by Akshaya Mirji, MBA 2009

"First Impression is the Last Impression" is a powerful quote and is very important for candidates who are appearing for interviews. People who actually get hired are not only the best qualified but often are the ones who know the most about how to get hired. And this was what the session on "Preparing for the Interview" was all about. One cannot stress enough how important it is to prepare for interviews. So it was obvious to learn how to prepare for it.

The GBA organized a session on "Preparing for the Interview" on September 20, 2007 with Amanda Wallace, MBA '07, Executive Consultant at Mass Mutual.

One's goal during an interview should be to build rapport, to create a relationship beyond the interview and to understand and address the interviewer's requirements. Amanda provided the students with valuable tips on how to prepare for the interview. She shared with students a recruiter's perspective and what qualities they look for in a candidate and how candidates are evaluated. More importantly, she provided insights on how students can present themselves successfully and with confidence.

The key points one has to work on are: Attitude, Attire, Posture and Handshake. The first 12 words are very crucial. It is very important to have a very forceful Elevator speech. One cannot stress enough the importance of communication skills, presentation and knowing yourself. Almost every interview includes a set of typical questions, for which one has to prepare well. And above all, prepare examples to bolster your answers. Focus on your strengths and bring them to the table.

It is very important to know the company and the industry you are interviewing for. Use resources available to get to know the company and to prepare questions to ask the interviewers. Last but not least, you must "Follow up". Additionally, interacting with employees of the company and having informational meetings with alumni can give an added advantage.

Preparing for an interview involves focusing on various aspects of your personality. A shortcoming in any one of them can cause trouble. So, start concentrating on them right away!!!

Practice, Practice, Practice!! Only this can sail you through the interview successfully!!

by Hong Ho, MBA 2009

On Monday October 1, there was an event that all first-year MBA students had been looking forward to. Jim Pellegrino conducted a mock interview with second-year MBA student, Conor Tracy. The interview lasted for 40 minutes. Sitting in the room as observers, we were excited to see how Conor navigated through the interview with the "highly demanding recruiter", Jim.

Some key learnings from the interview:

Remember, recruiters are always looking for these skills: Leadership, communication, analytical, management skills, creativity, an ability to learn, and drive. Therefore you should prepare achievement-oriented stories of your past experiences with the STAR format to demonstrate these skills.

Finally, be prepared! Research the company, the industry and the person who is interviewing you. Practice as much as possible because practice makes perfect.

It's never too early to prepare for interviews. We would like to thank Jim and Conor for giving us a great experience!

by Kate Miller, MBA 2009

On Thursday October 11^th, a group of UConn MBA students had the opportunity to visit NERAC and hear from 9 CEOs about their experience starting and leading their respective businesses. NERAC, lead by entrepreneur and visionary Kevin Bouley, is a very successful company specializing in research and advisory for companies developing innovative products and technologies. Also housed within the NERAC building are a number of other entrepreneurial start-up companies such as Control Station, headed by Dennis Nash, and TuneRooms, headed by Kevin Gardiner. Both Mr. Nash and Mr. Gardiner are graduates of the UConn MBA program.

Dennis Nash led a candid discussion among the CEOs as they talked about their first job out of college, what triggered them to start their own company, handling work and family, and why they have been successful in their respective industries. 

CEOs shared vastly different stories of how they got their start.  Mark Summers, CEO of CNC Software, discussed how his software product initially developed as a means to perform his job more effectively. John Hagan, CEO of Finoptrix, noted, “Always ask yourself, what isn’t being done well?” This question was a catalyst for innovative improvements to existing methodologies which kept him on the forefront of the various industries he has been a leader in.

Kevin Gardiner, CEO of TuneRooms, shared his experience as a recent graduate of the UConn MBA program. He won the business plan competition at UConn which led to his relationship with NERAC. He stressed the importance of “being passionate about your business idea.”  He is currently in the process of launching TuneRooms.

Kevin Bouley shared with students the perspective of a seasoned entrepreneur. Mr. Bouley is CEO of NERAC, holds a BA in Finance from UConn (1980) and has been with NERAC since 1981. He acquired NERAC in 1999 and since has led the company to great financial success.  Mr. Bouley shared his vision that NERAC will soon be a launching pad for a large number of entrepreneurs and urged students to “make vision a reality.”   To learn more about Kevin Bouley’s ideas, read, “Connecticut’s Universities Can Drive Economic Growth” at (page 12) http://www.horizonsmagazines.com/issues/0510-ver.pdf

UConn MBA students had the invaluable opportunity to learn from the stories of success and challenges that come with being a CEO of a private company. Clearly, owning a company comes with an exponential increase in responsibility.  However, for those people who have the drive to develop and operate a business there is no substitute to ownership of a company. In closing Dennis Nash, CEO of Control Station, stressed there is nothing like having “all the cards face up on the table.” 

The other CEOs who participated in the event were Bill Landers of Xsellense, Matt Cavanaugh of FlyTrap Technologies, Jim Kieffer of DigiWize, and Greg Williams of KMA Wealth Management.

Environmental issues are currently gaining salience in business and political agendas worldwide, with critical implications for business operations, products, and public image. Hence, business managers are faced with the task of understanding the opportunities and challenges posed by environmental issues.

To help explore these issues, a rare blend of activism, business, and scholarship will convene at UConn on October 23, 2007 to discuss the connection between human rights and the global environment. The 8th Annual UNESCO Chair and Institute of Comparative Human Rights Conference will be held at UConn's Storrs Campus from 9am - 12pm, in the Student Union Theater.  (UNESCO - United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization)

Key speakers will include Matt Petersen, President and CEO of California-based Global Green, who has collaborated extensively with Hollywood Celebrities to popularize hybrid cars. The summit will also feature Dr. Vandana Shiva, an internationally acclaimed physicist and environmental campaigner whose provocative thoughts have brought water and food commercialization to global scrutiny.

Other speakers will include Pam Dashiel (a community activist from New Orleans), Jim Enote (an indigenous American farmer and environmental advocate), and Dr. Marie-Denise Finnigan (a Physician and human rights advocate from Haiti).

The summit will also feature UNESCO Chairs in Human Rights from South Africa and Uruguay, who will join Dr. Amii Omara-Otunnu, the UNESCO Chair-holder in Human Rights for the US.

The MBA program is sponsoring this event and wanted to share this great networking opportunity with you.

SpringBoard is a unique group formed to encourage and promote the development of business and social relationships among area young professionals through participation in networking, creative events, and sharing the magic of live theatre at one of Connecticut's premier hot spots.

Production:     CHICK, THE GREAT OSRAM

The event will include an open wine and beer bar, with appetizers.

$30 per person for both the reception and the show.

RSVP by Oct. 22nd 5:30 pm

To purchase tickets please contact the box office at 860-527-5151, and mention SpringBoard Party.

For more information:
http://www.hartfordstage.org/events/event.php?RF_ITEM[]=event$0@92

If you need to attract investors for your early stage company now or in the future, you will not want to miss this seminar. Two experienced professionals will be speaking about how to write an early stage business proposal, how to approach angel investors and venture capitalists, and how these investors decide whether or not to commit to investing in you.

If you want to launch a product or business, or if you are ready to take your idea to the next level, then understanding how these investors think will be critical to moving forward. We strongly encourage you to take advantage of this seminar.

Topics addressed:

Current angel investor and VC market
How to access
What investors will want to see in your proposal
How they will evaluate your proposal
Range of dollar investments
Return investors expect
How long the courting process takes
Fine points of Term Sheets (letter of agreement between entrepreneur and investor)

Our Speakers:

Mike Roer is the Executive Director of the Connecticut Venture Group. CVG was the first association of venture investment professionals. Its mission is to stimulate economic growth by encouraging investment in high-growth companies. Through chapters in Hartford, New Haven and Stamford, the organization produces technology-focused seminars and expositions, updates on financing and market trends, university tech transfer conferences, and the annual Crossroads Venture Fair. Companies that have approached CVG for funding have raised over $2 billion in venture capital; $300 million in 2006 alone.

David E. Sturgess, President of Updike Kelly & Spellacy, focuses his practice in the areas of general business law, finance and venture capital. He is counsel to numerous businesses and to institutional investors, particularly in private equity and venture capital, mezzanine financing, high technology and e-commerce, providing advice in debt and equity financings, mergers and acquisitions, regulatory requirements, contract law, employment issues and intellectual property procurement and protection.

... Celebrating family values, leadership, and success!

The University of Connecticut Family Business Program proudly invites you to attend the 2007 Connecticut Family Business of the Year Awards Ceremony. The Connecticut Family Business of the Year Award is a prestigious way to recognize and honor those family businesses that embody core family values and the best of American free enterprise. Nine finalists will be honored at a ceremony on Wednesday, November 14th 2007.

The Connecticut Family Business of the Year Awards celebration recognizes successful family firms in Connecticut. Winners are chosen by a panel of judges with placements announced on the evening of the awards ceremony. Finalists are evaluated based on business success, positive family and business linkage, multi-generational family involvement, dynamic contributions to community and industry, and innovative business practices or strategies.

This year's honorees include:

Doris Christopher, Founder and Chairman of The Pampered Chef®, will present the keynote address for the awards ceremony.

Inspired by her dedication to preserving the tradition of family mealtimes - and driven by the entrepreneurial spirit - Doris Christopher, with the support of her husband, founded The Pampered Chef® from the basement of their suburban Chicago home in 1980 with a $3,000 initial investment. More than twenty years later, The Pampered Chef® has blossomed into a $700 million enterprise (at the time of the Berkshire Hathaway acquisition) and has over 70,000 consultants worldwide. The Pampered Chef® provides solutions for those who want a healthy balance between career and family - boasting a legacy of empowering women and fostering entrepreneurship. Ms. Christopher is the author of two books - Come to the Table: A Celebration of Family Life and The Pampered Chef®: The Story of One of America's Most Beloved Companies.

"I am thrilled that Doris Christopher has accepted our invitation to present the keynote address for the UConn Family Business Program's 2007 Connecticut Family Business of the Year Awards Ceremony", notes Priscilla Cale, Director of the Family Business Program at UConn. "Hers is a story of true entrepreneurship and family unity - the courage, the drive, and the resourcefulness to identify an opportunity and not just take advantage of it, but also execute a vision while remaining true to her core values. A remarkable leader, a role model, and a philanthropist, she has empowered so many upstart entrepreneurs and reasserted the notion that the American Dream is within reach of each of us - in our own homes."

About the University of Connecticut Family Business Program
Drawing from the academic backbone of the nationally ranked University of Connecticut's School of Business and the Connecticut Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation (CCEI), the mission of the UConn Family Business Program is to enhance the success of businesses, families and individuals by providing unparalleled resources and opportunities for collaboration.

Our goal is to help family businesses develop strategies and policies that will serve to perpetuate family ownership while helping them make significant advances in functions related to business strategy, increased complexity, organizational structure, management practices and succession planning.

The 2007 Connecticut Family Business of the Year Awards Celebration will be held at the University of Connecticut's Lewis B. Rome Ballroom on the Storrs campus with a reception beginning at 6 p.m. and dinner following.

Tickets are $100 per person and tables of 10 are available for $900 (UConn Family Business Program Members may send two attendees at no charge). To attend or request more information, contact Priscilla Cale at (860) 486-5628 or e-mail pcale@business.uconn.edu.

Tickets are available for GBA members at a discounted price.  If interested, please contact Aija Pilvere.

Compiled by A. Kyele King'oo, MBA 2009

Several UConn MBA candidates took part in a panel discussion at NERAC with nine CEOs from various companies in Tolland, CT on October 11th, 2007. The CEOs spent more than two hours discussing the risks and rewards involved with starting and maintaining their own businesses.

Attendees described the encounter as an enlightening and extraordinary people experience, and were grateful that the CEOs were generous with their time and counsel. The Management Club, as well as all other clubs that participated in the event, look forward to working with these CEOs in future in order to cultivate a strong ties between UConn and NERAC.

See article above titled "9 CEOs Discuss Entrepreneurship at NERAC".

The MBA Marketing Club has some great things planned this year! Two weeks ago the club hosted its kick off mixer with fun games, brainstorming, and a chat with Prof. Susan Spiggle.

The Marketing Club’s next event is on Wednesday, October 24th @ 6:30pm - Jack Mitchell, Chairman and CEP of Mitchells/Richards/Marshs (third generation family retail clothing business) and Author of “Hug Your Customers, The Proven Way to Personalize Sales and Achieve Astounding Results” will be at UConn to discuss his company. Under his leadership, the company has become well-known for providing exceptional customer service and high-quality merchandise in an exciting, friendly, and visually dynamic atmosphere. There will also be a book singing. You may purchase the book for $20 at this event.

Other Events:

The MBA Operations & Information Management club is a great learning opportunity for students who are interested in the business areas related to operational management and information technology.

The new office bearers of the club are –

The activities planned for this semester (Fall 2007) include:

The MBA Adventure Club is slowly coming together and we plan to be up and running by Winter!

This club will provide outlets for MBA students to remain physically active throughout the school year and to take advantage of the great outdoor recreation that Connecticut and New England have to offer. We will build camaraderie among MBA Students and make access to these activities easy for the UConn MBA community, our friends, and our families.

Some activities on the horizon include: White Water Rafting, Hiking, Skiing/Snowboarding, Rock Climbing and Camping.

For more information, contact Allison Ray, Nick Smith, Katherine Avery or Ben Smith

The Strategic Marketing Committee is off to an exciting start this year. The members, new and old, have brought a lot of energy and are committed to increasing the UConn MBA brand equity and awareness. Our efforts are focused on attracting high quality applicants to the program. Our main efforts continue to be on writing personal note cards to prospective students, and helping with the Open House on October 29th. We thank you for your continued help in writing the note cards.

We have also picked up some new projects. These include:

We welcome all who are interested to get involved. Remember that you can directly increase the value of your degree through the work you do with the SMC (i.e., improving the reputation of the school, and broadening its awareness).

For more information, contact SMC Chairs, Alex Stein and Kim Tomlinson.

by Lindsay Castonguay, MBA 2008

On Tuesday, September 25th, the University of Connecticut Real Estate Center Council sponsored its 3rd Annual Golf Tournament at The Golf Club at Oxford Greens in Oxford, CT. The proceeds benefited the Center for Real Estate and Urban Economic Studies. Fifteen student volunteers from the Center's MBA program assisted in organizing the event and enjoyed a tour of the development with Andy Tedford. The day also provided the students with the opportunity to interact with over 125 real estate professionals from all over the Northeast in a fun and casual environment.

On Friday October 26, 2007, the Real Estate Center is co-sponsoring the annual Capital Markets Presentation. There will be catered luncheon held at the Downtown Graduate Learning Center at 11:30am followed by the presentation by Glenn Whitmore from 12:30-1:30pm. Glenn will combine underlying trends driving the capital markets and how pricing is changing across the spectrum of uses and what is the near and longer term prognoses supplemented by some case study examples. This is a great opportunity to learn as well as network with professionals in the real estate industry. 

For more information or if you would like to join the real estate concentration, please stop by the Real Estate Center on the 4^th floor of the Business School.

by Kevin Prechtl, MBA 2008

Autumn has arrived and as the leaves turn red, orange, yellow and a host of other colors, many of you are wondering, what wine do I drink in the cooler Fall months.  It’s time to break free of the crisp Sauvignon Blancs, Chardonnays and Rieslings and begin opening the delicious red wines.  A safe bet is always a Merlot, but as Miles in the movie Sideways says, “I am NOT drinking any @#$% Merlot”.  Go ahead and try something different. 

Some great red wines for Fall include Shiraz/Syrah and Sangiovese.

Syrah/Shiraz: (yes…it is the same grape)

A great variety for spicy aromatic Northern Rhone French wines and generous Shiraz, as it’s known in Australia.  “Shiraz” is the most popular name used in the so-called New World, while “Syrah” is reserved for France and limited parts of the United States. Australia made Shiraz famous and popular depictions of Shiraz herald it as a strong, bold wine with a bit of wild streak.  Syrah is somehow more elegant or restrained in its grandeur and with age turns into a powerful wine—full of dark berry fruit and spice.

You can find Syrah in French wines such as Cote du Rhone, Hermitage and Côte-Rotie.  If you prefer not to spend $30 on a bottle from France, try Holbrook Syrah from Santa Barbara California or Gravity Hills Syrah from Paso Robles.

Sangiovese:

This varietal is the back bone of Tuscany.  Although within the past 10 years Super Tuscans have emerged with blends of Cabernet, Syrah and Merlot, Sangiovese remains at the top of the pedestal with delivering some of the world’s best wines.  These can include Chianti Classico (a region within Tuscany and the name of the wine), Montepulciano (small town in Tuscany), Brunello di Montalcino (pure heaven), and of course Super Tuscan (blends that do not follow the strict guidelines of the Chianti Classico governing body).  Sangiovese can produce a wide array of wines from light-bodied all the way to full-bodied.  Sangiovese can be fruity, with moderate to high natural acidity and generally medium-bodied.  Chianti Classico, of which most of us are familiar with, is a blend that averages 70% Sangiovese as the varietal base, along with 15% canaiolo (red), and 15% trebbiano (white) and sometimes a little colorino (red).  Nowadays many producers are removing the trebbiano from the blend to enhance longer ageing.

A few of my favorites:  Brolio Chianti Classico, Rignana Chianti Classico Riserva, Santa Cristina Toscana and Pian delle Vigne Brunello di Montalcino.  All of these wines can be found in package stores in Connecticut or by asking your local wine shop to order them for you.