On December 5, Business Badgers in Madison, across the United States, and around the world raised a glass in celebration of the Wisconsin School of Business’ 125th anniversary during WSB’s Global Toast.
Hosted by WSB in Madison and by alumni volunteers in other cities and countries, the more than two dozen events united Business Badgers across oceans, cities, and industries in honor of the school’s enduring legacy and boundless impact.
In Madison, which served as a focal point for the day’s celebrations, nearly 100 Business Badgers gathered at UW–Madison’s Pyle Center to celebrate, catch up with old acquaintances, and listen to a celebratory toast delivered by Vallabh “Samba” Sambamurthy, WSB’s Albert O. Nicholas Dean.
“This incredible milestone of 125 years is much more than just a number,” said Sambamurthy, whose remarks were also livestreamed over Instagram. “It represents a legacy that’s been built by all of you: alumni, faculty, staff, students, and friends. You have made the Wisconsin School of Business what it is today.”
U.S. Toast Photos
Global toast celebrations also took place in more than 10 states and 10 countries in December. Alumni around the U.S. and the world gathered together at restaurants, cafés, hotels, and even a holiday pop-up shop to raise a glass to the school and celebrate their shared connection to WSB—including Nent Sathavornmanee (BBA ’02, MS ’07), who hosted a toast event in Bangkok, Thailand.
“Bangkok is home to many accomplished and thoughtful Wisconsin alumni, and bringing them together in one room felt like a rare chance to pause, reconnect, and share wisdom shaped by real leadership experience in a rapidly changing world,” says Sathavornmanee. “What made this evening especially meaningful to me was the generosity of those conversations. Our alumni spoke openly—not just about success, but about reinvention, uncertainty, and growth. Hosting the toast felt less like leading an event and more like listening to a collective story, one where global insight met local understanding in a very human way.”
International Toast Photos
As the Madison event on December 5 drew to a close, Sambamurthy turned his attention to WSB’s exciting future and shared his optimism about the years to come.
“Anniversaries are not just about looking back; they’re also about building momentum for what’s next,” said Sambamurthy. “As I look ahead to WSB’s future, I see a school that has earned the right to be transformational. When we partner together and effectively channel the same values that have driven us forward for more than a century, our community can truly accomplish anything.”
“Alumni gatherings like this toast matter because they remind us that our greatest strength is one another,” adds Sathavornmanee. “Long after the classrooms, it is these moments of connection—across generations, industries, and cultures—that continue to shape how we lead.”
As one of the first business schools in the nation, the Wisconsin School of Business has consistently demonstrated what it means to lead. Visit our 125th anniversary webpage to see how the school has been celebrating its enduring Legacy in Motion.