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The Weekly Update – Full-Time MBA: October 29, 2015

Program News & Announcements

 porch party

Come party with us tomorrow!  12th Annual Homecoming Poole Porch Party

Bring your family and join friends, faculty, students and alumni at our 12th Annual Homecoming Porch Party on Friday, October 30 from 4 to 7 p.m. on the front steps of Nelson Hall. This year, we’re teaming up with the College of Humanities and Social Sciences to enjoy refreshments, BBQ, bluegrass and games hosted by NCSU Libraries in our Kids Zone.

In addition, don’t miss out on the costume contest for kids! Judges will be roaming the porch party and we will gather the kids for a special announcement at 5:15. We will also watch the NC State Homecoming parade that begins at 6 p.m. and passes by Hillsborough St.  There will also be a drawing every 20 minutes until the parade begins giving guests a chance to win NC State prizes.  There’s no cost to attend, but please RSVP here to help us with planning.

Academic Advising

Academic Advising Update

Due to an unexpected family emergency, Sarah Pickel, your academic advisor, is out of the office indefinitely. In the meantime, we ask for your patience. If you have advising questions, please email them directly to Deborah Wilkins at deborahadvising@ncsu.edu, and she will respond to them as quickly as possible.

All full-time students must view the academic advising syllabus and, after reading it,  sign the Academic Advising Contract Form confirming that you have read and understand expectations. Please note that your advising hold for spring will not be lifted until you complete and submit this form. You will not be able to register for Spring classes when your window comes up until you complete this assignment. Students who wait until the day of registration to complete the form will not have their hold released immediately, so please plan in advance.

For information on advising holds, group advising sessions, individual appointment availability, drop in advising hours, course schedules, and registration information please visit the Spring 2016 Advising and Registration page on our website for details.

MBA 590: Value Creation Practicum – Course Description

The Value Creation Practicum course is about creating new value and competitive advantage. The development, utilization, and protection of technology and innovation are central to competing in our fast paced global economy. This course is designed to give students an advantage by learning to create new value, rather than managing existing assets. In this practicum course, you will be matched with a team to work on a project to create value. The project may be for an existing company or a startup company or even to start your own company. Each team will be assigned to a company working on a major growth initiative such as a company startup, spinout, new line of business, expansion, spin in, new product, corporate restructuring, merger or acquisition, or realignment of a product or market opportunity.

Career Management Center

ONLY 4 SEATS LEFT!  “How To Network Without Feeling Slimy” – Nov. 4

The term “Networking” has negative feelings for many people. “Self-promote-y”, “not true”, “fake” are some terms that people use. But the fact is 80% – 90% of jobs  at the Professional MBA level are obtained through this method. Attend this webinar to —

1. Learn how to reframe how you think about networking so that it feels less “sales-y” and more authentic
2. Take away important tips to network comfortably at an in-person event
3. Learn how different your approach should be when networking in-person vs. online

Wednesday, November 4, 2015, 12:00pm – 1:00pm
Presented via WebEx (attendance capped at 12).
Please RSVP on Joblink (Events>Workshops) by 5:00pm Monday, Nov. 2, 2015.

WebEx log-in information will be sent to you after registering.
Because attendance is capped, the CMC no-show policy will be enforced (please cancel within 24 hours if you must).

LAST CALL – Volvo and Glen Raven Company Visits – RSVP BY FRIDAY

Curious about marketing, supply chain, finance careers in vehicle manufacturing or specialty textiles?  Hungry for opportunity to discuss career goals and gain networking visibility with senior business leaders at Volvo Group North America and Glen Raven Custom Fabrics?  Senior business leaders at these two companies want to meet you.

On November 6, 2015, these companies will host Poole College of Management students to discuss careers and career opportunities within their companies. This is a chance to meet and experience their culture directly. Students will visit Volvo Group in the morning and Glen Raven in the afternoon. This event is business dress. Lunch and snacks will be provided by host companies.Attendance is capped at 15 as this a joint event with the undergraduate College of Management. These visits are listed as one information event and a résumé book of attendees will be submitted to both companies. Please RSVP on Joblink under information sessions and submit your résumé under Job Postings.
RSVP and résumé submission deadline is Friday, October 30.  We will carpool or bus to the Triad.

Break Into Tech – Live Webinar on Nov. 4

Curious about breaking into technology as an MBA?  Not sure if you should focus on start-ups or established technology companies or both? Jeremy Schifeling (Ross ’12, Founder/CEO of Break into Tech) has been there. After completing his MBA at the University of Michigan with a dream of working for a leading technology company, he saw firsthand how frustrating the tech recruiting experience can be. So, based on his success landing jobs and hiring MBAs at Apple, LinkedIn, and VC-backed startups, he’s put together a step-by-step roadmap to help MBAs crack the tech code and shares it with MBAs at leading business schools worldwide.

You will learn:

  • How to choose the perfect role – from BizDev to BizOps
  • How to find the right company for you – from Amazon to Uber to unknown start-up
  • How to stand out to recruiters and hiring managers – from applications to interviews

November 4, 2015, 4 – 5 p.m. ET
CLICK HERE to RSVP.  You will be sent a webinar registration link.  A recording will be sent to all who register.
When you register, you will be asked for your business school affiliation.  It is “North Carolina State University”.

Jenkins CMC MBA Executive Insights Panel – Nov. 5

Rise to the C-Suite! Working your way into management and up the ladder to higher management is challenging. This panel provides you tools and ideas to help you get there. Cree Vice President of Strategy Mike Watson and Bechtel Vice President/General Manager (retired) Ron Blum will answer questions and talk about how they got to where they are in their careers.
Executive Insights Panel for all Full-Time and Professional MBA students 
Thursday, November 5, 2015, 4:30pm – 5:45pm 
Nelson Hall 3210
Please RSVP on Joblink (Events>Workshops) by 5:00pm Tuesday, November 3.

Industry Insights Day – Nov. 9

Discover your career path. Take advantage of the opportunity to converse with established professionals and explore various career paths. Students will rotate through tables organized around areas of interest for Q&A in a small group format.  The event will conclude with a networking session.  Industry Insights Day will take place in Talley Student Union from 3:45 – 5:45pm.  Participating employers include: AICPA, Red Hat, First Citizens Bank, Cisco, Patheon, Kuehne + Nagel, and The Umstead Hotel and Spa. 

Industry Insights Day for Full-TIme and Professional MBA and GLM students
Monday, November 9, 2015, 3:45pm- 5:45pm
Talley Student Union- Mountains Ballroom
Please RSVP on Joblink (Events>Workshops) by 5 pmFriday, November 6, 2015

Lessons from a CEO with Steve Zelnak, retired CEO & Chairman, Martin Marietta Materials – Nov. 19

The Poole College of Management Development Office and the Jenkins CMC present “A Conversation with Steve Zelnak,” featuring Ira R. Weiss, Dean and Stephen P. Zelnak Jr., Chair, Poole College of Management, interviewing Steve Zelnak, retired CEO and Chairman of Martin Marietta Materials. After a brief conversation with Dean Weiss, Steve Zelnak will open the floor for questions and discussion with students.

Thursday, November 19, 2015, 6pm – 8pm
Carol Johnson Poole Club House, 1509 Main Campus Drive, NC State University Centennial Campus
Dress code: Business casual
Cost: Free.  Attendees, please RSVP on Joblink by 11:59 p.m., Tuesday, November 17, 2015

At this event, mingle with fellow MBA’s over wine and cheese, and learn from a former chairman and chief executive officer and current entrepreneur. Meet one of North Carolina’s most successful business leaders, Steve Zelnak, Jr. and hear directly from Steve about his career path, his experience managing and growing a multi-million dollar global company through significant changes and challenges, and his newest role as a serial entrepreneur, growing new businesses in different sectors of industry. Bring your questions – he is excited to talk with you!

About Steve Zelnak, Jr. – Steve Zelnak is non-executive Chairman and former CEO (retired) of Martin Marietta Materials, a leading producer of construction aggregates, dolomitic lime, and magnesia chemicals. Mr. Zelnak served as CEO of the company from 1993 to 2010 and was responsible for taking the company public on the New York Stock Exchange in 1994.

Professional Events & Networking

Innovative Women’s Conference – Nov. 13

IWC_logoTickets are on sale now

for the annual Innovative Women’s Conference, bringing together women from around the Triangle area – from graduate students to entrepreneurs to corporate executives – encouraging discussion and hands-on learning in the areas of business innovation, science, technology and entrepreneurship.  The conference will be held at the Talley Student Union on November 13 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., with a networking social the evening before at HQ Raleigh, November 12 from 6 to 8 p.m.

Students can purchase tickets for only $15 (includes both events). Non-student early bird tickets are on sale for $40 until October 31, 2015.  Tell your friends and family to purchase early for great savings!  Proceeds from the event will be donated to Women for Success.

 

“Getting the Best Mentoring Relationship with Your Advisors” – Nov. 18

The Graduate School will host “Getting the Best Mentoring Relationship with Your Advisors” with Dr. Lucy Johnston on November 18.  Dr. Lucy Johnston is currently Dean of Postgraduate Research and professor at the University of Canterbury. Her research expertise is in social psychology, especially social perception and the impact of nonverbal communication within social interactions, and has also published in the area of learning and teaching.

Wednesday, Nov. 18, 9:30 to 11:30 a.m.
Talley Student Union, Coastal Ballroom

Open to all NC State graduate students

Shoestring Marketing: Differentiate Yourself on a Budget – Nov. 19

Being asked to get big results with little to no marketing budget? This panel will discuss how to get creative with your marketing, including sharing pro tips for marketing on a tight budget. You will learn how to leverage the network in your industry, tap into your passion, and be authentic in your marketing.  The panel includes:

Scott Crawford, head chef and co-owner of the brand-new Standard Foods
Sam Ratto, chocolatier and co-owner of the magical Videri Chocolate Factory
Lionel Vatinet, passionate master baker and co-owner of La Farm Bakery

Find out how they manage to differentiate themselves in a crowded market. You will be able to use the skills you learn to stand out among your competitors and nail your marketing.

Thursday, November 19, 2015, 11:30 AM – 1:00 PM
Brier Creek Country Club, 9400 Club Hill Drive, Raleigh
Click here to register

Katz Invitational Case Competition

The University of Pittsburgh’s Joseph M. Katz Graduate School of Business is hosting an invitational case competition that will showcase the skills and talents of participating MBA students January 29-30, 2016. The case will be multi-dimensional, designed to test the teams’ ability to collaborate on different business disciplines, and will focus on a current issue within the energy industry.  Click here to learn more.

Global Change Award

The Global Change Award is looking for bold ideas that can shape the future of how fashion is designed and produced, shipped, bought, used and recycled. It takes on one of the fashion industry’s biggest challenges – to create fashion for a growing population, while reducing its environmental impact.
Five winners will share a grant of €1 million, and get access to a tailor-made innovation accelerator.
The Global Change Award seeks early stage ideas that add circularity throughout the fashion industry’s entire value chain.
How to participate: Sign up at: www.globalchangeaward.com
Submit your ideas by 31st October 2015 (10pm CET)
Cost: Free
Prizes: Five winners will share a grant of €1 million and get access to a tailor-made innovation accelerator as well as fashion industry access.

Duke University Energy Conference

Tuesday & Wednesday, Nov. 10-11, 2015

The seventh annual Duke University Energy Conference will capitalize on Duke University’s position as a pretigious academic partner at the center of the global energy conservation. The conference will present balanced discussions with powerful speakers on crucial topics. As we dive into the key factors of investing in the energy future, our speakers will answer the following questions: What will be the model for utilities of the future? How do energy and environmental policy impact business strategies? How do you get technology out of the laboratory? What are the impact and expectations of the recent drop in oil prices.

Registration is now open! Please click this link to register for the event.

YPN: Analytics, Big Data, and the Internet of Things – Nov. 19

Join us on Nov. 19 from 7:30 to 9:30 a.m. to hear from Michael Rappa, Ph. D, Goodnight director, distinguished professor, and founder of the NC State Institute for Advanced Analytics. Rappa will moderate a panel discussion that introduces the topics of Big Data and analytics and discusses how new trends and technologies are shaping our future.  Panelists include:
Paul Kent, vice president of Big Data at SAS Institute, Inc.
Bruce Thompson II, partner, Parker Poe Adams & Bernstein LLP
Bill Nowicki, vice president of Ticket Operations, Carolina Hurricanes
Aric LaBarr, Ph.D, assistant professor of analytics, NC State Institute for Advanced Analytics

The MBA program has eight free tickets to this event. E-mail Claire Jefferies, csjeffer@ncsu.edu, for more information.

Student Clubs and Events

MBASA Halloween Party – Friday, Oct. 30

The MBASA will be hosting a Halloween Party on Friday, Oct 30th, beginning after the Poole College of Management Porch Party. The porch party is from 4 to 7 pm at Nelson Hall, and the Halloween Party will be from 7 to 10 pm at East Village on Hillsborough St. (within walking distance of Nelson). Dress up in your best Halloween costume and come join your fellow MBA peers for a night of fun!  This event is open to MBASA members who have paid dues.

Tailgate with the MBASA – Sat. Oct. 31

Come enjoy Bojangles chicken and fun with MBASA members on Saturday before the NC State Wolfpack takes on the Clemson Tigers.  A Paperless Post e-mail invitation has been sent out to members; please RSVP in order to receive more details on the event.  The tailgate will run from 11 a.m. until gametime in the student tailgating lot.  Bojangles will be provided; bring your own beverages.  This event is open to MBASA members who have paid dues.  Look for the white Honda Ridgeline. We’ll send out a more precise location update via e-mail on Saturday, once we’re parked, to those who RSVP.

Cheer On the Jenkins MBA Flag Football Team! – Nov. 8

“Business Time!” – the official Flag Football team of the Jenkins MBA program – was dominant in their playoff game Monday night. If you didn’t know better, you would have thought they were the Carolina Panthers! “Business Time!” will continue their streak of terror on Sunday, November 8th at the Miller Intermural Fields. To find out how to join the team or for an official box score, please contact team captain Lauren McGuire or team manager Tyler Bassett.

Meet a Jenkins MBA:  The Weekly Spotlight

K Kras picNAME:  

Kyle Kras, Jenkins Online MBA
TITLE & EMPLOYER:   SWODC Course Manager, United States Army
HOMETOWN:   Lowell, IN
PREVIOUS DEGREES:  B.P.S., Austin Peay State University

Q:        What’s the strangest job you’ve ever had?
A:    
    When I was in college I got a job at a book binding factory.  The factory was responsible for converting universities, the Library of Congress, and other libraries’ books from paperback into hardcover editions.

Q:        What’s the most fun and enlightening experience you’ve had in the MBA program so far?
A:
        The most fun project that I have participated in thus far was last semester when we competed in the MARKSTRAT program in MBA 560, Marketing Management and Strategy.  It was fun to collaborate as a team and then see our efforts and strategies play out in a simulation against our classmates.

Q:        If you could have any superpower you wanted, which one would it be?
A:  
      I would want the ability to fly; I think it would make travel much more convenient on a daily basis.

Q:        If you had 5 minutes to teach someone something new, what would you teach?
A:        Not sure I would teach them anything. I would probably just talk to them.

Q:        What’s the best piece of advice anyone has ever given you?
A:        In marriage, you can either be right or you can be happy.

Q:        What’s your dream job / career goal?  How is the MBA helping you get there?
A:        My long term career goal is to be Secretary of Defense.  An MBA will enable me to combine my experience with the institutional knowledge to be a more effective leader.

 

Dates to Remember/Upcoming Events

October 29

– Fall 2015 graduation paperwork due
November 9 – Industry Insights Day (RSVP on Joblink 5 pmFriday, Nov. 6)
November 10-11Duke University Energy Conference
November 11 – Deadline to register for Spring Break Study Abroad in London 
November 13Innovative Women’s Conference
November 19 – Lessons from a CEO with Steve Zelnak (RSVP on JobLink by Nov. 17)
November 19 – YPN: Analytics, Big Data, and the Internet of Things
November 25 – Thanksgiving Vacation begins
December 1 – Deadline to register for Summer Study Abroad in Munich
December 4 – Last day of classes
December 7-8 – Supply Chain Resource Cooperative Semi-Annual Partners Meeting
December 17 – MBA Graduation Celebration, 5:30 – 7 pm
December 18 – Fall 2015 Graduation