FOSTER MICHAEL G. FOSTER SCHOOL OF BUSINESS UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON FALL 2013 MASTER STROKE The legendary 1958 Husky crew—powered by four Foster grads— beat the world-champion Soviets in Moscow Page 10 ALSO: New Name, Same Great Center Page 14 Are You Experienced? Page 19 Exemplary Accelerator Page 21 NAME: Sora Mizutani DOB: August 4, 2013 Does this look like a UW MBA fellowship recipient? No, Sora hasn’t been awarded a scholarship (at least not yet), but her father, Ryota Mizutani (MBA 2010) benefitted from the Dick and Nora Hinton MBA Fellowship that aided his studies and positioned him for a leadership role with SoftBank Corp in Japan. Today, Ryota is a Foster School ambassador promoting our school overseas, and little Sora is enjoying a better start because of the difference made by the Hintons’ generosity. Whether you, too, would like to build a UW bridge to Tokyo or Tacoma, your scholarship support doesn’t just impact your student. It can make a profound difference in families’ lives for generations to come. For more information on how you can help, contact Foster School Advancement at 206.543.0305. CONTENTS On the cover 10 Master Stroke The legendary 1958 Husky crew—powered by four Foster grads— beat the world-champion Soviets in Moscow 14 New Name, Same Great Center A new name for the Business and Economic Development Center only begins to showcase all the center does 19 Are You Experienced? The MBA Strategic Consulting Program equips Foster students to apply classroom theories to real-world problems 21 Exemplary Accelerator The Buerk Center’s pioneering Jones + Foster Accelerator Program is helping turn entrepreneurial student teams into successful start-up teams FALL 2013 1 CONTENTS Dean James Jiambalvo Associate Dean of Advancement 26 Steven Hatting Managing Director Marketing & Communications Eric Nobis Managing Editor Renate Kroll Contributing Writers Ed Kromer, Andrew Krueger, Sarah Massey, 8 30 Eric Nobis, L.A. Smith Photography Matt Hagen (principal), Paul Gibson Departments Design a.k.a. design Foster School of Business 4 In the News Marketing & Communications University of Washington Racing to the Top, Day of Innovation, Business Leadership Box 353200 Celebration, Pure Blue, Sustainable Dynasty, Clean Technology, Seattle, WA 98195-3200 Can’t Beat Experience, Feet in Doors, Summer Fun, 206.543.5102 Partners in Development, Success in the East On the Web foster.washington.edu 23 Faculty Great (Entrepreneurship) Reads, Seven Scholars, Fast Start, Foster Business is published twice a year by Research Briefs, Teaching Excellence, Mercurial Marketer the University of Washington Foster School of Business. The publication is made possible by donations from alumni and friends. No state 29 Alumni funds are used in its production. Barry Shulman, Thao Hong, Michael Egeck, Jerry Heinlen Change of Address? [email protected] Comments? [email protected] Think differently. Make a difference. 2 FOSTER BUSINESS Fostering Futures After 36 wonderful years on the UW faculty, including eight as dean of the Foster School, I’m still learning something new every day. Now, we’re all familiar with the adage that “you can’t teach an old dog new tricks.” Well, I believe this maxim! Thus, my conclusion is that this particular Dawg must not be old! Kidding (and logical fallacy) aside, it would be difficult to feel old with all the enthu- siasm for learning and discovery taking place in Dempsey and PACCAR Halls! Not to mention all the learning that happens outside of the classroom, with multiple opportunities for students to consult with local and national companies (see pages 14-20), serve on non-profit boards (pg 15) and grow their own companies (pg 21). Seeing our BAs and MBAs grow into smart, ambitious and principled leaders continues to inspire me. Our faculty and staff also continue to grow and excel, as you will see throughout the pages that follow. And even though I’m a long-time accounting professor, I’ve embraced (if not mastered) the concepts of brand development and management. With our naming for Michael G. Foster in 2007, we went through a variety of brand exercises that helped us define our vision and path to success. Excellence across disciplines continues to be essential, but we have also built distinct capabilities in leadership, strategic thinking and entrepreneurship. Today, with quality teaching, research, services and facilities, these differentiators have helped us rank among the top 10 public business schools in the US. Still, sharing our success stories is as important as the people and programs that produce them. Effective communication is critical to truly define and differentiate ourselves among the leading business schools. This is where our 55,000 alumni around the world can aid their alma mater. I hope you will read, remember and share the stories here. Visit our website and attend a Foster School event. Speak with a student group to both impart your experience and wisdom and also to experience for yourself how our students and school have grown. Likewise, I ask you to find the time to leverage one of our most valuable assets— our network of alumni and business partners. Thursday, November 7th, brings the 22nd Annual Business Leadership Celebration. Each year we hear from hundreds of attendees about the inspiration they experience or the connections they make or reestablish at this terrific event. In terms of stories to share, a magazine or website can’t compare to hearing from those Huskies who have reached the pinnacle of their professions. This year we will hear from and recognize four amazing UW business leaders, and we’ll feature a keynote from a Washington native who reached the top of the banking world. (Please see page 5 for more information.) I hope to see you there and toast past successes and a bright future. Sincerely, James Jiambalvo Dean, Michael G. Foster School of Business Kirby L. Cramer Chair in Business Administration FALL 2013 3 IN THE NEWS Racing to the Top The Foster School expands relationship with Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to advance US education projects Christie Youde (BA 2006, MBA 2013) is a proud product of the Washington state public education system—from K to MBA. While working toward her latest degree at the Foster School, she seized an unexpected chance to strengthen that system. Youde and classmate Haid Garrett (MBA 2013) piloted the Foster School’s new education research project with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation this year. Working under the guidance of Mark Hillier, an associate professor of quantita- tive methods, they contributed two vital research projects to the Gates Foundation’s education programs. In the first project, they developed a financial model for prospective charter school operators in the state, which became Associate professor Mark Hillier (center) and MBAs Christie Youde (left) and Haid Garrett piloted the new education the 42nd to support independent public research project with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. schools with the passage of Initiative 1240 last November. In the second, they fore- Today the Foster School, the Department well received. My colleagues said this was casted the exploding market for Massively of Global Health, the College of Education the best money they’ve ever spent.” Open Online Courses (MOOCs) in the and the Evans School are engaged in proj- Word of a proven resource at the UW higher education space. ects that touch several areas of the Gates led the number of global health projects to “This is the coolest thing we have done Foundation’s priority strategies in global grow, well, virally. Parker expects the same in the MBA Program,” says Youde. “To get health, development and education. in the education space. to work with such a dream organization, On the Foster side, nine MBA students “Considering how well the first two such a giant in this space, and to do such worked with six faculty members to tackle a education projects went,” he says, “I expect relevant work that’s getting used… it’s variety of projects this year. word will get around quickly.” incredibly rewarding.” “It’s amazing to have the assets of the Youde and Garrett speak of the experi- University of Washington a few miles from ence with the Gates Foundation as life Expanding the relationship the Foundation,” commented Martha Choe, changing. The Foster School’s relationship with the chief administrative officer of the Gates “Learning spreadsheet modeling and Gates Foundation began in fall of 2011 Foundation. “And it’s been so exciting to thinking through problems and how to with Saara Romu (MBA 2007), then a see how we’ve taken advantage of the present to a client are skills that are really portfolio manager in the Foundation’s terrific support—from the students, the applicable to what we both will be doing Global Health group. Romu connected her professors, the leaders.” post MBA,” says Garrett. “It’s a huge value Global Health colleagues with faculty and Win win to be able to hone those skills on some- graduate students at the Foster School and David Parker, the senior program officer thing real, with implications.” the Department of Global Health to provide for College Ready Education at the Gates Youde will continue in that vein. In subject-matter expertise on a broad range Foundation and coordinator of UW-bound September, she joined the Foundation as a of projects. education projects, offered high praise to the financial associate supporting the College Word got around. Early this year, Foster team: “Christie and Haid absolutely Ready team. demand at the Foundation expanded the knocked it out of the park. They got up to “To be a part of this high level of Foster Research Group to take on educa- speed quickly, asked the right questions and relevant work,” she says, “is incredibly tion-based projects.