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.