Alumni

Wisdom from the Experts

The third Geno Auriemma UConn Leadership Conference was held in October at Mohegan Sun, attracting some of the world's top executives from a vast variety of industries. (Nathan Oldham/UConn School of Business)
The third Geno Auriemma UConn Leadership Conference was held in October at Mohegan Sun, attracting some of the world’s top executives from a vast variety of industries. (Nathan Oldham/UConn School of Business)

Geno Auriemma UConn Leadership Conference Offers Plethora of Advice for Rising Executives

Transition is one of the most challenging aspects of leadership, but the ability to take charge in times of company turmoil or personal upheaval is the mark of a great leader.

That was the message that some of the world’s top executives, from a vast variety of industries, shared at the third Geno Auriemma UConn Leadership Conference in October at Mohegan Sun. Continue Reading

Women MBAs Connect at UConn-Sponsored NAWMBA Event

Insurance executive Melissa Cummings ’98 MBA urges women to be more gutsy in their career pursuits. (Nathan Oldham/UConn School of Business)
Insurance executive Melissa Cummings ’98 MBA urges women to be more gutsy in their career pursuits. (Nathan Oldham/UConn School of Business)

School of Business Lead Education Sponsor for National Association of Women MBAs Conference

The path to a top executive position isn’t a straight line, but, instead, a series of zig-zags that build competence, expertise and wisdom.

That’s what Melissa B. Cummings ’98 MBA, senior vice president and chief customer officer at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Rhode Island, told hundreds of women MBA students and graduates. Continue Reading

Speakers at Women’s Business Conference Urge Self-Advocacy

Connecticut Post– Stomach pain has proven to be an auspicious symptom for Melissa Cummings ’98 MBA during her career.

“As I’ve considered new opportunities in my career, I’ve found that the thing that I often choose to do is the thing that actually gives me a stomach ache,” Cummings, the senior vice president and chief customer officer at the health insurer Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island, said during a speech Friday at the Stamford Hilton hotel.

A First-Place Tie

The creators of LambdaVision with two undergraduate student interns who helped represent the company during the CCEI fellowship and again at the Wolff competition. From left, Dr. Jordan Greco '10 (CLAS), '15 Ph.D., Molly Zgoda '17 (CLAS), Audrey Gallo '17 (CLAS), and Dr. Nicole Wagner '07 (CLAS), '13 Ph.D. (Nathan Oldham/UConn School of Business)
The creators of LambdaVision with two undergraduate student interns who helped represent the company during the CCEI fellowship and again at the Wolff competition. From left, Dr. Jordan Greco ’10 (CLAS), ’15 Ph.D., Molly Zgoda ’17 (CLAS), Audrey Gallo ’17 (CLAS), and Dr. Nicole Wagner ’07 (CLAS), ’13 Ph.D. (Nathan Oldham/UConn School of Business)

Revamped Wolff New Venture Competition Surprises Audience with Two Medical-Device Champs

The late Thomas John Wolff ’56 was an entrepreneur, and UConn School of Business alumnus, who ran five businesses simultaneously. He exemplified values like enthusiasm, mentorship and appreciation. Continue Reading

Alumna Margaret Luciano ’15 Ph.D. Wins Award for Rigor, Creativity

Margaret Luciano ’15 Ph.D. (Management), has added another honor to her long list of recognitions.

In September it was announced that her Ph.D. dissertation won the Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology’s S. Rains Wallace Award, recognizing the best doctoral dissertation in the field of industrial and organizational psychology. Continue Reading

‘I Can Represent a Company Well’

Students prepare to meet with employers at the Undergraduate Business Career Expo. (Nathan Oldham/UConn School of Business)
Students prepare to meet with employers at the Undergraduate Business Career Expo (Nathan Oldham/UConn School of Business)

September Career Expo Gives Students, Companies a Jump-Start on Hiring Search

Junior Auna Harvey arrived 15 minutes early for the School of Business’ popular Career Expo—prepared with a clear strategy and an optimistic attitude.

Harvey is looking for a summer internship in human resources and is particularly interested in programs offered by Travelers, Aetna and United Technologies.

“I’ll try to get across that I’m very personable and comfortable talking to people, and that I can represent a company well,” said Harvey, who developed professional and networking skills as a freshman in the Business Connections Learning Community and later served as a resident adviser there. Continue Reading

‘You are an Entrepreneur!’

Kathryn Friedrich, Head of Global Monetization, YouTube (Nathan Oldham/UConn School of Business)
Kathryn Friedrich, Head of Global Monetization, YouTube (Nathan Oldham/UConn School of Business)

UConn’s New Xcite Conference Draws 200+ Women; Strives to Increase Connecticut’s Women Business Leaders

It was a simple assignment that YouTube executive Kathryn Friedrich gave to the audience of 200 business women: take a minute and think of an entrepreneur.

“If you’re not thinking of yourself, think again, because you are an entrepreneur,” she said. “Entrepreneurship is a mindset. You don’t have to start your own company to be an entrepreneur. You can start working on it right away!” Continue Reading

A Place Where Science is Always Fun

Matt Fleury '07 EMBA, Connecticut Science Center CEO and chairman, Connecticut Board of Regents for Higher Education. (Nathan Oldham/UConn School of Business)
Matt Fleury ’07 EMBA, Connecticut Science Center CEO and chairman, Connecticut Board of Regents for Higher Education. (Nathan Oldham/UConn School of Business)

‘You Can See People Enjoy What You’ve Created’ Says Matt Fleury, CEO of CT Science Center

You can hardly blame Matt Fleury ’07 EMBA for wishing it would rain.

The president and CEO of the popular Connecticut Science Center in Hartford knows that rainy days create skyrocketing attendance. On warm, sunny days, families head to the beach or to pick apples.

On a quick walk through the Science Center, which draws some 300,000 visitors annually, Fleury’s eyes light up as he shows off his favorite exhibits: Continue Reading

“I Want Her On My Team”

Corliss Montesi '86, vice president and corporate controller at Stanley Black & Decker, addresses hundreds of enthusiastic students at one of several graduate student Convocation events. (Nathan Oldham/UConn School of Business)
Corliss Montesi ’86, vice president and corporate controller at Stanley Black & Decker, addresses hundreds of enthusiastic students at one of several graduate student Convocation events. (Nathan Oldham/UConn School of Business)

Stanley Black & Decker Exec Urges New Grad Students to Find, Embrace their “Personal Brand”

One of the most important things you’ll bring to the workplace is your “personal brand”—your reputation, your expertise and the widespread perception that you are a valuable asset to the team.

“A brand is a promise of what’s to come,” Corliss Montesi ’86, vice president and corporate controller at Stanley Black & Decker, told hundreds of enthusiastic students at one of several graduate student Convocation events held on Aug. 25 at the Gershon Fox Ballroom in Hartford.Continue Reading

Tremendous Workplace Shift Underway

NAWMBA Conference and Career Fair
The National Association of Women MBAs (NAWMBA) will hold its annual conference and career fair in Stamford from October 20-22, with the UConn School of Business as the lead academic sponsor. (NAWMBA photo)

Women MBA Conference’s Goal: Increasing Number of Women Business Leaders in Connecticut – and Beyond

The business world is on the cusp of a tremendous shift that will draw more women into top management positions, said the executive director of the National Association of Women MBAs (NAWMBA).Continue Reading