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It’s a Match:
Executive MBA Students Consult with the USTA

The capstone experience of the Gabelli School’s Executive MBA program is a field-study project that sends students around the globe to consult with top-tier leaders in organizations like Yamaha, BMW Financial Services, and Ogilvy China.

This year, the pandemic forced organizers to arrange an equally challenging and meaningful experience virtually. According to Francis Petit, EdD, associate dean and director of the Executive MBA Program, the partnership with the United States Tennis Association (USTA)—made possible with the help of alumnus Joseph Healy, EMBA ’14, the organization’s managing director and corporate controller—was a winning match.

“The USTA is a global organization and premier brand,” Petit said. “It operates one of the four coveted Grand Slams—the U.S. Open—and executes its grassroots strategy in growing the game of tennis nationally.” He added that dialogue between students and senior leaders is vital throughout these projects, but quality time can sometimes be difficult to schedule in person. “Because meetings were held virtually this year, we had even greater access to these wonderful touch points,” Petit said.

Joseph Healy shaking hands with Francis Petit at a USTA event
Joseph Healy, EMBA ’14 (left), managing director of the United States Tennis Association, with Francis Petit, EdD, associate dean and director of the Executive MBA Program.
Thirty-three EMBA students partnered with USTA executives one weekend a month for four months, then formally presented their ideas. They focused on four key areas of growth: identifying new revenue streams, finding international sponsorship opportunities, elevating the organization’s new facility in Florida, and expanding its non-profit children’s foundation.

“I was pleasantly surprised with the diligence, the creativity, and the level of commitment and research that went into these projects to really provide some value and different perspectives,” Healy said. As an alumnus of the EMBA program, he knows firsthand how challenging the project can be. His cohort worked with the Rio Convention and Visitors Bureau in Brazil. Healy said the experience was invaluable and gave him new tools to advance in his career.

One of this year’s participants, Usman “Ozzy” Raza, EMBA ’21, founder and CEO of four companies, including Equeduct, the New York City fintech startup he co-founded with classmates, described his takeaway as “overwhelmingly positive. The USTA leadership was tremendously helpful in providing context and information on the business areas the cohort was providing consulting services on,” he said. “The cohort was also able to leverage everything we learned in the EMBA program to conduct a thorough analysis of the USTA business.”

Thirty-three EMBA students partnered with USTA executives one weekend a month for four months, then formally presented their ideas. They focused on four key areas of growth: identifying new revenue streams, finding international sponsorship opportunities, elevating the organization’s new facility in Florida, and expanding its non-profit children’s foundation.

“I was pleasantly surprised with the diligence, the creativity, and the level of commitment and research that went into these projects to really provide some value and different perspectives,” Healy said. As an alumnus of the EMBA program, he knows firsthand how challenging the project can be. His cohort worked with the Rio Convention and Visitors Bureau in Brazil. Healy said the experience was invaluable and gave him new tools to advance in his career.

One of this year’s participants, Usman “Ozzy” Raza, EMBA ’21, founder and CEO of four companies, including Equeduct, the New York City fintech startup he co-founded with classmates, described his takeaway as “overwhelmingly positive. The USTA leadership was tremendously helpful in providing context and information on the business areas the cohort was providing consulting services on,” he said. “The cohort was also able to leverage everything we learned in the EMBA program to conduct a thorough analysis of the USTA business.”

Joseph Healy shaking hands with Francis Petit at a USTA event
Joseph Healy, EMBA ’14 (left), managing director of the United States Tennis Association, with Francis Petit, EdD, associate dean and director of the Executive MBA Program.

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Positive Impact Rating

The Gabelli School earned a Positive Impact Rating of Four: Transforming–one of just two in the U.S. to earn this distinction.

FT-MBAs Win ACG Cup

When this year’s local ACG Cup case competition was canceled, FT-MBA students sought entry to a competition hosted by a chapter in Western Michigan– and they won first place.

Sparking Collective Action

The 47 CEOs who make up the Responsible Business Coalition’s Future Fashion Coalition represent an astonishing 15% of the global fashion industry.

Driving Diversity

Fordham welcomed more than 2,800 students to its incoming class. Impressively, more than 44% of domestic students are people of color, making it the largest and most diverse class in the University’s history.

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