This year, we decided to take “Town Square” on the road for our Centennial celebration.
Town Square is the heart of today’s campus, where connections are made and ideas are born. The Town Square Travels event series brought this dynamic energy to alumni communities in three major cities — and inspired alumni to host their own celebrations worldwide.
Miami
In March 2025, we kicked off the first event of the year in Miami, Florida. Spanning the Class of 1962 to this year’s new admits, we welcomed more than 150 alumni and members of the GSB community.
Attendees explored the future of entrepreneurship with Professor Garth Saloner and heard about latest developments at the school from Derrick Bolton, MA/MBA ’98, associate dean of external relations. During the conversation “Entrepreneurship Unleashed: Navigating the Next Frontier of Innovation,” attendees learned about emerging trends in entrepreneurship, the transferable skills of entrepreneurial thinking, and how the GSB prepares leaders for tomorrow’s challenges.
“There are so many great things happening at the school and so much of our history to be proud of,” said RoAnn Costin, MBA ’81. Planning for Town Square Travels in Miami was led by a committee of 29 alumni, including alumni emcees Michelle Landrey Cline, MBA ’98, and RoAnn Costin, MBA ’81.
“There are so many great things happening at the school and so much of our history to be proud of.”
— RoAnn Costin, MBA ’81, co-emcee of Town Square Travels in Miami event
Dallas
From New York to Florida, over 100 alumni and members of the GSB community gathered in Dallas, Texas in April for the second installment of the GSB’s Town Square Travels event series.
GSB Senior Associate Dean and Professor Amit Seru examined the shifting relationship between shareholder and stakeholder value in a conversation called “Shareholders, Stakeholders, and the Next Generation of Investors.” He shared insights from the classroom and engaged the audience in a live poll, comparing perspectives on this critical issue and illustrating the connection between academic research and real-world application. After exploring insights in the investment landscape, attendees also heard remarks from Ken Hersh, MBA ’89.
Planning for Town Square Travels in Dallas was led by a committee of 24 alumni, including emcees Michelle Landrey Cline, MBA ’98, and Dupree Scovell, MA/MBA ’11. “It was an honor to be part of the Dallas Town Square event and to reflect on the incredible impact GSB alumni are having in Texas and beyond,” says Dupree Scovell, MA/MBA ’11, co-emcee of the Town Square Travels in Dallas event. “The energy in the room made it clear that the GSB’s future is in good hands and getting stronger with each generation.”
“The energy in the room made it clear that the GSB’s future is in good hands and getting stronger with each generation.”
— Dupree Scovell, MA/MBA ’11, co-emcee of the Town Square Travels in Dallas event
Seattle
In May, GSB alumni and community members gathered in Seattle from across the country to celebrate the school’s Centennial year.
The event program featured a conversation on “The Future of Data Science” with Professor Guido Imbens and alumni moderator Steve Kessel, MBA ’94, followed by an alumni panel on post-GSB career journeys. Together, we explored Professor Imbens’ groundbreaking work in causal inference that has revolutionized our understanding of cause and effect across fields — from medicine and economics to public policy and environmental science. What they did not know was that Steve Ballmer, former CEO of Microsoft, would join them for a surprise talk and Q&A — and to share his vision behind building his non-profit, USAFacts.
A committee of 27 alumni, including alumni emcees Michelle Landrey Cline, MBA ’98, and Kate Abercrombie, MBA ’19, led the planning for the third and final Town Square Travels in Seattle.
