The Weekly Update – Full-Time MBA: December 10, 2015
Program News & Announcements
Looking to buy or sell an MBA textbook?
Based on a student recommendation, Claire Jefferies has created this Google Doc for anyone who wants to buy or sell a textbook for a Jenkins MBA course.
Internship Available at RTI International
English as a Second Language Courses for Full-Time MBA Students
FLE 402 – Research and Technical Writing for International Graduate Students (3 credits) – Intended to help foreign graduate students with technical and research writing. Includes practice with writing conventions and grammar necessary in research papers & technical writing. Offered MW 1:30-2:45.
FLE 400 – American English Pronunciation (3 credits) – Provides intensive pronunciation practice for non-native speakers of English who want to improve the clarity of their English speech. Focuses on word-stress and phrase-stress, intonation, and the rhythm of English speech; includes individual and class work on vowel and consonant difficulties throughout the semester. Offered MW 6:00 – 7:15; TTh 10:15 – 11:30; TTh 1:30 – 2:45.
FLE 401 – Advanced Oral Communication in English for International Students (3 credits) – Open to all international graduate students and international teaching assistants at NC State. This course helps graduate students improve their oral communication skills in a variety of academic scenarios (e.g. taking part in and leading a class discussion, giving a formal presentation, etc.). Limited to 12 students for individual attention and maximized speaking opportunities. Offered MW 4:30– 5:45; TTh 8:30 – 9:45; TTh 3:00- 4:15.
Let us hear from you: Student & Academic Engagement Survey
Please take a few minutes to tell your Student & Academic Engagement team – Claire Jefferies, Sarah Pickel, and Deborah Waller Wilkins – how we’re doing and where we can improve. We’re also collecting data on concentrations to help faculty better plan for course offerings in future semesters. Please take a moment to fill out the survey – and please be honest, your responses are anonymous. Thank you for taking the time to help us serve you better.
Career Management Center
Fall 2015 CMC events are winding down, but save the date for this event in January geared toward international MBA students:
Increase Leadership Effectiveness by Improving Relationships with U.S. Co-Workers:
Live workshop for international Professional and Full-Time MBAs
| When: | Saturday, Jan. 30, 9 to 11 a.m. |
| Where: | Nelson Hall 2406, Main Campus |
| Register: | Please RSVP on Joblink by 5 p.m. on Jan. 28, 2016 (Please cancel at least 24 hours in advance if you cannot attend) |
Business school not only teaches hard business function skills, but soft leadership and management skills as well. Work success isn’t only about doing excellent work, but managing how you relate to your coworkers and others in your company. Managers in U.S. work environments must be proficient in relationship skills in order to be effective.
This workshop, taught by Helene Bumbalo, recognized expert in demystifying business management and soft skills for international students, will address relationship skill best practices necessary to make fellow co-workers, employees, and external business contacts comfortable with your leadership. This workshop will teach you:
- What reputation and network have to do with your success
- How word choices and intonation patterns may be undermining your authority
- Habits to develop that make you relevant to your team
Professional Events & Networking
Nestlé’s Nespresso Sustainability MBA Challenge
Last year, Nestlé’s Nespresso inspired 86 different MBA programs to take part in the third edition of the Nespresso Sustainability MBA Challenge. For last year’s Challenge 2015, students from all over the globe took up the challenge to explore new, creative and fresh ideas for Nestlé’s Creating Shared Value Strategy – a principle that guides the company’s responsibility to create and share value, not just for shareholders, but the communities in which they operate. For this year’s challenge, Nespresso is partnering with the Sustainable Markets Intelligence Center (CIMS) and Latin America’s leading Business School INCAE. Learn how you can get involved! Check out the criteria, rules, FAQs, and registration information at sustainabilitymbachallenge.com. Contact Jessica Thomas at jothomas@ncsu.edu if you are interested in participating.
Take On a Sustainable Business Challenge: Invest for Impact
| When: | February 26, 2016 |
| Where: | UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School, Chapel Hill, NC |
| Register: | Click here to register |
Invest for Impact is a competition with a wide variety of challenges in a win-win-win convergence of three elite groups: Top MBA students, socially- or sustainably-minded entrepreneurs, and successful impact investors! Student teams from MBA programs worldwide play the role of impact investors, reviewing business plans and selecting the company they would invest in, based on both financial viability and social or environmental impact. It’s a great opportunity to network with entrepreneurs and judges, as well as fellow students from around the world. Also, the winning student team will receive a cash prize. Click the link above to learn more, and contact Jessica Thomas at jothomas@ncsu.edu if you are interested in participating.
Student Clubs & Events
Help Families in Need This Holiday Season
- Talley – Student Government Lobby, 4251F
- Engineering Building 1 – First Floor Atrium
Collection will continue through finals week. Take a study break to help the needy in the Raleigh area! For more information, email James Peerless, jspeerle@ncsu.edu.
Meet a Jenkins MBA: The Weekly Spotlight
NAME: Rafael “Rafe” Estevez
TITLE: Chief Operating Officer at WarpSpec, Inc.; Duke Energy
HOMETOWN: Miami, Fla.
PREVIOUS DEGREES: B.S. in Forest Management from North Carolina State University; M.S. in Forest Management with a minor Economics from North Carolina State University
Q: Tell us something about you that we might be surprised to find out!
A: I participated in timber sports as an undergraduate. I placed fourth in chain throw and sixth in tree identification at Conclave.
Q: What’s the most fun or enlightening experience you’ve had in the MBA program so far?
A: My most enlightening MBA experience is the TEC Entrepreneurship Practicum. This practicum is two semesters and is focused on commercializing emerging technologies. I founded my current startup based on the work I accomplished in these classes.
Q: What’s the best piece of advice anyone has ever given you?
A: One of my coworkers once said, “Failure is a natural part of life, but how you respond to failure is more important.”
Q: Suppose someone offered you a week’s vacation anywhere on Earth – all expenses paid, no cost to you. Where would you go, and what would you want to see / experience while you’re there?
A: I would like to take a trip to New Zealand. Hiking, sightseeing, and island-hopping are in order.
Q: What’s your favorite “comfort food,” and when do you like to make & enjoy it?
A: I enjoy Cuban food. My wife does most of the cooking in our household, but I enjoy eating it!
Q: When you were little, what did you want to be when you grew up? Did that wish play a role in shaping your career? – if so, how?
A: I wanted to be a stockbroker when I was growing up. I enjoy making and evaluating investments. These skills are very transferable and have helped me assess the potential the value of various professional projects.
Q: What’s your dream job / career goal? How is the MBA helping you get there?
A: An executive for a small to midsize company. The MBA is building my credentials and helping me develop my business and strategic decision-making skills.
Dates to Remember/Upcoming Events
December 17 – MBA Graduation Celebration, 5:30 – 7 pm, 1887 Bistro, Talley Student Center
December 18 – Fall 2015 Graduation
January 6 – First day of Spring 2016 semester
January 12 – Last day to add a Spring 2016 class
January 18 – Martin Luther King, Jr. Day (No class)
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