Graduate Student Blog
First Semester in Summary
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| Touring Fenway Park with classmates |
The first semester was often a period of information overload with multiple events happening at the same time. When I faced the challenge of managing my time and choosing which events to pick, I thought about what I want to get out of my MBA.
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| Integrated Project team hard at work |
This is a team-based project that includes acquiring a brand and re-branding it to make it a successful product. The project runs throughout the semester and all subjects, including accounting, finance, marketing, and distribution, had to be addressed to make a successful final presentation. I learned and experienced more about team dynamics and team collaboration through this process that other schools do not offer. We all understood that we could not accomplish this project as individuals and we had to lean on each other to accomplish our project goals.
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| On the fall boat cruise |
Aside from all the team projects and studying, we also had official student council run events that included the ‘prom’ of graduate school. We all had fun dancing the night away and hanging out with friends! I have enjoyed getting to meet and know more of my classmates through these events.
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| West Coast Networking Trek with classmates |
Coming into this MBA program, I knew I wanted to work on the west coast. So I joined the West Coast Networking Club and visited technology companies through their Technology Trek. We visited companies such as Google, VMware, Cisco Systems, Accenture, IBM, and so forth. Actual visits to these companies really allowed me to visualize myself working there and I was able to get an “inside scoop” from managers who worked there. This was a unique opportunity to see more of the real world and introduce myself to technology companies.
StartUp Scramble
Post by:
Phan Huynh
MS-MBA, 2013
If I ever got a tattoo, it’d say “fortes fortuna adiuvat." Fortune favors the bold.
The bold. People may not like them or think they’re smart enough, but that’s neither here nor there because the bold are too busy not giving a crap. And the bold are always smiling, as if their magic eight ball actually works.
My ongoing pursuit towards boldness more or less began my first semester at Boston University School of Management. I cautiously pushed my comfort zone, sometimes sacrificing study time for networking events, clubs activities, and business competitions. I even took time during finals week to submit my pet project (a website that generated social gatherings to build community) to a startup competition.
By the second semester, I was itching to up the ante. My opportunity came in the form of the Startup Scramble. First, it was a commitment of two and half days. Second, there was a small fee. And third, I’d have to forfeit that weekend’s homework. The Old Phan nagged, but the Bold Phan ultimately put his foot down.
Scramble Day 1: Stephen Douglass (Scrambler founder and Master of Ceremonies) had us shed our shells by pitching our worst business ideas. He had also brought in speakers from Microsoft and Highland Capital. That day I met Rey Faustino, a Harvard Public Policy student by day and a social enterprise hero by night. I was instantly sold on Rey’s proposal: One Degree, the Yelp of social services.
Scramble Day 2: I attended three hour-long presentations on business entities, accounting, and web development, which inspired me to learn Dreamweaver. Rey and I brainstormed revenue models and market assumptions, machine-gunning our ideas onto whiteboard after whiteboard. We left after our admittedly crappy “dirty pitch”, but we were pumped about at our progress.
Fortes fortuna adiuvat. The Startup Scramble was a bold move for me, and I was rewarded handsomely. One Degree became the concentration for my semester-long entrepreneurial class. Now I’m upping the ante again by working with my new buddy Rey to enter One Degree into the Harvard Business Plan Competition and the $100K Mass Challenge. Next, I’m considering a move to San Francisco this summer to help launch the pilot across several schools. I’ve still got a way to go before hot air ballooning, but at least for now, I can postpone that tattoo.
Link Day 2012
On a sunny Saturday morning in February, 60 BU MBA students eagerly made their way up to the 4th floor of SMG for what promised to be a very memorable day. These students ranged from 1st and 2nd year full-time students to part-time and IMBA students – all with a variety of experiences and backgrounds, and all eager to serve 15 non-profit organizations from our community. BU MBA Link Day is an opportunity for small- to medium-sized nonprofit organizations to access cutting edge managerial expertise. Launched in April 2001 by students in the BU MBA Public and Nonprofit Management concentration, this one-day consulting experience brings together nonprofits, MBA students, academics, and local professionals to analyze a specific problem facing an organization and provide practical strategic solutions.
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| Rebecca Onie of Health Leads giving the keynote address |
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What I really liked about this day was that each of us helped make a difference in our community in single day. It can be easy to forget to remain connected since we are all busy students - but each of us was so eager to give up a Saturday to engage with our community. In fact, all student slots were filled in just 4 days – a new record – and a testament to the commitment of our students to remain active and give back.
Thank you to everyone who participated. This day was a success not only because we got a lot of great work done but also because we made a difference, in a single day. Get ready for Link Day 2013 – it will be here sooner than you think!
For more information on Link Day, please see this video.
Brazil Field Seminar
Post By:
Emily Nichols, PEMBA
Emily is a part-time MBA student, concentrating in International Management and Marketing. Her day job is working at Cone Communications as a cause strategy and corporate responsibility consultant. You can follow her on Twitter @emilynichols.
The Family Business
Jordan is a 2nd year MBA candidate focusing on Entrepreneurship and Real Estate. He is interested in mentoring and community impact through his work. When not studying or working he can be found bicycling around Boston or with his wife, playing with their 4 month old daughter.
This is Good Business
Post By:
Matt Scott, MS-MBA 2013
Rob Gordon, MBA 2013
Sam Cecala, MS-MBA 2013
This is the story of how our team won the whole thing.
Before we even knew the details of the project, our team was sent on a scavenger hunt through Boston. We probably should have taken some pictures of this, but we didn’t. Still, we had a great time.
Here’s a quick rundown of our squad:
Matt Scott: Former pro tennis player and health care researcher. When asked to describe himself, Matt says he “carries his stress in his hips.”
Rob Gordon: Michigan alum, Dunkin Donuts enthusiast, and Tom Brady apologist. Despite his carefree demeanor, he has a shockingly in-depth knowledge of hair care products for men and women alike.
Guo Shan: The most patient Chinese language instructor we could hope for. If there’s a harder worker in the BU MBA program, we’d like to meet her. She also moonlights as a private detective. Role models include Angela Lansbury and Gene Parmesan (he’s the best).
Jess Friesen: Raised in Malaysia, schooled in Illinois and awesome the world over, Jess kept us grounded and smiling throughout it all. Jess always sneezes 5 times—no more, no less.
Andres Biguria: A supply chain guru, don’t let his name or ridiculous impressions fool you, he’s not Italian–he’s from Guatemala by way of Memphis, and loves joking about your dad.
Sam Cecala: The ideas man. This wasn’t always a good thing, but was usually entertaining. He has amassed and publicized a large collection of Matt Scott quotations on current events that oddly parallel those made by public figures.
Without doing too much preliminary research (you can make yourself crazy overanalyzing at this stage), our team selected the hair care category on the advice of Guo Shan. We then selected the Selsun Blue brand on the advice of our resident hair expert, Rob Gordon, whose life mission was to bring back the old slogan “Never wear black without the blue.” Words to live by.
Over the first half of the semester we held weekly team meetings and analyzed purchase and promotion data from the AC Nielsen database. Central to our research agenda was getting to the bottom of key consumer attributes, namely: Who is the purchaser? Who is the user? (But you just told me you were the purchaser!) BU’s first-rate library resources, professors, and second-year students were instrumental throughout the journey. The project is daunting, but proved rewarding as we applied the concepts and methods we learned in class.
Everything was multiplied after our interim presentation, as we began to develop our marketing and brand revitalization plan alongside our final valuation. Although we had one sleepless night before the final product was done, coming together to give our final presentation to our cohort and professors was exhilarating, and getting to do it again for the entire MBA class and faculty was even better.
We could write about this stuff all day, but we’re getting our hair did this afternoon, so we’ll wrap up our tale with some pictures. Please enjoy.
Rob Gordon is a first-year MBA with a Finance Concentration
Sam Cecala is a first-year MS-MBA with a Leadership and Organizational Transformation concentration
An IMBA’s Experience with the Job Search Process
Post by:
Brian Driscoll
International MBA, 2012
It’s OK to Change Directions: When I began the IMBA program in China in May 2011, my intent was to secure a position as a Product Manager but as my courses continued, I discovered that my strengths were more closely aligned with operations and process management than with marketing or consumer behavior. As you progress through the MBA, it’s important to continuously evaluate the direction of your interests and be able to switch gears quickly.
Develop an Initial Plan: Develop your 30-second pitch early - people are always interested to hear what you want to do after your MBA and they will ask whether or not you’re ready to answer. To develop your pitch, you’ll need to reflect on your skills, previous roles, and potential career path with target companies in mind. Be ready to tailor your pitch to your audience on the fly.
Narrowing Search Criteria: To keep the job search practical, it’s critical to narrow down your list of target companies. Each application may turn into a life-changing decision, so prioritize your most important criteria. I searched based on location, manufacturing capabilities, industry, size, and revenue. This process also helped me develop my answer to the standard interview question “Why do you want to work for us?” Even after honing in on a target profile, it’s ok if your list of companies still remains broad.
Job Search Success: In January 2012 I proudly accepted a position with United Technologies’ Operations Leadership Program. While having a BU MBA certainly breaks down barriers to get your resume on the desks of hiring managers, companies often expect more from MBA candidates than they do from others. But don’t let this intimidate you, because Boston University has more than enough resources to help you land the right job for your career.
UTC Interview Phases: The UTC Interview Process consisted of two phone screens, a weekend assignment, and a “Superday” onsite interview. The “Superday” involved an overnight stay, dinner with current OLP associates, presentations, team negotiations, and a panel interview. The sessions were intensely challenging but team skills, presentation skills, and operations concepts that I’d sharpened through the BU MBA were critical to my successful outcome.
Support from Feld Career Center and BU Professors: I first found and applied to UTC’s position through one of my weekly searches on MBA Careerlink. The Feld Career Center’s Gary Bergman provided excellent support and personal attention throughout my job search. His Career Management course, mock interview feedback, cover letter & resume templates, and advice in my negotiations were all critical to the successful progression toward my final offer. The pre-interview meetings I had with professors Janelle Heineke (OM726) and Nitin Joglekar (OM880) were also extremely important for me to readily apply their course concepts in the scenarios I faced in my interviews. And most importantly, I received a lot of helpful support from my classmates around the time of my interviews.
Brian is a
n International MBA candidate with experience in startup companies and bringing product designs into production. You may find him exploring around Boston with friends or studying at a nearby Starbucks.
The India Field Seminar
Post by:
MBA/MPH, 2012
From January 1st through 14th, 20 MBA students traveled through India with Professor Mark Allen, Director of the Health Sector Management Program, and Diane Reimer, Director of Graduate Counseling in the Feld Career Center. We visited three cities: Delhi, Mumbai, and Bangalore, learning about the Indian healthcare system. From government hospitals to private for-profit hospitals to super-specialty care, we saw it all.
Visiting a mobile clinic run by one of the largest government hospitals, AIIMS
Visiting the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), a Government Hospital in Delhi
A very different experience visiting Max Healthcare, a private, for-profit hospital
We also traveled to rural areas to observe primary care facilities and meet with community health workers.
Ashas (Community Health Workers who focus on women and children) working in a rural village outside Delhi
Students waiting to tour the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Narayana near Bangalore
Part of the Narayana Hrudayalaya Super Specialty Hospital Center
It was truly incredible to see how healthcare was provided in a country of over 1 Billion people. The potential for economies of scale, mass efficiency, alternative financing schemes, and low-cost technology are exciting. At the same time, challenges such as poverty and lack of infrastructure are widespread. Throughout our visits, we had the opportunity to hear what leaders in the field think of these issues. We also got the chance to sit down with executives over dinner and get a first hand account of what it is like to run a business in India.
Throughout our time in India and for a week after, the students participating in the field seminar kept a blog. If you're interested in hearing more perspectives about our experience, you can check it out here: http://smgindianfieldseminar.blogspot.com/
Meg is a
second year MBA/MPH student studying Global Health Management. She is also the President of the new Global Health and Development Association. You may find her running around Boston with a backpack on or challenging people to dance-offs.
Student Life in Pictures
Photography By:
Asad Butt
MS-MBA in Media Ventures, 2012
Asad Butt is a second year MBA/MS in Media Ventures candidate focusing on digital strategies for media companies. Asad enjoys playing soccer and taking pictures when not studying or obsessing over "Words with Friends."
Net Impact Conference
Post By:
Nolan Green
MBA Candidate, 2012
This year, four BU MBA students (along with nine undergrads) made a cross-country trek to Portland, Oregon for the Net Impact National Conference. Net Impact is a worldwide organization dedicated to leveraging the resources of business for the social good across all sectors. Those with an interest in working in Corporate Social Responsibility, cause marketing, non-profit management, social enterprise and other related fields tend to join Net Impact as a way of further exploring those interests. The conference was an opportunity for the future leaders of these spaces to network and share ideas, inspiration, and best practices.
It was also an opportunity to hear from those who have already proven their leadership in these areas. We heard from Sally Jewell, CEO of REI, the outdoor goods company about embedding sustainability into nationwide retail operations. We also heard from Hannah Jones, Chief Sustainability Officer of Nike, who described the journey that Nike had taken around social responsibility, being transformed into one of the thought and operations leaders in this space. Between the keynotes and the breakout sessions, nearly every topic under the Net Impact umbrella was covered by an expert in the field. In my sessions, I learned about marketing to socially-conscious consumers and companies who pay living wages while enjoying high levels of profitability, among other topics.
Perhaps one of the most invaluable aspects of the conference was the expo, where approximately 80 corporations and non-profits showed up to educate the attendees on their sustainability and corporate responsibility efforts. This included a wide range of businesses, including Honest Tea, Target, and Sprint as well as non-profits serving a variety of causes. This was an opportunity to learn about these organization’s socially-conscious efforts and in a few cases, a chance to learn about job and internship opportunities. 
If you are a sustainability, Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), or non-profit junkie, I would highly recommend considering attending the conference next fall in Baltimore. Meanwhile, here at SMG, our graduate and undergraduate NI chapters are continuing to put on a number of exciting events, culminating in the BU Net Impact MBA case competition in the spring. For more information about Net Impact at BU, visit http://smgworld.bu.edu/clubnetimpact/.
(photos from the Net Impact website and Facebook page)
Nolan is a 2nd year MBA student in the PNP program, also concentrating in Marketing. He is the Vice President for External Relations for the GSM Net Impact Chapter. He is interested in a career in marketing for socially responsible businesses.