OWEN NEWS

OWEN NEWS LACIE BLANKENSHIP

With the $55 million renovation and expansion project of Management Hall is in its final months, Phase 1 of the building’s opening was well underway for the start of the school year. Vanderbilt Business welcomed students back into the building at the beginning of Mod 1.

With the first and second-floor lobbies, classrooms, team rooms, and library open for use, the community flocked to Management Hall with the traditional energy that comes at the start of the school year.

“Students are everywhere; the utilization is so high,” said Lindsay Donald, Chief of Staff and one of the leaders of Owen Onward, a team established to help manage the construction-related transitions related to the project. “Even in this temporary state, students are constantly booking the team rooms, meeting in the lobby, and working in classrooms on the second floor.”

Faculty and student-facing staff utilized the new office suites on the first and second floor to hold office hours and meetings.

Donald noted how excited students and faculty were to be in the building, especially faculty who worked in the old Management Hall. “Bill Christie, Frances Hampton Currey Professor of Management and Dean (Emeritus), is like a kid in a candy store, and it speaks to the growing legacy we have here at Owen.”

The last months of construction focused on the 3rd and 4th floor, the Great Room, and the main entrance. “I am thrilled to have the building open in its full capacity in January and am especially thrilled about seeing the complete Great Room,” said Donald. “It’s going to be showstopping.”

The opening phase already offers passersby a strong glimpse of the building’s intended promise – to stand as a front door to Vanderbilt for the Nashville business community. “This building shows the investment and importance of our community,” said Donald. “We’re out in front and ready to interact with the business community at large.”

A new Vanderbilt MBA concentration, Consumer Psychology and Marketing Analytics, and the Master of Marketing program were designated as STEM degree programs.

“One of our guiding principles is Innovation and Learning, which pushes us to continually evolve our program based on global market needs,” says Sue Oldham, Associate Dean, MBA Program Operations. “The STEM designation in this new concentration signals to employers that our students are ready with a quantitative background to step into highly technical tech and product roles.”

“I’m so excited to offer our MMark international graduates the opportunity to apply to work in the US for three years prior to needing an H-1B visa,” said Suzanne Feinstein, Director of the Vanderbilt Master of Marketing program. “This gives our graduates time o receive additional work experience here and establish themselves professionally.”

Under the Optional Practical Training (OPT) program, international students with F-1 status who graduate from colleges and universities in the United States are eligible to apply for Optional Practical Training, which provides up to 12 months of work authorization in their field of study.

Now that the MBA concentration and Master of Marketing program have STEM-eligible CIP codes, international graduates in F-1 status can apply for an additional 24 months of OPT, also known as the OPT STEM extension, for a total of 36 months of work authorization after graduation.

The STEM designations not only impact international students but also strengthens the resumes of domestic students.

The new MBA concentration provides students with a foundation in marketing analytics and an understanding of customer psychology. It includes 4 required courses: Consumer Behavior, Consumer Insights for Marketing Decision Making, Quantitative Analysis for Marketing Decision Making, and Marketing Analytics, and students must also choose 2 courses from options ranging from Marketing Communications: Advertising and Social Media to Pricing Strategies and Brand Management.

“This new concentration will provide our students with a solid foundation in marketing analytics, as well as a strong understanding of the psychology of their customers,” says Jennifer Escalas, Associate Dean of Academic Programs and Dean Samuel B. and Evelyn R. Richmond Chair in Marketing.

—Sue Oldham

Dean Eric Johnson appointed Daniel Cohen, Jennifer Escalas, and Kelly Goldsmith with chair distinctions effective in the 2022-2023 academic year.

Daniel Cohen, Professor of Accounting, is one of 6 new faculty members joining Vanderbilt Business in the fall and has been named Frances Hampton Currey Chair. Cohen’s primary area of research is on accounting choices and the influence of these choices on earning management. He also studies how financial statement disclosures affect or influence the firm’s cost of capital and affect the information environment upon which investors and the capital market more generally Daniel Cohen condition investment decisions. Cohen teaches Financial Reporting II. Jennifer Escalas, Dean Samuel B. and Evelyn R. Richmond Chair in Marketing, has been named Associate Dean of Academic Programs. Escalas’ scholarship focuses on narrative processing and Jennifer Escalas consumer self-identity. She is one of the first researchers to explore narrative processing by approaching consumers as story-builders. In her new role, Escalas will focus on curriculum and course delivery across Owen’s degree programs. Escalas teaches Statistics for Marketing and Kelly Goldsmith Consumer Insights.

Kelly Goldsmith, Professor of Marketing, has been named E. Bronson Ingram Chair. Goldsmith is a behavioral scientist who examines consumers’ responses to uncertainty and scarcity. She primarily focuses on identifying and explaining seemingly paradoxical attributes of human behavior, (i.e.: in her studies, she finds that resource scarcity can lead consumers to be more generous, not just more selfish). Goldsmith teaches Marketing Management.

Vanderbilt welcomed new administrators to multiple programs and departments at the start of the academic year.

Jack Eyre (MEd’20) was named the Director of the MS Finance (MSF) Program. Eyre works at the forefront of MSF recruitment, admissions, mentoring, academics, and development, fostering the strength of the program and supporting MSF students. He serves as the primary liaison between the program and students, Vanderbilt Owen, and the greater community.

Eyre comes to Vanderbilt after 6 years at Kenyon College, where he served as Associate Director of Admissions.

Eyre received his BA in Political Science from the College of Wooster and his Master of Education in Higher Education Administration from Peabody College, with a concentration in Enrollment Management. Eyre interned with the MSF Admissions team during his time at Peabody.

“I enjoyed my time as an intern with Vanderbilt Business and am thrilled to bring my refined expertise to a community that I already know and love,” says Eyre.

Abby Vidmer was named the Director of Recruiting for Young Professional Programs. Vidmer spearheads recruiting efforts for the Master of Marketing, Master of Finance, Master of Accountancy, and Accelerator programs.

Vidmer comes to Vanderbilt after 3 years at Davidson College, where she served as Assistant Dean of Admissions.

Vidmer received her BS in Business Administration from Bucknell University, with a concentration in Accounting. She expects to complete her Master of Professional Studies in Higher Education Administration from Georgetown in August.

“I look forward to strategizing the way that we recruit, and I can’t wait to see how the different programs progress,” says Vidmer.

Jack Eyre

Abby Vidmer Joe Wagstaffe was named

the Associate Director of Recruiting and Admissions for the Executive MBA (EMBA) programs. Wagstaffe spearheads EMBA recruiting and admissions efforts, supports admitted students, and enhances program recognition and reputation. He serves as a primary connection for prospective students integrating into the Vanderbilt Owen community.

“I am honored to join the team at Vanderbilt Business and to be in a position to help connect students with the tremendous programs we offer,” said Wagstaffe.

Wagstaffe joins Vanderbilt after 5 years of serving as Director of Admissions for Bellarmine College Preparatory. His career began in sports management in roles with the United States Olympic Committee, United States Field Hockey Association, and Stanford University Athletics. He transitioned to the Stanford Graduate School of Business, where he served as a program Associate Director.

“I am thrilled to work with prospective students who are searching for that next step in their educational journeys; that next piece that can help them achieve their goals,” said Wagstaffe.

Wagstaffe received his BA in English from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and his MS in Sport Management from Minnesota State University, Mankato. “I am excited to support these professionals and look forward to the future of the Vanderbilt EMBA Program,” he said. Wesley Notestine was named the Assistant Director of Academic Affairs. Notestine focuses on providing customized academic advising to graduate students across the multiple degree programs and plays an integral Wesley Notestine role in academic affairs, supporting class registration, class/exam schedules, and Teaching Assistant assignments. “I am thrilled to join the Academic and Student Affairs (ASA) team at Owen,” said Notestine. “It is so rewarding to empower students and help them pursue their dreams.” Joe Wagstaffe Notestine comes to Vanderbilt from the University of Mississippi, where she served as Coordinator of Advising, Recruitment, and Retention. She brings experience in student affairs, degree audits, and university policies and procedures after working at Belmont University, the University of Minnesota, and the Vanderbilt University Registrar’s Office. “Vanderbilt Business students are world class, and I look forward to using my expertise to support this community of developing professionals,” she said. Notestine received a BA in Southern Studies from the University of Mississippi, a BA from the University of Memphis in African American Studies and History, and an MS in Academic Advising from Kansas State University. “I look forward to working with the students in each of the degree programs,” said Notestine. “Every student will have different goals and different stories, I am honored to help them navigate these waters and get to their goal destination.”

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It was wonderful to be back at Owen in October to celebrate the Reunion and participate in our Alumni Board meeting. As I walked through the festivities on campus, the warmth and camaraderie among Vanderbilt alumni from the different schools and class years was wonderful. It underscored how connected and tight knit our alumni network really is, and how much potential we all have to support the university that has made such an indelible impact on our lives.

Reunion weekend was also special because it was the first time in

Owen’s history that we combined our Alumni Board meeting with our

Board of Visitors meeting, bringing together more than 40 of the school’s most dedicated advocates to collaborate on how best to advance

Owen’s mission and to hear directly from Chancellor Daniel Diermeier and Dean Johnson. Our Board of Visitors members, many of whom are also former Alumni Board members, partner with the Dean to advance the strategic direction of the school and their expertise and guidance are integral to Owen’s success. I was proud to be in the room with such a fantastic cadre of leaders—some of the finest leaders we have in the business community—and to participate in our deep-diving discussion.

It was fantastic to have Chancellor Diermeier join us and challenge us to think about how to broaden Owen’s global presence and strengthen our connection to the broader Vanderbilt University community as well.

A key topic during our fruitful meeting was an overview of the Boston

Consulting Group (BCG) strategy project, which presented on the state of the business school market. We discussed overall business school trends both nationally and around the world, such as what factors are impacting business schools and their offerings, Owen’s advantages and areas for growth in the marketplace, and what the marketplace is telling us about demand. A few things stood out as key advantages for us—Owen’s size and ability to nimbly adjust as needed, as well as its close connection to the larger Vanderbilt community, are unique and ultimately help to make us a very strong and attractive business school.

As we look to the future and consider our offerings to students and employers, we are carefully considering how Nashville fits in to our success. How can we partner with the thriving healthcare, technology, insurance, tourism and other major industries in our backyard? How do we leverage those relationships and opportunities to prepare our students and alumni for local and global success, while also capitalizing on all the incredible opportunities Vanderbilt has to offer? How do we build meaningful connections between Owen students with faculty and alumni from areas across Vanderbilt, from the law school to the divinity school, and everything in between?

We are also continually exploring business school students’ changing dynamics and expectations. Many students today want a flexible and highly personalized business school experience and expect a high return on their business school investment—all things Owen can deliver in spades, especially thanks to our engaged and supportive alumni network around the globe, and our leaders who understand we must evolve to remain competitive. As Chancellor Diermeier often says, “At Vanderbilt we are proud, but not satisfied.” We must continually push ourselves and one another to reach our full potential as a community, and I encourage all our alumni to consider how they can connect with and support today’s students and faculty.

Owen’s spirit of collaboration and community engagement is part of what makes our school exceptional. Management Hall’s beautiful renovation and expansion embodies this sense of connection and energy that sets our school apart, and to me, creates a gravitational pull within Nashville and beyond, bringing people to our community to learn and to grow. I came away from Reunion weekend with a feeling of pride and gratitude. It has been such a meaningful experience for me to be part of Owen, and it is fantastic to see it grow and evolve since I was a student. When I count my blessings, I count Vanderbilt twice. I hope you feel the same.

—Matt Peterson, chief executive officer, ancillary and individual, UnitedHealthCare

Matt Peterson, Dean Eric Johnson, and Derek Young at the October 6 Distinguished Alumni Reception at Management Hall.

It has been an honor to serve as the Owen Asia Alumni Board Chair since we formed in 2020. Setting up the board with our inaugural members—my dear friend Heiki Miki (MBA’96); Michael Chandler (MBA’00); Xiaoyan Jiang, (MBA’01); my former classmate Anand Kumar (MBA’91); Qinglin “Austin” Na (MBA’95); and Ian Yee Hang Wan (BA’06, MBA’08)—was such a great opportunity for us to think about how we could leverage our passion for Owen throughout Asia. The Owen Asia Alumni Board has made a tremendous impact in bringing together the various hubs of Owen alumni activity across Japan, China, and Korea that have been brewing for years, and building upon them to be even more impactful. Since we formed, we have also welcomed Prashant Khemka (MBA’98) founder of the Singapore-based investment advisory firm White Oak Capital Partners, whose expertise in Asian markets and more is a tremendous asset to our board and beyond.

In our first year as a board, we thoughtfully and intentionally set as our goals to grow the Owen and Vanderbilt brands across Asia, recruit Asian students to our outstanding community, and place Owen students and alumni in jobs and internships in Asia. I’m pleased to report that we are making excellent progress on all fronts, thanks to the coordinated grassroots efforts of Owen’s incredible alumni.

We are working to increase the number of contact points between Owen and students in Asia through alumni programming and employer engagement, and we are also continually highlighting Owen’s connectivity and place within the larger One Vanderbilt community. As you know, word-of-mouth is incredibly powerful. When Asian students graduate from Owen and return to Asia and share their experiences, it enhances our visibility and reach, encouraging prospective students to explore what an Owen education can do for them.

From our board members to many others, we have outstanding alumni leaders in Asia, and their successes and connections help advance our cause and show others what Owen-educated leaders can achieve. It is so important—and so rare—to have what Owen grads have: ethics, integrity, and intellect—and this mix makes them stand out globally. Owen alumni can be particularly successful in Asia because they possess an understanding of US business and culture, while also having a diversity of thought and business acumen that can help companies strengthen as global corporate citizens. It’s also important that we provide our current students and alumni with career opportunities in Asia, one of the fastest growing regions in the world and teeming with opportunities. Some of our board members are offering internships at their companies as part of this mission, and we are working to enhance our relationships with employers to build out our network.

We have made concerted efforts to increase recruitment of students in Asia, and we are seeing great numbers so far. When we talk to prospective students about Owen, we underscore our uniquely collaborative community, how people really care for and support one another, and how their Owen family will welcome them and make their time overseas enriching and life changing. Sharing what we know and love about Owen with others is crucial to helping us achieve our goals, and that’s why Dean Johnson’s travels to Japan and Singapore this fall with members of the Owen team are so significant. Dean Johnson’s energy and passion for Owen are infectious, and we are lucky to have his leadership and vision for the school. As travel has opened up slowly across Asia recently, people are craving that in-person connectivity that we have missed for the last couple of years, and being able to hear Dean Johnson sharing the Owen story in person is incredibly meaningful.

I am thrilled with the progress the Owen Asia Alumni Board has made so far, but we have more work to do. We have big goals—to grow in Korea, Taiwan, and in other countries throughout the region; expand our board; and leverage our connection to Vanderbilt’s larger alumni network and chapters in Asia. We encourage alumni, friends, and the entire Owen community to get involved. We need your engagement, and I hope you will reach out to me or other board members to share your thoughts on how you think we can meet our goals to expand Owen’s footprint in Asia and around the globe.

Derek Young (MBA’91) is president of Fidelity International’s Japan operations. His daughter, Morgan Young, is a Master of Marketing candidate at Owen.

This summer and fall, Owen hosted Closing Bells in Minneapolis, Chicago, Boston, New York City and Tokyo for alumni, current and prospective students, as well as the broader Owen and Vanderbilt community. Here are some of our favorite memories from those gatherings. We hope to see you soon in your city! Keep an eye out on our calendar for events near you at events.vanderbilt.edu/business/

1, 2 (BOSTON) Janet Kim McCormick (MBA’88) hosted alumni at her home on September 26, 2022, for the Boston Closing Bell.

3, 4 (TOKYO) Owen Asia Alumni Board Leaders Derek Young (MBA’91) and Heiki Miki, (MBA’96) hosted the Owen community in Tokyo on September 20, 2022.

10. 6, 7 (CHICAGO) Owen alumni and current students gathered in Chicago on August 8, 2022.

8, 9 (DALLAS) Alumni in Dallas held a Vanderbilt Business Welcome event for interns, new graduates, & prospective students in the Dallas area on June 16, 2022. The Dallas Business Club held a Summer Welcome on event on July 14, 2022, with ~ 150 people attending from top business schools and over 15 representing Owen.

5, 10 (NEW YORK) Owen students on the Finance Trek met with Owen alumni at the New York City Closing Bell on October 13, 2022.

11 (MINNEAPOLIS) Alumni board member Ben Reichenau (BA’92, MBA’97) and his wife Kendra, hosted the Minneapolis Closing Bell on August 10, 2022, at their home.

After more than 2 decades in human resources executive and management positions at companies including Royal Dutch Shell, Electronic Arts, Anaplan, and 8x8, Amelia Generalis (MBA’98) was eager for her next challenge when Eric Wu, CEO of OpenDoor, approached her with a new opportunity in 2021. He was looking for a Chief People Officer to oversee OpenDoor’s HR department and, Generalis’ extensive experience with Fortune 500 global brands and hyper-growth companies made her the perfect candidate to lead efforts to attract, develop, and promote talent for the growing business.

“I feel like I have the best job in the company,” Generalis says. “OpenDoor is fundamentally changing the way people are buying and selling real estate by empowering them with the freedom to move. I love being a part of a company that I believe is a force multiplier for good.” OpenDoor started in San Francisco in 2014 as a digital platform to reimagine how people can easily make real estate transactions online. Today, the company is in more than 40 markets around the US.

At OpenDoor, Generalis looks to bring on team members who are genuinely curious and excited about the company’s mission and view it through a business lens, with a nuanced understanding of everything

from operations and administration to marketing and more. “We train people to not be order takers, but innovators,” she says. “We approach everything from a business-led perspective, and our decisions are made to be meaningful and high-impact.”

Generalis is also a staunch advocate for work-life balance, though she notes “it will never be 50/50; sometimes there is more work, and sometimes there are more life responsibilities. The question is, how do I weave these 2 things together?” As a parent to 4 children, she says asking for help and accepting help, both at home and in the workplace, is key. “It’s a team sport inside and outside of the house,” Generalis says. “It’s important to focus more on your outcomes and what you can do, not on what you can’t do.”

Much of Generalis’s approach to work and life was shaped by her time at Owen Graduate School of Management. “Owen gave me an understanding of business, finance, and HR that has been a real differentiator in my career and has influenced how I think about the teams I help build and lead.” After graduating from Owen, she honed her skills at leadership development programs at Ford Motor Company and Shell, helping prepare her to launch her career with a “business first” perspective.

Though she lives in the Bay Area now, Generalis’ connection to Owen has never been stronger. She recently joined the Owen Alumni Board and was back on campus in October to meet with other alumni and leaders. “I am very excited about Owen’s future—it is on the edge of something new and exciting. I’m eager to leverage my 25 years of experience building networks and community to help support students, faculty, and programs at Owen,” Generalis says. She is also committed to helping students and alumni hone their leadership skills. “You must have good technical skills and know your craft, but if you are missing leadership elements, your career will slow. The alumni board can help students accelerate on this front.”

Generalis views Owen’s collegial atmosphere and small size as an advantage to students and wants to encourage today’s students to build their networks early by getting to know their classmates, faculty, and others in the Vanderbilt community. “About 10 years ago, someone in a more senior role asked me, ‘who is on your personal board of directors?,’ meaning you don’t just need a mentor to succeed, you need an entire team around you that helps you along your journey.” Generalis took the conversation to heart and considers colleagues from the tech industry, former coworkers, and her family as her personal board of directors.

As she considers what the ever-changing future holds for current Owen students, Generalis offers some advice: “Take as many new and different opportunities as possible and build out your portfolio of skills. Lean into your strengths—these are things that I have seen serve others, and myself, well.” – MORGAN KROLL

Amelia poses with classmate and Emeritus Board Member Tom Barr at the Distinguished Alumni Reception during Reunion 2022.

Chris Brown (MBA’10) CEO and board member at WellSpring Consumer Healthcare in Sarasota, Florida, came to Owen Graduate School of Management after beginning his career in corporate finance (and following a one-year gig as an Oscar Mayer brand ambassador for the iconic Wienermobile). After several years in financial planning and analysis, Brown made the move to Owen to turn his focus to marketing and brand management.

“Owen shaped who I am today,” he says. “Not only did I receive a world-class education that was the perfect blend of technical skills and relationship management, but I made lifelong friends from around the globe.”

After graduating from Owen in 2010, Brown joined Chattem (now Sanofi) in Chattanooga, Tennessee, where he helped launch lucrative new brands like Aspercreme with Lidocaine and reinvigorate established brands like Gold Bond. He also collaborated with a creative agency to develop the highly successful advertising campaign for Icy Hot featuring basketball legend Shaquille O’Neal.

Brown also ventured into the entrepreneurial realm and co-founded Pints and Pedals with fellow Owen alumnus Russell Autry (MBA’10). “Chattanooga's Ultimate Pub Crawl on Wheels,” Pints and Pedals quickly became one of the city’s most popular nightlife activities.

“Russell was the ideal partner to work with,” he says. “I never worried that we would deal with any surprises that would negatively impact the business. After 3 years of owning Pints and Pedals, we had a profitable exit. I learned an immense amount about entrepreneurship and was able to give the proceeds of the sale to my parents and brother to support his battle with complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS).”

Brown’s brother Justin has battled with CRPS for more than 15 years. A rare and debilitating condition, CRPS constantly sends distress signals from the nerves to the brain, causing excruciating pain. Brown is passionate about raising awareness and CRPS research funding and is grateful to many of his classmates for their financial contributions and awareness-driving efforts since he joined Owen in 2008.

“A few years into Justin’s diagnosis, I realized that taking on this mission alone was too much to ask of myself,” Brown says. “I started sharing Justin’s story and the things we needed to help him beat this disease—love, encouragement,and the financial means to afford medical bills not covered by insurance. More than a decade later, the Owen community remains just as committed as the first time I asked for help.” Today, he is thrilled to share that his brother is receiving excellent care at the Spero Clinic in Fayetteville, Arkansas, and has a chance to win his battle with CRPS.

Brown views his time working in consumer healthcare as a way to give back and say thank you to everyone that has helped his family, and especially his brother, during his journey. Brown joined WellSpring—which develops and markets over-the-counter and personal care brands in the consumer healthcare industry—in 2019 as vice president of sales and marketing and was promoted to CEO in January 2022. WellSpring has enabled Brown to further pursue his passion for entrepreneurship and to expand on his growing success reinvigorating iconic brands.

“We are focused on putting the consumer first and emphasize the importance of innovation grounded in consumer insights and delivering on unmet consumer needs,” Brown says. “I love working in consumer healthcare, and I wake up each morning and read reviews about the products that we offer and how we are helping to improve the health and wellness of our consumers.” After establishing a strategic vision for the business and elevating WellSpring’s reputation within the consumer healthcare community, he recently led a successful sale process for the Audax Group and is excited to collaborate moving forward with Avista Capital Partners to accelerate WellSpring’s growth.

Throughout his career, Brown has also remained connected to Owen and recently joined Owen’s Alumni Board, comprised of the school’s most committed alumni.

“I view Owen as a part of my extended family, and I think it is important to give back to a community that has given so much to my family and me,” Brown says. “I have also admired those that served on the alumni board over the years and generously given back their time to former students such as myself. As a new board member, my goals are to strengthen my connection with the Owen community, contribute to the strategic direction of the university, and reconnect classmates with Owen to enhance our alumni network.” – MORGAN KROLL