Startups

The proliferation of data throughout businesses and organizations worldwide has created skyrocketing demand for individuals who can use it to solve complex problems. New this fall, the School of Management offers a Master of Science in business analytics to prepare graduates for careers in this high-growth field.

The program is the first business analytics master’s to be offered in the SUNY system, and was designed with input from corporate recruiters, alumni and industry experts to meet the exponentially growing needs of the marketplace. The 30-credit-hour curriculum can be completed in just two semesters and focuses on the skills employers seek: data-driven decision-making, visualization, storytelling and business intelligence.

Students will gain a combination of technical, managerial and communication skills, allowing them to rise to leadership positions in organizations worldwide. According to The NextTech, the world generates 2.5 quintillion (that’s a million times a trillion) bytes of data per day, all of which must be analyzed, so demand is soaring for data analysts and data storytellers. 

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects opportunities in this sector will grow by more than 450,000 jobs by 2026.

“Our degree portfolio is constantly evolving,” says Paul Tesluk, dean of the School of Management. “The Master of Science in business analytics will position our graduates for successful careers and enable them to make a positive impact on their organizations and society.”

For more information on the Master of Science in business analytics, visit management.buffalo.edu/msba.

AACSB International has once again granted the School of Management extension of its accreditation. Earned by less than 5% of B-schools, AACSB accreditation is considered the hallmark of excellence in business education.

The school has been continuously accredited by AACSB International since 1930. Accreditation review is conducted every five years and includes all of the school’s undergraduate, master’s and doctoral business and accounting programs. Dual accreditation in business and accounting has been earned by only the top 1.5% of programs.

In their report to the AACSB accreditation board, the peer review team lauded the school for its impressive strategic direction; the strength of its faculty scholarship and engagement; and a strong international footprint and rapidly expanding global programming. New programs highlighted included a BS in information technology and management, an MS in business analytics (see above), and new minors such as entrepreneurship and data analytics. 

The team also commended the school for providing students with significant opportunities to engage with businesses and the community through innovative experiential learning programs like the Terese Kelly Investment Group, LeaderCORE™, Nonprofit Board Fellows, Corporate Champions and activities generated by the Career Resource Center. 

Other initiatives with high-quality outcomes noted by the review team included the school’s social innovation programs, the Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership, and the Center for Leadership and Organizational Effectiveness. 

“We strive for excellence in all of our programs, and it’s gratifying to see our efforts recognized by this prestigious accreditation,” says Paul Tesluk, professor and dean of the School of Management. “This is truly a testament to the hard work of our faculty and staff, and the dedication of our alumni.”

Opollo Technologies, a fintech health care AI startup, took first place in UB’s Henry A. Panasci Jr. Technology Entrepreneurship Competition (Panasci TEC) last spring. 

Ryan Young, MD/MBA ’21, and Anders Rosén, MBA ’21, won $25,000 in startup capital and in-kind services valued at $27,000 for their company.

Opollo™ is a machine-learning algorithm that uses medical natural language processing to provide two to three times more accurate surgery duration forecasts than existing methods. The cloud-based artificial intelligence platform learns from a wide range of health care data to optimize operating room scheduling. Opollo Technologies also empowers its health care facility customers to monetize their efficiency by selling the resulting open time slots to health insurance companies on the Opollo Exchange, a marketplace where medical services are bought and sold.

In-kind awards include legal services from Colligan Law LLP, accounting services from Lumsden & McCormick LLP, human resource services from the People Plan from HR Foundations Inc., business development services from Western New York Incubator Network and the UB Office of Business and Entrepreneur Partnerships, and office space from North Forest Office Space.

Two biomedical engineering students took the $10,000 second-place prize for their company, Layer Slayers, a proprietary cloud-based education platform for 3D printing that enables companies to take advantage of additive manufacturing technologies. 

The People’s Choice award of $1,000 went to BOSQ, a breast pump that creates a personalized experience for nursing mothers, while providing comfort, efficiency, affordability and portability.

Other new venture ideas included a leak-sensing film that works with an app to monitor patients who have had intestinal repairs, and a shower chair accessory that promotes independence while bathing, aiding in injury prevention within the aging community.

Now in its 21st year, Panasci TEC was created by the School of Management and the UB Office of Business and Entrepreneur Partnerships, and is funded with a $1 million endowment from the late Henry A. Panasci Jr. to facilitate and promote the commercialization of UB-generated technologies. The event is hosted by UB’s Blackstone LaunchPad & Techstars.

Daniel Pink (above), No. 1 New York Times bestselling author of When, To Sell is Human, Drive and A Whole New Mind, was keynote speaker last spring at the annual conference hosted by the school’s Center for Leadership and Organizational Effectiveness. The virtual event, titled “The Future of Leadership: Changing the Way We Live and Work,” drew more than 220 attendees. Photo: Tom Wolf

The School of Management has expanded its portfolio of micro-credentials, providing learners with an opportunity to gain relevant workforce skills without the financial and time commitments of a degree.  Smaller than a minor or certificate, micro-credentials enable participants to earn stackable skills that differentiate them academically and professionally. 

Those who complete a micro-credential receive a digital badge—a clickable image that houses information validating their newly acquired skills. Recipients can share these dynamic credentials on social media, digital résumés and e-portfolios to increase their marketability and showcase abilities. While hundreds of individuals might earn the same badge, each badge is unique due to its verifiable metadata, including information regarding the issuing institution, date of issuance, criteria for earning and evidence that the learner has met the criteria. 

Micro-credentials vary in terms of instructional level and eligibility. 

Below are the school’s current micro-credentials, but new offerings are in the works. Visit management.buffalo.edu/micro-credentials for an up-to-date list with eligibility and other information.

• Business Practices in the U.S.
• Data Modeling Using Excel
• Finance Academy
• Foundations of LeaderCORE™
• Global Collaboration and Leadership
• Intercultural and Global Competency
• Leadership Coaching Certification
• MBA LeaderCORE™ 
• Prominence in Leadership 
   

In the new Role Model Speakers Series, hosted by the school's Diversity and Inclusion Office, alumni share how they leveraged their experiences, skills and credentials to achieve career success. Inaugural speakers were Maj. Virginia Best Bailey, AuD/MBA ’11, hearing program manager and chief of audiology, United States Army, Alaska; and Rody Damis, JD/MBA ’13, senior legislative analyst, Executive Office of the President of the United States.

If you were on campus this summer, you likely noticed a lot of digging. Work began on renovating the grounds around Jacobs Management Center, thanks to the generosity of Russ Agrusa, BS ’76, SEAS, whose gift, in honor of his late wife, Paula, BS ’78, will make “Paula’s Plaza” a reality. See rendering above and stay tuned for photos in the spring issue of Buffalo Business.

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