OwenBloggers | Vanderbilt-Owen Blogs

The beauty of freelance consulting

Thu, 21 Jan 2010 23:37 GMT

A few days ago, somebody asked me about living in the US. We had a five minute conversation, if that long. Yet this morning when I walked into my office which I share with collections guy it smelled of coffee....

Weekday ritual

Thu, 07 Jan 2010 21:00 GMT

Check e-mail #1. Check e-mail #2. Check e-mail #3. Check e-mail #4. Log into LinkedIn and GoldenLine and check for private messages and forum postings in my groups. Go to google reader and skim through news and blog subscriptions. Somewhere...

Stranger then fiction

Fri, 18 Dec 2009 01:08 GMT

Over the last week I’ve been reading the most strange news reports. Well, maybe not strange. On one hand some articles are absolutely fantastic. I mean fake hemoglobin (made of polymers) capable of caring oxygen or delivering drugs. Or the...

Analysis: MBA 2 Years On...

Sun, 18 Oct 2009 16:13 GMT

It is a very interesting thing when you "google" yourself from time to time. You tend to be reminded of past lives that you have led and the things that you thought back then. On this most recent adventure into...

Keynote speakers at this year's Health Care Business Alliance

Sun, 27 Sep 2009 11:32 GMT

Just days before the Health Care Business Alliance conference at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee, I thought it would be interesting to look at this year's incredible line-up of keynote speakers. These gentlemen have reached the highest level of leadership...

One week until HCBA conference in Nashville

Fri, 25 Sep 2009 10:50 GMT

A week from today, close to 400 health care students, professionals, and thought-leaders will converge on Vanderbilt University for the 2nd Annual Health Care Business Alliance conference. Here's a look at this year's panels and panel participants: Debating Obama’s Health...

The Second Annual Health Care Business Alliance (HCBA)

Wed, 23 Sep 2009 07:40 GMT

For the second year in a row, the Owen Graduate School of Management will host one of the nation’s premier health care conferences. Created last year as the brainchild of an Owen Health Care MBA and now organized and run...

Creating Real (Fun) Products in New Product Development

Mon, 14 Sep 2009 08:18 GMT

One of the classes I am taking is New Product Development, which is an overview of the commonly-used Stage Gate Model and how it fits into the strategic vision of a company. I worked with the model this summer, but I wanted to learn more about how it operates in other settings. So far the class has been interesting, but the real highlight has been the final project.

We are being judged on a team project that we will present during the last week of class. We have been charged with developing a new product and taking it from idea generation to market launch. My group challenged ourselves to come up with product that fit several criteria.

1. Can we design and make an actual prototype?

2. Is the product something we would use?

3. Can we gather sufficient qualitative research on the product?

4. Can we develop financials for the product?

5. Will the product we select make the project fun?

After intense deliberation, we settled on something that fit all of the above criteria. Beyond that it is a product that doesn't exist, and research supports the space for it. Furthermore, with the help of some of our engineering friends, we knew we could build it.

In the last 10 years, the proliferation of college drinking games has been easy to witness by simply patrolling the rows of students tailgating before football games. Beer pong, flip cup and cornhole have become as much of a part of popular culture in the college crowd as eating pizza or sleeping 12 hours a day. There are hundreds of websites that sell these games, but there is plenty of room for innovation. One of my team members is a professional tailgater and he and his buddies used to build a drinking game modeled after the game Plinko on "The Price Is Right". You basically drop a CD down a wooden plank with nails in it, and whichever bucket it lands in is the activity you are required to take part in - bong a beer, take a shot, sing a song, among others. So we have turned this game, aptly named "Drinko," into our project - the Drinko Tailgating Table.

I can't give too many details in fear that someone will steal our idea, but the Drinko Tailgating Table allows you to play Drinko and, when flipped over, also serves as a beer pong table and a space to play flip cup. It folds up neatly into 2 boards and therefore fits in most trunks. It can be painted to reflect your team's colors and also include your logo of choice (submitted by you). We are in the process of developing the many accessories that you can buy to support the Drinko Tailgating Table, from "activity cards" to carrying cases and more.

While we have been busy doing the business research for the project, we have also started to build the prototype. The experts at Lowe's helped us with our design and we are on track to produce one of the most life-changing products known to college (and graduate) students and anyone who loves to play games and drink beer. Once it's built, we will be gathering qualitative research on the product by allowing real tailgaters to experiment with the game before the Vanderbilt/Mississippi State football game this weekend.

The Drinko Tailgating Table: coming to a tailgate near you!

Learning from the pros

Wed, 09 Sep 2009 14:21 GMT

In preparation for my Health Care IT class tomorrow morning, I'm going over a few recent reports from KLAS Research, a premier health care market research firm that sells its reports for around $15,000 a pop (free of charge here...

A 2009 Grad’s Final Analysis On The Owen CMC

Tue, 01 Sep 2009 13:20 GMT

Someone posed an interesting question to me the other day. They asked me what my overall thoughts on my Owen were and had I gotten what I wanted out of it? I responded that I couldn’t really tell what my final level of satisfaction was until I measured the most important aspect of b-school: that all-important first job after school.

Now that I finally have secured a job {insert cheers of happiness here}, and though I know I can only speak for myself, I wanted to try to answer that question in very specific terms relating to arguably the most important area of customer satisfaction – the strength of the Career Management Center.

To start with, let me tell you that the job is exactly what I wanted, in the industry I wanted, in one of the locations I wanted. It was sourced on my own, outside of any CMC resources, even though I did participate in the CMC’s on-campus opportunities as well as engaged in regular meetings with John, my CMC advisor. I fond the listing on a job board, conducted my research, submitted my resume via email to the hiring manager and crossed my fingers.

Though you could say that John and the CMC had absolutely nothing to do with the specific opportunity I ultimately accepted, it would be foolish to think they didn’t play an important role in how I got there.

For instance, despite the fact that I was going into an industry not typically known for hiring MBAs; when I told him what I wanted, John opened up his own personal Rolodex to me and suggested contacts that could help navigate me towards the right opportunities. Likewise Joyce Rothenberg, the director of the CMC, hooked me up with one of her contacts that became a great mentor and facilitated a for-credit project that allowed me to fill in the gaps in experience I would need for the opportunities for which I would want to apply. Lastly, believe it or not, the incessant mock interviews, resume critiques and peer referrals actually helped me to hone my interview strategies.

Were there times I was frustrated and highly skeptical of the CMC? Absolutely. My on-campus interviews were not well suited for what I wanted to do and I frankly struggled to find recruiter contacts through the CMC that had the opportunities I wanted.

The thing is that the CMC was always there to help connect me with resources or contacts that will at least helped me on my way. Like many, if not all, other aspects of Owen life – the CMC gave me the tools but what I did with them was up to me.

In the end, the road for me was long. It was difficult and yes, it took a lot of my own initiative. The fact is that I stuck with it, was willing to listen to feedback and make corrections when needed. That is what made the difference and why I think John, Joyce and the entire CMC team, though not perfect, deserve my heartfelt appreciation.

Thanks guys, seriously!

Nashville in Warsaw

Tue, 25 Aug 2009 22:22 GMT

This morning I woke up and for a moment I wondered where I was. The room looked like my flat in Warsaw, but the humidity and heat made me wonder if I was still asleep somewhere in Nashville. The morning...

The HCIT Belt?

Mon, 24 Aug 2009 14:03 GMT

Recently, scholars such as Richard Florida have studied “the rise of the creative class" (Dr. Florida is just the most famous of these academics). Dr. Florida and others contend that geographic regions with large clusters of individuals working in "creative"...

One Year Down, One To Go

Mon, 17 Aug 2009 08:33 GMT

Today is my last first day of school. Assuming I don't venture back for more graduate school later in life, this is it. So far, being a second year really is the life. I know what I'm doing, I know what to expect, and I know my peers. On top of that, I had the pleasure of working a summer internship at a company that gives offers (or doesn't) on the last day on the job, so with a job offer in hand, I'm going to kick back and enjoy it while I can.

I am only taking three classes during Mod I. That's in part due to laziness and wanting to slowly ramp-up into the hectic lifestyle, but also because I've signed up for a class that is renowned for being torturous - Corporate Valuation. My fellow marketers and I take this together in our second year, where the financial wizards are noticeably absent. It's kind of like the short bus version of the class. We're smart people, but financial analysis isn't our strong skill set, nor do we enjoy it. However, it's one of those classes that nearly all Owen alumni in marketing encouraged us to take. So here we are on day one of class talking about free cash flows, discount rates and all kinds of finance jargon that we learned during Mod I last year and forgot. I'm also taking New Products, which so far promises to be interesting and relevant. It's taught by the new marketing prof, who happens to be incredibly energetic, loud and entertaining, all of which will keep my attention. Additionally I'm enrolled in Managing & Improving Processes, which is supposed to be one of the classes to take while you're at Owen. Professor Hyer also apparently has some fascination with chickens? An alumnus told me this, and either he's right or he's just trying to embarrass me. I will know more about that tomorrow.

Overall the buzz at Owen today was infectious. The moment was a little bittersweet and emotionally confusing. "Only one more year left" can be said with a smile and with a frown, depending on my mood. Either way, the countdown has begun: only 270 days left until graduation ...

My Internship

Mon, 10 Aug 2009 06:53 GMT

上周结束了为期10周的internship。地点在亚特兰大，工作的地方是亚特兰大...

New healthcare roundtable show

Fri, 07 Aug 2009 07:52 GMT

For those that might not have seen it yet, CNBC has a new show called “Meeting of the Minds: The Future of Health Care.” Panelists include executives from the insurance industry, medical doctors from the Cleveland Clinic and the AMA,...

Dear First Years

Thu, 06 Aug 2009 13:21 GMT

Welcome to Owen!

Nearly a year ago, I was in your shoes. As great as it was, I wouldn't trade with you for the world. Man, you have a tough year ahead of you. You're probably excited but also wondering what this next year has in store. No one can articulate that to you, so when you ask, don't expect an answer to satisfy your curiosity. You can't understand it until you experience it. I wish I could tell you what it would be like. I wish I could prepare you for it. You're not in the real world anymore. Welcome to b-school, my friends.

Expect more stress and more multi-tasking than you've ever experienced, and expect to (more than once) stop and wonder what the hell you're doing and why you left your safe, comfortable life and your consistent paycheck.

Expect to have a day where you think you're the most intelligent person around, followed by a day where you feel incredibly unqualified and suddenly wonder how they let you in here in the first place.

Expect to evaluate your entire life, your choices, your past, your future, and expect to ask yourself questions that don't have answers.

Expect to be challenged by your peers, by your professors, and by recruiters.

Expect to feel old when you have to go to the bookstore, to the student center, or to anywhere on campus where there are college freshman. They were all born in 1991 while you were busy having teen-angst and headbanging to Nirvana in your flannel shirt.

Expect to be disappointed.

Expect to be humbled.

Expect to party as much if not more than you did in college, despite the fact that you're running on minimal sleep and have no business doing a keg stand at 27 years old. Expect to make questionable decisions, and yes, expect to have the worst hangover of your life.

Expect to experience junior-high level drama amongst your class. Yeah sure, we're all adults, but there is no escaping the soap opera, no matter what program you're attending.

Expect to make some of the best friends you've had, but also expect to compete with those people for jobs.

Expect to question what you think are your crystal-clear goals, and expect to question the morality of today's business world and today's business people.

Expect to have a year like no other. And when it's all said and done, expect to enjoy it.

I would be lying to you if I didn't warn you that it's hell. But I'd also be lying to you if I didn't tell you it was one of the most exciting times of my life. Aside from all the work, business school is fun. Think about all the new people you're about to meet. Think about how much you will learn, and think about your future and how exciting the opportunity is. Think about why you're here, and think about what you expect to accomplish. Think about how you'll feel as a second year like me, coming back from a summer internship, and think about how you'll define success.

So in all your excitement next week, think about your expectations. Think about what Owen can do for you. And most of all, enjoy it.

Jim's a democrat ... and I'm ... not ...

Thu, 30 Jul 2009 15:35 GMT

I just stumbled on this gem of a video from The Owen School's own R. Lawrence van Horn. Rather than go on about it, I'll just say that like most things in life, Larry's class is better experienced than described.

Health Care Resources Online

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 16:37 GMT

One of the aims of this blog is to connect readers to the multitude of health care industry resources online. Below you'll find a sampling to some of the resources found online. I’ll eventually have all of these as links...

Work Time is Flying

Mon, 22 Jun 2009 11:51 GMT

I'm four weeks into the internship and I can't believe how fast everything is going. It feels like just yesterday I was taking finals and preparing to move. But here I am, with only seven weeks left of work. In the last few weeks, I have picked up a lot of steam and I actually feel somewhat confident, although that still alternates with moments of panic and frustration. But that's to be expected. After all, this is a learning experience that hopefully turns into a full-time opportunity. And already, I've learned more than I imagined.

While I'm here, I am working on a project that could actually be launched into the market. I'm working with everyone, from packaging to finance, and I have the ability to determine where the project goes. It's fascinating, but stressful too. I have really been given the reins, and I am expected to take initiative to get things done. The best part about it is that it's actually fun. This is a good sign for my future.

At the same time, we just received our course schedules for the fall, which was a shock to the system. The school-work-school whiplash is odd, and while I'm enjoying work, I am also looking forward to getting back to Owen. There is still more I need to learn in the classroom and from my peers. I'm also looking forward to enjoying every last minute of being in graduate school. It's something I don't think anyone can truly appreciate, but the thought of actually having to wake up to go to work every Friday is slightly depressing.

The next month or so holds some interesting things for me - meetings, decisions, ideas, presentations, not to mention a day trip to Wal-Mart HQ in Bentonville, Arkansas. August will be here in no time, and I'll be leaving with a great experience, and hopefully a job offer.

The Return of Little Blue Pill

Tue, 16 Jun 2009 08:51 GMT

After a brief hiatus, I’m pleased to announce the return of the Little Blue Pill. As a current Health Care MBA at Owen, I’m looking forward to blogging on the exciting things happening in the world of health care and...

One Day Down, 49 To Go

Mon, 01 Jun 2009 12:32 GMT

As I was walking to work this morning, I felt like I was 22 years old going to my first real job. I was nervous and excited, but mostly nervous. I had no idea what to expect. Did I learn anything this year? Am I prepared to enter the workforce as an MBA-in-training? Will I be able to keep up with the lingo? How will I compare to the other interns? For a moment I thought that maybe I somehow tricked them into hiring me, and that perhaps next week they were going to wake up and kick me out. I had so much racing through my head that I wasn't paying attention and got into the elevator banks to floors 1-8, although I was heading to floor 9. Mistake number one: check.

Once I finally got on the correct elevator, the doors opened to a lobby milling with HR employees and other interns. I was greeted immediately, given an employee badge and began the process of getting to know everyone. After a day full of meetings, training, small talk and an overwhelming sense of being ill-prepared, I survived.

When I say ill-prepared, I don't mean that Owen didn't prepare me. I don't know how anyone could be prepared for a day like today. It's exhausting, but in a good way. And it's only a sense of being ill-prepared, a fear of the unknown mixed with an excitement about the future. Thousands of "what-ifs" played in my mind all day. Then I forgot my badge and got stuck in some random hallway. Mistake number two: check.

All in all, I was impressed with the way I was greeted and welcomed. I was impressed with the incredible organization of the program, and I was impressed with the general atmosphere of the office. It was all exactly what I was hoping for.

However, the real work has yet to begin, and until I really get my feet wet, I'll still be wondering if I have what it takes. Until then, let's hope that mistake number is only a trivial one and I can get ahead of the learning curve. Stay tuned.

On The Subject Of Ethics; The 2009 MBA Oath

Sat, 30 May 2009 04:11 GMT

On the heels of one of the most intense academic years for MBAs, our compatriots at HBS have presented an interesting opportunity; sign an oath for be ethical...for life.

The MBA Oath, an eight point, 271 word manifesto on modern business leadership, calls upon those of us with our MBAs leading up to and including the class of 2009 to formally sign on to Freeman's theory of stakeholder-oriented management. So far, over 240 MBAs from HBS, Columbia, Wharton and others have signed the oath online at http://mbaoath.org whose preamble reads:

As a manager, my purpose is to serve the greater good by bringing people and resources together to create value that no single individual can create alone. Therefore I will seek a course that enhances the value my enterprise can create for society over the long term. I recognize my decisions can have far-reaching consequences that affect the well-being of individuals inside and outside my enterprise, today and in the future. As I reconcile the interests of different constituencies, I will face choices that are not easy for me and others.

What this nets out to in the long run is currently being debated but for now it's a positive, if not symbolic step in the right direction. To learn more about the oath or to add your name to it - visit http://mbaoath.org.

Technorati Tags: ethics, HBS, MBA, mba oath, Vanderbilt

A proud aunt

Wed, 27 May 2009 17:42 GMT

Today, I became an aunt to my first niece, Malwina. She was born this morning at 2:37 am, and was 48 cm long and weights 2403 grams (that’s 18.9 in and 5 lb. 5.oz for the metrically challenged). A perfect...

Internship Time

Fri, 22 May 2009 02:34 GMT

It's been six years since I've had a summer break. Three weeks ago I left Nashville after finishing up my first year and have been relaxing, vacationing, and remembering what it's like to feel bored and completely useless. It's been fun, but I am counting down the days until June 1 when my internship begins.

Like many of my classmates, I will be relocating for two months to a new city in the hopes that nine short weeks of work will not only allow me to apply everything I have learned thus far but also provide me with a launching pad into a full-time career after graduation. I will be in Pittsburgh, also known as the city of bridges, home to the Super Bowl champs, as well as place where they use the word "yinz" instead of y'all. I'm excited about trying out a new city, a new company and a new job.

Owen's class of 2010 is spread all over the world this summer. Within my closest group of friends, people are heading to San Francisco, Seattle, New York, and New Jersey, and that's just the tip of the iceberg. Owen has much more than a regional or southern presence. Our class is working for a range of successful and well-respected companies (Deloitte, Apple, P&G, Coca-Cola, Exxon Mobil, L'Oreal, Goldman, Mattel, J&J, just to name a few) as well as for start-ups and small businesses. We're all hoping to come back in the fall with a better understanding of our skills, talent and future career.

Once I start, I am hoping that my employer will allow me to share with you the details of my internship. It's going to be an exciting summer!

Almost an Alum...here's my transition memo

Thu, 07 May 2009 21:11 GMT

I really don't want to preach...And it's hard to offer advice to a bunch of MBA jocks...but here are my 2 cents...

1. The correct answer is "IT DEPENDS". Yes folks everything can be viewed from a million different perspectives. At the end of the day it's your call: crib/ enjoy the numerous twists and turns that School and life throw your way incessantly.

2. Dont ever slacken off. Meet deadlines on time, whether it's the first mod of year 1 / last mod of year 2. They may be your closest pals, but if you go into slowmo, your team mates are not going to appreciate it.

3. Learn to learn new things. Push yourself out of your comfort zone continuously or BSchool will make you do that. Again, you can choose to rant/ rave about it.

4. We have the Mod system at Owen. It can kill your time, your social life. Well fine, prioritise and multi task. Don't fret if you can't get into the groove, you will learn to live by your Outlook Calendar sooner/later

5. It's all about the people. Take them at face value. A friend said to me today, when I was whining about ahem personal stuff : You are an MBA girl. Manage "the person in question". Build your support systems both within and outside School. Value your family and friends: they will help remind you that there's much more to life than grades and the job search.

6. Take risks. Think of these two years as your license to charter new territories. I guarantee experiental learning can be a lot of fun! Also it will help you determine how risk averse you want to be: both at work and play.

7. If you fall, dust it off, don't let up. Job search, homework, the stress: it will terrorize you but it will pass. Please rant! It always helps to blow off some steam.

8. Most importantly, make time for yourself. Don't give up everything you enjoy doing. Easier said than done I know but overstretch a bit...won't kill you...that too until you find a method to cope with all the madness

A side note for the ladies: You are special, not just because you constitue 25% of the student body. We add most of the oomph to the place. So dress for success. Recruiters expect it! But be realistic...doll up for special occassions...it might be a good idea to master using a flat iron sometime before the eve of your graduation!

For the international student: Jump into the deep end...don't try to wade in. It will only take longer for you to adjust. Tell yourself you are embarking on an adventure...coz it will certainly feel like one. Use your previous experiences to strike a work-life balance. You may not be able to conjure up a lot of ready made solutions, that's why you need to think out of the box !

Today I am an MBA candidate. Tomorrow I will be officially declared an alum. I am grateful for this experience. I've changed, become a different person from where I started two years ago. And I know now that it's all about the journey...so enjoy the ride!

Transition Memo

Wed, 06 May 2009 23:50 GMT

To the classes of 2010 and 2011:

Today we pass the torch to the next generation of 2nd Years and venture back out into the wilds of the “Real World.” Before we do though, we thought we would pass on what advice we can. Whether or not that advice is relevant, however is up to you.

There may be some nuggets of wisdom given that we stand where you are today and where you will be perhaps one or two years down the road. The point is that we are taking away a lot from this experience and we want you to as well.

To the class of 2010:

Your second year is going to go faster than you can possibly imagine. Enjoy the summer, have some fun and get ready to take some risks when you arrive back here in August.

Use what flexibility the 2nd year schedule offers you. For instance, explore the talents you no doubt will discover in your internships through some independent studies and take a class or two outside your area of concentration.
Corporate Val will not kill you. In fact, I highly encourage you to take it with Craig Lewis and participate in class, even though you may be unsure of the exact answers. It really is as much art as it is science and the more you bring non-finance reasoning into the class, the more you will get out of it.
Sleep is not the enemy. Though you might be tempted to come back and show the 1st years “how it’s done,” with all nighters and frequent 3 AM stands at Loonie’s, you’d be surprised how much you can get done with a regular to 7 hours of sleep. Believe me, you’ll see it plainly when it comes to those full-time interviews; they call it “first-mover advantage” for a reason.

To the class of 2011:

Get ready for the ride of your life. Your time here at Owen will provide you with incredible experiences, both constructive and joyous and believe me when I tell you I wouldn’t trade a moment.

If you want to make the most out the experience, plan on learning how to ask for things. Owen is an incredible wealth of resources that are there, if you only know how to ask.
Start by networking like crazy. Not only within the Owen alumni community and with your fellow classmates but take some time to find external networking as well. Find local interest groups or small businesses that might need some independent project work. The point is that the best opportunities may be ones that will pop up, not on OCNS, but in random social conversations with people already in the industry.
Next, find ways of getting involved here at Owen. One of the great things about this place is the intimacy and shared responsibility the students, faculty and staff feel for its future. Take some time this summer or across the first few months to decide what you want to be known for. If you see a class, a club or a functional area that you think should exist, take the initiative and be the one that starts it.
Identify the stakeholders, make a pitch and find people around you who share the same goals. The effort always pays off - trust me.

Lastly, to the OwenBloggers – It’s no surprise that I believe vehemently in the power of social media and interactive marketing. In fact, OwenBloggers has been an integral experience for me at Owen, not only in identifying where I wanted to steer my career, but also as a leadership experience.

OwenBloggers carries with it a unique brand of authority, candor and prestige that you may not completely grasp, yet. It almost takes the experience of traveling to other b-schools and talking about OwenBloggers to see how bold and incredible this initiative is. Nowhere else does a school take such a proactive approach to transparency and whose support and trust in the voice of the students so apparent.

My point is that you have a legacy to uphold. It’s as much about telling your story as it is participating the dialogue about the future of the school. Take advantage of the medium to show off your intellectual capital and don’t underestimate the power of your own words when it comes to impressing potential recruiters. It doesn’t have to be the most groundbreaking prose or thinking but, the very act of exploring your concentration through your blog may very well be the most impressive documentation of your achievements at Owen.

As the class of 2009 exits stage left, we wish all of students that come after us good luck and an incredible experience. Ask questions, take risks and above all enjoy the ride.

Thanks!

Best,
 Jared

The perfect spaghetti sauce(s)

Sun, 03 May 2009 15:10 GMT

A few years ago Malcolm Gladwell, famed author of Blink, The Tipping Point and the recently released Outliers, gave a talk at the TED conference about a revolution in product development that started with Pepsi Cola but first took hold...

21 Months - What An Education...

Thu, 23 Apr 2009 23:40 GMT

I’ve been up for about an hour and half now and it’s the day after my last business school presentation, ever. With my team’s presentation to Scott Hildebrand, CEO of BoldMouth, Inc., I wrapped up two years of intense coursework leading up to what I think most people affectionately deem as an MBA.

The past year has been a roller coaster-ride of emotions with the job market the way it is. Somehow though, my friends and classmates found ways of making it through. Now, most of us find ourselves back at the precipice of the “real world” wondering just how we managed to get through it all in just 21 months?

Probably the most surprising thing I’ve found at business school is the ability to exist happily in ambiguity whereas before I would try to avoid it at all costs. In fact, I feel that part of my evolution has been the realization that being smart and being educated are two totally different things. I’ve found that the important distinction is that the latter implies that you acknowledge how much you really don’t know but have the tools and the willpower to seek out the answers.

This project I wrapped up is a great example. Initially, we set out to better understand how to measure social media and create a branded approach for Scott to present to his clients. Along the way, my team had to evolve, make tradeoffs and come to consensus in ways we never thought we would have to. For instance, we realized that there is no such thing as a completely straight line to ROI when you’re dealing with human behavior.

Coming to grips with the fact that you have to construct models out of sometimes-imperfect information has been an exercise in both patience and teamwork. The reality, though is that that’s how great progress is made – by understanding the world as it is and deciding to make the best of the tools you have access to.

In the end, these past 21 months have been so much more than the sum of the classes I’ve taken or the projects I’ve completed. It’s been about the people I’ve met along the way and the relationships I’ve formed and am going to take with me as I move on to the next stage of my career.

Yesterday afternoon as I looked out over the crowd gathered in the Owen courtyard as we do every Thursday for kegs, I just had to pause a moment and think to myself; “man, what and education!”

PS - Props to the best LIA team/Social Media Rock-stars EVER!

Lawrence, Marie & Ellery, Once again - Incredible Job!

Technorati Tags: BoldMouth, Owen, social media, Vanderbilt

The Last Day of Class

Thu, 23 Apr 2009 06:53 GMT

Only in graduate school is this completely normal.

And I'm almost done!

Thu, 23 Apr 2009 06:36 GMT

Sitting in the lobby, jiving to the tunes on my iPod, I am waiting for the clock to strike two. I am all set to deliver my final presentation for my last class at Owen. I see classmates milling around with huge smiles plastered on their faces. Yeah It 's a great feeling to actually reach the light at the end of the tunnel. A couple of the first years are swaggering through the halls, and I totally identify with them. Surviving your rookie year at BSchool is no small feat. It's when you start thinking you've finally figured out how to live through the madness. Huh what they do not know is that the second year, while slightly more manageable, will bring its own suprises. I wish them luck! As I watch the professors walking out of the classrooms, I am reminded of all the sweat, tears and laughter that went into grappling with classes. I am also reminded of all the tasks I disliked, of all the challenging people and situations, I've had to work around.

As usual, the hustle and bustle of Owen is palpable in the air. And suddenly I'm envious of everyone who will get to stay. The best and worst part about this School is the perfect size of the student body. Best because one is actually able to make the time to get to know a lot of people on a one to one level. Heartbreaking because now I'm spoilt, used to walking around campus nodding at familiar faces, exchanging small talk about everything and nothing in particular.

This is probably my last blog as a full time student. I was hoping to share some insightful lessons learnt. I'm sorry, all I can do today is gawk and gape around the building, reminscing about every experience I've passed through over the last two years. I am for once at a loss for words, as I try to sort out the melange of thoughts and emotions rushing through my head and heart. I will say this to everyone out there: Please come to BSchool. Plunge into this zany, one-of -its-kind whirlwind. You may not ever be able to get a total grip on everything that will come your way. You will probably be thrown many times more than you will ride. But it will be totally worth it!

The Capitalist Ball

Mon, 20 Apr 2009 07:51 GMT

On Friday, Owen held its annual Capitalist Ball, known to many as Owen Prom. The black-tie event is always well-attended and gives the students a chance to let loose, celebrate the year, and take silly prom pictures. After spending the year with everyone, it's nice to see us all cleaned up. The guys looked sophisticated in their tuxedos (although a few, always the attention-seekers, wore their own version of black-tie), while the ladies looked elegant in their cocktail dresses. The event took place at the Sommet Center in their club level space and featured a great band and plenty of bartenders. The Cap Ball is one of the highlights of the year, and as the culminating event for this year's social schedule, it didn't disappoint.

Bittersweet

Fri, 17 Apr 2009 03:51 GMT

Yesterday was my last exam at Owen. Really! I never thought I would see the day, when I would be writing an exam for what should hopefully be the last time in my student life. Ofcourse, in typical Owen end-of the-mod style, I still have to turn in final papers and presentations. I'm sure April will zip right past and soon enough it will be time for Commencement.

Yes I'm excited! But suddenly the plunge back into the real world seems to be paleing against the bittersweet emotions that I experience everytime I traipse thru' the halls at School/ chit chat with classmates. Like the other day at the Rec when I forget to carry my ID and realized that within about a month, I will be unable to get inside Owen's locked doors after 5. Ok I probably wouldn't need to go but still who knows I might want to. It's almost symbolic in my mind : you are leaving your haven...you are kinda on your own after that. And now I understand why everyone always said that for two years, you are in a safe place, you can make mistakes, just focus on growing with each faux pas. This certainly highlights my most significant BSchool learning experience: take risks, learn to fail again and again, cut your losses, then be good to go ASAP. And not just on the professional front. Apply this to all your adventures in life. I hope you're listening 1st years!

In fact, I also understand now, that being at BSchool is like adopting a new lifestyle. That's what makes getting in and then leaving really tough. The schmoozing, the palpable energy of being a full time student, the challenges of juggling your GPA with your job search and all the crazy times with friends. I will miss everything...even the oak tree.

Global Food Festival

Tue, 14 Apr 2009 07:55 GMT

好长时间没有更新我的blog。第四个Mod以来虽然不再疲于面试，但一直很忙碌。而...

Tin Pan South

Wed, 08 Apr 2009 08:47 GMT

This is my first blog for Owen Bloggers. (Hi, I'm Erin.) I had aspirations to write a well thought out piece, but instead, you get me fresh off an incredible Nashville night this past Friday. I was so inspired, I couldn't NOT write about it...

Tonight there was a reception at Owen as a part of Welcome Weekend. I spent a couple hours chatting up admitted students, explaining to them why I love Owen and why a move to Nashville is the right choice. I get very passionate and animated when someone asks what I love about Nashville; I never know where to start. After tonight, however, if someone asks me what I love about Nashville, I would know where to start. I would tell them about Tin Pan South.

Every spring a music festival is held in Nashville called Tin Pan South. It is unlike any other, in that it features just the songwriters. Think of it like a VH1 Storytellers, where songwriters sit on the stage with just a mic and an acoustic guitar and tell the stories behind their hits. This festival goes on for 5 days in 9 different venues around the city.

After the reception at Owen, I headed over to the Rutledge, a smaller venue downtown that holds about 250 people, to catch one of the Tin Pan South shows. It was a collection of local Nashville songwriters playing in the round, which means they all stay on the stage the whole time and take turns singing their songs. I like shows in the round because I have a tendency to get bored easily, and it is hard to get bored when someone different sings every song.

As is my usual, I was running really late, and got to the venue about 20 minutes after the show started. It was packed, but I was able to secure a spot to lean against the back wall. Luckily, the Rutledge is such a small room, it still feels like you are a part of the action even from the back row. There were 4 songwriters playing tonight: Dave Barnes, Derek Webb, Thad Cockrell, and Alli Rogers. None of them have record deals; none of them are particularly famous. They are, however, incredibly talented local Nashville gems. There is so much talent in this place.

After the first round of songs was over, I noticed there was an extra stool on the stage off to the right. The absolute best thing about seeing live music in Nashville is that you never know who is going to show up. (i.e. going to see Keith Urban and getting a surprise appearance from Martina McBride during the encore to do an unplanned duet, just because they thought it would be fun)

That's when it happened.

On to the stage walked Jonny Lang. Jonny Lang, blues prodigy, recording artist, Grammy-winner, Jonny Lang. He just happens to be in Nashville this week working on his next record, and he just happens to be friends with a songwriter who just happened to invite him to be the surprise unannounced guest at the Rutledge tonight.

It. was. amazing. For the next 2 hours, it was incredible music from 4 Nashville locals, and Jonny Lang, over and over and over again in the round.

(From L-R that's: Alli Rogers, Thad Cockrell, Derek Webb, Dave Barnes, and JONNY LANG)

Tomorrow night, I am planning on catching another of the Tin Pan South shows and I cannot wait. Guess that means I am putting off my Business in the World Economy quiz one more night...

Class of 2011 Members Visit Owen

Wed, 08 Apr 2009 02:49 GMT

owenbloggers posted a photo:

MBA Class of 2011 members Steve, Lexi and Cam at WW.

No, I am not missing in action...it was Follies.

Sun, 05 Apr 2009 09:38 GMT

Life has an interesting irony to it, doesn't it? I think I've spent more time at Owen now that I am working full-time than when I was taking classes.

Perhaps I should back up a bit. Right after my last post, my life was sent into a bit of a welcome tailspin when an Owen Alum approached me about a job opportunity. The position would be a 6-month contract working for a fantastic company doing exactly what I came to business school to do - interactive marketing.

With my outstanding credit hours fulfilled through Leadership In Action, I would spend one day a week here working on my project with my team members and the rest I would be working full time helping to bring interactive strategies to life for brand managers. It's been an incredible experience and I wouldn't trade it for the world.

The downside to this strategy is that I have to find ways of keeping up with current events at school, not to mention social life. Oddly enough, I have been kept VERY engaged by a little thing called Owen Follies.

An annual tradition at business schools across the country, Follies is a chance for the classes to get together and make fun of ourselves. Usually this entails skits, videos and just enough jokes to allow us to laugh off the dismal job market:

This year, eight MBAs across both classes were tasked with filling up two and a half hours of comic interlude for our fellow business school classmates. To put it in other terms; we produced the equivalent of a full length feature film, in High Definition, no less including everything from writing to filming and editing.

All I have to say is that it was an amazing experience. Thanks to everyone who came out and we look forward to many more laughs beforw we walk across that dais!

Coming to Welcome Weekend?

Mon, 30 Mar 2009 05:49 GMT

I'm excited to come back to Nashville for this upcoming weekend's Welcome Weekend. The weekend, which "seals the deal" for many an aspiring-MBA, it's the best chance to picture yourself at Owen and in Nashville for two of the greatest...

Owen Vocabulary

Fri, 27 Mar 2009 09:39 GMT

At the last Owen Blogger meeting, we mentioned the “inside terminology” that seem to float around the halls here. Not wanting to leave out our reading public, here is a vocabulary list of some of my favorites… Current and former Owen students are encouraged to add to the list!

Thursday – Like Friday for everybody else, but sooner. A good day for Owen students.

SATCO – Stands for San Antonio Taco Company. Across the street, cheap and tasty. Not at all healthy

Deliverables – MBA speak for crap you need to get done.

MIP – A class called managing and improving processes. Very good class.

Core – Stuff you have to take, like it or not.

MOD – A semester of material crammed into 7 weeks. Very analogous to 10 pounds of “stuff” in a 5 pound bag.

Kegs – Thursday night social.

GSD – Get “Stuff” Done

OB – Owen Bloggers

IB –Investment Bankers. What some students had planned to become before the snag our banks recently ran into.

Regression – Line from statistics that we like to throw around for predicting events to come… it makes us look like we know what we are doing.

SP – “Superior Pass” - Equivalent to an A, or 4.0. Everybody wants one, only a few get one.

HP – “High Pass” - Equivalent to a B+ or 3.5. Until you get used to the grading system, it feels like a B-. More common than SPs

P – “Pass” – Equivalent to a B or 2.5. This feels like a brick upside the head… especially if you are used to being an “A” student or over achiever (most Owen students are over achievers).

LP – “Low Pass” – Equivalent to a B- or C or 2.0 . A hard pill to swallow, but thankfully not a common occurrence

F- “Fail” – At this point the grade equivalent GPA value shouldn’t concern you… you are not long for the halls of Owen.

Normal Distribution - What the grading system conforms to. A sound theory if everyone around here were normal.

8:10 left, middle, right – The three study rooms hidden INSIDE the 8:10 café.

Oceans – actually it is OCNS which is an online job/interview organizational tool that every students entering school should pucker up and marry. It might be your new best friend.

CapEx – Short for Capitol Expenditures – The finance guys throw this around like it is part of normal conversation. Finance guys don’t know how to have normal conversations.

Eric Petersen – I could tell you, but then I’d have to kill you. It will be the source of many fond memories.

1^st/2^nd year – Our progress in school, kind of like Harry Potter, only no quiditch.

OSGA – Owen Student Government Association. Rules with an iron fist.

OGSM – Not to be confused with OSGA, you’ll need to enter this before your login multiple times per week if you ever intend to use an Owen printer.

Lee – The name of the friendly fella that cleans up after our messy MBA butts.

CapBall or Capitalist Ball – aka The Adult Prom- I have yet to experience it, but I guarantee I’ll be dressed to the nines.

Froebism – An especially harsh/stark/nearly offensive comment … usually about something economic. Usually right on the money.

Executive Board – the name we give any cluster of people leading any other cluster of people. We like titles.

(Son of a) B**** Seat – Might be the farthest from the door or in the middle of a full row. One way or another, it is the seat that fate deals you when you are 20 minutes late for class… or if you really need to use the restroom. Try to get to/from your seat and you will be a disruption.

Champagne Day – If you take core Operations with Mumin… shut off your phone. There is always someone with your number on speed dial. When your phone goes ring… next class is Champagne Day on you.

LTO – Leading Teams and Organizations – We read case studies and discuss how someone else screwed up. This is often followed by our approach… aka: how we could have screwed things up better.

LCOM - Leadership Communication – we make speeches, give presentations, and even do a little standup comedy. I had to pay people to laugh.

Dief – a guy who is extremely skilled at what he does, but screws up the rest of the process. Also used as a verb when you are screwing up the group. “He totally Diefed it up.” (courtesy of Bridget Graf)

WMA Fashion Show - The Fashionable Ellery & Rachel

Wed, 25 Mar 2009 17:09 GMT

owenbloggers posted a photo:

Is Dunder Mifflin Recruiting at Owen?

Wed, 25 Mar 2009 11:55 GMT

Spring Is In...

Tue, 24 Mar 2009 20:10 GMT

...or so I thought!

Weather in Nashville is capricious with a capital C. We've had a really strecthed out winter. Alright, I like the winter a lot more than the summer and yes I know we are not on the East coast. But I have been ready to move into spring for a while. Ofcourse it's been pouring all day today. That's the other idiosyncratic feature here in town: it rains when you least expect it. Yeah, just like living in London huh

Nash is actually quite pretty right now. Glorious pinks, purples and pure whites. I am always intrigued to find trees with branches sweeping the ground. This is the time of the year when you remember that the Vanderbilt campus is a national arboretum. Definitely one of the perks of coming to Owen!

Paper Tree Funeral

Sun, 22 Mar 2009 16:15 GMT

owenbloggers posted a photo:

Thar she goes!!

Careers with Impact Symposium

Sun, 22 Mar 2009 16:15 GMT

owenbloggers posted a photo:

Ride a bike, it will take you places.

Sun, 22 Mar 2009 08:40 GMT

“You’re an MBA, I’ll let you run my company, you just send me a check every month,” said Mr. Rider, founder and owner of Rider Cycles.

I was strolling thru the Wendy’s parking lot and found a few tricked out bikes on top of a parked SUV. The first bike was a muscled out, hardtail, carbon framed mountain bike outfitted with ’09 XTR components, FSA carbon cranks and tubeless wheels. The counterpart was a sexy all-carbon road bike with SRAM Red and Zipp wheels. The $20,000 or so on top of the vehicle made me stop for a few minutes and hang-up my phone conversation so I could investigate further.

After a few moments, a tall thin man walked around asking if he could help me. A little bit of bike-geek talk ensued, then racing camaraderie and introductions followed. I asked him where he purchased his bikes as Rider bikes were not main stream and definitely a niche part of the industry. “I had them made,” he said and further detailed the company he just started a year ago near Memphis.

In town for triathlon training for U23 Elites and youth professionals, he mentioned he would return in a couple weeks. I suggested we should go check out the trails in Nashville next time he was in town. He responded that he had the perfect carbon 29er Demo bike he could loan me as he wrote his contact information on the back of a piece of paper. “Do you think you can help me grow my business..?” he questioned.

Though my mindset and approach to starting or running a business has definitely changed since I came to Owen, I still find it amusing how having an MBA empowers us with this sort of “street cred.”

Key takeaways from this: Ride a bike, it will take you places.

Bracketology with Business Week

Wed, 18 Mar 2009 13:17 GMT

If Business Week did their picks for the 2009 NCAA men's basketball tournament according to their rankings of graduate business programs, we'd see a Final Four of Cal, USC, Michigan and Duke. Not bad games. I've entered this pick sheet into a $5 pool to see determine the relationship between a university's men's basketball team and MBA program.

Note: If the teams playing weren't included in the MBA rankings, I simply chose the top seed.

As we transition...

Fri, 13 Mar 2009 09:42 GMT

2 months till graduation ...I've been waiting for D day since forever. I remember on my first day of Med Schools, aeons ago, I wondered when I would be able to complete my Masters.
Well here I am : on the verge of becoming an alum. I can't help going back to 2 years ago, when I was about to begin School. Especially today, since we finally shot the OwenBloggers videos, a series meant to answer questions frequently asked by prospective students. The exciting thing about these videos is that you not only get to see some of the bloggers in the flesh , but also hear from an eclectic mix of first and second years. All the answers are extempore too!

For the bloggers themselves, it was the first time we got to work with the brand new OB executive team. And that's what makes this endeavor so special. This is our collaborative effort, as we get ready to handover this legacy to the soon to be Second years!

Owen Parking...

Fri, 13 Mar 2009 04:25 GMT

So I have been asked to post something as an Owen Blogger… apparently taking a hiatus for “personal rest and relaxation” was not appreciated. In all honesty, I have had a bit of writers block… a status that perplexes the Owen Blogger leadership. I believe the phrase used was “You must have really bad writers block… since you are a really bad writer.” †† Everybody is a critic.

I thought that I would write a brief description of the Owen parking situation mostly to the benefit of those students that will be attending next year. (If you haven’t figured it out yet as a current student, there really is no hope for you.)

1. Get a permit – They do check. I am disappointed that there is no creative second option. When I went to undergrad I was often a late arriver, so all of the spaces would be gone. My creative solution was to pop my jeep into 4 wheel drive, and park in the woods. This solution worked for New Hampshire. I tried it here, but there are not many trees in Nashville. They provide very poor coverage. I still received a ticket.

2. If you are thinking about parking right around Owen and/or the Law School, be an early riser. Those spots are usually full by 7:15 or 7:30.

3. For the lots north of Owen (Lot 5A and 5B), Get here just as early.

If you get here before 7:45, you can find a spot
Between 7:45 – 8:00 the lots fills quickly, but the secret spots (Lot 206) farther north and west of the major lot area are still open, but filling. The law students pile in.
After 8:00 – give up and park in the garages (Terrace Place and Wesley)

4. For the Garages:

The north garage (Terrace) is low clearance... so if you have a lifted truck like me… drive slowly… unless you want a convertible truck.
Terrace is easily available all day, though the 3^rd floor fills up by 11:00. That is why they make elevators.

5. The Wesley Garage:

I think it has higher ceilings, so less caution is necessary… unless you consider that whole pedestrian thing.
After 10:00 spots start getting scarce.

So that is all of the imparted knowledge I have for parking. It’s no big mystery. Like I said… I have writers block… stop judging me…

†† I should also apologize to our new OB leader… he didn’t actually say that in words… but he DID say it with his eyes.

** Special thanks to the fella that got that ticket this morning. It may not be good news for you… but it certainly worked out to my benefit. Cell phone cameras are great!

++ a link to the parking map is here... Owen students are Zone 2.

Bangladesh - Day 3

Tue, 03 Mar 2009 15:10 GMT

It's day number three in Bangladesh, and today we met with some of the country's top officials in the health, economic, and education fields. My personal favorite included one of the managing directors of Gemcon Group, Dr. Kazi Anis Ahmed. He founded Bangladesh's only organic tea grower and has since introduced additional organic businesses to Gemcon's portfolio. In his spare time, he founded a private university in Dhaka which requires 1/3 of all academic curriculum to be based in liberal arts. This is especially unusual in a culture that generally prizes math, science, and business above all other disciplines. Very cool.

So business aside, my absolute most thrilling moment was riding in a motorized CNG (clean natural gas) rickshaw. Traffic lanes and red lights are mere suggestions here. I would basically equate the entire experience to an ongoing game of chicken.....only we were playing against buses and trucks. Hang on tight and keep your arms in the vehicle, people.

We're in Dhaka one more day, and then we're off to the village of Baripotol. Looks like some government officials will be staying in the guesthouse that we were originally slated for, which means we'll be staying with someone called Uncle Jamal. I can hardly wait!

AAOB: Will my below-average GMAT score significantly lower my chances for admission this fall?

Tue, 24 Feb 2009 12:35 GMT

In MBA school, one of the professors' favorite answers to our questions is "it depends." Well, in the case of the GMAT score, "it depends." This year is a record-breaking one for MBA applications, so competition is especially fierce. Having said that, your GMAT score will not make-or-break your acceptance status.

Owen's admissions staff takes a holistic approach to reviewing applications. They are looking for a well-rounded student that fits into the Owen culture, and the GMAT is not a deal-breaker, especially if the rest of your resume is stellar. Keep in mind that things get tougher as the year rolls on - as a rolling admissions school, there are fewer and fewer seats to compete for as time goes by.

Every school is different, but the class of 2010 has a wide variety of GMAT scores, and mine wasn't exactly spectacular. However I did have five years of work experience and, through my essays and interview, showed the decision-makers why I thought I would not only fit in with but also contribute to the Owen community. While the GMAT can be an indicator of intelligence, it doesn't measure all of the intangible qualities that define a future business leader.

Best of luck!

Oh, The Things We Thought We Knew - MOD III 2009

Sat, 21 Feb 2009 02:31 GMT

Well OwenBloggers Fans, it's the end of the MOD and what a ride it has been. Exam week is upon us and that can only mean one thing; time for another re-cap of the things we learned over the course of the last seven weeks.

Summing up this MOD is kind of tough just because it seems like it went so quickly. As you can imagine, many of us have been pounding the pavement relentlessly in order to secure jobs after graduation. Between classes, networking and getting ready to pass the baton to the new generations of student leaders in the class of 2010, it feels like my life has been a whirlwind of activity.

Then again, that's when you know you're doing business school right: when you bite off more than you can chew and realize your capacity for being productive only increases with your experience.

Without further a-do, here are my four big takeaways from this MOD:

No matter how bad things look, you will get a great job or internship opportunity if you want it bad enough AND are willing to work for it
Non-stop networking may feel like it's not worth it at times; trust us, it is.
A tree is sometimes not a tree, especially when it makes a point.
Half the fun is watching other's go through the same incredible changes we did.

And as always, we wrap-up with my favorite shots from throughout the MOD:

100% Trivia Night Gennerates Over $1,000 to Habitat For Humanity

Brand Geeks Watch Super Bowl Commercials In 3D

Net Impact Raises Awareness And Reduces Paper
Waste Through It's Smart Printing Campaign

Ed Thayer Comes Prepared For His Team's Corporate Strategy Presentation

Technorati Tags: 100% Owen, Exam Week, MOD, Net Impact, MBA, puppy, Vanderbilt

A Marketer's Rant On Valentine's Day

Sat, 14 Feb 2009 05:19 GMT

Cross-Posted From My "Other" Blog, Marketing Diner:

For a moment, I am going to forget about being a bitter, single, elitist MBA student and talk practically about the trouble with Valentine’s Day.

First, the background....

I did some digging and it turns out that the celebration of the modern Valentine's Day actually has its roots in several different historical practices. It seems that the modern version of Valentine's Day is part a Christian version of a pagan sheep-herding holiday and part romantic epic featuring a roman priest named Valentine.

Since the idea of a single "true" origin of Valentine’s Day is up for grabs, let's just settle the historical hair-splitting and say that somewhere, somehow there is a reason beyond the cards and the flowers that this day exists.

Of course in popular culture, Valentine’s Day is the holiday to celebrate the ‘magic of love’ with gifts, flowers and expensive price-fix dinners. During this time of year, popular thought is you either love Valentine's Day because you’re with someone or you hate it because youâ€™re alone, sad and bitter.

In fact, the Washington Post recently had an online survey of best songs for an Anti-Valentine's Day Playlist. The categories we had to choose from feature rage, regret and revenge. This is troubling because even though I am single, I honestly don't feel any of those things.

The Problem...

This illustrates what I think is really wrong with Valentine's Day. Apparently, there is no room in the red velvet-clad halls of St. Valentine's massive cathedral for someone who is just there; single, strong, and happy. My problem with Valentine's Day; there is no corresponding holiday to celebrate the individual, single person.

Now, I’m not talking about a day where only single people get to celebrate. I am talking about a day which says “you know what - you’re good enough as you are" without needing anything - or one - else to validate you! Something tells me you are never going to see this happen.

The reason you're not going to see this is that you wouldn’t need anything to celebrate it. Gifts and flowers would be contrary to the point of celebrating someone for who they are. Oh sure. It's easy to celebrate something when you know you can buy your way into validation and that’s what’s become so successful for consumer marketers on Valentine's Day.

Pair this with that in marketing; it's been the very nature of our jobs to create needs. We accomplish this by making the case that you’re not good enough on your own whether it's in business or as a consumer. Thankfully, there are companies like Dove out there that are making inroads to the very basic point that you can market a product without telling someone that if they don’t buy it, something bad is going to happen.

The trouble with Valentine's Day isn’t its blatant consumerism and it isn’t its seeming snub of single people everywhere. The problem is the fact that it distracts us from realizing that no matter what your ’single status’ is, we should be celebrating our own individuality and not just facing off on two sides of a “single” issue.

It tough though, to sell something by openly acknowledging, "You know what, you're good enough without our product but here's why you should buy it anyway." Without that burning platform of need, you actually have to sell the product on its ability to inspire your target, not just by pointing out their faults.

Be assured, marketers will still be saying "you need this because it will fix what you don't know is wrong with you yet, for some time to come. For now though, I am going to propose we each try to, at least once, sell something by saying "you need this because its going to enhance how fabulous you are already."

We can start with Valentine's Day.

The Solution...

Folks, its time we had a holiday that says it's ok to be who you are no matter what you own or who you’re with or not with. No Flowers. No Cards. No Dinners. Just you, and the ultimate form of affection - the quiet contentment of being yourself.

Put that on a holiday card, Hallmark.

Technorati Tags: MBA, rant, Valentine's Day

AAOB: What kinds of student-led consulting projects do Owen students take on?

Mon, 09 Feb 2009 16:22 GMT

Dear Owen Bloggers,

I think the way the curriculum is set up for the full time MBA provides
excellent core topics and is flexible enough to help students mold and
personalize their MBA degree. What kinds of consulting projects do Owen
students experience in their second semester and are there any international
trips to observe and analyze how multinational companies manage and
strategize for global markets?

I am coming for an interview this Thursday and will also join the weekend
visit. I will be meeting with current students and alumni but if it is
possible to visit a student club (Finance, HOP or EntrepreneurshipŠ) I would
be happy to join. I want to immerse myself as much as possible within the
Owen community during my visit.

Thank you,
Zareh

From Matt:

Zareh,

Thanks for writing. You’re enthusiasm shows, and is welcome. We look forward to hosting you for your visit, and for Discover Weekend. I am certain you will enjoy yourself.

You are right about the flexibility. Two important notes to that effect are the quarter system and early access to electives. The quarter system, as opposed to the semester system, allows you to move through classes much faster. It also allows you to begin to customize your curriculum here as early as your 10th week at school. This can be especially valuable for some of the jobs that begin to recruit here fairly early in the fall.

There are a wealth of extracurricular consulting experiences available to first and second years. Usually they are more popular with the second years only because the first years are busy with their core classes, which can be an overwhelming workload if you’re not careful. I don’t know the exact statistics, but you can certainly ask someone over the weekend how many students are involved in outside consulting-like activities. By my recollection, at least 20% of first years were involved in something outside of school last year. This year for the second year class, there are too many to even venture a guess.

International trips are available to first and second year students as well. This year there are students from both classes on trips to Italy, Dubai, China, Bangladesh, France, Germany and Australia. Some of those are exchange programs, but the point is that there is plenty of international experience to be had. I think last year the desire for more international experience was one of the most common complaints among our class, and the administration has done a great job of planning trips and facilitating trips that are student-run.

As for the clubs, just ask around and I am sure you will find something. If not, there will be many current students present during the weekend and most everyone is involved in something.

I hope you enjoy your visit.

Best,
Matt

For more posts from Matt, Click Here.

AAOB: What is Owen's culture like in respect to the use of Case Method?

Mon, 02 Feb 2009 15:48 GMT

Hello,

I am interested in applying to Owen and was wondering if the Case Method is part of the program?

If so, what percent of the classes use the Case Method and how ingrained is it into the school’s culture?

Thank you.
Daniel

From Vik:

It's difficult to say what percentage of classes are taught using the case method. It depends on what electives you take and how you structure your MBA program. However I have noticed that core courses are generally not case based.

I like experiential learning and the case method. Sometimes classes will combine the 2 e.g. for my Strategy class I'm currently working with my study group on researching the auto industry to assess Toyota's competitive landscape and analyze if their current strategy will be a good one over the next 3-5 years.

I hope that helps.

From Matt:

The first step in answering your question is to define what a case is. For there are many things that happen in the classroom (ordinary class discussion being one of them) that could be considered cases. A business school case is a 10-page write up that documents a business situation and usually has a dozen exhibits immediately following the story to illuminate the more technical points. The case method is one that relies entirely on that vehicle for the student’s learning. Owen does not use an exclusive case method approach, but we do have very many cases. But, one must bear in mind though that there is never going to be an “exhibits” section in real life, and the numbers will never be as pre-packaged and easy to find. So using other methods is probably a better approach anyway.

Owen uses lots of devices besides cases to help you learn, including cases. In some classes you are assigned movies. In others we were part of an experiment in which two teams had to construct paper airplanes to certain specifications. We do plant tours, interviews with local business owners, and independent projects that sometimes including many hours a week outside the classroom walls in someone else’s office. They are all case interviews to some extent.

My understanding of “the case method” was that it relies solely on cases as a means to teach. At Owen we use many different methods and cases are an important part. In my opinion though, they aren’t as important as some of the other experiences you will have here.

For More Posts From Matt, Click Here

OwenBloggers Viewpoints :: Talkshow Edition - 02.02.2009

Mon, 02 Feb 2009 08:10 GMT

The first of our shows done with a flurry of co-hosts in the main lobby/lounge of the Owen Graduate School of Management

Guest Hosts: Mike & Jesse
100% Owen
Mid-Mod Update

Download This Episode | Subscribe via iTunes

Poll: Super Bowl XLIII

Sat, 31 Jan 2009 03:53 GMT

This year's unlikely match-up could be a winner or a dud for this year's advertisers. The Cardinals, 2009's Super Bowl newcomers who last won the NFL Championship in 1947 while playing in Chicago, are a heavy underdog, which can be...

In the gloom

Thu, 29 Jan 2009 05:42 GMT

It’s simple: we have reached a point in the economic cycle where the fear of “gloom” is so great that the idea of becomes corporal. President Obama questioned the wisdom of a purchase of a new corporate jet by Citigroup....

Why Owen?

Tue, 20 Jan 2009 11:32 GMT

一年前申请MBA的时候，我就在Essay里写过这个话题。最近又是申请的高峰期，作...

Networking the Right Way

Mon, 19 Jan 2009 09:08 GMT

Since I don't get a chance to blog too much on OwenBloggers, I try to blog when there's something really important to share. And I have definitely found a topic that hits close to home. I know, I know, you...

"THAT THING.."

Sun, 18 Jan 2009 12:22 GMT

“OMG, what is that thing, it’s absolutely hideous,” noted someone as she walked by me going up the stairs.

Well, I’m pretty sure most people have seen it and don’t even notice it now. That “thing” hanging from the staircase and as the student so eloquently described is part of Net Impact’s educational campaign to discourage unnecessary printing and challenge the Owen community to reduce paper consumption. The Smart Printing Sculpture as we should call in going forward was made from a couple weeks of wasted paper here at Owen. Darcy Lincoln and Mark Winterer are credited with the innovative design and message of the mural.

In 2008, Owen used approximately 4 M sheets of paper. According to papercalculator.org, this amount of paper requires 56,000 lbs of wood, 156,602 gallons of wastewater, and 18,227 lbs of solid waste. Let’s not forget to mention all the ink, energy, and effort required to print the paper. It’s hard to grasp the true weight of these numbers, but considering the fact that this amount was generated by a community of only 600 people puts a perspective on national paper consumption and its impact. Paper consumption is further magnified at the end of its cycle as over 1/3 of US landfills are paper products.

Net Impact believes that Owen can reduce its excessive paper consumption by using the Smart Printing practices listed below. If we can reduce our paper consumption, we can spend the saved money toward buying paper with a higher recycled content, thereby further enhancing Net Impact’s efforts. We can also prove to the school that we don’t abuse our free printing privileges, which no one else at Vanderbilt has, and is in danger of being taken away; VU’s paper consumption was reduced in half when they started charging students 4 cents per page.

So who really cares anyhow? I guess we should all care since some initiatives might be introduced at Owen requiring students to pay for their print jobs. Instead, let’s just exercise some smart printing practices and save that money to get the zip-line that Dean Lehman wants to install from his office to the Kegs area. I’m sure he’ll let us zip down a few times.

Smart Printing Practices

1. Print double-sided: Default your computer to print double sided.

Steps

· Double click the printer

· Select Printer | Properties from the menu

· Click the “Printing Preferences” button on the General tab

· Go to the Finish tab

· Check “Print on both sides”

Or… when printing

· “Print”

· Go to “Properties”

· Select “Finishing” tab

· Check “Print on both sides”

2. Print multiple slides on one piece of paper.

· In the print dialog box, choose “Handouts” from the “Print what” drop-down, and then choose the number of “slides per page” you want.

3. Use print preview before you print and don’t print with inverse colors, this causes the printer to overheat and jam.

4. Print only the necessary pages in a document instead of the whole thing.

5. Minimize the number of drafts you print.

6. Reuse paper that has only been printed on one side.

7. Use electronic versions of documents whenever possible.

8. Use “Shrink to Fit” – an option in print preview dialog boxes, which will shrink content down to fit on fewer pages.

9. Ask professors to provide their own printed slides to avoid jamming student printers right before class. Also, copiers use less ink and energy than printers!

really wanted them and were willing to work harder to get them than perhaps many of the classes before us.

Don't get me wrong; the point of going to business school is to help you reach farther in your career aspiration. That can't happen without your first job out of grad school. To help you do this, some schools offer a highly structured career management track and a heavy concentration in a select category/type of employers. Owen is a bit different.

Owen offers a decidedly broader range of opportunities, but the larger portion of them require a more legwork than simply perusing the on-campus recruiting list at the CMC. For instance, much of my own time is being currently spent on the phone with various Owen alumni and their contacts. Because job openings aren't readily apparent and my not be listed for a few months, I am focusing on getting my personal brand out there and investigating potential opportunities. In that way, the much-vaunted "community atmosphere" at Owen comes in handy because networking is all about building bridges.

Ultimately, when asked what the difference is between career searches at Owen and career searches other top MBA programs, the most common answer is that at Owen you have more freedom in your job search, but students are the ones that lead with their own initiative.

Yes, the job market is scary. Yes, it's going to be harder for most people. Will that make a difference? Not if you want it.

Finance and Gender

Thu, 15 Jan 2009 04:15 GMT
A new study came out that the Washington Post featured about traders, exposure to testosterone while in the womb and it's effect on the risky trades they took. Not surprisingly the article goes on to say that the more testosterone...

AAOB: How should I prepare for an admissions phone interview?

Tue, 13 Jan 2009 04:29 GMT

Dear Owen-bloggers,

Quick question as I have the interview scheduled for in less than a week. I Just want to ask that since the time stated in the e-mail was 45-60 mins plus that this is the initial interview (thats what the mail said), what should I be expecting? What should I prepare myself for? Is it one of those stress-check interviews or not? I am an international interview and my only 2nd interview for a university program so any response would be very helpful.

Thank you M.M.J.
From Matt - MBA 2009:
I think the best way to prepare yourself would be to treat it like a job interview. You will want to make sure that you market yourself and that you act professionally. The Owen admissions process is very much geared towards fit—which, hopefully, you will see after you get in and come here—so you also show your personality. If you have a hobby that is not explicitly related to school and it makes for a good story, maybe that would be a good piece to add in.
They will ask you things that may seem very general, like “tell about why you want to come to business school...” Try to have a good story for them that lets them know that you have actually thought about it. They will also want to hear things that let them know that you can challenge yourself. Talk about a new project you took on, or a new job or moving to a new city.
In the end they want to know that you are a good fit here. Be yourself, be professional and sell it as much as you can.
For More Posts From Matt, Click Here

Net Impact Sets Bold Goal To Conserve Paper At Owen

Mon, 12 Jan 2009 15:47 GMT

owenbloggers posted a photo:

On January 12th 2009, the Net Impact club at Owen launched its Smart Printing Initiative. The goal of this initiative is reduce the amount of paper wasted at Owen and promote responsible consumption.

They also launched an information campaign listing ways individuals can reduce their paper use, including displaying information on monitors at school as well as placards next to printers. Finally metrics will be collected and paper use will be tracked monthly with a goal of reducing paper use by 25% year over year.

For More Images - flickr.com/photos/owenbloggers/

There's a tree in my lobby

Mon, 12 Jan 2009 05:50 GMT
Imagine my surprise when I found the stairway up to the second floor obscured by a nine-foot stack of pieces of paper in the shape of a tree. Amazingly, though probably not surprisingly, the hundreds of rolls of paper were...

The new frontier in project communications

Sun, 11 Jan 2009 08:53 GMT

This past week, I got to kick off my Leadership In Action project in a most unusual way. Instead of going onsite, the team made use of the new monitors in the Owen library meeting rooms and held a virtual kickoff face-to-face with our client. In addition to being one of the cooler/geekiest moments of my business school career, it also revealed some interesting tips for video conferences in general.

It Matters Where You Look
Because I wanted our team to look like we were actually looking at the client instead of the computer screen, I set the computer as far down the table as possible. This minimizes the discrepancy you usually find when using webcams. Granted, we had a couple of interesting moments where we had to reference things on the big monitor a good 30 degrees above the camera, it definitely made the difference in the professional look and feel of the call.
It Matters What Your Body Language Says
It's apparently really easy to look like an evil genius on video conferences. Though I only noticed it about 10 minutes into the call, at first I had my elbows on the table and my hands clasped together, right under my chin. Put a person on either side of you with significantly more relaxed styles and you have the makings for a really interesting scene. My best advice on this is to make sure that, if you have to have multiple people on the call with you, to mirror each other's body language. Talk about it before hand and definitely do a camera test.
It Matters How You Close It Out
Video conferences tend to close out like phone calls more than in-person meetings. This can be slightly awkward. Let's just say this; make sure the client hangs up first.
All in all, I do recommend at least trying out video conferences. It can be a great way to up the professionalism of project and increase the connection between your team and your client. Also, for more on video conference; check out this videoconference etiquette list or the software we ended up using.

Ryan's Gonna Be A Daddy!

Wed, 07 Jan 2009 02:48 GMT

owenbloggers posted a photo:

Congrats to Ryan (Owen MBA 2009) and his wife Jenny who recently found out they will be parents!

The Home Stretch

Tue, 06 Jan 2009 02:15 GMT
This is a bittersweet return for me, as it probably is for all of us that have secured employment after graduation. Now is when you start to realize how great it is to be at school. You can arrange your...

OwenBloggers :: The Talk Show - 01.04.2009

Sun, 04 Jan 2009 17:12 GMT

Back from winter break, Astrid and Jared parse what's in store for full-time and internship searches.

Winter Break

Job Searches

New Year's Resolutions

Download This Episode | Subscribe via iTunes

AAOB: What do you consider to be the most valuable aspect of the Owen MBA?

Sun, 04 Jan 2009 04:42 GMT

Dear OwenBloggers -

What do you consider to be the most valuable aspect of the Owen MBA? What is the most unique?

Thank you,
Allison
From Brad:
Same answer for both… the culture, hands down.
Owen students are competitive, but everyone is mostly focused on outside competition, rather than fighting amongst the ranks. This makes for a VERY tight knit community of students, staff, and faculty that will fight to help each other out.
We lift each other up instead of knocking each other down.
- To Read More Posts From Brad, Click Here -
From Matt:
The difference between the most valuable thing and the best thing about an Owen MBA is a fine line. The answer to the latter is without a doubt the people.
You will be amazed by the folks you meet here. And they are all willing to help you. When I was waiting for an interview once, the previous interviewer came out and told me to be ready for technical questions. Since I had braced myself for it, I did well (and eventually got the internship). The people you go to school with are clearly the best thing about an Owen MBA. But the most valuable thing is the flexibility.
They start you with electives in the second mod, which is a huge bonus when looking for internships in those competitive places like investment banking or consulting. It is also a leg up on other schools who do not offer that. It’s also flexible in terms of what you can do. I have a corporate finance resume and a consulting resume. There is no one at Owen who will put you in a little box, assigned to a specific role.
- To Read More Posts From Matt, Click Here -

Have a question for the OwenBloggers?
Click the mail link on the left side of the page...we would love to hear from you!

4 New Years Resolutions That MBAs Make...But Probably Won't Keep

Thu, 01 Jan 2009 12:41 GMT

I have to admit, waking up this morning was a wee bit painful. I'll let Meara and the 510 tell you more about it later but now that the confetti is being cleaned up, its time for some resolutions.
As an MBA, it feels like you're constantly reinventing yourself but new years brings with it the special benefit of everyone making commitments to change, at the same time. By informal survey, here are the five most common resolutions made by MBA students at the beginning of the new year.
Also, because we know that like most resolutions many of them will go unkept, we've also included the most common reality that MBAs face in keeping them.
Resolution 4: Read The WSJ

They pile up on our doorstep and though we know it's important, many MBAs just don't have the time to pick up our copy of the Wall Street Journal. Sure, we catch up with it online but nothing shows off your worldliness like reading the actual paper in the lobby as your classmates rush in late to class.
In all reality though, as papers decline in readership and more news goes online, reading the paper version of the WSJ is less and less in line with our study habits. Our advice? In theory you can afford to pass them up but just make sure to recycle them properly.
Resolution 3: Get More Exercise
Though you can live off pizza, tacos and beer in business school, late nights and marathon group meetings seldom incentivize a healthy lifestyle. The problem gets even worse over the holidays. Your choices are either cut some calories or sign up for one of our MBA classmates' 8:15 PM body sculpt classes at the Vanderbilt Rec. Center.
The reality is that 51% of these types of resolutions get broken by the end of February. Let's face it, this one is tough no matter if you're a business student or not.
Resolution 2: More Nights In, Studying
A healthy social life tends to be a hallmark of the business school experience. A perennial resolution, particularly after MOD II grades come in is to spend more time studying and less time out doing...whatever.
The reality of this resolution is that you can actually do something about this. MOD III tends to find many MBAs hibernating but then again, come springtime and MOD IV, all bets are off. Work hard, play hard. What more can we say?
And the most common MBA resolution...
Resolution 1: Read All Assigned Readings
As a very wise Owen alumni once said (reference), "you can't afford to do all the readings but you can't afford to do none of the readings." For this one, you'll just have to find your own happy medium. Assigned readings are usually made for a reason but many professors recommend that if you're pressed for time, skimming can help frame the in-class discussion just as well.

Technorati Tags: MBA, Owen, Owen Graduate School of Management, OwenBloggers, resolutions

Vanderbilt Commodores Kickoff In Music City Bowl!

Wed, 31 Dec 2008 08:42 GMT

The relentless war

Mon, 29 Dec 2008 22:20 GMT
You can’t call it the Middle East conflict yet. Or in this case not yet. But soon it will be one. This morning I read that the US blames Hamas for the violence, the European governments are not pointing fingers...

Looking Back at Making the B-school Decision

Sat, 27 Dec 2008 15:19 GMT

It has been a while since my last post and I have been thinking a lot about how my experience at Owen has netted out and if it has met my expectations from when I first chose the program. It is year two, semester two (well, in about a week it will be) and I can't help but think about the choice I made. It should be no surprise to most of you that I do not regret my decision and, in fact, I am very happy with it. I think that is because I spoke to so many MBAs about what they looked for in a program and why those things are important. I was able to benefit from their advice and choose accordingly.

I think (for what my advice is worth), it is time to pay it forward. Everyone says to figure out what is important to you and then choose a program and for most "what is important" means being able to find a job after school at an amazing company or pursuing a program that specializes in one's particular interest. All of that is important but some things to consider include the flexibility of the program, if you are interested in making an impact on your surrounding community, the culture (cut-throat, not so much or in between), emphasis on team or individual work, travel opportunities, the opportunity to forge your own path, and being able to easily move back home after you are done.

The list mentioned above all become very real issues once you are in B-school. They are definitely worth thinking about especially because it is not common to switch programs between years or somewhere mid-stream. The last thing that is important to think about is that some programs (Owen included) are designed in such a way that students spend tons of time in teams or just studying with other students- this seems obvious but it really is much more than you would think. As this is the case, it is imperative that you like your (future) classmates because you will be miserable if you don't. Just some food for thought...

OwenBloggers Wishes You A Very Happy Holidays!

Thu, 25 Dec 2008 00:58 GMT

As you can see, the majority of us are taking some well-deserved time off. In the meantime, the team here at OwenBloggers.com wanted to wish you a very happy holidays and best wishes for a bright new year!
Just in case you are prospective applicant and have questions for us though, Ask An OwenBlogger is still active throughout the holiday. Feel free to send us your questions or comments...after all, isn't that what laptops and wifi are for?

Technorati Tags: Holidays, OwenBloggers, Vanderbilt, Vanderbilt Owen Graduate School of Management, Weather is Here, Wish You Were Beautiful

What’s in a Grade?

Sun, 21 Dec 2008 05:20 GMT

                So now that Mod 2 is done… it’s time for grades. Who cares… this is grad school, right? I thought that grades weren’t supposed to matter. (somewhere in New Hampshire my parents are crying) Yet every time grades are issued, the same questions pop up, the same issues are raised, and the same complaints are aired.

                I have had professors comment on the fixation that our class (2010) has on our grades. Not so much that we “Grade Grub”, but that we generally worry about our scores too much, as though we were undergrads. Some have asked “Why do we care?” … “Most of the companies do not use it as a measure of employability.”

                This question has been posed by most of my professors… and of course when this conversation starts, someone always chimes in “If grades don’t matter, then I’ll take an SP, thank you.” (I try to be first, just in case they say yes... SP is the Owen version of a 4.0 / A ) It IS true that most disciplines don’t ask to see a GPA. (Finance is the exception.)

                So here is the answer that I have come up with. “Owen, It’s all your fault.” Owen wanted students in our class that were dedicated to self improvement. Owen wanted students that strive to be the best, without the pit-fighting that occurs at some other schools. Owen wanted students that have initiative. Most of us seem to use grades as a benchmark to evaluate how well we have met our own goals of learning the material. Pay your own tuition bill… then tell me that grades don’t matter.

                “Why do I care?” – because if I didn’t care I wouldn’t be the kind of person that Owen was looking for. I would be shiftless and lazy… like say a Harvard or Duke student. Go Dores!

AAOB: Is The Owen Healthcare MBA Really The Best?

Tue, 16 Dec 2008 02:02 GMT

The Owen website and Wikipedia both praise the health care program at Owen, but what would an unbiased perspective say about it? Is it really the best program out there for people interested in in health care business? If not, what schools are better? If so, why is this the case?

- M.N. Patel
From Dana & The Little Blue Pill Blog

Maunik,

The characteristics that make each Health Care MBA program unique have to do with the curriculum, the location of the program, and its integration into the overall MBA curriculum. The success of the Health Care MBA at Owen has to do with the abundance of health care companies that are headquartered in Nashville and the fact the academic medical center here on campus is among the best in the country. The opportunity to learn from leading physicians, researchers, and health care entrepreneurs alike make the Owen experience one that is difficult to replicate. Health care classes are taught by Owen professors, faculty from the medical center, and business professionals in the community, who are all eager to share their experiences with you and help you navigate a rather complicated industry.

There are many Health Care MBA programs out there; it’s important to find the one that is right for you.

What I can tell you is that the program at Owen is comprised of a great faculty, unique opportunities to get involved in the community, and a curriculum that addresses the current issues facing the health care community. I’d encourage you to visit Owen and talk with more students about their experiences in the program.

Good luck!

To Read More Bloggers On Healthcare, Click Here

Footprints on the sands of time...

Thu, 11 Dec 2008 09:13 GMT

I know that not everyone is religious. Some people believe more in spirituality than religion. And ofcourse there are those who are so zealous that they wage a jihaad all over the world to prove their convictions(yeah I'm still stinging from the Bombay terror attack)

I was born into a reasonably religious family. I say reasonable because the fam has always encouraged each member to live by their own beliefs - so 1 set of grandparents had an informal acquaintance with God and the other set prayed devoutly to Him everyday. My Mom visits the temple each week and my Father is an ex-atheist.

In the middle of all this, I have gone through my own ups and downs in my relationship with God. I am happy to say that our rapport has somewhat stabilised and I would like to share an extract that succintly expresses the way I feel:

"I dreamed I was walking along the beach with God, and across the sky
flashed scenes from my life. For each scene I noticed two sets of
footprints in the sand. One belonging to God, and the other to me.

When the last scene of my life flashed before me, I look back at the
footprints in the sand. I noticed that many times along the path of
my life, there was only one set of footprints. I also noticed that
it happened at the very lowest and saddest time in my life. This
really bothered me and I questioned God about it.

God, You said that once I decided to follow You, You would walk
with me all the way. But I have noticed that during the most
troublesome times in my life there is only one set of footprints.
I do not understand why, in times when I needed You most,
You should leave me alone.

Then GOD replied

My precious child,
I love you and would never, never leave you wondering during your
time of trial and suffering. When you saw only one set of
footprints in the sand, it was then that I carried you "



Exam week strategy

Mon, 08 Dec 2008 17:36 GMT
It’s the final week of classes and the entire load of papers, book reviews, presentations and of course the ever so painful final exams are staring right into my eyes. I am finally facing the result of weeks of procrastination....

Photo Of The Week: 2008 Owen Holiday Party

Sun, 07 Dec 2008 03:36 GMT

owenbloggers posted a photo:

Ho Ho Ho, Indeed.

AAOB: What's the most surprising thing about Owen?

Sun, 07 Dec 2008 02:22 GMT

"For the first-years, what's the most surprising thing about Owen since you began?"
- A Prospective Applicant
From Brad:

For me, it has been the students. The professors are great, the classes are top notch, but the value that the students add to the program is unreal.

Every student contributes something to the experience. Some are quant gods, some are great at theory, some are just plain nice people. I have gotten to know of the first year students and many of the second
years, and feel comfortable with many of them.

They are always willing to help, and will quite often pull you into something to get you involved. It isn't something that I expected, but I certainly appreciate the impact that it has on my experience!

For More Posts From Brad, Click Here

Back To Work

Tue, 02 Dec 2008 02:58 GMT
Sadly, Thanksgiving break is over and we're back to school. The break this year was very different from last year - last year I was in NYC going on informational interviews trying to secure an internship before heading home to...

Thanksgiving in Nashville

Mon, 01 Dec 2008 13:00 GMT
今天是Thanksgiving Break以后第一天上课的日子，在学校里听得最多...

End / Beginning?

Sun, 30 Nov 2008 18:10 GMT

Three nights & three days later, the people of Mumbai willl finally be able to sleep peacefully. There are no more bullet shots echoing through the streets. 183 people were killed, including 20 policemen and 22 foreigners, 327 were injured. And we are still counting.

On Saturday, India's financial capital was left to pick up the pieces from the terror siege that has left behind an outraged nation and a bewildered establishment trying to unravel the conspiracy behind the longest running hostage crisis in the country. There were no negotiations and no demands at any point. It is believed that perhaps that the terrorists had planned to finish their brazen strike by blowing up the 105-year-old Taj, which brings together Moorish, Oriental and Florentine styles of architecture and is one of the most photographed buildings in this bustling city.

It seems they had also hoped to walk away scot free. The sea route for their return had already been charted out on the GPS of the vessel in which they had arrived. An official disclosed that they recovered two live bombs, eight weighing eight kilograms from the two dead terrorists, after the flushing out operations were over. Inside the hotel, the ravages are telling their own tale . A white bowl with food still in it spoke of a dinner rudely interrupted, white sheets hanging out of the many windows and blackened walls lining rooms splattered with blood. Many walls were riddled with bullets. There are reports of decomposed bodies lying inside the vast hotel.

Countless families have lost one or more members. Shockingly, the attacks were not only well orchesterated but were carried out by millitants who were unafraid to stand up and fight with single minded determination.The terror may have ended yesterday, but for many the anguish has only just begun.

Bombay is Burning...

Fri, 28 Nov 2008 07:22 GMT

Coordinated carnage...

A group of relentless terrorists armed with RDX and dry fruits to keep themselves alive. The death toll is rising steadily as even after 51 hours there seems to be no hope for a cease fire. Many innocent lives have been sacrificed including those of law enforcement personnel. It sounds like the plot of a fast paced action movie. Sadly, it is the horrendous nightmare that Mumbaikars are living through, as the city grapples with about 20 - 40 fidayeens/ suicide terrorists. They came via the sea, carrying seemingly unlimited amounts of ammunition, making their way into 2 posh hotels, a hospital, a train station, causing bloodshed indiscriminately.

One would opine that it takes raw courage to hold a city of almost 14 million under siege. Courage then or should we say insanity? It cannot be a fight for justice which is propelling terrorists to ravage a city and its people in this barbaric fashion. And this time around, the focus seems to be to harm anyone and everyone. Even the tourists have not been spared. Maybe they want the world to sit up and take notice. Or maybe for those who have already signed their own death sentence, it is easy to annihilate innocuous bystanders towards fulfilling their mission.

Mumbai is India's urban heart -- a glitzy, big money, Bollywood crazy city that pumps out 5% of the country's annual wealth. It's also a heart that has suffered some of the worst attacks. I guess Mumbai could never have hoped to escape the phenomenal violence and fear that Indians have been facing through 2008. The city has been subjected to four major terrorist attacks over the past five years. In 1993 it was the site of one of India's most destructive bombing attacks ever --- 13 synchronised bomb attacks blasted away 250 lives and crippled 700 others.

It's been said before, by businessmen, traders, journalists as well -- and by virtually every one of the men, women and children who live in the city, that the famed Mumbaiyya attitude has been tested one time too many. The resilience and gutsy spirit of Mumbai has been taken for granted as the city has time and again dusted off and gotten back on its feet, no matter what's been thrown at it -- terror attacks, floods that drowned much of the state of Maharashtra in 2005 or divisive state politics that pitted the people against one another on religious and regional bases.

How much longer will they be able to cope? Where should the people of Mumbai, Delhi or for that matter Indian turn towards? What sort of tomorrow can we envision for our future generations?

Having being born & raised in Delhi, I travelled to Mumbai only once. That too for a few hours during a lay over, while returning from the States. My limited memories of the city include the beautiful expanse of the ocean at Juhu beach and the sumptious lunch at the neighbouring Taj Mahal hotel, followed by a shopping trip to Nariman point. All of that is burning now.

As I pray for the well being and safety of all those trapped in this mayhem, I fervently hope that the country of more than a billion will soon free itself from the grips of this terror. I hope that we can soon be ourselves again.

Source : http://www.huffingtonpost.com/meenakshi-ravi/mumbai-mayhem-testing-the_b_146809.html

Join OwenBloggers at Idea Blob's Bloblive - December 3rd!

Wed, 26 Nov 2008 05:01 GMT

Next Wednesday, December 3rd, a friend of the OwenBloggers will be visiting Belmont for a really great event/idea forum for entrepreneurs and anyone working on business plans. Bloblive is where entrepreneurs can share their idea and get real-time feedback.

If you're interested in attending, please RSVP at the Bloblive website, www.bloblive.com. It's a free event and we’ll be organizing a small carpool at Owen starting at 6:30 PM.

ABOUT IDEADBLOB (From Their Web Site)
Ideablob.com is an active online community where small business owners and entrepreneurs gather to share their ideas and receive feedback from their peers and from a regularly changing cast of visiting high-profile guest experts.

Each month the ideablob community votes on the best small business idea and the winner receives $10,000 from Advanta Bank Corp to fund their venture. Ideablob has no revenue generating model/stream – just a free offering for entrepreneurs. In addition, ideablob has been very popular among the new influx of social entrepreneurs, which as you know is a very popular model for entrepreneurs to create a business while also giving them an opportunity to impact the community in a positive way.

The idea is to break the cult of the “non-disclosure agreement” and to show that entrepreneurs actually root for each other’s success (what benefits one, benefits all) and help each other to succeed. It’s the opposite of the “cult of the NDA” – people benefit by sharing their best ideas and making them even better. We find that people realize that it’s the execution and not just the idea itself that spells success.

I am grateful...

Sun, 23 Nov 2008 18:32 GMT

Life is such a mixed bag. I choose to be a happy person on most days. Sometimes however it can be a challenge. As I grow older I am realizing more & more the need to build reliable relationships outside the limits of my clan.

What would I do without my friends? How could I ever go thru my trials and tribulations, my highs and my disappointments without them? People who can hear me out without judging me? Who are always able to not only tell me like it is but also how it should me? My worst critics and my most ardent fans?

Over the years, friendships have evolved and transformed. A few have remained steadfast while others have changed priorities. One thing though has stayed the same. The connection between old friends seperated by distances. With thanksgiving around the corner, I would like to express my gratitude for this small mercy.

Net Impact - UPENN Wharton

Sat, 22 Nov 2008 08:39 GMT

Net Impact Conference

Philadelphia, PA

Day 1

Joe, Darcy, and I fly out from BNA on a pretty much what is an empty plane. We could have easily all had rows to ourselves but we stick together on a couple rows. Arriving in a very cold and wet Philly, we taxied over to Joe’s friend, Matt’s house to dump our stuff and head over to the conference. Joe and I are very allergic to cat dander and to our luck Matt and his wife, have a big fluffy cat that takes an uncanny resemblance to Jinxy Cat.

By the time we get to Wharton, it is already lunch time. We walk to the tent that has a moat of mud and sloshy grass to pick up the remnants of the lunch they provided. Of course, our luck was that they ran out of grilled chicken and roast beef sandwiches so we end up eating the vegan meal: no meat, no cheese, not a single thing in that sandwich was tasty. How do they do it? Joe and I were previously bitter with Wharton as we entered the African Business Competition that was hosted by them a few weeks prior; their competition was not very well organized: they pushed the deadline for submittal twice, dropped the cash prize from $15,000 to $5,000, and the biggest was they didn’t like our plan. So Joe and I collaborated to commit hate crimes on Wharton students. Not really, but we did joke about it.

The Career Fair was quite a mess. Over 50 companies were there in a room about the size of Owen’s Lobby. I did not bring 50 business cards that day. Most of the companies were our everyday corporations that decided a few years back that Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is not just a great marketing ploy to make our company sound green or socially committed but that the numbers from doing so just make sense. Joe has a rant that being CSR isn’t just being green and shouldn’t be limited to being green. NetImpact has been stereotyped as just a club full of hippies and tree-huggers focusing solely on achieving a green rating. What should also be considered and stereotyped in NetImpact is the effects of local economies and communities. I must agree with him. We will talk about this more later. At the career fair, to my surprise I found a lot of great opportunities here that I was not aware of. I spent about 4 hours talking to almost all the companies. To be noted:

-       MBAs Without Borders – www.MBASwithoutborders.com

-       Me to We – www.metowestyle.com

-       National Park Service – www.nps.gov

-       Acciona – www.acciona-energy.com

Ghost Tour in Nashville

Thu, 20 Nov 2008 08:15 GMT
这周一参加了Owen Voice组织的Ghost Tour. 首先介绍一下Owe...

Ask An OwenBlogger: How Green Is Owen?

Mon, 17 Nov 2008 16:34 GMT

Hi Owen Bloggers -

First of all, thank you for putting so much information on the OwenBloggers website. It has been an extremely valuable way to learn about the MBA program as I've gone through the application process.

As someone who plans to make a career in sustainable business, I was pleased to read about Owen's involvement with Net Impact. But one thing I was wondering (that I've noticed when researching other schools) is whether or not Owen has its own sustainable plan for the facilities?
Some schools have LEEDS certified buildings, while others have student led organizations that try to make the buildings as 'eco friendly' as possible (ie - using carpet squares that can be changed individually instead of requiring an entire new carpet, bamboo for flooring/counters, solar panels, etc.)

If you could let me know what Owen does in this regard, I'd certainly appreciate it!

Thank you,
Dan

From Mark (VP, Sustainability - Owen Net Impact)

Hi Dan,

Owen is not a LEED certified building, but we are trying to make it as eco-friendly as possible.

The Owen Net Impact chapter is one of the strongest clubs on campus, and we are actively making our community more sustainable. Initiatives in the past include:

Flush-free urinals and low-flush toilets.

Energy Star LED lighting.

Light timers.

Duplexing our printers and using a 30% recycled paper product.

Increasing over-all recycling and waste reduction.

We are also about to initiate a campaign to decrease total campus paper consumption. We are also finding alternatives to using cups at our social events and trying to install a water filter for drinking tap water.

The first year participation in Net Impact has been awesome this year, so there will be some great leaders in place next year, and I know the club will be even stronger.

As much as we are doing, there are always more ways to make Owen better, and there will be as many projects as you would like to tackle including influencing the new building design committee to get LEED certified.

Lastly, Vanderbilt University just completed construction on a LEED building last year. Check out the website. www.vanderbilt.edu/sustainvu for more details.

Thanks for your interest,
Mark

It's Been Busy

Mon, 17 Nov 2008 06:03 GMT

Half way through Mod 2, things are as busy as always. With most of my classmates traveling all the country for interviews, I only bump into the first years these days. Though I am extremely excited at the prospect of finally completing my masters next May, I am already beginning to feel nostalgic about Owen. It's been an interesting ride. I remember asking myself last year if this whole exercise of coming to School was a value add? Today my answer to this question is a resounding yes!

My most important lesson has been to realize that there are still a million things to learn about. While it may not be feasible to gain expertise about every subject, it's been great to gain even a high level understanding of different subjects. Also I've learnt how to prioritise. All this is going through my mind as I sit down to register for courses for the spring semsester...Hmmm which courses should I sign up for this time?

My Starbucks Idea...

Sat, 15 Nov 2008 09:30 GMT
So I was curiou s about Starbucks recent decision to go with the Gold Card. http://www.starbucks.com/GoldCard/index.html I pulled this post off of my starbucks idea. A place where anyone can submit an idea or comment on Starbuck's corporate strategy. http://mystarbucksidea.force.com/ideaView?id=08750000000599nAAA...

Greetings From The Net Impact 2008 Conference!

Fri, 14 Nov 2008 16:36 GMT

Greetings from Wharton and the 2008 Net Impact Conference. Most of the 20-student delegation from Owen arrived last night and we're now in the massive Irvine Auditorium waiting for the first keynote, Owen Board of Visitors Members, John Brock of Coca-Cola Enterprises.

OwenBloggers was excited to be a part of the 2007 Conference, hosted by Owen, and is excited to have several bloggers on site with us this year to offer insights and of course, our unique on-the-ground perspective.

As always, if you like what you see or want us to offer up perspective on a particular part of the conference, leave a comment or email us at owenbloggers@gmail.com.

Thanks to our fabulous hosts here at Wharton who have so far put on a great conference.

Fomalhaut b

Thu, 13 Nov 2008 19:01 GMT
Sauron’s Eye? Nope! A real planetary body. Funny how life imitates fiction.

Fall is here...

Thu, 13 Nov 2008 08:24 GMT

Fall has come. From what I have seen, the colors are very nice as in Texas we typically don’t get that great of a change. The leaves go from green to brown with no varieties in reds and oranges along the way. But here on campus it is truly beautiful.
Obama plans to make the energy crisis his top priority and hopes to accomplish this crisis with nuclear power. I am very surprised that he finally conceded to nuclear. From an engineering and financial standpoint it makes great sense. I believe it’s the only way we can move that is readily available without a crisis and in a timely manner.

What it comes down to is that America could use a cultural reality check in energy consumption and lifestyle. And maybe nuclear isn't the way to go. A slow progression towards more 'natural' energy could work but this would just upset the economy even more.

But If everyone isn’t crying about how much gas costs, they are definitely b*tching that they can’t afford to pay for gas because they don’t have jobs, right?

It is fall. Ride your bike.

Discover Weekend

Wed, 12 Nov 2008 15:18 GMT
This past weekend Owen had another highly successful Discover Weekend. DW is our twice-a-year recruiting event where anyone who wants to get a feel for the school is invited to join for a Saturday full of all things Owen. As...

Timing Is Everything

Wed, 12 Nov 2008 14:59 GMT
Recently a Deutsche Bank analyst revised his price target for GM's stock from $4 down to $0. The first-order ramifications of such a reality are almost too enormous to comprehend, much less the second- and third-order effects. The nation's unemployment...

Pizza 'n Prep w/Prof. Steve Hoeffler - Owen Lobby

Tue, 11 Nov 2008 14:09 GMT

owenbloggers posted a photo:

Marketing Professor Steve Hoeffler holds an evening session prior to a case deadline in core marketing.

Work Hard, Play Hard

Mon, 10 Nov 2008 14:47 GMT
上周是我在美国度过的第一个万圣节，Owen有一个自己的Party，同学们的打扮各...

OwenBloggers :: The Talk Show - 11.09.2008

Sun, 09 Nov 2008 16:55 GMT

It's been a long, long weekend and an even longer week. Astrid recaps Discover Weekend and Jared explains why Professor Mike Shor is a threat to Astrid's reality television watching.

Discover Weekend

The Stage: The Disneyland of Country Bars?

Mike Shor's Pricing & Game Theory Class

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