Rady School of Management, UC San Diego

Welcome back Tritons! Looking forward to a wonderful Winter Quarter ahead! 💙✨

A heartfelt thank you to everyone who joined us at our inaugural UC San Diego Rady School Dean’s Circle Reception at Birch Aquarium at Scripps! 🌊✨

The evening featured welcome remarks from Martin Sabarsky, MBA ’06 and Dean’s Circle Chair, followed by Dean Lisa Ordóñez sharing the impact of graduate fellowships. MBA student and fellowship recipient Jenni Sigl, MBA ’26, shared how this support has made a meaningful difference in her Rady experience.

We were honored to celebrate the generous donors whose support makes graduate fellowships possible and empowers the next generation of business leaders.

"I’m excited to announce that I have graduated from UC San Diego with a Master's in Business Analytics and it has been a truly transformative experience.

It was an honor to receive the Robert S. Sullivan Award, which recognizes a graduate who has demonstrated exceptional leadership both on and off campus. This prestigious award reflects not only my academic achievements but also my deep commitment to making a positive impact in the community.

Throughout my time at UC San Diego, I was fortunate to engage in a variety of organizations, where I had the opportunity to collaborate with peers, mentor individuals, and contribute to projects that impacted the campus and beyond. The award serves as a reminder of the importance of making meaningful connections, leading with purpose, and empowering others.

For my Master's thesis, I chose to explore the dynamic world of e-commerce by focusing on "Optimizing Sales with Cross-Platform Pricing Analysis During Major E-Commerce Events." This topic allowed me to combine my passion for data analytics with the growing challenges and opportunities in the digital retail landscape. This experience, which involved complex models like XGBoost and logistic regression, has strengthened my ability to identify patterns, forecast trends, and optimize business performance in high-volatility environments.

As I embark on the next phase of my career, I am excited to apply the knowledge and skills I’ve developed throughout my time at UC San Diego."

-Carrie Smith, MSBA '24

"What a unique and purposeful program UC San Diego Rady School has put together. Data is more abundant than ever in businesses today and it’s important to know the methods to use these resources to our advantage. Using what I’ve learned along the way has already allowed me to look at situations through a different lens, gaining more experience and knowledge on how to implement them along the way.

Thanks to everyone who has assisted me along the journey, as this is just a step in fulfilling my aspirations.

Looking forward to all that’s next to come."

-Nick Shuckerow, MSBA '24

🌟 Inspiring the Next Generation of Entrepreneurs at Morse High School 🌟

This week, Tammy Ogden and D.J. White, co-founders of the biotech startup Cytodyme and second-year MBA students at the Rady School of Management, had the privilege of guest speaking in the Entrepreneurial Mindset class at Morse High School in San Diego.

This unique course, led by UC San Diego Alumni Bill Donovan, introduces high school students to entrepreneurship, business planning, and innovation. Tammy and D.J., as the first MBA candidates to present to this class, shared their journey of launching Cytodyme and the pivotal role their MBA experience has played in shaping their entrepreneurial success.

Through their engaging presentation, they highlighted the value of an MBA—offering insights into networking, skill-building, and career development opportunities at Rady. For many students, this was their first introduction to the MBA path and the potential it holds.

We're excited to announce that the UC San Diego Rady School of Management has been designated as an Advancing San Diego Verified Program of Business Talent by the San Diego Regional Economic Development Corporation!

Status as a Verified Program indicates five critical elements:
1️⃣ Alignment of educational curriculum with industry requisites of necessary hard skills
2️⃣ Alignment of educational curriculum with industry requisites of necessary soft skills
3️⃣ Continuous engagement with industry
4️⃣ Ability to reach and serve a diverse student population
5️⃣ Proven history of collaboration along the education continuum and with critical community organizations

Learn more: https://www.sandiegobusiness.org/blog/edc-designates-san-diegos-top-computing-engineering-business-programs/

EDC designates San Diego's top computing, engineering, business programs To fill talent gaps, regional employers vet training curriculum aligned to industry needs Together with more than 80 industry representatives, San Diego Regional EDC is proud to announce Advancing San Diego’s newest Verified Programs of 2024: 28 education programs from 15 different institutions th...

Congratulations to our UC San Diego Rady School Fall 2024 Master of Science in Business Analytics (MSBA) and Master of Quantitative Finance (MQF) graduates! 🎓

You’ve overcome challenges, developed invaluable skills, and grown as professionals. We can’t wait to see everything you’ll achieve in your bright futures! 🌟

Please join us in congratulating Dr. Katie Hillegass on successfully defending her Ph.D. dissertation - Harm, Tradeoffs, and Behavioral Consequences in Social Choices.

Katie's doctoral committee was chaired by On Amir and members included Ayelet Gneezy, Wendy Liu, and Piotr Winkielman.

Congratulations Katie! 🎓

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) will award UC San Diego’s StartBlue accelerator program $13.5 million to evolve into a program called the StartBlue Ocean Enterprise Accelerator to generate economic growth in the blue economy! 🌊

Launched in 2021, the StartBlue program, co-led by the Rady School of Management Sullivan Center and Scripps Institution of Oceanography, have helped 22 ocean-focused startups, 50% of which are female-founded, that have collectively raised $10.1 million during their time in the program.

As the only university-led program funding awardee, StartBlue will implement the design and approach of their accelerator program to foster sustainable business models that are aimed toward ocean resilience.

Learn more: https://rady.ucsd.edu/why/news/2024/12-10-startblue-accelerator-program-awarded-13.5-million-from-noaa-to-expand-support-for-ocean-focused-startups.html

Rady Wrapped 2024 🌟
This year, YOU hustled, networked, and caffeinated your way to success. ☕ 💼 Ready to crush 2025? 🚀

We are excited to announce that the UC San Diego Rady School of Management have partnered with the City of San Diego to offer up to five qualified City of San Diego employees guaranteed tuition fellowships each year for the next five years for one of our Flex MBA programs!

“Currently, we have established partnerships with organizations such as the County of San Diego - Government, Scripps Health, Rady Children's Hospital-San Diego, UC San Diego Health, and University Credit Union. This is just the beginning for us. Our promise is to provide workforce development opportunities that contribute to the vibrant San Diego community and beyond,” said Amanda Corona, Director of Corporate Partnerships at the Rady School.

Learn more: https://rady.ucsd.edu/why/news/2024/12-05-city-of-san-diego-partners-with-uc-san-diego-to-expand-employee-education-options.html

City of San Diego Partners with UC San Diego to Expand Employee Education Options The University of California San Diego’s Division of Extended Studies and the Rady School of Management have partnered with the City of San Diego to offer free and discounted tuition as well as scholarships to city employees over the next five years.

Congratulations to UC San Diego Rady School faculty member Christopher Gopal on being appointed to serve on the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) Defense Business Board! As a member of the Board, Dr. Gopal will help analyze situations, develop solutions and recommendations to resolve major high-profile problems faced by the DoD.

The Defense Business Board, established in 2002, provides the Secretary and Deputy Secretary of Defense with outside private sector perspectives and lessons learned on business management, culture, principles, and practices not otherwise available to the Secretary from within the Department. The Board is committed to develop recommendations that will assist the DoD realize significant cost savings through efficiencies realized.

We are honored to congratulate Evelyn and Ernest Rady on receiving the UC San Diego Lifetime Legacy Award!

Their extraordinary philanthropy has left an indelible mark on UC San Diego and the San Diego region. From founding the Rady School of Management to championing innovation, entrepreneurship, and interdisciplinary collaboration, their contributions are shaping the future of education, healthcare, and beyond.

“Ernest and Evelyn Rady have an incredible legacy of support to UC San Diego,” said Chancellor Khosla. “It is thanks to the Radys’ vision that UC San Diego is home to the Rady School of Management, which is helping drive positive growth in local and global economies. Their compassion and dedication to helping children and infants throughout the region has impacted countless families, including those who have received care in the Rady Pavilion for Women and Infants at Jacobs Medical Center. Our gratitude for the Radys’ sage advice and advocacy over the years cannot be overstated.”

Read more: https://today.ucsd.edu/story/2025-lifetime-legacy-and-chancellors-medal-awardees

The UC San Diego Rady School of Management was honored to host renowned shoe designer Stuart Weitzman for an inspiring talk, “An Entrepreneur’s Journey on a Road Less Traveled.” Attendees had the unique opportunity to hear how he built his iconic brand from the ground up and the key values that drive entrepreneurial success.

"My favorite 'Stu-ism' of the evening was the segment on inspiration. Stuart talked about unveiling the narrative that propels your brand and inspire consumers. As a beauty industry marketer, I’ve always been drawn to brands that tell captivating stories. Stuart Weitzman has been a master storyteller for decades. I vividly recall my first encounter with the brand as a young girl, shopping with my mother on Rodeo Drive. The elegance and timeless quality of the shoes were simply mesmerizing. To see how the brand has evolved in 2024, while still honoring its heritage, is a testament to its enduring appeal. Stuart Weitzman continues to capture the hearts of new generations, proving that a strong brand story can transcend generations." - Gayle Mckoy, MBA '25.