Fall 2025

Featured Stories

Pictured: Vanderbilt Business alumnus John Ingram with Candice Storey Lee doing the VU hand sign.

From Boardroom to Stadium: John Ingram’s Impact on Nashville

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.

Pictured: Vanderbilt Business alumni entrepreneurs, Rhodes Amaker, Aaron Dorn, Derek Banyard, Rehan Choudhry, and Brittani Roberts, are pictured with the logos of their respective companies. These alumni spoke on raising capital and the power of community.

From Pitch to Partnership: Vanderbilt Business Alumni on Investors & Raising Capital

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.

Pictured: Photo from the Vanderbilt Business Executive Women in Leadership Event: Sydney Savion, Cara Heilmann, Jen Fabbri, and Kelly Goldsmith.

Advancing for Greater Equity: Insights from Vanderbilt’s Executive Women in Leadership 2025 Event

Cover Story Launching Unicorns Vanderbilt is building a world-class entrepreneurial ecosystem—rooted in Vanderbilt Business and powered by students, alumni, and investors launching the next unicorns. Read More

Pictured: Photo by Happenstance Whiskey, company founded by Vanderbilt Business alumna Paige Parker.

Raising a Bourbon Glass to Entrepreneurial Success

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.

Pictured: Vanderbilt Business alumnus Jeremy Padawer with a wall of Squishmallows

Jeremy Padawer: Leading with Passion, Purpose, and Play

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.”

Pictured: An old photo featuring a group of people in dress attire. Philipe Gluntz, Vanderbilt Business alum, is shown with his wife.

Through the Years: Philippe Gluntz and a Legacy of Building Futures

Philippe Gluntz (PhD’73), Vanderbilt Business’ first doctoral graduate, went on to lead global firms and pioneer Europe’s angel investing movement.

Pictured: A collage of Vanderbilt Business staff who are recognized for career milestones and awards.

Vanderbilt Business Staff Spotlights

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.

Pictured: Thomas Kelly and Vanderbilt Business students gather for a photo with a mural that says "follow your dreams"

Creating Opportunity for Small Businesses through Impact Investing

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.

Pictured: A collage of Vanderbilt Business faculty members.

Vanderbilt Business Faculty Excellence in 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 Business Welcomes New Faculty Members, Fall 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.

Pictured: Ralph Owen Dean Tom Steenburgh shakes hands with 2025 Vanderbilt Business Commencement Speaker Jeremy Padawer

Vanderbilt Business 2025 Commencement

Jeremy Padawer (MBA’01) encourages the Class of 2025 to follow their ambitions and passions as they graduate from Vanderbilt Business

Pictured: Vanderbilt Business students, alumni, and staff pose for a photo while volunteering for the 2025 Owen Community Service Day.

Vanderbilt Business Hosts Second Annual Owen Community Service Day

Led by 100% Owen, the Owen Community Service Day is a day for the Vanderbilt Business community to unite and serve the Nashville community

Pictured: An image with an overlay of several different photos gathered together. The image shows stock market predictions, an American flag, American coins, and the market boards.

Market Swings & Investor Uncertainty: New Research Shows Lack of Consumer Confidence, Not Pessimism, Drives Stock Market Predictions

Amid 2025 market uncertainty, new research out of Vanderbilt Business explores the relationship between American consumer confidence and stock market predictions

Vanderbilt MBA Program Earns STEM Designation

The Vanderbilt MBA program joins the school’s Master of Marketing and MS Finance Programs as STEM-Designated Degrees

Vanderbilt Business Magazine | Fall 2025

Launching Unicorns

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