Global health, global leaders

At the conference, five outstanding students from the University at Buffalo School of Management’s Global Leadership Program were recognized for work that exemplifies the power of international collaboration at the intersection of entrepreneurship, medicine and business.

This year’s top performers were:

• Hilda Nyarkoa Bekoe – All-Africa Students Union, Ghana (Team Jamaica)
• Anete Savicka – Riga Technical University Riga Business School, Latvia (Team Latvia)
• Oksana Mandziuk – Vasyl Stefanyk Precarpathian National University, Ukraine (Team Ethiopia)
• Sreekumar Vishnu Nampoothiri – Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, India (Team India)
• Javere Green – University of the West Indies Mona, Jamaica (Team India)

“The Well Cell Global Project sharpened my entrepreneurial and leadership skills, and the experience strengthened my ability to communicate and present ideas effectively,” said Nyarkoa Bekoe.

Led by Dorothy Siaw-Asamoah, clinical professor of organization and human resources in the UB School of Management, the Global Leadership Program has graduated more than 220 participants from more than 17 countries and 20 universities. 

Participants are graduate-level, working professionals from partner universities around the world who collaborated on proposals to introduce a pharmaceutical product into their local markets in partnership with Well Cell Global, a Houston-based health care company focused on treating metabolic disorders through a novel insulin-based therapy.

The conference in Houston, Texas, served as a capstone experience for the students who were awarded full scholarships by Well Cell Global to attend in person. These scholarships were highly competitive, with recipients selected based on a combination of faculty evaluation, active engagement in the program, peer feedback and the quality of their final project deliverables. 

During the fall and spring semesters, participants engaged in real-time collaboration virtually from their home countries spanning eight time zones, demonstrating the power and flexibility of a synchronous, globally connected program. In total, 65 students participated in more than 35 interactive workshops on topics such as emotional intelligence, decision-making and creative problem-solving. They also received personalized coaching from graduates of the UB School of Management’s Leadership Coaching Certification and connected with faculty to explore graduate-level opportunities and global research partnerships. 

“I’m thankful for my one-on-one coaching experience because I always rejected my ideas about startups because I was afraid to fail,” said Savicka. “But now I know that failure is just a way to grow.”

A driving force behind the program’s success is Scott Hepford, CEO of Well Cell Global. A serial entrepreneur and visionary in the health care space, Hepford has championed innovative approaches to treating metabolic disorders and has been instrumental in creating opportunities for students to engage with real-world challenges. His company’s sponsorship of the top five students’ travel and participation in the conference reflects a deep commitment to mentorship and global collaboration, and encouraging an entrepreneurial mindset and practice for future leaders.

“This program is a powerful example of what happens when academia, business and entrepreneurship come together across borders,” said Siaw-Asamoah. “Global Leadership Program participants are leading various sectors in their respective countries and making an impact in emerging economies.”

The program’s success is made possible through a long-standing collaboration with Well Cell Global and the support of the National Association of Jamaican and Supportive Organizations. Project development is guided by outstanding faculty, global partners and UB’s commitment to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals.

“My participation in the University at Buffalo’s Global Leadership program has been one of the most fulfilling experiences of my academic journey,” said Javere Green. “The program is designed not only to cultivate global leaders but also to develop individuals who are self-aware and empathetic towards others and their diverse cultures.”

As the 2024-2025 cohort concludes their journey, the Well Cell Global Conference stands as a testament to what’s possible when creativity, innovation and global citizenship converge.

School of Management Dean Ananth Iyer’s strong support for global experiential learning and social impact aligns seamlessly with the mission of Well Cell Global. His emphasis on the impact of business and management, along with the school’s commitment to engaging for impact, resonates with the goal of creating meaningful change. The program’s focus on transformative education, thought leadership, and engaging for impact through hands-on project work offers an ideal platform to advance Well Cell Global’s vision while fostering leadership through real-world engagement.