We are proud to once again recognize the exceptional students and faculty selected by the graduating cohorts for recognition. These members of the Rady community are thought leaders and changemakers, and they uplifted those around them during the challenging circumstances of the past year.
The Robert S. Sullivan award, named in honor of the Rady School’s first Dean, recognizes students for a high level of leadership and contributions to the Rady School and larger UC San Diego community. The Dean’s award is given to students who epitomize our school values ofinnovation, impact, collaboration, integrity and risk-taking.
This year, a third student award, the Daniel J. Reed Memorial Prize for Innovation, was created in honor of FlexEvening student Daniel Reed, who passed away during the course of this academic year. Daniel embraced a full life, and he was passionate about technology and innovation. This award recognizes a student or group of students who have demonstrated a commitment to entrepreneurship, technology and innovation.
The student and faculty honorees listed below will be recognized during commencement ceremonies on Sunday, June 13th, 2021 at 10 a.m. Join us for a livestream of commencement here.
The Rady School has partnered with the San Diego Military Advisory Council (SDMAC) to provide research support for SDMAC’s Military Economic Impact Report (MEIR). The MEIR is an independent annual study to comprehensively quantify the impact of defense-related expenditures on the San Diego region’s economy.
“The Rady School is the premier business school in the region with faculty recognized for their research,” said Mark Balmert, SDMAC Executive Director. “We are honored to partner with the Rady School on this important project. The school and Dean Ordóñez have been incredibly supportive and we look forward to continuing this collaborative and strategic partnership.”
On June 18, Dean Ordóñez and UC San Diego Chancellor Pradeep K. Khosla are featured guests on an SDMAC webinar. This webinar will discuss the role of the coronavirus pandemic’s effect on UC San Diego and active duty and veteran students.
“At the Rady School, we are committed to our active duty service members and veterans,” said Rady School Dean Lisa Ordóñez. “Our partnership with SDMAC for the MEIR study will deliver a vital, independent look at the military’s impact on our local economy. Our faculty and student analysis of the SDMAC data provides clarity to local, state, and national elected officials who use the report to demonstrate the importance of the military on our region.”
Associate Professor Sally Sadoff
Sally Sadoff, an associate professor of economics and strategic management, will lead the analysis of the data provided by SDMAC, supported by a group of Rady School MBA students. The report will examine the economic impact of San Diego’s military cluster on jobs, income, direct spending, supply chain, and consumption. The report will also provide analysis of military personnel counts and wages and benefits for military branches, reserves, retirees, and the VA.
Once completed, the results of the report will be shared with the community via a press conference and distributed to key groups. The report will also be available online at SDMAC.org.
In addition to the Rady School’s partnership with SDMAC, the school offers unique programs to support service members and veterans, like the StartR Veteran accelerator program, which offers mentorship, support, and inspiration from other veteran entrepreneurs. For more information on the school’s support for service members and veterans, go to: https://rady.ucsd.edu/programs/masters-programs/mba/military/
Rady School Partners with SDMAC for Military Economic Impact Report & Webinar was last modified: June 16th, 2020 by Rady School
The Class of 2020 has demonstrated extraordinary resilience and innovation. We are so proud to celebrate our graduates–albeit virtually–throughout the week. Please join us in congratulating these students and faculty who were selected by students as recipients of our 2020 awards.
The Robert S. Sullivan Award recognizes a student for a high level of leadership and contribution to the Rady School, UC San Diego, or larger community.
The Dean’s Award recognizes a student who epitomizes the philosophy of the Rady School (innovation, impact, collaboration, integrity and risk-taking).
Winners from all programs will be added here as they are announced. Don’t forget to join us for our Virtual Commencement broadcast 9-9:30 a.m. on June 13, 2020!
MASTER OF FINANCE
Student Awards
Dean’s Award
Jia (Jeff) Rui Wen served as the president of the Rady Finance Club and as MFin 2020 cohort rep, and participated and communicated important events and opportunities. Jia encouraged solutions and worked with the Rady faculty and administration to make the student journey better.
Robert S. Sullivan Award
Raven (Di) Deng represented the Rady School at several competitions, including the regional ACG Cup – placing second! He has been active not only in several Rady student organizations, they belonged to the UC San Diego competitive break-dancing club. With that busy schedule, Raven attended many events, representing the Rady School by being prepared and engaged.
Lauren Rowley was recognized by Poets and Quants as one of their 2019 “MBAs to Watch.” She held leadership roles in the Consulting Club, the Women of Rady, and the Rady Student Board. She worked on wide-ranging initiatives from rebuilding the Rady Student Board election process to rewriting the Board constitution and created a legacy that will make the school more equitable and efficient for all programs. She also brought community leaders to campus for training opportunities and meaningful partnerships, using her platform to the benefit of all students.
Robert S. Sullivan Award
Joseph Baini (left) and Samuel Jordi (below) led the Venture Capital and Innovation Club, creating opportunities for students and build their professional network. Last February, under their leadership, a Rady School team was invited and competed in the regional level VCI Competition in Salt Lake City.
Because of their consistent work dedicated to their professional field, we recognize their impact and contributions to the Rady community. Their focused vision for a meaningful personal learning experience is inspirational and shows that you can create the experience you desire.
Coffey Zhang is being recognized for her consistent leadership and initiative throughout the program. As the President of the Data Analytics Club, she collaborated with colleagues, faculty and staff to create learning opportunities. She has made a lasting impact not only at Rady but in the San Diego community – connecting with companies for engagement opportunities for her peers, and becoming a founding board member of the Women in Big Data San Diego chapter.
Robert S. Sullivan Award
Diego Amenabar created a culture of trust and assurance among his colleagues. Serving as cohort rep, Diego demonstrated a willingness to support and serve their constituents, being a voice for concerns and a partner for the Rady administration.
Nizam Khan has been a champion for the MPAc program’s success and growth during its historic first year. He helped institute a Rady chapter of the Beta Alpha Psi organization, which will connect UC San Diego accounting undergraduate and graduate students. Nizam has positively represented Rady through professional engagement, supporting partnerships between the San Diego Accounting community and the Rady School that will benefit many future cohorts. This person has been recognized as a positive role model and enthusiastic leader.
Elizabeth Zhang-Chen is being recognized for her broad engagement and positive impact within the Rady community. Elizabeth was an active member of the Rady Life Sciences Club and used their connections within the local biotech community to arrange company visits for Rady students. She also used her industry expertise to share professional opportunities with Rady students, often making introductions and referrals. She is a member of the Vistage on Campus mentorship program and initiated the first ever VOC alumni reunion. She also participated in not one, but two StartR teams!
Faculty at the Rady School of Management are leading a series of webinars aimed at analyzing the ongoing challenges businesses face during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Beginning Friday, April 24th and continuing for the next five weeks, distinguished faculty experts will deliver a free lunchtime webinar. The first webinar will discuss the “Four Stages of a Pandemic Response,” highlighting steps that individuals, business owners and the economy are moving through as we all experience the unprecedented global pandemic. This webinar will be led by Professor of Marketing On Amir, associate dean of the Rady School and chief behavioral officer at Fiverr, Inc.
“The human condition during a crisis is characterized by distinct psychological changes,” Amir said. “This webinar will examine these changes through observed marketplace behavior. I will also explore how data from a large global marketplace for digital services can reveal these changes in behavior and point to ways in which individuals and businesses can recover from the effects of the pandemic.”
Friday, April 24:
Four Stages of Pandemic Response
Speaker: On Amir, Marketing Professor and Associate Dean at the Rady School of
Management
Moderator: Uma Karmarkar, Assistant Professor of Marketing/ITO
Friday, May 1:
How Do Fiscal Stimulus Checks Impact Consumer Spending?
Speaker: Kanishka Misra, Associate Professor of Marketing
Moderator: Karsten Hansen, Professor of Marketing
Friday, May 8:
Physical and Mental Health During COVID-19
Speaker: Sally Sadoff, Associate Professor of Economics and Strategic Management
Moderator: Uri Gneezy, Epstein/Atkinson Endowed Chair in Management Leadership and Professor of Economics and Strategic Management
Friday, May 15:
Supply Chain Insights and Modifications in a Pandemic
Speaker: Zal Phiroz, Rady Lecturer
Moderator: Hyoduk Shin, Associate Professor of Innovation, Information Technology and Operations
Friday, May 22
Stock Market Investor Sentiment During the Coronavirus Pandemic
Speaker: Joey Engelberg, Professor of Finance
Moderator: Will Mullins, Associate Professor of Finance
Friday, May 29
Panera During COVID-19: Lessons in Leadership
Guest Speaker: Niren Chaudhary, CEO of Panera Bread
Moderator: Amy Nguyen-Chyung,Visiting Assistant Professor
Rady Faculty Lead Market Impacts of COVID-19 Webinar Series was last modified: July 14th, 2020 by Rady School
Raise your hand if you’ve got a smartphone next to you. This one’s for you.
“Brain Drain,” a 2017 research paper co-authored by Rady School professor Ayelet Gneezy and Ph.D. graduate Kristen Duke (Ph.D. ’19), was recently recognized as having the highest social impact according to a best in class survey by Financial Times.
Gneezy and Duke’s research tested the “brain drain” hypothesis, that the “mere presence” of your smartphone might make it more difficult for you to engage with the task at hand, even when you’re resisting the temptation to actually check your phone. (Their research suggests that it does.)
Now raise your hand if you’ve just thrown your phone out the window.
To measure social impact, Financial Times first asked business schools to submit up to five research papers published within the last five years for consideration. Using Altmetrics, Financial Times measured “the online resonance that each [research paper] had with the wider world beyond universities,” including data such as academic citations, blog references and tweets. “Brain Drain” received an Altmetric score of 3956, more than five times higher than the second-highest-scoring paper.
You’ve rehearsed your pitch over and over again to prepare for the big meeting. So, how do you tell your story without sounding rehearsed?
Let’s ask Associate Professor of Marketing Rachel Gershon.
Gershon’s research focuses on understanding and improving human decision making with a focus on social and prosocial behavior. Some of her research looks at perceptions of authenticity.
In the paper Twice-told tales: Self-repetition decreases observer assessments of performer authenticity, Gershon and her co-author describe how we generally assume social interactions to be unique. When we find out that someone is repeating themselves, we find them to be less authentic, and in turn, we feel less likely to want to engage with them in the future.
Watch the video below for a research-backed tip on how you can repeat a performance—and still appear authentic—the next time you speak in public.
How to Increase Your Authenticity When Speaking in Public was last modified: February 25th, 2020 by Camille Cannon
We all know the struggle of sticking to New Year’s resolutions. We start strong, and then by February, our willpower to resist a plate of french fries or commit to a gym routine is gone faster than, well, said plate of fries.
What can we do to make healthy habits actually stick?
Associate Professor of Marketing Wendy Liu has answers. Liu specializes in consumer judgment and decision making, focusing on the cognitive and emotional basis of consumer choice, social interactions, and well-being.
Her recent research topics include decision making under complexity, self control decisions, and the role of emotions and social motivations in customer behavior. She also studies consumer behavior in medical and health domains.
Watch the clip below for a quick tip on how to see your new habits all the way through December.
This Quick Tip Can Help You Form Healthier Habits was last modified: February 5th, 2020 by Camille Cannon
This September, the first ever cohort of Master of
Professional Accountancy (MPAc) students will make history as they begin
classes on campus at Rady School of Management at the University of California
San Diego.
It’s an exciting time to be around the buzzing Rady campus,
not just for the students but for the faculty and staff too. James Deiotte,
Executive Director of Rady’s MPAc program, is particularly excited to kick off
the 2019-2020 academic year with a refreshed take on the traditional masters of
accountancy program.
James Deiotte, Executive Director, Master of Professional Accountancy
“Our students will be taught
by professionals in the field they’re entering. They will gain great insights
as to what goes on and what’s expected to become successful in the profession,”
says Deiotte. “Being taught by research
faculty and industry professionals, including retired accounting firm partners,
will accelerate the career development of our students.”
What makes the Rady MPAc different is that we’re leveraging
on the strengths of being a young business school that is entrepreneurial at
its core. Rady is a school that has a collaborative and innovative culture and
the MPAc program is no exception. The collaborative approach is reflected in
the program’s crossover with other disciplines offered at the school, including
business, analytics, and finance.
“We have approached embedding
data and business analytics into most of our classes to accelerate the
understanding of these changes and putting more context around it,” says
Deiotte. “For example, we want our
students to understand the legal nuances and the accounting implications of what
is a digital asset and how you might want to account for the acquisition of
those assets. We are especially
interested in the accounting and reporting related to the new and restrictive
regimes arising around the world like the EU’s General Data Protection
Regulation (GDPR) or California’s Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA).”
Our program embraces students that want
to change and make a meaningful impact in their careers and the profession. With
the changes taking place in technology and data, students that have majored in
data science, economics or international studies are finding that the accounting
profession is interested in them, provided they can understand and use the
language of business – accounting.
Getting into the profession is Job #1! “We’ve
built a curriculum that accomplishes the most important tasks with respect to
the professional development of our students,” says Deiotte. “We want to make sure that students are ready
for certifications within the profession, including the CPA and CMA exams,
which are both recognized globally.”
Growing in the profession and future proofing the student’s
investment in their career is enhanced by Rady electives focused on leadership,
communication and decision making courses and experiences from Capstones. “We have heard from firms, both large and
small, that soft skills development is even more important today because of the
rapid technology enabled changes taking place and the use of BOTS, AI and ML
platforms,” says Deiotte.
Launched in 2014, the Master of Finance (MFin) program at
Rady School of Management is a relatively new program. But despite its
adolescence, the program and its curriculum has quickly become highly praised
within the industry.
Just last year it was ranked by the Financial Times as one of the top MFin programs in the world; a
huge accomplishment after a mere four years since the program’s conception. It
placed 14th in the U.S. and is expected to rise higher in the future.
The highly-regarded ranking isn’t all that the MFin degree
has to offer. The Rady School MFin program is a STEM-designated, CFA
Institute-affiliated professional degree that delivers rigorous, hands-on
training to prepare graduates to immediately contribute in environments where
quantitative and analytical skills are at a premium.
Students learn leading-edge methods for analyzing big data
for financial decision-making and risk management. The program’s emphasis on
quantitative models and methods ensures that graduates are equipped to develop
innovative solutions to the complex problems facing the financial industry.
“The Master of Finance
program at Rady is designed for the current needs of the finance industry. It
incorporates class work that reflects what’s going on in the industry today and
includes a heavy component of data science, which is presently very important
for financial firms,” says Michael Melvin, the Executive Director of the MFin
program at Rady.
Michael Melvin, Executive Director, Master of Finance, Rady School of Management
As Melvin notes; “It’s
a quant program, so students learn quantitative skills, including financial
econometrics that they can apply throughout their coursework including the final
capstone research project.”
The MFin capstone is a project-based course that allows
students to work with a prestigious firm within the finance industry. Students work
together in teams of four and complete research that demonstrates the application
of skills developed throughout the MFin program.
“Our students work
with a mix of local and global firms. From San Diego to London to Hong Kong,
capstone project stakeholders present students with a particular idea to
research, which may cover a range of financial topics.”
These topics can include anything from portfolio construction,
cryptocurrencies and bitcoin, trading issues, payments, asset management, and risk
management, among many others. What’s more is that students can learn from collaborating
with respected industry professionals.
Examples of capstone companies that students worked with
this year include some of the top financial firms in the world, such as Goldman
Sachs and BlackRock. They also worked with companies that have finance groups
within them, like ViaSat, and a local La Jolla firm, Alphacore.
“Alphacore is a great example of a firm where we had students interning
with them that were so successful in their research that Alphacore executives
were interested in continuing the relationship and building upon what was
started,” recalls Melvin.
Melvin says that “students
might do a project with one firm but then that experience will lead them to
opportunities with other firms as well.” Opportunities for students to
network and showcase their skills often lead to their ultimate goal;
employment.
“I think the MFin
degree is a ticket into the industry. I used to be a Managing Director at
BlackRock and we’re teaching students at Rady the skills that I wanted to hire
for my teams at BlackRock, which were quantitative investing teams.”
The capstone increases employability because the students
gain the skills and the abilities that firms want to hire. Not only that, but
students can differentiate themselves from other job applicants because they’re
able to highlight bespoke research on their resume.
“When capstone teams
are doing very well, which they often do, firms will request resumes from the
teams so that they can interview students, which leads to internships and
permanent jobs.”
For anyone looking to enhance their career within the
finance industry, the MFin program at Rady is a great place to start.
In today’s business environment,
being skilled in analytics is becoming more and more of an advantage across
many industries and corporations. Playing it safe with a basic understanding of
business practices might be satisfactory, but successful businesses use data
analytics techniques and models to make better decisions and gain a competitive
edge.
At Rady School of Management, we
equip our students enrolled in the Master of Science in Business Analytics
(MSBA) program with the skills needed to thrive in these types of data-rich
business environments.
Our MSBA program offers rigorous,
hands-on training that prepares students how to identify business
opportunities, generate business insights and create business solutions, all
through data and analytics. It’s unique in the sense that it delivers a
curriculum at the convergence of data science and business.
As Raymond Pettit, Executive
Director of Rady’s MSBA program, notes, “Rady
is one of the few business schools that has a strong and collaborative relationship
with our data science colleagues on campus. Many other schools that offer MSBA
degrees are often stand-alone, however Rady offers cross-discipline
opportunities through our close relationship with the Halıcıoğlu Data Science
Institute and the Supercomputer Center at UC San Diego and our world-class
faculty in all these areas.”
As part of the MSBA curriculum,
students must participate in a capstone project, which consists of solving a well-defined
business problem for a real life company. Each student pursues this experience
as part of a team and must complete both written and oral exams to pass the
course, as well as a complete report for the sponsor company.
With more companies seeking
skilled professionals who can work effectively in teams to answer key
operational and strategic business questions using data and analytics, the
capstone project is crucial to position students for future career
success.
“The capstone project isn’t just mandatory for students, it’s beneficial
for them because it gives students the opportunity to practice what they’ve
learned throughout the course and apply it to a real-world setting with an
industry leading company,” says Pettit.
Every year, the capstone
stakeholders include Rady School industry partners and big name companies such
as Petco, Hewlett Packard, Becton Dickinson, Cisco, DIRECTavenue, Mirum, and
Mazda among many others. These companies present students with an opportunity
to obtain real industry experience that aids them in their job search and
beyond.
It’s also not just beneficial for
students, but it’s also valuable for the participating companies. Pettit added,
“Many companies that our students work
with see the capstone as a way to create a talent pipeline, so they can keep these
students on as interns or they can hire students for permanent jobs afterwards.”
Some participating companies have
been involved with the MSBA capstone project for several years, meaning they
can build off projects from the previous years. Not only that, but the capstone
is growing tremendously with more than 25 companies submitting proposals to
take part just this year alone.
For this academic year, Pettit
and the rest of the MSBA faculty were overall very pleased with the capstone
results noting that; “The quality of
students emerged in the amazing work and reports the teams presented to the
sponsoring firms. This group of students will be making sizable contributions
as their careers continue to grow and evolve.”
It’s an exciting time to enroll
in an MSBA program at Rady as there are many advancements on the horizon.
“We’re going to expand the program and we can envision this expansion
benefitting a larger number of companies based on the success we’ve seen so far,”
says Pettit. “There is scope for the
current capstone to develop into a joint-capstone in partnership with other
disciplines on campus including data science undergraduates and our Master of
Professional Accountancy program. To do this on the business side and work
together would be huge and a new type of collaboration that nobody else is
doing.”
