Belk College's Global Impact (By Guest Blogger: Allyson Vicars)

As a MBA student working toward a concentration in Healthcare Administration, an assistantship in the Global realm didn’t initially seem likely to lend itself to a career in healthcare.  I quickly found out I was wrong. With the US becoming more and more diversified, being able to communicate and interact effectively with people from various cultures is a critical skill.  Cultural awareness and sensitivity is key. My GA position has helped expand my awareness and improve the clarity of my written communication skills (most of our correspondences are via email) with individuals of different cultures and different languages. 

Not many students (prospective or current) are aware that the Belk College of Business offers Executive MBA degree programs internationally. Two of our most popular Global programs are offered in Hong Kong, and Taipei, Taiwan through a partnership with China Education Group (CEG). Our programs are unique in that they are taught completely by Belk College of Business faculty. The professors MBA students have on campus here in Charlotte also teach courses halfway around the world!

 The programs are designed so that a student who starts the program in January can finish their degree in one year’s time.  The curriculum is similar to the MBA with the same core courses required, but they are delivered in a more flexible format. The students in the Executive MBA programs are typically current business managers so flexibility is necessary.  Eleven courses are required for graduation – 7 core and 4 electives. Students take one course at a time and each is two weeks long.  Reading assignments for the course are completed prior to the first class meeting. This is followed by two intensive weekends of instruction by the Belk College faculty. A new course is typically offered about three weeks after the end of the previous course.  All courses are taught in English.

As a Graduate Assistant for this department I can say that working with students who are already business managers presents some interesting problems. Since most students have significant commitments outside of class, sometimes they are not able to attend the modules due to business trips or other responsibilities. This may lengthen a student’s time for graduation; but generally most graduate within a year and half of starting the program even if these issues pop up. The key is flexibility. These programs are flexible to accommodate the needs of current managers who wish to further their career with an MBA.

If anyone wants more information about these or our other Global programs (in Monterrey, Mexico and Copenhagen, Denmark) please feel free to contact me (avicars@uncc.edu). I’d be happy to get you more information.

My Journey to UNC Charlotte (By Guest Blogger Anadin Tokmic)

Coming from a small town in the Midwest, I had no idea what to expect from a large city like Charlotte. Well, there was one thing to expect and that was University of North Carolina Charlotte. I chose to move to Charlotte quickly, once I found out that I was accepted to the Master of Economics Program at UNCC. Before applying to the program, I researched to see if it was a program that was a good fit for me. The thing I paid particular attention to was what the graduate students did once they graduated from UNC Charlotte. It’s always a good idea to see what one does with a graduate degree. Some graduates ended up working internationally, some returned to school for a doctorate degree, and others remained in Charlotte working with one of the local companies.

Based on what I researched about UNC Charlotte, it sounded like a good place for me and now it’s been a semester and counting.   My favorite part so far was forming a group of friends within the program.  In this group, we study together and at the same time network with one another. The students in my graduate program come from a variety of educational, professional, and personal backgrounds. It’s fascinating how much knowledge can flow when a diverse group is put in a room together for a few hours. Professors do a great job allowing opportunities for questions and collaboration to take place, but at the same time cover the lecture material.

Other opportunities that I found myself taking advantage of at UNC Charlotte include being a part of the Professional Development Program (PDP). The year-long program is a competitive based program with a two-step interview process. Five students are selected each semester and receive a scholarship. The  PDP program is designed to improve student’s professional demeanor by finding out the student’s strengths and weaknesses, their personality traits, and prepare them towards a career that best fits. All that is done in the first half of the program, the second half entails the student being paired with a mentor to get personal advice from an established professional in the community.

My experience at UNC Charlotte has been great so far. I feel that I have grown professionally and academically. UNC Charlotte has provided me with many challenges, opportunities and hopefully more of both to come.  

Impact of Technology

Spring is in the air. I must say that Spring is my favorite season. The season brings mild weather and cool evenings. To me it is also signals a time of renewal and rebirth. This is the time where you see homeowners in their gardens working to revitalize their yards for the pleasant weather. It is also a time where many begin their "spring cleaning/renewal" projects.  Well even though the official day of Spring is weeks away I decided to start early.
I begun my Spring Renewal project by attending the Business Marketing Association Carolinas' lunch meeting. I was introduced to this particular organization by a colleague of mine here at the Belk College of Business. February's topic was "Mobile Marketing with Apple Inc. This was of particular of interest due to my social media efforts, my love of Apple Inc, and studies on the global impact of mobile marketing. I was expecting this event to focus on Apple's successful marketing campaign however it was quite the opposite. The event instead focused on the underlying demand in mobile marketing and the likes which drive Apple's success. The statistics in regards to adoption and demand in the mobile marketing arena are staggering. (I am still amazed that it is predicted that by 2013 the number of mobile users will exceed the number of desktop users). Towards the end of the session, my brain began to ponder about the impact mobile marketing will have on MBA programs globally in the next decade. I remember that the luxury at my Alma Mater when our new business building opened in 2005 was the fact that it was a WIFI zone with an intricate and up to speed financial trading center.  Nowadays the WIFI hotspot would not be a key feature that would "move" an audience. So how do companies in particular educational institutions keep up with this demand and weave it into their physical structures and curriculum?

The Belk College for Business here at UNC Charlotte, I believe, continues to incorporate the demand above in their yearly strategic plans. The Belk College continues to be aware and keep technology and innovation at the forefront of their strategic planning process. One clear example is the our new Uptown building, Center City. The UNC Charlotte's Center City building construction is almost complete. (Center City Building Progress) Just by looking at the exterior one can see an physical representation of innovation.  I am looking forward to the opening of this building this coming fall. The building will be filled with numerous technology features to keep my fellow colleagues and me up to speed with the latest information on our Androids, iPhones, and other smart phones. I am looking forward to being able to access one of a number of classrooms that will have a video-conferencing platform. This particular classroom will allow faculty and students to interact with those students in our global programs. In addition it is a means of leading and spurring collaboration between domestic and international UNC Charlotte graduate business students.

I say this all to bring up maybe the idea of creating an application to promote UNC Charlotte's Center City Building. (This would be a great tie in with keeping up with mobile technology!)  Like most, I have countless number of applications on my phone and Ipad to keep me occupied. Believe it or not particular on my Ipad I usually go through each application at least once a day, either for class, leisure, check email, or to just kill time. It is amazing how dependent I have become on those two devices. I can't leave home without. My parents would say that they would feel "naked" if they left their watches at home...well who cares about a watch...I would feel naked without my phone and/or Ipad!!!

Off to a midterm! Have a great weekend!

LOVE your Brand

L-O-V-E is in the air! One of Hallmark's, florists, and “chocolatiers” favorite holiday is just days away…Valentine's Day. As many prepare romantic evenings and heartfelt gifts for the ones we love, we should take the same desire and emotion into promoting ourselves.

As mentioned in previous blogs, UNC Charlotte has an excellent resource when it comes to career development and assessment. Her name is Robin Boswell, Director of Graduate Career Development. One of her themes this year is "Building Your Brand." In today's competitive marketplace building a notable brand is absolutely necessary to stand apart from the competition. When you build YOUR brand, you are not only promoting your skills and abilities but also you are building confidence. Let me tell you that confidence shows.

From interacting with several students, it is apparent when we talk about the job market the confidence levels in each student. When one builds their brand they gain a sense of pride and enthusiasm to share with others. This enthusiasm becomes contagious and his/her audience can feel that the individual is proud at what he/she has accomplished and become an expert on.

Well I would like to alter her theme in light of the holiday to "Love your Brand."  Since the beginning of 2011, I accelerated my assessment and research on the corporate world and the various industries. Some would describe my assessment as a 'soul searching' process which I must agree it is. During this research period, I've uncovered my strengths, weaknesses, and areas of improvement. Some discoveries were pleasant while others were eye-opening moments. However each discovery has enhanced my brand and confidence level.

Let's put it in a sports perspective. Last night was the UNC vs. Duke Game. Those are two notable brands in NCAA Division I basketball. The fans of the respective universities truly LOVE their brand. They eat live, breathe, and think as a Tar Heel or a Blue Devil. If you walk up to any one of those fans, they can probably regurgitate the team's history, stats, notable players, etc. Long story short, those fans KNOW and LOVE their brand. They are proud fans and are happy to share that with anyone they come into contact with. Now let’s apply this same to business. Why can't you apply the same enthusiasm you have with YOUR brand.  You already know your personal stats, wins, notable achievements etc. So embrace and LOVE your brand. If you aren't sold and passionate about your brand; how do you expect your future employers to be excited about hiring you?

Just some thoughts to ponder. Happy Valentine's Day.

Homecoming 2011

It's that time of year: When alumni return to their old stomping rounds and current students rally around the student union center sporting the green and gold. This week was filled with exciting activities to rally school spirit for the big game this Saturday. Ironically this is my first homecoming here as a graduate student at UNC Charlotte and guess who we are playing.......MY ALMA MATER!

I was completely shocked to realize that on the big day I will have to choose between wearing Green and Gold vs. Blue and Gold. (I know this does not seem like a big decision but when you are loyal to both universities and a huge NCAA Division I basketball fan this is a tough decision.) On the one hand, UNC Charlotte has a phenomenal new Men's head coach Alan Major who is truly leading the team with great direction and strategy that is causing upsets in the A-10. On the other side, this is Coach Hobb's 10th year as Head Coach of our GW's Men's Basketball team. Coach Hobbs has a notable career with GW sports particular in the 2006 year with our 23-9 record.

With these two great teams and coaches who shall I choose???? Well I guess I will just leave it as: "May the best team win." Have a great weekend!