51视频

11/04/2020
By Ed Brennen

It was billed as an 鈥渆xecutive leadership webinar.鈥澨�听

But against the backdrop of a global pandemic, during a time of so much social, political and economic uncertainty, Rob Manning听鈥�84, 鈥�11 (H)听actually delivered a much-needed pep talk to the nearly 300听Manning School of Business听students who participated in a recent hour-long Q&A on Zoom.

Manning, who is chair of the UMass Board of Trustees, executive chair of MFS Investment Management and namesake of the school where he earned his business administration degree 36 years ago, said the coronavirus pandemic has exposed some 鈥渢roublesome issues鈥� in our society 鈥� issues caused by rapidly changing technology.

鈥淭echnology is disrupting society in ways that no one could have envisioned,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 creating a division in our country, where income is unequal and opportunities are becoming difficult for the average person.鈥澨�听

51视频 students are well positioned to succeed in this changing world, Manning said, in part because of their access to the university鈥檚 renowned engineering and computer science programs.

鈥淚f there鈥檚 one thing you can do to differentiate yourself, it鈥檚 to get that technical background,鈥� said Manning, who credits his minor in computer science with launching his career at MFS. 鈥淵ou鈥檙e blessed to be on one of the greatest technology campuses in the world. So use it for your benefit, like I did.鈥�

While higher education has been hit hard by the pandemic, Manning praised Chancellor听Jacquie Moloney听and Manning School Dean听Sandra Richtermeyer听for their leadership during these challenging times. He noted that undergraduate and graduate enrollment in the business school are both up this fall, which is 鈥渁n anomaly鈥� in the nation and a testament to Richtermeyer鈥檚 鈥渆ntrepreneurial leadership and passion.鈥�

鈥淵ou鈥檙e blessed to be on one of the greatest technology campuses in the world. So use it for your benefit, like I did.鈥� -Rob Manning 鈥�84, 鈥�11 (H)

Manning said the key to healing the country鈥檚 racial and political strife is education, which is becoming harder for people to afford.

To help address this, Manning has taken the lead on a new online education initiative called UMass Global. Designed for working adults, the platform is a partnership between the UMass system and Brandman University in Irvine, Calif.

鈥淚t will help transform higher education by increasing accessibility and affordability for those who don鈥檛 have the opportunities that all of you do,鈥� said Manning, who听recently announced听that he from MFS in 2022. He said he will focus his energy on UMass Global for the next decade.

Just as students have had to adapt to remote learning during the pandemic, Manning said flexibility will be key in their journey as lifelong learners.

鈥淭here鈥檚 no such thing as earning a traditional degree anymore 鈥� nothing is traditional anymore. You have to find a way that makes sense for you to be successful,鈥� said Manning, a first-generation college student who encouraged other first-generation students to take advantage of resources like the听River Hawk Scholars Academy.
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鈥淵our education doesn鈥檛 stop when you earn that degree from the Manning School of Business. That鈥檚 just the beginning,鈥� he added. 鈥淵ou need to continue to invest in yourself. You need to see how things are changing and keep yourself prepared so you can compete and be successful.鈥�

Junior business major Kristen Reardon of Medfield, Mass., who has worked as a co-op at MFS since January, said Manning is an 鈥渁wesome example鈥� of what UML students can achieve.

鈥淗e worked his way from the ground up,鈥� said Reardon, who, as co-leader of Women in Finance and a member of the Joy Tong Women in Business student organization, was invited to introduce Moloney during the Q&A. 鈥淚t goes to show that all the opportunities are there for us. We just need to take them and want to do it ourselves.鈥�