Business Fellows
The Business Fellows program provides students from a variety of backgrounds with wrap-around support to achieve professional and personal success. By fostering career connections, community and leadership development, Business Fellows empowers future business leaders to solve problems that matter. Business Fellows advances a culture of inclusion and belonging within Lindner and at the University of Cincinnati as a whole.
Created in 2011 to support students through mentorship and professional development opportunities, Business Fellows has grown in scale and impact over the years.
Today, Business Fellows promotes a culture of connection and engagement, allowing us to enable our business problem solvers to tackle the world’s challenges. Follow Lindner Inclusive Excellence on Instagram to see how we provide support to and engage with our community.
About the Program
Incoming first-year students can opt-in to the Business Fellows program when they confirm their admission to the University of Cincinnati. From there, the opportunities to grow and connect are endless.
Our students are supported from day one to help them grow inside and outside the classroom. No matter your background, you can find your home at Lindner.
Business Fellows find community, support and opportunities for leadership and growth in the program.
- Participation in fall semester transition class
- Mentorship opportunities
- Access to scholarships
- Programming and workshops with the Warren Bennis Leadership Institute
- Engagement with corporate partners and employers
- Ability to travel with a study away experience
- Community service opportunities
Business Fellows offers programming and opportunities that allow students to experience career, community and connections in and out of the classroom. Read about Business Fellows' 2023 Seattle experience.
General Manager Josh Dietz, right, gives Business Fellows a tour of the Cintas plant.
"Cintas was the company I completed my SWOT analysis for in Project Strategy, so it was cool to see the company culture up close at the Everett location. In talking with Karen on the plant tour, it was clear that Cintas is a place where the people around you can really make the job, and her perspective was important as I think about my future co-ops, internships and full-time jobs."
Grace Gehner, BBA '27
Joshua Moore gives the toast and joins audience members in raising a glass to her fellow graduates.
Before graduation, senior Business Fellows are honored at a special annual event called The Toast. This event represents the finale of the Business Fellows student experience. The graduates begin their next chapter joining a legacy of notable and inspiring alumni, who often continue to give back and help future Fellows.
Pride of Business Fellows
Business Fellows aren’t just engaged in the classroom, but tend to take on active leadership roles across campus. Examples include:
- Co-ops at leading companies.
- Lindner Business Honors.
- Homecoming court.
- University Student Government.
- Darwin T. Turner Scholars.
- African American Resource Center (AACRC) Transitions.
- Case competitions.
- Student Orientation Leaders.
Alejandro Diaz, BBA ‘22
Alejandro Diaz
Experience: Co-Op, Transfer Student
"My experience at Gensuite LLC represents my first off-campus professional experience in the US. As an international student, what made me choose UC was its top-ranked co-op program and the incredible amount of resources Lindner has to offer through career services and coaching. At Gensuite, I currently work as a Customer Relationship Management Intern, where I collaborate with Gensuite team members and customers to support pilots, renewals, and launches for EHS compliance software. The company has been fantastic in offering a rich internship experience. Regardless of it being virtual due to the pandemic, I have been involved in several new subscriber launches and projects with teammates all over the world. Moving forward, I was offered a second rotation in the corporate finance and growth side of the business which lines up more with my interests. This speaks a lot about a company that is willing to be flexible and help its interns find their passion through real professional experiences and heavy involvement."
John Thomas, BBA '21
John Thomas
Experience: Lindner Business Honors, Darwin T. Turner Scholar, Co-Op
Business Fellows is my family within the Lindner College of Business. Through Business Fellows, I met Richard E. Thornburgh ’74, the UC Alumni Association’s 2016 honoree for the William Howard Taft Medal for Notable Achievement. He asked me about my interests, and I shared my passion for gaming. He connected me with his nephew, who connected me with his former colleagues from Electronic Arts (EA) in San Francisco. From there, I applied for a summer co-op position and, before I knew it, was on a flight out to the Bay Area. None of that would have happened without Business Fellows.
Contact Us
Brienne Blair
Assistant Director, Office of Inclusive Excellence