Tag: Olin Blog



Collage of images from top 2022 blog posts. Images include former Dean Mark P. Taylor, Nate Maslak (an entrepreneur), images from Zoom calls, the sign for The Bear Pub.

Another year has passed for the Olin Blog which, as loyal readers know, celebrated its 10th anniversary at the end of November. But now at the end of the calendar year, as students have left for a holiday break and the pace has slowed, it’s time to take stock of some of the top stories we covered in 2022 on the Olin Blog.

And at the outset, we have to confess: We cheated a little and simply tossed several posts together into one of the top spots. Four blog posts celebrating success in recent rankings for Olin Business School were among the biggest of the year, so we’re commemorating those posts all together.

The top 10 are rounded out—not surprisingly—by the naming of a faculty member as a Nobel laureate. We also look back on a heroic and tragic alum in our community, some curriculum innovations, an entrepreneur’s success, a call for lifelong learning and other top stories from the year.

Here are the Top 10 Olin Blog stories published in 2022:

Olin’s Philip Dybvig awarded Nobel Prize in economics

His 1983 research explained why banks are subject to runs during crises.

Justin Hardy, BSBA ’21, plays WashU basketball while fighting stage 4 stomach cancer

The young hoops star gained global recognition for his grit and fortitude.

A selection of Olin rankings news

There was a top 20 ranking in the Economist in June, another strong MBA placement in February by the Financial Times, marked improved for the MBA ranking in Bloomberg Businessweek in September and another huge jump for the MBA ranking in US News and World Report in March.

Alum Nate Maslak lands $43.5M for his health industry company, Ribbon

The company had secured three earlier seed funding rounds.

A league of their own: New class begins for entrepreneurs, and alumni assist

Olin is offering a new, instantly popular class and business accelerator: “The League (of Extraordinary Entrepreneurs).”

Taylor to conclude Olin deanship June 30

Mark P. Taylor will continue to serve as the Donald Danforth Jr. Distinguished Professor of Finance after taking a year of academic leave.

Olin’s Bear Public House comes out of hibernation

Dean Mark P. Taylor invited first-year MBA students to a ribbon cutting and reception to celebrate the pub’s reopening.

Introducing Olin’s MBA entrepreneurship fellowship—and the first five fellows

Fellows will build relationships in our entrepreneurial ecosystem, be matched with an alumni mentor and be housed within the Lewis Collaborative.

Half the latest EMBA cohort reported career growth during their program

The cohort represents 29 companies and includes business leaders, industry experts, entrepreneurs, scientists, veterans and physicians.

Calling all alumni: Join your community at Lifelong Learning at WashU Olin

Lifelong Learning at Olin provides all sorts of resources for alumni to continue growing personally and professionally.




Another year has passed for the Olin Blog. Now that the students have left and the pace is slowing, it’s time for our annual look back at our top stories.

The most-read story was about someone from our community, an alumnus, who died in an avalanche. The other popular stories were of happier news: Olin’s full-time MBA broke into the Top 25 in the Financial Times ranking, we honored our distinguished alumni, the school earned triple accreditation and a beloved career coach retired.

Here are the Top 8 Olin Blog stories published in 2021:

Olin alumnus Matthew Nyman dies in Alaska avalanche

Nyman, 43, was an Army veteran, wounded warrior, government innovator and 2017 Olin EMBA.

Olin’s full-time MBA breaks into the top 25 in new Financial Times ranking

This was Olin’s best-ever showing in the international ranking and a substantial increase from its 2020 ranking.

2021 Olin Distinguished Alumni to be honored

Those Olin honored share the characteristics of leadership: progressive thinking, high standards, uncompromising integrity, commitment, courage and confidence. 

Olin entrepreneurship chief sells company he co-founded in 2007 for $30M

Second Street gives publishers and other clients the capacity to provide contests, interactive content and emails to grow revenue, database and engagement. 

Accomplished: Triple accreditation affirms Olin’s commitment to excellence

Among 13,000 business schools globally, only about 100 have earned accreditation from all three bodies.

VanOudenallen, career coach to 1,000+ EMBAS, retires

Olin’s director of executive career development retired to spend more time with his 15 grandchildren and to travel.

Welcome new faculty for the 2021-2022 academic year

Twenty-one new instructors and researchers joined Olin in accounting, data analytics, economics, finance, operations, organizational behavior and strategy.

#1 again! Olin’s MBA entrepreneurship program tops P&Q ranking in 3rd year

“I am beyond gratified—but not surprised—to learn that WashU Olin’s MBA entrepreneurship program has again topped the Poets & Quants ranking,” said Dean Mark P. Taylor.




Olin Business School - Simon Hall

Visitors to Olin often comment on our community’s active engagement and collaboration—part of what makes us distinctly Olin. We look to enhance that engagement with the launch of the Olin Blog.

Olin community members—students, faculty, staff, alumni, business partners and supporters—will connect and share valuable content, ideas and insights.

This multi-authored blog will be the online heartbeat of the school, bringing to life the Olin experience.

I look forward to watching this blog grow and connect our audiences as we move into our second century of creating knowledge, inspiring individuals, and transforming business.