University at Buffalo School of Management

I entered the EMBA program when I was 40. I had already established a firm position as a research lab manager and could have continued this career until retirement, but pursuing my MBA at UB gave me the confidence to push for more. After graduating I was promoted to an administrative management position, and became Chief Scientific Operations Officer within four years. I credit the team structure of the UB EMBA program for teaching me the skills required to grow in an ever-changing executive management position. Dale Henry, EMBA '07 Chief Scientific Operations Officer, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center The School of Management prepared me for the busi- ness world beyond what I could even comprehend at the time. The diversity at UB exposed me to many different cultures, and I learned how to work with and become close friends with peers from around the world. Christopher Weatherspoon, BS '07 Manager, Development Group Technology, Wegmans Food Markets Inc. My tenure at the UB School of Management truly shaped and polished my corporate outlook, decision-mak- ing, and corporate social responsibility knowledge and thinking. Kumara Iswaran, MS '09 Associate Vice President – Alliances and Partnerships, SLK Soware Two years ago, I was tasked with building an entirely new team for a large company. I was able to leverage the skills I developed at UB to develop a strategy, cul- ture, goals and metrics to track success. The success I had with that team allowed me to take a leap forward in my career. Philip Manez, BS Engineering/MBA '09 Vice President of Strategic Alliances, VAST Data Every class had some real-life/real-time relevance for me. I advanced to the C-suite at my current employer using these skills. Joseph Kessler, PMBA '10 Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer, New York Power Authority The CEL program was the jumpstart I needed to see my business from a new perspective and to improve it by engaging more impactful projects. Steven Davis, CEL '11 President, Tapecon Inc. Every course involved group projects. I learned leader- ship skills from running teams, effective communication and public speaking. I was challenged while faculty pro- vided additional opportunities to grow and encouraged participation in internships and job fairs. Rob Kurzdorfer, BS '11 Storage Division Supervisor, Department of Veterans Affairs 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 I reflect often on my EMBA experience with gratitude. I learned many practical, technical skills, but also devel- oped as a leader in my personal awareness and ability to lead people that has been invaluable in my career. The ongoing support of classmates, faculty and admin- istration in the years since then is an amazing asset to this day. Alex Adema, EMBA '12 President and CEO, DPS Skis One of the most important parts of my MBA experience was the relationship building that was done through our work in cohorts. This experience simulated extremely effectively what the world of work would look like. The ability to strategically manage relationships, outcomes and deliverables has made me much more effective in my career. West Richter, BS/MBA '13 Director, Global IT Service Delivery, Moog Inc. The experience at UB School of Management was a micro- cosm of the world today and how to manage through it — working with diverse teams, owning responsibility, constantly learning and questioning, and understanding when to lead and when to listen. Joseph Chow, EMBA '14, MD President of Ambulatory Care, TeamHealth Business can be quite complex, but it makes sense if you are able to look at different segments, details and pro- cesses to take a big-picture perspective. I learned this while at UB, where I gained valuable knowledge about all facets of business. Nicolay Netskar, BS '16 Director of Recruitment, College Scholarships USA 58 59 60 61 18 Buffalo Business Autumn 2023 62 Attending UB was the turning point in my life that enabled me to discover myself and grow personally and profes- sionally, and I hope that will encourage each and every woman to unleash her power beyond her comfort zone. Asmaa Lashin, MBA '17 Talent Programs Coordinator, Andela

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