Management College Adds Avanade Consultant to Advisory Board

Martin Tuchman School of Management recently added Valentin Guerin, an Avanade Inc. director and client lead, to its Board of Advisors.

Avanade, a global consulting firm specializing in Microsoft software and services, began funding and mentoring NJIT students in 2015.

"In 2015, Avanade launched its STEM Scholarship Program in celebration of its 15-year anniversary, investing in the future of young women. They were giving 15 university women a scholarship to pursue an education in science, technology, engineering or math and kickstart their careers," Guerin explained. "The idea for us wasn't just to provide financial scholarships, it was how could we help these ladies?"

The company, jointly founded in 2000 by Accenture and Microsoft, was honored as NJIT's 2021 Outstanding Corporate Partner. Several alumni work at Avanade; there are six current Highlanders holding Avanade full scholarships and a total of 17 students overall being mentored by Avanade employees. Students have attended Avanade conferences; former company vice president Toni Handler is also a member of the management school's board; and Brett Newton, Avanade's executive sponsor of their scholarship program, joined the NJIT Board of Overseers in 2020.

During his 17-year career at Avanade, Guerin has worked in technical and leadership roles including human resources, operations and sales. He joined the partnership in 2016 as program lead and mentor. His first student was Dikasse Zalla '19, who became an Avanade employee after graduating and is now a co-leader of the company's NJIT partnership.

Guerin said his tenure in the professional services industry, strong relationship with NJIT and his passion for people will serve him well on the MTSM advisory board. "I am very excited to work even closer with the school's dean, Oya Tukel, the Advisory Board, and the entire faculty," he added.