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Consortium MBA Blog 03 Sep 2020, 12:00
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FROM The Consortium Admissions Blog: What It’s Like to Start an MBA During a Pandemic


This article was originally written and published on LinkedIn on August 17, 2020, by Consortium member Brittany Floyd, a 2022 MBA candidate at the University of Rochester’s Simon Business School.

Before this year, starting a full-time MBA was a rite of passage met with professional conferences, pre-MBA travel, cohort bonding and hands-on career exploration. Business school at its core is all about learning, making connections and recruiting for future opportunities. But the pandemic, coupled with a time of social unrest, really changed the landscape for prospective students and schools, as well as for companies.

Schools were forced to rethink admissions requirements, quickly convert their curriculums to an online format, evaluate their diversity and inclusion efforts, support international students and still figure out how to provide maximum value based on the high price tag for business programs. Although some students decided to defer, most — like myself — decided it was worth the risk to carry on in times of uncertainty.

Companies are now under the spotlight based on how they support and protect their employees health and well-being and how agile they are during this time. They are also having to address inequities in their hiring practices and career development pipelines, and work to create short- and long-term plans to make their companies more diverse and inclusive than in the past.

Yes, most classes are online. 

I have taken over a dozen online courses in my [educational] career, and I have come to realize that the way courses are taught really matters. Although self-paced (asynchronous) learning is the standard, and quite frankly, the allure for online courses, synchronous classes provide the most in-class-like experience.

I took a few synchronous courses over the summer and found out that #ZoomCollege does allow for more natural class participation than discussion boards. Being able to see my classmates and professors faces enhanced the human element of learning and helped us foster closer bonds. Luckily, my school, Simon Business School, has selected a hybrid format and synchronous lectures, which will provide a platform for my classmates and I to get the closest-to-normal experience that is humanly possible during a global pandemic.

 All conferences were, and will continue to be, virtual. 

Conferences provide a platform for future and current MBA candidates to get in front of recruiters and to help build out a professional network. Honestly, one of the biggest concerns I had about starting during the pandemic was the possibility that I would miss out on genuine in-person connections and possible internship opportunities.

I attended The Consortium for Graduate Study in Management‘s annual conference, the Orientation Program & Career Forum, in June, and although it didn’t come without challenges, I was able to leverage technology to meet fellow students and companies of interest.

Despite so much uncertainty, I was able to secure MBA marketing internship offers from a few Fortune 500 Companies for summer 2021 in greater New York City. It goes to show that it is possible to recruit for top companies, even if you have to meet the entire team and go through multiple rounds of interviews on Zoom. Connections are still entirely real and possible.

To be quite honest, millennials make up the majority of incoming full-time MBA candidates this year (with an average age of 28) and, as a whole, are probably the most prepared to handle the virtual world, due to coming-of-age during the Digital Revolution. We have lived the majority of our lives connecting in some way or another on the internet using a range of technologies and mediums; we were built for this moment!

Uncertainty is uncertain, but it prepares us as future leaders.

More than ever, companies are looking for employees and future leaders who can thrive during uncertain times. Almost every company expressed wanting candidates who were agile, comfortable with ambiguity and able to work under pressure. The weight of this year, and those to follow, set us up to experience all that — plus some.

Even though my classmates and I didn’t anticipate this experience, we are poised to be some of the most resilient and capable leaders of the future. We will build more agile, innovative and strong businesses. Our strategic process and long-term planning will be informed by planning for problems no one has ever seen. We will be able to anticipate and assess problems in a superlative fashion. We are encountering such unique challenges at the beginning of our journey that may have taken other people decades to experience.

There is always a silver lining. 

This could have easily been one of the worst years of my life, but getting the opportunity to begin my MBA, even in these times, will give me the right tools to easily pivot into a career in marketing and consumer goods. I’m also lucky to have a small but mighty network of Simon alums and an incredibly dedicated administrative team to help me along the way.

It has also been extremely comforting to know that I’m not alone during this process, it is new for literally everyone. We are all trying our best and showing up every day to keep our lives moving along as best as possible. I am personally working toward accepting that we are entering a paradigm shift and that I have to be open and ready to influence and accept the new normal — whatever that’s going to be.

The post What It’s Like to Start an MBA During a Pandemic appeared first on The Consortium.
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Consortium MBA Blog 10 Sep 2020, 14:00
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FROM The Consortium Admissions Blog: Members of Class of 2022 Share First-Year Experiences, Including What Inspired Them to Get an MBA Now
Another academic year is underway, and that means many new MBA candidates have recently begun their journey toward career development and advancement, or a total career pivot. Despite a global pandemic, these students have chosen to move forward with their b-school plans and, as such, are facing some unique challenges and opportunities.

To learn more about these students’ motivations, goals and challenges, we decided to follow a few MBAs in The Consortium’s class of 2022. These students will share insights and experiences from their first year of b-school throughout the academic year. Read on to learn more about Consortium MBAs Alyssa Buchanan, Bryan Shepherd, Whitney Pollard and Chumar Williams. 

[b]Alyssa Buchanan[/b]

[b]The University of Texas at Austin, McCombs School of Business[/b]

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Alyssa Buchanan

My name is Alyssa Buchanan, and I am originally from St. Louis, Mo. I decided to pursue my MBA after five years of being a chemist because I wanted to expand my skill set and become a well-rounded leader. My post-MBA goals are to start a career in marketing so that I can be a voice for the consumer in my daily work. I knew that going to business school would provide the opportunity and exposure I needed to switch careers.

I chose to attend The University of Texas McCombs School of Business for three reasons: community, culture and brand. McCombs provides a community like none other; the culture is enticing, and the brand is world-renowned. Every person that I connected with prior to applying was very welcoming and eager to help me in any way possible. I am a strong believer in networking, so I knew that being able to rely on the McCombs community, even before I started as a student, was an asset.

School has only been in session for two weeks, and it has gone by very quickly. I don’t think any of my classmates, including myself, were prepared for the rapid downpour of information. (Nonetheless, we will survive!) I also didn’t have huge expectations for business school due to COVID-19. However, the McCombs program office has done a really good job making this experience enjoyable, despite the circumstances. I look forward to the remainder of the fall semester and to sharing with you all along the way. Hook ‘em!

[b]Bryan Shepherd[/b]

[b]Emory University, Goizueta Business School[/b]

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Bryan Shepherd

I’m Bryan Shepherd, and I was born and raised in Decatur, Ga. I’m now attending Emory’s Goizueta Business School. I have spent the last six years leading organizational development and executive search projects in both large and boutique firms, focusing mainly on clients in the technology and life science industries. In transitioning from research-level work to client delivery, I discovered a passion for helping clients create solutions to their most challenging search problems and for the process of earning their trust. Though this work provided challenges as well as learning, I want the opportunity to work further upstream in the consulting process, so I’ve decided to pursue my MBA; this experience will allow me to further develop the necessary skills to drive meaningful insights from data and to add value to strategy clients.

I knew I wanted to pursue a career path in strategy consulting, so this allowed me to reverse engineer my search. After coming up with a target list, I made my rounds to recruiting events around the country. I asked questions of current students, alumni and staff to find evidence of a collaborative environment, how the program supported development and challenged students, and how the program prepared students to thrive in consulting. I also generally paid attention to my own energy during these visits. If I found myself exhausted after forcing conversations, it was quite clear to me that I may not be the best fit for that program.

I want to help the world see that treating people well and making money aren’t opposites. From my MBA experience, I expect to develop a rich network of friends and colleagues of all backgrounds, I want to secure a strong opportunity in strategy consulting, and I want to challenge myself to further develop my quantitative skills. To those points, Goizueta has been a welcome challenge. I’m proud of how my program and my cohort have adapted to the situation at hand; no one planned to be in remote or hybrid classes, but we’ve supported one another and are making the best of this opportunity.

[b]Whitney Pollard[/b]

[b]University of Michigan, Ross School of Business[/b]

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Whitney Pollard

My name is Whitney Pollard, and I am from Baton Rouge, La. Fun fact: Prior to moving to Michigan for business school, I never lived above the Mason Dixon line. I went to Prairie View A&M University for undergrad and North Carolina A&T State University for graduate school, where I studied engineering.

Prior to business school, I worked in manufacturing, mostly as a front-line leader. In my last role as a manager, I started to see how people impact the bottom line. I also noticed that, often, when discussing productivity, the people strategy for hourly employees was often negated. It was then I started to realize that I rarely saw a retention structure for front-line workers, and I knew I wanted to advocate on their behalf. I thought the best way to do that would be to learn how business leaders think to develop a skill set that would allow me to differentiate myself as a leader in human resources management, so I decided to apply to business school.

I knew getting an MBA would be a major investment, and there were three major components I looked for in a program: career placement, alumni network and community. Not only did I find those things at Michigan Ross, but I also found a group of people who are focused on developing business solutions to address some of the world’s greatest issues. I knew that with starting business school during a global pandemic that would be another factor to consider when choosing a school. So, I closed my eyes and thought, “If I had to quarantine with a group of people, who would it be? When I lose focus, who would uplift me, and when I accomplish major milestones, who would celebrate with me?” The answer was clear that the University of Michigan would be the place I would call home for the next two years. I am proud to yell, “Go Blue!”

[b]Chumar Williams[/b]

[b]Washington University in St. Louis, Olin Business School[/b]

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Chumar Williams

My name is Chumar Williams, and I am an incoming Consortium fellow at Washington University in St. Louis’ Olin Business School. I grew up in Champaign, Ill., under the roof of two entrepreneurs, which shaped my views and aspirations toward business, so pursuing an MBA was always in mind. After graduating from the University of Illinois and spending my early career working in academic and athletic administration, I decided that I was ready to pivot more toward business.

My decision to attend Olin was influenced by my desire to commit to a prestigious institution that could mold my future for the better while also remaining in the Midwest. Also, knowing that WashU professor Sterling Schoen founded The Consortium and how progressive such an organization is for underrepresented students was the icing on the cake that solidified my choice. [As far as my goals, I hope] to break into the world of consulting, but I’m also open to engaging in as many unique industry opportunities as possible to find my true fit and passions. Outside of industry expectations, I am even more excited to grow my professional and personal network while improving minority visibility in prominent positions.

We do not officially start classes till Sept. 14, but we’ve had ample preparation and development throughout the summer to keep us on track for success. The pandemic, increasing reminders of systemic racism and [my] own personal life trials and tribulations have made the transition to business school tougher than expected, but the support surrounding me has ensured me that it will all be more than worth it in the long run. My good friend utilizes the Spanish expression “Ponte las pilas” whenever life seems to lead you off track, and those words have stuck with me throughout everything we’re currently experiencing.

I am more than appreciative of the opportunity to represent The Consortium at WashU while benefiting my future aspirations in ways I once thought unimaginable — and I look forward to keeping you guys posted throughout the journey, so stay tuned!

The post Members of Class of 2022 Share First-Year Experiences, Including What Inspired Them to Get an MBA Now appeared first on The Consortium.
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Consortium MBA Blog 17 Sep 2020, 10:00
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FROM The Consortium Admissions Blog: Meet Consortium Application Processor Kristin Laney, Who Enjoys Helping Students “Live Out Their Dreams”
As a member of The Consortium’s recruiting team, Kristin Laney manages all aspects of the application process for the organization and its programs as its application processor.

Before joining The Consortium in March of 2019, she earned her associate degree from St. Charles Community College in 2016, where she graduated with highest honors, and a bachelor’s degree in history from Lindenwood University, where she graduated summa cum laude in 2018.

We recently sat down with Kristin to learn more about her critical role at the organization, what she enjoys most about her work and what makes her tick.

[b]Q: What do you do as The Consortium’s application processor?[/b]

[b]A:[/b] The things I do in my role include processing applications, managing applications for Competitive Advantage: The Consortium’s Undergraduate Program, managing incomplete applications, communicating with students via phone and email, managing shipping for various events, managing decision letters for applicants and other various projects that come up. Along with the rest of the staff, I also work on-site at the Orientation Program & Career Forum (OP), as well as Competitive Advantage.

[b]Q: What is one thing or activity you will always make time for — even during The Consortium’s busy application season?[/b]

[b]A:[/b] I always try to make time for wellness activities, especially during the busy application season. Exercise is something that helps me relieve stress, so it’s very important for me to keep up with it for both mental and physical reasons. In addition to exercise, I also meditate every day to help improve my mental and emotional health. It’s definitely harder to keep up with exercise during these times, while working at home, but I find that going for walks or jogs outside helps give me a reason to get off the couch and out of the house.

[b]Q: What is your favorite book, and why do you love it?[/b]

[b]A:[/b] The Harry Potter series has always been a favorite of mine! The characters are definitely an important part of the series for me. I’ve grown up with the characters, and it makes me more invested in everything they go through in the series. I also enjoy the sense of community I feel when I’m around other Harry Potter fans. I went to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter a few years ago, and it was absolutely magical to see people of all ages enjoying the park.

[b]Q: What is your most unusual talent or skill?[/b]

[b]A:[/b] I don’t know if it’s a talent or skill, but I’ve always been told that I have an amazing sense of smell. When I was younger, my siblings would hide their snacks from me so they wouldn’t have to share. I was known to walk into a room, instantly smell the snack and immediately find where my siblings had hid it. This has come in handy many times when a smell needs to be identified or found in various situations. Unfortunately, my sense of smell causes me to be very sensitive to bad or super strong smells.

[b]Q: What do you find most rewarding about your job?[/b]

[b]A:[/b] I love being able to make a positive impact in the lives of others. Hearing how appreciative students are after I speak with them over the phone or via email really warms my heart and makes me feel like I’m making a difference in their lives.

[b]Q: What is your biggest goal in life?[/b]

[b]A:[/b] It may be a bit cheesy, but my biggest goal in life is to be happy and to try to spread that happiness to as many people as I can. Being in this line of work is certainly helping me with that goal as I am able to impact the lives of our students by helping them through the application process and by giving them the chance to live out their dreams.

[b]Q: If you could share one tip with prospective students, what would it be?[/b]

[b]A:[/b] I encourage our prospective students to do some research and be as prepared as they can. They should look into the schools they’re interested in via their websites, talk with representatives, attend virtual events and try to get a feel for what school they would like to attend.

Additionally, they can prepare for their MBA journey by attending and participating in The Consortium’s virtual events, which include our MBA Application Preparation Seminars (MAPS) and other helpful webinars and events, which can be found on our events page. Being prepared can help the application process go more smoothly and hopefully be stress-free.

The post Meet Consortium Application Processor Kristin Laney, Who Enjoys Helping Students “Live Out Their Dreams” appeared first on The Consortium.
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FROM The Consortium Admissions Blog: Cultural Rediscovery: How One MBA Found His Professional Path While Hitchhiking South America
For Eric Goytia Nummedal, a first-year MBA and Consortium fellow at the University of Southern California Marshall School of Business, all it took was 13 months and thousands of miles wandering across South America to find his direction in life.

What began as a cultural quest, in which he hitchhiked from the southern tip of South America to the northern tip, became so much more than he expected. “What I discovered was an incredible diversity of cultures, each with its own story to tell to those who were willing to listen,” says Nummedal, a first-generation Argentinian-American. “I found that our world is much smaller and more connected and that many challenges know no borders.”

Nummedal recently spoke with The Consortium about this cultural journey, how it has influenced his career trajectory and what the experience taught him about the nature of business.

What was your childhood like, and what role did culture play?

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Eric Goytia Nummedal

I was born in Los Angeles. My mother was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and my father was born in Oslo, Norway. I grew up with my mother and sister. She was a traditional Hispanic mother. She’d cook us a lot of empanadas, alfajores, and there was always Argentine music playing in the house. It was a loving childhood.

I lived a year in Latin America. Originally, it was supposed to be a visit to see family, as we had typically done every Christmas. I had recently graduated, and just a month beforeleaving I asked myself, “What’s really pulling me back to the United States? What’s keeping me from just staying here?” And I couldn’t find a good reason, so I cancelled my return trip, booked a flight to the southern tip of the continent and started making my way north.

What inspired you to embark on this adventure, and where did it take you?

Growing up, I wanted to connect with my Argentine heritage on my own terms. My concept of Argentine culture was mostly limited to what I had experienced in Buenos Aires with my family, which was porteño culture. Buenos Aires is a port city that was heavily influenced by the influx of European immigrants that occurred at the end of the 19th century. It’s a culture that has assimilated these histories and has diverged from other regions in Argentina.

I quickly realized that there were many communities that I had not considered in my concept of Argentina; I had been blind to the colors of so many cultures. This made me eager to broaden my scope and welcome the insight that diverse cultural perspectives could offer. For example, out in the provinces, especially in Patagonia, the gaucho culture is distinct from the culture in Buenos Aires. They don’t dance tango, for example; they dance something that’s more similar to flamenco. In the northern parts of the country, you’ll find the former dominion of the Incan empire, so the people there live similarly to what’s traditionally thought of as Incan culture, as you would find further north in the Central Andes.

Reconnecting with my heritage was the original purpose, but I never imagined that the trip would extend as long as it did. As I camped and hitchhiked, I would spend time with local peoples, and they would say things like, “Oh, if you’re going north, then you have to do this,” or “Oh, you should check out this.” It was supposed to be just Argentina, but I ended up crossing into and spending a substantial amount of time in Chile, then I crossed back into Argentina, then I went into Bolivia and just kept going north into Peru and Ecuador, and finally into Columbia. It was one of those things [where] I didn’t really know where the journey was going to take me, but I knew I wanted to keep going.

Has your culture always been something that’s been important to you?

I think having an understanding of your cultural heritage is intimately tied to your sense of place in the world. I grew up at this intersection between Argentine, American and even, Norwegian culture. As I was entering into adulthood, I thought it was important to evaluate who I was through firsthand experience with my cultural heritage. What I did not expect was how quickly the experience would force me to grow. By constantly facing unfamiliar situations, I learned how to be self-reliant, interact with people across a spectrum of cultures and adapt quickly to challenges. By reconnecting with my past, I was simultaneously creating my future. It was a becoming experience.

What did you find most surprising or intriguing about your journey?

The journey made me realize how connected our planet is. There are many instances where you can see the local effects of broad forces and the broad effects of local forces. For example, an oil spill in the Amazon not only affects the local ecology and its inhabitants, but the emissions it creates also lead to the receding of glaciers in Greenland, which alters wind patterns, like those in the Bodélé Depression of Chad, whose dust storms cross the Atlantic to fertilize the Amazon. Everything is connected, and to explore the Earth’s dimensionality is to discover causations that span our planet.

Another realization was just how many different ways we’ve found, as a people, to inhabit this planet. Just as you’ll find that different plants and animals have been able to relate to their environment in different ways, you’ll see similar differences in how local peoples have learned to relate to their surroundings. For example, in the Amazon rainforest, you can find indigenous tribes that live 5 miles from each other, but their cultures will be totally different — their ways of gathering food, their music and their religious traditions will be unique. That was something that was incredible to me — the number of different ways people have found to exist on this planet and the lessons that can be [learned] from human existence.

How did the experience open your mind and change your perspective personally and professionally?

All along the route, I saw the impact of multinational corporations. We’ve seen businesses become more global in how they source their labor, their supplies, the capital they access and the people they serve. I could buy a bottle of Coca-Cola in just about every village I entered, no matter how small. It reaffirmed my belief that the world needs leaders with a global perspective — an intimate understanding of how decisions can impact every factor it leverages. As business leaders, it is our joint responsibility to be mindful of those effects and strive to create a planet that is better than the one we inherited.

I firmly believe that travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry and narrow-mindedness. As we broaden the scope of our experience, we similarly broaden the scope of our thinking. When we exist as strangers in foreign lands, we are forced to humble our thinking and assimilate the experiences of others. Only once we make ourselves vulnerable in this way, can we more fully appreciate the richness of human experience.

Did your experience have any affect on your decision to go to b-school?

My decision to go to business school was influenced by a realization that private industry has become one of the most powerful forces on our planet and that the people in charge of pulling the levers — leaders of private industry — must realize how much responsibility comes with a global footprint. I wanted to learn how to become a leader who is able to think both of the local and global impacts of business, and one who can translate this into positive impact.

Your undergraduate degree is in biochemistry and neurobiology, so are you hoping to combine that background with your MBA?

My background is primarily in healthcare research. I have been fortunate enough to do some cutting-edge research on the development of the visual system, create stem cell treatments and manufacture cancer immunotherapies. That was a rewarding experience, but I also felt isolated in the laboratory environment. I often operated in sterile conditions, so my ability to interact with people was limited. I knew I wanted to move away from the laboratory and into a position where I could leverage my technical knowledge to drive impact, but the only way that I could make that transition was if I had some background in business. I knew I had to learn certain business fundamentals and expand my network in order to successfully make that transition. So that’s why I decided to go to business school, to lead scientific progress from outside the laboratory.

What drew you to The Consortium?

I was drawn to The Consortium’s mission of creating a more diverse and inclusive corporate America — one that represents the true face of our country.

The United States has dealt with racial injustices that have led to significant inequality. It is a country that continues to reckon with its past. However, this is not unique to the United States. Similar racial and ethnic divisions can be found across the globe. Humans have always found ways to point to negligible differences in order to substantiate injustice. But there is an insurmountable wave of change moving ever forward — a collective belief that we should find strength and understanding in what makes us unique. As Martin Luther King Jr. said, “The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice.” It is a constant struggle, but it would be mankind’s ultimate accomplishment, should we accept our common primary identity: We are human.

We are called to hold ourselves to a higher moral standard than the society that we live in. Change comes from the uncompromising integrity of individuals. In a world where private industry supplants governments as the seat of authority, business leaders must be accountable for the highest degree of moral integrity.

The post Cultural Rediscovery: How One MBA Found His Professional Path While Hitchhiking South America appeared first on The Consortium.
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FROM The Consortium Admissions Blog: The Consortium’s Statement on Wells Fargo CEO’s Recent Comments
Wells Fargo CEO Charles Scharf’s recent comments about the “very limited pool of black talent to recruit from,” while not surprising, are indicative of the work that remains if we are to achieve equal opportunity throughout corporate America. In spite of this pervasive assumption, several national organizations exist that have a legacy of producing highly qualified candidates of color.

With a mission to enhance diversity and inclusion in global business education and leadership, The Consortium for Graduate Study in Management has been cultivating some of the nation’s most diverse and promising business leaders for a half century. The organization is composed of 20 top-tier member schools — all of which rank in the top 40 business schools in the country — and is represented by its vast network of more than 10,000 alumni, 900 students and 90-plus corporate partners.

Since 1966, The Consortium has assisted both aspiring MBAs, by offering financial, professional and social support, and companies that are committed to diversity by connecting them with this top talent. Consortium members represent all industries and skill sets, and as a long-standing premiere partner, Wells Fargo has access to this robust and growing MBA pipeline.

At a time when black professionals represent just 1 percent of CEOs of Fortune 500 companies, The Consortium is experiencing its most significant growth to date. Between 2008 and 2020, Consortium member schools collectively experienced a 129 percent increase in enrollment. This year, The Consortium welcomed the largest class of MBAs in the organization’s history: 577 students — nearly half of whom identify as black.

The Consortium remains committed to producing the nation’s most diverse and talented future business leaders, and we look forward to continuing our partnership with organizations like Wells Fargo to spotlight existing talent and replace false assumptions with strategic, meaningful action.

The post The Consortium’s Statement on Wells Fargo CEO’s Recent Comments appeared first on The Consortium.
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FROM The Consortium Admissions Blog: Meet Consortium Events & Conferences Specialist Hannah Whelchel, Whose Creative Streak Inspires Impactful Events
Without the hard work and planning of Hannah Whelchel, The Consortium’s annual Orientation Program & Career Forum (OP) — its most important event of the year — might not be possible. As the organization’s events and conferences specialist, Hannah has a hand in everything related to event logistics.

She joined The Consortium in 2020 after graduating from Missouri State University in 2019 with a bachelor’s degree in entertainment management. During her time there, she completed two internships at nonprofits focused on events and venue management, which helped prepare her with the experience and know-how to plan and execute large events.

We recently sat down with Hannah to learn more about her detailed role, what she likes to do in her free time and what tips she has for first-year students preparing for OP.

Q: What do you do in your role as The Consortium’s events and conferences specialist?

I research and interact with vendors for supplies and services, and I help organize and plan all of the details for our events; this includes determining schedules, travel arrangements, signage, etc. Additionally, I help manage our database platform eShow for ticket registrations, underwriting information and more.

Q: What is one thing or activity you will always make time for — even during The Consortium’s busy OP planning season?

Even during our busy OP planning season, I will always make time for the outdoors. Walking outside on nature trails, having a picnic at a park or exploring new areas with friends always helps me feel rejuvenated and relaxed.

Q: Of the places you’ve traveled to, what is your hands-down favorite, and what do you love about it?

Hands down, my favorite place that I’ve traveled to is Spain. It was my first time out of the country, and I really enjoyed learning about the architecture and culture of the country. Additionally, it was during the time when I was learning Spanish, so it definitely helped me to be able to practice the language as well.

Q: What is your most unusual talent or skill?

I would say my most unusual skill is my ability to think creatively. Whether that is planning how food should be served at an event or adding a design element to almost everything I do, I am always trying to think outside the box in whatever situation I am in. Everything is more exciting when there is a creative element to it.

Q: What do you find most rewarding about your job?

The most rewarding element of my job is knowing that it contributes to the overall mission of The Consortium. I love knowing that the work that I do could help a student make a connection with one of our corporate partners that could lead to more opportunities and success for them. Success stories from students are my favorite!

Q: What is your biggest goal in life?

My biggest goal in life is to be as happy as possible while contributing to other people’s happiness as well. While I’m not sure how to get there or what exactly needs to be done, I know that if I could help others be happy and reach their goals, it would have the same effect on me.

Q: If you could share one tip with incoming students related to OP, what would it be?

The main tip I would share with students would be to research, research, research! I think putting the time and effort into researching which companies and individuals they would like to connect with is the most beneficial thing they can do. Overall, I would recommend that they make sure they are as prepared as possible so that they can present the best version of themselves at OP.

The post Meet Consortium Events & Conferences Specialist Hannah Whelchel, Whose Creative Streak Inspires Impactful Events appeared first on The Consortium.
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FROM The Consortium Admissions Blog: How Student Loans and Military Service Helped this MBA Learn the Value of Personal Finance
For Michael Dunn, going to college always seemed certain. How he would pay for it was the hazy part.

Born into a family of modest means, Dunn and his younger brother were raised by their mother in Atlanta, Ga., where Dunn says he spent much of his time in the church and with extracurriculars. When it came time for college, he attended the University of Alabama but, after two years, experienced the all-too-familiar struggle to pay off student loans. Ultimately, Dunn’s desire to advance his education led him to join the U.S. Army, where he completed three and a half years of active duty, reaching the rank of sergeant. Now, he continues his service in the D.C. National Guard. With his newly acquired skills, GI Bill benefits and a new outlook, he is pursuing his MBA at Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business as a Consortium fellow in the class of 2022.

Dunn recently spoke with The Consortium about his student loan struggles, his experience in the Army and how both left him forever changed and motivated to help others.

Q: Was furthering your education something your mother encouraged you to do?

I think my mom was the first generation in her family to go to college, so it was always a priority of hers for me and my brother to go to college. We didn’t have much money, but she always had this mentality that if we got into, say, Harvard or Oxford or something crazy like that, then we were going to have to figure it out from there. I grew up with that mentality, which … was a good motivator. It kind of opened my eyes to the fact that college isn’t necessarily for everybody.

Q: So what drove your decision to go to college?

I think, at its core, it was motivated by a desire to better my perspectives in life. At the high school I went to, it was just the norm to go to college; it really didn’t strike me as much of a question because what else was I going to do? I didn’t want to do a trade, and at that time, I didn’t want to go into the Army or anything like that, so college was kind of the natural progression.

Q: What were you studying, and what did you want to do for a career?

Out of high school, I really wanted to do sports broadcasting. I idolized Stuart Scott growing up, and I loved sports. I tried to do sports broadcasting my freshman year, but as time went on, it seemed that it was really hard to break into and that there wasn’t much that could distinguish you. Furthermore, I felt like it wasn’t directly helpful to people, and I kind of wanted to move toward being more helpful, especially when I didn’t see much of a prospect in that field. So, by the time my sophomore year came around, I was a secondary education major, and I wanted to be a high school teacher.

Q: You eventually ended up joining the military. So what led to that decision?

It goes back to that mentality of “if you get in somewhere, we’re just going to make it work” — but making it work is really kind of a naive way of looking at it. You can make it work, but it’s going to cost you. After my sophomore year, I got stuck in a catch-22 where I couldn’t pay for school, so I couldn’t get enrolled, and I couldn’t get a loan because I wasn’t enrolled. So I was stuck in this weird spot where I had to pay my balance off or I couldn’t go back to school. I was working different jobs; I was a waiter for a while, and I cleaned pools for a while. I did these kind of dead-end jobs that I felt weren’t getting me anywhere. That’s not to say that those jobs can’t be fruitful for somebody, but it just wasn’t sustainable for me at that time.

About a year or a year and a half later, I went to talk to a recruiter, and I told him my situation. I told him the only thing I wanted was to pay for school. He told me about the GI Bill and how it works, and 10 days later, I had signed a contract and was headed to Fort Benning, Ga.

Q: So enlisting was a path to attaining the education you wanted?

It was 100 percent a means to an end. I had played around with the idea of joining. I had even taken some ROTC classes when I was in college, but I realized quickly that I didn’t like it that much. But then, when it became necessary, it just clicked. I was like, “You know, I’m 23; I’m not getting younger,” and half of my friends had already graduated from college, so I really felt the pressure to act.https://cgsm.org/wp-content/uploads/202 ... 525696.jpg

Q: What was your experience like in the military? Besides the obvious GI Bill benefits, what did you walk away?

This is probably one of the more interesting parts of my life. I can speak positively to my experience. There are so many ways that it helped. All of a sudden, I went from not having a full-time job to having a full-time job. I got on-the-job training that could potentially transfer to the civilian sector. I had a financial advisor who worked with me. I got a security clearance, and then, while I was in, I had the opportunity to travel.

We were stationed in Germany for about nine months. While there, I finished my associates degree using tuition assistance, which doesn’t touch your GI Bill benefits. Then I had the opportunity to take classes that would go toward my degree, and when I came out, I was able to use the GI Bill. I had the opportunity to finish my undergraduate degree and now get my MBA. So, without the Army or without the, quote-unquote, “mistakes” I’ve made, there wouldn’t have been a way for me to attend these programs.

Q: When you returned to the U.S., where did you finish your degree, and what is your degree in?

I wanted to get it done as quickly as possible so I could save as much of the GI Bill as I could, because it ticks down as you use it. I decided to take classes that would transfer back to my undergraduate education that I had started, so I went back to the University of Alabama full time. When it came to the loans, I needed a degree that would give me the best opportunity of being able to pay those back. Deep down, I still want to be a teacher later on, but I ended up with a degree in finance because I knew that would really give me the best opportunity at making a life for myself.

Q: Do you feel like your experience in the Army altered your perspective or your work ethic?

This is something that I think about a lot. … I didn’t really grow up learning about finances and stuff like that, so when I got a full-time job in the U.S. Army, it gave me stability, for one. It gave me the opportunity to really look at my finances and consider where I wanted to go. That’s how I came up with a plan to go back to school. I took classes while I was in the Army, got my loan payments structured and got my credit score back to where it is now. So it gave me a lot of focus.

The leadership aspect was great. I’ve never had people look up to me or answer to me, and it really gave me the chance to kind of put on my mentor hat. While I was in, I created classes to teach my guys about my path through school, the ways that I saw to better myself and how I used the Army. If the Army’s going to use you, you should also use the Army. I don’t mean that in a negative way, but it’s a symbiotic relationship, and I tried to teach my guys that.

All of those things led me to feel like I could go into a company and be a leader. I have the problem-solving skills, the multitasking skills, the leadership skills and the maturity. When I went back to school the second time, I treated it more like I was going to work than I was going to school or going to have fun. It really focused me.

Q: Do you feel like your time in the military helped prepare you for professional life?

I think, like with anything, it is what you get out of it. It definitely prepared me to feel confident when I walk in a room, because I’m still pretty green when it comes to all these business concepts and analytical ways of doing things, but I feel like, given the opportunity, given some training, I can step into any position and be effective.

Q: What led you to pursue an MBA, and what drew you to The Consortium?

I think my decision to pursue an MBA largely came from the fact that I could afford it.

As I’ve been going through this recruiting process, I’ve learned there are a lot of aspects and attributes that companies really value. They really value leadership, they value your maturity, the fact that you can handle stressful situations, you can handle the pressure, and I think my background in the Army lends itself well to the MBA process and the jobs that I’ll be recruiting for.

The Consortium is a great opportunity for people — just on its most basic level — to save money when it comes to applying to business schools, because every aspect of this process is pretty expensive. I think that’s definitely a large barrier to entry for a lot of people, so it’s great that there are organizations like this addressing that.

Q: What do you ultimately hope to do with your MBA?

This fall, I’ll be recruiting for consulting roles. That will give me a chance to get wider exposure to the industry, because even though I feel confident when I go into places, I still feel like I don’t know as much as I should when it comes to on-the-job, practical business knowledge. I think a lot of military guys feel the same way. I’m hoping that I can get into consulting and go from there. 

Q: What advice do you have for young people in similar situations, who are trying to figure out how to finance their education?

First and foremost, cast a wide net. I think we often get bogged down with titles and stuff. There’s nothing wrong with going to a two-year institution and then transferring into a four-year school and getting that exact same degree for half the price. I think the Army is super viable, whether that’s active duty or the National Guard, which is two days a month. Over time, you can still get the GI Bill; it just might take a little longer. I know that, in Alabama, you didn’t even have to use the GI Bill; there was a program where you could use National Guard benefits. So capitalize on stuff like that.

It also helps to take the time, do your due diligence and learn about personal finances, because it’s not necessarily taught in school, and not everybody has the luxury of learning about it from their family. I’d like to be a resource for anybody who has questions because I’ve gone through it — I’ve messed up — and I’m open to helping others.

The post How Student Loans and Military Service Helped this MBA Learn the Value of Personal Finance appeared first on The Consortium.
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FROM The Consortium Admissions Blog: This Tech-Savvy Entrepreneur Hopes to Use Her MBA to Give Back to and Empower Others
As the oldest child of immigrant parents, growing up, Fanta Kaba found herself pulled between parental expectations and her desire to help others.

“I really wanted to be a social worker because I wanted to give back, but my parents weren’t having it because they felt like they had worked so hard for me to become a social worker and I wouldn’t make as much money,” she says. “That’s the story of a lot of immigrant children.”

At 3 years old, Kaba immigrated with her family from Guinea to the United States, where they settled in New York’s South Bronx neighborhood. Despite it being a “tough environment,” she says it helped her get where she is today and contributed to her desire to give back. “I feel like the way that I got into the position I am in now is because of community and helping hands along the way,” says Kaba.

Her parents’ own lack of education, however, fueled their desire for Kaba, as well as her three younger sisters, to aim higher.

“My parents really focused on education even though they stopped in middle school and high school to help take care of their families back in Guinea,” says Kaba. “There have been a lot of expectations for me with regard to higher education and setting a path for my siblings to follow, so when I was in high school, I was involved in a lot of programs — from out-of-state HBCU college tours to taking college classes at Lehman College. These experiences allowed me to see beyond the scope of where I came from.”

These programs and her many campus visits fueled her own hopes of one day going to college, and when the time came, to her parents’ delight, Kaba decided to study international business at SUNY Brockport. By combining her interest in business and culture, she set herself down a path that would allow her to both follow her passion and please her parents, while also helping others.

Now an MBA student at Washington University in St. Louis’ Olin Business School — where she plays a leading role in organizations like the Olin Africa Business Club and the Black MBA Association — Kaba is working toward a future in which she can use her marketing and technology skills to have a positive impact. A tech-savvy entrepreneur, she hopes to ultimately apply her learnings to her own business.

The Entrepreneur Hustle

Kaba’s interest in marketing began during an international marketing course, which she took her senior year of college. Entrepreneurship, however, was a curiosity sparked by her mother.

“My mom is an African immigrant, and in our culture, hustling is very important,” Kaba says. “She’s always been an inspiration because even with her lack of education, she still has been able to provide for herself — same for my dad.”

As a woman, Kaba says, she became really intrigued by women entrepreneurs and chose to participate in a CSTEP and McNair program that allowed her to dive into this topic. She was able to complete a research project examining how African women contribute to the global economy and to the continental economy of Africa. “That really inspired me, but I never really thought that I had the [nerve] to start my own business,” she notes.

Following graduation, however, Kaba joined Amazon in operations and quickly discovered it was not for her. Employed but unhappy, she began blogging as a means to foster her mental well-being. It wasn’t until returning to her home country of Guinea — for the first time since she left at age 3 — that Kaba began to see a clearer path for herself to entrepreneurship.

“It was there that I started a self-discovery process where I learned about myself and my culture, and also about how my ancestors took care of their skin,” she says. “That started the grassroots of Golden Roots Essentials.”

Already involved in the beauty space, Kaba had noticed a lack of focus by many brands on black women and their skincare needs. “A lot of times, we’re an afterthought,” she says. “Often, it was really difficult to find foundation shades or skincare products that were meant for melanin skin, and if I was able to find them, they were super expensive. [Plus], a lot of times, I didn’t know the ingredients that were in them.”

Kaba seized the opportunity to launch a beauty and wellness lifestyle brand focused on women of color. With Golden Roots Essentials, she is on a mission to help black women “achieve skincare goals through healthy skin and body care products with ingredients derived from the African continent.” Using shea butter from Africa, she makes all of her skincare products herself, which she ships all over the country.

Having an Impact

It was a desire to grow Golden Roots that ultimately inspired Kaba to pursue her MBA, selecting Olin for its emphasis on global business and entrepreneurship. (Coincidentally, it was an executive she met from Estee Lauder who first introduced her to The Consortium.)

Originally looking to improve her marketing abilities — to help market her own products — Kaba soon found herself pulled in another direction. Realizing how much she relied on technology for her own business, she expanded her focus.

“I thought about technology companies that were doing great work on the African continent and were actually having an impact, and that’s what led me to Microsoft,” says Kaba, who completed an internship with the company last summer. She recently accepted a full-time position with Microsoft as a product marketing manager, beginning next spring.

“What I enjoyed the most was the support that I received, the culture, the growth opportunities and just feeling like, at the end of the day, I did something that was meaningful for the organization and actually had business impact,” she says of working at the tech giant.

Kaba has big dreams for her future — some that include Microsoft: “I want to be able to make an impact in regards to the growth of Microsoft specifically, because I do see myself staying there for quite some time,” she says. “Also, I want to take the things that I learn from my time at Microsoft and implement them in my own business.”

As a millennial and social media personality, Kaba also hopes to become “the marketing ‘it’ girl in the tech space,” she says. “What that essentially means is that I want to grow as much in the tech space in regards to marketing.”

While she hopes to one day turn her full attention to Golden Roots Essentials, for now, she is happy where she is. “I just want to learn as much as possible, get as far as I can within the technology space and eventually venture on to my own business, making it larger than what I can ever dream or imagine,” Kaba says.

Currently, business is good for Golden Roots Essentials, but she admits that, as a one-woman show, it is often more difficult than she thought it would be. But when the going gets tough, Kaba harkens back to her desire to give back.

“I really enjoy what I do, and I feel like because it’s a mission-based company, a lot of times, when I do get frustrated or down, I think about it as something that is beyond me and it would be selfish to give up,” she says. “It took a lot of hands to get me to where I’m at, and I feel like it’s only right for me to pay it forward. So, no matter what I do — whether it’s Golden Roots or Microsoft or another company — I will always try to give back.”

The post This Tech-Savvy Entrepreneur Hopes to Use Her MBA to Give Back to and Empower Others appeared first on The Consortium.
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FROM The Consortium Admissions Blog: Behind the Scenes with the Board of Trustees: Get to Know Dean Sambamurthy, Kavitha Bindra & Blair Sanford
The Consortium for Graduate Study in Management prides itself on being made up of a diverse range of professionals from across the graduate business education and corporate landscapes. Our Board of Trustees is no exception, with representatives from each of our 20 member schools as well as alumni and leaders from some of our corporate partner companies.

As part of a new monthly series, we encourage you to go behind the scenes with us to get to know members of our Board of Trustees, beyond just their professional titles, as they respond to a series of fun, thought-provoking questions.

[b]Vallabh “Samba” Sambamurthy, Albert O. Nicholas Dean, Wisconsin School of Business[/b]
[b]https://cgsm.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Vallabh-Sambamurthy-Dean-of-the-Wisconsin-School-of-Business-e1603376811739-150x150.jpg
What is your favorite quote, and why?[/b]

“You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view, … until you climb inside of his skin and walk around in it.”

—Harper Lee

As a young, voracious reader, I was quite impressed by many of the quotes from To Kill a Mockingbird.  Though I did not fully grasp the significance of the book then, I have always remembered this advice from Atticus Finch because it is the cornerstone of empathy, mutual respect and tolerance. Today, these values are ever more important, and I am continually reminded of this powerful quote.

[b]What is your favorite thing about the work that you do?[/b]

As a professor, I have the privilege of welcoming new students every year, spending time with them, sharing knowledge, challenging them, opening their horizons and [helping them] cultivating values that will shape their success. I feel a great sense of fulfillment watching them graduate, succeed, grow as responsible leaders in business and society and create meaningful lives. Over 30 years, the realization that I have been able to influence so many young minds gives me a warm feeling and gratitude for having chosen the best career.

[b]What is the best movie of all time, and why?[/b]

As a movie buff, I have so many to choose from. However, I choose The Lord of the Rings trilogy. Although I did not read Tolkien’s books, I am enraptured by the story, the characters and the awesome scenery. I cannot wait to visit New Zealand. At one critical stage in the second movie, The Two Towers, all seems lost for humanity and the Orcs are about to wipe them out. At that moment, the survivors summon uncommon courage and ride out into adversity for a last stand. They defeat the Orcs and set into motion the path to victory over evil. The story reminds us that there is always light even when everything seems hopeless and we stare into the abyss. Courage and a belief in goodness are the essence of humanity.

[b]Kavitha Bindra, Assistant Dean and Executive Director, Executive Education, Yale School of Management[/b]
[b]https://cgsm.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Kavitha_Bindra-Yale-University-150x150.jpg
If you didn’t have to work, how would you spend your time?[/b]

I have several creative pursuits, including writing, art and producing a podcast. I don’t have enough time to pursue these hobbies actively, so I would love to have unlimited time to do these.

[b]When it comes to food, what is your guilty pleasure?[/b]

I generally try to stay away from carbs, but I absolutely cannot resist French fries, especially if they are spicy fries. My children always complain that I steal their fries if we go out to dinner.

[b]How do you start your day every morning?[/b]

I begin my day with morning pages, which are three pages of stream of consciousness writing in a journal. This allows me to get “unstuck” for the day and process the first things that come to mind in the morning — and allows me to check in with myself and set my intention for the day. I then brew a carafe of black coffee and get ready for a morning workout.

[b]Blair Sanford, Assistant Dean, MBA and Master’s Programs, Wisconsin School of Business[/b]
[b]https://cgsm.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Blair-Sanford-University-of-Wisconsin-Madison-150x150.jpg
How do you start your day every morning?[/b]

I enjoy a nice cup of coffee while reading my daily devotion from Guideposts, then I go for a run and get ready for work or play.

[b]What is your favorite quote, and why?[/b]

“Change your thoughts and you change your world.”

—Dr. Norman Vincent Peale

When I was young, my dad gave me a copy of Peale’s The Power of Positive Thinking. Several of my favorite quotes can be found in that book, many of which focus on developing mental control — optimism, belief in self, patience, focus and a positive attitude.

[b]What is the most adventurous thing you’ve ever done?[/b]

Traveling extensively “behind the wall” during the Cold War in Communist countries including the former East Germany, several cities in the USSR, Romania, Bulgaria, Hungary and Yugoslavia when I was 20.

The post Behind the Scenes with the Board of Trustees: Get to Know Dean Sambamurthy, Kavitha Bindra & Blair Sanford appeared first on The Consortium.
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FROM The Consortium Admissions Blog: First-Year MBAs Share How They’re Building Community, Staying Focused Despite Challenges Posed by Pandemic
With the first semester well underway, first-year MBAs have now gotten a feel for the ins and outs, the benefits and challenges of business school. After many weeks — and some trial and error — students have largely found their groove and established the routines that will help them succeed.

We recently checked in with members of The Consortium’s class of 2022 to see how the first semester is going. MBAs Alyssa Buchanan, Bryan Shepherd, Whitney Pollard and Chumar Williams share insight into what has challenged them the most, what they are doing to stay organized and focused and what they are enjoying the most about business school.

[b]Bryan Shepherd[/b]

[b]Emory University, Goizueta Business School[/b]

https://cgsm.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Bryan-OP-Photo-e1599769232113-150x150.jpg
Bryan Shepherd

My first semester has been wonderful. This process is incredibly challenging, but getting out of my comfort zone is exactly what I was looking for. I’ve really enjoyed the professors at Goizueta as well as deepening my knowledge of subjects like finance, strategy and economics. I’m also enjoying building relationships with my classmates through informal conversations and mock interviews — and through formal responsibilities like my role as the first-year representative for Goizueta’s Consulting Association.

The most challenging part of this unique MBA experience is controlling your attitude. No one wanted to go to school during a global pandemic, but this is the reality, so I’ve made an effort to be relentlessly optimistic with myself and my class. I want to help reach our collective maximum potential despite the situation. Quite a few members of our cohort are working under some extreme time zone differences — could you imagine having your day now start at 7 p.m.? To overcome this, I’ve stayed focused on my goals of getting a great role within strategy consulting, building genuine connections with and learning from my classmates, and helping increase representation for underrepresented minorities in business school and business.

It’s been helpful for me to treat business school like a job. At the end of each week, I take a moment to plan my time for the upcoming week and block it off in my Outlook calendar. I then create daily to-do lists to ensure I’m finishing all daily responsibilities across academics, recruiting and community work. I’m actually preparing for two finals, one final project, one midterm and one midterm project as I’m writing this!

[b]Alyssa Buchanan[/b]

[b]The University of Texas at Austin, McCombs School of Business[/b]
https://cgsm.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/AD23A0D0-24B1-43E0-967F-6B27D0796791_1_201_a-e1599769313968-150x150.jpg
Alyssa Buchanan

Wow! I can’t believe it’s October and I am already two weeks into my second fall term. During this term, I’ve had the opportunity to take an elective, and I’ve chosen Analysis of Markets. I’m really excited about this class because my career goal is to get into marketing. Alongside the core elective, I am taking courses in operations management, marketing management and leading for impact. I’ve recently been accepted into marketing fellows, where we will engage different companies on a weekly basis and solve their business cases. I look forward to the opportunity to gain hands-on experience and work with my colleagues.

So far, my greatest challenge has been balancing the workload. While the coursework is engaging, I find it nearly just as important to network and get to know my classmates. To solve this challenge, I have set a goal to schedule a coffee chat with a new student in the program every week. This ensures that I am pushing the boundaries of my comfort zone while effectively managing my time.

Through trial and error, I’ve learned that my morning routine is imperative to my success. I am committed to taking the time in the morning to prioritize immediate tasks and organize my day. I’ve noticed that when I do, I am more productive and better able to manage my new responsibilities. Re-integrating yoga into my weekly routine also ensures I’m able to efficiently and effectively manage my mental and physical health. I’ve focused solely on time management because there are so many other opportunities competing for your involvement. The real challenge is for students to select ones that will personally enrich their career journey. 

[b]Whitney Pollard[/b]

[b]University of Michigan, Ross School of Business[/b]
https://cgsm.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/A91E53F8-EBFD-4D39-8E2D-846DBFE9722A-150x150.jpeg
Whitney Pollard

It is hard to believe that I have already finished my first quarter at Ross and am now starting a new one. I have really enjoyed getting to know my classmates and learning from my professors. I was really worried about COVID and how it would alter my MBA experience, but as a class, we are finding creative and safe ways to engage and build community. I have hosted small group dinners, participated in virtual happy hours and trivia, safely traveled with my CGSM family and even went for a night of stargazing, which was something I have never done before.

One thing about business school is there is always something happening, and early on, I was struggling with how to balance class, social life, recruiting, clubs, etc. What helped me was remembering why I chose business school and knowing what skills and relationships I wanted to build during these two years. I joined the Black Business Student Association, Wolverine Wine Club, Detroit Revitalization and Business, Real Estate Fund, Human Capital Club and the DEI Committee — and I have leadership roles in two of the clubs.

With so much happening, I have learned to stay organized by using my planner to track class assignments and important dates, creating a daily to-do list on my phone and placing every activity that must happen on my Google calendar. This planner helps me understand what must happen at a high level, the to-do list allows me to know what must get done today to stay on track, and my calendar communicates to myself and the outside world my availability and the time in which each task will be executed. Prior to business school, I didn’t have a detailed system, but I quickly realized its importance.

The final thing I will say is, even with so much going on, one thing that has really helped me is finding alone time to reflect and recharge, to give myself grace and to protect my peace. Confucius said “Knowledge without reflection is a waste of time; reflection without knowledge is dangerous.”

[b]Chumar Williams[/b]

[b]Washington University in St. Louis, Olin Business School[/b]
https://cgsm.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Chumar-e1599768986168-150x150.jpeg
Chumar Williams

My first semester here at Washington University in St. Louis’ Olin Business School has been one of promise and progression. I have been remote, for the most part, after a short emergency trip away from campus led me to remain remote for a while. Although all of our courses are already offered in a virtual setting, doing so 100 percent remotely has presented some challenges to starting such an intensive program. However, I’ve appreciated the support that the faculty here at Olin have offered us to ensure we’re progressing and not becoming overwhelmed through it all. It’s also been refreshing to see how well our cohort has come together under such circumstances to assist each other in any way necessary, especially among Consortium students — both first- and second-years.

I’ve really had to develop a level of time management beyond what I typically take on to be able to excel within the program so far. The resources we have been given — between our advisors, career coaches, professors and the Olin MBA student body — has really facilitated, and sometimes initiated, a lot of my organization and focus. However, none of it would have come together the way it has without the support and guidance from my Consortium peers every step of the way. We’ve been here for each other in ways I didn’t even expect, especially considering the virtual and socially distanced climate. This family dynamic between us will prove even more important as midterms are now underway for us and as recruiting starts to pick up even more. I welcome and appreciate the busy atmosphere and the opportunities it will create for the future, so I’m looking forward to seeing what comes about between now and the next blog post.

The post First-Year MBAs Share How They’re Building Community, Staying Focused Despite Challenges Posed by Pandemic appeared first on The Consortium.
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FROM The Consortium Admissions Blog: Feel Like a Fraud? You’re Not Alone: Career Coach Damali Harding Shares Tips on Beating Impostor Syndrome
Whether you’re in year one of your career or close to retirement, many of us — at some point in our lives — have felt like an impostor or fraud. Known as impostor syndrome, these feelings have been experienced by even the most successful among us. The good news is there are ways to combat this sense of unworthiness.

Career coach Damali Harding recently spoke with The Consortium to shed some light on this phenomenon and share tips for overcoming it. Harding has a bachelor’s degree in psychology and an MBA from Dartmouth’s Tuck School of Business. Since graduating from Tuck in 2006 as a Consortium fellow, she’s worked in the energy industry in strategy and operations and is currently a business development director at Oracle Utilities|Opower. She has also led her own career coaching practice for the last 12 years and was recently elected to the board of directors of the American Association of Blacks in Energy.

Q: It’s natural for people, especially young people just starting their career, to doubt their abilities, but when does that doubting go too far?

It is normal, regardless of where you are in your career, to feel doubt and apprehension. Even your favorite performer feels nervous before taking the stage. However, there is a distinctive difference between nervousness and impostor syndrome. In particular, impostor syndrome is defined by a sense of feeling fraudulent and not deserving of your accomplishments because you got there by “luck” and not by merit. Its full definition is below:

Impostor syndrome (also known as impostor phenomenon or fraud syndrome) is a term coined in 1978 by clinical psychologists Dr. Pauline R. Clance and Suzanne A. Imes referring to high-achieving individuals marked by an inability to internalize their accomplishments and a persistent fear of being exposed as a “fraud.”

In fact, one of the most common phrases I hear from my clients is that they feel like they are “going to be found out.” This thinking that you “don’t belong” further reinforces the feeling of  “I just got lucky” and “I’m not here because I deserve to be.” The ramifications can range from an unwillingness to speak up in study groups or meetings to more pervasive impacts, such as increased anxiety, low self-esteem and getting “stuck” in one job long past your time despite performing well and/or wanting to gain additional responsibilities.

Q: What often causes impostor syndrome, and how does it manifest differently in different people?

There is no singular cause of impostor syndrome. You can have high self-esteem in other areas of your life and feel like an impostor at work. It can start by comparing yourself — your education, your experience, your age, etc. — to others and thinking, “This person has had such an illustrious career. How am I here?” This is one reason why the sense of feeling like a fraud can magnify when starting in a new place, such as business school, or a new company, or when you receive a promotion.

Impostor syndrome can also magnify itself when you are “the only,” such as the only person of color, the only woman, the youngest, etc. In these situations, it becomes easier to think that you are there only because of your “representation” rather than your worthiness. Ironically, impostor syndrome manifests itself more in high-performing individuals.

Impostor syndrome affects your career by preventing you from aiming for promotions, not speaking up in meetings or letting others speak on your behalf. In some people, it may manifest as an impossible work ethic, as they work harder to “prove” they belong. The cycle then begins again as they advance up the ladder, furthering the feeling of “waiting to be found out they are a fraud.”

Another area to pay attention to is your body. Many people experience an increase in physical feelings of anxiety including tension, headaches or stomach knots from worrying about what others will think about them and their performance. Impostor syndrome often leads to “should-ing”; you may lay awake thinking “I should be doing this” or “I should have answered that question differently.” Anxiety often coincides with other conditions, such as depression, and can lead to burnout.

Q: How have you experienced and dealt with impostor syndrome in your own life and career?

I was first aware of the experience of feeling like an impostor on my first day at Tuck. I thought, “I haven’t had a glamorous career in consulting or finance — what am I doing here?” A long-time dean at Tuck walked into the room and said the words I have repeated to myself and others since: “You are not a mistake.” After hearing her, I realized that Tuck isn’t a charity. They don’t just accept applicants because they think that they would be good candidates or because they are nice. They let people in because they are absolutely deserving. Since then, I have repeated that mantra over and over again: “You are not a mistake. You are not here by charity.”

I have had many instances, such as career promotions or new leadership roles, where I have questioned my ability to be in the “room where it happens.” To continue to push forward, I use a multi-pronged approach that includes many tips, which I outline below. I also have a personal “board of directors” with whom I can safely discuss my feelings of being a fraud. This board consists of several individuals, including peers, mentors and sponsors. I also have a career coach I consult with once or twice a year to help keep me focused.

Q: How can people overcome impostor syndrome?

First, acknowledge that you are experiencing impostor syndrome, and then you can work from there. Sometimes the relief that comes from acknowledging that you are experiencing it is enough.

Second, acknowledge that you are not alone. I list some books at the end of this article, but there are countless blogs, videos and presentations where people discuss their experience with impostor syndrome. Find someone — a friend from school, an executive coach, a therapist — and begin to talk about these feelings.

Below are specific action steps I often recommend to my clients. I recommend that clients pick one to three and then modify them to suit their situation and habits.

  • Check in with yourself weekly for 10 minutes.
    • Schedule it on your calendar now.
    • Outline the specific actions you will take during those 10 minutes, such as journaling, reading a book or speaking with a friend.
  • Create a cognitive association, or affirmation, for the voice in your head to combat negative thoughts or comparisons.
    • This may be a nonsense phrase such as “coconut biscuits.”
    • Keep a list of your accomplishments and reference it from time to time.
  • Find a support group (e.g., personal board of directors, therapist, etc.).
  • Create a list of positive reinforcements (e.g., emails from clients, comments from peers, etc.)
  • Start a journal.
    • Focus on why you are going to school, why you’ve chosen the career you have, etc.
    • A journal doesn’t have to be written. It can be visual or voice recordings.
Q: Researchers have noted that impostor syndrome is often more prevalent among minorities, women and individuals embarking on a new endeavor. Why do you think this is, and how can these individuals begin to see what makes them different in a new light?

One study at The University of Texas at Austin found that up to 70 percent of minorities will experience feelings of being an impostor. Some studies place that number even higher; however, studies have found little difference between men and women.

Although there’s been a lot of talk of diversity recently, in many cases, we are still the only people like us in the room. Below are a few tips to help reframe this paradigm:

  • Own your feelings and know that they are valid. There is nothing wrong with you.
  • Comparison is the thief of joy. Stop comparing your experiences, your background and your purpose to others. You are exactly where you are supposed to be.
  • Do not fear your mistakes or failures. We will all make mistakes — every single one of us. [Focus on] progress over perfection.
  • Practice achieving small wins, such as saying you will speak up once in a meeting for three weeks.
  • Use social pressure to help change habits (e.g., find an accountability partner and send a weekly update, or publicly post a challenge for yourself).
Q: Why is it important for people to be aware of and sensitive to impostor syndrome in others?

A critical skill for leading effective teams is recognizing that performance is impacted  by multiple factors. Someone who is underperforming may lack the skills required or could have macro factors that are impacting their performance, such as anxiety. A colleague or subordinate who is quiet or not taking on additional responsibilities may not be underperforming because the work is too difficult. That person may be suffering from impostor syndrome, and to others, they may appear to be disinterested or aloof. As a leader, it is critical to discuss what other factors may be impacting their job performance. If you don’t feel comfortable leading the discussion yourself, it may be helpful to bring in an outside party like an executive coach or HR to provide the person a safe space to discuss their feelings.

Additionally, sharing resources with your entire team may be a way to offer support to someone that doesn’t leave them feeling singled out. The ultimate goal is to make sure your colleagues feel supported and that they are not alone in their feelings.

Q: Are there any resources you recommend to help people deal with this issue?

As we learn more about impostor syndrome, we continue to see an increase in the number of books, articles and resources about overcoming it. Below are a few that I recommend:

  • The Empress Has No Clothes by Joyce Roche
  • The Secret Thoughts of Successful Women: Why Capable People Suffer from the Impostor Syndrome and How to Thrive in Spite of It by Valerie Young
  • Own Your Greatness: Overcome Impostor Syndrome, Beat Self-Doubt, and Succeed in Life by Dr. Lisa Orbé-Austin and Dr. Richard Orbé-Austin
  • TED Talk: How students of color confront impostor syndrome by Dena Simmons
The post Feel Like a Fraud? You’re Not Alone: Career Coach Damali Harding Shares Tips on Beating Impostor Syndrome appeared first on The Consortium.
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FROM The Consortium Admissions Blog: Like Father, Like Son: Teodoro Gonzales Sr. and Jr. Discuss Their Differing Paths Through Business School
When it came time to select a career path, Teodoro “Teo” Gonzales Jr. felt pulled to follow in his father’s footsteps — but not too closely.

Currently the CFO at Simplex Group in Miami, Fla., Teodoro “Ted” Gonzales Sr. earned his MBA at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s (UNC) Kenan-Flagler Business School as a Consortium fellow, where he founded and led the Corporate Finance Club. While Teo attended UNC for undergrad, he, on the other hand, decided to earn an MBA from Dartmouth’s Tuck School of Business, where he is currently a second-year Consortium fellow exploring brand management and venture capital.

They recently spoke with The Consortium about their similar but divergent paths, how their interests and careers have intersected at times and what The Consortium has meant to them.

[b]Q: Ted, what initially inspired you to get your MBA, and what did you hope it would do for your career as well as for your family?[/b]

[b]Ted:[/b] Before UNC, I was working on the family’s agriculture business in Puerto Rico, but I realized I had some gaps in my business knowledge. I did my undergrad at the University of Dayton in accounting and marketing, but I knew I had room to improve in finance and operations. Knowing this, I started researching MBA programs because I felt they would open more opportunities to me career-wise, which would, in the end, help me better support my family. My wife, Lillian, had some friends who had just graduated from Indiana with The Consortium, and as soon as I learned about the program, I knew that was the way to go. I’m very happy to say I was right; I don’t think I would be where I am if it weren’t for The Consortium.

[b]Q: Teo, with your father as a role model growing up, was business school always in the cards for you?[/b]

[b]Teo:[/b] I love my dad, but growing up, I wasn’t too interested in his job because, frankly, I had no idea what the heck he was talking about whenever he said he worked in finance. If you had asked me what I was going to do when I grew up, I was going the medical school route — only to realize that the natural sciences were neither my strength nor my passion.

All that said, my dad having gone to business school and built a successful career in business was without a doubt a significant example of the privilege I had growing up. Toward the end of my college experience, when I was figuring out full-time recruiting, he helped me prepare for interviews and charted out what different career paths could look like for me, but he also knew when to let me be stubborn, toss his advice out the window and fail. His familiarity with all these areas of business helped me steer to the places and functions that most interested me.

[b]Q: While you both decided to pursue business, you took divergent paths, specializing in different fields, so what led each of you to go the direction that you did? [/b]

[b]Ted:[/b] We are very different personalities. I’m more of an introvert who has learned how to be flexible and shift gears when I need to be extroverted. Teo is a bit more on the extroverted side — kind of like his mom — so it feels natural that we are pulled in different directions. As I learned more about finance and operations in business school, I felt much more comfortable working directly with the numbers than I expected and began to thrive. I pursued that strength and now combine my expertise in finance and ops with my interest in leadership to be an operational CFO and lead my organization.

[b]Teo:[/b] I love trying to connect with people to understand where they’re coming from. In brand management at Procter & Gamble, it was exhilarating trying to piece together what our consumers wanted and how that aligned with our business strategy.

My dad is right, I think we have sort of followed our personalities into these functions. Although, something I really appreciate is how we rub off on each other since we come at these problems from different angles. For example, I know finance is definitely not a strength for me, but just from speaking with my dad, I think he’s been able to teach me a thing or two. Similar to my dad, leadership is really important to me, so I’ve been able to connect with him there, learn and build my own leadership style.

[b]Q: How did you make the decision of where to get your MBA, and Teo, what made you decide not to follow in your father’s footsteps and attend UNC? [/b]

[b]Ted:[/b] We actually did a family road trip when Teo was a baby and visited all the schools I was interested in. As soon as we got to UNC, it felt right. It checked off a number of my boxes: It was a smaller class, which was important to me, and it wasn’t too cold there, which I knew could be a deal breaker for my wife as she was moving out of Puerto Rico for the first time. Walking around the campus, it just felt like home; we loved being in the buildings, people were so warm and friendly, and it was a place I felt our family could flourish.

[b]Teo:[/b] Off the bat, I have to say, I bleed Carolina Blue through and through. Going to UNC for undergrad was probably the best school decision I could have made for myself. When I was thinking about where I would go for business school, though, I wanted to experience a new way of life, and my dad strongly encouraged that, which led me to the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth.

I probably have driven all of my friends crazy with this analogy because I use it so much, but I view Tuck as the ultimate training ground — which was just what I was looking for in my MBA. I love sports, so I tried to align my professional journey with that of some of the world’s best athletes, and what occurred to me was that some of our finest don’t spend their time training in the biggest cities. Many of the elite find themselves preparing in a place where they can focus on themselves, their teammates and their craft. For me, nestled in Hanover, N.H., Tuck is the perfect place where you can live and breathe the MBA 24/7; take the time to invest totally in yourself, your classmates and your knowledge; and ultimately push yourself to the highest levels of performance. We come out of Hanover tightly bonded as members of a strong community that is ready to take on any challenge.

[b]Q: What has working in similar industries been like for both of you? What are the benefits and challenges?[/b]

[b]Ted:[/b] We don’t talk about business too much in our house; usually Teo and I are talking about family matters, politics or sports. However, there have been times we have worked directly with each other, and I think we’ve loved it (unsure if Teo agrees?).

One of my biggest passion areas as a CFO is the role I play in developing our young talent. Throughout my career, I have loved connecting with young members in my organizations and tried to serve as a mentor for them as they navigate our business’ and their careers as a whole. Since I’m already so invested in mentorship, who better to mentor than my son? It’s been great! At the beginning, I think I had some internal concerns about the perception others would have of us working together. I never wanted people to think he was just benefitting from being my son; I wanted them to know he had earned any role or responsibility he had. That said, somehow he figures out ways to win people over pretty quickly, so that concern was relieved early on.

[b]Teo:[/b] My dad hit the nail on the head in terms of our business conversations outside of when we work together. Echoing what he said, my dad is a really great coach for people, so I’ve been able to benefit a ton from working with him and just getting his advice. Ultimately, I love getting the opportunity to work with him. One thing that everyone needs to know if they want to get the most out of their relationship with my dad is that he will have high expectations of you at work and will hold you to those. Given that I was already familiar with that kind of relationship, I think I was able to maximize the experience. The challenge that continues to this day is people mixing us up in communications. I’ll never forget the fiasco that occurred once when some executives realized they were accidentally emailing the summer intern rather than my dad.

[b]Q: What was/has your experience been like with The Consortium, and how has being a member of the organization contributed to your success? How do you strive to stay involved and help the next generation of business leaders?[/b]

[b]Ted:[/b] Joining The Consortium was one of the best things that ever happened to me. Growing up in Puerto Rico, I never felt like a minority at all. I grew up as part of a multicultural majority. The Consortium was the first group that opened my eyes to diversity. It blew the doors wide open for me, starting with expanding my mind on race and then transforming me into a person who seeks out as many different types of diversity as possible.

The Consortium made me a better person, and when you become a better person, you’re able to become a better leader. Being involved and giving back to The Consortium has always been very important to me, and wherever I have worked, I’ve tried to be an advocate and spokesperson for the organization and its schools. Multiple times throughout my career, I’ve aligned my organizations to recruit from The Consortium or to expand recruitment to member schools. Going forward, I’d love to continue being involved and mentor members in some capacity.

[b]Teo:[/b] The Consortium, I think, has served as an additional layer of connection for me between people at Tuck and people at other schools who are focused on living out its mission. Whether it was through OP last year or just by connecting with alumni, getting the chance to meet more members of this committed family has been incredible. My hope is that I can support The Consortium going forward by mentoring those who join after me, working to bring about its goals in the organizations that I start or join and supporting initiatives to drive effective strategies for how we recruit and cultivate talent focused on improving the workplace for underrepresented groups.

The post Like Father, Like Son: Teodoro Gonzales Sr. and Jr. Discuss Their Differing Paths Through Business School appeared first on The Consortium.
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FROM The Consortium Admissions Blog: Like Father, Like Son: Teodoro Gonzalez Sr. and Jr. Discuss Their Differing Paths Through Business School
When it came time to select a career path, Teodoro “Teo” Gonzalez Jr. felt pulled to follow in his father’s footsteps — but not too closely.

Currently the CFO at Simplex Group in Miami, Fla., Teodoro “Ted” Gonzalez Sr. earned his MBA at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s (UNC) Kenan-Flagler Business School as a Consortium fellow, where he founded and led the Corporate Finance Club. While Teo attended UNC for undergrad, he, on the other hand, decided to earn an MBA from Dartmouth’s Tuck School of Business, where he is currently a second-year Consortium fellow exploring brand management and venture capital.

They recently spoke with The Consortium about their similar but divergent paths, how their interests and careers have intersected at times and what The Consortium has meant to them.

[b]Q: Ted, what initially inspired you to get your MBA, and what did you hope it would do for your career as well as for your family?[/b]

[b]Ted:[/b] Before UNC, I was working on the family’s agriculture business in Puerto Rico, but I realized I had some gaps in my business knowledge. I did my undergrad at the University of Dayton in accounting and marketing, but I knew I had room to improve in finance and operations. Knowing this, I started researching MBA programs because I felt they would open more opportunities to me career-wise, which would, in the end, help me better support my family. My wife, Lillian, had some friends who had just graduated from Indiana with The Consortium, and as soon as I learned about the program, I knew that was the way to go. I’m very happy to say I was right; I don’t think I would be where I am if it weren’t for The Consortium.

[b]Q: Teo, with your father as a role model growing up, was business school always in the cards for you?[/b]

[b]Teo:[/b] I love my dad, but growing up, I wasn’t too interested in his job because, frankly, I had no idea what the heck he was talking about whenever he said he worked in finance. If you had asked me what I was going to do when I grew up, I was going the medical school route — only to realize that the natural sciences were neither my strength nor my passion.

All that said, my dad having gone to business school and built a successful career in business was without a doubt a significant example of the privilege I had growing up. Toward the end of my college experience, when I was figuring out full-time recruiting, he helped me prepare for interviews and charted out what different career paths could look like for me, but he also knew when to let me be stubborn, toss his advice out the window and fail. His familiarity with all these areas of business helped me steer to the places and functions that most interested me.

[b]Q: While you both decided to pursue business, you took divergent paths, specializing in different fields, so what led each of you to go the direction that you did? [/b]

[b]Ted:[/b] We are very different personalities. I’m more of an introvert who has learned how to be flexible and shift gears when I need to be extroverted. Teo is a bit more on the extroverted side — kind of like his mom — so it feels natural that we are pulled in different directions. As I learned more about finance and operations in business school, I felt much more comfortable working directly with the numbers than I expected and began to thrive. I pursued that strength and now combine my expertise in finance and ops with my interest in leadership to be an operational CFO and lead my organization.

[b]Teo:[/b] I love trying to connect with people to understand where they’re coming from. In brand management at Procter & Gamble, it was exhilarating trying to piece together what our consumers wanted and how that aligned with our business strategy.

My dad is right, I think we have sort of followed our personalities into these functions. Although, something I really appreciate is how we rub off on each other since we come at these problems from different angles. For example, I know finance is definitely not a strength for me, but just from speaking with my dad, I think he’s been able to teach me a thing or two. Similar to my dad, leadership is really important to me, so I’ve been able to connect with him there, learn and build my own leadership style.

[b]Q: How did you make the decision of where to get your MBA, and Teo, what made you decide not to follow in your father’s footsteps and attend UNC? [/b]

[b]Ted:[/b] We actually did a family road trip when Teo was a baby and visited all the schools I was interested in. As soon as we got to UNC, it felt right. It checked off a number of my boxes: It was a smaller class, which was important to me, and it wasn’t too cold there, which I knew could be a deal breaker for my wife as she was moving out of Puerto Rico for the first time. Walking around the campus, it just felt like home; we loved being in the buildings, people were so warm and friendly, and it was a place I felt our family could flourish.

[b]Teo:[/b] Off the bat, I have to say, I bleed Carolina Blue through and through. Going to UNC for undergrad was probably the best school decision I could have made for myself. When I was thinking about where I would go for business school, though, I wanted to experience a new way of life, and my dad strongly encouraged that, which led me to the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth.

I probably have driven all of my friends crazy with this analogy because I use it so much, but I view Tuck as the ultimate training ground — which was just what I was looking for in my MBA. I love sports, so I tried to align my professional journey with that of some of the world’s best athletes, and what occurred to me was that some of our finest don’t spend their time training in the biggest cities. Many of the elite find themselves preparing in a place where they can focus on themselves, their teammates and their craft. For me, nestled in Hanover, N.H., Tuck is the perfect place where you can live and breathe the MBA 24/7; take the time to invest totally in yourself, your classmates and your knowledge; and ultimately push yourself to the highest levels of performance. We come out of Hanover tightly bonded as members of a strong community that is ready to take on any challenge.

[b]Q: What has working in similar industries been like for both of you? What are the benefits and challenges?[/b]

[b]Ted:[/b] We don’t talk about business too much in our house; usually Teo and I are talking about family matters, politics or sports. However, there have been times we have worked directly with each other, and I think we’ve loved it (unsure if Teo agrees?).

One of my biggest passion areas as a CFO is the role I play in developing our young talent. Throughout my career, I have loved connecting with young members in my organizations and tried to serve as a mentor for them as they navigate our business’ and their careers as a whole. Since I’m already so invested in mentorship, who better to mentor than my son? It’s been great! At the beginning, I think I had some internal concerns about the perception others would have of us working together. I never wanted people to think he was just benefitting from being my son; I wanted them to know he had earned any role or responsibility he had. That said, somehow he figures out ways to win people over pretty quickly, so that concern was relieved early on.

[b]Teo:[/b] My dad hit the nail on the head in terms of our business conversations outside of when we work together. Echoing what he said, my dad is a really great coach for people, so I’ve been able to benefit a ton from working with him and just getting his advice. Ultimately, I love getting the opportunity to work with him. One thing that everyone needs to know if they want to get the most out of their relationship with my dad is that he will have high expectations of you at work and will hold you to those. Given that I was already familiar with that kind of relationship, I think I was able to maximize the experience. The challenge that continues to this day is people mixing us up in communications. I’ll never forget the fiasco that occurred once when some executives realized they were accidentally emailing the summer intern rather than my dad.

[b]Q: What was/has your experience been like with The Consortium, and how has being a member of the organization contributed to your success? How do you strive to stay involved and help the next generation of business leaders?[/b]

[b]Ted:[/b] Joining The Consortium was one of the best things that ever happened to me. Growing up in Puerto Rico, I never felt like a minority at all. I grew up as part of a multicultural majority. The Consortium was the first group that opened my eyes to diversity. It blew the doors wide open for me, starting with expanding my mind on race and then transforming me into a person who seeks out as many different types of diversity as possible.

The Consortium made me a better person, and when you become a better person, you’re able to become a better leader. Being involved and giving back to The Consortium has always been very important to me, and wherever I have worked, I’ve tried to be an advocate and spokesperson for the organization and its schools. Multiple times throughout my career, I’ve aligned my organizations to recruit from The Consortium or to expand recruitment to member schools. Going forward, I’d love to continue being involved and mentor members in some capacity.

[b]Teo:[/b] The Consortium, I think, has served as an additional layer of connection for me between people at Tuck and people at other schools who are focused on living out its mission. Whether it was through OP last year or just by connecting with alumni, getting the chance to meet more members of this committed family has been incredible. My hope is that I can support The Consortium going forward by mentoring those who join after me, working to bring about its goals in the organizations that I start or join and supporting initiatives to drive effective strategies for how we recruit and cultivate talent focused on improving the workplace for underrepresented groups.

The post Like Father, Like Son: Teodoro Gonzalez Sr. and Jr. Discuss Their Differing Paths Through Business School appeared first on The Consortium.
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FROM The Consortium Admissions Blog: Trailblazer Ony Mgbeahurike Strives to Effect Change, Advocate for Minorities and Champion Africa
Born and raised in Nigeria, Ony Mgbeahurike has been a long-time champion for Africa and its people, culture and commerce — a passion that has expanded to the black community and diversity and inclusion more broadly.

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Ony Mgbeahurike

As a Consortium MBA fellow at Washington University’s Olin Business School, where he graduated in 2019, Mgbeahurike seized the opportunity to share his affinity for his home continent and increase awareness of its untapped potential. He co-led the creation of Olin’s Africa Business Club; an African Business Landscape course, which is now in its third year; and his own Afro-centric packaged goods startup, Good Soul Company — in addition to serving in student government, as a diversity recruiter for Olin and as a Consortium liaison.

Now an associate brand manager at Danone North America, where he leads the commercialization and launch of new products, Mgbeahurike uses his passion for diversity and inclusion to make a difference in the workplace. He shares his experience as well as advice on how others can do the same.

When did your interest and involvement in diversity and inclusion really begin, and how has it progressed?

It started in undergrad at the University of Minnesota. I started getting involved in diversity and minority representation on campus and the local chapter of the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE). I enjoyed being in the network of minorities on campus and advancing students in STEM. I also co-founded the professional chapter of NSBE in the Twin Cities, which is now five years running. So, I would say that my involvement in or my commitment to diversity was sparked through NSBE.

When I started my General Mills career, I joined the African American employee resource group (ERG) BCN: Black Champions Network. I was mostly involved in the supply chain function. That progressed, and I went from planning events for our Black History Month to planning development events, and I continued to enjoy that.

What led you to pursue business and marketing?

I started in a more technical [field]; manufacturing was my degree. At General Mills, I worked more with the business functions when I was an international supply chain associate. I worked with sales and marketing, and I realized that my skills, or interests, were in marketing. I liked that the marketers were the ones who were driving new product launches.

I had co-founded the NSBE professional chapter in the Twin Cities and realized that the skills of founding or leading something new are similar to the skills you need as a marketer. I felt like my skills aligned and that I would derive more joy from being in a professional role that allowed me to utilize those kinds of entrepreneurial skills.

What influenced your decision to get an MBA?

Because of the skills I gained leading the NSBE Twin Cities professional chapter, and those I had acquired on my job at General Mills, I considered the benefits I would receive long term if I were to hone my leadership and analytical skills. I decided an MBA was the best route to gain the skills I would need to achieve my goals.

What was your time like at Olin, and how were you able to use your time there to advance your focus on diversity and inclusion?

I enjoyed my time at Olin. I was able to do everything I wanted to do in business school, from co-founding a couple of things — like the Africa Business Club, which is now a vital part of the Olin culture — to spearheading the creation of the African business course; to being involved in our Consortium cohort on campus, being involved in diversity recruitment; to even test running my own company. So, my time at Olin was very useful; it was powerful, and I was able to accomplish my personal and professional goals within those two years.

What led you to co-found the Olin Africa Business Club, and what is its mission?

When I looked at Olin’s classes, there weren’t many Africans, one, and two, there weren’t many black people. Olin is one of The Consortium founders, but the representation of diversity in our class was not strong compared to other schools. So, I thought about how I could contribute to this gap, but I was also focused on Africa. I am originally from Nigeria, and I think there’s so much business potential in Africa that is, unfortunately, overlooked. One of the things that I shared with the dean was that if we’re training global business leaders and missing Africa, we’re not genuinely doing a good job. I think that resonated with the dean and with the chancellor at that time.

Once we founded the club, we got tons of support from the dean, the university, the administration and the student body. We were able to hold conferences and bring in global leaders from across Africa to speak on campus.

Its mission is to increase Africa’s representation across campus, increase commerce opportunities, the people and the culture, to increase that representation and awareness — all of those interconnects. It’s important to showcase that there are business opportunities in Africa that are untapped and that as up-and-coming business leaders, we need to understand the world in its entirety. When we talk about global business, people think about Europe and China. Africa gets missed in that conversation, so this was my way of pushing Africa into the forefront of economic activities worldwide.

Your own company, Good Soul Company, is focused on Africa, too?

Yes. Good Soul Company is a food startup, and the mission is to expand the market access of African farmers and processors. This is because African farmers and small-sized processors don’t have the large-market access that their counterparts in other parts of the world have. They grow to produce and harvest, and by the time they sell [their product] to the open market, it goes bad. So, they are losing tons and tons of investment in their farming practice. This discourages the younger generation from getting into farming and farmers already in agriculture from staying in agriculture.https://cgsm.org/wp-content/uploads/202 ... 764589.jpg
My goal is to partner with those farmers and processors to expand their market access. We buy their product, and then we expose it to the world in a way that the cash flow will continue, that it’s consistent. It’s a side project that’s small and growing, but that’s my way of giving back and contributing to the African economy.

Full time, you’re an associate brand manager at Danone North America, where you led the creation of an ERG. What led you to create this group?

I interned at Danone North America in 2018; while I enjoyed my experience and got an offer to come back, I identified the absence of an African American ERG. If I were to go back, I asked myself if I was willing to take the lead of starting one. After thinking it through, I decided to accept the challenge.

When I returned in June of 2019, I co-led what is now called BOLD, which stands for Black Organization for Leadership at Danone North America. I started to connect with other black employees at the company and say, “Is this something you think would be useful and that you would be interested in?” We received tons of positive feedback; everybody was excited about it. So, we started putting together an email list, a running list of everyone who was interested. We had a kickoff meeting to get acquainted, then we began to engage with senior leadership; they supported us 100 percent. We officially launched the ERG in February 2020 to coincide with Black History Month. Even though COVID hampered us, we continued to engage virtually. 

How is BOLD making a difference at the company?

One of the profound things that happened was after George Floyd’s death. BOLD became the front and center for how the organization responded to the Black Lives Matter movement. We were consulted and included in how our brands responded and made commitments on social media.

Also, we led what we called BOLD Conversations on Race. They touched on race both in the workplace and outside of it, and it provided a platform for our black employees to share what they’ve experienced in their lifetimes. That was so powerful because, for many of our colleagues, it was an eye-opener hearing from their fellow employees what they’ve experienced and how those experiences have impacted their lives. We’ve had seven of those sessions, and each one has had senior leadership engagement and representation.

I’m proud that BOLD has provided a space for African Americans at Danone North America and has permanently changed the organization’s culture as well as led to an increased commitment to hiring diverse candidates.

Do you hope to combine your background in business and marketing with your passion for diversity and inclusion?

In any environment that I find myself in, I will always advocate for minorities in any organization. So, the way that I see my career and my life going is that I will be a business leader with an entrepreneurial mindset who advocates for minorities — and that will always continue. I seek out opportunities that will allow me to combine both interests.

What advice do you have for other business leaders looking to advance diversity and inclusion in their own companies or organizations?

First of all, be convicted that this is what you want to do. I think that conviction will lead you to action. Second, reach out and engage with someone on the leadership team or someone in the administration who also believes in that same conviction, passion or interest, because it’s one thing to have the power and the [conviction]; it’s another thing to have people to do the job. Connecting with someone in management who can relate to that conviction will help break down barriers you may face. My third piece of advice would be to enlist others; make it a team effort to ensure that you’re not doing it alone.

The post Trailblazer Ony Mgbeahurike Strives to Effect Change, Advocate for Minorities and Champion Africa appeared first on The Consortium.
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FROM The Consortium Admissions Blog: Behind the Scenes with the Board of Trustees: Get to Know Amy Mitson, Cynthia Saunders-Cheatham & Dr. Corey Dortch
The Consortium for Graduate Study in Management prides itself on being made up of a diverse range of professionals from across the graduate business education and corporate landscapes. Our Board of Trustees is no exception, with representatives from each of our 20 member schools as well as alumni and leaders from some of our corporate partner companies.

Through this monthly series, we encourage you to go behind the scenes with us to get to know members of our Board of Trustees, beyond just their professional titles, as they respond to a series of fun, thought-provoking questions.

Cynthia Saunders-Cheatham, Assistant Dean, Career Management Center, SC Johnson College of Business, Cornell University
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How do you start your day every morning?

I run almost every morning. Well, a light jog may be a better definition of what I do — but I do about 2.3 miles every morning. I also download a few New York Times articles to an app that reads them to me while I am getting dressed, commuting to work or doing other tasks. Having the articles read to me saves me a lot of time, and the voice technology has gotten so much better in recent years.

What is your favorite thing about the work that you do? 

My MBA concentration was marketing, and I worked in corporate in marketing and brand management for 15 years before transitioning to career management. At Cornell, I initially advised MBA students targeting marketing careers. In spite of the additional industries that I have advised in and the leadership role that I have, I still see myself as a marketer at heart. I seek to understand the skills needed by various industries and recruiting companies, and I use that knowledge to help our students best position themselves (using their resumes, networking, social media, etc.) for those opportunities. I also stay abreast of business news so that I can talk to companies about the skills our students have and how they can meet their business needs.

I also love working with our students and helping them achieve their career goals. I am their biggest cheerleader!

When it comes to food, what is your guilty pleasure? 

Fried seafood, especially fish, oysters and shrimp. I also enjoy steamed crabs and eastern North Carolina barbecue. I grew up in northeastern North Carolina, not far from the Outer Banks and Norfolk/Virginia Beach, Va.

Corey M. Dortch, PhD, Associate Dean, Evening MBA Program, Goizueta Business School, Emory University
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If you didn’t have to work, how would you spend your time?

I would be a travel blogger. As a child, I frequently read about places around the globe — both near and far.  Enchanting stories from these places allowed my imagination to run wild. Since then, I have been blessed to visit over 40 countries and experience things that I once dreamed of: majestic animals roaming freely while on safari in South Africa, seeing the spectacular show of the Northern Lights in Scandinavia, hopping from country to country on trains with my bride throughout Europe, the peace of the shepherding in the New Zealand countryside. As a blogger, I would share my lens of the world and spend my time immersing myself in cultures different from our own and sharing the stories of the people there.

How do you start your day every morning?

I try to start each day with thanksgiving. When I hear my toddler, I remind myself to be thankful for ears that hear, and because I hear him, he is alive and well. I consider that my family and friends are generally OK — especially if I don’t have an urgent message from them — and I am thankful. I listen to inspirational (insert gospel) music, sing along and offer thanks and gratitude to God as he allows me to tackle a new day.

What is your favorite thing about the work you do?

I am fortunate to work with highly driven and intelligent people. The opportunity to challenge, be challenged and complete projects from start to finish motivates me. This year in particular, I have taken time to appreciate the chance to redesign and rethink how we deliver a world-class educational experience. I am confident that we will continue to rise to the occasion because of the dedication and commitment of our teams.

Amy Mitson, Interim Co-Executive Director, Admissions & Financial Aid, Tuck School of Business, Dartmouth College
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What is the best piece of advice you ever received?

Make it your own. My first boss at Tuck shared this advice with me at a point in time when I was finding my feet. This simple statement is equal parts empowering and inspiring. This said to me that I am in my job for a reason and I am trusted and encouraged by my team to contribute uniquely to our shared work. It’s a handy mantra when I need a pep talk!

When it comes to food, what is your guilty pleasure? 

There are many great Italian restaurants and delis where I grew up in Rhode Island. Eggplant parmigiana is a labor of love to make and a guilty pleasure to eat. I miss it and try to replicate it often.

What is the most adventurous thing you’ve ever done?

Living in the great state of  New Hampshire for the last 20 years has lent to many outdoor adventures for me. One of the most memorable was joining the Upper Valley Running Club and running up Mt. Washington, the highest peak in the Northeast. While there were points where I was definitely going at a snail’s pace, I made it up under my own steam. I have often channeled the resolve required to run uphill for two hours when trying to solve sticky problems in life and work.

The post Behind the Scenes with the Board of Trustees: Get to Know Amy Mitson, Cynthia Saunders-Cheatham & Dr. Corey Dortch appeared first on The Consortium.
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FROM The Consortium Admissions Blog: Consortium Offers Additional Value to Students, Alumni Through Inaugural Fall Town Hall & Career Fair
On Friday, Nov. 13, The Consortium welcomed more than 350 attendees to its first annual Fall Town Hall & Career Fair. Facilitated by online events platform Hopin, the event provided a welcome opportunity for students and alumni to connect with both new and long-standing Consortium corporate partner companies.

“The event offered a much-needed connection for students, alumni and company representatives,” says Naomi Sanchez, assistant dean for MBA Career Management and Corporate Recruiting at the University of Washington’s Foster School of Business. “Our students found the conference beneficial in expanding the opportunity to make important connections to professionals and to learn about trends, opportunities and company cultures.”

The idea for the event came out of discussions between The Consortium’s Development Department; the Career Services Committee, chaired by Sanchez; and the Alumni Relations Committee, chaired by Consortium alumna April Taylor. Seeing an opportunity to offer alumni and second-year students in particular another touchpoint with corporate partners during the pandemic, Taylor proposed the idea for a virtual networking event.

“Few alumni attend the Orientation Program & Career Forum (OP), and many who do are representing their companies, so networking or shopping for other roles is a challenge,” Taylor says. “After COVID hit, I suggested we do something to support second-year students — upcoming graduates — who may be shopping for jobs, since so many companies were rescinding offers.”

The Consortium saw an opportunity to satisfy the needs of both groups with an online event. The development of the Town Hall & Career Fair was led by Kimberly Alexander, vice president of development for The Consortium, and Janice Wells-White, vice president for program administration, who was responsible for building out the platform and helping solidify programming.

“Development is always looking for ways to enhance the benefits of partnership, and we wanted to have another touchpoint after the early summer OP,” says Alexander.

Alexander says the goal for the inaugural event was to have at least 12 participating companies and a minimum of 200 students and alumni in attendance. The Consortium far exceeded its goal, with more than 250 students and alumni and just over 20 corporate partners. Participating companies included longtime corporate partners like Amazon, Centene and General Mills and some new: Frog Design Inc., Alvarez & Marsel, Adaptive Biotechnologies and Tyson Foods.

The Town Hall included welcome remarks and highlights from FY20 from Consortium Executive Director & CEO Peter Aranda, followed by Development Department highlights from Alexander. Several panelists then led a mental health discussion titled “How to Stay Balanced in 2020,” where they discussed the effects of the pandemic and racial unrest on employees’ mental health and how to prioritize wellness during these challenging times.

“The pandemic, the social and racial protests, working remotely and economic pressures made it easy to select the topic for the panel discussion,” Alexander says. “Staying balanced and staying mentally healthy are things that all participants could relate to.”

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The timeframe for the event was ideal as many students are still trying to secure or are deliberating over offers, and many alumni are also seeking new opportunities.

“Students appreciated the timing of the conference as well as the platform, which offered video presentations and opportunities to talk with people,” Sanchez says. “They found the timing to be perfect in terms of first-year students seeking more knowledge, information and contacts before internship season gets into full swing.”

For alumni, the virtual event provided an easy opportunity to engage with The Consortium and explore new companies and positions. “Our virtual world has given us more opportunity than we’ve previously taken advantage of. Regularly, timely topics and outreach are valuable and could definitely grow alumni engagement through time, talent and treasure,” says Taylor, noting that alumni are Consortium members for life and play a key role in the organization’s progress. “Facilitating opportunities for alumni to engage with each other and learn about the current status of the organization, as well as career opportunities, are all ways to further The Consortium’s mission — directly and indirectly.”

Alexander agrees, pointing to the large alumni turnout as proof of the outsized role they play in advancing the organization’s mission.

“A true community takes care of everyone in it,” she says. “We have an obligation to be a resource to all of our constituents, and alumni are our best ambassadors. Time after time, when I am speaking to new companies, they indicate they learned about The Consortium through an employee who was a fellow. They believe in this community, and we certainly believe in them as well and want to offer opportunities for them to stay connected with us and each other.”

Thrilled with the Town Hall & Career Fair’s turnout, Alexander believes that next year’s event will “be even better.”

[b]Mental Health Resources[/b]
Weren’t able to make it to the event? Looking for ways to stay balanced and cope with the stresses of daily — not to mention pandemic — life? Check out the following resources recommended by Consortium corporate partner representatives during the Fall Town Hall & Career Fair:

Mindfulness without the Bells and Beads: Unlocking Exceptional Performance, Leadership, and Well-Being for Working Professionals by Clif Smith

—Recommended by Clif Smith at EY

The National Institute for Mental Health

The Tara Brach podcast

—Recommended by Princess Little at Cigna

Happier Now: How to Stop Chasing Perfection and Embrace Everyday Moments (Even the Difficult Ones) by Nataly Kogan

The Headspace App (for guided meditation and mindfulness)

—Recommended by Amy O’Neill at Liberty Mutual Insurance

The post Consortium Offers Additional Value to Students, Alumni Through Inaugural Fall Town Hall & Career Fair appeared first on The Consortium.
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FROM The Consortium Admissions Blog: From Civil Rights to Black Lives Matter: Consortium Inaugural Fellow Rev. Dr. C. Vernon Mason Reflects on How Far We’ve Come, How Far We Have to Go
Although separated by nearly 55 years and more than 800 miles, C. Vernon Mason can still distinctly recollect his time at Atlanta’s Morehouse College — a period defined by the social, racial and political unrest that was then sweeping the nation and world.

“President Kennedy was assassinated my sophomore year, November of 1963, and even though we had the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965, the Vietnam War was raging, and there was social upheaval all over the country,” Mason, who is now an ordained Baptist minister and professor, recalls.

Yet, amidst all this turmoil, Mason says, “you had this bright light.”

“When The Consortium came to Morehouse, there was a lot of buzz. People would come out of the interviews and would be buzzing around campus about this exciting program that had this mission of breaking barriers in corporate America,” he says. For a young, determined black man like Mason, the organization presented an unparalleled opportunity to pursue both his personal and professional ambitions.

“You had a professor at Washington University in St. Louis who was thoughtful enough and had insight [into] what needed to be done by graduate business schools and corporate America in the mid-60s,” Mason says. “It was compelling, and it was something that as a young student in school — with the background that I had — just drew me to apply.”

[b]Faith and Injustice[/b]

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Rev. Dr. C Vernon Mason

A child of the South, Mason spent his early years in the small towns of Marion, Hope and Helena, Ark. His mother taught English at Marion’s J. S. Phelix High School, and his father worked for the Farmers Home Administration, assisting black farmers in the region.

From an early age, Mason was immersed in the world of education, helping instill in him a life-long passion and appreciation for learning. “The story goes that my mother didn’t want to leave me with a babysitter, so she took me to school when I was three,” he says. “So I started first grade at 3 years old.” The experience having had quite the impact on him, Mason says he still remembers many of the teachers he had during that time, including his first-grade teacher Mrs. Mozella Marrs.

If education was the home of Mason’s childhood, however, then church was its foundation.

He and his family attended Rising Sun Baptist Church in Marion, where he says his faith journey, as well as his thirst for justice, began. As a black child growing up in the South in the 1950s, the two were inseparable, Mason says. 

A World War II veteran, successful entrepreneur and local civic leader, Isadore Banks was the Mason’s next-door neighbor when he went missing in the summer of 1954. “I was seven when he was lynched,” Mason says. “That incident was something that planted a seed, even at that early age, of injustice. So, faith and that kind of experience really connected in that way for me as a child.”

The murder of Mr. Banks, the lynching of Emmett Till and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s Montgomery Bus Boycott all had a significant impact on Mason, shaping his faith and even his life’s trajectory. “Those things in early childhood were very foundational for me,” he notes. “All of that had a profound effect on me in terms of both faith and justice.”

So when, as a college student, he heard about a new program focused on righting some of the wrongs of the day — specifically improving access and opportunities for African American men in corporate America — Mason felt as if everything in his past was aligning. There was only one problem: He was a political science major.

“It seemed that every business major, every economics major and everybody who was doing anything business related at Morehouse was applying to this program, and there I was, a poli-sci person applying,” he says. Despite having taken a few business classes, Mason had no delusions of being accepted.

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The day he received the https://gmatclub.com/chat informing him he was to be a part of The Consortium’s inaugural class he describes as “one of the happiest” of his life.

“I just started crying. I put Sam Cooke on; he sang A Change Is Gonna Come. I was jumping up and down, because what it meant was the beginning of the fulfillment of a dream,” Mason says. “It was something that you could do and feel proud about, that you were going to be part of something that was transformative.”

The next summer, Mason joined 20 other black men for The Consortium’s first summer program at Olin Business School at Washington University in St. Louis (WashU). There, he bonded with his classmates and peers and spent time with Dr. Schoen himself before going to Indiana to earn his MBA at Kelley School of Business.

“All of us were at WashU for the summer, then we had seven students who remained at WashU, seven students who went to the University of Wisconsin Madison and seven of us who went to Indiana University in Bloomington,” says Mason, recalling the stark differences between his undergraduate campus and Indiana. “Morehouse at that point had, I think, about 800 or 1,000 students total, so when we hit Indiana University, with 40,000 or 45,000 students, it was the largest campus I had ever been on. It was a city.”

Impressed by the sheer size of the campus as well as the support he received from Dean Panschar and others, Mason speaks highly of his time at Kelley. “That whole educational experience, and then the summer that I had interning at Cummins Engine Company in Columbus, Ind., was very, very positive,” he says.

Mason credits The Consortium with many of the opportunities he’s been afforded since that time, which have included working as an attorney with the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund and at a private law firm as a managing attorney.

But in 1995, Mason once again felt the pull of education and faith — this time combined — and enrolled in the Master of Divinity program at New York Theological Seminary (NYTS), after which he pursued a Doctor of Ministry degree. On March 28, 1999, he was ordained a Baptist minister at Abyssinian Baptist Church in Harlem. Mason has been part of the core faculty at NYTS ever since — an experience that has also included running the institution’s at-risk youth program, Youth Turn, and has allowed him to combine his zeal for education and justice.

“I credit The Consortium basically with my careers. That’s how important it was. It also informed as well as supported and erected a lot of the lessons and the practices that I have adopted in terms of justice,” says Mason, who is now director of the Doctor of Ministry Program at NYTS.

[b]Modern-Day Civil Rights Movement[/b]

Mason has attempted to share these lessons with others in whatever ways he can. For the last several years, this has taken the form of a Black Lives Matter class, which he was inspired to develop following the acquittal of George Zimmerman.

Mason was surprised to learn that no other seminaries were teaching a similar course. “I saw it as a vacuum,” he recalls. “Why wouldn’t we, teaching faith leaders, be involved in something which was as clear a justice matter as that.”

The class received a warm reception when he began teaching it in 2016, and it has since become one of the most sought after courses taught at the seminary. Interest has grown even more this year, which Mason attributes to the backlash and nationwide push for racial justice following the killing of George Floyd and other unarmed black men and women.

Mason sees the class, which examines racism and racial justice through an interdisciplinary and theological lens, as an opportunity to link the civil rights movement of his youth with the modern-day Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement. “For a number of years, I have taught the 20th Century Civil Rights Movement, and I see not only the parallels but the continuation of that with the BLM movement,” he says. “I don’t see a break in what Dr. King and young people did during that period and what is being done now.”

“What began as a hashtag is now a global movement that has received support in every state in this union and around the world,” Mason adds. “I believe and pray that change will come.”

He also believes The Consortium has an even greater role to play in helping usher in this change.

“Even though The Consortium has done its job even better than I think Dr. Sterling Schoen could have envisioned, there is tremendous opportunity to do even more,” says Mason. “I think it’s one of the most important programs in this country — and it’s needed now more than ever.”

Despite the need for progress, he believes it’s important to acknowledge how far we’ve come.

“When I look at my lived experience in the United States of America, I think the accomplishments of The Consortium should be even more acknowledged. Starting from an idea that began in 1965, with  this inaugural group of 21 people, to now have 10,000 graduates with almost a half a billion dollars in scholarships, that is something that should be lifted up as one of the most successful programs in this country,” Mason says. “When Dr. Schoen first examined this issue, there was zero representation of African American men in middle and upper management in corporate America, so the impact has been phenomenal. I don’t think there’s anything comparable; The Consortium stands alone.”

Even now, so far removed from his MBA days, Mason continues to sing The Consortium’s praises while doing his part to advance the mission that helped guide both his life and career.

“In 1966, I could not have imagined that The Consortium would go from 21 to 10,000 alumni,” he says. “That’s what we would call, at a Baptist Church, a Hallelujah moment.”

The post From Civil Rights to Black Lives Matter: Consortium Inaugural Fellow Rev. Dr. C. Vernon Mason Reflects on How Far We’ve Come, How Far We Have to Go appeared first on The Consortium.
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FROM The Consortium Admissions Blog: Capitalism at a Crossroads: Amid Uncertainty, Americans Want Companies to Prioritize Workers, Equity & Social Issues, Poll Reveals
2020 has been a year like no other — a global pandemic, the worst recession since the Great Depression and a nationwide reckoning with racial injustice. Yet, amidst all of this uncertainty, one thing has become increasingly clear: Americans want an economy that works for everyone and believe that companies have a significant role to play toward achieving this.

Ninety-two percent of Americans said that it’s important for large companies to promote an economy that serves all Americans, according to an August 2020 survey by JUST Capital, a nonprofit research organization with a mission to build a more just and inclusive economy that serves all Americans. Yet, only 50 percent of those surveyed believe companies are actually doing this. At the same time, many Americans view this time as a period rife with opportunity. According to a survey conducted earlier in the year by JUST Capital, in partnership with The Harris Poll, 89 percent of Americans believe this moment represents an opportunity for companies to hit “reset” and focus on doing right by their workers, customers, communities and the environment.

https://cgsm.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/6E053CDA-A15E-4399-ADC4-E610AD96D596-e1564596550229-150x150.jpg
Lorraine Spradley Wilson

The annual survey — the results of which are released every fall — is conducted using multiple methodologies, including focus groups and online quantitative polling, which assesses Americans’ priorities and perceptions of corporate America and how those metrics change year over year. “It really reflects the voice of the public,” says Lorraine Spradley Wilson, director of investor products at JUST Capital and a 2012 Consortium alum of New York University Stern School of Business.

JUST Capital conducts the survey in partnership with The Harris Poll, in association with NORC at the University of Chicago, one of the largest independent social research organizations in the U.S. It asks a diverse, representative sample of more than 4,500 Americans to compare 19 business issues and rank them according to how they think companies should prioritize them. The result is a roadmap for where companies should focus their efforts to “create a more just and inclusive economy,” according to JUST Capital’s website.

“Our polling shows that the public knows our economic system is failing them, and they expect large companies to do their part to address the inequities our system has created, primarily by focusing on workers and jobs,” says JUST Capital’s Jill Mizell, director of survey research.

The survey’s 19 issues focus on varying areas such as stakeholders (workers, customers, shareholders, communities), the environment and economic impact. “Pays workers a fair, livable wage” was the single most important stakeholder issue in this year’s survey, and all five worker-related issues – pay, training, health, equity and benefits – were among the public’s top seven priorities.

“‘Pays a fair and living wage’ has been one of our top items for years now, where the public’s identified that that’s really a key area where companies can do better and make an impact,” says Wilson — and she’s quick to point out that doing so is rarely, if ever, risky. “Our research shows that companies that do take care of their workers through paying a living wage and so on actually outperform. So we’re not saying that you need to sacrifice returns; we’re saying that you can meet the needs of your stakeholders on these different issues that are important to the public and still run a successful company.”

Perhaps not surprisingly, other high-ranking worker issues included “protects worker health and safety” and “cultivates a diverse and inclusive workplace.” The former saw the highest percentage increase across all issues, going from being the 20th most important issue in 2019 to sixth in 2020. “Cultivating a diverse and inclusive workplace” ranked fifth this year, and according to Mizell, one way Americans believe companies can do better in this area is through pay.

“Eighty-nine percent of black Americans and 84 percent of Americans overall believe that ensuring a living wage for all workers was the single most important action a company could take for achieving racial equity within their organizations,” according to survey research fielded in June.

The events of 2020 also resulted in a larger majority of Americans saying that companies should take a stand on social issues — regardless of whether or not an issue directly impacts their business operations. Specifically, 68 percent of Americans think CEOs should take a stand on social issues, a 9 percent jump from last year’s 59 percent.

The findings from JUST Capital’s annual poll, coupled with results of polling completed earlier in 2020, clearly indicate that capitalism is at a crossroads. To wit, just a little more than a quarter of Americans believe that capitalism is working for them.

[list]
25 percent of Americans think the current form of capitalism is good for society.[/*]
29 percent believe it produces the kind of society they want for the next generation.[/*]
29 percent believe the current form of capitalism works for the average American.[/*]
[/list]
“It’s clear to Americans that the U.S. economy is not sustainable. Embedded within their attitudes and survey responses is the painful reality of the growing income and wealth inequality that our system has been creating for decades,” Mizell says. “People want to see companies and corporate leadership advocate for workers and the environment, and U.S. discourse on social issues needs diverse voices that can bring balance and common sense to basic human issues.”

Awareness is the first step, however, and JUST Capital works with companies to improve in these areas which the public deems important. For example, the organization recently partnered with PayPal, the Financial Health Network and the Good Jobs Institute to develop a toolkit to help CEOs perform a Worker Financial Wellness Assessment as a vital first step toward understanding the financial vulnerability of their workforce.

“Our focus is on shining a light, pushing for disclosure and transparency within these companies and helping them benchmark themselves and do better,” says Wilson.

She says she’s encouraged by the quantity and quality of the conversations they’ve been having, noting that JUST Capital is seeing increased interest both by consumers in supporting just companies and by companies in being more just.

For Wilson and her colleagues, it’s not about demonizing capitalism, but showing instead that it can be a force for good. “We’re pushing for a more inclusive form of capitalism,” she says. “That’s our priority — working with these companies to address these concerns and do better.”

The post Capitalism at a Crossroads: Amid Uncertainty, Americans Want Companies to Prioritize Workers, Equity & Social Issues, Poll Reveals appeared first on The Consortium.
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Consortium MBA Blog 24 Dec 2020, 10:00
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FROM The Consortium Admissions Blog: Behind the Scenes with the Board of Trustees: Get to Know Prashant Malaviya, James Holmen & Bryan Johnson
The Consortium for Graduate Study in Management prides itself on being made up of a diverse range of professionals from across the graduate business education and corporate landscapes. Our Board of Trustees is no exception, with representatives from each of our 20 member schools as well as alumni and leaders from some of our corporate partner companies.

Through this monthly series, we encourage you to go behind the scenes with us to get to know members of our Board of Trustees, beyond just their professional titles, as they respond to a series of fun, thought-provoking questions.

[b]Prashant Malaviya, Senior Associate Dean, MBA Programs, McDonough School of Business, Georgetown University[/b]
[b]If you didn’t have to work, how would you spend your time?[/b] [b]

[/b]

https://cgsm.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Prashant-Malaviya-Georgetown-University-e1608658120903-150x150.jpg
I would be living in a small cottage in Bordeaux, France, exploring vineyards across the country and across Europe! Santé! 

[b]What is your most unusual or interesting skill or hobby?[/b]

I am a pretty handy cricket player and can perform all the roles of batting, bowling and keeping wickets (Google this term!).

[b]What is the best piece of advice you ever received? [/b]

One of our Jesuit priests at Georgetown said to me that we should all be “humbitious” (which is a mash-up of humble and ambitious). This resonated with me very strongly, and I have tried to live by this advice ever since.

[b]James Holmen, Director of Admissions and Financial Aid, Kelley School of Business MBA Program, Indiana University, Bloomington

[/b]
[b]What is your most unusual or interesting skill or hobby?[/b][b]

[/b]

https://cgsm.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/James-Holmen-Indiana-University-Bloomington-e1608658186707-150x150.jpg
I’m not sure if this fully qualifies as a skill or hobby, but organizing provides me with great satisfaction. I could give Marie Kondo a run for her money. There’s nothing better than a productive afternoon cleaning and organizing my garage, finding a perfect place (or storage container) for everything.

[b]How do you start your day every morning?[/b]

In this world of digital media, I still love my morning newspaper. With a cup of strong black coffee in hand, sitting in my comfy chair and reading the newspaper from cover to cover gets my day off to a great start.

[b]What is your favorite thing about the work that you do?[/b]

[b][/b]Throughout my many years of work in admissions, I have loved the opportunity to meet amazing MBA candidates and play a part in helping them change their lives. Watching our alumni succeed as they advance in their careers and make a positive impact is very gratifying — especially seeing the success of candidates I took a chance on when extending them an offer of admission.

[b]Bryan L. Johnson, Sr. Associate Director of Admissions, Diversity and Inclusion, Ross School of Business, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor[/b]
[b]What is your most unusual or interesting skill or hobby?[/b]

https://cgsm.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Bryan-L.-Johnson-University-of-Michigan-Ann-Arbor_-e1608658229774-150x150.jpg
My most interesting skill or hobby is that I’m an author. In 2015, I published a novel entitled IXI Rise of the King, which combines my Christian faith, my love of storytelling and my love of hip-hop. The story is like the movie 8 Mile combined with Dan Brown’s The Da Vinci Code, and it explores the possible occult influences in popular music. We also recorded a hip-hop soundtrack that complements the story. I have several other stories in mind but haven’t taken the time to write another novel.

[b]What is your favorite quote, and why?[/b]

My favorite quote is, “Never wish life were easier, wish you were better.” –Jim Rohn

This is my favorite quote because it captures my attitude about challenges. I believe anything is possible, and if something is out of reach, I have the opportunity to improve until I reach that goal. I believe that a mindset of continuous improvement helps me to be more effective in every aspect of my life.

[b]What is your favorite thing about the work that you do?[/b]

My favorite thing about the work I do is that it aligns perfectly with my purpose. I believe my purpose is to help people realize their potential through education. I remember when I was a prospective MBA student, I didn’t have many family, friends or people in my network who had pursued a full-time MBA. In my role, I get to help others by not only demystifying the MBA application process, but by also [empowering them to] use the MBA to achieve a purpose-driven career. I love helping students identify and achieve goals, then pay it forward to help others.

The post Behind the Scenes with the Board of Trustees: Get to Know Prashant Malaviya, James Holmen & Bryan Johnson appeared first on The Consortium.
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Consortium MBA Blog 01 Jan 2021, 08:00
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FROM The Consortium Admissions Blog: MBAs Launch John Lewis Racial Justice Case Competition to Bring Together Students, Companies Seeking Meaningful Change
In the early days of June, at the height of protests over nationwide racial injustices, Brian Mitchell, associate dean of the full-time MBA program at Emory University’s Goizueta Business School, hosted a check-in Zoom call with rising second-years about what was happening across the country.

Consortium member Willie Sullivan recalls his surprise at the diverse makeup of the group and their collective desire to both understand the root of such injustices and do their part to help.

“It wasn’t the normal people who would show up to a call around a social justice issue; this was a group of very racially, ethnically diverse students who were all very invested in the conversation,” he says. “There was this feeling of ‘not only do I feel like I’m not doing enough, I am surprised that something like this could still happen in this country,’ and they wanted to understand more of what led to it.”

For Sullivan, the call — coupled with growing interest by companies in addressing issues of racial injustice — was a rallying cry.

https://cgsm.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Willie-Sullivan-Headshot-e1609294707976-150x150.jpg
Willie Sullivan

“At the same time that all these students were having these feelings around racial justice and wanting to do more, all of these corporations were coming out with statements of solidarity and were saying, ‘We want to be part of addressing and helping solve issues of inequality and injustice,’” Sullivan says.

He saw an opportunity for students and companies to partner to create meaningful change. How great would it be, Sullivan thought, if students “could look at these structural problems and apply the same strategic thinking that we do to business problems to these kinds of problems in our society?”

“That’s where the idea for a case competition came from,” he explains.

After taking his concept for a racial justice-themed case competition to a faculty member, Sullivan put together working groups made up of faculty, administrators and students to begin ideating. The result, which they presented to Goizueta Dean Karen Sedatole, was a student-run event that sought to connect business students with corporations in an effort to create innovative and actionable corporate racial justice initiatives. “The dean was incredibly supportive right from the beginning,” Sullivan says.

Aptly named for the late civil rights leader and Georgia congressman, the John R. Lewis Racial Justice Case Competition fills a void for both students and companies. It serves to both increase students’ education around these issues and provide an outlet for them to make a difference by applying their skill sets. Companies, on the other hand, gain a fresh, diverse perspective on these issues and receive solutions they can actually implement.

“I think it’s going to be a 360 learning experience for everyone,” says Kristen Little, a second-year Consortium MBA at Goizueta and associate managing director of the event.

One of Sullivan’s hopes for the competition is that it will attract those individuals who may not normally gravitate toward or be directly impacted by these issues. “In my opinion, part of the reason why we still deal with so many issues of racial inequality and injustice is because the people who are most affected by it are the only ones who are really involved in the day-to-day heavy lifting,” Sullivan says. “So this is an opportunity for us to get other students involved in this, by doing it in a way that they already understand — case competitions are a big part of business school or school in general for a lot of programs.”

The competition brings together teams of students from colleges and universities across the country — not just business schools — to answer the question, “How can corporations best use their various resources to address issues of racial justice in one or more of three areas: wealth/income disparities, health outcome disparities and/or educational/skills attainment gaps?” In the preliminary application, for which the deadline was Nov. 30, teams had to address four key areas in what Sullivan calls a PowerPoint Statement of Intention:

[list]
The role business should play in addressing issues of racial inequality and injustice[/*]
How they would approach solving this problem (i.e., utilization of resources like time and money)[/*]
How they would propose to invest the prize money (half must go to a racial justice cause)[/*]
How they represent diversity[/*]
[/list]
“We were looking for creativity, we were looking for passion, we were looking for not just anecdotal reasons for some of the answers to these but also empirical evidence that shows that you’ve thought about this and done some research,” says Sullivan.

The 105 applications received by Sullivan and his 12-person planning team represent all types of institutions — from historically black colleges and universities to Ivy League schools to big state schools. A committee made up of university faculty, corporate partner representatives and racial justice/equality experts screened all applications and selected 24 teams from 18 different institutions, including 11 Consortium member schools, to advance to the semifinals.

Each team was randomly assigned to a company, with each company receiving four team assignments. From Dec. 7 to Jan. 21, they conduct primary and secondary research — with a research budget provided by event corporate sponsor Survey Monkey — to examine and think deeply about issues of racial injustice and develop a business solution based on their company’s racial justice case prompt. Participating companies include HP, Johnson & Johnson, Salesforce, Southern Company, Truist and Walmart. Areas of focus are based on companies’ goals.

“They’re conducting research to really educate themselves on and understand what role business is playing in larger systemic injustice at a much deeper level before they apply it specifically to the corporation they’ve been assigned to,” says Sullivan. “They meet with company representatives twice to ask questions and get a better understanding of where the company is and its goals. The rest of the time, they are putting together recommendations.”

On the morning of Jan. 21, teams will present their recommendations to a panel of judges consisting of corporate partners, academic scholars, elected officials and leaders in diversity and inclusion. Six teams — one representing each company — will be selected to move on to the final round based on several criteria: potential for impact, feasibility, creativity, boldness, research quality and evidential support for recommendations, story structure and more. Winners from this round each receive $5,000.

In the afternoon, finalists will compete for their chance to win $20,000. The winning team will receive half of the prize money to distribute amongst themselves, while the other half will go to the racial justice or equality cause they identified in their initial application.

“The wonderful thing is that these corporations are going to get four really great recommendations from the semi-finalist teams, and what’s probably going to end up happening is they’ll take some from this one and some from this one to figure out what they can do,” says Sullivan. “These students are going to be coming at this from a completely different perspective than people who work internally at the organization.”

https://cgsm.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Kristen-Little_Headshot-1-e1609294656952-150x150.jpg
Kristen Little

“I think there are going to be some uncomfortable conversations between our students, who are really functioning as consultants, and these companies,” adds Little, “and I think out of that discomfort is going to come something great.”

She believes students and companies alike have something to gain from the experience. For students, it’s the fact that they can make a real difference; for companies, it’s the realization that these issues are something they care deeply about.

“For students, I want them to feel like they’ve made an impact on a corporation that could make a difference in our country and that they’ve really gotten some feedback they can use going forward in their careers,” Little says. “From the company side, I want them to take this time to figure out if this is something they just give lip service to or if they want to fundamentally change their corporation so that they’re having a positive impact and not contributing to continuing inequities.”

For Sullivan, the racial justice case competition ultimately serves a greater purpose: It’s an opportunity to help advance The Consortium’s mission to ensure equal opportunity in corporate America.

“One of the reasons why capitalism has not been having its greatest moment is not because of the system itself, but the players within the system. The founders of The Consortium understood that,” he explains. “What we’re trying to do is add to what The Consortium is trying to do — not just to have underrepresented minorities in corporations but so that the communities those people come from will be better represented so that corporations can make decisions that have a positive impact for everybody, not just a small slice of society.”

The post MBAs Launch John Lewis Racial Justice Case Competition to Bring Together Students, Companies Seeking Meaningful Change appeared first on The Consortium.
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