Having Serious Fun
Clayton Spencer, BBA ’03, Built Poncho Outdoors to Reflect His Passion for Wild Places — and a Culture of Camaraderie
News
Alumni Notes
Alumni notes from the 1980s through the 2020s.
Leading with Authenticity
BeatBox Beverage founders Justin Fenchel, MBA ’13, and Aimy Steadman, MBA ’13, went from B School to boxed wine stardom, with a focus on developing workers and keeping them
Leading with Purpose
Leadership is always evolving — and here at McCombs, we’re embracing the change.
McCombs Entrepreneurship Takes Top 3 for Undergrad and Grad
Undergraduate and graduate entrepreneurship both take stellar highs in the annual Princeton Review list
The Empathy Advantage
To Fill A Niche In The Beauty Aisles, Live Tinted Founder Deepica Mutyala, BBA ’11, Built a Mission-First Company Culture
McCombs Supporter Gets Big-Ticket Moment
The McCombs annual giving team recently gave away tickets to two UT football games as part of its fall giving campaign
Meet the Knowledge Creators
Ph.D. researchers are in demand as businesses seek speedy adaptation to new technologies
New Testing Scheme Could Work for Chips and Clinics
Combining a few key tests in batches can diagnose a wide variety of systems more quickly
Concealed Deals Drive Up 401(k) Fees
When mutual funds share revenue with plan administrators, employees get higher costs and lower performance
Research Funding Opportunities
We are pleased to announce the continued success of the McCombs Undergraduate Research Assistant Program.
Upcoming Research Events
Join us throughout the month of November for upcoming research events, lunches and seminars.
Awards
This month we honor Francisco Polidoro Jr., Cha Li, and Yifan Yu.
A Special Thank-You!
Thank you to all the faculty members and Ph.D. students who participated in the research luncheons on Oct. 10 and 24.
Ph.D. Student Spotlight
This month we are highlighting Ph.D. student Meenal Banga
Ph.D. Student Spotlight
This month we are highlighting Ph.D. student Firat Kilci
Consequences of Political Polarization for Firms
To understand polarization’s impact, we need to ditch the notion that increased political conflict is rooted in ideology and ideas
Awesomeness
If everything is awesome, then nothing is awesome
2 Coasts: 1 Mission
Bay Area for McCombs and New York for McCombs Foster Support and Opportunity for Alumni and Students
For Battered Brands, Consumers Can Be Defenders
By learning why commentators champion brands against social media critics, companies can encourage them
Adjusted Earnings Don’t Fool Investors
When companies omit stock-based compensation to make earnings look better, investors fill in the missing numbers
Toward a ‘Human-Centered’ Accounting Course
Student discussion drives curriculum for Teaching Fellow Badolato’s innovative class
Harnessing AI To Enhance Critical Thinking
As AI advances, Teaching Fellow Bentzin helps evolve teaching at McCombs
Easing the Research-Teaching Juggle
Teaching Fellow De Simone finds ways to support colleagues by amplifying McCombs values
Sweat the Boardroom, Not the Exam
Leading simulated meetings builds students’ real-world skills, says Teaching Fellow Bill Peterson
Ripped From the Headlines
By bringing news into the classroom, Teaching Fellow Srinivasan students gain sought-after business skills
Data Doesn’t Stand on Its Own
Teaching Fellow Sury guides students in a critical competency: weaving research into persuasive stories
Being Smart About Smart Tech
Smart machines can make organizations less smart. Digital tools should complement group learning, not take its place
Texas Executive MBA Hits No. 10 in U.S.
McCombs lands at No. 10 in the U.S. and leads in alumni network in the Financial Times’ 2025 Executive MBA Ranking
Finding Strong Ground
In an age of unprecedented uncertainty, Brené Brown says, ‘Don’t build on dysfunction’
The Chat Will See You Now
Initial screenings by online Q&A platforms can steer patients to the right care and lead to more doctor visits, in person and online
UT Austin Hosts Corporate Sustainability Leaders on Panel
The Austin community is invited to ‘Impact Chat: Demystifying Sustainability for Genuine Progress’ on Oct. 14 about how sustainability leaders cut through challenges and noise to drive real change
AI Can Improve Care and Save State Health Dollars, McCombs Professor Tells Legislature
Professor Indranil Bardhan addresses Texas IT Caucus with research-backed ideas
An Ordinary Man’s Extraordinary Journey
Ray Brimble is creating a legacy inspired by community
For Divided Audit Disclosure, Benefits Can Outweigh Risks
Splitting audit responsibility can protect accounting firms against lawsuits, though making them more likely to get fired
Research Funding Opportunities
We are pleased to announce the continued success of the McCombs Undergraduate Research Assistant Program.
Upcoming Research Events
Join us throughout the month of October for upcoming research events, lunches and seminars.
A Special Thank-You!
Thank you to all the faculty members and Ph.D. students who participated in the research luncheons on Sept. 5 and 19.
Ph.D. Student Spotlight
This month we are highlighting Ph.D. students Marcelino Chavez and Yunyi Li.
Ph.D. Student Spotlight
This month we are highlighting Ph.D. students Marcelino Chavez and Yunyi Li.
Higher Housing Costs
Are SFRs the villains of the current housing crisis?
Idea Workouts
Aerobics of the mind with your health guru Davey H.
A Willing Ambassador
Proud alumnus Rohan Small has a sense of responsibility to UT and its students
How Can (A)I Help You?
AI that reads emotions can handle customer complaints, but it sometimes needs human assistance
Texas McCombs BBA Ranks No. 6, Nation’s Leader in Top 10 Specialties
McCombs' undergraduate program lands at No. 6, with 12 business specialties ranking in the top 10
KBH Energy Center Symposium Draws Record Crowd, Features Industry Leaders
The 2025 Energy Symposium at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Energy Center broke prior attendance records for the event and featured conversations with leaders from across the industry
Better Messaging Can Fight Cancer, Save Lives
Peer-driven messages boost cervical cancer screening for at-risk women
McCombs MBA Program Takes High Ranks
McCombs’ full-time MBA continues to hit high marks in the 2026 QS World University rankings