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Mason alumna named Business Person of the Year by Virginia Business

Colleen Rich — Mon, 26 Feb 2024 16:10:44 +0000

Mason alumna named Business Person of the Year by Virginia Business Colleen Rich Mon, 02/26/2024 - 11:10

Kristen Cavallo already had an undergraduate degree in business under her belt, but she knew she needed additional knowledge and skills to truly get ahead in the field. “I wanted to make sure I focused on a different concentration so my additional schooling wouldn’t feel redundant but would feel cumulative or additive,” she said. “So I focused more on the math side.”

Kristen Cavallo. Photo provided

As it happened, the Master of Business Administration Program at ��ӽ紫ý’s Costello College of Business featured a math-intensive concentration in decisions sciences and statistics, ideal for her needs. She earned her MBA in 1992.

Flash forward to three decades later: In 2023, Cavallo was CEO of two major advertising and marketing firms and was named the Virginia Business Magazine Business Person of 2023, a distinction that recognizes her achievements in growing companies while emphasizing diversity in leadership.

For the past six years, Cavallo has been CEO of the Richmond, Virginia-based Martin Agency which represents name brands including Geico, DoorDash, CarMax, Papa Johns, and any number of instantly recognizable products and services. In November 2022, Cavallo became CEO of London-based MullenLowe Global, an international marketing and communications network that is owned by a parent holding company with Martin, Interpublic Group of Cos.

That had Cavallo leading some 5,000 employees in 13 countries, with 400 of them in Richmond.

While the award took her by surprise, it’s not the first time her work has been recognized by industry leaders. The Martin Agency—did you see their OREO cookie “twist on it” spot during the Super Bowl?—has been named Agency of the Year three times by Adweek magazine; in 2019 Cavallo was Ad Age’s Executive of the Year.

Cavallo was CEO of the Martin Agency, which represents name brands including Geico, DoorDash, CarMax, Papa Johns, and any number of instantly recognizable products and services. Photo provided

“Growth is our shield,” Cavallo said of her business strategy. “I spend a lot of time talking about growth and determining what businesses we go after and what we don’t.”

Something must be working: Martin’s topline revenue increased by 50% under Cavallo’s leadership.

As she grew the profit line, she also diversified the corporate leadership, bringing in Danny Robinson as the agency’s first Black chief creative officer to a leadership team that is “35-40% people of color,” she said, and assuring “a pretty even split of male and female leaders.” Robinson was named CEO of Martin in January 2024.

The diversity, she said, “has been part of my strategy. I believe diverse leadership teams produce higher morale, higher revenue, higher margins, higher employee participation. And it’s proven to be true.”

As it happens, Cavallo is just one in a family with deep Mason ties. “It’s the one school all three of us have in common,” she said of her siblings. “It kind of ties us all together.”

One of her brothers, Mike Pflugrath, has a MEd in education leadership from Mason and, since 2019, has been principal of Osborn High School in Manassas; the former Virginia assistant principal of the year has worked with Mason to become partners in the Direct Admissions Program.

Cavallo said the program is “really is a statement about ��ӽ紫ý and their collaboration to really get the best out of students today from all walks of life, and I know my brother appreciates it enormously.”

Brother Pete Pflugrath earned his MS in software systems engineering and is now executive vice president of federal contractor ARServices. His wife, Clara Hauth, is a Mason PhD grad in Educational Leadership/Special Education, His daughter, Lauren Pflugrath, earned her law degree from Mason, and Lauren's husband, Bill Boyle, has a Mason master’s degree in accounting.

“We come from a family of educators,” Cavallo said. “Education has always been a priority in our family, and ��ӽ紫ý is the common link with most of us.”

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Finance Students Visit Wall Street

Marianne Klinker — Fri, 18 Aug 2023 13:40:29 +0000

Finance Students Visit Wall Street Marianne Klinker Fri, 08/18/2023 - 09:40

At the end of March 2023, the Montano Student Investment Fund hosted "Patriots Day on Wall Street," offering a select group of ��ӽ紫ý School of Business finance students an enriching experience that included a tour of Wall Street and meetings with various firms.

This initiative proved to be an invaluable networking opportunity and a glimpse into the corporate world that many of our School of Business students aspire to join.

On Thursday, March 30, their first meeting in New York was with Kroll, a global company specializing in risk and financial advisory solutions. During the session, John Walsh, the managing director of valuation advisory services, discussed the company's key business lines, including valuation advisory services and mergers and acquisitions. This meeting provided students with insights into the day-to-day responsibilities at different employment levels, highlighting the importance of time management and navigating busy seasons, which vary depending on the sector.

Finance students at Wolfe Research

After lunch, students met with Wolfe Research, a company primarily driven by analysts. Director of Research Jesse Bigelow and Vice President of Capital Markets Brian Tetlow, shared valuable knowledge about the finance sector, specifically capital markets, while a panel of new analysts emphasized the competitiveness and pride associated with working at Wolfe Research. Additionally, they discussed their experiences living in the city, maintaining a work-life balance, and the firm’s prioritizing their well-being.

To conclude the day, Derek Horstmeyer, co-founder and director of the ��ӽ紫ý Montano Student Managed Investment Fund and professor of finance, organized a networking dinner at Claudette, where students connected with finance alumni. The alumni shared their undergraduate stories, provided job-seeking advice, and ways to stay connected.

On Friday, March 31, JP Morgan Chase welcomed students with breakfast and a presentation by their college outreach team, focusing on their Assets and Wealth Management division. Newer employees provided valuable advice on standing out in interviews and making a difference once employed.

Finance students at Howden Tiger

Next on the schedule was a meeting with Howden Tiger, where Manya, a recent Mason finance alum, provided insights into their human resources, insurance, and risk teams. The group discussed job opportunities, their recent rebranding after a merger, and the advantages of working in New York City. Notably, following this trip, Master’s in Finance student Sean Prendergast received a job offer from Howden Tiger. Read more about Sean’s experience in the master’s in finance program here.

The final meeting, facilitated by Mason finance alum Sufia Abdul Rauf, was with Haveli and Apollo Global Management in the private equity sector. Representatives from both companies covered various aspects of their businesses, including sales, client relations, and culture. This meeting stood out as our students gained confidence in asking insightful questions related to work-life balance, growth opportunities, and effective networking. The employees offered valuable insights and stressed the importance of maintaining connections and expressing appreciation for professional relationships.

Finance students at Apollo Global Management

After the Apollo meeting, Horstmeyer presented at the Quinnipiac Game Forum, a highly regarded student-managed investment fund competition in New York City.

“Patriots Day on Wall Street was a resounding success,” said Horstmeyer. “All students in attendance represented Mason to the fullest, and all employers were thoroughly impressed by their questions and enthusiasm for the opportunity to meet.” 

The event provided an insider's view of working on Wall Street and valuable networking opportunities with alumni and industry professionals. This experience was a successful venture that introduced students to unique insights into the finance sector, New York City lifestyle, and various business cultures that cannot be experienced solely through classroom education. We eagerly anticipate organizing this event again next year and extending this opportunity to our finance students.

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Student Spotlight: Lauren Lundberg

Marianne Klinker — Wed, 23 Feb 2022 16:55:12 +0000

Student Spotlight: Lauren Lundberg Marianne Klinker Wed, 02/23/2022 - 11:55

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Lauren Lundberg

Lauren Lundberg, a deputy project manager for Northrop Grumman, spends her days overseeing a $30-million-dollar program for the Defense & Space based firm. We spoke to Lundberg, a ��ӽ紫ý School of Business MBA student on track to graduate in Spring 2022, and learned how her time at Mason pursuing an MBA helped put her on Northrop Grumman’s radar and prepared her for working in government contracting.

According to Lundberg, who worked in intelligence until November 2021, the MBA is the reason she was able to secure her current role. The combination of her prior experience in intelligence and her forthcoming MBA, flagged her in Northrop Grumman’s system, at which point representatives of the company reached out to her and offered her the position. “Without my MBA, I wouldn’t have this job,” Lundberg said.

In particular, Lundberg cites specific classes that have been very beneficial to her new job: “The concepts that I was learning in project management, including agile and work breakdown structure (WBS), are ones that I have been able to apply directly into my current role. This class has helped me to keep projects on time, on budget, and in scope. I can also diagnose issues quicker and fix them without bottlenecks or snowballing. Some of the tools, like MS Project and MS Access are what we use on a daily basis. I decided to take Advanced Project Management this spring. So far this class has helped me to see Project Management from the Enterprise level.”

When asked if she had any advice for current students, or those considering an MBA, she had a few things to say. First, she advises applying to jobs even if you aren’t sure you have the right qualifications, and not to be afraid of making industry changes and non-lateral moves. “I’m a huge proponent of education,” she added, “and making yourself more competitive with new programs and certificates. Now is the time of the employee; employees have the power right now. Don’t wait!”

The connection between Mason’s MBA and government contracting is especially strong—including a reduced accelerated application pathway for the MBA programs specific to organizations represented on the Center for Government Contracting’s Advisory Board.

“The industry and research centers, like the Center for Government Contracting, housed at the School of Business have been instrumental in allowing us to stay connected to current market needs,” says Ioannis Bellos, director of the MBA program. According to Jerry McGinn, executive director of the Center for Government Contracting, “The strong connections between the Center for Government Contracting and industry make this MBA partnership a natural way to help grow the GovCon workforce of the future.”

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Costello College of Business Graduate Student Spotlight

School of Business Grad Programs Get Boost in U.S. News Rankings

Marianne Klinker — Wed, 26 Jan 2022 18:26:02 +0000

School of Business Grad Programs Get Boost in U.S. News Rankings Marianne Klinker Wed, 01/26/2022 - 13:26

��ӽ紫ý School of Business online MBA Program jumped 25 spots in two years with a new ranking of #98 nationally for Best Online MBA (#70 among public universities) from U.S. News & World Report. Launched in 2018, the online MBA program, which offers the same high-level curriculum as the in-person MBA, first landed on the rankings list in 2020 at #123 out of 335 schools. This impressive leap is a testament to Mason’s ability to develop high-quality programs in formats that are flexible and responsive to the needs of today’s students.

In addition, the online MBA program was also ranked #17 for Best Online Business Analytics MBA Programs (#11 among public universities), #19 for Best Online General Management MBA Programs (#11 among public universities), and #64 for Best Online MBA Programs for Veterans (#49 among public universities).

“We are glad that our efforts to create an online MBA program that facilitates affordable access to a rigorous and transformative education are recognized,” says Ioannis Bellos, director of Mason’s MBA program. “Through a curriculum that is responsive to market needs, our program prepares well-rounded leaders equipped with both analytical and soft skills. The online Business Analytics certificate is an example of such responsiveness.”

The School of Business was also ranked #35 for Best Online Master’s in Business Programs (non-MBA) for the Master’s in Accounting Program, moving up three spots from its previous ranking.

“We are proud of and humbled by the recognition our program receives and believe it reflects our commitment to provide an outstanding education in Accounting that reflects current trends and technology in education and is delivered with a global perspective,” says Kevin Jones, Master’s in Accounting program director. “We continually review, revise, and improve our program to reflect these goals and ideals which allows us to attract top students who move on to or continue with successful careers.”

“These rankings reflect that our programs are part of a thriving ecosystem that the School of Business and the University have developed,” says Bellos. “This is where our talented students, whether online or face-to-face, can connect with renowned faculty, industry centers and passionate professionals dedicated to their success.”

“Mason has always worked to provide the learning and development working professionals need, when, where, and in the way they most need it,” says Dean Maury Peiperl. “Our online MBA continues to do that, and to improve with deeper and deeper engagement with our customers, most of whom are in the Washington region.”

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Master's in Accounting Program

MBA Fulbright to Develop Self-Sustainable Social Enterprise Model for Honey Bee Initiative

Marianne Klinker — Fri, 14 Jan 2022 19:36:21 +0000

MBA Fulbright to Develop Self-Sustainable Social Enterprise Model for Honey Bee Initiative Marianne Klinker Fri, 01/14/2022 - 14:36

For Guillermo Palencia, there is nowhere else he sees himself completing his graduate studies than ��ӽ紫ý School of Business. A Fulbrighter, Palencia says, “��ӽ紫ý just was the right fit, for me. It wasn’t just about choosing a degree and University, but I was deciding what my cultural experience was going to be like once moving to the United States. ��ӽ紫ý has everything that I was looking for in a University: diversity, size, excellent professors, and proximity to the U.S. capital, just to name a few.”

Guillermo Palencia

The Fulbright U.S. Student Program provides grants for student-designed research projects, while also facilitating the cultural exchange between students and the people of the host country through the sharing of daily experiences. The hope is that the grantee gains an appreciation of others’ viewpoints and beliefs, the way they do things, and the way they think.

Since starting the MBA program this fall, Palencia has been working with the Business for a Better World center on its Honey Bee Initiative (HBI), focusing on the pilot project in rural Colombia and developing a self-sustainable social enterprise model for future funding and expansion in South America and beyond.

“He brings his industry experience, mature thinking and team work to the initiative,” says M. Rashed Hasan, executive-in-residence for the Business for a Better World Center at ��ӽ紫ý School of Business. “I am happy to have him on our team and look forward to seeing the results of his excellent contributions to this initiative and to our center.”

Palencia says that his most rewarding experience at Mason so far has been being able to collaborate with the Business for a Better World Center in the School of Business, specifically in the Honey Bee Initiative Program. His interactions with Hasan have had a great impact on him since starting in August. “Knowing that he once came to the U.S from a different culture clicked with me as to why he is passionate about the Business for a Better World Center. I would say he transmitted that to me and made me understand that sometimes we are more alike to others than we think we are,” says Palencia.

Palencia is looking forward to continuing to conduct his studies at Mason. “I’m very proud to be a Fulbrighter and a cultural ambassador from El Salvador, says Palencia. “I look forward to graduating and returning to my country to put all the knowledge and experience gained here to use to create better-living conditions for Salvadorans through innovation in the insurance field.”

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Mason basketball student-athletes demonstrate they mean business when it comes to learning

Colleen Rich — Thu, 13 Jan 2022 14:31:49 +0000

Mason basketball student-athletes demonstrate they mean business when it comes to learning Colleen Rich Thu, 01/13/2022 - 09:31

Mason men's basketball players, Blake Buchanan, left, and D'Shawn Schwartz. Photo by Shelby Burgess/Strategic Communications

��ӽ紫ý men’s basketball players D’Shawn Schwartz and Blake Buchanan, both School of Business graduate students, say their friendship helps keep them focused on their studies.

“I would describe Blake as a lifelong learner, and it’s always interesting and motivating to talk to him,” Schwartz said.

Schwartz, who is working on a graduate certificate in business analytics, and Buchanan, who is pursuing a master’s degree in management, are suite-mates and say they often find themselves deep in conversations about politics, about movies, about anything.

“People push the idea that athletes don’t have other interests, but that’s far from the truth,” Buchanan said. “The majority of our conversations have nothing to do with basketball. We could end up talking about a history documentary or economic theory or any number of other topics that interest us.”

Schwartz is in his final season of athletic eligibility.

Mason men’s basketball head coach Kim English says that Schwartz and Buchanan’s leadership and emphasis on academics are crucial to the team’s culture of excellence.

“It’s very important to me that our student-athletes’ education extends beyond the classroom, and both of these student-athletes exemplify excellence in education,” English said. “As coaches, we look at ourselves as being a part of the higher education process. In recruiting, we target and seek out well-rounded, bright individuals who possess a growth mindset in both their athletic pursuits and as learners.”

Schwartz, 22, a 6-foot-7 forward, graduated from University of Colorado in May 2021 with a bachelor’s degree in business administration and an emphasis in marketing, as well as a certificate in music technology.

Schwartz is second on the Patriots in scoring this season and led Mason with a game-high 24 points in the team's upset win at #20 Maryland on Nov. 17.

In December, Schwartz was named one of 30 candidates for the NCAA’s Senior CLASS Award, which recognizes student-athletes who achieve success both on and off the court. The award recognizes excellence in character, community, classroom, and competition.

Besides basketball and business, Schwartz is passionate about music and spends much of his spare time working on songs. Schwartz plans to work as a music producer after his basketball career is done. Samples of Schwartz's music can be found on Spotify.

“I’m learning a lot this year in my studies about how to use statistics and data to make predictions, along with ways to sell to different demographics,” Schwartz said. “This year has also been a great way to explore Washington, D.C., and take in all the museums and experience a more urban lifestyle than I am used to.”

Buchanan, a 6-foot-5 guard, graduated from Wake Forest University in May 2021 with a degree in economics and a minor in entrepreneurship. He participates in the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.

Buchanan said that studying management has allowed him to make good business connections and learn about concepts, translating them into “real-world settings.”

“My plan is to apply the knowledge I’m gaining toward a career in consulting or fundraising,” Buchanan said.

Buchanan, 21, has played in several games and is a critical part of Mason’s scout team helping in game preparations.

“I’m incredibly excited to see what both these men achieve in life and how they impact the world,” said English. “One thing is for certain—wherever they end up, Mason is going to be very proud that they are alumni. I know that they will have taken much from their time in Fairfax.”

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