Luis Fajardo ’26 MBA shared advice that Jeff Paul ’92—a 2024-2025 UCR Executive Fellow—gave students this last year:
“Mr. Paul emphasized the importance of decisiveness and staying focused. In a world where it’s easy to get distracted, his message was a great reminder that clarity is a strength—and discipline is a choice.
“He told a group of us, ‘You’re most comfortable when you prepare’ and reminded us that there’s no silver bullet. We must earn our spot in the team. His advice to us was to be ourselves, we all bring a fresh perspective to any team.”
Fajardo’s remarks were part of the May 6 Executive Fellows Installation dinner, which honored this academic year’s Executive Fellows and installed the newly appointed Executive Fellows.
The 2024-2025 Executive Fellows are Hilda Kennedy, founder and president of AmPac Business Capital; Rod McDermott, CEO and co-founder of McDermott + Bull Executive Search; and Paul, senior vice president and head of global sales for WSO2 technology company.
The 2025-2026 Executive Fellows are Jordana Katcher ’96, global vice president of kid’s apparel at Nike, and Mickey B. McGuire Jr. ’97, ’99 MBA, HCN Bank chief information officer and executive vice president of operations.
These Executive Fellows provide in-person student mentorship as they spend time on campus sharing their considerable professional experience and knowledge with both School of Business undergraduates and A. Gary Anderson Graduate School of Management graduate students.
About 170 people attended the dinner, including special guests UCR Provost Elizabeth Watkins; Lawrence “Larry” Zahn, one of the school’s founding faculty members and a previous interim dean of the school; scholarship donor Craig Blunden ’72, a member of the second cohort of Executive Fellows in 1993-1994; and Amy Harrison ’72, a 1996-1997 fellow who mentored incoming Executive Fellow Mickey McGuire ’97, ’99 MBA as an undergraduate.
The evening’s guests also included business leaders, donors, students, and faculty. All were gathered in the new School of Business Building for the festivities hosted by 2017-2018 Executive Fellow Beverly Bailey, who introduced each of the speakers, including UCR School of Business Dean Yunzeng Wang.
“Our commitment to excellence extends beyond our campus to the community,” said Wang. “We are dedicated to strengthening our partnerships with regional businesses, providing them with access to our talented students and faculty, and collaborating on projects that drive economic growth and innovation.
“Together, we create a thriving ecosystem that benefits not only our students but also the broader community.”
The Executive Fellows’ deep involvement with students reflects that commitment.
Brooke Tabata ’25 spoke about her interaction with Executive Fellow Rod McDermott this last year: “A big takeaway that Rod shared was that an interview—or any interaction—is never really over. We have the power to create moments that redefine the impression we leave, which is what gave me the courage to speak today. Rod taught us that we need to seize every opportunity and be confident about what we can offer, because every story is worth sharing and every experience can be learned from.”
Tabata said that Executive Fellow Hilda Kennedy “makes an impact every time she walks into a room.”
“She was the perfect person for me to meet with. She understood the challenges of balancing personal goals with professional ones, which is something I’ve been struggling with as I try to figure out my career plans. Hilda was able to accomplish it all while still staying true to her faith and morals.
“Woman-to-woman, she taught me that exceling in the workplace requires demanding respect but still operating with grace and humility. She also encouraged me to rethink how I define success in the first place. She helped me realize that it’s not always about the job, it’s more about the impact that you want to make on your community.”
The new Executive Fellows were officially appointed, and in her remarks Katcher said: “It means the world to be back here at UC Riverside. It’s a full-circle moment.
“My proudest work moment has always been championing women athletes—removing barriers they face, elevating their voices, and creating products and platforms that truly reflect their power. None of this would have been possible without continuous learning and the help of others.
“To every student, every future leader in this room: Your journey may not be linear. It will test you. There will be wins and losses. The uncertainty may scare you, but if you accept help from others, if you stay open, stay in the game, it will transform you.”
MBA student speaker Fajardo summed up the night’s core message. “The Executive Fellows have given me something powerful: belief. Not just in the fellows, but in myself. They helped me see that I belong in the rooms where big ideas are discussed and big moves are made. With hard work, I have the same potential and opportunities as anyone else.
“More than anything, the fellows taught me that leadership isn’t about being perfect. It’s about showing up, sharing your story, and lifting others as you climb.”
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Header image (from left to right): Brooke Tabata ’25, Luis Fajardo ’26 MBA, 2017-2018 Executive Fellow Beverly Bailey (MC), incoming Executive Fellow Mickey B. McGuire Jr. ’97, ’99 MBA, Dean Junzeng Wang, outgoing Executive Fellow Rod McDermott, incoming Executive Fellow Jordana Katcher ’96, and outgoing Executive Fellow Jeff Paul ’92