Wavestone North America sponsored the Fall 2026 Professional Development Week (PDW) at the University of Pittsburgh School of Business, home of the Joseph M. Katz Graduate School of Business.
“Professional Development Week is where what our students learn in the classroom meets the real world,” said Katie Bennett, associate director for student engagement. “Twice a year, we bring in executives, alumni and employers who share what they have learned firsthand, and students leave with practical skills and connections they can put to work right away. This fall, our keynote and networking reception with Wavestone gave students direct access to the people who are shaping what comes next in business.”
Kenneth Linamen (DBA ’26, MBA ’23, BSBA ’18), Wavestone North America partner and head of AI and Data, delivered the keynote address. Linamen advises CEOs, boards, and executive teams on large-scale transformation, helping organizations improve financial performance, optimize operations, and embed AI and data in core business processes.
In his presentation, he reviewed Wavestone’s Global Strategy “Lead the Shift,” and shared his own career trajectory, telling the students, “What you want to do now is not what you’ll end up doing 10 years from now.” He explained that careers are less linear now; reinvention is the new normal, which makes lifelong learning more important.
His final advice to the students was to, “be curious, learn how to learn, and continue to challenge yourself.”
Wide Range of Topics
The week included sessions on career development, transformative leadership, business communication and team building, emerging technology and data tools, employer engagement and networking, plus innovation and creative management.
Students could choose from sessions as varied as The Serious Business of Happiness; Ethical Decision Making in Corporate Leadership; Managing Up: Building Influence and Constructive Relationships; 13 Shifts Reshaping Consumer Lifestyles in 2027-2028; The Dos and Don’ts of Career Switching; and much more.
Praise From Students and Sponsor
Kanvi Sharma (MBA ’28) said she, “was surprised by the range of topics that were covered. This gave me an opportunity to take a pause from my day-to-day classroom activities and focus on professional development.”
Kseniia Nikolaeva (MS ’26) found it valuable that the sessions helped her connect what she learned in class to the real world.
“In class, we spend a lot of time learning how to analyze problems and make decisions. PDW helps me understand how these skills actually work in a professional environment,” says Nikolaeva. “I especially enjoy hearing how professionals approach real challenges, because things are not always as straightforward as they seem in textbooks.”
When asked why Wavestone North America decided to sponsor this event, Kristen Gabrielli, senior manager at Wavestone, complimented the students she has worked with.
“We have been fortunate to have a lot of very high caliber students come from Katz and we have a lot of respect for the program. The students who come in are highly skilled, highly motivated and they do very well in our consulting agency,” says Gabrielli. “We are located in Pittsburgh, it’s great to support the local school and also get talent into our organization.”
Interested in Getting Involved?
If you would like to share your expertise with our students at future professional development events, contact KatieBennett@pitt.edu.