UConn Today – After studying and working in Germany for a year, Michelle Buerkler ’24 (BUS) found herself in high demand in the job market. Potential employers were impressed by her willingness to take a risk, become fluent in German, and immerse herself in a new culture far from home.
Alumni
Mom Would Be So Proud
UConn Magazine – Working as the head of an investment management firm for 19 years, Steve Wilson found himself frustrated by the gender disparity he saw in the field. He wanted to hire women as investment professionals but struggled to find enough who were trained and qualified.
“I realized that colleges weren’t preparing enough women to enter the field,” Wilson explains. “I think it was a combination of a lack of awareness of career opportunities and perhaps, to some degree, self-selection — with too many fully qualified women thinking ‘I’m not good enough, so I’m not going to try’ or ‘It’s a hostile space, so why would I put myself out there?’”
Entrepreneur, Gender-Equity Advocate to Discuss How Women Can Move from the Sidelines to the C-Suite
UConn Today – Any company that strives to be profitable and successful needs to include women and other diverse representatives in its leadership. Yet even in the most forward-focused organizations, women may still face obstacles to inclusion.
Sameer Somal, a tech entrepreneur and the co-founder of Girl Power Talk and Girl Power USA, a non-profit organization dedicated to helping you women become leaders in business and society, will share his experiences and perspective on empowering women during the next Equity Now presentation on Nov. 19. The event is sponsored by School of Business.
Three UConn Business Students/Alums Helped Shape Network News, Entertainment Industry This Year
UConn Today – Business student Emily Laput ’26 (CLAS) created her own marketing and consulting firm when she was in high school. That impressed interviewers at NBC Universal in New York City, and helped her capture a coveted summer internship.
Across the city, recent alum Peter Spinelli ’24 (BUS, CLAS), is working as a production intern at ABC News. He is passionate about increasing the percentage of Gen Z adults who watch TV news.
Camaraderie, Enthusiasm Punctuate Wolff New Venture Competition
UConn Today – A novel treatment for long-term pain management that could revolutionize post-operative care and eliminate the need for opioids for many, won the first-place, $30,000 grand prize at the Wolff New Venture Competition last week.
Professors and esteemed UConn Health researchers Lakshmi Nair, Ph.D. and Yusuf Khan, Ph.D. say they were both surprised and thrilled that their startup, Soleia Biosciences, received the award. With the financial and business support they’ve received, they hope to advance the treatment that has been in development for 10 years.
MSA Marks 25th Anniversary with Celebration on Oct. 17
UConn Today – The MSA program is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year, a significant milestone for the trailblazing program that consistently ranks among the best in the nation.
“I wish I could take the spirit, the energy, and the interaction that occurs in this program, bottle it and present it to potential students,’’ said accounting professor Steve Pedneault, who owns a forensic accounting firm and has been teaching in the program since 2007. “If they knew how special it is here, they would all come to UConn.’’
UConn Alumni, Car Fanatics Creating Marketplace for Second-Hand Auto Parts
UConn Today – When they were college students at UConn, Kyle Mayers ’13 (BUS) and Wally Namane ’13 (BUS), ’18 MBA both drove identical older, red BMW coupes. Friends used to confuse them as they zipped around campus, until one of them finally connected the two men on Facebook.
Mayers and Namane had a great deal in common. They were both ambitious, both car enthusiasts, both first-generation college students.
Startup ‘Vamos’ Seeks to Help Companies Thrive—Even When Their Employees Live Thousands of Miles Apart
UConn Today – Niko Zurita ’10 (BUS) remembers how, during the COVID-19 pandemic, almost every human resource executive in America tried to arrange a “Virtual Happy Hour” in an effort to keep employees connected.
And while it was better than nothing, those end-of-the-workday gatherings, conducted through a computer monitor, were clearly no substitute for an in-person event, Zurita says.
Career Expo Draws Recruiters from 50 Top Corporations, Hundreds of Eager Student Job-Seekers
UConn Today – Brianna Linehan, a senior majoring in marketing, came to the Business Career Expo on Wednesday ready to impress employers.
Linehan was eager to talk to recruiters about her course work, leadership experiences and her recent internship at Equitable in New York, where she helped create a website.
“I love these fairs and all the networking opportunities they offer,’’ said Linehan of Southington, Conn. “I’m excited to talk about my experiences and to look for a job where that I can grow and further develop my skills.’’
Three Alumni, Professor to be Honored As Outstanding Young Professionals
UConn Today – Whether they expanded their skills on a U.S. Navy submarine at sea, in a healthcare facility at the height of the pandemic, or by growing career programs at their alma mater, four members of the UConn Business community have been selected as among the most inspiring young leaders in Greater Hartford.