Fisher Alumni Awards

Inspired by Max M. Fisher’s legacy of leadership and dedication to others, this award is presented to an alumna or alumnus who has served as a principled leader in their company and their community. They are service-oriented catalysts who affect positive change in their profession and seek to advance the common good.

James J. Kavanaugh (MBA ’92)
Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
IBM

James J. Kavanaugh is a highly successful and visionary leader responsible for aligning IBM’s financial strategy with the company’s shift into an AI-powered, hybrid cloud leader. Since becoming chief financial officer in 2018, he has played a pivotal role in IBM’s transformation, leveraging innovation across AI, automation, data and services.

James previously served as chief transformation officer, spearheading efforts to reinvent IBM’s portfolio and operating model. He joined IBM in 1996 from AT&T and has held senior finance roles across the globe. He also serves on the T-Mobile U.S. Board of Directors.

James earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Dayton.

This award is presented to an alumna or alumnus whose leadership inspires others to rise. Through purposeful action, this individual amplifies voices, nurtures growth and creates access to opportunity. Their legacy is reflected not only in organizational success, but in the countless individuals whose paths they’ve shaped and empowered to lead.

Dr. Henry Xiang, MD (EMBA ’21)
Professor of Medicine
The Ohio State University College of Medicine
Director of the Center for Pediatric Trauma Research
Nationwide Children’s Hospital

Dr. Henry Xiang, MD, is a renowned physician-scientist, educator and global leader in pediatric trauma research, injury prevention and extended reality therapeutics. He is founding director of the Center for Pediatric Trauma Research at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, co-director of the Pilot Translational and Clinical Studies Program at the National Institutes of Health-funded Clinical and Translational Science Institute at Ohio State and founding president of the Global Association for Pediatric Extended Reality.

Henry has secured continuous funding from the NIH, the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute and other major funding since 1995. He also has authored 285 journal articles and conducted influential research shaping policy and practice worldwide. Committed to educating the next generation of scientists, he has mentored over 100 future leaders in medicine and public health, advancing innovation and access across disciplines and borders.

He holds a Master of Public Health (MPH) and a Doctor of Medicine (MD) from TongJi Medical College of HUST in China and a PhD from Colorado State University.

This award is presented to an extraordinary alumna or alumnus who has demonstrated a consummate commitment to service — to their alma mater, in their local community and to humankind.

Neethi Johnson (MBA ’19)
Vice President of Digital Payments
JPMorganChase

Neethi Johnson joined JPMorganChase after graduating from Fisher, where she was named one of the Best and Brightest MBAs of 2019 by Poets&Quants and served as her class commencement speaker. She also was elected vice president of her class and served in the Ohio State University Senate. Among her many accolades, she has been named to Columbus Business First’s 40 Under 40 and Columbus CEO’s Future 50, and in 2020 she was awarded Ohio State’s prestigious William Oxley Thompson Young Alumni Award.

Neethi currently serves on the Leadership Ohio Board of Trustees and the Alumni Leadership Council of the Forté Foundation, an organization supporting women in business. She previously served as board president for Student Success Stores, a nonprofit dedicated to providing hygiene items, school supplies, food and clothing to Columbus students in need. In 2024, she was named Nonprofit Board Executive of the Year by Smart Business and a Hometown Hero by Major League Soccer.

Born in India, Neethi grew up in Dublin, Ireland, before moving to the United States with her family. She also holds a bachelor’s degree in biology/biological sciences from Ohio State.

This award is presented to an alumna or alumnus recognized nationally and internationally for significant contributions to business — and for helping to advance the global learning of Fisher students.

Marna Ricker (BSBA ’91)
Global Vice Chair—Tax
EY

Marna Ricker leads EY’s global tax practice, overseeing all aspects of the EY Tax strategy, its offerings and client services for the EY Global Tax service line of more than 76,000 EY Tax, People Advisory Services (PAS) and Law professionals worldwide. She champions innovation, digital transformation and client-focused solutions that help businesses unlock long-term value. Previously, she served as EY Americas vice chair of Tax and EY U.S. central Tax leader.

Marna has been at the forefront of integrating generative AI and emerging technologies into EY Tax offerings, reimagining how data, automation and AI can enhance quality, speed and strategic impact of tax services. She serves on the Global Executive, the organization’s most senior management body focused on strategy, execution and operations. She also leads the Global Tax Executive Committee, is a member of the Global Practice Group and is the Global Executive Sponsor for Unity, EY’s LGBTQ+ business resource group.

Marna also holds a law degree from the University of Cincinnati.

This award is presented to an alumna or alumnus recognized for significant contributions to the entrepreneurship community through the development, launch and investment in successful new ventures. This award also recognizes outstanding commitment to the next generation of entrepreneurs.

Venkatesh Ganapathy (MBA ’10)
CEO
LiveEasy

Venkatesh Ganapathy is a leader in strategic sourcing, business development and supply chain management. His work centers on customer-centric solutions and fostering a culture of engineering excellence.

He co-founded and currently leads LiveEasy (formerly MoveEasy), a full-service concierge platform that helps homeowners and renters with moving and home management services. LiveEasy partners with mortgage, insurance and real estate brokerage firms to customize services for clients. Venkatesh received the HousingWire Vanguard award and the RISMEDIA Futurists award for his innovation and leadership.

He previously worked as a sourcing associate at A.T. Kearney, where he led several sourcing and procurement transformation projects in the consumer goods, food and chemical sectors. He also interned with TechColumbus, a leading technology business incubator, and Primus Power, a provider of energy storage systems. Early in his career, he co-founded Konserve in Mumbai, a renewable energy consultancy focused on energy, waste and water management.

Venkatesh holds a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Government College of Engineering at Pune University in India.

This award is presented to an alumna or alumnus in their early to mid-career who has demonstrated outstanding achievement in business, civic involvement and service to the college. 

Nicole Balkenbusch (BSBA ’07)
Chief Storyteller and FP&A Director
WW Amazon Stores
Founder
COLES LTD

Nicole Balkenbusch is a strategic finance executive and seasoned leadership development consultant, specializing in coaching teams and individuals to maximize talent and drive results. With her previous executive role at Procter & Gamble and now as chief storyteller and FP&A director at Amazon, she brings expertise in finance strategy, technology partnerships, workforce planning, supply chain, brand marketing and financial analysis.

Passionate about service, Nicole has spent over a decade on nonprofit boards, helping fulfill her personal legacy statement to be a “strong business woman who helps others break down barriers.” Her board service includes Fisher’s Honors Cohort Alumni Board, The Children’s Home of Cincinnati, Queen of Peace Center in St. Louis, Mo., and NextUp women’s network, where she was the Pacific Northwest President for four years.

Nicole has mentored countless Ohio State undergraduate and graduate students. A certified executive coach through the International Coaching Federation, she also holds a Master Instructional Designer certificate and an MBA from Xavier University.

Fisher’s corporate partners invest in the college through their time, talent and philanthropic support. They engage with the college by offering internships to students, hiring recent graduates, guiding students through mentorship programs, and creating avenues for students to enhance their leadership capabilities. These actions exemplify how these organizations actively invest in advancing business education at Fisher. This award acknowledges an organization that exhibits an exceptional dedication to fostering the achievement of Fisher's students, faculty and educational initiatives.

JPMorganChase

One of the largest and most-recognized financial institutions worldwide, and one of Ohio’s largest private employers, JPMorganChase has a rich history of investing in and furthering business education at The Ohio State University Max M. Fisher College of Business.

JPMorganChase serves millions of customers across the globe, managing assets and investments, offering business advice and strategies, and providing innovative banking solutions and services for some of the most prominent corporate, institutional and government clients. Its New York City headquarters and regional offices in Columbus employ many Fisher graduates and interns, including approximately 280 undergraduate and 60 graduate full-time hires since 2021.

Their involvement in Fisher’s Executive Education program and ongoing collaboration in the classroom provide students with a host of real-world opportunities. JPMorganChase Takeover Day at Fisher also features a career fair and breakout sessions for first- and second-year students.

Their ongoing commitment to Fisher includes members who serve on the Dean’s Advisory Council, the Alumni Board and with the Center for Operational Excellence, as well as meaningful engagement and support of other key priorities across the college.