UB School of Management alumna Judith Vredenburgh honored by AACSB International

By Kevin Manne

BUFFALO, N.Y. — University at Buffalo School of Management alumna Judith Vredenburgh was among 30 change makers honored by AACSB International - The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business, as part of the organization’s 2016 Influential Leaders Challenge.

Launched in 2015 to honor notable alumni from AACSB-accredited business schools, the AACSB Influential Leaders initiative continues to recognize business school graduates for the positive impact they make on society, and the inspiring example they set for others.

As a graduate of the UB School of Management, Vredenburgh serves as CEO of Girls Inc., leading the organization to provide life-changing experiences and solutions to the unique challenges facing more than 140,000 girls across the U.S. and Canada. She and her team spend their time “inspiring all girls to be strong, smart and bold.”

“Mentoring and caring for others is a way of life for Judy — it’s what she believes in and what she loves,” says Paul Tesluk, dean of the UB School of Management. “Her well-deserved recognition with this award illustrates the impact her leadership has made on the lives of so many others.”

Vredenburgh and her peers represent 15 industry sectors — from social enterprise to health care to technology — across 11 countries. While all of this year’s leaders differ in their fields and paths to success, many employ similar approaches to helping businesses thrive in ways that positively impact society. Five trends, in particular, represent the contributions of this powerful group, including:

• Pushing the boundaries of business through innovation and technology: Business school graduates harness the power of innovation and technology to not only push the envelope in the corporate world, but also affect meaningful change.
• Advancing education and employment through entrepreneurship: Alumni often use their entrepreneurial talents to create education and employment opportunities for underserved communities in different parts of the world.
• Fostering diversity, inclusion and equality: Knowing the importance of diversity for socio-economic development, business school alumni combat inequality and work towards creating an environment in which people of all backgrounds can flourish.
• Creating a more sustainable future: Business school graduates lead the charge in adopting sustainable business practices for the betterment and protection of our globe.
• Ensuring healthy lives: Public health is another top priority for business school alumni, using their expertise to find solutions to global health issues.

“The 2016 Influential Leaders illustrates how the power of a business degree goes beyond — beyond industries, reaching lives in every part of the world — pioneering change, fostering global exchange, and improving the quality of life,” says Thomas R. Robinson, president and chief executive officer of AACSB International. “I would like to thank Judith Vredenburgh for exemplifying how business graduates can be a positive force in society, and congratulate the University at Buffalo School of Management for their role in helping to develop the knowledge, skills and fortitude needed to address some of the toughest challenges we face today.”

For more information on the Influential Leaders Challenge, including a full list of honorees, visit www.aacsb.edu/Influential-Leaders.

As the world’s largest business education network connecting academe with business, AACSB provides business education intelligence, quality assurance, and professional development services to more than 1,500 member organizations across 91 countries and territories. Founded in 1916, AACSB Accreditation is the highest standard of quality in business education, with 775 business schools accredited worldwide. AACSB’s global headquarters is located in Tampa, Florida; its Asia Pacific headquarters is located in Singapore; and its Europe, Middle East, and Africa headquarters is located in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. For more information, visit www.aacsb.edu.