The Orange County Business Journal recently highlighted how the UC Irvine Paul Merage School of Business is reducing program fees for two MBA programs by up to 38%, expanding access and responding to what today’s students value most in graduate education.
As Dean Ian Williamson shared, these changes reflect extensive market research and a continued commitment to innovation, flexibility, and student success.
Read more in the Orange County Business Journal feature on how Merage is reshaping the MBA experience for the next generation of leaders.
Read the full article at the link in bio 📲
#UCIMerage #MBA #GraduateSchool #BusinessEducation #Leadership #HigherEducation #MBAProgram #Innovation
What's redefining the future of private business? Leadership. Governance. Growth. Succession. And the courage to navigate all of it in a rapidly changing world.
That was the heart of the conversation when the Irvine community gathered for the Future of Private Business, a signature program within our Future Series exploring the evolving landscape of privately held and family-owned enterprises.
Dean Ian O. Williamson and Associate Professor Patricia Wellmeyer, CPA, CGMA, PhD opened the evening alongside Merage alumna Stella Zhang and a distinguished panel of industry leaders, who brought real-world perspective to the forces shaping private enterprise today.
Thank you to the partners who made it possible. The Private Business Initiative was launched through the founding partnership of American Lending Center and Sunstone, with contributing sponsorship from Silicon Valley Bank (a division of First Citizens Bank) and First Citizens Bank.
The future of private business is being shaped in rooms like these.
#MerageSchool #UCIrvine #FutureSeries #PrivateBusiness #FamilyBusiness
On May 1st the Black Management Association welcomed students, professionals, and industry leaders to the 6th Annual Conference: Unstoppable Excellence at the Merage School.
From inspiring conversations on leadership and innovation to a powerful keynote from Scharrell Jackson on intentional excellence, the event created space for meaningful dialogue, connection, and growth. Thank you to everyone who joined us for an afternoon dedicated to driving progress and empowering the next generation of leaders.
#UCIMerage #BlackManagementAssociation #UnstoppableExcellence #BusinessLeadership #FutureLeaders
With the Future of Private Business event approaching, explore the newest issue of Research in Action, focused on the evolving landscape of private business. 🏙️
This edition features insights from Merage faculty and researchers including Violina Rindova, Stella Zhang, Chenqi Zhu, and Devin ShantiKumar, along with new research on Gen AI shaping the future of the field. It also highlights Professor Michael Imerman’s perspective in Inc. on the growing role—and potential risks—of private credit as a key financing source.
Read the RIA Magazine at the link in bio 📲
#MerageSchool #ResearchInAction #FutureOfPrivateBusiness #UCIrvine
From Vietnam to Irvine, Bao Chieu’s journey is a story of growth, global ambition, and community. 🌍
At the Merage School, Bao has transformed his approach to business, building from core fundamentals, to advanced strategic thinking while expanding his vision from local ventures to global opportunities.
Beyond the classroom, he’s found a home in Irvine’s vibrant lifestyle and a strong sense of belonging through friendships, collaboration, and a supportive, inclusive community. 🫱🏼🫲🏽
Learn more about MBA programs at the Merage School at the link in bio 📲
#MerageSchool #StudentSpotlight #GlobalBusiness #InternationalStudents
Leaders shaping the future of business education gathered at the Merage School for the 7th Annual Business School Engagement Collaborative Conference. 💡
From resilience and innovation to inclusive excellence, this three-day event brought together deans, faculty, and industry voices from across the country to tackle the biggest questions facing business schools today — and tomorrow.
"The conversations this week reminded us that leadership is shaped in community, and our school is proud to be a place where that community gathers." Dean Ian O. Williamson said.
Read more about the Business School Engagement Collaborative Conference at the link in bio 📲
#MerageSchool #BusinessEducation #Leadership #BSEC
New research from the Merage School's Information Systems expert Manuel Hoffmann reveals how generative AI is doing more than boosting productivity — it’s reshaping the structure of work itself.
From reducing coordination and management overhead to enabling employees to focus on higher-value tasks, AI is flattening hierarchies and accelerating innovation, especially for less experienced workers. For private companies, this shift isn’t only operational, but strategic.
"If they're using it for innovation instead of just cost-cutting, then AI can be an equalizer," Hoffman says. "But for that, they have to be on the innovation side and less on the efficiency side."
Organizations that rethink roles, empower teams, and leverage AI for innovation are best positioned to lead in the future of work.
Read the full story at the link in bio 📲
#MerageSchool #FutureOfWork #GenerativeAI #AIinBusiness #Innovation #Leadership #BusinessResearch
At the Merage School, Learning Experience Design Strategist Caryn Neiswender is reimagining course design with ZotGPT — streamlining everything from learning outcomes to alignment maps while partnering closely with faculty along the way.
“Don’t be afraid to ask it to do something, and if it crashes and burns, that’s okay too,” she says. “There are times when a GenAI tool may not be the right fit for a particular task – and that’s perfectly okay."
Fluency with AI isn’t just a skill — it’s the future.
Read the full story at the link in bio 📲
#UCIMerage #ZotGPT #AIinEducation #MerageSchool #GenAI
The Paul Merage School of Business at the University of California, Irvine, has announced significant enhancements to its Flex MBA and Executive MBA programs, including tuition reductions of up to 38 percent and a redesigned, AI-integrated curriculum.
Beginning this fall, Flex MBA tuition will decrease by $30,000 and Executive MBA tuition by $48,000. At $99,000, the Flex MBA now falls below the federal loan cap for graduate business degrees, removing a key financial barrier for working professionals in Southern California and beyond.
“This is about access and relevance,” said Ian O. Williamson, dean of the Merage School of Business. “We’ve redesigned these programs to reflect today’s economy, where AI, flexibility and return on investment matter, and made them more attainable for professionals ready to advance their career. A University of California MBA, now priced below the federal loan cap. That combination simply didn’t exist in this market before today.”
Learn more: merage.uci.edu/tuition-reduction
#MerageSchool #UCIrvine #MBA #ExecutiveMBA #BusinessEducation
Pitch Irvine: Mentor Mixer + Semi-Finals 🚀
Connect with experienced mentors, get insight, and ask questions to build real relationships. Stick around to watch the top 16 semi-finalists pitch their ideas live.
🗓️ When: Friday, May 8th
Register now!
#PitchIrvine #Entrepreneurship #BusinessStartup
The Executive MBA program at the Paul Merage School of Business has been ranked #36 in the U.S. by the QS World University Rankings. 🏆
This recognition reflects the strength of our faculty, the drive of our students, and a program designed for leaders ready to make an immediate impact.
#UCIMerage #ExecutiveMBA #Leadership #BusinessSchool #UCI #GraduateSchool
Join us for the 2026 Irvine Tech Day and Dream Run, May 7–9 🚀
Hosted by ALC and Sunstone, the event will feature industry leaders, including Ian O. Williamson and faculty from the Paul Merage School of Business, alongside founders and community members celebrating innovation and entrepreneurship in Irvine.
Whether you’re looking to connect, get inspired, or support the next wave of entrepreneurs, this is your opportunity to be part of Irvine’s growing business ecosystem.
Register today at the link in bio 📲
#MerageSchool #IrvineTechDay #Entrepreneurship #Innovation #Networking
