Ronald Manning

University of Miami, Herbert Business School

“A relationship-driven leader focused on leaving things better than I found them.”

Hometown: Miami, Florida

Fun fact about yourself: I’m drawn to experiences that push me outside my comfort zone. I’ve swum with sharks in open water in Hawaii and recently went skydiving with the U.S. Military Parachute Team.

Undergraduate School and Degree:

University of Miami, Herbert Business School

Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA), Marketing

Where was the last place you worked before enrolling in business school?

Kaseya – Senior Account Manager & Team Lead

(Promoted three times from Associate Account Manager)

Where did you intern during the summer of 2025? L’Oréal – Miami

Where will you be working after graduation? Pending – Deciding between offers

Community Work and Leadership Roles in Business School:

Vice President, Graduate Business Student Association (GBSA)

Founding Member, Crypto & Tech Club

Deal Analyst, Cane Angel Network

Rider Cesarano Scholarship recipient

Brickell Magazine “2026 Go-Getters” honoree

Which academic or extracurricular achievement are you most proud of during business school? The extracurricular achievement I am most proud of during business school has been serving as Vice President of the Graduate Business Student Association, while staying deeply engaged in the broader Miami Herbert community. What made that experience especially meaningful was not simply holding a leadership title, but having the opportunity to help shape the student experience alongside my classmates. Throughout the MBA, I found the greatest sense of purpose in being present for the community, building relationships, and contributing to the kind of environment where people felt connected, supported, and motivated. For me, that is what made the role so meaningful. Business school is not defined only by academics or career outcomes, it is also defined by the people who help create its culture. I am proud that my involvement allowed me to play a part in that culture and to contribute to a community that meant so much to me.

What makes this achievement especially important to me is that it reflects the kind of leader I want to be. I care deeply about performance and ambition, but I also believe leadership is measured by the impact you have on the people around you. My MBA experience reinforced that some of the most meaningful contributions are the ones that help bring others together, strengthen a community, and leave an environment better than you found it.

What achievement are you most proud of in your professional career? One of the professional achievements I am most proud of is becoming the youngest team lead in Kaseya’s history. I began as an Associate Account Manager and earned multiple promotions to become both an account manager and later a team lead. In that role, I managed a team of 10 individuals, many of whom were more than twice my age. What made this achievement especially meaningful was not just the title, but the responsibility that came with it. Leading a team at that level required me to earn trust quickly, hold a high standard of accountability, and create an environment where people could perform at their best. Under my leadership, the team became the number one performing team on the floor. That experience showed me that leadership is more about consistency, performance, trust, and the ability to bring out the best in others, rather than just my age.

Why Did You Choose This Business School? I chose Miami Herbert because of its network. As a University of Miami undergraduate, I had already seen the caliber of people the school attracts and develops. I knew that returning for my MBA would allow me to deepen those relationships, expand my access to mentors and peers, and become part of a professional community that would continue to create opportunities long after graduation. For me, that network had not only capabilities for career advancement, it was about being surrounded by ambitious, capable people who would challenge me and help me grow.

Who was your favorite MBA professor? Professor Mark Shapiro was my favorite MBA professor because he became far more than an instructor during my time in the program. In addition to his academic strengths, he was an invaluable mentor who provided career guidance, connected me with professionals in his network, and consistently helped me stay organized, honest, and focused during an otherwise chaotic MBA journey. His support had a meaningful impact on both my professional development and my overall experience in the program.

What was your favorite course as an MBA? My favorite MBA course was Entrepreneurship with Professor Zahir Dossa, the founder and former CEO of Function of Beauty. What made this class stand out was that it functioned as a real startup incubator. From the first session, we were not just discussing startup concepts in theory. We were actively building. By the end of the course, we had developed a business idea into a functioning company, including purchasing domains, launching websites, and enabling transactions. The course taught me how to move from ideation to execution. Instead of getting stuck in concept development, I learned how to test an idea, create a minimum viable product, and bring something tangible into the world. That mindset shift made the course especially impactful for me and has caused a very real change in my own life, less ideation more doing. I consider Zahir a great friend and mentor as he has changed my life for the better.

What was your favorite MBA event or tradition at your business school? My favorite MBA tradition was the combination of the MBA Gala and the late-night cohort study sessions that happened throughout the program. The Gala reflected Miami Herbert’s ability to celebrate both achievement and community. It captured the energy of a program that works hard, values relationships, and takes pride in bringing people together. At the same time, some of the most meaningful moments came during the long nights before finals, when classmates stayed late in the classroom to study, teach one another difficult material, and make sure no one fell behind. Those moments reflected something deeper about Miami Herbert: a culture of teamwork, support, and collective success.

Looking back over your MBA experience, what is the one thing you’d do differently and why? If I could do one thing differently, I would spend even more time on campus. I was already deeply involved in the program, probably more than most, but my MBA experience showed me how much personal and professional growth can come from simply being present. The energy, the people, the opportunities, and the relationships were some of the most valuable parts of the experience. Looking back, I would have leaned in even more because the community itself was such an important part of my growth.

What was the most impactful case study you had in business school and what was the biggest lesson you learned from it?One of the most impactful case studies I studied in business school was “WeWork: Too Much Charisma, Too Little Leadership.” Adam Neumann had vision, storytelling ability, and the power to get investors and employees to buy into a compelling idea. Coming from a sales background, I can appreciate the value of strong storytelling and the ability to inspire belief. What the case made clear, however, is that the ability to attract followers does not automatically make someone a strong leader. The biggest lesson I took from the case was the importance of surrounding yourself with people who will challenge your thinking, identify blind spots, and provide honest feedback. Discipline, accountability, and creating space for others to question and strengthen your ideas is what strong leadership is all about.

What did you love most about your business school’s town? What I love most about Miami is that it is far more dynamic than people often assume. As a Miami native, I may be biased, but what excites me most is that the city is continuing to establish itself as a serious business hub. Tech is growing, finance is expanding, and there is a strong flow of capital and talent into the region. What makes Miami especially compelling is its diversity – not just culturally, but professionally. It is a city filled with people from different backgrounds, industries, and perspectives who are all building, creating, and pursuing opportunity. It feels like a market that is still defining itself, and being in a place with that kind of momentum is incredibly energizing

What is one way that your business school has integrated AI into your programming? What insights did you gain from using AI? One meaningful way Miami Herbert integrated AI into the MBA experience was by encouraging students to use it as a practical tool for execution. In my entrepreneurship course, for example, we used AI for “vibe coding” to help build websites without traditional coding knowledge. Instead of spending months trying to develop technical skills from scratch or relying entirely on outside support, we were able to build and test ideas much more quickly. That experience showed me that AI can accelerate ambition or creativity, rather than hinder or replace it. It changed the way I think about innovation by showing me that speed, experimentation, and access are all expanding when people know how to use these tools thoughtfully.

Which MBA classmate do you most admire? The MBA classmate I most admire is Cameron Moore. I met Cam during orientation, and from the beginning, he stood out as someone who made everyone around him better. We went on to spend every single day together until his untimely passing in October 2025. He changed my life and my cohort’s life for the better, more than any one person in my career has. His outlook on every interaction, finding joy in every moment, is what kept us going. He made you feel like anything was possible and success was inevitable. We even created a fictional parent company, email address and all. That’s because, between all the businesses we came up with and the GoDaddy URLs we bought, we figured we would need to manage our success from the top down. He is still an inspiration to me every day, and I try to live my life the way my friend Cam would.

What are the top two items on your professional bucket list?

1. Create something tangible in the world, whether a product, service, or company, that provides real value and improves people’s lives.

2. Eventually lead at the C-suite level, whether in a company I build or one I join, and help create something meaningful that leaves the world better than I found it.

What made Ronald such an invaluable addition to the Class of 2026?

“As the Staff Advisor for the Graduate Business Student Association at the Miami Herbert Business School, I have worked closely with Ronald in his role as Vice President and can confidently say he embodies the spirit of this honor.

Ronald is a true servant leader. He consistently goes above-and-beyond to support his peers, execute impactful programming, and ensure student voices are represented. He not only manages the details that others often overlook, but also brings forward thoughtful ideas that elevate the entire student experience. His leadership motivates those around him to engage more deeply and aim higher.

What truly distinguishes Ronald is his resilience and character. In Fall 2025, our community experienced the sudden loss of his best friend and fellow MBA classmate. During this incredibly difficult time, Ronald stepped forward to help communicate this loss to the broader school community and support his cohort through their grief. While navigating his own mourning, he ensured his friend’s legacy would endure by advocating for recognition through a published article and creating space for remembrance.

Despite this profound personal challenge, Ronald continued to excel academically and remain fully committed to his leadership responsibilities. He served as a steady, compassionate presence for his peers, demonstrating emotional intelligence, strength, and unwavering dedication.

Ronald is also an exceptional person to be around. His authenticity, positivity, and genuine care for others make a lasting impact on everyone he encounters.

Ronald Manning is truly one of the Best & Brightest, an indispensable leader who elevates those around him. I give him my highest recommendation without hesitation.”

Alexis Rodriguez, M.S.
Assistant Director, Graduate Business Student Services
Miami Herbert Business School
University of Miami

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