Student/Alumni Networking Event Marks the Start of a New Academic Year

The start of a new semester is an excellent time to strengthen connections and welcome in new students. That is just what happened at The Society Room on August 22 in downtown Hartford, as the UConn School of Business community welcomed in new students entering into the MBA, Master of Science in Financial Risk Management (MSFRM), and Master of Science in Business Analytics (MSBAPM). Faculty members, administrators, and alumni joined in welcoming these new students. They filled the grand hall, enjoying conversation about topics such as upcoming studies, sharing tips on courses, and how to strategically juggle working full-time with nighttime studies. Smart phones were brought out to immediately capture a new contact’s information, as well as to connect on LinkedIn.

Professor Greg Reilly, who teaches the capstone class for the Part-time MBA, set the stage for two new students when he advised them to keep all of their class notes. “You will need all of what you’ve learned in previous MBA classes,” he said, “to successfully complete the class ‘Strategy and Policy Planning,’ as I will ask you to draw upon everything you have learned so far in your MBA studies.”

After the networking hour, attendees were officially welcomed by John Elliott, dean of the School of Business. Dean Elliott expressed enthusiasm about the growth of the programs at the school, as well as the importance of the continued connection of alumni. Stressing this importance of alumni connection was guest speaker Mark Boxer ’87 MBA, executive vice president and global chief information officer at Cigna, who also currently sits on the UConn Foundation Board of Directors.

Mentorship. Global Experience. Continuous Learning. Passion, Perseverance, and Attitude. “These are the things that have brought me to where I am today–and they can be applied to having success in any field,” said Boxer. His rousing talk:

  • Highlighted how vital finding a mentor is to one’s career;
  • Emphasized the edge that global experience gives candidates in the job market;
  • Stressed that continuous learning is a hallmark of a successful professional; and
  • Advised students that hiring managers look for passion, perseverance, and attitude.

The question and answer period was full of provocative questions directed at finding motivation, the future intersection of technology and healthcare, and perspectives on holistic health care and health coaching. Boxer shared that to stay motivated, he has kept himself current in education, realizing that it is necessary to be competitive and to be current with the innovations of the present.

“In the face of today’s ever-changing world of business and technology,” concluded Boxer, “remain confident that UConn will give you the tools you need to build a solid foundation of business skills. So that even as our world keeps moving at a rapid pace, you will always be well prepared.”


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