTSIDE OF WORK the U.S. and in global markets that past their building and stuck her head in. that were graduating and ready to go into trends, other industries, and interna- your action steps. Keep in mind a major help diagnose, improve outcomes, She found out what their most pressing practice. To take advantage of our DMD International travel, tional markets 8) Embrace learning from component of a successful plan is setting and the quality of life for people. need was. Surprising, at least to me, was program, dentists must commit to prac- new restaurants, others no matter their title or position. milestones to check your progress. Today, I have the privilege to lead a that the number-one need was diapers. ticing in a rural community for five years. museums and basketball This is actually one of the things I enjoy Routinely check your milestones along high-performance organization com- Our entire Minneapolis team went We set the time frame at five years most. 9) For my leadership style, there the way to make sure your plan is still mitted to providing industry-leading to work securing diapers. We ended because we predicted that if they are very few times when I use the word desirable, achievable, and sound. dental benefits that improve oral health. up delivering something like 36,000 or establish themselves in the community “I.” I truly believe in “we.” I use the word Lastly, seek out a mentor that can 38,000 diapers within a week’s time. by building a successful dental practice, “team” so much within our organization assist with the execution of your plan. It turned out to be one of the most they would most likely become active and that it’s considered kind of corny some- rewarding actions that we’ve ever taken. engaged members of that community times. But it’s real. We are a team and

36 UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA FALL 2020 | CARLSON SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT 37 GIVING

Lighting the Way Impact of class gift reaches further during COVID-19 pandemic.

Each year, the Carlson School’s was optimistic— helping fellow MBA 2020. In the end, nearly one-quarter graduating full-time MBA cohort students—we decided to call it the of gifts from the class ended up comes together to raise funds for the Sunshine Fund,” says Catherine Yang, supporting the Sunshine Fund, MBA Class Gift, leaving a legacy at the ’15 MBA, who served on the Class of resulting in a 15 percent increase school, and supporting future students 2015 gift committee. The Sunshine in the fund balance from the start pursuing their own MBA dreams. Fund has helped students in the past of the year. “In a time when people When the class of 2020 kicked in a variety of ways, such as providing are holding tight to their resources, off its fundraising in fall 2019, the funding for travel to a funeral, helping seeing classmates willing to give back 13-student committee, co-chaired by Liz fix a shattered car window, and replacing shows the great culture within the Throughout our proud 100 year history, we’ve made great strides in O’Brien, ’20 MBA, and David Burton, several stolen laptops. The fund is school,” O’Brien says. “It’s really about ’20 MBA, had big plans. Early success managed by the MBA program office, celebrating Carlson’s community.” academic research, business education, and partnerships with global included pledges from several members allowing it to be extremely responsive of the class at the Investors Circle to student needs as they arise. businesses. You - our alumni, partners, and most ardent supporters - giving level, and strong participation As a non-endowed demand fund, the numbers through the entire class, balance of the Sunshine Fund has been built that strong foundation. Now, you can help us shape our future. with students giving to whichever area spent down in small increments over they felt had the greatest influence time. Anticipating the increased need for on their Carlson School experience. this type of flexible funding and wanting In March 2020, when the gift to do something tangible in support of committee was preparing to close out its fellow MBA students directly affected “In a time when people are We need you as our partners and investors:Ad TK campaign with a final fundraising push, by the pandemic, the Class of 2020 holding tight to their resources, the COVID-19 pandemic hit, and the helped to replenish the Sunshine Fund.  To raise us to new heights… Twin Cities campus shut down. Students The Class of 2020 funding is earmarked seeing classmates willing were facing uncertainty about the end specifically for COVID-19-related needs  to address systemic racism… of their MBA journey and what life such as internship or career loss, or to give back shows the great might look like following graduation. necessities such as medicine and food.  to transform the lives of our current and future students. “We didn’t feel great about asking The new fundraising focus resonated culture within the school.” our classmates for money when there with members of the MBA Class of — LIZ O’BRIEN, ’20 MBA was a crisis going on and people were concerned that their job offers might be rescinded or for the health of their family members,” O’Brien says. Representatives The Class Gift Committee decided from the MBA Class of 2015 to refocus its fundraising efforts, Gift Committee asking students who still felt able to presented a check to Join us in shaping our next 100 years. support the Sunshine Fund, which had formally launch the previously helped members of their Sunshine Fund with class through other personal crises. contributions from You are a force for Carlson. their classmates. “It was a full committee decision,” O’Brien says. “It felt like the right A force for good. thing to do to support the immediate needs of our community.” The Sunshine Fund originated as a hardship fund created by the class of 2015, and was inspired by a desire to help fellow classmates who had urgent and unexpected needs. “We had started thinking of it as a Learn more about supporting the rainy day fund, but since the purpose Carlson School by visiting our website at driven.carlsonschool.umn.edu. 38 UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA GIVING CORPORATE AND FOUNDATION ENGAGEMENT

“We watched someone close to our family Challenge Accepted make a decision about where to attend Giving Back to college based on where he was offered Donors come together to help support the most funding and end up unhappy. Those Who Serve those with greatest financial need. We hope this scholarship funding can be the last piece of the puzzle to allow Newman’s Own Foundation gift paves way As the flagship land-grant institution in for veterans’ success. the state, the University of Minnesota a student to go to the school they really is committed to ensuring a high-quality want to attend. It’s nice to give back to education is accessible for qualified Minnesota because we’re both alumni.” Following a career serving their country, Led by Charles “Chip” Altman, students. For a growing number of many veterans find it challenging to a retired Naval Commander, the families, the price of a college education — PHILIP, ’85 BSB, AND CAROLE HILDEBRANDT translate their military experience program provides financial support is out of reach, resulting in lower rates of directly into a civilian career. Pursuing to veterans, and a strong network admission, retention, and graduation for advanced degrees, particularly the of professionals and peers working students with the greatest financial need. “There are two main reasons MBA. Both Bill and his wife, MBA, can help with a career transition together to help veterans succeed. The Bentson Scholarship Challenge we decided to create a Karen, were the first in their for veterans who have significant “I am honored to be helping was established to help reverse this trend scholarship with the Bentson families to go to college and leadership and management experience veterans transition into civilian life at the University. Scholarships that are Challenge: the type of student worked hard to be able to in an area that doesn’t directly or change careers with an MBA,” endowed under the Bentson Challenge the funds would support, afford the cost of attendance. correlate with civilian employment. Altman says. “Newman’s Own has been will meet financial needs of students those who have the most “College is so much more The Newman’s Own Foundation has an integral part of the success of the eligible for Pell grants throughout financial need, and the added expensive now,” Karen adds. been a longtime supporter of military program by providing the necessary their four years of undergraduate study money from the challenge “Many kids who are bright personnel, veterans, and their families. funding needed by veterans to make by bridging the gap between what a that could increase the don’t have the funding. Giving Actor Paul Newman’s experience as a this transition. Together, we have Pell grant covers and what qualifying impact of our gift,” says Bill in support of scholarship young man serving in the U.S. Navy in been able to assist several hundred students can afford—costs which may Snedeker, ’69 BSB, ’72 is important to us.” the Pacific Theater during World War veterans through the Carlson MBA include tuition and fees, textbooks, II helped shape his philosophy that Military and Veterans Program.” and housing. Donors who choose to much of his success was attributed to The Carlson Veterans Club create their own endowed scholarship luck. With the Newman Foundation, he also provides a network of peers “When I heard about the experience to be attainable funds will receive a generous match committed to giving back to others who with a shared experience that “Uprooting my family and Bentson Challenge, I was for other students, whether from the Bentson Foundation. might not have been as lucky as he was. may be quite different from moved by the family’s they are drawn by the quality At the Carlson School, more than Since 2015, the Newman’s Own the more traditional corporate embarking on a new career generosity and wanted of the education, the beauty 300 members of the undergraduate Foundation has supported the backgrounds of other classmates. to partner with them in of the campus, the excitement would not have been possible population qualify for Pell grant funding. Carlson School’s efforts on behalf While many veterans make use expanding financial support of the urban setting, or any With the help of these early Bentson of veterans through recruitment of the GI Bill to assist with the cost for promising students. of the other compelling without the outstanding Challenge donors and others, more and scholarship funding for military of attending, there may be a gap I treasure the rewarding reasons to be part of the Carlson School students will be able students enrolling in the school’s Full- between GI Bill funding and financial support that the Carlson experience I had at the University of Minnesota.” to pursue their studies in business Time and Part-Time MBA programs, need. And veterans, who may be Carlson School and want that Jody Gunderson, ’86 BSB without pressing financial worries. through their support of the Carlson older than their non-veteran peers School offers to members For more information on the Bentson School’s Military Veterans Initiative. when entering the program, are more of the military. Thanks to Scholarship Challenge, visit give.umn.edu/ Through the Military Veterans likely to have a family to support. BentsonChallenge. For questions or Initiative, the Carlson School offers a In recognition of this, and in thanks the opportunities that have to learn more about establishing your “We see young people today By combining work-study unique recruiting and support program for their service, all Full-Time MBA own endowed fund, contact Travis who are in similar situations awards, loans, and Pell grant designed to welcome veterans into veteran students receive scholarship come my way, I’m thrilled with Smith, Assistant Dean for Institutional that Pat [Wyffels ’92 MA-IR] funding, Pat enrolled in the civilian life and assist them as they move funding from the Carlson School. Advancement, [email protected]. was in 1976,” says her hus- School of Dentistry and through the coursework, internship, and The Carlson School is committed to my professional path and band David Katkov ’79 BSB, obtained her first degree career search stages—and ultimately, serving the veteran community. Thanks am watching my sons thrive ’89 MBA. “Pat grew up in a through the dental hygiene into a civilian career. Launched in to the partnership of individual donors, family with modest financial program at the U of M. “The Pell 2012 with two students, the Military corporate partners, and foundations in a community we love.” means and there was no grant clearly was a key part of Veterans Initiative now serves more like the Newman’s Own Foundation, — AMANDA SUE REINERT, ’20 MBA money for her to go to college.” the financial package,” adds than 40 students between the first and the school has built a program so Pat. “We hope our scholarship second-year classes. Approximately robust that it was named by Military allows other students to dream 15 to 20 percent of each MBA class Friendly as No. 1 in the nation in the big and find their educational is now made up of veterans. category of graduate schools. and career pathways forward.”

40 UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA FALL 2020 | CARLSON SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT 41 ALUMNI HAPPENINGS

Virtual MBA Virtual The Way We Work Special 1st Tuesday 1st Tuesday Events Reunion Gathering Conversation with

The Carlson School shifted the long- The Carlson School couldn’t host an Tony Dungy ’78 running 1st Tuesday Speaker Series to in-person MBA Reunion this spring, so Football legend, Super Bowl-winning a virtual format, beginning in May 2020. graduates from Classes of ’95 to ’19 joined former head coach of the Indianapolis The first virtual event featured business us virtually for a day of programming Colts, and Carlson School alumnus Tony leaders Whit Alexander, ’00 BSB, from that included a town hall with Dean Sri Dungy, ’78 BSB, joined Dean Sri Zaheer Best Buy, Marcelo Montero, ’91 MBA, Zaheer and Assistant Dean Phil Miller, Tony Dungy, ’78 in August for a special 1st Tuesday BSB, joined Dean from Cargill, and Christine Sovereign, ’97 MBA, learning about the legacy of event. Dungy discussed his experience ’89 BSB, from Accenture, who all shared Carlson School pioneer Dr. Marcus Alexis, Sri Zaheer in August for a special in leadership, his belief that everyone their insights on leadership in a current- ’59 PhD, and a dive into the University’s 1st Tuesday event. is a leader, and the theme of unity. and post- social distancing world. Other COVID-19 efforts and the future of recent speakers included Jim Owens healthcare with our MILI partners. The Watch recordings from H.B. Fuller Company (June), Craig Carlson School looks forward to hosting The Way We Work welcomed more than 300 alumni and community members from many of the Samitt from Blue Cross and Blue Shield an in-person double reunion May 7 and virtual events listed at of Minnesota (August), and Chris Koch 8, 2021. Details to follow this fall. to its first virtual event. Speakers Cindy z.umn.edu/csom from Carlisle Companies (September). Coleman and Rachelle Schoessler alumniwebinars Lynn from architecture, design, and Cargill Chapter planning firm Gensler shared research Farewelcome Fair on how companies and organizations Carlson School Supply Chain and must evolve their physical spaces Operations Professor Anant Mishra led a to adapt to our “new normal.” fascinating discussion hosted by the Cargill Alumni Chapter. Mishra’s presentation, Create your “What Suppliers Need To Do To Survive Alumni Career UnitedHealth a Current- and Post- COVID-19 World,” Coaching Group Chapter covered the importance of looking into legacy at the future to develop actionable risk Did you know? Carlson School alumni UnitedHealth Group executive and management strategies to increase have access to career services for life, University of Minnesota alumnus Adam visibility and vigilance across supply chains. including career coaching through Hjerpe led more than 100 members our career centers. Meet with an of the alumni chapter in April through the U The Carlson School hosted its first-ever experienced career coach to discuss training about career development and Virtual Farewelcome Fair to say farewell EMBA and Global career paths, job search strategies, navigating your career journey using a to college life and welcome to the alumni Alumni Webinar receive assistance on your resume and framework he created called Walkabout. A gift of any size in your will or trust community for the undergraduate Class with Aks Zaheer cover letters, and more. Request an is a meaningful way to support the of 2020. The fair offered information appointment for alumni career coaching U beyond your lifetime. You can also on alumni chapters, affinity networks, Professor Aks Zaheer presented his at z.umn.edu/csomalumnicoaching. CHEMBA Alumni name the U as a beneficiary of a alumni career services, and volunteering ongoing research on cross-cultural trust Association Virtual retirement plan, life insurance policy, opportunities for alumni. Gophers of the creation to an audience of nearly 400 Speaker Series or other account. Last Decade Board members Lauren Executive MBA alumni and students in July. Sheibley, ’16 BSB, Zach Brauer, ’17 Webinar participants represented programs The active China Executive MBA Contact us today at 612-624-3333 or BSB, and Juhyun Kwon, ’17 BSB, shared on three continents, with representation (CHEMBA) alumni group started a virtual visit give.umn.edu/waystogive to learn their experiences staying connected from the China, Warsaw, Vienna, and speaker series this spring in lieu of regular more. Already included the U in your as recent graduates and offered Minneapolis-based EMBA programs. in-person events. Prominent business plans? Let us know how you want your advice about life after graduation. leaders who are alumni of the program gift used: z.umn.edu/futuregift. spoke to participants on various business Investors Circle topics of interest. Freeman Shen, ’03 MBA, GOLD Trivia Night Insiders Conversation kicked off the series in April discussing the growth of his company, WM Motor. In May, members of the GOLD (Gophers Members of the Investors Circle joined of the Last Decade) Board hosted GOLD Dean Sri Zaheer and Assistant Dean Trivia Night. Recent graduates from the Travis Smith for a deep dive into what’s undergraduate program gathered to play going on at the Carlson School, including The U of M Foundation does not give tax or legal advice. trivia and test their knowledge of Carlson diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts, Please consult your professional advisor before making a gift. School fun facts, Minnesota-based plans for the fall semester, and more. business facts, and random trivia tidbits. To learn more about the Investors Circle, visit z.umn.edu/investorscircle.

42 UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA FALL 2020 | CARLSON SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT 43 CLASS NOTES

Let your classmates know what Michael Schroeder, ’82 BSB, is Todd Loewenstein, ’94 MBA, organized “Better Late Than 1960s principal, vice chairman, and chief a “Better Late Than Never” virtual reunion Never” virtual reunion for the Class you’ve been up to since graduation. risk officer of Wasmer, Schroeder, for the Class of 1994 Full-time MBA. Dick Lidstad, ’63 BSB, passed away of 1994 Full-time a fixed-income investment Submit a Class Note for publication in March. He spent his career at 3M, Dr. Jim Wanek, ’91 MA-IR, ’95 PhD, MBA. Attendees management firm based in Naples, from left to right, top retiring in 1998 after 40 years of retired from Boise State University in the alumni magazine: FL. He joined the Carlson Funds to bottom: Edgar servant leadership. He was a dedicated College of Business and Economics in carlsonschool.umn.edu/share Enterprise Advisory Board in 2019. Nyamupingidza, supporter of the Center for Human Spring 2020 as a professor emeritus. Adriana Trevino, Resources and Labor Studies; he Father Richard Demetrius Andrews, Jim joined the Boise State faculty Todd Loewenstein, and his wife, Peggy, established an ’88 BSB, earned a Doctorate of Marriage in August 1996 and taught human Tiffanie Fisher, Rich Lee, Chris endowed fellowship fund 18 years & Family Therapy from Argosy University resource management classes in both 1940s Elkins, John ago and have awarded masters in March 2019. He received a new the undergraduate and MBA programs. Livingston, Sarah Roland A. Francis, ’48 BSB, fellowships to more than 15 students. assignment as head pastor at Saints Lund Murphy, John Mark Schindele, ’92 BSB, was passed away in December 2019. Peter & Paul Greek Orthodox Church Leuthold, Michelle The new Junior Achievement of the promoted to chief stores officer in Glenview, IL in Summer 2019 after Champlin Bergner, Roger E. Carlson, ’43 BSB, passed Upper Midwest (JAUM) headquarters for Target. Schindele has worked Todd George, Paula serving 20 years at St. George Greek away in December 2019. Roger in St. Paul has been named in honor at Target since 1999 and has held Leaf, Marie Elwood Orthodox Church in Saint Paul, MN. , was a WWII veteran and former of James R. Hemak, ’69 BSB, and his a range of leadership roles. In this (Jacobson) Enrique MacGregor, Felecia Gopher basketball player. Sarvanan Devaraj, ’97 PhD, has been Derek P. Schmidt, ’00 MBA, has joined wife Patricia. This recognizes a 50+ Robert B. Jones, ’86 MBA, new role, he will oversee operations Kelly, Nadine year relationship with the organization, passed away in January 2020. at nearly 1,900 stores and will lead named director of Notre Dame California. Flexsteel Industries, Inc. as chief financial Morbete Sterba officer and chief operating officer. including James’s participation as a child. more than 300,000 associates. Marc Christopherson, ’98 MHRIR, is and not pictured, 1950s After a successful career, Darla Tufto, Julie Johnson. ’86 MBA, retired from UnitedHealth Tammy Bell, ’93 BSB started a new now human resources vice president, Bill Quirk, ’00 MBA, is now chief Bob Thomson, ’50 BSB, is set to 1970s Group in March 2020. Darla most position as executive assistant to the consumer solutions at Pentair. financial officer at Freenome. open his sixth Pancheros Mexican recently served as vice president of CEO & president of the Fountain Hills Congratulations Lance Du Chateau, Nicole Johnson, ’01 BSB, is Grill franchise in Apple Valley, MN. Gary Bailey, ’74 BSB, passed marketing for the organization. Chamber of Commerce in Arizona. ’99 MBA, for starting a new position now a partner in the tax, benefits, away in March 2020. Georgianna (Georgie) Herman, ’53 Felix Le, ’89 MBA, started a new position Michelle Champlin Bergner, ’94 as customer experience senior and private client group at Blank BSB, passed away in July. Georgie had as medical device quality consultant – MBA, is now the director of the Institute consultant at Securian Financial. Rome LLP in New York City. worked as a part-time librarian in the 1980s design assurance at Ulthera, Inc., Merz for Research in Marketing at the Matt Kolling, ’99 BSB, started a Brandon Wayne, ’01 BSB, has acquired Industrial Relations Department while Device Innovation Center (MDIC). Carlson School of Management new position as chief investment the financial planning practices of a student, and was offered a full-time Lisa Engel, ’86 BSB, is now global Congratulations Jim Lahl, ’89 Sherri Bonacci, ’94 MBA, joined officer at UBX Philippines. Thomas Dufresne and Brad Running. position upon graduation, where she project manager – commercialization BSB, for his new role as market IWCO Direct as the senior vice Wayne has been a private wealth advisor went on to serve as the librarian for Bradley Stewart, ’99 BSB, for Zinpro Corporation. president at Center National Bank’s president of supply chain and at Ameriprise Financial since 2001. the Carlson School Center for Human was named CEO of vehicle Georgianna (Georgie) Laurie Knutson, ’89 MBA, has joined Plymouth office and vice president competitive improvement planning. subscription company Fair. Anatomy of the Swipe, a book on fintech Herman, ’53 BSB Resources and Labor Studies reference management consulting firm Platinum of the bank’s Southwest Market. and the future of banking, was published room for almost fifty years. Upon her Laura Newinski, ’94 MBT, was promoted In addition to his role of Chief Marketing Group as an executive consultant. this spring by Ahmed Siddiqui, ’01 BSB. retirement in 2001, the resource Randy Paulson, ’84 BSB, has to deputy chair at KPMG. Laura has Officer at Edelman Financial Engines, room was renamed the Georgianna Kevin Busch, ’81 MBA, was been elected to the Board of worked at KPMG since 1988 and Jason Van de Loo, ’99 BSB, ’08 Dennis Goetz, ’02 MBA, has E. Herman Library. Georgie was also re-elected to the Moss & Barnett Directors of B. Riley Financial. has held a variety of leadership roles MBA, has been promoted to lead joined the Pohlad Companies twice honored by the students with Board of Directors. He also serves with the firm, including overseeing US the retail business for the financial as chief financial officer. the Herbie Award; received the Human as the firm’s chief operating officer technology, finance, and operations. planning and investment advisor. Resources Professionals of Minnesota 1990s Congratulations to Ryan Strassburg, and chief financial officer. Stephen Bishop, ’95 MBA was named Excellence Award; and the Distinguished ’02 MBA, for starting a new position After serving as a board member CEO of Minnesota Bank & Trust. Achievement Award from the University Tom Staggs, ’82 BSB, has joined as vice president and general for five years, Greg Miller, ’90 BSB, Steve joined the company in June 2000s of Minnesota Alumni Society. the InStride Advisory Board. Staggs manager of Resideo. Ryan has been 2019 after 27 years at Wells Fargo. is also a member of the Carlson was named the chair of the National Adam McCombs, ’00 BSB, started with the company since 2018. School Board of Overseers. Kidney Foundation of Maryland and a new position as chief product Kevin Terrell, ’95 MBA, is now Kevin Ballinger, ’03 MBA, is Delaware board of directors. officer at EMS LINQ, INC. Outdoorsman Stu Osthoff, ’83 BSB, is an entrepreneur in residence the new CEO of Aldevron. at Allen Institute for AI. not only a fishing and hunting guide in Jay Perrill, ’91 BSB, ’93 MBA, For the fourth consecutive year, Charles passed away in May 2020. He was Eldon Richards, ’03 MBA, has been the Boundary Waters, northern Ontario, Kyle Tengwall, ’96 BSB, ’02 MBA, Shannon, ’00 BSB, will serve as a recognized in the local business appointed chief technology officer of IDS. and Colorado, but also serves as the recently started a new position at Smith judge for the Scott County FAST-TRACK community as a visionary, embracing editor and publisher of a quarterly & Wesson as vice president, marketing. business challenge in October. Congratulations Aaron Zielke, ’03 magazine, The Boundary Waters Journal. the internet, and anticipating its BSB, for starting a new position as , ’00 MBA, is growth throughout all sectors. Alan Slavik, ’97 BSB, was featured on Dr. Raj Khankari senior technical program manager Lorna Rockey, ’87 BSB, was the new president of the Rotary WCCO Radio’s Real Talk with Roshini in at Amazon Web Services. Aaron has named a Voice of Inspiration in Club of Maple Grove. July 2020, discussing how to leverage been with the company since 2015. Minnesota by the Star Tribune. mentoring in the current climate.

44 UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA FALL 2020 | CARLSON SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT 45 CLASS NOTES

Connect With Us! Brandon Champeau, ’04 BSB, was Katelyn Sandfort, ’06 BSB, Congratulations Devin DelRosario, Congratulations to Carmen Thiede, Eddie Blevin, ’18 MBA, started a new carlsonschool. promoted to market leader for the has joined the Herrling Clark 2010s ’11 MBA, for starting a new position ’13 MA-HRIR, for her new role as chief position as marketing manager at Ecolab. umn.edu Minneapolis commercial development Law Firm in Appleton, WI. as materials manager at Collins human resources officer at Ritchie Bros. Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan’s S.P. After a heroic fight against a rare and group United Properties and was Aerospace. Devin has been with Congratulations Lindsay Amundson, ’07 Jain Institute of Management and Congratulations Brandon Cox, ’14 aggressive cancer, Cole Turrittin, recognized as a Minneapolis/St. the company since 2017. BSB, ’12 MBA, for starting a new position Research (SPJIMR) in Mumbai, India MBA, for starting a new position at ’18 MBA, passed away in May. school/carlson Paul Business Journal 40 Under 40 as global portfolio manager at Cargill. announced the extension of Ranjan Molly (Frazier) Mai, ’11 BSB, 3M as operations strategy leader. schoolumn recipient. Congratulations Brandon! Maryam Becker, ’19 MHRIR, Banerjee’s, ’10 PhD, term as dean started a new role at Allianz Life Rich Opitz, ’07 BSB, started a new Alexa Farah, ’14 BSB, is now a global started a new role as senior human Claudia Knowlton-Chike, ’04 of the school. In June, Dr. Banerjee as a finance director. Molly has position as strategy & business construction segment marketer at 3M. resources manager at Target. MBA, was featured in the Let’s Talk was also announced as an incoming worked at Allianz Life since 2014. carlsonnews development leader, separation and Supply Chain podcast in February Graduate Management Admission John Higdon, ’14 MBA, passed away in Catherine Smith, ’19 MBA, authored purification sciences division at 3M. Ana Hawkins, ’11 MBA, was promoted 2020. Claudia is the senior director Council (GMAC) board member. January. John graduated from the part- an academic empirical study, “The Role to global marketing director at 3M. carlsonschoolumn of global logistics at Google. Congratulations Maya Wheeler, time program and often served on the of Stance/Sentiment in Cryptocurrency Congratulations Yashodhan Dhore, ’07 BSB, for starting a new William Houston, ’11 MBA, Carlson Funds Enterprise Advisory Board. Valuations and Forecasts” and co-authored Dave Huml, ’04 MBA, was ’10 MBA, for starting a new position position at Life Clinic Medical. started a new position as corporate and published a handbook, “The Long and promoted to chief operating as head of digital analytics at Congratulations Matt Lewis, ’14 MBA, for FP&A senior analyst at Cargill. the Short of It: A Hedge Fund Handbook.” officer at Tennant Company. Carlson School adjunct faculty UnitedHealth Group. Yashodhan has being recognized as a Minneapolis/St. Paul member Rahul Koranne, ’08 MBA, been with the company since 2019. Congratulations Grace Hung, ’11 BSB, Business Journal 40 Under 40 recipient! After protests in the Twin Cities destroyed Francesco Redivo, ’04 MBA, started has been named Minnesota Hospital ’17 MBA, for starting a new position at neighborhood shops, Kaizen Yang, ’15 a new position at Cardinal Health. Jose Ferreira, ’10 MBA, started Congratulations Katherine (Schmalz) Association (MHA) president and CEO. Ripple Effect as a database analyst. MBA, and Catherine Yang, ’08 BSB, a new position as vice president Lusty, ’14 BSB, for starting a new Congratulations Marek Tomanek, ’04 ’15 MBA, reached out to their networks Congratulations to Matt Lorenz, sales, marketing and corporate Scott Mays, ’11 MBA, was promoted to position as senior program manager MBA, for starting a new position as to raise over $4,000 to donate food and ’08 MBT, for being recognized as development at CI Azumano Travel. senior director, government programs - inventory management at Target. chief operating officer at Selena Group. other supplies to a local organization, a Minneapolis/St. Paul Business sales incentives at UnitedHealth Group. Marek is a graduate of the Carlson Congratulations Mitch Nesset, Bohdan Tyshynsky, ’14 BSB, ShayCares Pop-Up Food Shelf. Many Journal 40 Under 40 recipient! Warsaw Executive MBA program. ’10 BSB, for starting a new Congratulations to Brooke Myhre, is now a private equity senior of the donors were fellow Carlson MBA Kaizen Yang and Congratulations Simon Hu, ’09 MBA, position at Amazon Web Services ’11 BSB, for starting a new position as associate at Bessemer Investors. Class of 2015 alumni, and the Yangs were KC Glaser, ’05 BSB, ’16 MBA, joined Catherine Yang for being promoted to president of as a senior financial analyst. global category manager at Roche. proud to support the local community support ShayCares General Mills in June as a senior manager, Congratulations to Anthony Banner China at Banner Engineering. during this very challenging time. Pop-Up Food Shelf. brand experience. Congratulations KC! Congratulations Norman Owens, Congratulations Nathan Breuer, Hendrickx, ’15 BSB, for starting a Andrew Fils, ’09 BSB, started a ’10 MBA, for starting a position ’12 BSB, for being promoted to new position as associate finance Edward Schulte, ’05 MBA, started new position as portfolio analyst at at Amazon Web Services as a supervisor SCM analytics at Uponor. manager at General Mills. Anthony has Note: While we a new position as managing Peregrine Capital Management, LLC. senior solutions architect. been at the company since 2015. welcome alumni news, director at Andersen. Inge Groth, ’12 BSB, started a the Carlson School Congratulations Andrew J. Pulkrabek, Congratulations Matt Stoll, ’10 new position as senior vendor Zach Orbeck, ’15 BSB, graduated with does not verify Class Brett Shockley, ’05 MBA, launched a ’09 MBA, for starting a new position MBA, for launching his new business, manager at Amazon. his MBA from Vanderbilt University’s Note submissions and new venture, Journey.AI, in June 2020. is not responsible for as managing director at BlackCap. SRM Health, in October 2019. Owen Graduate School of Management Journey’s trusted identity platform Congratulations to Brittany (Springer) the accuracy of the and started a position in finance at helps businesses verify customer Congratulations Mihir Sathe, ’09 Congratulations to Thompson Gowan, ’12 BSB, for starting a new information contained American Airlines. in Class Notes. identity while solving for security, MBA, for starting a new position Aderinkomi, ’11 MBA, of Nice position at Ecolab as the HR program privacy, and customer experience. In as financial professional at Healthcare for being recognized as manager for institutional PMO. Brittany Tiffany Yang, ’15 MBA, started a addition, Brett has joined the board of Sathe Consultants PVT LTD. a Minneapolis/St. Paul Business has been with the company since 2016. new position as senior compensation directors of Spok Holdings, a global Journal 40 Under 40 recipient! analyst at UnitedHealth Group. Congratulations to Kevin Yu, ’09 Richard Harrington, ’13 MBA, leader of healthcare communications. BSB, for starting a new position as started a new position as senior Lauren Jensen, ’16 BSB, is now Hannah Ashiokai Akrong, ’06 vice president at Bertram Capital. pricing analyst at Informatica. a sustainability coordinator for MHRIR, director of human resources the City of Rochester, MN. Jesse Bergland, ’03 BSB, was Matt James, ’13 MBA, is now senior at Vodafone Ghana, spoke at honored as a 2020 Most Exceptional director of product marketing Teddy O’Reilly, ’16 BSB, started a Ghana’s Most Respected CEO Community Service Award winner by at Dover Fueling Solutions. new position as associate, e-commerce Breakfast Series in June 2020. 2020s his employer, Northwestern Mutual. strategy & operations at Stackline. Congratulations to Marysa Lai, Todd Johnson, ’06 MBA, joined As part of the award, the company Allie Coughlin, ’20 BSB, started ’12 BSB, on being promoted to Adam Rao, ’17 MBA, joined United AI-powered lung imaging analysis awarded him a $30,000 grant to a new position as technology assurance senior manager at PwC. Theological Seminary of the company VIDA Diagnostics, Inc support The Leukemia & Lymphoma analyst at Accenture. Twin Cities as CFO & VP for finance, as chief technology officer. Society (LLS) Minnesota, North Dakota, Congratulations to Melissa Zoerb, administration, and strategy. Liz O’Brien, ’20 MBA, received the 2020 South Dakota chapter. Last year, ’12 BSB, for starting a new position Congratulations Vickie Maurer, ’06 Forte Foundation’s Annual Edie Hunt Jesse raised $173,000 in honor of his as head of operations at Bond Vet. Charlene Vance, ’17 MBA, was celebrated MHRIR, for starting a new position as Inspiration Award, which honors a female grandfather for the organization and as a Black Woman Leading the Way in senior vice president & managing partner Kyle Kroll, ’13 BSB, was honored with MBA student that “exhibits a track record was named their Man of the Year. Corporate America by Fairygodboss. of Enspira’s Life Sciences practice the Outstanding New Lawyer of the Year of working to increase and/or encourage Charlene is the custom operations leader and managing partner of the firm. Award from the Minnesota State Bar women’s interest in business school.” Jesse Bergland with family, for transportation and electronics at 3M. friends and colleagues at Association’s New Lawyers Section. Kyle Big Climb Minneapolis. is an associate at Winthrop & Weinstine.

46 UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA FALL 2020 | CARLSON SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT 47 5 THINGS I’VE LEARNED

Leo Cardoso, ’12 MAHRIR “As a veteran, I knew the GI bill would cover my tuition 4. It’s OK to Fail Leo Cardoso grew up in Brazil and joined Land and housing costs, but I O’Lakes while attaining his graduate degree from This has been a tough one for me to worried about other student the Carlson School. In his current role, he leads learn. I don’t like to fail. I enjoy com- expenses. Thanks to my three distinct teams: HR Data, HR Solution Center, peting and enjoy doing well. However, more often than not, if you don’t take veteran’s scholarship, I had and HR Special Operations, which collectively focus some chances and fail every now and the flexibility to improve on delivering outstanding service, while providing then, you will miss out on a number my business acumen, of opportunities and successes. a great employee experience to the company’s expand my network, and 8,000-plus employees. Cardoso also serves on the explore opportunities I’m 5. Be Yourself passionate about - without CHRLS Alumni Association Board. He shared five And Be Grateful things that have been instrumental to his success. any financial stress.” To me, these two things go hand-in-hand. — HUY NGHIEM, ’21 MBA First, be yourself. When I was younger, 1. Clear is (Truly) Kind 2. There’s Always I listened to an album called “Seja More Work você mesmo / Mas não seja sempre o As Brené Brown eloquently describes mesmo.” It roughly translates to “You in Dare to Lead, clear is kind. It may be As we all navigate this wild ride we call shouldn’t always be the same person, difficult to set expectations, to deliver 2020, it’s become clear that there’s but always be yourself.” You can change, difficult feedback, and to have tough always more work to be done. If you want you should learn, but no matter what conversations, but it may be even to work more than 100 hours a week, this happens, don’t lose track of who you are. For countless students such more difficult to be on the other side of is the season. Now that so many of us are Second, remember that who you are and as Huy, scholarships have a these conversations. However, if you home, it’s never been more important your achievements are partly a product of direct and meaningful impact truly care about someone, being clear to be able to step away from “work” and the work and sacrifices that others have on their Carlson School experi- and honest with them is the best thing enjoy time doing other things you love. It’s made before you. Be grateful for that and ence. Support future business you can do. One thing that I always good for you, and it’s good for business! seek to do the same for others. These leaders by making a gift today try to keep in mind is that this doesn’t two things, while difficult sometimes, at z.umn.edu/givetocarlson just apply to “constructive” feedback. can make all the difference in the world. If someone does a great job, or if you 3. Sometimes Done simply really care about them, the kindest is Better than Perfect thing to do is to let them know that! I used to often refer to myself as a perfectionist. While some projects demand perfection—or something CARLSON SCHOOL LEADERSHIP BOARD LEADERSHIP close to it—at times, this attitude can Sri Zaheer Robert Kueppers, ’76 BSB Dean Former Vice Chairman, Deloitte LLP lead to project delays, frustration, and CARLSON SCHOOL Ravi Bapna Chair, Carlson School Board of Overseers lack of innovation. A better approach OF MANAGEMENT Associate Dean, Executive Education Craig Schmidt, ’03 BSB is to prioritize and focus your energy THE MAGAZINE FOR Alok Gupta President, Carlson School Alumni Board on the work that truly matters while ALUMNI AND FRIENDS Associate Dean, Faculty and Research ©2020 by the Regents of the University maintaining an attitude that demands Stephen Parente of Minnesota. All rights reserved. Accredited Associate Dean, Global Initiatives continuous growth and improvement. MAGAZINE EDITORS by AACSB International—the Association James Plesser, Katie Dohman Raj Singh to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business. Associate Dean, Undergraduate Program The University of Minnesota is an equal MAGAZINE DESIGN Joel Waldfogel opportunity educator and employer. Skelton Sprouls Associate Dean, MBA and MS Programs This magazine is printed by Bolger Vision Anne D’Angelo Beyond Print, a Forest Stewardship CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Assistant Dean, Global Initiatives Council-certified printer. (SW-COC-002059) You can change, you Bridget Burnham, Tim Gihring, Philip Miller Joel Hoekstra, Nicole Norfleet, Direct correspondence to: Alumni Magazine, Assistant Dean, MBA and MS Programs should learn, but no matter Wade Rupard, Alex West Steinman Office of the Dean, 321 Nineteenth Avenue Jennifer Ninneman South, Minneapolis, MN 55455. This what happens, don’t lose CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Assistant Dean, Faculty Affairs publication is available in alternative formats Dan Gunderson, Eric Miller, and Administrative Services upon request. Receive Carlson School electronically at carlsonschool.umn.edu/ Hannah Pietrick, Jeff Thompson James Plesser track of who you are. esubscribe. For information about Carlson Assistant Dean, Marketing and Communications School alumni programs, contact Alumni Travis Smith Relations at [email protected] or Assistant Dean, Institutional Advancement 612-625-1556. carlsonschool.umn.edu

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