Final Exams Week: Seven Steps for Successful Studying

Yesterday was the last day of regular classes for the spring term at UNC Charlotte and everyone is starting to feel a bit overwhelmed and stressed about the final exams week. As these finals are approaching (fairly rapidly too), many students are starting to wonder how they will be able to finish all the last minute projects and studying in time for the big evaluation. I compiled a list of 7 tips that will help you survive the next few days:

1. Start early: Don't wait until the last minute to start studying for your exams. Many studies have shown that cramming everything last minute pushes information into short-term memory rather than long-term memory and you will forget everything once the exam is over. For a more success way to retain information, start studying at least one week before your exam.  

2. Shed some commitments: Try to limit your unnecessary social and family obligations for the next week. Explain to your friends and family how important these exams are for your future career. They will be understanding and the extra hours of studying will help you get a good grade.

3. Know your study style: Are you a morning person? Do you study better at night? In addition, there are a number of techniques that can help you improve the information retention rate: highlight your notes and textbook; read your notes out loud; rewrite your notes; use flashcards and concept maps; and develop mnemonic devices. Use the strategy/strategies that are the most appropriate for your learning style.

4. Take breaks: The recommended 30 to 50 minutes of studying with 10 minutes break strategy will help you improve your studying. Taking a walk and stretch will let your body and mind relax so you can be ready for another study session. If you can take a longer break, hit the gym. You will not only relief the stress you accumulated, but exercising will make you focus better.

5. Vanish from distractions: Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and other social media platforms can be a real distraction from your studies. If you know you will be tempted to get on Facebook (or any of the other platforms), inactivate your account for a few days. This will allow you to focus all your energy on your upcoming exam instead of your News Feed.

6. Eat and sleep well: A healthy balanced diet and a good night sleep (6-8h/night) will help you maintain a high energy level and improve your concentration. Include dark green leafy veggies, whole grains, and fish or eggs in your diet. For high-energy snack, have some yogurt, cheese and crackers, tuna, veggies, hummus and trail mix readily available.

7. Reward yourself: After finishing an exam, take a little break and reward yourself with a few hours of downtime before studying for your next exam. Once the final exams week is over, celebrate your accomplishments with your classmates, friends, and family members.

Hope you will find these steps useful and....GOOD LUCK for the upcoming week!

2013 Beta Gamma Sigma International Business Honor Society Induction Ceremony

On Friday, April 19, 2013, 80 undergraduate and graduate students from the Belk College of Business attended the Beta Gamma Sigma International Business Honor Society induction ceremony at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel uptown Charlotte to be recognized for their outstanding academic achievements and celebrate their accomplishments with their family and friends. In addition, the Belk College of Business honored two distinguished community leaders: Anu Brookins, VP for Customer Relationship Management at Belk,Inc. and John Tuders, SVP for Products and Payments Innovation Executive at Bank of America.

From right to left: Anu Brookins, VP at Belk,Inc. and John Tuders, SVP at Bank of America,
 receiving their honorary induction into Beta Gamma Sigma

Founded in 1913 on four core principles - honor, integrity, pursuit of wisdom, and earnestness - Beta Gamma Sigma is the only international business honor society that honors academic achievement among undergraduate, master's, and doctoral students at AACSB International accredited institutions. Membership in BGS is by invitation only and, each semester, the Belk College of Business extends an invitation to the top 10% (based on GPA) of the undergraduate junior and senior class and top 20% (based on GPA) of the graduate level class.

Graduate student Sihem Le Pape receiving her Beta Gamma Sigma certificate
from Dr. Christie Amato, Belk College of Business Associate Dean

The benefits of being a member of BGS:

     1. Peer and future employer recognition: a large number of employers and recruiters are aware of BGS and the high standards it upholds; your membership with BGS shows your future employers your commitment to excellence and your outstanding academic record;

     2. Networking opportunities: with a worldwide membership base of over 700,000 members, 500 collegiate chapters and 27 alumni chapters, BGS offers its members a variety of opportunities to connect and network with like-minded individuals from all over the world; the local Charlotte chapter has been very active and it provides a great avenue to meet other local community leaders;

    3. Career assistance: BGS provides scholarship opportunities for graduate students at partner university; in addition, it offers a variety of online professional career development resources (e.g. professional career job boards, career advice, graduate school fairs).

Undergraduate student Andrew Smith receiving his Beta Gamma Sigma certificate
from Dr. Christie Amato, Belk College of Business Associate Dean

Congratulations to all our newly inducted Beta Gamma Sigma members!



2013 job market trends for international students

When it comes to employment opportunities in the US, international students are generally constrained by a number of policies and regulations that make employers hesitant to hire them. However, there are a few resources out there that can help internatinal students better prepare themselves for future employment in the US by choosing the a career path and industry in which international students can be in high demand.

Last week, I attended an informational workshop put together by the International Student/Scholar Office that presented strategies international students can implement to possibly secure employment positions beyond their OPT months. In his presentation, the Associate Director at the University Career Center, James Novak, mentioned some statistics from a job outlook report; so, when I got home I did a little bit of research and here it is.

The National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) put together a 2013 Job Outlook report that can help students find important trends in the US job market. As an international student, I find this report to be of particular interest and hope others can find it useful as well (there is a lot of great information for college/master students in general -- so, check it out)

In 2013, about 28.1% of respondents (US employers) plan to hire international students, especially those graduating with computer science and information technology degrees. In the last few years, this number has followed an upper trend which sounds very promising for international students who want to pursue employment in the US. Below is a breakdown of the hiring plans of international students by industry:

NACE 2013 Job Outlook Report - International student hiring plans, by industry

Another interesting graph to look at is the international student hiring plans by region:

NACE 2013 Job Outlook Report - International student hiring plans, by region

As I look over this, I wish I would've known about this report earlier in my academic career. It could've saved me quite a few struggles along the way. However, I'm glad to see that the Southeast region of the US is seeing an increase in employers planning to hire international students.

One encouraging stat for my fellow MBA students: the 2012-2013 average signing bonus (projected) for MBA graduates is $16,583. We are definitely in the right field of studies! :)

What are your thoughts about these trends?

Spring Break is over....now back into the school groove!!

It is almost the middle of March; my last Spring Break as a graduate student is over and I’m half way through my MBA program: where did the time fly by? I can see the light at the end of the tunnel shinning brighter and brighter at me.

As much as I enjoy being a graduate student, I do miss my little vacation! Since this was my last Spring Break ever (don’t see myself actually pursuing a PhD program!), I decided to make it big: together with a classmate, we decided to go on a 5-day cruise to Bahamas! And we had a blast!!! The nice weather, great food, amazing scenery, and an overall relaxing atmosphere made it so much harder to get back into the groove of studying, doing homework, and working on assignments and case studies when we got back!

But now it’s back to reality: I have a midterm and a project coming up, trying to keep up with my other 3 classes and my graduate assistant work, and still looking for the right internship for the summer: so much to do, so little time!!

If there is something I learned from this Spring Break is that taking an entire week off  from your school work during a full load semester (even if it is for a relaxing Spring Break) is not recommended while in graduate school. The anxiety of having to catch up and never feeling like you can get ahead is not the best of feelings; especially not after a great vacation.

But I'm grateful for the opportunities I have to not only pursue a master degree in a field I love and better prepare myself for future endeavors but also build long lasting friendships with my classmates!

Belk, Inc announces $5milion gift to the Belk College of Business

Yesterday, I had the opportunity to attend a monumental event in the history of the Belk College of Business. The Charlotte, NC-based Belk, Inc. showed its continuous support for UNC Charlotte by offering an extremely generous gift to the Belk College of Business: $5million over the next 5 years. The gift is comprised of 4 components: endowed professorship in business innovation, endowed chair in marketing analytics, Belk Scholars program, and faculty research and teaching grants. This multi-dimensional, multi-year relationship will be instrumental in educating the upcoming generations of students to help solve the business problems of the future. 

John Belk making the big announcement

What does all this mean to a current business student or an upcoming student? In my opinion, this gift speaks volumes not only on the university and college's reputation, but also on Belk, Inc.'s commitment to invest in innovation and the business leaders of tomorrow. I am proud of my decision to earn my MBA from an institution that has such great ties with the business community and provides such unique opportunities for its students and faculty. Innovation and business analytics are two very important upcoming areas in the business world and, as a college that prides itself with offering top-quality programs, Belk College of Business would only increase its status by offering such great programs. As more and more companies recognize the importance of innovation and data mining and analysis, the Belk College of Business upcoming students would be able to have an advantage having studied and researched these hot topic fields.

Chancellor Dubois, Thomas Belk Jr. (Belk, Inc Chairman and CEO), David Plath (UNC Charlotte student), Kelsey Young (UNC Charlotte student), John Belk (Belk, Inc. President and COO), Dean Steve Ott, and Courtnee Spence (UNC Charlotte student).



Tips for a healthy lifestyle

As a graduate assistant in the Graduate Student Services Office for the Belk College of Business, I have the opportunity to attend some of the Charlotte Chamber of Commerce events in order to promote our graduate programs. At these events not only do I get to interact with individuals in the Charlotte metro area business community, but also listen to inspirational messages from community leaders.

A couple of weeks ago, I attended a Chamber event in the Ballantyne area. The topic for that particular luncheon was living a healthy lifestyle in a stressful corporate world. The "corporate athlete" exhibits almost the same traits as the student-athlete or professional athlete. And in order to maximize his/her performance, the corporate athlete needs to experience a balanced lifestyle which includes but it's not limited to exercising and healthy nutrition. As a current MBA student and future corporate athlete myself, this was an extremely useful lesson to learn early on.

Jennifer Brunelli, MS RD LDN, former swimmer at University of South Carolina and currently Sports Dietitian for the Carolinas Healthcare System, delivered a very motivational message. Even just a few weeks into our new year's resolutions, we tend to slip away from our commitments with ourselves. Jennifer challenged us to change our way of thinking about our new year's resolutions and gave us a series of "easy" steps that will help us break the failing cycle and succeed in our "living a healthy lifestyle" endeavors:

1. Be realistic in the resolutions and goals you are trying to accomplish
2. Make it easier on yourself to follow through with your plan (sign up for a closer gym, plan and prepare your meals ahead of time)
3. Take baby steps and do not do too much too soon (make one change in your diet now, then make the rest one at a time)
4. Hold yourself accountable by telling others about your goals and plans and writing them down
5. Create a strong support system of family and friends who will help you through the hard times

Do you have any other tips that might help in our commitments to live a healthier lifestyle?

Back to reality...

It is January 9, 2013...first day of classes! After three weeks of a much needed vacation, I am back to the reality of being a graduate student: 4 classes, an internship, graduate assistant work, and hopefully some time for extracurricular activities. As I look over the course syllabi, I'm trying not to get too overwhelmed by the amount of coursework material due this semester. But before I know it...the semester will be over; so, I have to make the best of it!

The holiday break gave me an opportunity to relax and catch up on some lost sleep, enjoy the time with my family and friends along with some amazing Romanian food, and read my books I've started earlier in the fall semester before the craziness kicked in. It was a time of reflection on a year that just ended, with the ups and downs and the lessons learned, as well as the upcoming year, with new resolutions and goals I want to attain. Whenever I am at home for the holidays, I tend to be worry-free. However, as soon as I made it back to Charlotte, it was back to being a responsible adult.

As the classes are about to start, I look forward to getting to know my professors and my new classmates, gaining new skills and valuable knowledge, and taking advantage of the opportunities I'll encounter this semester.

I'm ready for another semester of fun and coffee! Are you ready?

Final exams: late nights with lots of caffeine and snacks

Final exams week is here. I feel this fall semester just flew by me...and here I am getting ready to take my first finals in the graduate program in just a matter of hours. Surprisingly I'm not too terribly nervous. After a long weekend of late nights, study group meetings with classmates, lots of caffeine, and many snacks and candy wrappers, I feel confident I can do very well on my exams.

Throughout this semester though, I noticed a difference between when I was an undergraduate student and now. While in undergraduate school, there was a lot of memorization involved and one could cram in a lot of information right before the exam and forget it as soon as the exam was over. In addition, it was a lot easier to get distracted and procrastinate. However, graduate school is different: graduate school work requires you to always stay on top of your studies. You need to constantly be prepared for class by reading the case studies and completing all assignments before class. The class discussions then are more insightful and help you better understand and retain the new information, so when midterms and final exams come around, you already have a solid foundation about the subject matter at hand. In graduate school, you learn how to think critically and apply the concepts - principles that stick around long after the final exams are done.

Now it's time for me to get ready for my first graduate school final. Good luck to all the students (graduate and undergraduate) who are taking their final exams this week! :)

Thanksgiving Holiday...a time to be grateful, rest, and study!

At last, Thanksgiving break is here. For some, this means lots of hectic traveling, amazing food, and great company. For others, it’s that time of the year when friends and families gather around the dinner table to celebrate an important tradition in the American society. But for everyone, it’s the time of the year when we stop from our busy lives to reflect on the year that is about to end (very soon!) and extend our gratitude about the good (and sometimes the bad) things that have happened in our lives.

As I am waiting for my next flight to go visit my family, I start to reflect on how blessed I've been all my life. I have so many things to be grateful for…I don’t even know where to begin: I’m thankful for my family who has supported me on every level throughout my entire life; I’m blessed to have a number of amazing friends who I can count on no matter what; I’m thankful for the people who have entered in my life at one point or another and who have shaped me into the person I am today; I’m thankful for having a healthy life; I’m thankful for the opportunities I was blessed with (the ability to play tennis and travel around the world doing something I so much enjoy; the opportunity to work under the leadership of some amazing people from whom I learned so much about business and life; the opportunity to attend not one, but two very distinct and respectful universities in the US and get an education that I will carry with me throughout my entire life); and I’m thankful for the challenges I had to face as they made me a better stronger person.

Although I look forward to this mini vacation and spending time with my family, life as a graduate student requires you to be engaged in your school work even during this time. As a graduate student you cannot get away from your studies not even for a few days. I’m sure my classmates can agree with me on this part. As this semester is coming to an end, all the semester-long projects and papers are coming due and the final exams are creeping around the corner. I know I will use these days off to try to catch up not only on my sleep but, in between the copious meals, also on my studies. 

What are your plans for this Thanksgiving break?

What I like about my MBA program so far...

In August, I embarked on a journey of professional and personal development by pursuing my MBA at UNCC. And where did the time go? Many hours were spend studying, reading, writing papers, and doing homework but I'm not complaining because I loved every second of it.

Almost three months into the program, I can say that I made the right decision by attending UNCC. I find the classes challenging but these are challenges that you can overcome through hard work. The professors are pushing you to overcome your own limitations by exploring new ideas and thoughts that further develop you not only as a manager but also as a leader in your organization as well as your personal life. One of the things I enjoy the most is that as students we can customize our papers and projects to fit the areas we are passionate about. For example, in my Organizational Behavior class I will write my research paper on the gender gap within the management of sports organizations, while in my Service Operations class, together with my group, we will be able to do an in-depth study and analysis of a sports franchise in the Charlotte area. These types of assignments no only allow you the opportunity to network with people in the field (by playing the student card) but also develop your knowledge base about the field you aspire to work in one day.

As I mentioned before in a previous blog, my classmates have a very diverse cultural and professional background. I have learned so much in these past three months through my classmates' experiences. Most of my classes are case based and we have open discussions about different topics. It is extremely eye-opening to see how people with diverse backgrounds think about the same subject matter. A financial analyst, an engineer, an artist, and a former plant manager - they all have different perspectives and insights. As someone who doesn't have a lot of work experience in the business world, I was also able to expand my knowledge and understandings by listening to my classmates.

Although I might be a bit "biased," but I found the staff members in the Graduate Student Services office to go above and beyond to accommodate and help not only the current students but also any prospective students who are interested in attending the graduate programs in the Belk College of Business at UNCC. They are all very passionate about their work and understand that they are successful when their students succeed.

These are the things I like about my MBA program. What did/do you like most about yours?

Networking...with GBA

The Graduate Business Association (GBA) is a student-led organization within the Belk College of Business. Its main purpose is to provide networking and professional development opportunities to foster meaningful connections among master and doctoral candidates and the Charlotte business community. Although it is a fairly new organization, it started to gain ground among the Belk College of Business graduate students.

Yesterday evening, GBA hosted a networking event at Pisces Sushi Bar and Lounge. The event was a huge success. Over 35 graduate students and alumni came together to connect with each other, exchange ideas and thoughts, and enjoy the delicious food. I always enjoy attending these kinds of social networking events because it gives you the opportunity to meet new people, discover new interesting points of view, and open yourself to a whole new way of thinking. In addition to that, you build relationships and friendships that will become your "power ties."

When I first came for the MBA Preview Day last spring, I met Leticia Foster, the former GBA President. As she was talking to me about GBA, all I could think was: how can I join the organization? I learned from my undergraduate experience the importance and benefits of getting involved in different organizations, and I didn't hesitate at the opportunity to take part in GBA. And it was a great decision. I didn't know anyone in Charlotte before starting the MBA program. Attending the monthly GBA social networking events at Brixx and Pisces helped me get to know more people and feel more comfortable in the program. Less than two months in the program, and I already started to develop new friendships and professional connections with individuals interested in the same field of study as me. In addition, from the professional development networking seminar, I learned a lot of very useful lessons and tips, some of which I already shared in my previous blog entries.

I hope my experiences will inspire other graduate students to attend the GBA events and get involved. One of the great things about this organization is that it is student-led and any student can leave his/her mark on the organization by getting involved and taking the initiative to see an idea come to fruition. Needless to say, I look forward to participating in the upcoming events and workshops. :)

Fall Recess...

After two long stressful weeks of papers, presentations, and exams, it is time to enjoy a long fall break weekend. The Fall Recess provides the students with the opportunity to catch up on some much needed rest, get ahead on school work, and spend some time discovering the city and what all it has to offer.

As a newbie to the Charlotte area, this was the perfect opportunity to get in the car and explore Charlotte and the surrounding areas. After doing some research online, I found a list with 101 Things To Do in Charlotte. I'm an outdoor person so I didn't hesitate at the opportunity to visit the U.S. Whitewater Center first. Not only do they have a number of fun water activities but they also have great hiking and biking trails. My second outdoor adventure was visiting Lake Norman and the parks around it. The beautiful scenery and relaxing atmosphere became the perfect location for reading one of the books I have for school. My third outdoor adventure for the weekend was jogging along the Little Sugar Creek Greenway. This trail provides an escape in the nature, without leaving the Uptown Charlotte limits. To satisfy my food curiosity, I visited the South End Food Truck Friday. This was my first encounter with food trucks and I must admit the delicious food made for an amazing experience.

Now that the weekend is over, it is back to the reality of being a full-time graduate student: finishing up homework assignments, reading articles and case studies, and studying the business fundamentals taught in class. Nonetheless, I look forward to being able to check off all 101 things to do in Charlotte by the time I graduate from the MBA program.

Making "Power Ties"

As international students, we are always focused on studying 24/7. In most cases, our cultural background influences us to follow down that path because we believe that is the ultimate way to land our dream job in the US. We are so blinded by this idea that we forget to step outside our "box" and build professional connection and relationships in our field of interest. In other words, we underestimate the power of networking.

The Graduate Student Services Office in collaboration with the Office of International Students and Scholars and the University Career Center put together an eye opening seminar about Finding Jobs in the USA for Students on Visas. A requirement to attending this seminar was reading Power Ties by Dan Beaudry. This book was written specifically for international students who are looking at obtaining a job in the US after graduation. Dan Beaudry highly encouraged everyone to start building professional relationships as early in their college/graduate life as possible. Although these "power ties" must be built through strategic outreach, they must be motivated by common interests and not money. This is the true key to networking.

Your question might be: how do I build those "power ties?" One important aspect is that you have to have a proactive approach to not only networking but also your job search. Having a presence on LinkedIn and other professional social media sites increases your visibility and your chances to reach out to others who might have the same professional interest as you. In addition, joining and getting involved with professional organizations in the industry of your interest will allow you to connect with the people who are currently working in that field and from whom you might be able to learn insightful information. However, when making these connections try to not only focus on your job search but also on more personal common interests. These connections could become your future referrals from inside the industry and "hiring based on the trusted opinion of the others is not only the oldest recruiting solution, it is still the best solution" (direct quote from Power Ties).

Sometimes taking these steps might be counter cultural to the way we were raised, but we need to understand the nature of the job search market in the US. There are many ways to find a job. You could look and apply on company websites, job search engines and so on. However, over half of the jobs out there are not posted on job sites or even on the company website. These jobs are all referral based. Thus, it is crucial to get to know the right people. However, even if you do know the right people, what do they know about you? This is when developing a niche for yourself is so important (not just technical niche, but personal as well). What will motivate the employer to hire you is your ability to solve business issue as well as your credibility, likeability, and helpfulness. Thus, you have to be able (and feel comfortable) talking about your past performances and show your “soft skills.”

From personal experience all this works! A few weeks ago, I was asked to participate in a charity pro-am and silent action event. Committing to such an event meant losing a day of studying before one of the hardest weeks of graduate school: a group project, a paper, and two exams. But taking the career advisors’ advice, I said yes. I was not only able to contribute to a great cause (cystic fibrosis) but also have the opportunity to meet and connect with a professional that is currently holding my dream job. By talking to her about our common interest (tennis, family values, international travel), I was able to establish the connection Dan Beaudry and the rest of the career advisers so strongly emphasized. In addition, she was able to offer me powerful tips that would help me in further shaping my career path. I could've chose to study that Saturday and completely missed an opportunity of a lifetime.

Hope this information will help others just as it helped me. Enjoy building your "power ties!"

Branding yourself...

As a very practical person, Denise Altman from Altman Initiative Group, Inc. wasted no time: "What does Walmart, Kia, Mercedes, and Ritz Carlton have in common?" was one of the first question she asked the MBAD 6100 students. And the answer was quite obvious: all these companies have a strong brand recognition and a very well defined target market. But what does all this have to do with us as MBA students? Well, similar to how these companies created a strong brand around their products and services, we, as future employees, have to develop our own brand recognition to enhance our career opportunities. We need to strategically utilize our education and experience obtained in the MBA program to develop our branding.

What does it mean to have a brand and be recognized by it? Do I currently have a brand that I'm unaware of? When people see me or my name, what exactly do they think of? Are their assumptions correct and in accordance to what I want to portray? These were all questions that popped up in my head and needed to find an answer ASAP.

As I was listening to Denise speak, I realized I need a change in  the way I approach my job search. It was one of those "AHA" moments. Something that was in front of me all this time but never saw it. I realized that in order to achieve my career objectives I needed to start thinking, behaving, and dressing up as the person I want to be and not what I am right now. All this while staying true to myself and my passions.

In order to create my own brand recognition, I have to evaluate myself from a few different perspectives.
1. Market. Walmart provides everyday low prices. Their target market is known to be consumers who are interested in value rather than quality. What is MY potential employers' market? Who do I want to notice me? Better yet, who do I want to work for? These are all great questions that I haven't fully tackled in the past. I was mostly going with the flow. But not anymore.

2. Features and Benefit. Ritz Carlton is known for its outstanding customer service that definitely comes at a premium price. The hotel chain's employees are trained to basically go out of their way to accommodate any requests the hotel guests might have. Ritz Carlton clearly defines its features and benefits. But do I have a clear understanding of the features and benefits required for my dream job? What qualities would the perfect candidate for this job have? What kind and how much experience would the perfect candidate have?

3. Competition. Since I am not the only one out there looking for a job, how does my competition look like? What are some of the buzzwords that everyone uses not only in their resumes but also in their interviews? When I present myself and my case, do I manage to stand out or do I fade in with the crowd? If I am unable to describe and understand my competition, then I won't be able to differentiate myself from it. To help us brainstorm some of our differentiation factors, Denise provided us with the following self-examining questions:
           1. What is/are your greatest accomplishment(s)?
           2. What is the best compliment your boss/supervisor said about your/your work?
           3. What is one word you would use to describe yourself?
           4. Fill-in the blank: "We can always count on (person in question) to _______"

4. Packaging. 7 seconds - that is all someone we just met needs to formulate an opinion about us. First impression is key when networking and meeting potential employers because it is easier to make a good first impression than have to alter someone's opinion of you later on. What is the first impression I currently make? Am I consistent in my behavior around others or do I send out mixed signals? Does my current "packaging" align with the specifics of my dream job? All great questions...but don't know the answer for all of them yet.

5. Distribution. In your current networking endeavors, are you participating in the right event/committees and/or reaching out to your actual target market? Is your target market noticing you? Denise provided the class with some great examples on how to get noticed without looking desperate: if you are currently looking for a job, you can join the professional associations affiliated with the industry you are interested in, or reach out to someone who is currently holding your dream job and ask them to grab a cup of coffee and find out what their job is all about, or, even better, ask someone to be your mentor; if you are currently holding a job, be proactive by joining different committees and/or volunteering for assignments you are interested in.

6. Pricing. We tend to associate Mercedes and Ritz Carlton with premium prices, while Walmart and Kia with value prices. Similarly, each of us has a price point associated with our brand: premium, value, average, discount. However, no one likes to think of themselves as having a price tag. I know I sure don't. But Denise made a great point: if you don't know your value and what you're worth, how will you be able to negotiate your future salary/promotion? When developing a personal brand, it's important to adjust your target price to match your own specific brand.

7. Tagline. Probably the most important aspect of them all because it has to be consistent with all the other aspects I just mentioned. In addition, it has to be concise and encompass what you are all about. Similar to an elevator speech, it has to describe you and provide a positive long lasting impression on the listener. Before I can even begin to think about my tagline, I need to figure out the answers to all those other questions above.

Having this class so early in my MBA program was an eye-opener. Before this course, I thought I knew myself pretty good but I definitely need to do some more soul searching and really define who I am first before I can develop a strong brand for myself.

Hopefully, this information provided to us by Denise Altman and my own reflections will help you enhance your personal branding and increase your marketability. Remember, everyone has a brand of their own. You too have that differentiation factor that will distinguish you from your job market competition. In the mean time, enjoy your self-discovery journey...I know I will enjoy mine!

First week of graduate school

The excitement of the first week of graduate school has built up for quite some time...and I was ready for my first classes to start. I registered for 4 classes and a seminar and, this being my first semester in graduate school, I didn't know what to expect. As I was going through the syllabus for each class, I noticed the amount of reading/homework we would have and that made me a little nervous that I would not be able to keep up with the program. However, as the first classes rolled around and I came prepared to class, my fears slowly faded away. I found the professors to be extremely versatile in their subjects and willing to work with the students in their learning curves to accomplish the course objectives. In all my classes, there is a great emphasis on group discussions and group projects. Learning how to work in teams is imperative in the current business world. In all my classes, we have case studies discussions and hands-on projects that will help me develop the mindset needed to perform in a managerial position.

Probably one thing I found striking was how diverse my classes were. Although I'm originally from Romania, I graduated from a school in Alabama where everyone had fairly similar backgrounds and experiences. All my current classmates come from a variety of professional backgrounds (from architects to financial analysts to former CEOs). In addition, everyone adds to the multicultural educational atmosphere with their own unique heritage and ethnical background. I have classmates who are from other parts of the US (California, Florida, Texas, Connecticut) while others come from all corners of the world (Denmark, Germany, India, Japan, China, and Mexico). In addition, many of my classmates either lived or studied abroad at one point in their lives. I look forward to learning more about and from my classmates. Their own experiences and perspectives will challenge and broaden my own views and make me a better person.

I look forward to see what the upcoming weeks bring...till then...I'm going back to my homework! :)
Wish everyone an exciting week!

MBA students taking notes during their first class meeting

Poverty Simulation Orientation Fall 2012

As part of the mandatory Belk College of Business graduate student orientation, the students registered for MBAD 6100 class had to participate in the Poverty Simulation program coordinated by Daniel Valdez, the Volunteer Manager for Crisis Assistance Ministry. Being a first year graduate student, I had to take part in this simulation exercise. And I must admit it was one of the most eye-opening experiences I have ever been through. The exercise, although funny at times, gave me a different perspective and outlook on life and how fast things can change in one’s life due to unforeseeable circumstances. I consider myself very fortunate to have had the opportunities I had in life. My parents have been very conservative with their finances and, although we did not live in any luxury, they were able to provide for me everything I needed in order to succeed in my tennis endeavors and more recently in my education pursuit. However, in all this time, I never thought of scenarios where I would have to face poverty, living paycheck to paycheck and trying to make ends meet. We tend to think that if we have a bachelor's or, better yet, a master's degree we will be immune to any economic hardships; unfortunately, the reality is much different.

Within the Poverty Simulation, I was assigned the character of Ms. Chen, a working mother of three (ages 8, 10, and 16). My husband was laid off three months prior and our sixteen year old daughter was a few months pregnant with one of our neighbor’s son. We lived in a three bedroom/two bathroom house. Since my husband was laid off (he was an IT specialist), we have been paying for some of our expenses with our credit cards that were already maxed out, with no real way to pay them off. In addition, my paycheck was not enough to cover all our monthly expenses. Thus, we were stuck.

Throughout the entire simulation, I felt very helpless when it came to aiding my family. Although I had a job, my monthly paycheck was not enough to keep my family and me alive. I was only able to provide food for my family two out of four weeks and, at the end of the fourth week, we were kicked out of our house for not paying our mortgage. The community we lived in had only one bank and one grocery store for which the waiting lines were unbearable. The social services organizations were always packed and they were very limited in the amount of help they could provide. To top that, I did not get to spend one minute with my children. I felt very helpless when I would get home at the end of the week and the children would need money for field trips or different events they would want to participate in with their classmates at school, and I could not offer them that opportunity. This situation affected me the most because, in real life, I would be completely devastated if I would not be able to provide for my children and offer them experiences that would enrich their lives.

If you ever have the opportunity, I highly encourage you to participate in a Poverty Simulation. It will make you see the world through a different set of eyes!

My road trip to the MBA program at UNCC

About a year ago, I started exploring the idea of going to graduate school. There were many unknowns at the time but the two things I was sure about were that I wanted to stay in the US and I wanted to pursue a MBA with a concentration in the sports industry. One day, one of my former professors and mentors mentioned Charlotte, NC and UNCC as an option. I have to admit, I didn't know much about Charlotte nor UNCC. After researching the city and the graduate programs UNCC has to offer, I decided to go one step further and begin the application process. I didn't realize the impact my professor's advice had on my future until I came to Charlotte for the first time, for the MBA Preview Day. It was love at first sight: the program offered the degree I was looking, in a flexible format; the classes were taught downtown (in the business district) which offered numerous networking and internship opportunities; the administration staff, faculty, students, and alumni were extremely friendly and eager to help you succeed from the beginning; and, the city fit perfectly with my European life-style. I had a very easy decision to make and I was extremely happy to get accepted into the MBA program. After a few months of dealing with the international paperwork and looking for a place to live, I moved to Charlotte. I found the city to be better than expected and I look forward to discovering new things about it every day. In addition, I'm impatiently awaiting to begin my graduate student life and take my first graduate classes.

View of Uptown Charlotte from the UNCC Center City Building

Finals Week

Today marks the first day of finals for UNC Charlotte students. You will find students in the library, empty classrooms, and even on the lawn cramming a semester's worth of material into their brains.

Some tips I would like to share for Finals preparation are:

1. Eat well. Your body and brain in particular needs fuel to retain information.

2. Water. Drink plenty of water in the midst of your caffeine intake.

3. Make sure to take breaks in between studying. This gives your brain the opportunity to process the information.

4. Rest. 1-2 hours of sleep is not the minimum that your body needs to function properly. Granted, I do understand that 8 hours might be a tad bit unrealistic given the circumstances but make sure to rest.

Well those are my 4 tips! Have a great weekend and good luck with finals!

Sixteen Days!

Sixteen days until graduation! It is something that I truly cannot believe. It is a day that I'm looking forward to but I must say I've enjoyed every day leading up my MBA program's culmination. What matters is not how long it took me to complete the program but how did I take advantage of this time. How did I network with colleagues to nurture relationships to extend post graduation? How did I leverage my classroom knowledge in my internship? My answer: Maximized every second of the day.

See to me it is more than just the degree. It is about what you have truly gained from the program beyond just book knowledge. Of course, The Belk College armed me with the crucial marketing tools for my chosen career path. I have gained an extra level of confidence with this knowledge to be successful in upcoming career projects.

Also, The Belk College of Business has allowed me to push myself to "new" limits in a professional manner. I was once the individual who did not like networking events. However through encouragement and several meetings, I realized that my success depends on networking. Most importantly, I learned that comfort with networking comes with time and practice. So that is what I set out to accomplish. Now I am new born believer in networking!

Just a little snapshot as I reflect on the past two years.   Happy weekend!

Congratulations GBA!

This week, UNC Charlotte's student organizations office announced the nominees for the excellence awards. The Student Organizations Excellence awards recognizes the accomplishments of student organizations, leaders, and advisers at UNC Charlotte.  For the first time, the Graduate Business Association was nominated for outstanding graduate organization.

The Graduate Business Association experienced a phenomenal year in the last ten months. One can see and feel the strength of the Belk College of Business' internal network across graduate programs. Through their monthly networking events, the GBA has created a brand among colleagues, faculty, and alumni. As the school year comes to a close and new officers transition, GBA's energy and enthusiasm continues among the student body. This is such a great accomplishment and achievement for not only the GBA members but to the entire Belk College of Business Community.

We wish the GBA good luck at the upcoming awards ceremony which will be held on Monday, April 23 @ 5pm.

Have a great week. :-)