On November 13, alumni and friends gathered in Minneapolis for a spirited event celebrating the Wisconsin School of Business’ 125-year legacy, rounding out a four-part anniversary tour that also included events in Chicago, Milwaukee, and New York City.
Twin Cities Badgers packed the historic Guthrie Theater to hear from school leaders and reconnect with fellow WSB alumni in celebration of the school’s proud milestone.
Welcome remarks were delivered by Farin Williams (MBA ’17), member of the Wisconsin Business Alumni Board, and Gayle Fuguitt (MBA ’80), former member of WSB’s External Advisory Board. Guests then enjoyed presentations from Vallabh “Samba” Sambamurthy, WSB’s Albert O. Nicholas Dean, and Matt Seitz, director of WSB’s AI Hub for Business.
Showcasing WSB’s Past, Present, and Future
In his presentation, Sambamurthy highlighted several of the school’s hallmark achievements throughout history and outlined WSB’s major investments during his tenure, including strengthening its undergraduate program through student-centric services, expanding its portfolio of graduate programs, and boosting the size and scope of the school’s expert faculty.
“WSB is a place where theory marries practice, and that’s a unique way in which we have prepared so many successful professionals,” said Sambamurthy.
Turning his attention to WSB’s bright future, Sambamurthy also shared examples of how the school is leading boldly to meet today’s business challenges, including:
- Embracing new technologies, like AI, in the context of business
- Preparing students to think with an entrepreneurial mindset
- Investing in industry engagement
When it comes to the alumni community, Sambamurthy reminded attendees that their stories and successes are a key element of the school’s longevity and proud legacy—and that WSB is always there to support them. With a strong focus on lifelong learning, WSB seeks to be a premier resource for upskilling, reskilling, and continuous learning at all career stages.
“WSB is a place where theory marries practice, and that’s a unique way in which we have prepared so many successful professionals.”
—Vallabh “Samba” Sambamurthy, WSB’s Albert O. Nicholas Dean
Transforming Business with AI
AI has brought forth rapid transformation in almost every industry, prompting business leaders to invest in its powerful capabilities and collaborate with individuals who can optimize it for business needs. According to Seitz, director of WSB’s AI Hub for Business, most businesses now report using AI in at least one function—and human productivity has meaningfully increased. Throughout Seitz’ remarks, a key theme emerged: AI is a powerful tool that students, professionals, and business leaders alike must learn to leverage.
Within the business context, Seitz emphasized that professionals need to discern how AI is best utilized in their unique industry. Finance leaders might use AI for fraud detection, whereas marketing professionals could use it for ad optimization. When it comes to how to deploy AI, Seitz said the short answer is that it’s complicated, especially when accuracy is critical. He explained that leaders must match the tolerance for error to the use case. For example, in advertising, a small number of mismatched impressions may be acceptable if overall performance improves, while in health care, even small error rates carry much higher stakes.
“A key question for business leaders is matching the technology and the constraints on it to the importance of the use case,” said Seitz.
Despite the challenges, Seitz urged attendees to embrace AI’s capabilities, trust but verify results, and use it to gain a competitive advantage in their careers.
Diving Into WSB’s AI Hub for Business
Seitz also discussed the school’s AI Hub for Business, a major initiative that establishes WSB as a premier destination for AI innovation and education. The hub supports leading-edge research, fosters impactful industry collaboration, and prepares students to lead with AI. The hub’s mission is to help leaders understand where AI truly creates value and how to adopt it responsibly. Seitz laid out a few ways alumni can get involved:
- Join the hub’s mailing list to receive exclusive updates and invites to the AI webinar series
- Read ExplAIn it like I’m busy, Seitz’ AI newsletter that explores what’s new in AI and why it matters
- Attend WSB’s AI Summit on April 16–17 at Memorial Union in Madison
The hub will also be expanding opportunities for the Badger community to stay engaged in AI and business throughout the year.
Join the festivities! Check out WSB’s anniversary hub and register now for WSB’s Global Toast, a special event on 12/5 that unites Business Badgers across industries and cities.