A Chapman University alumna has been named an Influential Leader for 2018 by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), the world’s largest business education network. Robin Follman-Otta, ’15 was selected for the honor in recognition of her business success and service as a role model for the next generation of business leaders.
Robin Follman-Otta
Follman-Otta, who graduated from Chapman’s Argyros School of Business and Economics with her Executive MBA was recognized at AACSB’s 2018 Deans Conference in Las Vegas, Nev., along with 29 other business pioneers, from 13 industry sectors, whose careers address today’s most pressing social, economic, environmental, and educational challenges.
“We are so happy for Robin’s continued successes,” said Thomas Turk, Ph.D., dean of Chapman’s Argyros School of Business and Economics. “She is a shining example of how our alumni are making a difference in the world.”
A fifth-generation Orange County native, Follman-Otta currently serves as the CEO and COO of RA Industries LLC/Markall Inc., in Santa Ana, Calif.
In addition to her business career, Follman-Otta was once one of the world’s top leading opera singers in the world for more than 30 years and one of the primary sopranos to come from Orange County. After retiring from the arts in 2012, she moved to Markall Inc. as CEO―a full service engineering and fabrication completion center that serves the aerospace and defense commercial, entertainment and medical industries. Follman-Otta became a member of Chapman’s Board of Governors in March 2017.
Follman-Otta also was the recipient of the Orange County Business Journal’s 2016 Women in Business Award.
“Each honoree from the 2018 class of Influential Leaders reflects the mindset, knowledge, and passion that impactful business leaders must embody to impart positive change in today’s society,” said Thomas R. Robinson, president and CEO of AACSB. “We would like to thank Robin Follman-Otta for demonstrating the true excellence and leadership we wish to see in the world, and we congratulate Chapman University for their role in helping to mold a new generation of global business leaders dedicated to driving impact that results in global prosperity.”
Follman-Otta and her peers in the 2018 Influential Leaders class were recognized across three categories, including:
- Alumni Business Leaders Working in Nonprofit or Community-Based Organizations
- Alumni Business Leaders Advancing Diversity and Inclusion
- Non-alumni Business Leaders Influencing Business Education
For more information on the Influential Leaders Challenge, and to view a full list of honorees, visit www.aacsb.edu/influential-leaders.
About AACSB International
As the world’s largest business education alliance, AACSB International—The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) connects educators, students, and business to achieve a common goal: to create the next generation of great leaders. Synonymous with the highest standards of excellence since 1916, AACSB provides quality assurance, business education intelligence, and professional development services to almost 1,600 member organizations and more than 795 accredited business schools worldwide. With its global headquarters in Tampa, Florida, USA; Europe, Middle East, and Africa headquarters in Amsterdam, the Netherlands; and Asia Pacific headquarters in Singapore, AACSB’s mission is to foster engagement, accelerate innovation, and amplify impact in business education. For more information, visit aacsb.edu.
About Chapman University
As an academically distinguished center of learning, Chapman University attracts extraordinary students and faculty from around the globe. Its ten schools and colleges foster a vibrant intellectual community, and provide extensive opportunities for students to learn, grow and discover alongside remarkable faculty. The University is home to some 8,000 students pursuing bachelor, master and doctoral degrees, and is alma mater to more than 40,000 alumni found throughout the United States and the world. Now celebrating its 157th year, Chapman is known for its distinguishing strengths in leadership and civic engagement, in the arts and entertainment disciplines, and in specialized sectors of technology and science. The University is comprised of its main campus in Orange, California, and the Rinker Health Science campus for graduate health science programs in Irvine, California. Visit us at www.chapman.edu.
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