As Melinda Whittington (BSBA ’89) transitions from CFO at La-Z-Boy Inc. to become the company’s next CEO, learn how her experience as a top finance officer shaped her outlook on issues including social responsibility, the COVID-19 pandemic and ethics.

Part of Ohio State for 60 years, Barbie Tootle has watched as our society and Ohio State underwent a cultural revolution. As a freshman in what was then the College of Commerce, she had no female professors and few women in her class. Today, with the second woman leading Ohio State as its president, Barbie recognizes how far the institution has progressed.

Thaddeus Spratlen (BSBA ’56, MA ’57, PhD ’62) built his career teaching business students and engaging the business community to help create, enhance and sustain the marketplace for underrepresented communities. Read more about the lasting impact this trailblazing alumnus continues to make.

Amber Hammond (BSBA ’15) knows an entrepreneur’s motivation can strike from the most unexpected places — an idea developed over a cup of coffee with a friend and scribbled on a paper napkin; a well-planned digital presentation for a class; or as Hammond knows, it can come from a seed planted following a global experience that uncovers a whole new world through the eyes of a different culture.

Two Fisher alumni share their story of connecting through a college program, and across an ocean, as mentor and mentee.

As part of the “There’s a Better Way” podcast, Laurie Spadaro, director of the Master of Business Operational Excellence, program sat down with Terry Kayobotsi (MBOE '17, EMBA '19), technology analyst with Nationwide Insurance. Hear why Terry chose to pursue not only his MBOE but also an EMBA, and how his Fisher experience has had an impact in his professional career.

Embracing change took Fisher alumna Dawn Lyons (BSBA ’01) from a career marketing consumer product goods to leading an Emmy award-winning team with passion and purpose.

Burdened with the challenges many athletes face upon retirement, Mike Doss (MBOE '19) has successfully transitioned to the real estate space under Bob Weiler.

Go behind the scenes inside Ohio Stadium as Joe DiPietro (BSBA ’04) talks about how empty seats this fall provided a new and creative opportunity to connect Ohio State fans. His venture not only gave football fans a safe way to show their support, but it also provided a meaningful way to connect generations of Buckeye family and friends. 

There is no one-size-fits-all career path for those with business degrees. Meet Satya Chauhan (MBA ’78), an alumnus who has put his graduate business degree to work leading research and development projects at Battelle for more than four decades.

See how the combination of different on-campus experiences, global opportunities and Ohio State’s alumni network helped shape Brian Folmer’s (BSBA ’11) development as a Fisher student and fostered his curiosity and passion for entrepreneurship. 

Zac Graber (BSBA ’18) discovered his passion for entrepreneurship at Ohio State, a journey that ultimately culminated in his selection as a recipient of the President’s Prize, the university's highest recognition bestowed on exceptional students committed to social change.

Meet Jay Clouse, a serial entrepreneur and self-described connector who feeds on the energy created by small groups of people who are passionate about what they do.

Football fans view him as a gladiator, but Sam Hubbard continues to define himself in ways beyond his sport.

Dwight Smith (BSBA '78, MBA '79) runs Sophisticated Systems like a parent runs a household. In the midst of a pandemic, he puts his employees’ health, safety and peace of mind first. Learn more about Smith's passions and how they extend well beyond business.

In 2010, Brandon Smith and Howard Patton took advantage of a global program offered at Fisher to experience how life and business were conducted internationally.

Jada Washington (BSBA ’20) leaned on some familiar faces at Fisher to help land her first job in a crowded workforce.

Read about the positive impact that Imran Nuri (BSBA '20) has made in the Columbus community through the work of his own newly launched nonprofit effort, the 52 Million Project. The concept behind his organization is simple: donors pledge to donate $1 a week for a year, and every week a portion is donated to a different nonprofit in the region.

When COVID-19 derailed plans for the university’s Class of 2020 Spring Commencement, Fisher wanted to ensure that the accomplishments of the college’s newest alumni were recognized. Thanks to Marsha’s Homemade Buckeyes and the power of networks, the hard work of the Class of 2020 was sweetly celebrated.

NXTSTOR, an app created by recent finance graduate Brandon Gotlieb that matches users with rentable storage spaces, is set to launch June 19.

Responding to massive challenges such as the coronavirus pandemic requires the ability to skillfully perform as part of an ensemble cast. It’s hard to imagine anyone better suited for the role than Andrew Thomas (MD ’95, MBA '00), chief clinical officer of The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center.

The first thing people notice about Lindsay Karas Stencel (MBA '09, JD '09) is her outgoing personality, brightly colored clothes and flamboyant earrings. There’s plenty of substance behind all this style.

What happens when you’re able to spot a deadly pandemic, but the playbook for responding to it is a century old? 
For alumnus Will Lange, president and general manager of Honeywell’s Personal Protective Equipment division, the answer meant acting quickly and decisively in the face of the COVID-19 outbreak.  

Terina Matthews-Davis (MA ’96, MLHR ’98) is a double Buckeye whose enthusiasm and support for Ohio State knows no bounds. A senior vice president and head of Corporate & Investment Banking Program Management at Wells Fargo, Matthews-Davis shares the story of her success as a student, why she gives back and why Ohio Stadium continues to occupy a special place in her heart.