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William & Mary's Raymond A. Mason School of Business launches inaugural Corporate Acceleration Council to strengthen strategic industry ties

by Elizabeth Eldredge |  April 21, 2025

In a bold step toward deepening corporate engagement and accelerating strategic growth, the Raymond A. Mason School of Business at William & Mary has formally launched the Mason Corporate Acceleration Council (MCAC)—a dynamic advisory body of accomplished alumni and industry leaders. Officially convened in February 2025, MCAC is designed to advise on curriculum, corporate partnerships, and market engagement, positioning the Mason School's graduate programs at the forefront of business education innovation. The initiative is led by Michael Ryan, B.B.A. '90, senior director of employer & alumni career engagement, with early efforts gaining traction thanks to the collaborative energy and commitment of a powerhouse group of alumni. "This is a terrific group of successful alumni from diverse industries and impactful organizations, and they are already making a difference," Ryan noted.

The MCAC comprises 14 prominent alumni leaders from organizations including IBM, Microsoft, Capital One, JPMorgan Chase, Deloitte, Accenture Federal Services, and more. In addition, a group of ex officio members from the Mason School's leadership team provides strategic input and connection to the academic mission.

Chaired by Mike Savage, B.B.A. '89, M.B.A. '95, Chief Growth Officer at Quantum Rise, the MCAC has been tasked with advancing the Mason School's vision in five key areas:

  • Corporate advisory and strategic partnerships
  • Curriculum innovation
  • Admissions pipeline advocacy
  • Hiring trends, outcomes, and market intelligence
  • Experiential and classroom engagement

The council aligns directly with Dean Todd Mooradian's commitment to investing in relationships with corporations, especially as the Mason School's strategic focus initiative has reaffirmed that "bringing business into the business school" and connections to practice are key tenets of strategic focus.

Driving growth, region by region

The MCAC's initial strategic focus centers on three high-opportunity markets: Washington D.C., New York City, and Charlotte—regions with strong alumni networks and growing employer demand for business graduates. These cities are particularly vital to the success of the Mason School's redesigned online master's programs, including the Master of Science in Marketing (MSOM) and Master of Science in Finance (MSOF). By fostering deeper ties in these locations, the MCAC aims to unlock future job opportunities for students, develop real-world experiential learning projects, champion new curriculum innovation and stronger enrollment strategies, and amplify the Mason School's visibility as a corporate partner of choice.

A mission of real-world impact

At the heart of the MCAC is a mission to connect academic insight with industry practice, and each council meeting will focus on session challenges. Council members will engage directly with faculty, contribute to curriculum evolution, and open doors for student opportunities—all while bringing the realities of today's business challenges into the classroom.

"Our Mason Corporate Acceleration Council will take a session-driven approach, addressing important Mason School challenges with a focused, one-problem-at-a-time strategy to drive impactful solutions," said Dean Todd Mooradian.

This practitioner-driven focus is seen as one of the Mason School's strongest differentiators—validated by recent strategic initiatives and stakeholder feedback. "It's not just about preparing students for the job market," Mooradian emphasized. "It's about shaping them into contributors who are ready to lead in it."

Council Membership

The inaugural MCAC members bring decades of executive-level experience across finance, consulting, marketing, human resources, operations, and innovation:

  • Mike Savage – Chief Growth Officer, Quantum Rise (Chair)
  • Jon Birdsall – Director of Operations and Finance, IBM
  • Diego Carvajal – VP, Performance Consulting, JPMorgan Chase
  • Deirdre Christin – CMO, Covington & Burling LLP
  • Matt Fine – Senior Manager, Risk & Financial Advisory, Deloitte
  • Royce Hart Jr. – Director of People Analytics, Microsoft
  • Sarah Holley – Co-Founder, G-Works at General Mills
  • Gustavo Lambert – Business Manager, Performance Marketing, Capital One
  • Tanya Moore – Chief People Officer & Partner, West Monroe
  • Supriya Murthy – SVP, Global Strategy & Implementation, Arcadis
  • Flave Rogers – Executive Director, Sr. Relationship Manager, Wells Fargo
  • Emily Smith – Chief of Staff & Sr. Operations Manager, imec USA
  • Elaine Turville – Managing Director, Strategy & Consulting Lead, Accenture Federal Services
  • Joy Wright – Product Manager, Fortegra

Ex-Officio Members:

  • Brett Alpert – Associate Dean & Executive Director, Graduate Career Management Center
  • Michael Ryan – Senior Director, Employer & Alumni Career Engagement
  • Matt Williams – Managing Partner, Brand Federation; Visiting Clinical ProfessorLooking ahead

Looking ahead

As the MCAC begins its work, the Mason School is prepared to unlock new levels of industry collaboration, innovation in graduate education, and career advancement for students and alumni alike.

"This is a call to action," said Mooradian. "By joining the MCAC, members are not only shaping the future of our business programs—they're investing in the future of business leadership itself."