Embracing Change in Challenging Times

Letter from Dean Lillian Mills of the McCombs School of Business

On June 1 I became the new permanent dean of McCombs and the first woman to take on that role in the school’s nearly 100-year history. While I am overjoyed, I understand and take seriously the enormous responsibility that comes with the job. I am honored to have the trust of President Jay Hartzell, interim Provost Daniel Jaffe, the search committee, and my colleagues to fiercely lead this world-class business school in Austin, Texas, a city at the intersection of big and bold innovations. Change has become a familiar part of our lives during the past year. Current students and recent graduates know well that the continuous influx of new business, new investment, new technologies, and new ideas here in this city of risk takers and independent thinkers demands a change mindset. At The University of Texas at Austin, “What Starts Here Changes the World” is what we call our fantastic feats and groundbreaking accomplishments across the Forty Acres. It is more than a tagline; it is how we see ourselves, how we prove our positive influence across the country and around the globe, and how we stay true to our mission.

That motto was never more important than during the pandemic as we dug deeper, moved out of our comfort zones, and grew our skill set to continue functioning and fulfilling our mission of changing the world. One thing the pandemic has intensified is the idea of change. At our university, Professor Jason McClelland identified the spike protein that enabled the rapid development of vaccines against COVID-19. And at UT Austin, but especially McCombs, we offered a residential education with 40% of our courses available for an in-person student experience. Throughout this year, there were zero known cases of on-campus transmission, as faculty devoted huge effort and true courage to delivering exceptional education in new ways.

Change requires courage and adaptability, both of which we’ve embraced and championed here at McCombs. In this new issue of McCombs magazine, you will read our cover story about Kelly Steckelberg, MPA ’91, CFO of the iconic company of the times, Zoom. Her story highlights how, in a matter of weeks, she and her company became responsible for the enormous task of connecting organizations to their employees, no matter where they were in the world. Kelly speaks about how Zoom suddenly went from 10 million clients in December 2019 to 300 million by April 2020. That instant growth also doubled the number of employees from 2,200 to 5,000 within the same time frame. Kelly shares the ways Zoom innovated new strategies that could accommodate and deliver consistent, reliable technical services in the midst of a major growth surge. Kelly’s story started here at McCombs and her expertise and experience have quite literally changed the world and the way it connects and communicates.

Further in this issue, we follow a group of students in our 10-month Master of Science degree programs. Like so many, they too were forced to change their expectations of experiencing campus life in person. The degrees are designed to provide students with an immersive experience and curriculum, but students, staff, and faculty found themselves adapting to change simultaneously. Many students decided to defer their education, and others were faced with harsh circumstances: closed borders, family illness, and even loss. McCombs had to figure how to change and still offer the same program in a hybrid setting all while supporting students in every way possible. Jade DeKinder, associate dean of McCombs Master of Science programs, summed it up: “The faculty really moved mountains to make the most of the situation.”

It’s my hope that the stories you will read in this issue will inspire and give you a greater sense of connection to others who have also accepted change. It’s also my hope that we have not only changed for the better but that we have also influenced positive change within our own spaces. I look forward to this journey together with all of you.

With my warmest Hook ’em,

Lillian F. Mills, Dean

Lois and Richard Folger Dean’s Leadership Chair, The Beverly H. and William P. O’Hara Endowed Chair in Business