Alumni-backed scholarships
Great news! Several alumni have offered scholarships through their companies or in other ways. “Giving back” is a major reason why alumni stay in contact with their alma mater. RSM Outlook has an update about how alumni are supporting the future of RSM – and how you can join in:
We’ve recently had several offers of scholarships from alumni. This isn’t yet a flood but it does corroborate what we know: that “giving back” is a...
Are we entering a new age of urban agriculture? Our Executive MBA student Mark Durno has big plans for this! He’s the managing director of UrbanFarmers Benelux, Europe's largest urban farm, which is thriving on top of an empty concrete building in The Hague. Read more about it in this article in The Guardian:
A disused office in The Hague has been revamped as a sprawling rooftop greenhouse, with a fish farm operating on the floor below. Are we entering a new age of urban agriculture?
Hooray! RSM PhD graduate Dr Daniel Fernandes won a prestigious Emerald/EFMD Outstanding Doctoral Research Award for his research about memory cues, and consumers’ memory-based and stimuli-based approach when shopping. Read more here:
Dr Daniel Fernandes has won a 2015 Emerald/EFMD Outstanding Doctoral Research Award for his PhD research The functions and dysfunctions of memory cues...
Last day of school...ever #mywharton 📷: @miwmill http://ift.tt/1SF7aG5
Planning to get out and enjoy the spring weather we're having at Duke? Here's a guide to some of the wildlife you might see around campus...
http://today.duke.edu/2016/04/wildlife
Across campus, birds are chirping, the sun is shining bright and plants are showing green again. Spring has arrived. During this time of seasonal renewal, animals big and small are once again sho …
Jeffrey Immelt, Chairman and CEO of GE, will deliver the keynote at Stern's Graduate Convocation on 5/20! #Stern2016
In his address, Mr. Immelt will reflect on the global economy and the evolving role of organizations in a world that is more connected and that presents unique challenges and opportunities.
The trailer for the new "Ghostbusters" movie, which stars four women, has more than 651,000 "down votes," making it the worst-rated movie trailer in YouTube history. Is that due to sexism? Research shows that loyal customers often get upset when a brand commonly associated with men expands to include products perceived as feminine. http://hbs.me/1W6UkDG
Most eight-year-olds are familiar with cooties: an imaginary infectious disease spread through proximity to children of the opposite sex. We eventually outgrow the silly idea. But when it comes to the world of consumer products, fear of associating with the opposite sex, at least for some, never really goes away.
SURPRISE! HBS Art Society collaborated with the Harvard Peabody and Natural History Museum to display a pop-up exhibit.
Photographs from around the world are scattered throughout the third floors of the Harvard Peabody and Natural History Museums this week as a part of a pop-up exhibit called "Global Exposure." Hosted by the Harvard Business School Art Society, this week's project marks the second year in which the student group collaborated with the Harvard Peabody and Natural History Museums to publicly display the photographs.
Today's el dos de mayo, the official holiday in the Comunidad de Madrid, and there's no better place to be than in La Plaza del Dos de Mayo. Today's holiday commemorates the people's rebellion against Napoleonic forces in 1808, letting us enjoy the beautiful spring weather. -Kate …
We’ve launched a new Coursera specialization! Learn how to develop and implement the right distribution strategy to ensure the success of your company. Reserve your spot here: http://1.ie.edu/1TVk6sl
How is digital reshaping strategies and business models?How can companies preserve sustainable value creation?
Arturo Bris explains competitiveness and presents the digital competitiveness study in collaboration with Accenture AG in Zurich.
If you read our first MBA application tips post, featuring my conversation with fellow admissions directors from each Berkeley-Haas MBA program, you probably noticed some common threads, as well as distinguishing differences. Because there were a few more questions to address, we got back together to continue our conversation.
He and Susan both say that people considering an MBA should consult with the people who will support the process—such as supervisors, family members, and friends. “An MBA is a big thing to take on,” says Rahul. “There is only so much time in the day, and something will end up having to take a back seat from time to time. It’s important to be up front with those you love and those who rely upon you.”
Beyond selecting recommenders and putting together a comprehensive, thoughtful application, Susan also suggests that an application should be a personal representation of the student: “It’s a great time to reflect on your life, the path you’ve been on, and where you want to go,” she concludes.
In the full-time MBA program, we want people who want us, and this authentic interest comes through in the tone and content of the essays and recommendations, as well as through the level of effort demonstrated throughout the application.
My best advice? Try not to focus on what you think the admissions committee wants to hear. There is no “right” answer to the essays or the application.
“Come to an event on campus or attend a class,” Rahul urges. “This lets you experience the program culture first-hand and make sure that the program and the school is a fit for you.” He also suggests reaching out with questions, “We are happy to talk applicants through any issues.”
We all encourage prospective students to take part in admissions events, a great way to get a feel for Berkeley-Haas culture. I always tell people, though, that the best way to experience the full-time Berkeley MBA is to come to campus if at all possible.
Another recurring theme for us is the importance of not rushing a submission. “Do not submit your application in a hurry,” says Susan. “Look it over carefully, proofread it, and make sure it is your best work.”
Above all, the resounding and unifying answer to this final question is to make sure the program and school are the right fit for you. I relate it to making other important selections in life, like key relationships, and suggest that you seek a program as if you are seeking a best friend, a partner, or a family.
After all, the MBA experience—the friends, the memories, the network, the brand—will be a part of your identity for the rest of your life.
Students from the three MBA programs at Berkeley-Haas often remark on the strong sense of community—not only among students, but also among MBA partners, spouses, and families.
Many students start—or end—their program with a partner or a family, and that's why Berkeley-Haas makes every effort to create a stimulating and inviting environment not only for students, but also for their support systems, offering open panels for partners to ask questions, campus events that welcome family members, and weekend trips that invite spouses and partners to join the fun.
We sat down with six Berkeley MBA students and their partners discuss what the business school experience has been like for them. Meet our first three couples:
Matthew and Jaclyn met in the dorms freshman year of college. One golden retriever, one daughter, and some years later, the couple found themselves at Berkeley-Haas when Matthew decided to pursue the EWMBA program, while maintaining his position at Cisco. Jaclyn works full-time at a financial planning firm in San Francisco, so their busy schedules keep them going between home, two cities, and school.
What do you enjoy about being a couple at Berkeley-Haas?
Matthew: I think the first thing is that everyone in the program understands it’s not just you going through the program. Even those who are single know there’s someone else supporting you and so they engage that spouse or partner as part of the family. Everyone makes an effort to meet and know your significant other.
Jaclyn: I’ve met a lot of other students in the program and they’re all friendly and open. I also enjoy the welcome panels for admitted students that help couples get a glimpse into what it will be like when your significant other is in class or doing homework, and how life changes. The panel sets a realistic expectation, but also shows that this is the kind of program and culture where couples are supported and included.
Why did you decide Berkeley-Haas was the right fit—for both of you?
Matthew: A coworker encouraged me to apply and put me in touch with students who were single, just married, and married and about to have kids. Meeting people is what made me apply to Haas—it convinced me that this was the right fit, and I knew it was also going to be the caliber of the program I was looking for.
Jaclyn: I feel Haas was a good fit not just for Matt, but also for our family. It’s a plus that it’s in the Bay Area, so we did not have to relocate, and Matt’s classmates are great people.
What's hard about juggling a relationship and an MBA program?
Matthew: Making the time for your partner. I make time for Jaclyn between my little girls, serving as EWMBA Student Association President, volunteering for a non-profit, and a full-time job. It’s several part-time jobs on top of two full-time jobs, but If I can do it, you can too! The first six months is the hardest because you are adjusting to class, homework, networking events, and social activities, which are an essential part of meeting people and bonding with your classmates.
Jaclyn: In our situation we had been married a couple years and I gave birth to our daughter a month before he started school. So we had a newborn and he started, and there were a lot of changes all at once. And, you just have less time together.
What advice would you give to a couple with one partner considering an MBA program?
Matthew: Make time for each other during the days when there is that time. Make the effort for your partner. It’s a two-way street, and it’s not just about the student.
Jaclyn: Communication builds a strong relationship, and using tools like a shared Google calendar makes that much easier. What might have been discussed in person [before business school] is now a chain of emails, but it keeps the two of you on the same page.
Couple #2: Full-time MBA student Kate Cote and David Cote
Kate Cote of the Full-time Berkeley MBA Program, married her husband David Cote seven years after they met on a blind date. Coming from a career in healthcare consulting, Kate pursued the dual MPH/MBA while David worked full time at a startup called Augmedix. Amid full-time jobs and dual degrees, David and Kate got married between Kate’s first and second year in the program, throwing wedding planning into the mix.
What do you enjoy about being a couple at Berkeley-Haas?
Kate: Everyone genuinely cares about getting to know not only their classmates but also their partners. Partners and families are very much part of the community.
David: It wasn’t just Kate who benefited from the program; the knowledge and network that she built was enjoyable for me, as well. I learned a lot from [her] classmates’ unique experiences.
Why did you decide Berkeley-Haas was the right fit for both of you?
Kate: We both came to Days at Haas and participated in activities and panels that gave us a sense of the school. From the beginning, Haas felt like a place where I could be myself. I fell in love with the people and the culture because it was such a collaborative and supportive environment.
David: There was a common culture in the Haas community that was really inviting and appealing. Haas really tries to include partners, and there was always outreach and invites to join events.
What's hard about juggling a relationship and an MBA program?
Kate: Doing it all. There’s always something going on.
David: The impact on a couple’s relationship is that you’re sort of living in two different worlds, and it can be hard when your schedules aren’t in sync.
What advice would you give to a couple with one partner considering an MBA program?
Kate: Both of you should attend the new admit welcome events if you can. We made friends that weekend that are still great friends of ours today.
David: We relocated from San Francisco to be closer to Berkeley for Kate’s first year. People told us that not having a commute would make it easier to see each other and go to events together. They were right—being close to campus was definitely helpful that first year, and it was worth it even though we ended up moving back to San Francisco for year two.
Couple #3: MBA for Executives student Kriya Chantalat and Nina Washington
Berkeley EMBA student Kriya Chantalat and wife Nina Washington’s story started on the dance floor—and the rest is history. Nina, the director of a preschool, encouraged Kriya, the CFO at a real estate development firm, to pursue her goal of getting an MBA. The two found that Berkeley-Haas was the program with right caliber and culture.
What do/did you enjoy about being a couple at Berkeley-Haas?
Kriya: In addition to campus events, there are always informal get-togethers to spend time with one another, and also with other students. For example, during Fleet Week, one of the classmates had a party on his rooftop to watch the Blue Angels perform. We also gather for casual brunches, and spouses and partners are always welcome.
Nina: The partner panel was very nice to help new students and spouses understand the program. The Facebook group and the class outings to which partners are invited keep us connected and in the loop. I especially enjoyed the Napa Valley immersion week, because the partners of the students all had dinner, a spa day, and brunch together. I really enjoyed meeting other partners.
Why did you decide Berkeley-Haas was the right fit for both of you?
Kriya: I loved what Berkeley-Haas stands for. While evaluating schools, Haas’ four Defining Principles resonated with me. The students that I met during the admissions process also embodied these principles. Now that I’m in the program, I can attest to these character traits shining through in the class.
Nina: . It was Kriya's first choice, and it’s close to home so we were able to stay in the Bay Area.
What's hard about juggling a relationship and an MBA program?
Kriya: The biggest challenge was at the beginning, just getting into the groove of things and making sure there was work-life balance.
What advice would you give to a couple with one partner considering an MBA program?
Nina: Be very supportive of your partner. Encourage them and be a listening ear.
Kriya: It can get stressful at times, so just being a support system for each other is important because each of you will need it at different times.
You might also enjoy Part II, featuring interviews with three more couples.
Wonder how an MBA program might impact your life (and partner or family)? You can compare things like schedules on our Compare Berkeley MBA Programs page.
From Airbnb to the ECB's monetary policy - there were some interesting insights during a trip over the Easter break
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MBA trip offers a chance to examine up-close the strategies and operations in various industries in Mumbai and Pune
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MOSAIC Week, Kellogg’s annual celebration of diversity and inclusion, took place April 18-22 and will conclude with Taste of Kellogg on April 29. The weeklong event offered a wide range of dynamic speakers and cultural events at the Chicago and Evanston campuses, including: a Global Ad Review, Bollywood Bash, Ignite Inclusion Workshop with Google and more. See yourself or a friend in the #KMOSAIC pictures below? Be sure to tag yourself and others!
Photo credit: Justin Runquist and Michelle Kanaar
Stephen Robert Morse, of the current Oxford MBA cohort, writes for the FT about the recent MBA elective in Johannesburg, which focused on the key growth prospects and opportunities for business in Africa.
Just hours after I finished my accounting exam last week, I was in a minibus on my way to Heathrow airport. The destination? Johannesburg, South Africa.
"Your career, nothing is linear about this. Your career is going to be made up of a lot of different things"
Underhill is Global President at Kimberly Clark Corporation …
Worried about having “no life for two years?” Worry not.
Like most people, it was a difficult decision returning to school and selecting the right program. Apart from the financial aspect, horror stories and content easily accessible on the internet don’t always make you feel nice and bubbly inside thinkin …
Build your confidence to become an effective leader on our Full-time MBA wbsmba.uk/1SNpdFI
Ivey's Niraj Dawar warns Intel not to forget that much of their past market dominance was built on extremely successful marketing strategies.
Intel recently announced significant restructuring as the once dominant chip maker looks to shift its business into growth areas like Internet of Things and Data Centre Processing.
Our MBA students are back from the Ivey MBA 2016 Israel iTrek. Here they are meeting with the Mayor of Jerusalem, Nir Barkat.
A Colombian cement company is mixing up how its female leaders do business. Profs. Laura Kray and Dana Carney recently taught Grupo Argos' senior management the finer points of equitable leadership.
Con un discurso científico que va más allá del lío de si es mejor lo masculino o lo femenino, expertas académicas norteamericanas vinieron a...
Congratulations to GoodSIRS on winning the $25,000 MIT Sloan Healthcare Innovations Prize!
GoodSIRS takes $25,000 first prize; second prize to tanning bed with no UV radiation.
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