On Monday April 4, 2015 the Health Sector Management Club (HSM) hosted a spring networking event for 1st and 2nd year MBA students, as well as MSMS students. The event hosted 14 alumni and guests representing companies throughout the health sector. Highlights included Shire Pharmaceuticals, Sanofi Genzyme, Brigham & Women's Hospital, Boston Medical Center, and Vertex Pharmaceuticals. The students and professionals had a great time getting to know each other, and the event provided the students with an opportunity to learn about different careers in the health sector.
Last week, twenty students in the Public and Non-Profit Club visited the Museum of Science to explore how the museum manages corporate partnerships and builds their brand with exhibits such as the recent (and very successful) Pixar display. They had the opportunity to meet with the Senior Vice President, Advancement, the Executive Director, Advancement and additional members of the team responsible for special events, corporate partnerships, individual giving, and government grants.
The group learned about fundraising and how corporate partnerships in particular are cultivated to provide different opportunities for scientific exploration at one of the most recognizable organizations in Boston.
According to participant Travis Kilpatrick, MBA '16, "[my main takeaway was] understanding how your supporters want to make a difference in the world is an opportunity to share how your organization helps them accomplish it - and of course [I enjoyed] exploring the museum afterward!"
Over spring break, 30 Questrom MBA candidates devoted their time to helping entrepreneurs in Guatemala expand their businesses. The BU Global Venture Consulting (BUGVC) Club is a student-run organization that takes their spring break each year to devote their time and business skills to helping grow businesses in the developing world.
The trip is completely organized by students, which is no small task! This year, the trip began with two days in Antigua, getting a flavor for the Guatemalan culture. Five days were spent in Xela, Guatemala’s second largest city, where we did the bulk of our work. BUGVC partners with Thriive, a global non-profit that seeks to build prosperity in vulnerable global communities. Students worked in teams of three and four, attacking problems that ranged from operations improvement to marketing campaigns to expansion to new markets. The businesses included bakeries, commercial print shops, artisan crafts and local schools. After our presentations and recommendations to the clients, the trip ends with 2 days at Lake Atitlan for some a well-deserved rest and relaxation in a truly beautiful setting!
BUGVC gives MBA students a chance to put into practice the skills they’ve learned while making at true impact on a living, growing business. The club, just finishing its fourth trip, continues to be one of the most popular and sought-after experiences. Check out the BUGVC Facebook page or Thriive Guatemala’s Facebook page for more information and pictures from the trip!
On Friday, March 18, a group of 27 MBA candidates toured innovative workspaces throughout Cambridge, MA. Led by the Leadership and Organizational Transformation Club, the group toured the Cambridge Innovation Center and Google’s Cambridge Campus with the goal of exploring how non-traditional work spaces can influence and encourage a healthy working environment for employees.
The behind-the-scenes look at Cambridge Innovation Center showed how and why so many startups choose to begin their operations there, in what is arguably the largest collection of startup companies in the world! Google provided insights into the design and thought behind their many amenities and interesting working environments, moving beyond just ‘fun’ into actually productive results. All in all, the group learned quite a bit and now have a deeper understanding of the pros and cons of flexible and unique work spaces.
Name: Lauren Murphy, Part-time Evening MBA, MBA 2016
Background? I was born in Boston but raised about 50 miles outside in Worcester, MA. I earned my bachelor's degree from Boston University in International Relations. Before coming to Questrom, I worked at a small non-profit in Boston whose mission focused on social entrepreneurship development in the Middle East and North Africa. I personally oversaw outreach and operations for conferences held on the ground in the region, which gave me the ability to travel to Morocco. Currently, I work in operations at the Boston University School of Medicine at the Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy Center, which is cutting edge research center that focuses on the effect of repetitive traumatic brain injury on athletes and veterans.
Why did you choose BU? As a part-time student, I was looking for a program that gave part-time students the same opportunity and experiences as the full-time students. I knew getting your MBA was going to be a lot of work - especially while working a full-time job - so I was also looking for a supportive community both within the student body and the administration. I believe that I found all of that at BU. I don't feel that my education is watered down. It is definitely a lot of work, but there is a strong community to support you as well. Part-time students are all embraced by the community and expected to participate in clubs and social events, which has only enhanced the overall experience.
What are you involved in at BU? I'm the VP of PEMBA Relations for the Graduate Student Council and I'm the PEMBA Rep for the LOT Club. I also try to participate as much as possible in events that other clubs are hosting and other events that happen on campus.
What do you love about Questrom? I love most the people - the students and professors are amazing!
Favorite memory? Any Thursday at Cornwalls and my cohort's Annual Ski Trip, which is a tradition that we will continue long after we have graduated.
BU's Sports and Social Club planned a President's Day Weekend Ski Trip to Attitash Ski Resort in New Hampshire. More than 30 first- and second-year Full-Time MBA, PEMBA, and MS-MS students travelled to New Hampshire for the Weekend.
The group left from Questrom Friday evening and spent Saturday and Sunday on the sunny mountain. It was one of the coldest winter weekends of the year, with temperatures well below zero and windchills in the -30s! That didn't stop us from hitting the mountain.
There was a great mix of expert skiers as well as first timers who had a fun time learning how to ski in Ski School. After a full day on Saturday, we had a delicious group dinner at the Red Fox Grill and Bar right in town. The trip received great reviews and everyone is already excited for next year!
TechConnect is the MS-MBA Association's annual student-run technology business conference. This year, we are partnering with the Entrepreneurship Club with a theme of Platforms and the Sharing Economy. We hosted a forum where technology experts, entrepreneurs, and students can share their opinions and hash out solutions to the question and solution of how Platforms are disrupting the technology world.
We want to host a forum
The MS-MBA Association is a student-run organization at Boston University’s Questrom Graduate School of Business that serves as a conduit for students and alumni of the MS-MBA Program as well as technology enthusiasts. TechConnect was entirely student organized and run, with students reaching out to their networks to get speakers. We were able to have panelists from Priceline, HoughtonMifflinHarcourt, HourlyNerd, Lyft, MediaMath, and Spot. The keynote speech was delivered by the VP for Global Infrastructure at Disney.
The conversations were engaging and there was a definite career focus throughout the day. Many of the panelists said on the spot that they were hiring interns and full time employees!
Yesterday, Cohort Q in collaboration with Women's MBA Association, Net Impact, and Latin American MBA Association, held a panel to discuss diversity in the workplace. Three leaders from diverse backgrounds discussed topics such as:
Diversity vs. Inclusion
Affinity Groups
Unconscious Bias
Hiring for diversity
Mentorship
Pictured Below:
Yvonne Garcia, Senior Vice President and Global Head of Client Solutions and PMO of the Investment Manager Services group for State Street Corporation. Tony Wieczorek - Engineering Manager at Localytics
Frank Lin Masters of Science in Management Studies '16 Background:
My parents emigrated from Taiwan and finally settled in the city of Bangkok, Thailand, where I was born and raised. I grew up with my parents, three siblings and our dog named Melon. Growing up, I studied at a Thai-Chinese International School where I learned to speak English and developed my interests in science and technology. Afterwards, I studied Mechanical Engineering to pursue my interests in automobiles and design.
Why did you chose BU?
Questrom is one of the first schools in the entire nation to base an entire program on experiential learning. The opportunity to solve real business problems for a range of companies, from startups like The Paint Bar to Fortune 500 companies like AT&T, was what really attracted me. The diverse background of students that I am exposed to at BU made it an even easier decision to get my Master's degree here.
What are you involved in at BU?
Thanks to nomination by my classmates, I got involved in the Questrom Graduate Council as the MSMS Representative. The council has opened many doors for me to network with people outside of the MSMS Program, such as MBA students and professors. Also, as a member of the Leadership and Organization Transformation (LOT) Club, I had the exceptional opportunity to attend the HRPI Awards last Fall, where I had the chance to network with the best CHROs in the world today and witnessed Tracy Keough, CHRO of HP Inc, receive an award.
What do you love about Questrom?
Easily the people. The Questrom community is filled with motivated and supportive people that continuously push me to get out of my comfort zone. Throughout the MSMS program, I feel that the faculty genuinely cares about our success. They do not simply act as teachers of Finance or Marketing, but as mentors that guide us to become better business people.
Favorite memory?
Crossing the 10k Tough Mudder finish line with my fellow MSMS friends!
On Friday, March 18, a group of 27 MBA candidates toured innovative workspaces throughout Cambridge, MA. Led by the Leadership and Organizational Transformation Club, the group toured the Cambridge Innovation Center and Google’s Cambridge Campus with the goal of exploring how non-traditional work spaces can influence and encourage a healthy working environment for employees. 
