A Message from the Dean

Greetings from the University at Buffalo School of Management.

As I look at the stories we bring to you in this issue of Buffalo Business, I see a common theme: succeeding by doing things differently.

Our cover story taps into faculty and alumni expertise to learn how retailers are adapting and even reinventing themselves to stay afloat in a rapidly changing environment. And in another story, “Not Your Father’s Orientation," you can read about how our new approach to orientation is helping MBA students develop skills for success before they even set foot in a classroom.

Research by Emily Grijalva shows how organizations can do things differently to limit the influence of gender bias, and research by Larry Sanders and Joana Gaia identifies ways that health providers can get patients to share their electronic health records (both in Insights).

Around the world, our alumni are blazing new trails and making an impact in business, and we highlight two of them in this issue. In her Alumni Close-Up, you can read how Kathleen Hamm, BS ’85, led the charge to help the U.S. Treasury Department, and the broader financial sector, identify and mitigate cyber risks. Meanwhile, Jasmeet Singh Gujral, MS ’12, who manages online banking platforms for HSBC in Hong Kong, says in his Alumni Close-Up, “I’m constantly thinking about new innovations and how things can be done differently.”

This adaptability applies to our students as well, and you can see evidence of it in “Statistical Solutions," where Jake Cercone, BS ’18, developed a better measure for NFL quarterback performance than the commonly used passer rating. The story focuses on how Cercone and other undergraduates use data analytics to complete real-world projects by engaging with area organizations and conducting research, both independently and with faculty.

At the School of Management, we are proud to be doing things differently. Our programs in social innovation, health care management, entrepreneurship and leadership are just a few of the initiatives keeping us on the leading edge as we continue to define the future of management — and we have big plans for more to come.

All the best,

Paul Tesluk
Dean