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Update | Spring/Summer 2024

Dean’s Letter: Opening Doors

Photography by Paul L. Newby II

Dean Samba in his office

Here at the Wisconsin School of Business, we’ve been opening a lot of doors lately: both figuratively and literally.

In April, WSB threw open our physical doors to the public as part of the UW 175th Anniversary Community Open House. Visitors to Grainger Hall participated in an interactive challenge across the building—exploring our contributions to Wisconsin and beyond while getting a firsthand look at how we prepare the next generation of business leaders.

Because, with our industry-driven curriculum and experiential learning opportunities, WSB truly opens doors for students. We foster connections with leading companies, showcase the limitless possibilities of business careers, and create opportunities to thrive in today’s competitive job market.

Don’t just take my word for it, however. In this issue, you’ll see how a WSB degree has opened doors for Business Badgers across a variety of industries—including Marina Bloomer, an alum using her business experience to create women-powered leadership in STEM, and this year’s impressive 8 to Watch selections, who are leading at top companies like Google, Spotify, Cisco, and EY.

You’ll also read about how our redesigned executive MBA is creating accelerated opportunities for business leaders and how the school’s new undergraduate “pathways” model is establishing more entry points to industry.

Finally, I’d be remiss if I didn’t thank you—our loyal alumni—for opening doors for our students. You are a powerful part of our programs, and it’s inspiring to see Business Badgers create a network that truly transcends our corner of the university.

On, Wisconsin!
Vallabh “Samba” Sambamurthy
Albert O. Nicholas Dean
Wisconsin School of Business