Leading with Well-Being: Inside the 2025 Undergraduate Business School Leadership Conference
Each year, Goizueta Business School hosts the Undergraduate Business School Leadership Conference (UBSLC), welcoming student representatives from top business schools across the U.S. and beyond. UBSLC is an annual tradition at Goizueta, with this year being its 25th edition. This year’s conference’s theme was “Mental Health and Well-Being” and was inspired by the BBA program’s many initiatives to address mental health and well-being in the undergraduate Goizueta community. UBSLC 2025 brought together over 50 student leaders from leading undergraduate business schools across the country for a weekend of workshops, discussions, and networking designed to help future business leaders integrate well-being into their leadership styles.
We sat down with Brandon Lin 25BBA, this year’s UBSLC Chair, to learn more about the conference, its key takeaways, and what made this year’s event special.
What inspired this year’s theme of “Mental Health and Well-Being in Business Leadership?”
In today’s fast-paced and ever-changing business world, leadership isn’t just about making strategic decisions, it’s about leading holistically. We recognized that mental health and well-being are essential to effective leadership, yet they’re often overlooked in business education. This theme allowed us to explore how future leaders can integrate well-being into their leadership frameworks and create supportive, high-performing environments. Importantly, we focused our programming for UBSLC 2025 on both approaching mental health and wellbeing from a personal perspective but also from a community-building perspective.
This was tied into the initiatives focused on mental health and well-being we’ve facilitated this year through our undergraduate BBA Council, such as programming highlighting National Suicide Prevention Day, World Kindness Day, and the Green Bandana Project.
What were some of the biggest highlights from this year’s UBSLC?
We had an incredible lineup of speakers, workshops, and interactive sessions. Some standout moments included:
- A keynote by Matrona Filippou, Global President of Powerade at Coca-Cola, who spoke about The Athlete’s Code, an initiative inspired by Simone Biles through the Tokyo and Paris Olympics, and how holistic performance begins with both mental and physical wellness.
- A case competition led by Faizan Bhatty14BBA, where students tackled real-world challenges around post-COVID workplace engagement and culture.
- A leadership session hosted by Agha Haider 25BBA, BBA Council President, focused on Goizueta-wide initiatives to embed wellness in student governance and campus life and what delegates could take back to their own campuses.
- Engaging sessions led by Goizueta professors Emily Bianchi and Karl Kuhnert, who shared insights from their research and teaching on well-being and leadership.
How does UBSLC create a lasting impact for attendees?
UBSLC equips students with tools and insights they take back to their own campuses. The connections made here extend beyond the conference, creating a strong network of future business leaders who prioritize well-being in their leadership. Attendees gain not only professional skills but also a new perspective on balancing success and personal health.
What was it like organizing a conference of this scale?
It was incredibly rewarding—and one of the most meaningful experiences of my time at Goizueta. What makes UBSLC truly special is that it’s entirely student-led. From shaping the theme and programming to coordinating logistics and outreach, everything was driven by students. I had the privilege of working alongside an amazing team—Alina Rahim 26BBA, Rene Weissenbacher 25BBA, Agha Haider 25BBA, and the entire UBSLC Committee. Of course, none of it would’ve been possible without the unwavering support of our advisor, Paula.
Since the pandemic, UBSLC attendance had declined, so seeing such a strong resurgence in interest and participation this year was inspiring. It’s a testament to the hard work and vision of the committee—and to how deeply this year’s theme resonated with students from across the country.
What advice would you give to future UBSLC attendees or student leaders looking to make an impact?
Lead with empathy, and never lose sight of the people behind the work. One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is that wellbeing and leadership go hand in hand. There is a genuine interest in leadership that prioritizes people just as much as performance. You can’t lead effectively without first creating an environment where people feel supported and seen.
Every action matters, and it’s through these small, intentional efforts that we build more inclusive and resilient communities. And finally, surround yourself with people who challenge and inspire you. Collaborating with peers like Alina, Rene, and Agha, and most of all, the UBSLC Committee that helped facilitate every aspect of this conference taught me that leadership is always stronger in a supportive community.
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