Part of what makes any school great is the caliber of ideas and the richness of intellectual thought emanating from the halls.

And you don’t have to look too hard around Michigan Ross to find exceptional thinkers, prolific researchers, and world-renowned faculty members.

Our faculty are some of the most beloved teachers and most productive and respected academics in higher education. Their research and thought leadership are changing the way companies do business and informing public debate on a daily basis.

In fact, in 2016-2017, Michigan Ross faculty were the fourth most frequently quoted in top business media outlets, behind only Harvard, Stanford, and Wharton.  

Quotes from Ross Faculty appeared regularly in places like The New York Times, Bloomberg, Wall Street Journal, Forbes, Poets & Quants, The Washington Post, Financial Times, and others.

During that same timeframe, Michigan Ross faculty were also producing significant contributions to business research, writing 264 peer-reviewed articles for the top academic journals.

In a comparison completed by the Jindal School of Business at UT Dallas, Michigan Ross faculty ranked sixth in terms of research output, placing them ahead of faculty from other elite schools such as Stanford, Kellogg, Chicago Booth, and Columbia.

And those contributions are incredibly well respected by peers and other researchers. Five Michigan Ross faculty members have recently received special recognitions for their contributions to the understanding and advancement of knowledge in their respective disciplines.

• Sue Ashford was awarded a prestigious lifetime achievement award from the Academy of Management for her work in the field of management and organizations.
• Ted London was honored by the Aspen Institute for his longstanding contributions to base-of-the-pyramid strategies.
• David Brophy was recognized for his 50-plus years of contributions to Michigan’s venture capital industry and entrepreneurial community.
• David Mayer was named a Fellow of the Association of Psychological Science, an honor awarded to those who have made significant contributions to the psychology field.
• Seth Carnahan was named to a Kauffman Foundation Junior Faculty Fellowship for his established record of scholarship and potential around the field of entrepreneurship.

These lifetime achievement awards are just a small fraction of the more than 40 honors and awards our faculty received from third parties in the last year. You can read more about each and every one of them in our recent editions of Dividend magazine.

Spring 2017 Awards Fall 2016 Awards

Ross faculty started or continued work on more than $5 million of sponsored research in 2017, and contributed 78 chapters to scholarly books and published 24 books of their own — almost double the number published by Ross faculty the previous year.

Our incredible team of faculty are at the forefront of their disciplines, shaping our collective understanding of business, our insights into the human condition, and informing the solutions we develop to the world’s most pressing challenges. We are Michigan Ross!

We Are Michigan Ross is a series of stories that brings together the facts, figures, people and ideas that make the Michigan Ross community unlike any other.

CONTINUE READING

We’re committed to supporting our alumni for life, and they’re committed to supporting one another and Michigan Ross.

With about 50,000 living alumni across the world, you can’t go far without hearing a “Go Blue!”

In fact, there are Michigan Ross alums in more than 100 countries around the world, and they’re achieving incredible things. The accomplishments and the power of the Michigan Ross alumni network is impressive.

Our alums sponsor MAP projects, serve as ambassadors, host club events, sponsor scholarships, hire Ross grads, meet with prospective students, and run some of the world’s most influential companies.

The Michigan alumni network has been consistently ranked among the world’s most powerful group of alumni for the help they offer each other, our current students, and even the prospective students looking to join our community. In addition to offering support, mentoring, and volunteering their time, Ross graduates haven’t been shy about supporting the school financially.

Since the kickoff of the University of Michigan’s capital campaign, 12,084 Ross alumni have contributed to the school-wide goal of raising $400 million toward the University’s larger campaign goal.

And that financial help goes a long way toward helping the next generation of alumni and the next generation of Ross-educated business leaders.

In 2016 - 2017, we gave 739 students more than $6,000,000 in scholarships, thanks to the generous support of our alumni.

No matter where in the world you go; anywhere you want to work; anytime you need support to launch a project, close a deal, or change the world, you’re not far from a Michigan Wolverine who’s more than happy to help. We are a family. We are Michigan Ross!

We Are Michigan Ross is a series of stories that brings together the facts, figures, people and ideas that make the Michigan Ross community unlike any other.

CONTINUE READING

Michigan Ross students are distinctive among business school graduates.

They have all of the necessary knowledge and skill you’d expect from a world-class business school, but it’s more than that. Ross graduates collaborate effectively across boundaries, they value doing the right thing and leading by example, and they have a grit and a “get to work” spirit admired by the world’s top companies and most desirable employers.

To get a sense at how valuable Michigan Ross graduates are, all you have to do is look at the demand among organizations all around the globe for Michigan Ross talent.

We have an amazing track record of connecting students to the jobs they want and employers with the talent they need. Whether our students are just launching their careers or looking to accelerate to the next level, we aspire to be the world’s most powerful source of leadership talent across sectors, and we’re well on our way.
 

LAUNCH

Michigan Ross grads get the jobs they want.

Within just three months of graduation, 98 percent of our Full-Time MBA graduates and 96 percent of our BBA graduates had a full-time job offer.

Our specialized master’s graduates have excellent placement rates as well, with more than 90 percent of graduates from each program landing job offers within six months after graduation.

• MSCM: 92 percent
• Master of Management: 92 percent
• Master of Accounting: 97 percent

Michigan Ross graduates quickly see the payoff of their hard-earned degree, as starting salaries for Ross grads are extremely impressive.

Starting compensation packages for our MBA grads ranked third among all business schools, behind Harvard and Stanford. With median base salaries for Full-Time MBA graduates coming in at $120,000. For BBA graduates, median starting salaries are at $72,500. And that’s not even counting bonuses and other forms of compensation that companies are using to attract the very best Michigan Ross students.

Ross grads aren’t just landing the jobs they want. The companies hiring them are also finding the high-quality talent they need here at Michigan Ross.

Top companies from around the world compete to hire as many Ross grads as they can, including Amazon, PricewaterhouseCoopers, Microsoft, EY, Bank of America, BCG, and JP Morgan Chase.

ACCELERATE

Just because our alums have graduated with a job doesn’t mean their career journey is over — far from it. And when the time comes to make a change or accelerate a career to the next level, Michigan Ross has made a lifetime commitment to helping our graduates along that journey.

In 2016-2017, 1,020 Ross alumni engaged with Michigan Ross for career coaching and consultation, a 33 percent increase over the previous year.

It’s not just career consultations for alums where Michigan Ross is helping accelerate careers. If the fast track had a carpool lane, Rossers would be on it.

For example, Ross students in our part-time programs—the Weekend or Evening MBA and the Executive MBA—get an impressive payoff in the form of raises and promotions. A whopping 71 percent of WMBAs and 43 percent of Evening MBAs received a raise during or within six months of graduating from Ross.

And in the past year, more than 90 percent of our recent Executive MBA graduates received a promotion and a salary increase.

And very soon, these executives will join another impressive group of Michigan alumni. Did you know that the University of Michigan accounts for more Fortune 100 CEOs than any other university in the world?

U-M Grads Make Up More CEOs of Fortune 100 Companies Than Graduates of Any Other University

An analysis of CEOs at the top 100 companies on the Fortune 500 list by US News & World Report found that the University of Michigan was tied for 1st among all schools in educating the very best in business globally.

U-M grads leading the world’s biggest companies include: Tom Wilson, BBA ‘79, as chairman and CEO of The Allstate Corporation; Timothy Sloan, MBA ‘84, helming Wells Fargo; Larry Page, who co-founded Google and serves as the CEO of Alphabet; and Jim Hackett, who took the reins at Ford earlier this year.

We help students launch their careers. We help our students and alumni accelerate their careers. We are Michigan Ross!

We Are Michigan Ross is a series of stories that brings together the facts, figures, people, and ideas that make the Michigan Ross community unlike any other.

CONTINUE READING

A deep commitment to learning by doing defines Michigan Ross.

We are building the most intensive and diverse real-world learning opportunities of any business school – supported by rigorous academics, coaching and mentorship, personalized assessment, and a network of top business leaders ready to support our students.

Our students experience all aspects of business in real-world settings. Michigan Ross students start businesses, both while in school and afterward. They advise businesses on how to solve the difficult challenges they face. Our students invest directly in markets and business opportunities, more so than any of our peers. And starting this year, our students will lead ongoing, for-profit business ventures in partnership with leading brands and global companies.
 

WE START BUSINESSES

The Zell Lurie Institute for Entrepreneurial Studies, housed at Michigan Ross, is the world’s premier academic resource for rising entrepreneurs and student innovators. ZLI sponsors grants and competitions that can provide funding for student startups, as well as advice and other forms of support. And it pays off:

In the past five years, Michigan Ross students started at least 172 businesses.

During that same timeframe, Michigan Ross helped students raise $98,683,401 for their startups.

WE INVEST IN BUSINESSES

Ross offers unmatched opportunities for students to invest real money into promising ventures. Our seven student-run investment funds focus on early-stage companies, social impact ventures, real estate developments, and more. These funds manage nearly $10 million in assets every day. 

WE ADVISE BUSINESSES

Our groundbreaking MAP course — in which teams of students work with companies around the world to solve a business challenge — remains a signature element of our Full-Time MBA program and has now expanded to almost all our degree programs. Our students participated in 184 MAPs in the 2016-2017 school year, the most ever.

Those projects took place in 27 different countries around the world.

In addition to the MAP program, our students also have a wide range of other opportunities to advise companies and lead brands on innovation, growth strategies, and operational excellence, including our Innovation Jam, Impact Challenge, Open Road, Tauber Institute Team Projects, and more. Companies that look to us for help include Google, Amazon, Vail Resorts, PepsiCo, Boeing, The Alinia Group, GE Power, and over 100 more every year.

WE LEAD BUSINESSES

This fall, Michigan Ross will pioneer the next great innovation in business education. Ross is working with leading brands and global companies to launch three new, for-profit business ventures that will be operated by Ross students, integrated into the curriculum, and mentored by faculty and prominent alumni.

In the coming years, we plan to launch a dozen of these ventures. Watch for details on how Ross continues to lead the way in providing students with the most valuable, immersive experiences in business education. We are setting a new standard in business education. We are Michigan Ross!

We Are Michigan Ross is a series of stories that brings together the facts, figures, people, and ideas that make the Michigan Ross community unlike any other.

CONTINUE READING

Our goal at Michigan Ross is to attract and recruit the best talent from across the globe.

Thousands of students study at Michigan Ross every year, learning from and working with our faculty, running student clubs, creating new businesses, collaborating on creative projects, participating in extracurricular learning opportunities, and so much more.

Our halls and classrooms are once again filled with the energy of our students. And from our first-ever class of Freshman BBA students to the seasoned leaders in our Executive MBA classes, the students entering Michigan Ross programs this year are the smartest, most diverse, highest-achieving students we’ve ever seen.
 

THEY ARE BRILLIANT

Across our programs, our newest students are entering Michigan Ross with record-setting GPAs and test scores.

Our incoming MBA class has the highest average GMAT score of any class in Michigan Ross history, beating the previous record set last year by 8 points.

For the first time ever this year, we will welcome a class of 566 freshman to the Michigan Ross BBA program, and they are exceptional, with an average high school GPA of 3.9.

Their average SAT score is 1450 — putting our average BBA student in the 97th percentile of SAT takers.

These impressive students will meet the challenges of a rigorous Ross education. They will support each other. They will push each other to set higher goals and to achieve more incredible things. And it will be our privilege to help them become among the leaders and best.

THEY ARE DIVERSE

Our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion is unwavering and hard-coded into the Michigan Ross DNA. Why? Because the research is very clear: diversity improves business performance, and we are the funnel of talent into business. Diversity improves learning and we are, at our core, a place of learning.

Our new students make up some of the most diverse in Michigan Ross history.

Our MBA program will welcome this year a record-high percentage of minority students.

Another record high for the MBA program is the percentage of women entering the class this year at 43 percent. Our MAcc program and MM program both have classes made up of more than 50 percent women.

International enrollment for our programs is also on the rise as 34 percent of our incoming MBA students originate from outside of the United States, hailing from 45 different countries (another record for Michigan Ross).

We are also pushing the boundaries in diversity of thought. For example, the students in our incoming Masters of Management class hail from 31 different undergraduate majors. For a class of 82 students, that’s quite a variety of backgrounds and perspectives. It’s a spectrum of thought that will serve our students well as they work together to learn, grow, and develop themselves into leaders who create a better world through their contributions in business.

THEY ARE HIGH ACHIEVERS

Something Michigan Ross students know well is that making the world a better place doesn’t need to wait until graduation. Our incoming and current students have been hard at work and taking on some of the most pressing challenges in our world.

Earlier this year we compiled a list of more than 60 impressive stories about work our students are doing all around the world. Among these stories, you’ll read about:

• Two BBA students featured in Forbes’ ‘30 Under 30’
• MBA students who landed on the “MBA Women to Watch” list
• The team of students who won a national innovation challenge for the second year in a row
• An Executive MBA student who landed on the global list of top financial advisors for the fourth time
• The MBA student who ran a marathon in nearly world-record time, while wearing a 3-piece suit

Check out the 60+ student success stories

And here is just a small sampling of the accomplishments of some of our new, incoming students:

• Raised more than $30,000 for victims of flooding in Pakistan
• Biked 4,200 miles across the US in just 28 days
• Implemented a lean manufacturing project at one of the largest jewelry manufacturers in Bali
• Raised money to open a student-run men's shelter and a 15-bed shelter for LGBTQ+ kids while he was a student at Penn that is now in its sixth year of being open
• Worked directly with Sheryl Sandberg on a project for Lean In
• Established Taiwan’s first major corporate LGBTQ+ group
• Attended Peru’s most prestigious engineering university at age 14
• Performed improv at Second City
• Competed nationally in chess
• Served in the Peace Corps in Ecuador
• Runs a non-profit supporting Gold Star families

From 2016-2017, more than 10,000 prospective students applied to become a part of the Michigan Ross family, with many programs seeing double digit application growth in the last year.

These incredible students are all attracted to Michigan Ross because of our unparalleled commitment to academic innovation, our world-class faculty, our expansive and supportive alumni network, our incredible career resources and outcomes, and our ever expanding opportunities to make a real impact in the world while at school and beyond. We are Michigan Ross!

We Are Michigan Ross is a series of stories that brings together the facts, figures, people, and ideas that make the Michigan Ross community unlike any other.

CONTINUE READING

The start of a new school year brings with it hope and optimism for the future, while also inviting us to look back, reflect on our successes and lessons learned, and chart our path forward.

For Michigan Ross, our path forward is built on a commitment to excellence and investments in people—including our most talented group of students in a generation, our well-respected and influential faculty, and the most supportive alumni in the world.
 

Our COMMITMENT TO EXCELLENCE

Michigan Ross programs are among the very best in the world. Nine of our specialty disciplines are ranked in the Top 10 by US News & World Report in 2017. Only one other school, Stanford, has more specialty areas ranked in the Top 10.

The specialty rankings in which Ross placed in the Top 10 include:

• accounting (#5)
• entrepreneurship (#6)
• nonprofit (#7)
• finance (#9)
• international (#7)
• management (#5)
• marketing (#5)
• production/operations (#3);
• and supply chain/logistics (#4)

Why is this breadth of excellence important? To be successful in business, leaders must possess skills across functions and be able to work across silos to create new business models and new sources of value. And for students, no matter what area you want to focus on, Michigan Ross is recognized as world-class in that space — and you’ll develop lifelong networks that span across areas of specialty, which will only further accelerate your careers.

In addition to our breadth of excellence across business specialities, our academic programs are globally recognized as among the very best. Across 10 different programs, eight achieved Top 10 rankings last year, including our undergraduate, MBA, and executive programs.

Add these highly respected programs to the 100+ U-M graduate programs ranked in the Top 10 by US News & World Report, you can see why Michigan is consistently considered among the very best universities in the world, and the best public university in the nation. In fact, this past year was the fifth time U-M held such a title. And we’re only getting stronger.

OUR PEOPLE ARE EXCEPTIONAL

Michigan Ross is special is because our people are special. Whether it is our students, our faculty and staff, or our alumni, we attract the very best people to Michigan Ross. Our community consists of people who have the character and capabilities to be leaders who make a positive difference in the world — leaders who create a better world through business and education. Our people define who we are, and the newest members we are attracting to and welcoming into our community are exceptional.

This past year, more than 10,000 talented students applied to Michigan Ross.

Applications to our Full-Time MBA program have increased by 30 percent since 2014.

Our BBA program welcomed its first class of freshman this fall, and just in the past year, the number of applications increased by 85 percent.

More people than ever before are entering our Masters of Management program, which grew by 22 percent in the last year.

Our Weekend and Evening MBA programs saw significant increases in applications last year as well, with jumps of 40 percent and 29 percent respectively.

Our Specialty Master’s programs (MAcc and MSCM) have had incredible years, too. MSCM doubled its class size, and MAcc has a class made up of more than 50 percent women.

Our goal at Michigan Ross is to attract and recruit the best talent from across the globe, and the students starting our programs this fall are setting all-time records as the smartest and most diverse we’ve ever had.

Read More About The Quality of Michigan Ross Students

Adding to that strong, diverse community is a world-class faculty made up of highly sought-after thought leaders. From 2016-2017, Michigan Ross faculty appeared in the the world’s most influential media outlets 430 times.

In fact, Michigan Ross Faculty were the 4th most frequently quoted in top business media outlets, behind only Harvard, Stanford, and Wharton.  

Quotes from Ross Faculty appeared regularly in places like The New York Times, Bloomberg, Wall Street Journal, Forbes, Poets & Quants, Washington Post, Financial Times, and others.

Read More About Our Influential Faculty

Our commitment to excellence, the level of talent we are attracting to Michigan Ross, and our innovations in business education resulted in Poets & Quants recently listing Michigan Ross first among their “Schools to Watch,” saying: “Ross has emerged as a go-to school for MBAs looking for a rich blend of business fundamentals and experiential learning.”

The positive momentum behind Michigan Ross is strong. We are on a mission to become the go-to source for business solutions to the global challenges of our generation, to become the world’s most powerful career accelerator, and to become the most distinctive source of leadership talent across the globe. We are Michigan Ross!

WE ARE MICHIGAN ROSS is a series of stories that brings together the facts, figures, people, and ideas that make the Michigan Ross community unlike any other.

CONTINUE READING

A new video released this week on the Michigan Ross Facebook page shows all the ways in which we celebrate Michigan Ross Alumni for being the best in the world.

At Ross, we’re committed to being a lifetime partner in the success of our alumni, and the video released this week offers a glimpse into a few of the ways Ross makes good on that commitment.

As part of the AlumniAdvantage suite of offerings, Michigan Ross alumni have access to many networking events, career resources, lifelong learning engagements, and volunteer opportunities.

NETWORKING

Michigan Ross has more than 50 active alumni clubs around the world and our alums live in more than 100 countries. There are several ways we help alumni stay connected and meet new people well after they graduate:

• Attend RossTalks
• Attend one of more than 500 events each year
• Join a club near you
• Recruit Ross graduates
• Return for the annual Reunion
• Host a Ross Student Reception

Learn more about Alumni Networking Events

CAREER RESOURCES

Ross alums have access to personalized, one-on-one advice to help them reach their goals, no matter where in their career journey they may be. Ross has Career Development Office staff specifically dedicated to alumni.

These advising sessions are just one of the many ways Alums can take advantage of available career resources from Ross. Also available are:

• Access to leading industry databases
• Career development tools
• Recruiting opportunities
• Webinars
• Job boards
• Alumni Fire

Learn more about Alumni Career Resources

LIFELONG LEARNING

Michigan Ross is committed to supporting our alumni’s education needs as they continue to grow and evolve. That’s why we offer tuition free executive education classes to our alumni for life. But that’s not all — other great lifelong learning opportunities include:

• The ability to audit courses
• The opportunity to share the gift of professional development through gifting executive education classes at half tuition
• Online courses from Ross faculty
• Livestream events from the school
• Attend conferences at Ross

Learn more about Lifelong Learning Initiatives

VOLUNTEERING

Alumni volunteering is essential to the student experience at Michigan Ross. Our alumni host MAP projects, speak at club events and in classes, and offer their time in so many other ways that make a difference in students’ lives. Here are a few ways alums can get involved:

• Pledge your time via Alumni Fire
• Mentor a student
• Speak to a club
• Host Reunion events
• Participate in research surveys

Learn more about Volunteer opportunities

There are a ton more resources and opportunities available to Ross graduates in the AlumniAdvantage program, because we believe the world’s best alumni deserve the world’s best benefits.

Explore to learn more

It’s that time of year.

Tank tops have been overtaken by hoodies, iced lattes are being replaced with pumpkin spice lattes, and the Michigan Marching Band provides a pleasant soundtrack for your walk home. For Master of Management students, there’s another important signal that fall is arriving: the start of on-campus recruiting.

It’s hard to believe. You’d think they would be stressed out, wondering if they said the right thing or asked the right questions. Not this class. Extensive career search preparation is baked into the MM summer curriculum. Reviews with the Career Development Office and peers help students revise, refine, and reflect on their career stories until they’re second nature and first class. They’ve got this.

The system works ― MM career outcomes are about as predictable as shorter days and crunchy falling leaves. Ross MMs have received offers from some of the most desirable companies, including Amazon, Accenture, Eli Lilly, Ford, Google, and Target.

Want to get a job like an MM student? You’re in luck! Our Career Development Office has some interviewing advice to share heading into recruiting season.

Take me through your journey

1. In interviews, start by discussing the “ah-ha” moment when you knew you wanted to pursue an advanced degree.

“In speaking to engineers with decades of experience, I learned you need a business degree to be considered for promotions. I knew it would be a huge differentiator that would benefit me for my entire career.”

2. Then drill down and explain why you chose the Ross Master of Management.

“I found out about this unique opportunity to get a dual-degree MSE/MM degree at U-M. I wanted to get a master’s degree in mechanical engineering as well, so I couldn’t turn it down.”

3. Explain why you are pursuing your particular career.

“I’m a very technically oriented person. I want to tinker with things and understand how they work. One of my extracurricular activities was working with the Michigan Aeronautical Science Association to build a hybrid rocket from scratch. It was fascinating.”

4. Finally, share why you’re interested in the company and open position.

“I spoke with John Smith, a 25-year veteran of the company. His enthusiasm was infectious, and I was particularly excited to see an opening in your space innovation division, which really fits my background…”

There you have it. With newfound skills your biggest concern should really just be which amazing job offer to accept.

Learn more about the MM Program

We knew Sahi Cosmetics, the makeup brand founded by Shelly Sahi, MBA ‘16, wasn’t going to stay a secret for long. The company’s full suite of products are specially formulated for the vast array of medium skin tones — those found on women of Latin, Mediterranean, Indian, and Arabic descent—whose needs haven’t always been completely met by other makeup brands.

Sahi created and launched her company during her time at Ross, winning funding and competitions such as the Michigan Business Challenge, support from the Zell Lurie Institute, and a spot in the Desai Accelerator. After hawking her unique products at international cosmetics fairs and online, she recently caught the attention — and adoration — of Marie Claire magazine.

Calling Sahi Cosmetics “ridiculously inclusive,” the magazine’s glowing article explains Sahi’s drive to make her customers not just look good, but also feel confident and proud of their heritage. “And seeing as we're probably still a few (dozen) years away from the beauty industry becoming fully inclusive of all shades and undertones for the typical human being,” Marie Claire says, “we'll be keeping our fingers crossed for Sahi to eventually take over the world.”

Read Marie Claire’s Feature Article on Sahi Cosmetics 

When Amber Blanks, BBA ‘16/MAcc ‘17, first entered Michigan Ross as a sophomore, she didn’t know much about business. Coming from a performing arts background, she wasn’t sure how well she could adjust to the hustle and bustle of business school. Then, she found out Michigan Ross had a program that could help her make a successful transition, and it proved to be life-changing.

“I started as a student in PI and they literally never got rid of me,” laughed Blanks. “I became a mentor my junior year, and then a seminar assistant my junior and senior year. My year as a graduate student, I was an administrative assistant.”

The program she’s referring to is Preparation Initiative (PI), founded by Ross Professor Frank Yates, who is also the program’s faculty director. It is one of four BBA outreach programs offered through Michigan Ross. PI, Michigan Ross School of Business Enriching Academics in Collaboration with High Schools (MREACH), the newly launched Ross Summer Connection (RSC), and Leadership Education and Development Summer Business Institute (LEAD SBI), are designed to prepare students for the Ross curriculum and culture.

They serve as pipelines for undergraduate students from, but not limited to, underrepresented backgrounds, including students of color, first-generation college students, students from lower socioeconomic backgrounds, and students from under-resourced schools, who have demonstrated the potential to become socially-conscious and innovative business leaders. Each program provides academic preparation, advising, and mentorship, as well as professional development including interview preparation, resume building, social media presence, and much more.

While PI and RSC are for U-M freshmen, MREACH and LEAD are tailored for high school students, to give them a glimpse into life at business school. The programs are inextricably linked to the business school, and many high school students develop such a strong connection with the campus, their mentors, and peers, that they end up attending U-M for college, like Priyanka Khetarpal, BBA ‘21.  

Coming from a family who mainly works in the medical field, Khetarpal was always interested in business, but didn’t know anyone personally who could provide her guidance or information on career options. She began researching pipeline programs while in high school and found LEAD and MREACH. She participated in LEAD her junior year and MREACH as a senior. From those experiences, knew that Ross was the school for her.

“The environment that I came to know at Ross through MREACH and LEAD was supportive, positive, and collaborative,” said Khetarpal. “In my mind, I always pictured business as competitive and aggressive. Ross really taught me that good business is always personal and it's really important to make meaningful connections with the people around you. The adults here were so willing to give their time as mentors. It was a really great experience.”

As an incoming freshman, Khetarpal was part of the inaugural RSC program, which concluded in August. Combining classroom instruction and action-based learning, students had the opportunity to take prerequisite courses in economics, calculus, and writing; attend daily study tables; and explore the concept of personal identity through diversity, equity, and inclusion workshops.

Like Khetarpal, Oladele Gaba, BBA ‘21, was always interested in business, but didn’t know much about it. After he and his mom did a Google search, he applied for LEAD. He participated in both MREACH and RSC and agreed that the experience was worthwhile.

“I definitely feel prepared for Ross,” said Gaba. “I got to test out how things would work for me. I learned material prior to the semester starting and developed my time management skills. MREACH helped me become familiar with Ross, but RSC really prepared me for success here.”

PI participant and MREACH volunteer Kenny Johnson, BBA ‘18, said the programs were not only helpful in the classroom, but in life.

“Coming to Michigan from a background such as mine, there isn't really a fair advantage competing with other students from top high schools. I knew I wanted to apply to Ross and study business. Without the PI program, there really wasn't a shot for me to get into the business school.” In PI, he was able to take prerequisites in math and economics and as an MREACH volunteer, he had the opportunity to pay it forward, by mentoring other students.

He credits former PI director, James Logan, and Rhonda Todd, Director of Academic Success, for taking him under his wing. “He [Logan] really understood my story and my ambition. He put his neck out there for me. And Rhonda is an all-star. She runs these outreach programs and does an amazing job.”

Johnson believes that the programs are successful, in large part, because of the people leading them and their understanding that diversity goes beyond race and gender.

“They understand the importance of equity and equality within the ranks and the classes,” he said. “When I joined PI, it wasn't just majority African-American or Hispanic. We also had Asian students and a diversity of socio-economic class, thought, and perspectives.”

And with each academic year, the outreach programs continue to be successful in terms of recruitment, retainment, and career outcomes. With an interest in finance, Johnson was offered a position with The Blackstone Group in New York City, where he’ll begin after graduation next spring. As for Blanks, she will also embark on a new journey, working in Detroit for EY as an assurance associate later this month.

“I didn't come in saying, ‘I want to go into business, I want to get a MAcc degree, I want to work at EY’ until I went through the programs,” said Blanks. “The outreach programs helped me learn about different options, what is out there and what is available for me to do. So without that I would have applied blindly and wouldn't have had the support I received and needed.”

Learn More About Diversity at Michigan Ross

Learn More About Outreach Programs at Michigan Ross

When high school seniors apply to the BBA Program at Michigan Ross, they are asked to do a little something extra.

As part of their standard application to the university, they also submit the two-part Ross Admissions Portfolio. Now in its second year, the portfolio helps give the Ross Undergraduate Admissions team some insight into the unique character of each applicant.

“The Ross Admissions Portfolio serves a couple of important purposes,” says Norm Bishara, associate dean for undergraduate and early career programs. “First, it allows applicants to express their thoughts about business in their own words; and second, it gives them an opportunity to show us a side of their personality that we wouldn’t otherwise see from the standard application.”

The portfolio consists of two elements:

• A business-specific, 500-word essay question: Choose a current event or issue in your community and discuss the business implications. Propose a solution that incorporates business principles or practices.
• A personal document or artifact (see examples below), representing something the applicant learned, along with a 250-word explanation describing its significance.

“The portfolio is our opportunity to get to know you on a deeper level, and it’s your opportunity to share what makes you who you are,” says Blaire Moody Rideout, director of undergraduate admissions for the Ross School of Business.

She offers the following tips for applicants:

• For both elements, keep it personal and use your own words. Part of the goal is to get to know you as an individual.

• In the essay question, draw some connections among the business world, your life, and your local community. The admissions team values creativity and originality.

• When choosing an artifact, try to find the “missing piece” in your application. What don’t we know about you? “Consider sharing something that you are proud of and that is unique to your identity or your personal story,” Moody Rideout says.

• Artifact examples can include a high school project or paper, a community newspaper article highlighting an important achievement, a personal website, a piece on a school or community program or event that you were instrumental in creating or implementing, or a certificate of a high school or community award. It should be something that shows your passion and a unique aspect of yourself. It does not need to be business related.

For more information on the Ross BBA Admissions Portfolio, visit our Preparing Your Portfolio page.

BBA Preferred Admission Process

The portfolio is one element of Preferred Admission to Michigan Ross. Most Ross BBA students are admitted to the program through Preferred Admission as high school seniors. (A small number apply to join the program during their freshman year of college or later.)

To earn Preferred Admission to Michigan Ross, you must first be admitted to another school or college at the University of Michigan -- the College of Literature, Science, and the Arts; College of Engineering; the School of Kinesiology (Sport Management only); the School of Music, Theatre, and Dance; or the School of Art & Design. You submit a Common Application or Coalition Application to the University of Michigan, indicating interest in both Ross Preferred Admission and the other school or college. Priority is given to applications submitted by Nov. 1.

As part of your application, you will submit the Ross Admissions Portfolio. Once you have been admitted to the university by the Office of Undergraduate Admissions, then Michigan Ross will consider your application, including the Ross Admissions Portfolio. If you are not admitted by the Office of Undergraduate Admissions, the Ross School of Business cannot consider your application.

For full details on the process, see the Preferred Admission page on the Michigan Ross website.

Michigan Ross is preparing to deliver the next installment of its longest running Executive Education program this fall in partnership with the Tata Group.

When the Tata Group Executive Leadership Seminar (TGELS) kicks off on September 25 at Ross’ Ann Arbor campus, it will be the 31st time the Michigan Ross Executive Education group has partnered with Tata to deliver leadership training to the company’s executives.

Since the time TGELS was launched in 2005 by the late Prof C.K. Prahalad, it has evolved continuously with Michigan Ross, Tata Group HR, and the Tata Management Training Center (TMTC) working closely together to establish learning objectives, and brainstorming ways to bridge the gap between where the company’s leaders are and where they need to be in the future. Seminars take place every year in ten-day blocks in TMTC Pune and at the Michigan Ross campus in Ann Arbor.

Faculty from Michigan Ross and TMTC work in tandem to provide a holistic learning experience. Michigan Ross faculty enrich and expand the functional understanding and integrated perspectives that participants apply to business. At the same time, the TMTC director and faculty team, through one-to-one coaching, help participants develop greater self-awareness, which ultimately enhances their impact as leaders by improving the effectiveness of their workplace interactions.

The next TGELS Seminar is scheduled to be held at Ann Arbor, Michigan, from September 25th- October 4th, 2017. Michigan Ross Executive Education takes great pride in the effective and enduring relationship that it has established with the Tata Group.

Read more about the Tata partnership with Michigan Ross

This story was originally published by Michigan News.

Real estate developer and alumnus Stephen M. Ross today donated an additional $50 million to the University of Michigan, bringing his total lifetime giving to $378 million.  

Ross announced the gift this morning on Bloomberg TV.

The majority of the new gift will support career development programs for students, innovative action-based learning experiences such as student-run investment funds and new business ventures, and resources for attracting and developing junior faculty.

Ross continues to be the single largest donor to the university. He also chairs U-M's Victors for Michigan Campaign, which kicked off in fall 2013. The campaign has raised more than $4 billion to date and, with this Ross gift, the campaign has surpassed its aggressive $1 billion goal for student support.

His previous donations have not only helped the business school become one of the best in the world, but his support has physically transformed the landscape of the university—adding the signature terra cotta look of the Ross School campus, designed to foster collaboration and action-based learning in business education, as well as the sturdy brick of the Stephen M. Ross Athletic Campus buildings, a home for all U-M student-athletes, set for completion in 2018.

"It gives me enormous joy to continue to give back to the University of Michigan, an institution that had such a profound impact on my life," Ross said. "I am extremely proud of the physical transformation we have achieved at the business school, creating modern, new facilities and places students and facuty and future leaders can thrive.

"It has become a world-class center of innovation and a magnet for attracting the best and the brightest students and faculty, and these new initiatives will even further enhance those efforts."

Ross is a philanthropist and chairman and founder of Related Companies, one of the world's most prominent private real estate developers. Related Companies is best known for the development of Time Warner Center in New York City and the 28-acre Hudson Yards development on Manhattan's west side, and is also one of the largest owners of affordable housing nationally. Ross is also the owner of the Miami Dolphins.

"Stephen M. Ross continues to make a tremendous impact on the University of Michigan. His generosity and outstanding leadership have transformed the learning environment for our students," said U-M President Mark Schlissel.

"With this latest gift, he further advances our mission, pushing us past our ambitious goal of $1 billion for student support in the Victors for Michigan campaign. I am especially grateful to Steve for, once again, demonstrating his confidence in the University of Michigan and ensuring a bright future for our students and faculty."

The new gift creates:

• A $16 million Student Success initiative that will help students develop career and professional skills, build a robust network of advisers and career advocates, personalize their learning journey, and access internships and career opportunities with leading companies around the globe. The Student Success initiative will help realize the vision of Michigan Ross as the most powerful career accelerator and best source of leadership talent in business education.
• A $16 million Stephen M. Ross Faculty Support Fund for faculty who develop academic innovations that advance the school's commitment to action-based learning, interdisciplinary education and leadership development. The fund also will support expanded mentoring and coaching for junior faculty, prestigious junior faculty professorships and additional research support—all of which will help Michigan Ross attract and retain rising stars in business education.
• An $8 million Stephen M. Ross Student Investment Fund for academic programs and learning experiences in asset and investment management, including venture capital, private equity, commercial real estate and publicly traded securities. The fund will enable Michigan Ross to continue developing the world's most innovative portfolio of student-run investment funds and build academic programs that accelerate student learning and career placement.
• The rest, $10 million, goes toward completing and maintaining the Ross School campus.

"Now that we have a state-of-the-art, inspiring space for faculty, staff and students, our focus is on attracting great talent and creating the most action-based, transformative student experiences in business education," said Ross School Dean Scott DeRue. "To help us realize our vision, Stephen Ross is once again directing his generosity to our school.

"Steve's dedication and his unwavering commitment to excellence have greatly enhanced the reputation of our business school globally, and we are excited for the future of Michigan Ross."

In previous donations to U-M, Ross gave $200 million in 2013: $100 million for the Stephen M. Ross athletic campus for use by 900-plus student athletes in all sports, and $100 million to further develop a state-of-the-art collaborative learning environment on the Ross School campus. In 2004, Ross gave a historic $100 million gift to radically update the facilities and endow operations for the business school, which was renamed the Stephen M. Ross School of Business. The first building was completed in 2009.

In 2003, Ross gave a $5 million lead gift to create the Stephen M. Ross Academic Center, which provides academic support services and study space on the athletic campus. Additional past gifts include funding for the football stadium expansion project, scholarship support for student athletes, and the Henry Pearce Endowed Scholarship in the College of Literature, Science, and the Arts.

Ross earned his Bachelor of Business Administration degree in accounting from the U-M Business School in 1962, a law degree from Wayne State University and a Master of Law degree in taxation from New York University. He began his career as a tax attorney at Coopers & Lybrand in Detroit.

Ross serves on the executive committee and is a trustee of Lincoln Center, as well as a trustee of the NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital. He is also a director of the Jackie Robinson Foundation and the World Resources Institute, and established the WRI Ross Center for Sustainable Cities, an innovative new initiative to integrate urban planning, sustainable transport, energy and climate change, water resources and governance.

In 2013, Ross committed to give at least half of his wealth to charity and signed the Giving Pledge, a long-term, global initiative created by Warren Buffett and Bill and Melinda Gates that aims to inspire deeper engagement in philanthropy and increase charitable giving globally.

In July, he was honored at the ESPN Sports Humanitarian Awards for his philanthropic efforts including the Ross Initiative in Sports for Equality, a nonprofit organization he created, dedicated to harnessing the unifying power of sports to improve race relations and drive social progress.

Best-selling author Dan Pink discusses the surprising job skills you need in the 21st century.

It’s more than a little scary to consider the future of work. Robots are getting smarter. Artificial Intelligence is gaining credibility all around us. Jobs that used to be essential are disappearing, thanks to outsourcing or computer algorithms.

As best-selling author Dan Pink told the audience at Hill Auditorium during the Joseph Handleman Lecture Series on Sept. 12, we need to adopt a new approach to and new understanding of job security.

Pink, whose books focus on business trends and insights and personal success, said not only do blue-collar jobs keep disappearing, but white-collar jobs in fields such as law and accounting are increasingly insecure as well, shaking up both industry and universities.

That’s because we’re moving from the knowledge economy, which focuses on data-collecting and problem-solving, to the Conceptual Age, “where the most important jobs are creators and empathizers, the people who create things that are hard to outsource, hard to automate, and hard to do,” Pink said. A new set of skills are needed to thrive, and what they are might surprise most people.

Pink, who grew up around Columbus, Ohio, compared the ethos of his generation, which he described as “when the Rust Belt was getting rusty,” to today’s changing work needs. When he was growing up in the 1970s, his parents knew that a college degree was a necessity. So, they encouraged him to pursue a specialty profession in order to do the white-collar work that would ensure a middle-class lifestyle.

But that ethos no longer sticks today, Pink said, thanks to three big forces that are rapidly changing today’s economy: the population boom of Asia, the increasing dependence on automation, and the abundance of products and competition.

“The standard of living in this country is extraordinary,” Pink said. “But that has changed the game significantly. Something gets created and it quickly becomes a commodity. So there’s this incessant need to do something better, do something new, to give people something they didn’t know they wanted.”

How, exactly, can one be trained to “give people something they didn’t know they wanted”? Pink has some suggestions — and they seem a little radical: Hone your empathy, artistry, and big-picture thinking.

Become a “problem-finder”

Problem-solving can be done by any computer now, Pink explained. But with the abundance of information and data, figuring out which problems are priorities and demand resources is more important than ever.

Develop empathy

Many of today’s biggest problems are due, in part, to a lack of empathy and mutual understanding, Pink told the audience. One of the biggest challenges facing the United States, and the world, is despair among large populations who are not sharing in basic prosperity. The imbalance, he says, is not economically sustainable.

Become an artist — or try

“When I was growing up, going to college, the arts were seen as ornamental — a side dish,” Pink said. “I think today they are fundamental. Your ability to succeed in this economy is equal to your capacity to succeed as an artist.” Why? Artists fundamentally understand how to compose and coordinate, and they also excel in having and conveying compassion.

Even if the arts aren’t a natural talent or interest of yours, Pink encourages you to at least explore them. Pink showed the audience two self-portraits, one drawn on the first day of a drawing class and a much-improved one created on the fifth day. “If an old guy like me can get out of his comfort zone, embrace the arts as fundamental within the space of a few days, all of you talented young people can do the same,” he said.

Pink also encouraged students and universities to embrace multidisciplinary learning. “Should you be a specialist or generalist? I think the answer is yes,” he said. “Should you spend your college life, your college career, reading Beowulf or doing internships? The answer is yes.”

Learn more about the Handleman Lecture Series 

It takes amazing instructors to teach the leaders and best.

So we’re not surprised that Dana Muir, the Robert L. Dixon Collegiate Professor of Business and Arthur F. Thurnau Professor of Business Law, was recently honored with a spot on Poets & Quants’ Top 40 Undergraduate Professors List.

Professor Muir is well-known at Ross for her challenging and inspiring teaching style. In 2015, she earned the Ross Victor L. Bernard Teaching Leadership Award. She brings a wealth of business and legal experience to the classroom, having served as a U.S. Congressional Fellow and as a council member for the U.S. Department of Labor.

She is an expert contributor to the Wall Street Journal, and she’s also regularly quoted in Bloomberg, Marketwatch, and other national media outlets. She has a JD from the University of Michigan and an MBA from the University of Detroit.

Professor Muir, who lists her age as “young at heart,” grew up on a farm and attended a one-room school for a few years. She enjoys SCUBA diving, gardening, and “seeing students gain abilities and confidence.”

Learn more about Professor Muir on Poets & Quants

In a new report out this morning from American Banker magazine, Michigan Ross Alum Catherine Bessant, BBA ‘82, is listed as the Most Powerful Woman in Banking, taking the top spot among 25 of the nation’s leading banking executives.

This isn’t the first time Bessant, who serves as the Chief Operations and Technology Officer for Bank of America, has appeared on the annual list — she was ranked third last year.

It’s Bessant’s 35th year at Bank of America (she joined the company in 1982 after graduating from U-M), and she’s headed up several important departments at the bank, including global corporate banking, treasury services, and marketing.

Now overseeing 100,000 employees and more than $16 billion, Bessant manages technology and operations for all of the bank’s business units.

“[Bessant] has emerged as a key thought leader regarding the digital revolution that is upending the banking sector,” American Banker said in their profile. “In 2016 she played an important role in the formation of the Financial Systemic Analysis and Resilience Center, a collaborative effort between companies in the private sector and U.S. government agencies to combat cybercrime.”

Bessant’s other recent accolades includes a mention in Working Mother Magazine’s “50 Most Powerful Moms” list (along with Beyoncé, Sheryl Sandberg, and Melinda Gates) and a No. 1 ranking on Institutional Investor’s Tech 50 list.

We recently asked Bessant 20 Questions for an upcoming edition of Dividend magazine, set for release in October of this year. Here’s a preview:

What is your favorite quotation?

“Most people are about as happy as they make up their minds to be” - Abraham Lincoln.  This quotation is on my desk, handwritten on a yellow sticky note, and has been for years.

What advice would you give yourself 10 years ago?

Being natural and authentic is always the winning combination. It took me a long time to realize that, but it makes all the difference in what can be accomplished and how one feels about those accomplishments.

First website you access in the morning?

FitBit. I work out every morning starting at around 5 a.m. no matter where I am in the world. I am addicted to counting my progress! Accountability and measurement — that’s what it’s all about!

As part of its 25th anniversary celebrations, the William Davidson Institute is hosting an interactive discussion with Nobel Laureate Economist Sir Angus Deaton on October 5.

Deaton’s work has helped shaped economic responses to poverty. He is the senior scholar and the Dwight D. Eisenhower Professor of Economics, and International Affairs Emeritus, at the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs and the Economics Department at Princeton University. He researches poverty, inequality, health, well-being, and economic development.

Deaton, who received the Nobel Prize in 2015 for his research into how the consumption of goods and services plays a critical role in human welfare, has influenced economic policy around the world. In 2016, he was knighted for his service in the fields of economics and international affairs.

The event, which is free and open to the public, takes place on Thursday, Oct. 5, from 4-5:30pm at Robertson Auditorium at the Ross School of Business. Following Deaton’s talk, WDI President Paul Clyde will moderate a discussion. A light reception will follow.

Perhaps the best summary of his work on economic health and development is his 2013 book, The Great Escape: Health, Wealth, and the Origins of Inequality. The book carefully documents the remarkable progress in income and health that has taken place, especially over the past 50 years. Despite large-scale increases in income around the world that have pulled millions of people out of poverty, Deaton details why gaping inequality remains, both between and within nations. That inequality – decades if not centuries in the making – can be understood by poring over economic data and pairing economic research with societal health data.

“Professor Deaton is an outstanding economist whose careful research and empirical methods have informed and challenged our thinking around global health and poverty in low- and middle-income countries,” said WDI President Paul Clyde. “Deaton’s thinking is very relevant to WDI’s mission and we’re honored he can join us for our 25th anniversary event.

The WDI is an independent, nonprofit research and educational organization focused on providing private-sector solutions in emerging markets.

More information on Sir Angus Deaton’s research 

Learn more about the William Davidson Institute’s 25 year history 

Since 2012, the Michigan Sport Business Conference has drawn hundreds of professionals from the biggest companies in sports management, media, and entertainment. During this year’s conference on October 6, technology is also playing a big role in the daylong event organized by Michigan Ross students.

Executives from Twitter, Gatorade, and the NFL will lead a session on “connecting with the digital consumer.” Another session focuses on using technology to optimize athlete performance. And Vicente Fernandez, who created the mobile app SportsManias, which provides real-time, personalized sports updates, will also be part of a panel discussion on career management.

The first-ever Tech Showcase will feature several companies in the Winter Garden whose products are dramatically changing how the game is played by professionals and enjoyed by fans. The MSBC student planning team hopes the Tech Showcase provides unique insights into the innovations, businesses, and products driving the future of sport.

Conference sessions will also cover other topics besides technology: venture capital in sports; building a business in today’s complex cross-section between sport, entertainment, and media; and managing a business career in the sports industry. The morning keynote speakers are Steve Greenberg, the managing director of Allen & Company and Arn Tellem, the vice chairman of Palace Sports & Entertainment.

Also speaking at this event are professionals who play big roles in the sports industry, including:

• Turner President David Levy

• PepsiCo Head of Sports Marketing Justin Toman

• NBA Global Partnerships Senior Coordinator Laura Ackerman

• Gatorade Senior Director of Design and Innovation Xavi Cortadellas

• Sports Business Chronicle Founder and Editor in Chief Mark J. Burns

• Visa VP of Global Sponsorship Marketing Kate Johnson

• Gatorade Head of Consumer Engagement Kenny Mitchell

• Founder of Barstool Sports Dave Portnoy

• Beats by Dr. Dre Executive Vice President and Head of Marketing Jason White

The MSBC planning committee comprising 27 undergraduate students from Ross and the University of Michigan led by co-presidents Brandon Kosikov and Jordan Gertzman.

Attend the 2017 Michigan Sport Business Conference 

U.S. News and World Report, one of the leading publications that rank universities and business schools, placed the University of Michigan among the elite schools in the world for Economics and Business, placing U-M twelfth globally and tenth among U.S. universities.

The ranking is based on faculty research published in the best academic journals, and in the case of U-M took into account published research by faculty at Michigan Ross and The College of Literature, Science and The Arts (LS&A) – home to the Economics Department – as well as other schools within the University of Michigan.

U-M is part of an elite Top Ten that includes Harvard University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, University of Pennsylvania, Stanford, UC-Berkeley, University of Chicago, Columbia University, New York University, and the London School of Economics.

US News also ranks Michigan Ross’ undergraduate business program as No. 3.

“This ranking recognizes the extraordinary experience students get when they attend the University of Michigan,” said Scott DeRue, the Edward J. Frey Dean of the Stephen M. Ross School of Business at U-M. We have numerous dual master’s and undergraduate degree programs that enable students to take advantage of the excellence that exists across the entire university, as well as our linkage with LS&A to provide business undergrads with a well-rounded and holistic education.”

Michigan Ross is the recognized global leader in action-based learning and experiential education. At the same time, the school’s faculty is among the world’s most active in publishing peer-reviewed research at the top journals.

The U.S. News ranking is based on various bibliometric measures, including publications and citations, as well as indicators for global and regional reputation in each specific subject to come up with its ranking. The magazine draws its data for published research from the Web of Science, which tracks over 12,000 influential scholarly journals worldwide. U.S. News found only 57 universities globally with faculty that have published 500 or more papers on economics and business in these journals, with U-M being one. Overall, the magazine ranks 200 universities on these two subjects of business and economics.

Why is this ranking important?

Poets & Quants said of the ranking: “[One] way to interpret the list is to gauge the likelihood of interdisciplinary studies for business school students. The higher the overall global rank of a university, for example, the more likely it is that business and economics students can gain greater exposure to other core disciplines related to business whether in health, the environment, law or other subjects.” In other words, Michigan Ross is among the very best globally at providing students with a multidisciplinary student experience.

“We offer students unique learning opportunities, not only in business, but across a full range of disciplines – from technology to healthcare, public policy, law, and education, among others,” said DeRue. “We are developing leaders who have the character and capabilities to create a better world through business, and multidisciplinary learning is essential to that mission. It makes for an amazing academic and learning experience, as well as the largest, most diverse, and highly connected alumni network in the world.”