Gary Von Lehmden’s path to an MBA wasn’t fast or easy, but it was transformative.
As a young professional, he worked at the former Union Commerce Bank (now part of Huntington Bank) in downtown Cleveland, where employees could earn full tuition reimbursement—if they maintained straight A’s.
Von Lehmden seized the opportunity, spending four years juggling full-time work and night classes at Case Western Reserve University’s Weatherhead School of Management.
His hard work paid off. Soon after earning his MBA, he landed a role at CitiBank, where he spent the next 37 years rising through the ranks and eventually becoming chairman and chief lending officer of banking for Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.
“My MBA was extremely helpful to me throughout my career as I was being evaluated for promotions or movements in the industry,” Von Lehmden (MGT ’81) said. Now, he hopes to provide the same opportunity for future business leaders.
Von Lehmden has named Case Western Reserve in his estate plans and, upon his passing, his bequest will establish a scholarship fund at the Weatherhead School.
“My heart is still in Cleveland,” said the Northeast Ohio native, who now splits his time between Florida and London. “In making this gift, I
asked two questions: What are they bringing to society? And what are they bringing to Cleveland?”
He found answers in conversations with Weatherhead School Dean Andrew Medvedev (CWR ’97) and CWRU President Eric W. Kaler, whose shared vision spurred him to establish his legacy at the university.
“What inspired me most was the people who are leading Case Western Reserve today,” Von Lehmden said. “The level of both warmth and intensity they express about holding the university to a higher standard really appeals to me.”
Originally published in the summer 2025 issue of Forward Thinking magazine