Bob McDonald, CEO of Proctor & Gamble comes to the University of Utah

On February 24th, I had the unique opportunity and honor to act as a representative of the David Eccles School of business. I was asked to personally thank Bob McDonald, CEO of Proctor & Gamble, for sharing his time with us. Bob, as he insisted on being called, spoke to the business school about the purposes that drive the many Proctor & Gamble brands, a little history on how he reached his position, and some of the non-profit ventures the company has initiated.

He expressed passion in particular for the Children's Safe Drinking Water Program--a program that delivers water purification solvent to needy areas around the world. This program has saved countless lives and has had particular impact in helping the devastated community of Haiti. The school donated $250 to this program in his name, and it was my honor to present Bob this news. He was visibly moved, and very gracious, thanking us for donating to the cause.

It was truly an honor and pleasure to hear Bob McDonald speak at our school! I even got a picture with him!

Jacob Perry

MBA Candidate 2010

WorkNet visit with Richter7 Advertising Agency

As part of one of the WorkNet trips that I help organize, we were able to get one with Richter7. This was my fourth WorkNet visit. Each takes on its own personality. The visit with Richter7 was brief but interesting. It’s an exciting company in an exciting industry. I’d go back in a second.

Richter7 is a branding agency based out of Salt Lake who has done work for AMEX, NBC, Disney, and Micron. They were also hired to represent Park City during the Olympics.
Right off the bat, the atmosphere was amazing. The office is in a restored car dealership. Their aesthetic is based off the concept of “industrial elegance” which pervades every element of the office, from the artwork to the lighting to the conference table, which is a work of art in itself. I really enjoyed meeting the staff. It was interesting to observe the variety of specialists necessary to run a full service operation.

It’s one thing to hear about new forms of media buying and the exploitation of social media, but quite another to actually see people doing it. The presentation by Peggy Lander, Partner and Executive VP of Client Services was very interesting. She showed us many of the graphics and materials used in a variety of their ad campaigns which made it all the more fascinating. The visit was brief, but a solid 20 minute Q&A allowed us to delve a bit into the evolution of the industry.

WorkNet visits are an opportunity to interact with local professionals in a learning, non-networking environment. Talking with these individuals gives you an inside perspective into a company, an industry, and a job or career. The way I see it, we study a lot of companies as MBAs but get to interact with few in the real world. Even when we get a jobs, we learn basically about the company for which we work. WorkNet exposes us to different cultures and different industries. I would hate to think I would spend years with a company when I would be much happier somewhere else. I think WorkNet helps keep this from happening. It gives me an idea of the types of companies with which I would like to end up.

To learn more about Richter7 and job postings, go to http://www.richter7.com/.

Utah Entrepreneur Challenge

The Utah Entrepreneur Challenge is Utah’s largest student run business plan competition. The entrepreneur experience for college and university students in the beehive state will never be the same. Thousands of students over the programs ten year history have submitted their business ideas in a head-to-head competition with other students.

What’s the purpose? For some it is strictly monetary: compete for tens of thousands of dollars in cash and in-kind services. For others it is an invaluable opportunity to learn how to take a business idea to the next level by developing the tools and business connections necessary to turn an idea into a business.

As Utah Entrepreneur Challenge (UEC) Director of Outreach for the 2009-2010 school year I have had first hand experience running part of this incredible competition. Entrepreneurs are inspiring people, but student entrepreneurs have a fire and passion all their own. My responsibility has been to create small business plan competitions, under the “Opportunity Quest” competitive umbrella, at eight colleges and universities throughout the state. Each of these schools are helping create the next generation of entrepreneurs.

Prize money, pomp and prestige aside, this competition will stretch and test even the most fail-safe business plan. It has made and will continue to make it competitor’s better business people in their respective communities and places of business. For these reasons I encourage any aspiring entrepreneur to compete in the UEC.

Tim Hale
MBA Candidate 2011

Join Board Fellows and make a difference.

Board Fellows is a collaborative program between the University of Utah-David Eccles School of Business, the Utah Nonprofits Association, and Net Impact, a student corporate social responsibility organization. The Program seeks to enhance and expand community partnerships and experiential learning. It is a student-run program promoting community involvement and leadership by placing masters’ level students as volunteer fellows on local nonprofit boards of directors. The Board Fellows program lasts the nine months of the academic school year (September - May).

Currently, I am the president of the David Eccles School of Business chapter of Board Fellows. As president, it is my responsibility to vet appropriate students and boards for the program, match students with nonprofits, maintain rapport with participating nonprofits, and to organize the spring Boardsmanship Panel.

Today, more and more companies are committed to CSR as part of their mission and values. As an MBA student, being part of Board Fellows demonstrates commitment to both corporate and social responsibility. It is a unique way to differentiate yourself to your prospective employers.

Samantha Austin Stigner
MBA Candidate 2010

***If you are interested in learning more about Board Fellow, email workbuildinnovate@gmail.com and we'll make sure to pass your message to the organization.

Business and Law. Perfect combination.

I moved to Utah to attend law school for three years. After only a few months, I realized my passion for corporate law and added an MBA to benefit my practice of law. I've never regretted that decision. My MBA education has been a valuable asset in helping to understand the motivations and the decisions facing corporations today.

I have tailored my MBA class schedule to focus on the areas related to legal responsibilities. In place of field studies, I have worked for credit for an enforcement litigator at the Securities & Exchange Commission and for an administrative law judge at the Utah Labor Commission. Each of the degrees have complemented the classes of the other and have led to a wider understanding of corporate needs and decision-making.

Arminda Jurgenson
JD/MBA Candidate 2011

Interested in Healthcare and Business? Consider an MBA/MHA joint degree!

I chose the MBA/MHA program because it presented me with the opportunity to get education specific to my future career interests. The additional MHA classes presented me with opportunities to learn business school principles as they are applied to healthcare organizations and businesses. It has increased my exposure to healthcare local healthcare executives and issues through the MHA capstone class. The joint program has also allowed me to find healthcare specific internships during my education and helped me gain exposure to healthcare fellowship opportunities after graduation.

For me, at a time when MBA degrees seem very plentiful, the joint degree program is a way for me to stand out in the health care arena with future employment. This track is something that anyone who is sure they want to work in healthcare should consider as a way to better prepare for a career in that field.

Bryson Brey
MBA/MHA Candidate 2011

Congratulations to Marc Stillman! Read about Marc's experience with L’Oréal.

Congratulations to Marc Stillman! He will be working at L’Oréal this summer. Marc is a first year MBA student at the University of Utah. Marc's hard work, dedication, and passion all played a crucial role in his success.

Marc's enthusiasm for fashion can be seen on his blog at www.lelakeeffect.com.

How did Marc do it? Here's his take on his experience and how he set himself apart:

Differentiation is critical for success in business. We learned about differentiation in Marketing, and as much as it applies to products and services, it applies to us as MBA candidates. Being able to differentiate yourself is what is going to get your name on the interview list, and help you get that all important interview or internship. Hundreds of MBA students across the country are competing for a shrinking job and internship pool, it is no longer sufficient to do well in courses, have strong work experience, or GMAT score. Along with those qualifications, being unique, well informed, passionate, and different is what is going to set you apart from the competition.

Way back in November I applied for a summer internship with L’Oréal in their Luxury Products division. The application was as challenging as one of Dr. Griffin’s cases, being 6 questions long and asking me to define a marketing mix, target market, and core benefit of Diesel’s Only The Brave. I received a phone interview a few weeks later, and right before Christmas break I was invited to a second round of interviews in New York City at the end of January. “A Taste of L’Oréal” as the weekend event was called, turned out to be exactly as the name implied, a chance for 40 potential internship candidates to get a taste of L’Oréal, it’s brands, the company culture, and the daily life of a marketer at the company. It was an incredible event held at the W in Midtown Manhattan, just blocks away from L’Oréals USA headquarters.

The weekend featured a cocktail networking event on Friday night where I was able to meet marketers, creative team members, and HR managers at L’Oréal and really get their perspective on what it is like to work for a Multinational Company in New York City. Saturday was an intense, but educational day, as all the potential interns were divided onto teams and worked on 4 cases under the watchful eye of L’Oréal evaluators. The evaluators were taking notice of how us candidates worked together on teams as well as our creative abilities, assertiveness, and the outcome of our decisions on the cases. After the case competition L’Oréal took us to a sit down dinner where we again had the opportunity to talk with L’Oréal representatives. The weekend ended with an interview on Sunday morning with the same marketers and HR managers we met throughout the weekend interviewing us as a final evaluation.

The entire weekend was a chance to differentiate myself from the other possible candidates. Having a strong knowledge of L’Oréals portfolio of brands, and the perfume and cosmetic industry was one way I stood apart from other candidates who might not have been as familiar with brands such as Yves Saint Laurent, Lancôme, and Shu Uemura.

Another way I was able to differentiate myself was though dressing uniquely and not being afraid to wear clothes that expressed my creativity and personal style. I started my own fashion website (www.lelakeeffect.com), and I blog about street fashion that I see in Salt Lake. My website gave me an excuse to initiate conversation, and talk about how I have applied what I’ve learned in the MBA program to the industries I am interested in. Finding a unique outlet such as writing a blog, performing with an arts group, getting published, and volunteering with a non-profit are great ways to differentiate you on your resume, and give experience for you to draw on during an interview. Finally, being able to connect with people while networking is another way to differentiate yourself from the competition.

Being personable, knowledgeable, cultured, and elegant are going to leave potential employers wanting to know about you, and invite you to an interview, internship, or job. If I could offer one simple tip it would be to always ask your interviewer for a business card after any interview so you will have their information to follow up with them. I always write a hand-written thank you note on Crane stationery because I know a simple email will be lost in the hundreds of other emails my recipient will get in any given day. Writing a hand written note on quality paper is a great way to thank them for the time they spent with you, and another way to set yourself apart and leave a unique impression on your interviewer.

Marc with Jean Baptiste

Marc working on a case study for L’Oréal

Having made it through the application process, phone interview, multiple case evaluations, and a personal interview, it is clear to me that companies are taking a more 360° approach to finding the right types of candidates. Competing with candidates from Harvard, Wharton, Columbia, and other top ranked schools ever emphasizes the pressing need to differentiate ourselves if we are to compete for internships and jobs on a national level. The hours I spent helping to differentiate myself by researching L’Oreal, reading up on industry changes, and meeting with Nancy Furlong to practice interviewing I’m happy to report, paid off. Last week I received a call from L’Oréal asking me to join them this summer in New York.