Welcome
This is an interactive forum for the professional MBA students at UCLA Anderson School of Management
ProMBA.org Topics:
- Alumni Reflection (3)
- Anderson Community (32)
- Anderson Events (18)
- Biz Community (7)
- Role Models (5)
- Student fellows (15)
"Must-read"
UCLA Weather
Financial Crisis: Separating Fact from Fiction
Posted on October 14th, 2008.
Categories: Anderson Events.
On Oct 11th, Anderson school holds the second Town Hall meeting, discussing the latest events surrounding the finacial crisis. If you missed it, here is the Video: http://mediasite1.anderson.ucla.edu/Anderson/Viewer?peid=a19a3de5-5b98-4dd5-af1f-f1eb7460010a. You must have Anderson access to view the video.
The first Town Hall meeting on Oct 1st “Understand the current financial crisis and what it meant to you” can be viewed here http://mediasite1.anderson.ucla.edu/Anderson/Viewer/Viewers/Viewer320TL.aspx?mode=Default&peid=45c29d44-e01e-4ee3-8566-8ee07b9124c6&pid=4c615f1b-7ecf-4510-bcef-a64191917db9
Price Center Veteran program drives a social responsible business desire
Posted on October 4th, 2008.
Categories: Alumni Reflection, Anderson Community.
Gregory Murray was the youngest participant at the Entrepreneur Bootcamp for Veterans with disability (EBV) at UCLA Anderson School.
“That is true I was the youngest person attending the EBV program. Although the program admitted veterans of all ages most have been released from service within the past two years. These are the same people that I went trough training and fought with, and now we a taking charge of our future.”
After a week at Anderson, Greg went away with a burning desire to start a business that is socially responsible. His business idea is was based on a patented technology that utilized a new fiber source to produce corrugated paper and cardboard for the packaging industry. The technology allows a significant reduction in water usage in the process and at the same time help saving trees.
Greg, please share with us your impression and experience of your time at UCLA Anderson school?
“I was shocked not only by the caliber of training the UCLA Anderson School offered but the immense generosity and hospitality provided by professors, students, and volunteers was heart warming and overwhelming. The Anderson school and it’s programs are very impressive, and I will forever appreciate my participation within that community.”
“I had heard from one of the fellows of the EBV program that most MBA students rarely spend much time with professor Al Osborne. The professor was overly gracious with his time and efforts to share his kowledge with us and supply us with every opportunity to become successful entrepreneurs. I couldn’t put down in words how much I learned from this man, and am just humbled and grateful to have the opportunity to learn from him. “
“Everything. That’s a pretty short and simple answer, but to be honest every aspect of our program was a wealth of needed knowledge.”
Only 2 weeks left! And you have less than 4 minutes
Posted on September 26th, 2008.
Categories: Anderson Community.
to let the World know the reason why FEMBA is #1.
Whether you are a current FEMBA or an alum, you have every reasons to enter the UCLA Anderson FEMBA Video Contest - to demonstrate, in less than 4 mins, with your compassion what sets UCLA Anderson FEMBA program apart. Is it the rigor of the program? The world class faculty? The insightful peer group? The state of the art facility? The fabulous Beverly Hills location on the sunny So Cal? OK, I am not going to try to second guess you, just tell us. But be quick before the Contest closes on Oct 13th. More information is here at http://adsgorilla.com/femba.
Getting to the Top in Marketing - OCT 7, 2008 from 6:00pm
Posted on September 24th, 2008.
Categories: Anderson Events.
Do you aspire to become Chief Marketing Officer or Vice President of Marketing? Are you looking to advance in careers in marketing, product marketing/management, brand management or public relations? What skills or experiences do you need to build a strong
career in marketing? UCLA Anderson School of Management together with executive recruiting firm Kathryn Ullrich Associates, Inc. is offering this marketing installment in the career development series Getting to the Top. This series explores how successful
leaders in the industry leverage the necessary knowledge and skills to get to the top.
Senior marketing executives with backgrounds from American Express, Disney, Mattel, Sage
Software, Symantec, Xerox, Universal Studios and MGM/United Artists will share their tips
and best practices for advancing to the next level in your career.
No cost for current students. More information and registration on
http://alumni.anderson.ucla.edu/events/details.aspx?itemnbr=1487&id=la
Jim McDermott’s on entrepreneurship
Posted on August 11th, 2008.
Categories: Alumni Reflection, Role Models.
By Giang Biscan
Jim McDermott was the co-Founder of Stamps.com (NASDAQ: STMP). His concept was first created in 1996 while he was in his MBA program at UCLA Anderson. He and few friends at UCLA got together and built what is today the world largest company for online postal service.
“I never seem to fit into any jobs.” – Jim explained why entrepreneurship seems like a natural option for him. “I heard many people talking about wanting to start a business, but at the end of the day, they’d rather spend time relaxing, which is not a bad thing, but you just need to understand your needs and what matters to you.”
Looking back, raising the initial VC money was probably the toughest time for stamps.com founders. “We were very young, in our 20s.”-Jim said – “We had to knock on many doors.”
“People should take a view that raising money is like doing a sale job.”- said Jim-“Some people have no trouble selling their products, yet have a tough time at raising money. The sooner you get your head around the idea that raising money is just like a sale of your company, the better you will be. You will then accept that some people will not buy, but someone else will.”. Jim also advises that entrepreneurs should not focus too much on the terms of the deals and lose out on the opportunity to be funded: “I took a long term view of my career. I figure the end game is big enough, so I was OK that investors took a large part of my company. Especially during the credit crunch, the time is tough, the winner will be the one that has enough cash to hang on.”
“So what was the highlight of your Anderson’s experience?” – I asked. “Writing the business plan for the business” – Jim smiled – “We entered the Knapp (business plan) competition but we lost to another team who had a design for a scrapper that can clean grass from the bottom of lawn mowers.” Jim and his team learned from the process and made improvements to their business plan.
To my question “What’s your advice to aspiring entrepreneurs?”, Jim said “Do what you love! It is already tough enough (to build a business); you want to spend all of your hours doing what you love. I have always been fascinated with the postal system, I read everything I found about it. I remember writing a paper on postal service system when I was 9 years old.”
Today, Jim is working “on the other side” as an investor. His investment focuses on businesses with renewable and green technology.
Step Up Women’s Network - Wellness Panel
Posted on July 29th, 2008.
Categories: Anderson Community.
Step Up Women’s Network is pleased to present another dynamic panel to keep our members and guests in the know, while building relationships and networking. Our Alternative Wellness Panel will feature Eastern Medicine, Psychology and Integrative Medicine, and Meditation with round tables led by Step Up members working in alternative health professions. Join us to hear renowned author, psychiatrist and integrative medical practitioner Dr. Hyla Cass speak on ways to stay healthy beyond the scope of western medical practices. Dr Cass appears regularly as an expert in the field, on radio, TV (including the CBS Evening News with Dan Rather, and MSNBC), and in publications such as the Los Angeles Times, The Toronto Star, Cosmopolitan, Time Magazine, and People Magazine. Build relationships with health entrepreneurs as you explore how to empower your wellness experience.
Location: Korn Convocation Hall
Time: Tuesday July 29th from 6:30pm
On Campus Recruiting - requirements deadline August 2nd
Posted on July 18th, 2008.
Categories: Anderson Community.
Please take note of the following reminder: In order to get access to MyRecruiting for Full Time positions that is coming up next school year, you will need to meet the following requirements by August 2, 2008:
- Attend a Self-Assessment Workshop
- Attend a Research Workshop
- Attend a Networking Workshop
- Attend a Resume and Cover Letter Workshop (Template attached and on the website)
- Attend an Interviewing Workshop
- Attend a webinar that will teach you how to use the MyRecruiting system
- Sign and submit the On Campus Recruiting Contract (Attached)
- Meet with a FEMBA Career Counselor at least once to help you target your career efforts. E-mail Carrie or Irith.
The dates of the workshops and webinar are below. Email to: Anne.delacruz@anderson to RSVP! More information at http://www.anderson.ucla.edu/x14797.xml
After fulfilling the requirements, third year FEMBAs can include their resume in the Class of 2009 Full-time Position Resume Book. Full instructions will be given during the Resume and Cover Letter workshop.
On Campus Recruiting Dates for Full-Time Positions:
Deadline to fulfill the requirements is August 2
The deadline for the resume book is August 6
The first resume deadlines are in the week of September 22
The first corporate events are October 6
The first interviews are on October 20
Offering #1: Saturday, July 19 in Room B313
9:00-10:30: Self-Assessment
10:30-11:30: Research
11:30-12:30: Networking
LUNCH BREAK
1:30-3:00: Resume and Cover Letters
3:00-4:30: Interviewing
Offering #2: Sunday, July 27 in Room B313
9:00-10:30: Self-Assessment
10:30-11:30: Research
11:30-12:30: Networking
LUNCH BREAK
1:30-3:00: Resume and Cover Letters
3:00-4:30: Interviewing
Offering #3: Saturday, August 2 in Room B313
9:00-10:30: Resume and Cover Letters
10:30-12:00: Interviewing
LUNCH BREAK
1:00 - 2:30: Self Assessment
2:30 - 3:30: Research
3:30 - 4:30: Networking
My Recruiting Offerings
Offering #1: Monday, July 14, 2008 from 12:00 - 1:00 PM
Offering #2: Monday, July 21, 2008 from 8:00 - 9:00 PM
Offering #3: Wednesday, July 30, 2008 from 8:00 - 9:00 PM
An interview with Andrea Swanson - the winner of John Wooden Global Leadership Award
Posted on July 3rd, 2008.
Categories: Anderson Community, Student fellows.
By Giang Biscan, PhD (President of ProMBA.org)
Photo: Andrea Swanson with Howard Schultz, Chairman, CEO and President of Starbucks
Andrea, congratulations! Please tell us a little bit about the John Wooden Global Leadership Fellowship. What is considered the spirit of the John Wooden Fellowship?
UCLA Anderson worked with John Wooden to create the John Wooden Global Leadership Award. The award honors a corporate leader who has demonstrated exemplary character that is consistent with John Wooden’s spirit of leadership. Howard Schultz, the chairman, CEO and president of Starbucks, was the first recipient of the award. The fellowships were created from the proceeds of the award dinner, and the recipients were also selected based on the characteristics of John Wooden’s spirit of leadership, which include ethics, team spirit, skill, hard work, loyalty, and innovation.
Please share with us some of your leadership reflections that has captured the attention of the outstanding selection panel?
Anderson has afforded me the opportunity to have some great new experiences and test out skills that I otherwise never would have discovered. My FEMBA experience has helped me realize the power of viewing myself in an entirely new light and in being willing to embrace that new perspective to achieve my potential. What might be surprising is that my path toward greater self-awareness has required a lot of support and feedback from others. Although I don’t know with certainty, I believe that the tremendous support from my teammates at Anderson helped to capture the attention of the selection committee.
What does it mean for you personally, to win the fellowship? Where to from here? Will you be doing anything differently?
Once I got over the initial shock of the news, I felt both humbled and proud. John Wooden is an icon and a role model. It’s an incredible honor to receive a fellowship that is tied to his reputation, and I feel a sense of duty to live up to the expectations of an honor like this.
John Wooden states that “success is peace of mind, which is a direct result of self-satisfaction in knowing you did your best to become the best you are capable of becoming.” I don’t know that there’s anything explicit that I’ll be doing differently, but I think the fellowship further fueled my drive to always strive for my personal best.
In the celebration of the Fellowship award, you had the opportunity to have lunch with Howard Schultz, CEO of Starbucks. What were the highlights of the meeting for you? What did you learn from him in this special occasion?
Howard Schultz’s sincerity and down-to-earth personality struck me. He was incredibly humble for somebody who had redefined an industry and had led Starbucks to multibillion-dollar success. The lunch discussion was a great opportunity to hear Howard describe his vision for Starbucks in the context of values-based leadership, or in his words, “building a company with soul.”
There’s a lot of news about the transgressions of corporate leaders, and what stood out to me during the lunch was a discussion about the loss of a moral compass in the business world. Talking to Howard made me realize the opportunity that students at Anderson and other MBA programs, as future leaders, have to re-establish that moral compass. Starbucks’ culture is a reflection of Howard’s values, but it’s just one company fighting the tidal wave of criticism for its unwillingness to take short-term gains at the expense of its long-term vision. While I was reassured to know that Howard’s success is proof that there is a place for values in corporate America, the discussion pointed to the need for greater personal integrity and accountability at the upper echelons of business. MBA students have an opportunity that I’m not sure that we all realize: we can change the playing field of the business world and re-define its fundamentals by choosing to follow our own moral compass and expecting the same of those around us.
Thank you, Anderson community - from GCBA
Posted on June 3rd, 2008.
Categories: Anderson Community.
Thanks to your generous support, we have collected a total of $6,818 through donations and profits from food sales. The money has already been wire-transferred to the Red Cross Society of China for earthquake relief under the name of UCLA Anderson.
So many times, when a disaster of this magnitude happens in a far-far-away land such as the deep mountains of central China, without seeing the collapsed schools and the ruins of millions of homes, without hearing the survivors’ anguished cries, calling out for their lost families, without feeling the victims’ agony, fear, and despair, and without BEING THERE, we
can hardly imagine the devastation inflicted upon the people who are immediately affected. What reaches us is often a mere number, a lifeless number without a name, a face, and a story. Till this day, Mother Nature has claimed 68,858 lives without showing a glimpse of mercy, and 18,618 people are still on the “missing list” 18 days after the quake.
But this time, thousands of miles away from the epicenter of the rumbling earth, across the vast Pacific Ocean, here at Anderson, we’ve seen the connection, the heartfelt concerns and deep compassion from so many familiar and warm faces! The charity drive reached out to just about the entire Anderson community (faculty and staff, MBA, FEMBA, EMBA and other students) as well as other people who learned about this event from other sources or who simply passed by. GCGA would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your great support and generosity. We are so proud to be part of this
strong and caring community.
With 366,586 people injured, more than 5 million homeless and with countless public facilities, farmland and factories destroyed, and with many places under the immediate threat of deadly flood due to damaged reservoirs and dams, the road to recovery will be long and painful for the victims. We will continue to follow and support the relief effort in China and keep you updated of the progress to the extent possible.
Thank you again, Anderson, for extending a helping hand to the China earthquake victims in need!
Anderson Affiliates Program
Posted on June 3rd, 2008.
Categories: Anderson Community.
By VanAn Tranchi (Anderson Affiliates Chair)
I am writing to provide you with an exciting update from this past Saturday’s PreGraduation Celebration. Thank you to Marisol Gutierrez and Elizabeth Ballmer for organizing such a wonderful event.
May 31 PreGraduation Celebration Pledges
We entered into Saturday’s event with each section having less than 10% participation. That afternoon, Section 1 had 8 more contributions for $5,150; Section 2 had 9 more contributions for $9,900; and Section 3 had 26 more contributions for $21,900! So, on Saturday we had 43 additional contributions totaling $36,950!!!
Total Gifts as of 5/31/08
Below is the chart of the total class contributions as of May 31. We are at 48.2% of our $100,000 total fundraising goal. Forty of your classmates have provided gifts or pledges of $1,000 or more. Their names will be included on the donor wall in room A305.
We only have 31% total class participation. Remember, we are trying to surpass last year’s 70% participation rate.
Total # of Students Total # of Pledges $ Pledged %
Participation
Section 1 60 13 $8,050 21.7%
Section 2 71 14 $13,400 19.7%
Section 3 66 34 $26,750 51.5%
TOTAL 197 61 $48,200 31.0%
Section Competition
The race is still on for the section competition. So far Section 3 is taking the lead with over 50% participation! Those who contributed $100 or more from the winning section will receive a zip front Anderson sweatshirt.
Take a look at the thermometers in A305 to see whose beautiful ID photo is missing from your class and get them to contribute to the campaign! The competition will run through this Friday, June 6. The winning section can redeem their sweatshirts at the post Graduation reception on June 13.
May 31 Raffle
Congratulations to the following Raffle Prize winners! Thanks to our friends at Showtime, Xanh Bistro, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art and to Assoc. Dean Freixes, Dan Sena and Richard Oshlove for their generous contributions.
May 31st, 2008 FEMBA Pre-Grad Event
Drawing Winners
Showtime Gift Pack (Weeds) Courtesy of Dianne Hatelstad
Winner: Faye Walsh
Showtime Gift Pack (Brotherhood) Courtesy of Dianne Hatlestad
Winner: Elizabeth Estrada
Showtime Gift Pack (Dexter) Courtesy of Dianne Hatlestad
Winner: John Confrey
Showtime Gift Pack (L Word) Courtesy of Dianne Hatlestad
Winner: Scout You
Patron Level Membership LACMA Courtesy of LACMA
Winner: Kerry Norris Wright
Patron Level Membership LACMA Courtesy of LACMA
Winner: Faye Walsh
Dinner for two to Xanh Bistro Courtesy of Chef Haley Nguyen
Winner: Peter Johns
Assortment of Selected Works of Universal Music Artists Courtesy of Dan Sena
Winner: David Wible
Signed Copy of “Wooden on Leadershup” and bag of Starbucks Coffee Courtesy of John Wooden and Howard Schultz
Winner: Surendranath Ramasubbu
Signed Copy of “Wooden on Leadershup” and bag of Starbucks Coffee Courtesy of John Wooden and Howard Schultz
Winner: Brian Pfaff
Museum Pass Package Courtesy of VanAn Tranchi
Winner: Richard Olshove
UCLA Anderson Alumni Network Gift Bag Courtesy of the Office of Alumni Relations
Winner: Kalyan Ayyaswamy
UCLA Anderson Logo Hood Courtesy of Office of Development
Winner: Judd Lather
UCLA Anderson Full Front Zip Hood Courtesy of Office of Development
Winner: Jeff Cornell
$50 UCLA Store Gift Card Courtesy of Office of Development
Winner: Tiffany Yu
Connect and Contribute
For those of you who already contributed a gift, thank you! Don’t forget to try to double your contribution through your company’s matching program.
To pledge today, go to the following website:
http://alumni.anderson.ucla.edu/give/affiliates_femba.aspx
Don’t forget to update your information on the alumni database:
http://internal.anderson.ucla.edu/apps/alumni/update/alum_update.cgi
Congratulations on your amazing accomplishment of getting through three years of FEMBA. Best of luck with the rest of the quarter and I will see you at graduation!
Anderson Cabaret 2008 - a great success
Posted on June 1st, 2008.
Categories: Anderson Community.
By Ryan Matulka (Anderson Salsa Club)
Take a look at your fellow Andersonites and what they accomplished in this video of the Cabaret performance. Congratulate each of them when you see them at school. In the true Anderson spirit, the performance was a team effort and each person contributed something great, including some people that were not on the stage with us.
http://www.youtube.
http://www.youtube.
Performers:
- Andrei Jerkovich FEMBA
- Tina Lee 1st year MBA
- Ardelle Potter 1st year MBA
- Takako Ogawa 1st year MBA
- Sara Simonson 2nd year MBA
- Paula Moffet 1st year MBA
- Rhoda Rahaii 1st year MBA
- Lorena Villarreal 1st year MBA
- Ryan Matulka 2nd year MBA
- Dimitrios Andritsos PhD candidate
- Kevin Schroder 2nd year MBA
- Steve Toomey 2nd year MBA
- Andrei Aleksandrov 1st year MBA
- Bryan Meyer 1st year MBA
Have a great summer!
Raffle prizes needed for Anderson Affiliates Campaign
Posted on May 27th, 2008.
Categories: Anderson Community.
Anderson Affiliates Campaign is an annual fund raising tradition at our school for the Dean’s discretionary funds. This year, the total fund rasied by the FEMBA and EMBA classes will be put towards the expansion project of the OPMBA lounge/business center. This is an exciting project that directly benefits YOU, the current OPMBAs. (Check out the plan in A305.)
To encourage the graduating FEMBA class to contribute to the fund, there will be a raffle draw for contributors towards this Campaign on this Saturday May 31st. (Each $100 donation qualifies a raffle ticket.)
So here is how we need your help: We are looking for raffle prizes for this draw. The raffle prize that you can help contributing may be gift vouchers, discount or merchandise that you or your company are able to donate. Your contributions are tax deductible - simply complete the Deed of Gift here.
Click here for more information on the Anderson Affliates Program.
For more information, contact VanAn Tranchi - Anderson Affiliates Chair at vanan.tranchi.2008@anderson.ucla.edu.
Carbaret 2008 - Alice in WonderAnderson
Posted on May 27th, 2008.
Categories: Anderson Community.
THIS Thursday, May 29th at the Mayan Theater [7pm - 2am]
Main Show Featuring Performances from Quixotic, Banderson, Ersne Ermo’s Hiphop Extravaganza, The SABA Dancers, Salsa Club, Josh Fields’ Main Street Electrical Show, and many, many more!
followed by The Andies Awards - After-party with Party Favors at the Mayan Theater
Plus Cabaret Pre-party - Sponsored by Anderson Afternoon (4:30-6:00pm, North Lawn)
Show and Bus* Tickets on Sale Now in the Courtyard or Online here for Trailer and tickets.
$30-ticket only ($35 at the door)
$40-ticket with bus*
*Free beer on the bus! Cash bar at the Mayan. Bus leaves at 6:00pm directly from the pre-Party!
Buses will make return trips throughout the night. Email cabaret08@anderson.ucla.edu with questions.
All-schools Sunset Cruise & Dinner
Posted on May 27th, 2008.
Categories: Biz Community.
The MBA Alumni organizations of Southern California is holding the anual private Sunset Cruise for the MBA community of Southern California this Sunday June 1st, 2008 at 5:45pm. Ticket is $75, including a buffet, softdrinks and a cash bar on a Sunset Cruise of the Fantasea Yachts of Marina del Rey. Participating schools include UCLA, Wharton, USC, Standford, Kellogg, and many others.
Click here to buy tickets.
Future FEMBAs
Posted on May 20th, 2008.
Categories: Anderson Community.
Elizabeth organized a great significant others lunch last Saturday for the Pro-MBAs. Check out terrific photos of the future F/EMBAs - the children at the lunch: http://internal.anderson.ucla.edu/femba/SignificantOther/. You need to have Anderson access to see the photos. Thanks to Manuel for the photos.
Donation drive for China quake
Posted on May 19th, 2008.
Categories: Anderson Community.
On Behalf of the GCBA ~
Updated on May 22nd: As of today, $7000 was raised from our relatively small community. Thanks to all contributing.
As you all have heard from the news, a massive earthquake hit southwestern China on Monday. As of Thursday, May 15, the quake had already taken over 19,500 lives, injured over 102,100 people, and devastated the livelihood of millions of innocent civilians in affected areas. What’s even more devastating is the fact that there are more than 1,405 people listed as missing, and nearly 12,300 people are confirmed to be buried in debris clinging to hopes of an eventual rescue.
C4C supports UCLA Anderson UCLA Anderson Greater China Business Association (GCBA) in their efforts to organize a donation drive to help in this event.
When: Lunchtime, 5/19-5/22 Mon-Thurs
What: Chinese gourmet lunchboxes and Bubble Tea will be sold in Andreson Courtyard. Proceeds will be donated to Red Cross Association of China.
How You Can Help: (1) Buy food from GCBA (2) Make a donation (3) Spread the Word.
Interested in Volunteering with GCBA during Lunch? Contact Paul Song (xiangyue.song.2008@anderson.ucla.edu)
Can’t Stop By Lunch but Have a Donation?
- Section A: Qingbai Cao (Rex)
- Section B: Genping Liu
- Section C: Yuan Yuan
- Section D: Wei Huang (David)
- Section E: Yuan Liu (Ryan)
- FEMBA: Jessie Xu
- 2nd Year: Paul Song
For immediate donations through Credit Cards online, please visit
https://american.redcross.org/site/Donation2?idb=1912261833&df_id=3198&3198.donation=form1
Thank you in advance for your support!
Dean Freixes’ presentation on tax deduction
Posted on March 14th, 2008.
Categories: Anderson Community.
OPMBA Dean Gonzalo Freixes has graciously presented a tax seminar regarding MBA tuition deductions on March 8th. If you missed the presentation, you can access the video or the slides from the links below. You must have Anderson access in order to access.
Mediasite video recording:
http://mediasite1.anderson.ucla.edu/Anderson/Viewer/?peid=f329a1d5c0fc40f7aa7ee47bf361e5f2
The slides:
http://www.anderson.ucla.edu/Documents/areas/prg/femba/Tax-Lecture-2008-FEMA.zip
So… got your ticket?
Posted on February 20th, 2008.
Categories: Anderson Community.
I’m talking about the Woo conference next week. Clearly one of the most important events here at Anderson, the Woo Greater China conference brings together business leaders, academics and students to discuss business trends, challenges and impact of the increasing role of the Greater China in the global economy.
This year panels include discussions on investment in China, the new frontier of China entertainment market, real estate, and China-related business career.
As a student at Anderson, we receive exceptional discount, so don’t miss out on this opportunity. Check out the conference website at http://www.anderson.ucla.edu/x18995.xml. See you there!
International Food Festival - Feb 21st
Posted on February 10th, 2008.
Categories: Anderson Community.
The International Food Festival is back on Feb 21st at the Alumni Plaza, with food and beverages from over 20 countries around the world. There will be live DJ, Salsa performance, Anderson’s own rock band Quixote, Indian performance and much more. Tickets are on sale now. Watch out for the International Business Association in the court yad during lunch next week.
This is an Anderson exclusive event. Friends and families are welcome. Children must be accompanied by parents.
Winter Quarter Mid-Term FEMBA Council Update
Posted on February 10th, 2008.
Categories: Anderson Community.
By Judd Lather (FEMBA Council President)
It’s hard to believe Winter Quarter is half over. Time sure flies by when you’re balancing work, school, and family life.
I’m writing to give you a quick update on some activities the FEMBA Council is currently undertaking. Many of these items come directly from your input into the FEMBA Survey that’s completed each Spring Quarter.
- IT improvements, including a new webmail interface
- More Exchange articles about the FEMBA experience
- Increasing FEMBA exposure to the Anderson Alumni Network
- More flexible course offerings and block electives
- Bidding and GAP Knowledge Transfer Sessions for 2009s
- 2008 Pre-Graduation Celebration
- End-of-the-Year party
FEMBA Council will be holding officer elections on March 1st, when a new slate of folks from 2009 and 2010 will take over the leadership of the Council. Next time I write, I’ll be introducing the new officers for the 2008-2009 academic year. Having worked directly with many of the candidates, I’m confident the FEMBA program will continue to grow and improve for years to come.
Good luck on mid-terms. See you on campus.
Legendary role model Heidi Roizen – healthy & back on the entrepreneurial track
Posted on January 29th, 2008.
Categories: Role Models.
Is losing weight and getting fit one of your New Year resolutions? You need a good companion to help you stay committed. How about music? Our ProMBA.org legendary role model, Heidi Roizen, previously in this article, has just the solution for you: SkinnySongs. So what is it about?
“In May I hit my all time high weight,” Heidi begins, “so I decided to commit myself to losing it for good this time. I wanted to find music that would keep me motivated about getting in shape and sticking to my diet. While I normally exercise to music by artists like Pink and Carrie Underwood, and their music is great, their lyrics didn’t speak to me about what I was trying to do. I figured, there is great, empowering music about all sorts of topics, there must be for this too. But, I searched for it, and just couldn’t find any.”
That is when Heidi decided to create her own hip music. She wrote the kind of lyrics she herself wanted to hear – stories about making a commitment, sticking to a plan, and getting into that skinny pair of jeans in the back of the closet. She then collaborated with accomplished music producers David Malloy (who has forty Number One Awards to his name) and George Daly (whose career has included senior roles at Columbia and Atlantic Records), to create songs that range in style from driving rock to jamming hip hop, featuring amazingly talented emerging artists.
Heidi, this is inspirational! I notice that you don’t have a music background, but you make it happen. Heidi, if not so much the background, what are the “must have” ingredients of an entrepreneur?
While some elements of the music industry are certainly different from the software industry, the basics of getting SkinnySongs off the ground was not that different from launching T/Maker 25 years ago. It required coming up with an idea that was unique and also something I was passionate about, doing the ‘homework’ of building a business model, researching the competition, the market opportunity, making sure I had startup costs covered, and then the most important thing, tracking down the most talented people I could find and talking them into doing this!
You have been through a whole range of perspectives: as an entrepreneur, as a corporate executive, and then on “the other side of the table” as a VC. Now that you are back as an entrepreneur, what have you learned and done differently than the last time?
Now I know that I need more patience. Not only is ‘if you build it they will come’ not true, but ‘if you build it and you are written up in USATODAY and appear on the Martha Stewart Show they STILL won’t come — at least not in the numbers you ultimately need. Consumer businesses build over time and it takes a lot of blocking and tackling, daily grunt work.
In addition to cheerful and motivating music, you also have a SkinnySongs T-shirt stores with fun and funky slogans like “Do not feed” or “Body Under Construction”. What else should be we expecting from your exciting adventure in the next 6 months?
You’ll just have to watch my site. I have plenty of ideas!
You can check out the upbeat tunes of SkinnySongs here at http://www.skinnysongs.com. Heidi’s personal website is at http://heidi.roizen.com.