NIU Department of Management

𝐅𝐚𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐲 𝐏𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐁𝐞𝐲𝐨𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐫𝐨𝐨𝐦: Featuring Dr. Mahesh Subramony  Continuing our Faculty Passions Beyond the Classroom series, we’re excited to highlight Mahesh Subramony and the passions that inspire his work and life outside the classroom. 𝐌𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐌𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐟𝐮𝐥𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬  Dr. Subramony began to explore meditation when he was 15 years old. However, over the past 4–5 years, this practice has become a consistent part of his life, fueling both personal growth and a deeper connection to his students. In his Organizational Change course, he emphasizes personal transformation by exploring questions like "what does wellbeing mean?” and “how can we build a capacity for personal change?” With 30-minute mindfulness exercises, he helps students align their well-being with their professional goals, showing how mental health impacts success. 𝐖𝐚𝐥𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠, 𝐑𝐮𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐏𝐨𝐝𝐜𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐬  From overcoming the odds of open-heart surgery at the age of seven to completing full marathons, Dr. Subramony's story is one of resilience and determination. He started running through a YMCA Couch to 5K program in 2014. Since then, he has progressed to running 10Ks, half marathons, and a full marathon. On most weekends, you’ll find him clocking upto 10 miles, often accompanied by thought-provoking podcasts on topics ranging from history and politics to contemporary Sherlock Holmes mysteries. 𝐌𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐜 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐒𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐠  An introspective individual, Dr. Subramony discovered a love for music in middle school, where he occasionally sang with a local band. While his interest in music is mostly confined to listening (across a wide range of genres), he finds joy in singing for fun, letting it serve as a creative outlet that brings balance to his life. He is also known for beginning his classes with music that captures the topic of the day! Dr. Subramony’s passions exemplify how pursuing personal interests not only enhances individual well-being but also fosters stronger connections in the classroom. Stay tuned as we continue to celebrate the multifaceted lives of our incredible faculty. 

𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐬 𝐖𝐞𝐞𝐤 𝐢𝐬 𝐀𝐥𝐦𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐇𝐞𝐫𝐞—𝐘𝐨𝐮’𝐯𝐞 𝐆𝐨𝐭 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬! Huskies, the finish line is in sight, and winter break is just around the corner. While finals can feel overwhelming, remember to take a moment for yourself and recharge. Here are a few tips to help you stay on track and finish strong: 𝐏𝐫𝐢𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐳𝐞 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐓𝐢𝐦𝐞: Make a study schedule and stick to it. Focus on the subjects that need the most attention.  𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐲 𝐇𝐲𝐝𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝 & 𝐄𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐠𝐢𝐳𝐞𝐝: Keep water and healthy snacks handy to fuel your brain.  𝐆𝐞𝐭 𝐄𝐧𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐒𝐥𝐞𝐞𝐩: Pulling all-nighters may seem productive, but rest is essential for memory and focus.  𝐓𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐁𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐤𝐬: Step outside, stretch, or go for a walk to refresh your mind.  𝐀𝐬𝐤 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐇𝐞𝐥𝐩: Don’t hesitate to reach out to your professors or classmates if you have questions. You’ve worked hard all semester—now’s the time to show what you’ve learned. Stay positive, give it your best effort, and know that winter break is almost here! #NIUCOB #NIUMGMT #MGMT #MGMTMatters  

𝐀𝐈 𝐢𝐬 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐰𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐢𝐭 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐨𝐟 𝐮𝐬. Coming up in March 2025 the NIU College of Business will be holding a conference on the strategic and responsible use of artificial intelligence in business and education at our campus in Naperville.  We are seeking 𝐚𝐥𝐮𝐦𝐧𝐢 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐦𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐬 who work with or are interested in AI to attend the conference, present sessions, and/or serve on panels.  If you're interested in joining the conversation and sharing ideas with world class thought leaders in the field, please contact 𝐒𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐡 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐬𝐡 𝐚𝐭 𝐬𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐬𝐡@𝐧𝐢𝐮.𝐞𝐝𝐮 and we will make sure to keep you in the loop! #MGMTMatters #NIU #NIUCOB #NIUMGMT

𝐅𝐚𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐲 𝐏𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐁𝐞𝐲𝐨𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐫𝐨𝐨𝐦 We’re thrilled to launch our new series highlighting the lives and passions of NIU Management Department faculty beyond their academic roles. Our first feature is Amanda J. Ferguson, who has played cello for the Kishwaukee Symphony Orchestra (KSO) since 2012! With 36 years of experience, Professor Ferguson’s love for music has taken her across the world, performing with orchestras in London, St. Louis, and Springfield, Missouri. Her musical journey began close to home with her father, a retired orchestral and opera conductor who earned two music degrees from NIU and whose first teaching position was as band director at Sycamore High School—where her daughter now attends. Beyond her rich history in music, Professor Ferguson’s connection to orchestra brought her family together; she even met her husband through the orchestra, where he performed as a classically trained violinist. Join us in celebrating Professor Ferguson’s remarkable contributions to both our local community and the wider musical world! #NIUCOB #NIUMGMT #MGMTMatters

𝐄𝐱𝐜𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐎𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐒𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐋𝐨𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐄𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐮𝐫𝐬 𝐚𝐭 𝐍𝐈𝐔! NIU CAUSE (Collegiate Association of Unreasonable Social Entrepreneurs) is hosting the Campus Creators Market 𝐓𝐨𝐝𝐚𝐲, 𝐍𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝟕𝐭𝐡! This event is a fantastic chance to support local businesses and student-led groups right here on campus. 𝐋𝐨𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: Founders Memorial Library, Lower Level  𝐓𝐢𝐦𝐞: 2PM - 6PM  𝐅𝐫𝐞𝐞 𝐄𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐲! Explore a variety of products, including ceramics, jewelry, clothing, beauty items, baked goods, and more! Plus, the event is 𝐁𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐏𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭 & 𝐇𝐨𝐧𝐨𝐫𝐬 𝐀𝐩𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐝, making it an excellent learning and networking experience for students in all fields. Let's come together to celebrate and support the creativity and entrepreneurship of our NIU community. We hope to see you there! Questions? Reach out at [email protected]. #NIUCOB #NIUMGMT #MGMTMatters

𝐖𝐞 𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐢𝐧𝐩𝐮𝐭! What competencies should a graduate of the NIU BS in Management demonstrate? The management department is developing learning goals for the BS management major (emphases in entrepreneurship, HR, and leadership) and would love to hear your thoughts on the competencies (knowledge, skills, and other characteristics) that NIU management undergraduates should demonstrate to be effective in the workforce of today.  Your insights will allow us to develop a rigorous and relevant curriculum to position our students for career success and business/social impact.  Please comment here or email us your valuable feedback at [email protected].  We look forward to hearing from you! 

Leadership and Art Collide in MGMT 457! Last week, students in Professor Bethany Cockburn's MGMT 457 Leadership class had the incredible opportunity to explore the art of leadership in a unique and inspiring way. Instead of focusing solely on the science behind great leadership—how we communicate, motivate, and make decisions—they delved into the creative side. Led by artist and leader Ute Westphal, MBA, former Director of Small Business Development at the College of DuPage, students learned about the powerful parallels between leadership and art. With Ute, Bart Sharp, and the owner of jubilee artisans in downtown DeKalb guiding us, students worked together to create beautiful art pieces that represent NIU, the College of Business, and the leadership concepts they've mastered. Each piece was passed between teams, with new layers of interpretation added along the way. The final artworks will soon be proudly displayed in the Department of Management—a lasting reminder of how leadership can be both a science and an art. #NIU #NIUCOB #MGMTMatters

Exciting news from the Department of Management! We are proud to highlight our department chair, Bart Sharp, who recently attended the Fall meeting of the MAC Academic Leadership Development program at Ohio University in Athens, OH. This program is a fantastic opportunity for academic leaders to engage in meaningful discussions and share best practices that drive excellence in higher education. Joining Bart were esteemed colleagues from NIU, including:  -Bradley Wiles - Head of Special Collections and Archives, NIU Libraries -Bárbara González - Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs  -Heidi Frostestad - Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, NIU College of Law  -CS Nam - Chair of the NIU Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering Together, they explored innovative strategies for leadership and collaboration, strengthening our commitment to academic excellence and student success. Thank you, Bart, for representing the Department of Management and contributing to the future of education! 

Congratulations to Professor Mahesh Subramony for being recognized during last week's NIU Huskies football game! It was a special day for Professor Subramony, made even more memorable as it marked his first-ever football game—and the Huskies brought home a win! We’d also like to thank Jayson Lippe, MBA for nominating Professor Subramony for this incredible honor, and acknowledge his friends and colleagues, including Terrence Bishop, Sarah Marsh, Bethany Cockburn, and Tim Michaelis, who were there to cheer him on. We’re proud to have Professor Subramony as a part of the Department of Management. Let’s continue to celebrate his achievements on and off the field! Go Huskies!  

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐏𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐍𝐞𝐭𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐠𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐁𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐫 𝐅𝐚𝐢𝐫: 𝐀 𝐒𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭'𝐬 𝐏𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 Kavya Joshi, a junior and president of the Association for Supply Chain Management (ASCM), shares her experience at this year’s College of Business Career Fair: "As a first-generation student, attending the Career Fair was all about stepping out of my comfort zone, honing my elevator pitch, and connecting with recruiters like KeHe Distributors, Echo Logistics, and DHL. I realized that these networking opportunities directly aligned with my career goals. I learned how my major translates to real-world roles and how curiosity can help you build meaningful conversations. It’s amazing how much confidence I gained—not just in my speaking skills but also in understanding the value I can bring to a company." Key takeaways from Kavya’s experience:   -Networking opens doors to unexpected opportunities.   -Confidence grows when you step outside your comfort zone.   -Research is crucial—whether it’s refining your resume or understanding a company’s values.   -Facing obstacles? Don’t give up. Every experience is a learning opportunity! 𝐊𝐚𝐯𝐲𝐚'𝐬 𝐚𝐝𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐞?  "Take initiative, put yourself out there, and leverage every opportunity to learn. It only takes 30 minutes of research to create a meaningful connection with one recruiter." The College of Business Career Fair is an invaluable resource for NIU students to gain hands-on experience in networking and jumpstart their careers!  #niucob #cobstudents #mgmtmatters