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Alumni in Action

Business Casual: July 2025

An informal but informative newsletter for WSB alumni and friends

By Wisconsin School of Business | Photography by Paul L. Newby II

July 14, 2025

Taylor Gold receives help with her class schedule from Ngun Tial at College Library; WSB at 125: A Legacy in Motion
It may be the height of summer, but incoming WSB students are busy preparing for an exciting first year at UW–Madison. During Student Orientation, Advising, and Registration (SOAR), advisor Ngun Tial (BS ’22) (right) helps incoming freshman Taylor Gold with her Fall 2025 class schedule at College Library, one of campus' most popular study spots. Photo by Paul L. Newby II

The Briefing

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Grainger Hall’s bold first-floor remodel officially underway
Preparation is underway for Grainger Hall’s transformational reconfiguration, which sets a new standard for student-driven design and enhances WSB’s role in the broader campus community. Thanks to generous donors, over $20 million in private gifts was raised to help fund the building’s extensive renovation. When construction is completed, the modernized first floor will house several new spaces that prioritize learning, gathering, and collaboration.

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WSB’s Russ Coff honored for impactful contributions to the field of strategic management
Russ Coff, the Thomas J. Falk Distinguished Chair in Business and a professor of management and human resources at WSB, received the 2024 Herbert Simon Award from Rajk College for Advanced Studies in Budapest, Hungary. The annual award recognizes scholars whose work has significantly contributed to solving real-world economic and business problems. A renowned expert in the field of management and strategic human resources, Coff’s research explores the role of human assets in innovation, creativity, and competitive advantage.

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Student projects at UW–Madison’s Tech Exploration Lab showcase innovation and highlight the Wisconsin Idea
A hub for rapid experimentation and fresh thinking, the Tech Exploration Lab has been the incubator for 24 student projects over the Spring 2025 semester. Driven by bold ideas, creative problem solving, and community impact, the projects integrate real-world challenges with emerging technologies and mentorship from UW–Madison alumni. One project focused on retail trade promotion and involved collaborating with two members of the Wisconsin Business Alumni Board: Tim Bratland (BBA ’89) of Crystal Farms and Luke Anderson (BS ’98) of Cub Foods.

The Ticker

  • Previewing WSB’s 125th anniversary: As we approach our official kickoff this fall, make sure to bookmark our growing hub for anniversary content, and enjoy a blast from the past with this WSB throwback photo gallery!
  • You’ve got mail: The Spring/Summer 2025 issue of Update magazine is here! Read about alumni making an impact, including this year’s impressive 8 to Watch lineup.
  • An investment worth supporting: See how research at UW–Madison drives innovation, saves lives, creates jobs, supports small businesses, and more.
  • Another impressive ranking: UW–Madison was ranked 30th worldwide and 20th in the U.S. in the 2025 edition of the Global 2000 list by the Center for World University Rankings, which assesses the quality of education, employability, quality of faculty, and research.
  • The business of bags: Shuting Zheng (BA ’13, MBA ’25) was spotlighted by the Wisconsin Alumni Association for her pet supplies company, Dooty Free Bags, which specializes in quirky dog-waste bags and bag dispensers.
  • Double feature: Sean Jacobsohn (BBA ’94) and his Failure Museum—recently featured in the Spring/Summer 2024 issue of Update magazine—also made an appearance in UW–Madison’s alumni publication, On Wisconsin.
  • Slowing waste from fast fashion: A recent study by WSB’s Xiaoyang Long examines how two common approaches to addressing waste in the fast fashion industry—quick response and upcycling—might impact the upstream supply chain.
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Back to School

A Summer Day in Madison

Summer—it’s arguably the best time of year to spend in Madison. Whether you’re a lifelong resident, visiting for a special event, or showing friends and family around your alma mater, we’ve created the perfect Badger-inspired schedule for soaking up the season in Wisconsin’s capital city.

Morning: Summer is a great time to work remotely, if possible, and Madison offers several destinations across the isthmus that boost productivity and inspire creativity. Campus favorites include the Chazen Museum of Art and the Wisconsin Historical Society.

Afternoon: After work, head to one of UW–Madison’s best summer spots to relax and enjoy some well-deserved personal time. Popular pastimes including reading a book on Bascom Hill or sharing a pitcher of lemonade with friends at the Memorial Union Terrace.

Evening: Foodies will find themselves right at home in Madison, with countless opportunities to explore new cuisines all over the city. End this perfect summer day by enjoying a meal at one of Madison’s Badger-owned restaurants.

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Tip Sheet

Career Advice from Audible’s C-Suite

As part of WSB’s M. Keith Weikel MBA Leadership Speaker Series, Cynthia Chu (BBA ’99), chief financial and growth officer of Audible, recently shared her perspective with the Business Badger community on having a growth mindset and the importance of continuous learning. Chu, who is also the chair of WSB’s External Advisory Board, shared a few words of wisdom that students and professionals can apply at any career stage.

  • Advocate for yourself: “Nobody is as invested in your career as yourself. You have to be your own advocate.”
  • Listen and learn: “Really study, listen, and think about where you can add value.”
  • Be a problem solver: “Advice that I got early on is to come to your managers with solutions. Don’t go to them with problems.”

Chu also shared about her experience of being a woman in the financial, marketing, and tech spaces, as well as her approach to managing conflict and differences when overseeing both finance and marketing departments.

Alumni Opportunities

Quasquicentennial events: To celebrate the school’s 125th anniversary, WSB will host events this fall in Milwaukee, Chicago, New York, and the Twin Cities, as well as a global toast on December 5 to unite Business Badgers worldwide. Keep an eye out for more details to come!

October 3: Join WSB’s Strategic Human Resource Management Center for the 2025 SHR Symposium at UW–Madison’s Pyle Center. Register today to build connections, share HR knowledge, and engage with MBA students, alumni, industry professionals, and more.

Share your opinions: Join the Alumni Voice Panel to help improve the alumni and student experience by taking brief surveys and offering your insights.

Calling all young alumni: Join BOLD (Badgers of the Last Decade) Circles to connect with other Business Badgers in your area. You’ll expand your network, stay plugged into the WSB community, and have fun!

Subscribe now: Stay current on the groundbreaking research and teaching excellence of WSB faculty through the school’s Leading the Way newsletter on LinkedIn.

Special note: As mentioned above, an exciting transformation of Grainger Hall is taking place! Due to anticipated construction in the building, WSB will not be hosting a Homecoming Bash or selling Homecoming football tickets in 2025. We hope you’ll join us instead at one of our 125th anniversary events this fall. More information about celebrations in Madison and beyond is coming soon.

About Business Casual

Every other month, alumni and friends of the Wisconsin School of Business will receive insider updates with news about our alumni, faculty, students, and programs. If you want to share Business Casual with friends, they can sign up at go.wisc.edu/wsb-biz-cas.

Questions or comments? Email businesscasual@wsb.wisc.edu

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