125 years of the Wisconsin School of Business – and counting!

In 1900, the Wisconsin School of Business (WSB) at the University of Wisconsin became one of the first five business schools in the country, but the firsts didn’t stop there. They’ve been at the forefront of business ever since.

“For 125 years, the Wisconsin School of Business has empowered generations of leaders to shape industries, communities and the world,” said WSB Dean Vallabh “Samba” Sambamurthy. “This milestone is a celebration of our enduring values and a bold step toward the future we are building together — one defined by entrepreneurial thinking, academic excellence and meaningful impact.”

To celebrate 125 years of business prowess, the WSB developed a Legacy in Motion campaign that includes media, events, activities and historical highlights for students, alumni, faculty, staff and others ready to raise a glass and look to the future.

Alums share tributes

Currently ranked #9 as the best public undergraduate business program in the U.S.,* the Wisconsin School of Business is home to more than 50,000 alumni across the U.S. and around the world. This network includes more than 1,500 alums in C-suite roles.

Alumni are a cornerstone of the Wisconsin School of Business’ legacy. Here are just a few tributes they have given to share their appreciation for the WSB on its 125th anniversary:

The WSB ranks #14 for best alumni network among public schools.** Learn more about the accomplishments of Badger Business alums. 

Pioneering fully online bachelor’s degrees at UW–Madison

These days, some business school alums (like Manny Avila) have graduated from fully online programs. 

To grant more access to a top-quality bachelor’s in business, the WSB pioneered fully online undergraduate degrees through UW–Madison Online in 2021 and extends its excellence through these online bachelor’s degrees:

Designed for students who have some college credits, UW–Madison Online offers a flexible format to fit around a variety of goals, work and family situations. With coaches and advisors supporting students every step of the way, they can finish their degree fully online through the prestigious WSB. 

“These online business degrees respond to the dynamic forces of today’s digital economy,” said Sambamurthy. “As the needs of industry continually evolve, the Wisconsin School of Business is committed to creating agile learning opportunities and extending access to business education. These degrees position students to launch meaningful careers with a solid foundation in business fundamentals.”

Looking to the future

When looking ahead, WSB leaders envision a focus on entrepreneurship, technology and industry connections.

In developing her strategic priorities for the university, UW–Madison Chancellor Jennifer Mnookin emphasized entrepreneurship. To boost efforts in this space, the chancellor enlisted the aid of WSB’s Jon Eckhardt, Pyle Bascom Professor in Business Leadership and an expert on entrepreneurship.

Eckhardt showcases the WSB’s new Wisconsin Entrepreneurship Hub and its strategy to recruit and develop entrepreneurial talent and launch entrepreneurial careers and companies.

“We plan on building communities of entrepreneurs like we do for doctors, lawyers, marketing students and everything else,” Eckhardt said. “We’re going to create a home for entrepreneurs and people [who] aspire to be founders.”

In addition to entrepreneurship, artificial intelligence (AI) will take center stage with the WSB’s AI Hub for Business. Helping businesses find specific solutions for their unique situations is a key goal of the hub, which unites all of the AI expertise, resources and research at WSB.

“The number of businesses buying AI tools for their teams has roughly doubled in the past six months,” said Matt Seitz, director of WSB’s AI Hub. “Our business leaders are saying, ‘Hey, it’s time that I really take this seriously and put a strategic plan in place.’”

Finally, Dean Sambamurthy stresses the need for industry connections.

“Most business schools think about industry relations as just finding jobs for their students,” Sambamurthy said. “That’s important, but we believe that the vision must be more holistic.”

The goal, according to Sambamurthy, is to make WSB a preferred partner for industry. This includes creating real-world projects for student engagement and skill development, connecting companies with student talent through strategic recruiting and partnerships, tailoring programs to advance leadership and organizational success, and conducting applied research to address real-world challenges.

As they have for a century and a quarter, the WSB will continue to innovate.

Join the celebration

In honor of the WSB’s 125th anniversary, you can:

• Find a variety of events this fall to celebrate and engage across the nation, including a “global toast” on December 5 to unite Business Badgers worldwide.
• Channel your inner artist with some WSB-themed coloring panels that share some cool historical facts and represent what it means to be a Business Badger. Get coloring!
• Engage through the hashtag #WSB125 on Instagram. Posts from across the globe using the hashtag will be showcased on the anniversary landing page, capturing the collective spirit of the celebration.

UW–Madison Online is proud to partner with WSB. For more information on business bachelor’s degrees from UW–Madison Online, explore our programs.

*U.S. News & World Report, 2026

*The Princeton Review