Young, Fabulous, and Broke?

Career Advice for The Young, Fabulous, and Broke:

So you have a direction you want to go, let's call it an interest that you think could one day become your passion. You need experience but you also need...money.

We all want the big house, the big bucks, the big breakthrough, the big success, the "next big thing..." We are an impatient generation that wants immediate gratification and we want the "next big thing" now. Unfortunately we can't get everything we want right off the bat.

Sacrifices need to be made and in most cases, we need to sacrifice money for experience. At this stage in our lives (recently graduated, recently pursuing a new interest) we need to realize that our first job is about gaining the experience that we need in order to contribute to our passion, not about getting the highest pay possible.

But how will we survive those first couple years without making enough money? Suze Orman gives a great talk about pursuing your passions, what you may need to sacrifice in order to get there, and what you can do in order to survive.

Young, Fabulous, and Broke

Marykate Kelly
Corporate Relations Manager
kellyf@cua.edu

Walmart and the Minimum Wage

As we prepare to welcome our 4th Master of Science in Business Analysis cohort, it is our habit to assign a case study for students to prepare prior to orientation on August 23.  This serves as a working example of much of the work you will do in the MSBA program.

This year, Professor Brian Engelland, Associate Dean and Professor of Marketing, wrote an excellent case study on the current power struggle between Walmart and the City of Washington, DC called  Walmart and the Minimum Wage.

This case is a classic mix of big business, economics, fair wages and politics, all rolled into an important current business situation.  

For our incoming MSBA students, there are 6 questions you will submit answers to in writing at Orientation.  You will also work in groups to develop the best responses by teams which will be judged by a faculty panel.  

And we invite comments and opinions specific to the case by the general public in this space, particularly our MSBA alumni.  

This is an important and meaningful case study and we look forward to a vigorous discussion of the important issues in this case.

Stewart McHie

Director, Master of Science in Business Analysis

mchie@cua.edu

Still Seats Available in Fall 2013 Master's Program

Our 4th cohort starts on August 21 so time is short to join the Master of Science in Business Analysis program.  However, it is still possible to occupy one of the remaining 2 seats, especially if you have already taken the pre reqs and GRE or GMAT.  See requirements at http://msba.cua.edu/msba-admissions.cfm or call program director.

Stewart McHie
Director, MSBA
mchie@cua.edu
202-319-5433

Guest Speakers Important to Graduate Degree

Feedback from students has been so strong that we will begin a regular series of guest speakers in the MSBA program this fall with an event called Thirsty Thursday.  Every third Thursday of the month after classes end, we will convene in the graduate lounge with refreshments for an informal session with a business leader.  We will learn of their background, rise to success, key success factors and their advice about success in the current market.

Alexandre Havard
Author and founder of Havard
Leadership Institute

Here is a sample of past speakers that have been so popular.

Congressman Jeff Fortenberry
(R) Nebraska

With Class at Library of Congress
From Left: Business School Dean Andrew Abela,
Congressman Fortenberry, Alexander Havard, 
Assistant Dean Phil Brach (former Fortenberry Chief of Staff)

Larry Blanford
Former CEO-Green Mountain Coffee

Brenda Snow
Founder and CEO
The Snow Companies
Norfolk, VA

Mark Harris
Upstream General Auditor (retired)
Exxon Mobil Corporation
Houston, TX

Steve Loizou and Fran Sanchez
Communications experts at ExxonMobil
Fuels Marketing Company
Fairfax, Va

Terry Carnahan
Managing Director, KPMG
Washington, DC

Bradley Peacock
President, Peacock Nine Consulting
Chicago, IL

Scott Teepe, Sr.
CEO, TP Mechnaical Contractors
Cincinnati, OH

Dawn Carpenter
Director of Capital Strategies
City First Bank
Washington, DC

Jonathan Perreli
Founder and General Partner
Fortify VC
Washington, DC

Andreas Widmer
Director, Center for Entrepeneurship
The Catholic University of America

Alex Roth
Global Brand Strategy Manager
ExxonMobil Fuels Marketing Company
Toronto, Ontario

Kelly Campbell
Founder and CEO,
Campbell Wealth Management
Alexandria, VA

Bill McGurn
Former Speechwriter for President
George H.W. Bush
New York City

Ed Gorman
Senior Vice President,
Carat Media
New York City

John Chisholm
President and Managing Director,
Smart Insights Group, LLC
Washington, DC

John Ryan III
Retired CEO and current Chairman
of the Board, Mine Safety Appliances

Bill Pulte and frank from Atlanta

MSBA Alum on the Move

Jenna Antos, class of 2011, recently was given expanded responsibilities at NetApp. Jenna is

now the General Territory Manager for State and Local Education sales in the Mid Atlantic, covering the majority of Higher Education accounts from Delaware to DC.  Jenna has been with NetApp since graduation in a number of increasingly responsible positions.  

Congratulations Jenna

Stewart McHie
Director, MSBA Program
mchie@cua.edu

MSBA Program Adds New Faculty

The Master of Science in Business Analysis program is pleased to welcome three new professors to the 2013/14 academic year.  See the whole line-up at our website.

Mike Williams, B.S. in Economics from Wharton
Certified Public Accountant 

Teaching Financial Accounting

 Bette Hoyt, B.S. in Mathematics from Michigan State University
 Masters of Administrative Science from Johns Hopkins University

Teaching Business Research Methods

Herb Shatzen, B.S. in Engineering from the US Military Academy at West Point

Teaching Quantitative Analysis





All three lecturers have extensive industry experience and will bring academic and practical experience to their fields.  

Stewart McHie
Director, MSBA
mchie@cua.edu

Why Am I Not Getting Hired?

So you recently graduated and feel like you have applied everywhere. You've had a couple interviews but none have worked out. You just want to get your foot in the door! Why won't someone give you a chance?

There are habits that need changing, and obviously something isn't working. We need to make ourselves stand out in a good way. So let's not plead insanity and keep repeating our mistakes. Instead, let's change how we go about applying and interviewing.

Why Am I Not Getting Hired?
This isn't an article, it's an entertaining slideshow from an employer's perspective on why they are not hiring you and what you can do to change that.

This goes not only for recent graduates, but those of you who are looking for a new career or who are still in school and looking for an internship. There are a ton of people out there applying just like you are. It's the little things that can make a big difference and can help you be memorable in a positive way.

Hope it helps!                                                                          (Thank you Bradley Peacock for the link!)

Marykate Kelly
Corporate Relations Manager
kellyf@cua.edu

MSBA Student Has Job at Amtrak

Job Report:  Samantha Donohue

Graduation has come and gone and the summer has arrived! Unlike most students I wasn't pining for a vacation on a tropical island or getting a tan. What I was highly anticipating is beginning a full time job as Interactive Media Coordinator at Amtrak. 

Throughout this year, I had the opportunity to intern with Amtrak’s eCRM (online customer relationship management) team as a business analyst under the supervision of Sebastian Pawlowski, director of eCRM at Amtrak and a lecturer at

Sebastian Pawlowski and
Samantha Donohue

Catholic University.  The eCRM department is responsible for all of Amtrak emails and the promotional banners on Amtrak.com. Through my internship I learned the significance of open, booking, and click rates as well as multiple strategies for a/b testing in marketing. From my internship experience, I knew that I enjoyed working at Amtrak, got along really well with the eCRM team, and was learning invaluable skills for someone beginning their career in online marketing.

My main responsibilities as an intern were giving a weekly report on the status of the eCRM campaigns to senior marketing officers and gathering all of the data and creative pieces for the regional report which is compiled each quarter and sent out to all of Amtrak’s field managers and state partners. From working with the data, I became familiar with Amtrak’s marketing campaigns and the processes in which creative went to market. More importantly, I came to value the story that the data provided for each campaign and I delivered actionable suggestions for changes on future campaigns.

One of the most rewarding moments since starting full time was when the Senior Marketing Officer asked me to pull together the information relating to Amtrak’s emails from the semester long competitive assessment that my classmates and I did for our field team study project. 

The capstone for the MSBA program is a semester long field team study in which you consult a company on certain problem they are having. I was appointed leader for the Amtrak team and our objective was to provide a complete competitive assessments of Amtrak’s competitors’ online messaging platforms. We looked at their websites, mobile apps, and emails and we split the different components of these platforms into categories, which we then ranked against each other. 

After all the sweat, strategizing, meetings, group chats, research, monsters, reviews, and the grand presentation our work was being put into action. This coming year, I look forward to continuing the project that my classmates and I started as well as contributing to the eCRM team that has taught me so much.    
      

 As for me, I’m staying on track with Amtrak. 

It was a delight having Sam in the program and watching her grow through her internship at Amtrak and her leadership of the Field Team Study Project we did for them.  It is really rewarding to see companies like Amtrak and Microsoft take the deliverables from these projects and put them into use.

Stewart McHie
Director, MSBA Program
mchie@cua.edu

MSBA Grad Lands Job at Start-up

Job Report: Caroline Gangware

Finding a job I liked and could excel at was exactly the reason I decided to attend the MSBA program at Catholic University. I thought it would “just come to me” during the year or classes

Gangware at VC 1776 in DC

but as it turned out it was an outside of the classroom experience that inspired me.

 In the spring our class took a trip to Fortify Ventures and saw how a venture capital and incubator company worked. There we met a few companies and they pitched us on their visions and I loved it.

That isn't where I landed my job. Professor McHie and I had a long talk about job options and he pushed me to contact Fortify and schedule meetings with those companies. It was the exact push I needed to get to where I am today.

The TrendPo team

Currently I head up the sales and business development department of a start-up company called TrendPo. There has been more responsibility given to me in the last three months than ever before and I have autonomy in my job that I don’t think I could receive anywhere else. 

This is exactly what I want to be doing and if it weren't for the MSBA program and for Professor McHie (and a few others at Fortify) I wouldn't be in the position I am. It has been a whirlwind of a year and I am very excited about the opportunities I have ahead. 

Congratulations to Caroline!  It's rewarding when a student discovers their niche and passion

TrendPo founder JD Chang
 interviewed by Politico

and that is the case here.  Caroline lights up like a Christmas tree when she talks about her work.  And she has already recorded her first sale!

Stewart McHie
Director, MSBA Program
mchie@cua.edu

Corruption in Business and the Importance of Ethics

Here is an example of a business leader that walked the talk.  Article worth reading sent to me by MSBA grad Tia Bent.


http://www.linkedin.com/today/post/article/20130713045920-8451-corruption-in-business-and-the-importance-of-ethics  

Stewart McHie
Director, MSBA
mchie@cua.edu

Washington Post Interview with Business School

Washington Post business writer Tom Heath interviews School of Business Corporate

Marykate Kelly
Corporate Relations Manager

Relations Manager, Marykate Kelly.  Scroll to second article below.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/capitalbusiness/cvent-filing-gives-a-peek-at-who-made-what-there/2013/07/12/a79cc6ce-e25a-11e2-a11e-c2ea876a8f30_story.html

I'm pleased about recognition of the importance of this position and responsibility to our graduate students.

Stewart McHie

Director, MSBA

mchie@cua.edu

Is Your Networking Not Working?

Searching for a job/ internship is all about utilizing the people you know and who they know. I know it can be intimidating to approach a past co-worker, manager, professor, or even family member about what they do and who they know, but believe me, the connections you make now will lead you to more connections and possibly even your next career move!

I knew about this opening for my current role as Corporate Relations Manager at CUA because I kept in touch with my professors, asked for their advice/ knowledge, expressed my interests to them, and explained my expertise. I would have never known this next step in my career was right at my fingertips if I had not reached out and asked for information/advice on the job hunt.

My cousin I know is currently having difficulty in his networking, mostly because he isn't doing it or doesn't know where to begin/ how to do it, or he feels he has already exhausted his personal contacts. I know he isn't the only one in this situation, so below is just one article to get you thinking about how to network outside of personal contacts in the right way. Networking is not about asking for a job. It is about gaining insight and knowledge into an industry or company that may interest you. In networking, patience really is a virtue.
Go in thinking about building a relationship first/ getting to know your contact, then the job will follow.

Why Your Networking Isn't Working

This article applies to both graduates and undergraduates who are looking to network with people outside of their personal network. It lists 6 things to be mindful of and how to network appropriately. This goes along with my previous post on networking, so below is the link to that article again. It's definitely worth reading!

3 Networking Habits To Drop And What To Do Instead

Marykate Kelly
Corporate Relations Manager
kellyf@cua.edu

Graduate Business School adds Jobs Expert

Marykate Kelly
Corporate Relations Manager

Marykate Kelly recently joined the Catholic University School of Business and Economics as the Corporate Relations Manager, focusing on locating internships for MSBA and undergraduate business students during the academic year in addition to jobs after graduation.

Previously, Marykate was a recruiter at Aerotek Recruiting and Staffing where she focused on job placements and finding the perfect fit for both job seeker and company. " Through this experience, I gained the knowledge and tools needed for resume building, interviewing, salary negotiations, creating and maintaining corporate contacts, job searching, and networking; etc.  I am very excited to share what I have learned in recruiting with the students in the MSBA program in The School of Business."   Marykate is now developing relationships with corporate contacts specifically for MSBA and undergraduate business students, ensuring they have the best network to reach out to regarding internships and jobs. 

Career Services Director Tony Chiapetta, Marykate and
Business School Dean Andrew Abela discuss the vision
for ensuring graduates from the School of Business and
Economics find good job opportunities

Marykate will be supporting the Career Strategy and Development class with Kristen Rompf, which is offered to business students, to provide the right tools and tips for them to succeed in their job searches.  She will also work closely with Career services in utilizing the many fine tools they have developed and sharing corporate contact information appropriate for other schools at CUA.



Marykate holds a BSBA in Finance from The Catholic University of America and is excited to be in this new role discovering student interests and tailoring her corporate partners to student needs. And we are excited to have Marykate's expertise and enthusiasm to aid our students in finding the best opportunities available.

Stewart McHie
Director, MSBA Program
mchie@ cua.edu

Job promotions for MSBA Grads

Amelia Eanes at Booz Allen Hamilton and Ryan Brown at Department  of Interior recently received promotions. 

Congrats to both. 

Stewart McHie
Director, MSBA program
mchie@cua.edu

Integration of Quantitative Analysis and Business Research Methods

From left, McHie, Hoyt, Shatzen and
Engelland

In order to address a suggestion the last MSBA class had in its year end program debrief, Associate Dean Brian Engelland, Program Director Stewart McHie, and Professors Bette Hoyt and Herb Shatzen met to improve the integration of subject matter in these two courses and better align the timing with the Field Team Study that takes place in the second semester.

Thanks to all for a most productive meeting and enjoyable Mexican lunch.  I don't expect we will see this comment repeated in next year's debrief.  Very pleased with the collective solution here, a great example of faculty attention to detail and the needs of our students.

Stewart McHie
Director, MSBA
mchie@cua.edu

MSBA vs MBA: What's The Difference

MBA or MSBA? That's the question. We think MSBA is the answer.

We are often asked what is the difference between the Master of Science in Business Analysis MSBA degree program at Catholic University of America and an MBA? It is an excellent question and very important for prospective students to understand the value and purpose of each.

The main differences between the two degrees are an undergraduate business education and work experience. The MSBA degree at Catholic University is a solid, practical education taught by experienced business people that prepare the liberal arts and other recent non business graduates to get that first job en route to a career.   From day one you will work with our dedicated career services staff and faculty network. MSBA students are getting great jobs and internships.

The MSBA is designed for students who graduated with a non-business major (liberal arts, engineering, architecture, math, science, communications, economics, etc.) With a business masters degree you will be more marketable to launch your career.  You will have mastered the essentials of business; the language and processes of accounting, finance, marketing, management, research and quantitative analysis. 

The profile of the true MBA candidate is very different.  They have a business or perhaps engineering undergraduate degree and have already worked for 4 to 6 years in business. They are ready to pursue senior management roles in a company or venture out into the entrepreneurial world.

All MBA programs are not alike.  There are programs that call themselves "MBA" but do not require a business education, work experience or even the standard GRE or GMAT entrance exam. You will not find these programs at first rate MBA schools like Harvard, Penn, Virginia, MIT, or Stanford.  Employers recognize and value the difference. An MBA from Harvard is worth $X in the marketplace. An MBA from a second or third tier school that requires no experience is worth much less. The MBA label doesn't fool employers.  Employers look behind the label to see where it was made.

If you're looking to further your education with a masters degree in business, please send me an email and we'll chat some more about the differences between the degrees.

Stewart McHie
Director, Master of Science in Business Analysis
mchie@cua.edu

Networking and Preparing

Attached are two articles from Forbes.com that are very helpful regarding networking and interview preparing. Utilize the people you know and over-prepare for every interview that you have. That opportunity may be the next big step in the right direction for your career development.

3 Networking Habits To Drop and What To Do Instead

50 Most Common Interview Questions And How To Prepare And Answer Them

Marykate Kelly
Corporate Relations Manager
kellyf@cua.edu

MSBA Student Accepts Job with Non-Profit

Job Report:  Anthony Astorga

I am currently working as a Business Development Analyst for a non-profit organization in Silver Spring, MD called Trees for the Future (TFTF).  My main responsibilities are to create, oversee, and maintain reports to measure monthly and annual donation variance while also

implementing strategic business plans for future business partners and grants.

My journey to this position all started when I saw information on the MSBA program on a flyer on the CUA campus.  After reading more, I decided to take a chance and apply for a Master's program.  The day before my undergraduate graduation in 2012, I received a call from Stew McHie (MSBA Program Director) that I was accepted into the program.

You don't just get an education from the MSBA program, you get to experience real world scenarios in which you are put in the position of a business professional making important business decisions.  An example of this is theField Team Study with Amtrak that taught me about teamwork, perseverance, and making the client happy.  I use these skills in the office every day and working with a team is easier now than ever before.

The MSBA program then introduced me to Trees for the Future to do an internship that was intricately woven into my class schedule.  Through my education in the MSBA program, I provided a set of skills that the organization admired and was looking for in a young employee.

As a result, I was offered a full time position.

The MSBA program is unlike any education I have ever received and I am eternally grateful for the dedication, experience, and support that came from everyone involved in the program.

Anthony Astorga
MSBA Class of 2013

MSBA Student Gets Job in NYC

Job Report: Winfred Amoako  

I landed on a job right after school with Carat Media in New York City as an Assistant Planner on the Home Depot Account. My main responsibilities are to plan, implement and execute various advertising campaigns for Home Depot.

MSBA field trip to New York City.
At the NY Stock Exchange.

In January this year, my class and Professors embarked on a field trip to visit various companies in New York.   Through that trip, I fell in love with Carat. In deed the various career development sessions we had with Professor Rompf (Career Strategy and Development Professor) paid off greatly and I used those skills to network and build relationships at Carat.

Backing up to how I got into this program; my dad in Africa calls one day asking that I speak

The conference in Ghana where
Dr. Engelland met my dad.

with Associate Dean, Dr Engelland who he met with at a conference in Accra-Ghana. By then it was barely a month till the commencement of 2013 cohort. But with the help of the Program Director, Professor McHie, I worked my way into the program and also got an internship quickly.

I must also say that our Team Field Studies with Amtrak last semester helped mold me for my current job with Carat. Our main objectives were to come out with the best recommendation for Amtrak to use in implementing a new strategy to personalize their website. 

On the whole, the MSBA program far exceeded my expectations. I took away from the program great friends that I can call family, wonderful and supportive faculty and great self esteem. 

Winfred Amoako

MSBA Class of 2013

6 Ways to Get Me to E mail You Back

I found this to be full of good advice.  6 Ways to Get Me to Email You Back

Thanks to MSBA alum Rodney Still for passing it on.

Stewart McHie
Director, MSBA Program
mchie@cua.edu

Tom Malone Takes Inquisitive Mind to Infinitive Insights

Tom Malone job report:  Always good natured Tom Malone has landed a dream job (he does a lot of dreaming when his mind shuts down long enough to sleep) at Infinitive Insights;  Proud of you Tom-Prof. McHie

Fast forward from a phone call and an application, and here I am a year later in the role of  Analyst in Risk Management with Infinitive Insights.  Our team aids companies with their risk management protocols and procedures.  My duties include data mining and working with clients on site.  There is no amount of gratitude I can give back that can equal what the MSBA program, and my MSBA mentor, Denis McFarlane, Chairman and CEO of Infinitive, have done for me.

Growing up, I would have to say the hardest thing in the world for me was finding practical and efficient solutions to problems. 

The irony: I have loved puzzles as long as I can remember.

From high school algebra, to advanced calculus in college, even simply planning out a weekly budget, I always had a tough time finding a solution that could work the first time

Tom in red shirt puzzling over an
exercise during MSBA orientation

around, or even one that would require little alteration. Despite this constant setback in my thought process, I couldn’t give up; I personally found the problems too intriguing to simply stop trying. I attribute this to my parents, who understanding me through and through, taught me to work hard no matter what the task.

 Given my Type-B, “cloud-gazing” mind, I thought that I would always be in the realm of theory, teaching others great ideas from history, with my only participation in our country’s development being the forming of younger minds. While for the longest time I had found this academic calling my vocation, when it became the time to actively pursue it, I had second thoughts. I wanted to do more for the people around me. I wanted to teach and to serve. 

What astounded me about the MSBA program was their dual strategy they had for their

students. First, that every problem had a grey area. There was no such thing as a problem that had no solution or only a bad one, the only problem that exists is how we approach it. Through classes, lectures, and multiple team exercises, I was able to see this analytical process firsthand and acquire it for myself.

The second, and perhaps most important, was that I was taught that ethics does not exist along side business: it exists in it. The true business man understands that a successful business and a healthy economy are only the results of men and women operating for the good of society. When I first heard this about the program, I thought it was simply a nice sentimental selling point. Now I cannot see any business decision I will ever make under any other light.

For me, puzzles no longer present the hardships they once did. Before I saw obstacles, and now I see opportunities to be a part of something magnificent. 

Tom Malone

MSBA Class of 2013