Executive Decision: Alum Returns to Mentor Business Students

02/13/2025
By Ed Brennen

With Commencement fast approaching, senior business major Brandon Fish is taking advantage of every available resource as he prepares to enter the working world. Recently, he dropped by Cumnock Hall to get some advice from a UMass Lowell alum with a long and successful career in technology and business leadership.

David Laurello ’81, ’88, former president and CEO of Stratus Technologies, has returned to his alma mater to serve as executive in residence at the Manning School of Business. 

In addition to mentoring students during office hours at Cumnock, Laurello will deliver guest lectures and collaborate with faculty to ensure that courses align with the latest industry trends. He will also teach an operations management course and plans to develop a new course on crisis leadership.

“Besides having a wealth of senior management experience, David is just a wonderful person who wants to share his expertise,” says Rist Family Endowed Dean of the Manning School Bertie Greer. “He will help us bridge the gap between academia and industry, enriching the educational experience for our students.”

A member of the Manning School advisory board since 2010, Laurello has established two scholarships at UML: The Laurello Family Endowed Scholarship for Manning School students and the David ’81, ’88 and Lauren Laurello Endowed Scholarship Fund for students in the Francis College of Engineering. 

Taking on the executive in residence role is another way to give back to the institution that helped shape his career. 

“UMass Lowell was an inflection point in my life,” says Laurello, who joined the U.S. Air Force out of high school and spent four years working on radar systems before coming to UMass Lowell on the GI Bill for a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering.

“If you take time off between school, there’s a part of your brain that goes to sleep. So, when I came to campus, I was really struggling,” recalls Laurello, a first-generation college student from East Haven, Connecticut. “It was a tough transition, but the school was very accommodating. They got me some tutors and got me on an even keel.”

That foundation, bolstered by an MBA from the Manning School, set him on a career path that took him to Digital Equipment Corporation, Lucent Technologies and Bell Labs. At Stratus, a computer server company based in Maynard, Massachusetts, Laurello rose from head of hardware engineering to CEO.

After selling Stratus to Smart Global Holdings in 2022, Laurello stayed on for two years to lead a division focused on deploying AI infrastructure and building large data centers. 

“It was a chance to learn AI in a much more detailed way. It has been hyped up, but it can be demystified. It’s not magic,” says Laurello, who shared his insights on the legal, environmental and career ramifications of AI with students during a recent fireside chat hosted by the International Business Association student organization. 

“Things are going to come that change the way we live and work, and you’re going to have to adapt,” he told students. “You have to always be out there learning for yourself so you can be aware of what’s happening.”

As the Manning School’s new executive in residence, Laurello looks forward to imparting what he’s learned to students such as Fish, a senior captain and infielder on the UML baseball team who plans to meet regularly with Laurello during the spring semester for help navigating his job search. 

“I’m motivated to get my foot in the door somewhere after graduation, and I want some insights on what roles I would be a good fit for,” says Fish, a native of Londonderry, New Hampshire, with concentrations in finance and international business. “Dave has extraordinary expertise, and he’s going to make sure I’m on the right track and making progress towards my goals.” 

Fish also attended Laurello’s fireside chat at Alumni Hall, where he offered this summary of advice:

“Work hard, be passionate, be humble, keep your commitments and always be learning,” Laurello said. “This school has a lot of students who are hungry and want to do better, so tap into that energy.”