The three-day competition challenged students to navigate realistic sales scenarios, from networking with potential employers to role-play exercises that reflect the stages of technology sales.

Competition highlights include:

• Bronze (3rd place) overall team finish
• 2nd place in role-play competition
• Tyler Mastrangelo ’28, Teamwork Award and Top Technology Student
• Max Houck ‘27, Teamwork Award

“The competition confirmed that sales is what I want to pursue,” said Max Houck ’27, a marketing major from Crofton, Md. “Every conversation felt like it was advancing my career, and I’ve already made connections that led to interviews and networking opportunities.”

Outside of the competition, students also made time for team bonding, including a visit to a local axe-throwing venue and rage room.

Students representing ������Ƶ included Gabriella Scales ‘27, Ashlee Brehio ‘26, Tyler Mastrangelo ‘28 and Max Houck ‘27.

The team was coached by Chris Nelson, associate professor of marketing and director of the Chandler Family Professional Sales Center, and Ann Fritchman, executive in residence, with additional support from alumni Dave Goltz and Gabi Drumm-Schwartz.

The two-day experience is designed to connect alumni working across the commercial real estate industry with students preparing to enter the field, creating space for insight, mentorship and conversation around how the industry is evolving.

The Summit begins Thursday, April 16, from 7 to 9 p.m. with a Kick-Off Reception at Hi-Wire Brewery. Programming continues Friday, April 17, beginning at 8:30 a.m. at the ������Ƶ Charlotte Center, located at 330 W. Tremont Ave., with a keynote from Nicole Young, managing director and head of CRE portfolio management at Wells Fargo.

Throughout the day, attendees will engage in alumni speed networking and interactive discussions exploring key areas shaping the industry, including capital markets, development, asset management and major property sectors, along with broader trends across multifamily, industrial, office and retail markets. The day also includes opportunities for students to connect directly with alumni and gain perspective on navigating real estate careers across changing market cycles.

The Summit concludes with an applied AI workshop led by Assistant Professor of Finance Thibaut Morillon, highlighting how machine learning and generative AI are being used in real estate analysis, underwriting and day-to-day workflows.

The event, “Charlotte’s Next Competitive Edge: Decision Intelligence,” will take place on April 15 at 6 p.m. at 330 W. Tremont Ave in Charlotte, North Carolina and is sponsored by the Martha and Spencer Love School of Business’ MSBA Flex program in Charlotte.

The conversation will focus on how AI is moving analytics from insight to action, and how organizations are adapting in response. Attendees will gain a clearer understanding of how AI is being used in practice, how roles and workflows are evolving, and what skills are becoming more important in a rapidly changing landscape.

Panelists include:

• Su Dong, associate professor of management information systems
• April Frazer ’03, CFO for Corporate and Investment Banking at Wells Fargo
• Eric Fender, enterprise transformation executive at Truist
• Danielle Nashold ’04, enterprise data, AI and data science technology strategy at Bank of America
• Derek Gould ’14, chief growth officer at Home Solutions

Designed as a candid and grounded conversation, the panel will highlight real-world examples, emerging challenges and the tradeoffs organizations are navigating as they integrate AI into decision making.

The program will include moderated discussion segments on analytics and judgment, organizational change and workforce readiness, followed by an audience Q and A.

The conference, sponsored by Issues in Political Economy, is an annual undergraduate research event that allows students to present their work while also serving as session chairs and discussants. The conference featured 46 presenters from 18 colleges and universities

The students were joined by Steve DeLoach, professor of economics, and Devon Hawkins, assistant teaching professor of economics.

“Presenting at the Issues in Political Economy Conference in New York City pushes students to use economics, not just learn it,” said Hawkins. “It is also a strong way we champion our students by giving them a real platform to share their ideas, build confidence, and see that their work can contribute to conversations in policy and business.”

������Ƶ student research

Jay Cornell ’26
Major: Economics
Hometown: Baltimore, Maryland
Research mentor: Katy Rouse

Abstract: Private equity involvement in the U.S. healthcare industry has expanded rapidly in recent years, drawing public concern over the quality of care provided by private equity-owned hospitals. This study examines whether private equity ownership can be associated with differences in 30-day risk-adjusted mortality rates for heart attack, heart failure, stroke, pneumonia and overall hospital mortality.

Quinn Faller ’26
Majors: Economics and Psychology
Hometown: Wilmington, Del.
Research Mentor: Steve DeLoach

Abstract: There has been a recent trend in the reduction of labor force participation by young males. This study explores the possibility that the decline in hours worked may be partially explained by the popularity of video games as a form of entertainment, especially marketed to young men.

Sara Fritz ’26
Majors: International and Global Studies
Hometown: West Hartford, Conn.
Research mentor: Brooks Depro

Abstract: Mining has long been associated with environmental pollution, ecological degradation, and adverse health outcomes in nearby populations. This study addresses whether proximity to the Yanacocha Mine, located in the province of Cajamarca, Peru, negatively affects child survival rates in surrounding communities.

Jin Kobes ’26
Majors: Economics and Political Science
Hometown: Chapel Hill, North Carolina
Research mentor: Olivia Healy

Abstract: Sporting mega-events such as the FIFA World Cup and the Olympics attract large audiences but provide minimal economic benefits to host countries. This study examines Qatar’s 2022 World Cup, Russia’s 2018 World Cup, and Japan’s 2020 Summer Olympics, focusing on the concept of sportwashing, which is the use of sports to improve tarnished international reputations.

“I don’t feel like my career trajectory post-graduation is the norm for an MBA graduate,” Dudash said. “I had to do some soul searching and pursued something different that aligns with my values.”

Before enrolling in ������Ƶ’s MBA program, Dudash worked at Duke Regional Hospital as communications manager, serving as the only communicator on site for the entire hospital and supporting more than 2,000 employees.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, she helped support emergency preparedness efforts, including a command center that operated for months, and later supported community vaccination clinics.

“I learned so much throughout that experience,” she said. “I saw the best of the best and the worst of the worst and saw health care workers give their all.”

As the pandemic unfolded, mentors encouraged her to return to school. A nurse manager would ask her regularly, “When are you going back to school?” Dudash also had two mentors who recommended ������Ƶ’s MBA program.

“She would say, ‘It’s never a good time to go back to school,’” Dudash said. “They encouraged me to take the step.”

For Dudash, the MBA offered the flexibility to build leadership skills while keeping her options open.

“I can apply it across industries,” she said. “I wanted to strengthen my leadership skills and get a broader view of how organizations operate.”

She started the program in September 2020, a decade after graduating from the University of Florida with a journalism degree. Returning to school felt like a significant transition.

“I remember being nervous,” she said. “I was 10 years out of school and didn’t know how it would feel to be a student again.”

Rather than rushing through, Dudash took one class at a time and completed the program over four years, graduating in May 2024.

“I wanted to fully immerse myself in each course and build relationships with my classmates and professors,” she said.

She also described the program as a place where she could participate fully and grow, especially in courses that challenged students to share ideas and respond to feedback.

“It opened up my confidence in pursuing new ideas,” she said. “Your ideas are valid.”

As graduation approached, Dudash began thinking more intentionally about what kind of work would be fulfilling.

That summer became an opportunity to reflect. Dudash leaned into theater, a longtime passion through improv, including teaching improv comedy and pursuing operations work in the arts nonprofit space.

This past year, she balanced roles between Durham arts nonprofit Mettlesome Theater and nationally recognized DPAC (Durham Performing Arts Center) while also serving as chair of the Meals on Wheels Durham board.

But most recently, she was appointed Mettlesome Theater’s first full-time operations director.

“My ������Ƶ MBA gave me the confidence to say, ‘I want to help with this, and I want to pursue this,’” she said. “My dream job was to be an operations director or executive director of an arts nonprofit, and the program gave me the high-level perspective to lead that work.”

Keynote Speaker

​​Bert Brokaw ’13, senior director of sales development at Rippling, kicked off Sales Week as part of the Chandler Center Speaker Series with his talk, “Breaking into Venture-Backed Tech Sales.” He shared insights from his career in sales leadership and his journey from ������Ƶ to the tech industry.

“It took me a really, really long time to figure things out,” said Brokaw. “For those of you who feel like you need to have everything figured out right now, you don’t.”

Brokaw opened Sales Week by reflecting on his own path after ������Ƶ.

“I graduated without a job. I was going up and down the East Coast interviewing, and it just wasn’t what I was looking for,” he said. “So I took a risk, moved to New York City, and got a job in media sales, where I quickly realized it wasn’t the right fit.”

That experience, he explained, shaped how he now thinks about early career decisions.

“It really took me a long time to figure out what I actually wanted to do,” Brokaw said. “You’re at a point where you can take some early risk, but not all risk is created equal. Those first two years are pivotal. They can set you on a launch pad or limit your opportunities.”

When it comes to breaking into tech sales, Brokaw was direct about the realities of the job market.

“Applying online is more likely than not going to work against you,” he said. “You’re competing with hundreds of applicants.”

Instead, he encouraged students to approach the job search like a sales role itself.

“You need to sell yourself before you actually have a job,” Brokaw said. “You’re not just saying you can do the job, you’re showing it.”

That often means going beyond traditional methods and taking initiative.

“Pick up the phone. Cold call hiring managers. Try your pitch,” he said.

For Brokaw, that willingness to act is what ultimately sets candidates apart.

“Differentiation is a function of doing what others refuse to do.”

Young Alumni Panel

The week also featured a young alumni panel, moderated by Chris Nelson, associate professor of marketing and director of the Chandler Center.

The panelists included:

• Gabi Drumm-Schwartz ’23
• Cassidy Perkins ’23
• Kylee Herbert ’22
• Jack St. Pierre ’22
• Macklin Williams ’23

They shared advice on breaking into the industry and navigating early careers:

• Networking starts early. Build real relationships, not just job asks. One connection can move you from hundreds of applicants to a shortlist, and it pays off over time.
• Resilience matters early on. Entry-level sales come with rejection. Don’t take it personally. Stay consistent, learn quickly and focus on what you can control.
• Communication sets you apart. Be prepared, follow up, and make people feel heard. Strong communication and organization build trust and leave a lasting impression.

Coffee with a Sales Leader

Students also connected during Coffee with a Sales Leader on March 13, engaging with sales leaders through one-on-one and small group conversations focused on career advice and networking.

Participants included Bob Chandler and alumni Ryan Byrnes, Meg Hewitt, Dave Brown and Katie Chung, all members of the center’s advisory board.

Hands-On Sales Experience

Around 70 current students had the opportunity to put classroom knowledge and speaker feedback into practice with the Grainger Sales Challenge.  Students practiced cold calling Grainger employees to sell products. The top 10 students were selected to go to Grainger headquarters in Chicago for a second round.

• Caden Cerminara ‘27
• Leah Misicko ‘26
• Colin O’Connor ‘27
• Jacob Balizer ‘27
• Ethan Perry ‘27
• Luke Prince ‘27
• Daniel Pawl ‘27
• Ridgely Bryer ‘28
• Ava Matikowski ‘27
• Coco Kouyoumjian ‘27

Additionally, students and Chandler Center partners gathered at Topgolf for a networking event, offering a more relaxed setting to connect with industry professionals.

Attending Chandler Center partners included:

• AlphaSights
• Brightly Software
• Grainger
• Group Management Services

“Sales Week represents everything I love about ������Ƶ’s culture,” said Nelson. “Students learning and growing outside the classroom while engaging with successful alumni who are passionate about investing in their success.”

������Ƶ President Connie Ledoux Book and Haya Ajjan, dean of the Martha and Spencer Love School of Business, will present the medal on Wednesday, April 22, at 4:30 p.m. in the LaRose Digital Theatre inside the Ernest A. Koury Sr. Business Center.

The celebration is open to the campus community.

About Linda Findley ‘95

Linda Findley joined Sleep Number in April 2025 and is recognized for her expertise in operations, organizational transformation, marketing strategy and global expansion.

She has held senior leadership roles across several high-growth companies. From 2009 to 2012, she was based in Hong Kong, leading global marketing, business development, and customer service for Alibaba.com Ltd. She later served in executive roles at Evernote Corp. from 2012 to 2015, including chief operating officer.

Findley was chief operating officer at Etsy from 2016 to 2018, overseeing product, design, marketing and customer engagement and acquisition. She then served as president, chief executive officer, and director of Blue Apron from 2019 to 2024, leading the company through significant transformation and growth.

In addition to her executive leadership, Findley has served on the board of directors of Ralph Lauren since August 2018 and has been board chair of HeliosX since February 2025.

Findley graduated from the School of Communications and holds a master’s degree in journalism from UNC-Chapel Hill. Her leadership is defined by a focus on innovation, adaptability and driving meaningful organizational impact.

About the ������Ƶ Medal for Entrepreneurial Leadership

The ������Ƶ Medal for Entrepreneurial Leadership is co-presented by the Love School of Business and the Doherty Center for Creativity, Innovation, and Entrepreneurship. Since 2009, the award has recognized an entrepreneur who is an industry leader and exemplifies ������Ƶ’s values, including integrity, innovation and creativity, a passion for lifelong learning and a commitment to building a dynamic community.

About the Doherty Center for Creativity, Innovation and Entrepreneurship

The Doherty Center for Creativity, Innovation and Entrepreneurship was established through an endowment gift from Ed and Joan Doherty P’07, entrepreneurs from Saddle River, New Jersey, and parents of Kerry Doherty Gatlin ’07. The Dohertys have served on the university’s Parents Council, and Ed Doherty currently serves as an ������Ƶ Trustee. Their company, Doherty Enterprises, Inc., is one of the nation’s leading franchise operators of family restaurants, including Applebee’s Neighborhood Grill & Bar, Panera Bread and Chevy’s Fresh Mex.

The school improved five spots from last year’s No. 38 ranking.

Among the individual components of the 2026 ranking, ������Ƶ:

• Improved its career outcomes ranking to 18, up from 24 last year
• Ranked 21 among private universities, up from 24 last year

Additional rankings include:

• Maintained its admissions standards ranking at 54
• Ranked 26 in academic experience

The continued rise reflects the school’s focus on preparing students for meaningful careers through hands-on learning, mentorship, and real-world experiences that lead to strong postgraduate outcomes.

“Our continued rise in the rankings reflects the intentional work behind our programs,” said Haya Ajjan, dean of the Love School of Business. “The strength of our career outcomes is one example of how mentorship, hands-on learning, and strong industry connections are preparing students for meaningful careers.”

Poets&Quants for Undergrads compiles its rankings based on school-reported data and . The considers three primary components:

• ������Ƶ Standards: student quality and diversity, including acceptance rates, academic performance and representation of first-generation and underrepresented students
• Academic Experience: how effectively a business school challenges and supports students, based on alumni feedback and major learning experiences
• Career Outcomes: how graduates perform in the job market, including internships, employment rates, and starting salaries

The rankings include 110 business schools and are designed to provide a comprehensive view of undergraduate business education in the United States.

About Poets&Quants

Poets&Quants is led by Editor-in-Chief John Byrne, founder of C-Change Media and former executive editor of Bloomberg Businessweek, Businessweek.com and Fast Company. Byrne originated the first regularly published rankings of business schools in 1988 and has authored several business school guidebooks.

The conversation was moderated by Jose Cerecedo Lopez, assistant professor of management and entrepreneurship in the Martha and Spencer Love School of Business.

Niven, who majored in English while at ������Ƶ, now leads the Greensboro-based, family-owned restaurant company founded in 1966 that operates locations across North Carolina and Virginia.

Niven said her path to the restaurant industry was not a straight one. She originally planned to attend law school, but an unexpected opportunity to help rebuild a struggling restaurant changed her perspective.

“A family friend bought a defunct restaurant and asked me to help get it running again,” Niven said. “I quickly realized it was like a mini-MBA. There was nothing she didn’t trust me with. I was running operations, figuring out inventory and even helping with advertising.”

The experience gave Niven an inside look at nearly every part of the business. Within several years, the restaurant had become one of the top-performing locations in the brand.

That early opportunity helped launch her career in the restaurant industry. She later held leadership positions with brands including Krispy Kreme, Burger King and Quiznos before joining Biscuitville in 2011.

Niven said she quickly saw something different in the company’s values and culture.

“What stood out to me was the integrity of the leadership at Biscuitville,” she said. “They source their products locally, make everything from scratch and are committed to doing things the right way.”

That commitment to authenticity and long-term thinking continues to shape how Niven approaches leadership today.

“Culture comes first,” Niven said. “If you want to grow without losing what makes your company special, you have to start there.”

One of Niven’s proudest accomplishments has been helping define Biscuitville’s culture through a set of shared norms developed with employees across the company.

“Until you put your money where your mouth is on culture, you don’t really have a culture,” Niven said. “It only works when leaders are willing to uphold those values consistently.”

Niven also shared advice for students preparing to launch their careers.

“You don’t walk in the door and say, ‘trust me,’” she said. “Trust builds slowly through consistent decisions and actions over time.”

She also reflected on leading through the COVID-19 pandemic, a period that brought significant challenges across the restaurant industry.

“We didn’t know what was going to happen,” Niven said. “But we decided that if we went down, we were going to go down taking care of our team. That meant showing up for our employees and supporting them the best we could, even in the middle of so much uncertainty.”

As the event concluded, Niven encouraged students to think carefully about the organizations they choose to join.

“Interview companies more than they interview you,” she said. “Make sure their values align with yours.”

About Lessons from Leaders

Launched in 2017 by Dean Emeritus Raghu Tadepalli, Lessons from Leaders brings senior executives to campus for open talks, small group discussions, and purposeful one-on-one networking that connects students with mentors. The program helps bridge classroom learning to real-world decision-making and strategy, and aims for every student to leave with a new contact and meaningful career insights.

The program includes a fireside chat, keynote, industry panel and a Hack-a-Thon design sprint focused on building curricular and co-curricular models for AI fluency.

Friday evening includes a fireside chat moderated by Tawnya Means, founding partner and principal of Inspire Higher Ed. The conversation will feature Casey Evans, associate dean for undergraduate programs and student services at American University’s Kogod School of Business; Hussein Issa, associate professor at Rutgers Business School; and Stephen Walls, assistant dean for instructional innovation at the University of Texas at Austin’s McCombs School of Business.

Saturday morning opens with a keynote address, “Higher Ed Reckoning,” from Anuj Mehrotra, dean of the Scheller College of Business at the Georgia Institute of Technology. The session will examine how business schools are adapting to rapid technological change and evolving employer expectations.

An industry panel will follow, offering perspectives on what employers expect from graduates entering AI-enabled workplaces. Panelists include AI leaders from Gartner, Bank of America and Microsoft.

Saturday afternoon features a Hack-a-Thon Team Design Sprint. Mixed teams of faculty from different institutions, including ������Ƶ and William and Mary, will build a curricular or co-curricular AI fluency model, then present their concepts during final presentations.

For Haya Ajjan, dean of the Love School of Business, the summit reflects a broader responsibility across higher education.

“This summit is about business educators and industry coming together to build a shared approach to what students need next,” Ajjan said. “AI is not a single-course conversation. It’s a cross-disciplinary responsibility.”

Additional details, registration information and sponsorship opportunities are available on the AI Summit website.