University at Buffalo School of Management

Autumn 2021 Buffalo Business 15 Leading and learning Peter Farruggia, a JD/MBA student, was worried his summer would be wasted with nothing to show for it aer COVID-19 brought so much of the world to a halt last year. But through the NBF program, he was able to advance his leadership skills while learning the inner workings of board governance at Horizon Health Services, a nonprofit that assists individuals and families struggling with substance abuse disorders and mental health issues. Farruggia says the program was one of the most enjoyable experiences he's had in graduate school, and what he's gained will be invaluable as he embarks on a Presidential Manage- ment Fellowship aer graduation. "One of the most important things I learned was the vast differences between nonprofits and their for-profit counter- parts," says Farruggia. "The board fellows program provides an outlet for those of us who want careers in nonprofits or public service and gives us critical training and experience." Other fellows have pitched in and advanced their leader- ship skills at a number of other Western New York nonprofits. At the WNY Women's Foundation (WNYWF), PharmD/ MBA student Victoria Getman assisted the organization as it advocated for day care for the children of single mothers so they could get back to work during the pandemic. "This program makes you more socially aware and takes you out of the college bubble," she says. "Prior to joining WNYWF, I had been working with a woman who was struggling to find child care because schools were closed and both she and her husband were working full time. To learn that WNYWF was out there advocating was eye-opening, exciting and rewarding." Steven Gabriel, an MPH/MBA student, served on the board of the Service Collaborative of WNY, an organization that creates opportunities for people to serve their commu- nity through education, economic opportunity, youth develop- ment and volunteering. He also served on their committees for outreach and community engagement. He says the fellows learned from each other as much as they learned from the organizations they served and the speakers they connected with. "We met with C-suite executives and international experts to discuss the meaning of servant leadership, how to ensure equity and how to create purpose in the nonprofit sector," Gabriel says. "Each fellow brought a valuable and unique perspective on how to inter- pret these issues. This taught me that everyone has an important role to play on nonprofit boards. To quote one of our distinguished speakers, 'You don't need to be an Olympic swimmer to get in the pool.'" A new lens School of Management MBAs weren't the only ones to learn and grow through the Nonprofit Board Fellowship program—organizational leaders say the students brought specialized skills and unique perspec- tives to their boards. At the United Way of Buffalo and Erie County, President and CEO Michael Weiner says MBA student Vignesh Kumar Swaminathan gave back to the organization in a number of ways. "It was helpful to get insights from someone who has limited knowledge of our organization and who brings a unique younger perspective than may be represented on our board or staff," says Weiner, MBA '90. "Vignesh has a great background in research and data management, so we also found opportunities to take advantage of that skill set while he continues to learn about board governance." Megan Landreth, government relations director and legal counsel, worked closely with Peter Farruggia during his time at Horizon Health. She says their board found areas of interest for Farruggia to pitch in and help the organization thrive. "Peter joined our Diversity Council, a group of about 15 staff members whose job is to talk about diversity issues as they relate to the organization, educate the staff and engage in planned activities," says Landreth. "The council loved having an outside perspective on the work they're doing, and it's great to have an energetic, educated student who can share new and different ideas." The first NBF program concluded in May, and a new cohort began this summer. To learn more, visit management.buffalo.edu/nbfellowship. Service Collaborative of WNY volunteers help build twin-size beds for Beds for Buffalo. A participant in the WNY Women's Foundation's MOMs: From Education to Employment ® initiative graduates from Jamestown Community College. Horizon Health workers outside Terrace House, a facility that offers medically supervised withdrawal from substances such as opiates and alcohol.

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