The renowned college is a thought leader in the education of business professionals.
Students coming out of Michigan State University’s Eli Broad College of Business are sought out by industry leaders because of their ability to build relationships and work across roles.
Named for an MSU alumnus, entrepreneur and philanthropist, the Broad College is one of the nation’s largest business schools, offering a range of undergraduate and graduate programs.
In addition, the Broad College of Business offers executive development and certificate programs tailored for professionals seeking to improve their credentials and advance their careers.
The quality of its on-campus and online offerings has made the Broad College a recognized thought leader in the education of business professionals. Accredited by AACSB International, the Broad College has been listed among the nation’s top 25 business schools by Forbes in 2017, and ranked No. 1 for both supply chain management undergraduate and graduate programs, respectively, by U.S. News & World Report in 2019.
It also holds top honors from SCM World in 2015 as the No. 1 school for supply chain management talent development.
In 2015, Sanjay Gupta was appointed dean of the Broad College, the 11th person to hold that title since the college’s founding in 1944. A tax policy expert who has consulted for Fortune 500 companies, the federal government and accounting firms, Gupta earned his doctorate from Michigan State.
Since returning to his alma mater almost a decade ago, Gupta has also served as chairman of the Department of Accounting and Information Systems, and associate dean for MBA and professional master’s programs.
During his tenure as associate dean, Gupta spearheaded the launch of master’s degree programs in business analytics, and management, strategy and leadership, among other initiatives.
“We take great pride in our ability to prepare our students for anything the global professional world demands of them, through a strong community of outstanding faculty, motivated students, engaged alumni and global corporate partners,” Gupta says when referencing the Broad College’s growing array of online graduate degree and certificate programs.
By enrolling in the Broad College, students become part of a powerful network of more than 500,000 Spartans worldwide who are providing leadership in their businesses and communities.
Take Ellen Lux, for example. After Lux graduated with a bachelor’s from Michigan State, she embarked on a career that spanned information technology to international marketing and took her around the globe. Still, she always hoped to return to MSU for her master’s degree when the time was right.
Recently, Lux completed her Master of Science in Management, Strategy and Leadership (MSL) online and already is leaning on the knowledge she gained at the Broad College to advance her professional life as the owner of two small businesses. She said the MSL program exposed her to a “dynamic group of inspiring professionals.”
“I learned a great deal from them, as well as from the instructors,” said Lux, Class of 2015. “It broadened my perspective, and the program has enabled me to make better decisions both professionally and personally. I apply the concepts I’ve learned there every day.”
‘Transformational Thinkers and Doers’
Lux’s success story is testament to the Broad College vision statement: To be the leader in creating knowledge and developing transformational thinkers and doers who make business happen.
Indeed, it’s a vision that could be said to be at the core of the philanthropic efforts of the man for whom the College of Business is named.
After graduating cum laude from Michigan State University in 1954 with a bachelor’s degree in accounting, Eli Broad became the youngest CPA in the state’s history. He would later tell Forbes magazine that his goal out of school was simply to earn a decent living, perhaps enough to buy a house and a couple of cars for his family.
Six decades later, the billionaire businessman can reflect on a career that saw him build Fortune 500 companies in two industries: KB Home, a homebuilder; and the retirement savings firm SunAmerica.
Broad and his wife, Edythe, established the Eli and Edythe Broad Foundation in the 1960s. Their passion for helping others subsequently became a full-time mission to nurture the entrepreneurial spirit in the arts, education and science.
Michigan State renamed its College of Business for Eli Broad in 1991 following the couple’s $20 million gift to his alma mater. Since then, the Broads have pledged gifts totaling nearly $100 million to MSU, including a $25 million challenge grant awarded in 2014 to expand the Broad College’s graduate programs.
“By providing state-of-the-art facilities and deepening recruitment efforts to attract top faculty and students, MSU will continue to equip students with the real-world skills to succeed at the highest levels of business and compete internationally,” Eli Broad said at the time.
A Foundation to Lead and Inspire
Through their philanthropic efforts, the Broads reflect the essence of what it means to be a Spartan – a spirit that seeks to foster positive change through leadership and a drive for self-improvement.
For Ryan Farage, Class of 2015, his time at the Eli Broad College of Business “built a foundation for me to lead and inspire others.”
A member of the first graduating class from Michigan State’s online Master of Science in Management, Strategy and Leadership program, Farage is leveraging his newly gained knowledge in his role as manager of Global Dealer Development Strategy with Harley-Davidson Motor Co.
“I’ve heard great leaders attribute their success to having good people around them and asking a lot of questions,” Farage said. “To me, what they should have said is that the secret to success is motivating and inspiring great people and asking great questions.”
Like Farage, Jeff Day was part of the online MSL program’s inaugural class. The technology company executive said his mission to become an exemplary leader was nurtured at the Broad College, where students are infused with a sense of “great social responsibility.”
“The great thing about the Spartan family is that it extends way beyond the campus environment,” Day said. “It goes into our professional worlds and into our personal lives.”
