Though his title is Chairman of Ingram Industries, John R. Ingram (MBA’86), thinks Chief Innovation Officer, Chief Aggravation Officer and Cheerleader better describe his role. “Some combination of innovation, agitation, and cheerleading is what I do most,” says Ingram, who earned his undergraduate degree from Princeton University before returning home to Nashville to attend Vanderbilt Owen Graduate School of Management.
While many people dream of one day starting their own business, navigating the complex world of investors can be tricky. We sat down with five Vanderbilt Business alumni to discuss their advice for networking with investors and raising capital in 2025.
Co-hosted by Vanderbilt Executive MBA, Master of Management in Health Care, and Executive Education programs, the event welcomed nearly 150 attendees eager to hear from such highly regarded leaders with high-level experience across various industries. “We are sitting here with three truly inspiring women,” said Professor Goldsmith, setting the tone for an evening focused on […]
Paige Parker first got the idea for Happenstance Whiskey after she noticed a gap in the whiskey segment: Almost no brown-water brands kept women in mind as consumers, even though a significant number of whiskey drinkers are women.
Before he helped build billion-dollar brands, Jeremy Padawer (MBA’01) was a kid who loved to collect. “I always liked stuff,” Padawer said. “I always felt a real desire to turn one dollar into two. That was always exciting for me, even as a little kid.”
Philippe Gluntz (PhD’73), Vanderbilt Business’ first doctoral graduate, went on to lead global firms and pioneer Europe’s angel investing movement.
Vanderbilt Business staff are essential to our school’s success. This year, we celebrate retirements, milestone anniversaries, and awards that recognize their dedication to students, alumni, and the Owen community.
At Vanderbilt Business, the Impact Investing course gives students the rare opportunity to act as real-time lenders, directing capital toward community-driven entrepreneurs in Nashville. One such entrepreneur is Thomas Kelly, founder of Creative Soulz Printing, whose business has flourished thanks to a student-backed investment—demonstrating the real-world impact of pairing financial education with purpose-driven action.
From groundbreaking research to exceptional teaching, Vanderbilt Business faculty make meaningful impact in the classroom, in business, in scholarship, and throughout their communities. The highlights below represent just a few of the many accolades earned from Summer 2024 to Summer 2025.
Vanderbilt Owen Graduate School of Management is excited to announce that the 2025-2026 academic year will begin with five new full-time faculty members and four new postdoctoral research scholars.
Jeremy Padawer (MBA’01) encourages the Class of 2025 to follow their ambitions and passions as they graduate from Vanderbilt Business
Led by 100% Owen, the Owen Community Service Day is a day for the Vanderbilt Business community to unite and serve the Nashville community
Amid 2025 market uncertainty, new research out of Vanderbilt Business explores the relationship between American consumer confidence and stock market predictions
The Vanderbilt MBA program joins the school’s Master of Marketing and MS Finance Programs as STEM-Designated Degrees
Beth Torres (EMBA’11) leveraged her Vanderbilt MBA to transform Make-a-Wish Middle Tennessee and launch the Owen Board Fellows program, blending business with nonprofit impact
