Dear Scheller Community,
As we step into April, our collective journey is both brightened by the promise of growth and shadowed by the loss of Professor Aaron Hackett, a treasured member of our community, this past month.
Aaron Hackett, Professor of the Practice in Marketing, was a mentor, visionary, and friend to many. Since joining our College in 2013, Aaron dedicated himself to educating our undergraduate and MBA students in his course, Strategic Brand Management. An engineer by training who found his calling in marketing, Aaron also played a pivotal role in the CREATE-X initiative, guiding and inspiring our budding entrepreneurs. Though his absence will be deeply felt, his legacy will continue to influence the paths of countless future leaders.
Not surprisingly, Aaron was among the 29 Scheller faculty and staff members represented in the recently published Fall 2023 CIOS Honor Roll, a recognition of outstanding teaching and dedication to students. The unwavering commitment of the teachers and mentors at Scheller enriches our learning environment, shaping the trajectory of our students and the broader community.
Turning our gaze forward, the College is steadfast in its commitment to preparing students for the evolving demands and possibilities of today’s business world. This emphasis on student readiness and the crucial ability to "learn how to learn" remains at the forefront of our educational ethos. Our approach is holistic, integrating global experiences, experiential learning, and entrepreneurship to foster adaptability and innovative thinking.
This past month, our students immersed themselves in a myriad of compelling international experiences that have expanded their perspectives and opportunities.
Over Spring Break, undergraduate students in the Denning Technology & Management program ventured to Panama and Costa Rica. The experience deepened their understanding of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, allowing them to examine the critical roles companies and organizations play in these initiatives.
Over the same period, Full-time and Evening MBA students embarked on international journeys to the Nordics, Singapore, and Czechia as part of the MBA International Practicum course. The course provides a platform for students to engage deeply in consulting projects for real companies, tackling business challenges across a diversity of industries and economies. Through their travels, they not only gained insights from local experts on economic, cultural, and political issues, but also enriched their global perspective through interacting with new cultures and communities.
And finally, in just two weeks, our Executive MBA students will embark on their International Residency in Singapore and Vietnam, where they’ll gain first-hand knowledge of international business practices and cultures from executives, industry experts, and more.
Back home at Scheller, exciting things are afoot as well.
Last week, it was great to see the presentations from the six finalists in the SUSTAIN-X Competition, a partnership between our Ray C. Anderson Center for Sustainable Business and CREATE-X. I loved the focus on entrepreneurship and innovative ideas with the environment and sustainability in mind.
We’ll be launching our first cohort of AI for Business, a new Executive Education course, on April 23. This pioneering class is designed to equip business leaders with the insights and tools necessary to harness the power of AI in shaping strategic initiatives and driving organizational success.
I hope you’ll join us for our upcoming sessions of Tech Talks Business. We’ll be welcoming Paul Brown, proud Scheller alum and CEO of Inspire Brands, on April 3, and Barbara Humpton, CEO of Siemens Corporation, on April 18. And lastly, Carol Tomé, CEO of UPS, is graciously hosting our community at UPS headquarters on May 8. We encourage you to spread the word.
As we navigate this period of growth and reflection, I hope we can honor the memory of those who have passed by embodying their spirit of curiosity, dedication, and compassion. I look forward to all the opportunities that lie ahead for our remarkable community.
Anuj Mehrotra
Dean and Stephen P. Zelnak Jr. Chair
Professor of Operations Management
Georgia Tech Scheller College of Business
