Twice a year, the Longhorn community rallies friends, family, and the community for 40 hours to crowd fund for its favorite schools and initiatives across the University. This year, Forty Hours for the Forty Acres took place from April 12 through April 13, with 13 McCombs affiliates participating.
Thanks to the generosity of the McCombs network, the school raised more than $2.4 million, coming in second for overall giving.
Funds were raised through email appeals, as well as social media messaging. This year, student ambassadors took over McCombs’ social media channels to share their own messages in support of 40 for Forty through their “What I Love About McCombs” campaign.
Throughout the 40 hours, the online giving platform provided opportunities for matching funds, peer school competitions, and giveaway incentives, raising more than $6 million for the University through over 11,000 gifts.
The Fall 2023 40 Hours for the Forty Acres will take place September 27-28, so mark your calendars for another exciting online giving campaign. To see more 40 for Forty results, visit the website here.
On April 13, 2023, the McCombs School of Business welcomed student scholarship recipients and supporters to the First Annual Scholarship Appreciation Dinner. Aside from providing an opportunity for connection, it was also a chance to honor the late Red McCombs, whose legacy continues to inspire generosity, especially toward students.
McCombs hosted 180 guests at the AT&T Executive Education and Conference Center, including Dean’s Advisory Council members, current scholarship recipients, and McCombs scholarship supporters.
The event provides an opportunity for scholarship recipients and supporters to make a personal connection.
“More and more, we have heard from donors and students alike how meaningful it is to meet,” said Associate Director of Stewardship Sara Jebaily. “Student support is a key initiative for both the University and Texas McCombs, and we wanted to celebrate the people that create these amazing opportunities for our students.”
In fall 2022, 341 MBA students received McCombs fellowships and 117 MPA students received McCombs scholarships. Of 4,757 undergraduate students, 555 received a McCombs scholarship. At the graduate level, just 293 of the 490 full-time MBA students, and 117 out of 239 MPA students received McCombs fellowships.
The evening began with a video tribute to the late Red McCombs, who passed away this year. McCombs was instrumental in elevating Texas McCombs’ reputation throughout the country as a premier business school.
McCombs donated matching funds to inspire additional giving, resulting in 95 scholarship endowments to date. Much of the night was honored Red’s continuing legacy of leadership and support.
Dean Lillian Mills welcomed guests, followed by University of Texas President Jay C. Hartzell, who welcomed donors and students alike, noting that all of the scholarship sponsors in the room continue to build on Red’s foundation.
“Thank you for all you do to invest in our students,” President Hartzell said. “Red would always ask, ‘How are the students doing?’ He reminded us that that is why we are here. That’s our north star.”
Tina Mabley, Assistant Dean and Director, Full-time Texas MBA Program, shared her own memories of Red before turning the podium over to Charles Enriquez, Assistant Dean, BBA Academic Services and Student Affairs.
“Tonight, we are here to celebrate scholarships,” Tina said. “And there’s no better way to do that than to celebrate Red McCombs.”
She went on to reflect on the McCombs’ historic $50 million gift to the school that is now his namesake. At the time, it was the University’s largest gift to date.
“A true legend, Red’s legacy has lived with us at the business school since this gift,” she said.
Before introducing two guest student scholarship recipients, Charles echoed Tina’s statement.
“Students for generations to come will continue to benefit from the generosity and leadership Red left behind,” he said.
As a reflection of Red’s spirit of generosity, scholarship recipients Michael He, BBA ’23, MPA ’23, and Valeria Noguera, BBA Finance ’25, took to the stage to share how their own personal experiences have been shaped by scholarship support.
Valeria, a sophomore finance major who participates in the McCombs Success Scholars (MSS) program, talked about how her scholarship allows her to be actively involved in seven campus organizations, including being the first MSS student and only Latina in her class to join Wall Street for McCombs.
“None of that would be possible without my scholarship,” Valeria, recipient of the Hilary and Scott Hill Endowed Dean’s Scholarship, said. “I don’t have to worry about acquiring a rigorous job. Instead, I can focus on my studies and my school environment.”
Valeria will intern with Morgan Stanley New York in its investment banking division this summer, the first sophomore Longhorn to do so.
Master’s student Michael He reflected on receiving his scholarship notification just when COVID-19 impacted his family’s financial stability.
“My Dad lost his job, and my mom had to switch departments,” Michael, recipient of the Terri L. Holbrook Scholarship in Accounting, told the crowd. “The extra support I received helped us breathe a sigh of relief, and we were extremely grateful for that.”
Michael has used his time at McCombs to mentor other students through the Asian Business Student Association and intern at Deloitte, where he will be employed after graduation in May.
Regent James C. “Rad” Weaver, who was a scholarship recipient when he attended the McCombs School of Business, shared his own experiences as a student in need of extra breathing room.
“I, like so many other students, went to school on someone else’s dime,” said Regent Weaver, former CEO of McCombs Partners who was mentored by Red as a student. “My father passed away when I was a freshman in high school, so money was tight.”
During a fireside chat with Dean Mills, Regent Weaver, who worked alongside Red for 26 years, remembered fondly Red’s penchant for finding unexpired parking meters around the San Antonio area, just one way the mogul could stretch a dollar. He also recalled many of Red’s famous quotes.
“Keep the main thing the main thing,’ was one. And ‘Always be present wherever you are’ was another,” he said. “But what stuck with me was when he said, ‘Life is never standing still, it’s always moving; you are growing or shrinking every single day, so make the most of it.’”
But what both Dean Mills and Regent Weaver both recalled was Red’s devotion to inspiring students, especially the ones that flew under the radar.
“He enjoyed visiting with all the students, but he particularly would want to meet the C student who was working hard to make it happen,” said Weaver. “That’s who he would connect with the most.”
Dean Mills wrapped up the evening by reminding everyone in the room that, while scholarship needs met are something to celebrate, there is still much to be done to make McCombs a possibility for all students. She also pointed back to the purpose that lies at the heart of everything Texas McCombs does.
“It’s about the kids,” she said. “They are the ones who go out and change the world. You can be proud of your investment.”
Plans are already underway for next year’s event, which promises to expand to provide further interaction opportunities among recipients and their supporters.
Spring is a wonderful time at McCombs. It’s also a perfect season to bolster friend and family support during the 40 Hours for the Forty Acres campaign by signing up as an ambassador. With just a few simple clicks, you can be part of one of our campus’ largest fundraising opportunities just by spreading the word on your social media channels.
Forty Hours for the Forty Acres kicks off next Wednesday, April 12 at 6 a.m. and runs through Thursday, April 13, at 10 p.m. Ambassador sign-ups are in full swing, and those who secure at least three gifts using their unique referral code can win some fun promo items.
Ambassadors can win these fun promo items for a limited time!
“Ambassadors are key to helping McCombs lead during 40 for Forty,” said Wendy Anderson, Chief Development Officer for McCombs Development and External Relations. “We rely on students, faculty, and friends to continually enhance our offerings here at McCombs.”
For McCombs, the 40 for Forty campaign provides an online opportunity for the community to give to the school’s annual fund, which provides support throughout the year across all areas of the school, including faculty, facility, staff, and students. Other McCombs-specific 40 for Forty campaigns include centers, programs, departments and student orgs. Ambassadors can sign up any time, but those who meet a University-wide April 10th deadline help McCombs earn extra challenge money through the campaign. Additional early giving opportunities are available now by clicking here.
To sign up as an Ambassador, click here to get started. Be sure to select one or more of McCombs’ pages as your preferred affiliation.
Randy Swan (BBA ’90), CEO and lead portfolio manager at Swan Global Investments
Randy Swan (BBA ’90), CEO and lead portfolio manager at Swan Global Investments and co-founder of For the Future Foundation, is partnering with McCombs School of Business Wealth Management Center. The partnership is expected to inspire and develop the next generation of financial professionals and advance the wealth management industry through education, mentoring, networking, and financial support.
Swan and his wife, Laura (BA Economics, ’89), who are both University of Texas at Austin alumni, launched the For the Future Foundation to contribute to the advancement of local economic development with a particular focus on the upcoming generations of leaders through education.
“Laura and I are grateful to be in a position to give back to our alma matter and encourage development of next generation wealth management professionals,” Randy said. “We are excited to partner with the great leadership team at the Wealth Management Center and the esteemed academics and other industry leaders in this meaningful opportunity.”
For the Future Foundation has committed four years of financial support for Center initiatives to educate and empower future generations of financial professionals. Randy Swan, founder and CEO of Swan Global Investments and his wife Laura Swan launched For the Future Foundation to contribute to the advancement of local economic development with a particular focus on the upcoming generations of leaders through education. Both Randy and Laura are proud UT alumni, and Randy is a graduate from The McCombs School of Business.
“We greatly appreciate the foundation’s vision and partnership in helping to provide students with unique opportunities to help evolve the Wealth Management industry,” said Dean Lillian Mills.
Swan Global Investments will be involved broadly with the Wealth Management Center in community outreach, education programs, partner events, and Randy Swan will serve as a member of the Center advisory board.
“The wealth management Industry is undergoing major changes. A primary challenge facing the profession is the shortage of young and talented students that can enter the wealth management workforce. Yet another need is the demand for increased domain-specific knowledge,” said Dr. Ramesh Rao, founding director of McCombs Wealth Management. “We are delighted that Swan Global Investments will be joining us and other industry leaders–such as Schwab, PIMCO, DFA, Focus Financial and LPL Financial– to advance the Center’s ambitious goals of addressing these needs.”
Debbie Carney, McCombs Senior Program Coordinator for Advising and International Exchange Programs
Positioning McCombs on the world stage is something that has been on the forefront of Debbie Carney’s mind since she took up her post as Senior Program Coordinator for Advising and International Exchange Programs 12 years ago. Despite expanding the Texas MBA Program’s global business education partnership roster to include the two best London-based schools and forging new relationships with top MBA programs in Hong Kong, South Africa, Argentina, and Japan, Carney admits more still needs to be done.
“We are deploying the very best students from McCombs to experience hands-on cross-cultural opportunities,” she said. “But we are behind. We still don’t have the name recognition in the global arena that we deserve.”
The Global Student Exchange Program provides full-time MBA and Dual Degree students studying law, business, or engineering an avenue to learn alongside counterparts in other countries. But it can be costly to the students (approximately $10,000 per semester each), who are solely responsible for expenses, not to mention navigating life on their own in a new culture. Despite those challenges, however, Carney says she hears nothing but positive feedback.
“It’s hard to study abroad,” she said. “But for most of our participants, this is a life-changing transformational experience. Students say it’s the best decision they’ve ever made.”
Jhovany Duperval (MBA ’22), participated in the exchange with London
Jhovany Duperval (MBA ’22)
Business School and echoes Carney’s sentiments.
“I chose to apply for the exchange program because I wanted to extend my international experiences and immerse myself in a business practicum full of opportunities to tackle international problems,” he said. “The exposure educationally and culturally expanded my knowledge base and is an experience that I’ll carry with me wherever I go. This opportunity has been the highlight of my MBA experience and one I hope future McCombs students explore as part of their MBA journey.”
For those who think the GSE is just a travel experience, Carney refutes that, explaining that, students spend one full-time immersive semester studying business at a top-ranked global institution at their destination. In addition to the cost of travel, students are responsible for securing their own housing, insurance, class schedules, and local transportation while abroad. Currently, there is only one scholarship to support two students through the Sylff Foundation each year.
The experience provides the opportunity for McCombs to increase diversity across programs and enhance its presence around the globe, something Carney stresses as an increasing need in the current climate.
“Many times, our students are the only Americans in the room during these exchanges,” she said. “It allows them to be able to speak on the global stage, and that’s a huge benefit in today’s economy.”
Carney hopes to see the program continue to expand to include additional international experiences, scholarship support, and faculty assistance. In the future, she hopes participants will have a forum where they can return to share their experiences with other McCombs students and create an ongoing network of alumni in the program.
“We are building something for students who would never have this opportunity otherwise,” she said. “When they return, they are the best possible ambassadors for this program and McCombs.”
To learn how you can support the Global Student Exchange program, email Debbie Carney.
The Herb Kelleher Center hosts Entrepreneurship Live moderated by Dr. Luis Martins in Rowling Hall on October 3, 2019. Photo by Lauren Gerson.
What does a student do with a great idea when they lack the means or knowledge to take it to the next level? That’s the problem the Herb Kelleher Entrepreneurship Center (HKEC) sought to solve when it launched in 2001. Through its Forty Acres Founders Program, HKEC has connected students with the needed resources, mentorship, and guidance to see big ideas become reality.
Named for visionary Herb Kelleher, co-founder of Southwest Airlines, HKEC provides avenues for students to pitch and refine ideas meant to shape the future of the world. Through the Forty Acres Founders Program, undergraduates and graduates are given unprecedented access behind the curtain where they can study potential customers, improve their product and better position it for success in the marketplace
“The Forty Acres Founders Program has allowed me to build my academic background in entrepreneurship, talk to a variety of entrepreneurs, receive feedback on my startup’s progress, and find a strong community of fellow student entrepreneurs,” said Madeleine Montgomery, Forty Acres Founders Scholar and 2022 pitch competition winner.
Each Forty Acres Founders cohort is made up of 20 students from different colleges and schools across The University. A large part of the program’s success is the relationship between students and mentors. Over a ten-week period, mentors volunteer one hour per week to two student Founders offering guidance as students develop their ideas.
David Willson, Forty Acres Founders cohort ’22.
“Coaching up the skills and adding a fundamental backbone to the way we see the world of entrepreneurship is something that [the Forty Acres Founders Program] did for all of us. It was very important and imperative to our skillset,” said David Willson, Forty Acres Founders cohort ’22.
Each spring, Founders vie for an opportunity to pitch their ideas during the final pitch competition hoping to win up to $20,000 in grant funding.
“This program has such an open and inclusive environment. We all truly feel supported by our peers, mentors, and professor,” said Montgomery. “I feel much more confident to continue forward with my venture post-graduation after my participation in the Forty Acres Founders Program.”
To learn more about the Forty Acres Founders program’s engagement opportunities, please visit their website or contact Ali Arnold, Communications Specialist, for more information.
Janet Bates sits in front of the Bates Family Fountain in the AT&T Conference Center courtyard, which was erected to memorialize her late husband, Garth.
It all started with a little wooden box. Janet (BS Education ’71) and Garth Bates (BBA ’71) fell in love with The University of Texas at Austin, and each other, as students from 1967-71 during the height of the Vietnam War. Despite on-campus protests and political division, the high school sweethearts excelled in their studies, she as an elementary education major and he as a business major at the McCombs School of Business. Years later, as they raised their young family, the couple made their first contribution of $250 and became among the first members of the Chancellor’s Council.
“As a thank you for our contributions, McCombs sent a little wooden box with numbers for each year of giving,” Janet said. “[Garth] just loved that thing. It was something he could touch.”
That was the beginning of the couple’s philanthropic efforts to support McCombs Business School and The University. So, when the family lost Garth suddenly in a plane crash, one of Janet’s first decisions was to honor his memory with a scholarship to Texas McCombs.
“It was shortly after we lost Garth when the idea of making a gift to McCombs was suggested to me,” she said. “That’s how the scholarship began.”
The Garth C. Bates Memorial Presidential Scholarship in Business was born. Its ongoing legacy has provided a pathway for McCombs students to pursue their degree. For the Bates’ children, Ross, Trip and Elisabeth, it is the most fitting way to remember their father, someone they describe as always giving to others.
“The scholarship is very important to us as a family,” said Ross Bates, youngest son of Janet and Garth. “I’m so glad my mom is doing it. She makes sure we are included in all of these decisions, so she makes sure we remember why it is so important.”
Eldest son, Trip, agrees, noting how touching it is to read letters from scholarship recipients.
“Mom will forward them to us to read,” he said. “It’s great to know it’s doing something special in people’s lives.”
A plaque marks The Bates Family Fountain as a memorial to Garth.
Another significant contribution to campus has been the Bates Memorial Fountain in the courtyard at the AT&T Center next to Rowling Hall. Before breaking ground on the facility, The University invited groups on hardhat tours, pointing out planned facility highlights. On the hunt for a way to contribute, Janet proposed a fountain for the center of the outdoor space to serve as a memorial to her late husband.
“I was looking for a place that every time the family came to Austin we had a place to meet,” she said. “I wanted something I could touch.”
Today, the fountain is the site of photo shoots, the centerpiece for outdoor events, and, yes, a gathering place for families, including the Bateses.
“Yes, it’s in memory of Dad, but it isn’t sad. It’s peaceful,” Ross said. “The fountain can cause people to pause and reflect. That’s the great thing about it. It’s not ours. It’s everyone’s. That’s the whole point.”
Trip’s daughter, Kaitlyn, now a University of Texas student studying at McCombs, has even brought friends by to see the fountain erected in her grandfather’s memory.
“She was about 5 years old when the fountain was built, so it’s great to see her now able to share it with people,” Trip said.
As multiple generations now enjoy a University of Texas legacy, philanthropy has never been more important to the Bates family. Whether supporting scholarships, contributing to new building efforts, or providing other funding investments, all agree there’s never been a more important time to give in any way possible.
“We have always been a philanthropic family,” said Trip. “And we will continue to give to places that were special to Dad. UT has always been near and dear to our hearts, even more so now that we have new generations enjoying all it has to give.”
Ross, who volunteers to speak to University student groups, agreed with that sentiment, adding that the gift of time is also important to McCombs and The University.
“One of the things I did, and want to continue to do, is give time,” he said. “I’ve been able to talk to these student groups, and it reminds you of what it was like to be back there. It’s mutually beneficial and rewarding.”
For Janet, seeing her family become more involved in giving efforts to McCombs and The University, stokes her desire to continue doing more for the place that inspired her love of teaching, travel, and history. Of her many memories on campus – accompanying Garth to the mainframe in the basement of the Business Economics Building, cooking for friends in her on-campus apartment, discovering a love of travel through her geography class, the Daryl K. Royal winning streak years – what she cherishes most is the place itself.
“This university has given me way more than I have given it,” she said.
When given the chance, Janet encourages others to think of how they can honor their loved ones with memorial donations, scholarships, or other meaningful contributions.
“I tell people who are thinking of making a donation to McCombs or The University, see if there is something they have a passion about,” she said. “I encourage them to talk with the development team, and I’ll bet they can find something that will be meaningful. You just have to ask.”
Janet still has the wooden box that meant so much to Garth. It stands as a testament to what a simple gesture of thanks can inspire – generational giving that touches many lives.
“We have never stopped giving to the Chancellor’s Council,” Janet, who now serves on the Council, said. “The number one reason we are continuing to give is [Garth] had something he could touch. All of our giving started with that little box.”
John Goff and Dean Lillian Mills show their best hook ’em during the naming ceremony for the John Goff Real Estate Investment Fund and Labs.
On Tuesday, November 15, 2022, McCombs School of Business dedicated the John Goff Real Estate Investment Fund and Labs in recognition of the continuing and impactful support of John Goff, BBA ’77, Chairman of Goff Capital Management, LP, and member of the Fund Advisory Board.
Texas McCombs is the only program in the country where students evaluate both public and private investment opportunities, with MBAs as associates and undergrads as analysts. Goff helped to cast the vision and carry it out to fruition.
The celebration took place in the Rowling Hall atrium on The University of Texas campus with a champagne toast reception after the annual Real Estate Investment dinner. Attendees included Cami and John Goff, members of their family, President Jay Hartzell, Dean Lillian Mills and Real Estate advisory board members, McCombs faculty, staff and students.
During his toast, President Hartzell described Goff as “the most shrewd real estate investor” he knew.
(From l to r) John Goff, President Jay Hartzell and Dean Lillian Mills stand in front of the John Goff Real Estate. Investment Fund and Labs sign at Rowling Hall during the naming ceremony.
“I love this program and what it does for our students,” Hartzell said.
As he took the podium to thank the crowd of students, staff, faculty and family in attendance, Goff said he was touched by the recognition.
“I can’t tell you how much it means to me to talk to the students and hear what a difference this program is making for you,” he said. “It’s a phenomenal program, really unique, and I couldn’t be more excited to be part of it.”
The John Goff Real Estate Investment Fund and Labs is located on the first floor of Rowling Hall.
President Jay Hartzell and Dean Lillian Mills stand with the 2022 Rising Star inductees (from L to R) Kelly Steckelberg (BBA ’91, MPA ’91); John D. Harkey, Jr.(BBA ’83, JD ’86); W. Benjamin Moreland (BBA ’84); Andrew Phong Vo (BBA ’95); and Advisory Council Chair John C. Goff.
On November 10, 2022, notable alumni, friends, and Texas McCombs staff convened at the AT&T Conference Center for the annual McCombs School of Business Hall of Fame celebration to induct exemplary alumni into its ranks. This year’s Hall of Fame inductees included John D. Harkey, Jr., W. Benjamin Moreland, Kelly S. Steckelberg, and Andrew Phong Vo. McCombs Dean Lillian Mills also recognized 2022 Rising Stars Adam Blum, Nick Del’Osso, Philip Krim, and April Underwood.
McCombs School of Business established the Hall of Fame in 1983 as part of The University of Texas at Austin’s centennial celebration. This year, as McCombs celebrates its own centennial year, it’s fitting that we acknowledge the stellar achievements of those alumni who continue to change the world. The Hall of Fame honors individuals who have made outstanding professional contributions to the business community and who, by their exemplary civic, philanthropic, and educational activities have advanced humanity. The Hall of Fame award is the highest honor given by the McCombs School of Business. Recipients are chosen by a selection committee.
In addition, McCombs also recognizes young alumni with the Rising Star Award, established in 2004. This award is presented to young alumni who have experienced professional success and have shown exemplary service to the McCombs Alumni Network. These are graduates who have presented themselves as consummate professionals and dedicated businesspeople. Rising Star Award recipients are chosen by the McCombs BBA and MBA Advisory Boards and Dean Mills.
Hall of Fame inductees were showcased in video vignettes before taking to the podium to share words of appreciation. Learn more about each of their personal and professional stories by viewing the videos below.
2022 Hall of Fame Inductees
John D. Harkey, Jr.
BBA ’83, JD ‘86
Founder
JDH Investment Management, LLC
John D. Harkey Jr. has over 25 years’ experience as a private investor, chief executive, and director in both public and private companies. He has merged, acquired, operated, and/or served on the boards of directors of nine public companies in biotech, energy, technology, aerospace, telecom, and restaurants, and private companies in health care, real estate, farm and ranch products, and software development.
He is the founder of JDH Investment Management LLC, which is focused on leading innovative technologies and emerging company opportunities in biotech, gene therapy, non-opiate pain and pharma/therapeutic spaces. He is the co-founder and formerly executive chairman of the board of AveXis, Inc. (NASDAQ:AVXS), which was acquired in 2018 by Novartis. He also serves on the boards of CerSci Pharmaceuticals, Cessation Therapeutics, Dialectic Therapeutics Inc., Veterinary Service Inc., and Baylor Health Care System Foundation.
Philanthropically, Harkey serves on the board of directors of The University of Texas System Chancellor’s Council Executive Committee, the University of Texas Development Board, and is past chairman of the McCombs School of Business Advisory Council. He serves on the MD Anderson Cancer Center Board of Visitors Research, and the Innovation and Commercialization Committee. He and Peni are longtime residents of Highland Park, Texas, and have two daughters. Meredith graduated from UT in Liberal Arts Honors and earned a J.D. at the UT School of Law, and Morgan graduated from the UT Plan II Honors and completed her first year at Texas Law.
W. Benjamin Moreland
BBA ’94
Principal
Moreland Interests
Benjamin (Ben) Moreland is principal of Moreland Interests and retired CEO of Crown Castle, where he remains a member of the board. Crown Castle, a leading provider of wireless infrastructure in the U.S., owns and operates over 40,000 towers and 115,000 Small Cell facilities, supported by over 80,000 route miles of fiber in key U.S. markets. An S&P 500 Company headquartered in Houston, Crown Castle has over 4,000 employees in the U.S. and an equity market capitalization in excess of $60 billion.
Prior to his retirement, Moreland served as executive vice chairman and was president and chief executive officer from July 2008 through May 2016. He joined Crown Castle in 1999 after 15 years with Chase Manhattan Bank and predecessor banks, primarily in corporate finance and real estate investment banking. Moreland is currently chairman of the board of Clear Channel Outdoor Holdings Inc. and has served on a number of public and private boards.
He also serves on the board of Houston Methodist Hospital, where he chairs the subsidiary, Methodist Health Centers Board. In addition to serving on the Advisory Council of the McCombs School, he is a member of the Chancellor’s Council Executive Committee. He holds a BBA from The University of Texas at Austin and an MBA from the University of Houston, where he is a member of the Bauer School Board.
Kelly S. Steckelberg
BBA ’91, MPA ’91
Chief Financial Officer
Zoom Video Communications
Kelly Steckelberg has been the CFO of Zoom Video Communications since 2017. She led the company through its successful IPO in 2019 and explosive growth in recent years. The Zoom platform brings teams together, reimagines workspaces, engages new audiences and delights customers. Previously, she held various roles at technology companies including CEO of Zoosk, and various roles in finance at Cisco, Webex, Epiphany, PeopleSoft, and KPMG. Steckelberg is a board member and Audit Committee Chair for Qualtrics. She has an MPA and BBA in Accounting from The University of Texas at Austin. She loves spending time with her family and friends and exploring new destinations in the world.
Andrew Phong Vo
BBA ’95
Chief Human Resources Officer
Accenture, Growth Markets
Andrew Phong Vo is chief human resources officer of Accenture Growth Markets, responsible for developing talent and leadership across Asia-Pacific, Latin America, Middle East, and South Africa. A member of Accenture’s Global Leadership Council, Vo has built a 27-year career partnering with Fortune 500 clients to drive transformational change. He previously led Accenture’s global commodities trading operations practice, North America corporate finance offering, and a portfolio of energy accounts.
Passionate about advancing academic excellence and enrichment, Vo and his wife endowed a McCombs presidential scholarship in 2014 and launched UT’s Admissions Welcome Center with the establishment of the Vo Family Auditorium in 2020. A past Outstanding Young Texas Ex award recipient, Vo serves on the McCombs School of Business Advisory Council, UT Systems Chancellor’s Council Executive Committee, UT Development Board, and Forty Acres Society.
He is the founder/senior advisor of the Texas Iron Spikes service organization, benefiting Special Olympics Texas and Texas Baseball for nearly three decades. Born in Saigon, Vietnam, Vo immigrated to the U.S. in 1975 and was raised in Sugar Land, Texas. In 1995, he earned his finance BBA from McCombs and joined Accenture’s Houston office. Vo, his wife, and their seven-year-old twins reside in Singapore.
Rising Star Recipients
Adam Blum
BBA ’06, MPA ’06
Managing Partner
Old Hickory Partners
Nick Dell’Osso
MBA ’03
President & CEO
Chesapeake Energy Corp.
April Underwood
BBA ’01
Co-Founder
#Angels
Philip Krim
BBA ’06
Founder & Managing Partner
Montauk Ventures
$2.5 million initiative highlights connections, removes barriers for leaders-in-training
Cutting-edge international coursework and global experience will become more accessible for students at The University of Texas at Austin thanks to a $2.5 million gift to the McCombs School Center for Global Business.
Austin resident Raymond Brimble, founder and CEO of the Lynxs Holdings LP, and his wife, Karen, made the gift in support of the center, where he is emeritus chair of the advisory board. A UT graduate who has founded and managed 30 companies across North and Central America and Europe, Brimble hopes to enhance global resources for students entering an increasingly multicultural and interconnected workforce.
“Texas is a global player, and its future professionals need to be ready,” Brimble said. “It’s our dream that we can support new and enriched programs that will make an international business education available to more students. Rapid global change calls for the leadership that a UT education provides.”
The Brimble Global Impact Initiative will elevate student access to the professionals, curriculum and skills that an international perspective requires. Programs will help McCombs to provide global business education to students within the school and throughout campus, to engage with international alumni, and to remove financial barriers to experiential learning.
Raj Mahale, chair of the advisory board and a graduate of the International Business program, sees an opportunity to cultivate valuable global business acumen for students from diverse backgrounds and nonbusiness fields of study. He is eager to grow enrollment and strengthen global alumni connections to expand mentoring and career opportunities.
“I am deeply grateful to Ray for this contribution. When I was a student, the International Business program opened my eyes to resources and opportunities beyond any I envisioned when I first stepped on campus,” said Mahale. “I felt the pull to develop as a global citizen, and these programs showed me the way. Now, more students will have access to relevant coursework to become competitive on the world stage.”
Currently a partner at KPPB Law, Mahale has spent nearly two decades as a corporate attorney advising businesses in South and Southeast Asia, China and the Middle East. He mentors international business students and encourages them to build international professional networks. The Brimble Initiative will help enhance networks such as these.
Raymond Brimble, founder and CEO of the Lynxs Holdings LP, and Deirdre Mendez, director of the Texas McCombs Center for Global Business. Photo by Lauren Gerson/McCombs School of Business/UT Austin.
The initiative is well timed as the rising pressures of world events affect all markets and nations, said Deirdre Mendez, director of the Center for Global Business.
“Understanding global repercussions has never been more important. This gift positions us to prepare UT students as global leaders,” she said. “It’s been a pleasure working with Ray to find ways to expose more students to a global experience while strengthening connections to international alumni.”
Immediate goals for the initiative include new and updated international business course offerings; scholarships to make study abroad and other experiences more accessible; enhanced advising services; and broader outreach to alumni who can serve as speakers, mentors and potential employers.
The new opportunities are expected to appeal to traditional business majors and students adding a valuable minor.
“We like to point out that business has no borders, and that applies on campus, too. Whether you are studying communications or engineering, natural sciences or computer science, understanding international business has never been more relevant,” said Deborah Salzberg, global readiness adviser for the center. “This gift will open doors to global readiness across the university.”
