Experiential learning takes students to Chicago and Vietnam
Through WSB’s Marketing Leadership Institute, students were able to take advantage of two recent experiential learning opportunities: one close to home—and one more than 8,000 miles away. In November, a group of undergraduate and graduate students traveled to Chicago for a career trek that included stops at McDonald’s corporate headquarters and advertising firm DDB. Then in January, a group of two dozen students traveled to Vietnam for a global immersion experience, which included in-depth interviews with consumer-insight professionals, visits with regional companies, and immersive cultural experiences.

New case competition to bring top consulting teams to Madison
In April, teams from some of the nation’s top undergraduate business schools will descend on Grainger Hall for the inaugural Wisconsin Invitational Consulting Case Competition. Over two days, students will put their consulting skills to the test, compete in front of a panel of judges, and contend for cash prizes. This first-ever event also features networking opportunities with top employers in the consulting industry, including Accenture and Deloitte.
Entrepreneur and WSB alum featured on Shark Tank
Congratulations to Jake Piekarski (BBA ’24), founder and CEO of Snow Scholars, who was recently featured on the television show Shark Tank and secured a $150,000 investment from Mark Cuban. While Piekarski works to grow the business he started as a student, WSB continues to support and expand initiatives aimed at helping today’s students pursue similar entrepreneurial journeys. In addition to paving the way for a new entrepreneurship major, donor support has allowed WSB to cultivate entrepreneurial-thinking skills throughout its curriculum, satisfying demand from both employers and students.
New leadership at the Graaskamp Center
Jacques Gordon has been named the new director of the James A. Graaskamp Center for Real Estate. Gordon previously served as the senior executive in residence at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Center for Real Estate and held the role of global head of research and strategy for LaSalle Investment Management for almost three decades. Through the Graaskamp Center, Gordon supports all real estate programs at WSB, including the nation’s top-ranked undergraduate real estate program.
WSB invests in artificial intelligence
WSB is making strong investments in the rapidly growing field of artificial intelligence. Matt Seitz and Saad Bajwa were recently hired as the director and assistant director of AI@WSB, the school’s new hub for artificial intelligence research. Through the hub, WSB will work to infuse research-backed AI concepts into school curriculum, while also leveraging industry partnerships to collaborate on cutting-edge innovation. On February 7, many WSB graduate students will also participate in AI Day 2025, featuring keynotes and panel discussions about how AI is transforming business across every industry, from health care to sports.
The Donor Digest is a quarterly round-up of stories made possible by gifts to the Wisconsin School of Business (WSB) Fund. Contributions to WSB help the school implement transformative learning experiences and curricula that uniquely prepare students for post-graduation success. Read past stories about donor impact and the power of philanthropy.
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