This past Friday, November 5, the Wisconsin School of Business’s RMI MBA candidates were fortunate to participate in the yearly RMI Advisory Board Meeting. This meeting brought together our MBA students (including myself), faculty members, and some distinguished alumni that make up the RMI Advisory Board. The day gave us the chance to meet one another, network, and, most importantly, learn from one another.
The afternoon started off with an overview of some of the important initiatives at the Wisconsin School of Business, and the Risk and Insurance Department itself, including an increased emphasis on diversity, equity, and inclusion. The meeting then moved to a fascinating research presentation by Professor Anita Mukherjee. Professor Mukherjee presented her extensive research on the issue of abandoned retirement accounts across the United States and gave both the students and board members a glimpse into the important work being done by our faculty.
We then moved to a series of three facilitated discussions led by the MBA students. Kevin Taheri and I focused on the risk management field’s preparation for and response to the current supply chain disruptions. The board members provided some unique insights from their respective businesses, and we had quite a lively discussion. From the world of consulting, airlines, insurance brokers, and even technology companies, the supply chain crisis has required agility and creativity that requires deep knowledge of the principles of risk management.
In addition, we were also able to discuss data collection and management, as well as the ways in which the COVID-19 pandemic changed the modern workforce and what the future of work looks like. I think it is safe to say that both students and Advisory Board members were able to learn a great deal from these conversations.
Finally, we were able to partake in a social hour together as a group. Given the past year-and-a-half’s never-ending series of Zoom rooms, it was great to meet in person and make those personal connections. I had a fantastic time at this year’s meeting and look forward to continuing to build relationships with the Advisory Board as I move through my career.