A Message from the Dean
Greetings from the University at Buffalo School of Management.
As I look at the stories we bring to you in this issue of Buffalo Business, I see a common theme:
succeeding by doing things differently.
Our cover story (starting on page 10) taps into faculty and alumni expertise to learn how retailers
are adapting and even reinventing themselves to stay afloat in a rapidly changing environment.
And in another story, "Not Your Father's Orientation" (page 6), you can read about how our new
approach to orientation is helping MBA students develop skills for success before they even set
foot in a classroom.
Research by Emily Grijalva shows how organizations can do things differently to limit the influ-
ence of gender bias, and research by Larry Sanders and Joana Gaia identifies ways that health
providers can get patients to share their electronic health records (page 22).
Around the world, our alumni are blazing new trails and making an impact in business, and we
highlight two of them in this issue. On page 8, you can read how Kathleen Hamm, BS '85, led the
charge to help the U.S. Treasury Department, and the broader financial sector, identify and mit-
igate cyber risks. And on page 23, Jasmeet Singh Gujral, MS '12, who manages online banking
platforms for HSBC in Hong Kong, says, "I'm constantly thinking about new innovations and how
things can be done differently."
This adaptability applies to our students as well, and you can see evidence of it in "Statistical
Solutions" beginning on page 18, where Jake Cercone, BS '18, developed a better measure for
NFL quarterback performance than the commonly used passer rating. The story focuses on how
Cercone and other undergraduates use data analytics to complete real-world projects by engag-
ing with area organizations and conducting research, both independently and with faculty.
At the School of Management, we are proud to be doing things differently. Our programs in social
innovation, health care management, entrepreneurship and leadership are just a few of the ini-
tiatives keeping us on the leading edge as we continue to define the future of management — and
we have big plans for more to come.
All the best,
Paul Tesluk
Dean
R e a d B u f f a l o B u S i n e S S o n y o u R T a B l e T , M o B i l e d e v i c e o R T H e W e B a T M g T . B u f f a l o . e d u / B u f f a l o B u S i n e S S
