University at Buffalo School of Management

Spring 2021 Buffalo Business 15 Fascinating conversations Janelle Fore, BS/MBA '21, knows the value of global expe- riences, having previously traveled to Ghana and Costa Rica. So, when COVID-19 forced the school's interprofessional program in India to go virtual, she wasn't deterred. During the semester, Fore completed two projects: First, in partnership with Amrita University, she and her team of UB and Amrita students created a business model to support the Jivamritam initiative, which aims to install drinking water filtration systems in 5,000 villages across India. Fore and her class- mates also attended weekly Salesforce sessions led by Daniel Franasiak, BS '17, MBA '18, and Alexander Bitar, BS '17, MS '19, with the goal of building a platform to help the non- profit Head Held High capture its volunteers' and beneficiaries' information. "I loved how my team met virtually each week because I got to learn about each person and their culture," Fore says. "I gained a better understanding of different states and regions in India, and my teammates were upfront about asking ques- tions that aren't really discussed in the U.S., which made each meeting interesting and spontaneous." Experiencing the 50 Students can also broaden their global mindset through domestic "Experience the 50" programs—even from behind a laptop. In the Disney program, students attended sessions with UB alumni like Georgia Cruz, senior pricing and reve- nue management analyst at Disney. For Chicago, students got an inside look at the airline industry's COVID-19 response from Joanne Rinaldo, BS '95, former senior manager at United Airlines (see cover story, page 8). And, in the Austin program, students talked entrepreneurship with Rob Hunter, BS/ MBA '82, special advisor to Pushnami, a push notification platform. For Rachel Sudyn—who recently relocated to work for Goldman Sachs aer completing her bachelor's in December—the virtual Austin experience was invaluable. "I loved getting to meet alumni and hear their stories and how UB helped them achieve their goals," Sudyn says. "Their advice helped me further prepare for my move, and they provided a fresh perspective on what it takes to be successful, especially in this new work-from-home environment." Meanwhile, Morgan Christopher, a dual-degree MS in Real Estate Development/MBA student, deepened his understanding of business operations and sharpened his teamwork and project management skills through the Chicago program. "Even in non-COVID times, these virtual programs will be beneficial for students—you can expect to gain practical, real-life experience, while having an engaging, fun and incredibly productive learning experi- ence," he says. Christopher Fore Sudyn With COVID-19 halting travel, the School of Management pivots to virtual global programs By Matthew Biddle

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