Throughout the Fall 2026 semester, Shah Academy is hosting a series of Meet-and-Greet sessions with experienced professionals and industry leaders. These sessions provide students with opportunities to connect with professionals in an informal setting, ask questions, gain valuable career insights, and build meaningful relationships. Additional sessions and featured guests will be added throughout the semester.
Bill Vaillancourt had the opportunity to share some of his experience, leadership journey, and the lessons he learned throughout his career. He spoke about navigating challenges early in his career, the difference between working at a small and a large corporation, and the importance of taking care of your health and mental well-being along the way.
Tim Looney shared his career experiences, lessons learned, and advice with Shah Academy students, with Chris Meelia joining as a surprise guest to offer an additional perspective. Students discussed the importance of building relationships, taking risks, embracing change, and staying open to different career paths.
Tim Looney and Chris Meelia talk with Shah Academy students.
David Laurello shared his career experiences and insights on leadership, technology, and professional growth with Shah Academy students. The conversation highlighted the importance of continuous learning, adaptability, and staying open to new opportunities.
Throughout the spring semester, Shah Academy hosted a series of meet-and-greet sessions featuring Bhupen Shah, John Feudo, Jake Kenney, Matthew Matta and Bill Vaillancourt. Each session provided students with direct, in-person access to experienced professionals who actively serve as mentors to Shah Academy members. By making themselves available to students in an informal setting, these four individuals reinforced the Academy's mentorship-driven culture. Their consistent presence throughout the spring semester allowed students to build ongoing relationships, ask questions face-to-face and receive guidance from professionals who are invested in their growth.
Shah Academy and the College of Engineering Mentorship Program at UMass Lowell hosted a professional development workshop featuring guest speaker Steve Serabian, a triple UMass Lowell alumnus with over thirty years of experience in software sales and marketing at Oracle, SAP, and Salesforce, The session taught students how to apply sales and marketing methodologies to their job search, covering personal branding, using sales funnel strategies to manage job opportunities, strategic interviewing, and brand projection.
Shah Academy hosted a workshop on communication and public speaking with guest speaker, John Feudo, vice chancellor for advancement and global engagement at UMass Lowell. During the event, John shared practical strategies in building confidence, communicating with clarity, and delivering impactful messages in professional and everyday settings. Students gained valuable insights in learning how to deliver powerful messages that leave a lasting impact- whether in class, interviews, or future leadership roles.
Shah Academy, together with Entrepreneurial Ventures Association, and the Management Society hosted an insightful panel discussion featuring guest speakers Greg McCarthy, Laura Kender, Ray Hamilton, and Marcelle Durrenberger who shared strategies for building authentic, meaningful professional connections. Students learned that effective networking goes beyond simply promoting oneself- it focuses on fostering long-term relationships, mutual support, and genuine collaboration for sustained career growth.
Dean Bertie Greer presented a leadership workshop for Shah Academy Scholars, focusing on what leadership looks like for engineers. The session explored systems thinking, effective decision-making and the five bases of power, emphasizing the importance of expertise and trust in building strong, credible leaders.
The Shah Academy Annual Event 2025 market a distinguishing evening recognizing scholarly achievement, leadership, and academic advancement. The program featured formal remarks from university leadership, presentations by Cohort 1 Scholars, and the official inauguration of Cohort 2. The event concluded with a dinner and networking reception, fostering meaningful engagement among scholars, faculty, alumni, and guests.
The meet and greet sessions from the three business leaders including Ken Wagner, Joe Albanese, and Steve Serabian, highlighted complimentary aspects of effective leadership. Ken Wagner emphasized that a strong company culture is essential for long-term employee retention and that leaders must exemplify the dedication they expect from their teams. Joe Albanese focused on the power of trust and reputation, stating that true leadership inspires voluntary commitment and that strong interpersonal relationships are the bedrock of organizational success. Steve Serabian advised on personal career management, stressing that career paths are often non-linear and that professionals should prioritize their fulfillment and be willing to embrace change when necessary.
On November 13, 2025, students gained insights on leading with Integrity from MedTech Chief Executive Officer, Tom Miller. Students learned how to navigate risk, uncertainty, and difficult news with unwavering integrity. Tom Miller shared real-world leadership lessons from his experience managing global teams of thousands, providing a powerful framework for ethical and effective decision-making in high stake environments.
On October 9, 2025, Shah Academy scholars participated in a workshop featuring guest speaker Lisa A. Brothers. Lisa introduced the concept of Emotional Intelligence and its critical importance for both personal relationships and professional leadership. Within the workshop, students engaged in an activity to assess their personality type. During the session, they discussed their individual results to identify their innate strengths and pinpoint areas for improvement. The goal was to develop practical strategies to enhance their leadership capabilities and emotional intelligence.
On October 6, 2025, students participated in a workshop with guest speaker Kim Meninger, TEDx speaker and Leadership coach, who shared her expertise on building confidence, overcoming imposter syndrome and enhancing professional visibility. Students learned practical strategies to speak up, lead with impact and strengthen their presence in both academic and professional settings.
On September 25, 2025, students participated in a workshop with Kate Shamsuddin, Erin Keany, and Alex Light, who shared their expertise on innovation within both startups and established companies. The panelists discussed the importance of creativity, adaptability, and leadership in driving success as entrepreneurs and intrapreneurs, offering students valuable insights into navigating and innovating in today's evolving business world.
On September 11, 2025, students participated in a workshop with guest speaker Sabrina Mansur, Director of the Massachusetts AI Hub, who shared her expertise on the transformative role of AI. During the session she highlighted emerging opportunities, key challenges, and the importance of developing skills necessary to lead in an AI Driven future. The Workshop offered students an invaluable opportunity to engage directly with a leader at the forefront of innovation in the field.
On March 20, 2025, students attended a strategic planning workshop led by Maria Abreu Sepulveda, focused on turning ideas and passions into actionable goals. The session covered the six key steps of strategic planning, explored case studies like KMart and Kodak, and introduced tools such as SWOT, SMART goals, and the Business Model Canvas. Students also engaged in an activity to map out a potential career path and identify the skills needed to reach their goals.
On February 20, 2025, students attended a Leadership Workshop presented by Paul Makris. He shared his personal journey as the son of immigrants, emphasizing how hard work, bravery, and curiosity helped him achieve financial success and leadership. Paul encouraged students to take chances, learn all aspects of a business beyond their core field, and pursue a career they’re passionate about—one that makes them excited to start each day.