University at Buffalo School of Management

................................................................ Ananth Iyer Dean, University at Buffalo, School of Management Jacqueline Molik Ghosen, APR Editor-in-Chief Kevin Manne, APR Editor Alexandra Tramposch Richter Editor Green Soup Design Art Direction/Design ................................................................ School of Management Dean's Advisory Council CHAIR Kathleen Hamm, BS '85 Former Board Member, Public Company Accounting Oversight Board, Arlington, Va. COUNCIL Nick C. Ambrose, MBA '06 EVP, Director of Business Unit Controllers M&T Bank Corp., Buffalo, N.Y. Thomas M. Barney Jr., MBA '00 President, Sportservice, Delaware North, Buffalo, N.Y. Sachin Barot, MBA '02 CFO, PeopleConnect Inc., San Diego, Calif. Carly Battin, MBA '09 Chief of Staff, CleanCapital, Buffalo, N.Y. Donald Boyd, MBA '97 President and CEO, Kaleida Health, Buffalo, N.Y. George G. Chamoun, BA '97 CEO, ACV, Buffalo, N.Y. Donna L. DeCarolis, BS '81, MBA '83 Senior Energy Advisor, National Fuel Gas Co. President Emerita, National Fuel Gas Distribution Corp. Williamsville, N.Y. Richard M. Ferranti, EMBA '97 CEO, Rich Products Corp., Buffalo, N.Y. Glenn A. Fosdick, BS '74 Principal, Glenn A. Fosdick Consulting LLC, Ann Arbor, Mich. Dottie Gallagher, EMBA '07 Retired President and CEO, Buffalo Niagara Partnership Buffalo, N.Y. Ron C. Hamilton, BS/MBA '94 Senior Vice President, Head of Risk and Compliance, USA BMS Re, New York, N.Y. Cynthia D. Khan, BS '95, MBA '97 Senior Vice President, Strategic Planning Northwell Health, New Hyde Park, N.Y. Howard D. Koenig, MBA '76 CEO, Perspecta, San Francisco, Calif. Scott E. Madsen, BA '08 Director, Risk Management, Citi, Buffalo, N.Y. Abigail Maines, BS/MBA '99 Co-founder, FIERCE; Consultant, YP Ventures, Austin, Texas Rich McCarthy, BS '91, MBA '93 Senior Executive Vice President, M&T Bank Corp., Buffalo, N.Y. Gerry Murak, CEL '91, EMBA '96 Principal, Murak & Associates LLC, Getzville, N.Y. Michael J. Murray, BS '75, MBA '85 Retired Managing Partner, Ernst & Young, Hamburg, N.Y. Denise Neamon, CEL '13 Regional Managing Partner, The Bonadio Group Buffalo, N.Y. Sharon D. Randaccio, BS '76, MBA '81 President and CEO Performance Management Partners Inc., Buffalo, N.Y. John R. Scannell Non-Executive Chair, Moog Inc., Buffalo, N.Y. Laura Shen, MBA '04 Retired Vice President, Volkswagen (China) Investment Co. Ltd., Retired Managing Director, Volkswagen (China) Group Import Co. Ltd., Beijing, China Timothy J. Silverstein, MBA '08 CFO and Treasurer, National Fuel Gas Distribution Corp. Williamsville, N.Y. Sujata Yalamanchili, BS '88, MBA '89 Partner, Hodgson Russ LLP, Buffalo, N.Y. Sai Yendamuri President and CEO, RPCI Oncology P.C.; Senior Vice President Business Development and Outreach, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, N.Y. Buffalo Business Number 56 Autumn 2026 DEPARTMENTS Startups ������������������������������������� 2 NewsBites ��������������������������������� 6 Insights �������������������������������������20 Class Notes �����������������������������26 Address changes and other correspondence can be sent by email to mgt-editor@buffalo.edu. Telephone inquiries can be made at 716-645-2833. Editorial offices are located at the University at Buffalo School of Management, 108 Jacobs Management Center, Buffalo, NY 14260. Cover illustration by Dave Donati� Alumni Close-Up Buffalo first Matthew Wagner, BS '03, is leading sports and entertainment technology. Trending Topics The unconscious side of decision-making How do we actually decide what to buy, what to share and what to believe? Cover Story Leadership reimagined Managing for adaptability, innovation and success amid uncertainty. Stepping Up Enduring connections Frank Clement, BS '66, is committed to the School of Management. Under attack AI turns cybersecurity class into real-world battleground. Alumni Close-Up Pioneer of AI-powered inclusive lending How Alexandra McLeod, MBA '17, is expanding access to capital. Alumni Impact Sweet returns Alumni transform learning. 7 8 10 16 18 23 24 23 18 10

• Cover