Short-term thinking hurts companies. But finance students at Maryland Smith learn a different approach. They focus on value maximization, not profit maximization.

Companies have built-in incentives to avoid short-termism. But they fall into the myopia trap when they confuse value creation with income maximization.

Critics come down hard on shareholder primacy. But Maryland Smith professor Michael Faulkender says people err when they overlook risk/reward economics.

Life’s unexpected and often rewarding turns are manifested in Rebecca Hann’s path to becoming a professor. Growing up in Hong Kong, she wanted to be a teacher. “I admired my good teachers — they loved what they did and they had a way to change the way you think about things,” she says. That impression inspired her in high school. “I tutored students to earn my allowance, but I always enjoyed it. It was gratifying when the student I helped had a light bulb moment." 

What does a typical work day look like for Kristie Curameng Bradford, a 2005 full-time MBA graduate at the University of Maryland's Robert H. Smith School of Business? Well, there’s really no such thing — and that’s precisely why she loves her job. “No days look similar,” says Bradford, business development executive at IBM Watson. “There are so many things I could be doing in one day.”

Stephanie Gomez’s desire to help others attracted her to STEM careers at a young age. Now, as an MBA student at the University of Maryland’s Robert H. Smith School of Business, Gomez is even more determined to bring those dreams to fruition. 

Janna Fernandez’s journey to the University of Maryland’s Robert H. Smith School of Business began roughly 8,000 miles away in Guam, but her experiences are taking her even further.  Fernandez’s passion for public service and helping others pushed her to pursue a career that enables her to do just that. This is evidenced by her tenure as the deputy press secretary for the Office of the Governor of Guam, as well as her involvement in education and workforce development program management for the U.S. territory. 

Visitors to the National Museum of African American History and Culture can’t miss the restored Pullman railcar that dominates the Segregation Gallery in Concourse 2. The artifact has historical significance, pointing to an era when African American porters were required to live in separate quarters. Its placement in the museum also has engineering significance for Lisa Anders, a 1995 MBA graduate of the University of Maryland’s Robert H. Smith School of Business.

Natnapin “Nat” Tangpipith emerged quickly as a civil engineer. She worked with several public agencies around New York City, specializing in bridge rehabilitation. But as she moved up the ladder, her career interests evolved. “I was sent out to public events to represent the company as well as interface with clients, and I enjoyed that more than pure technical aspect,” she says.