Event Article

Exploring All Avenues at UConn Finance Conference

Posted on by Claire Hall, Joshua Weist
Careers in investments, asset management, banking and prestigious Wall Street opportunities were the focus of the inaugural Finance Conference at the School of Business. (Joshua Weist/UConn School of Business)
Careers in investments, asset management, banking and prestigious Wall Street opportunities were the focus of the inaugural Finance Conference at the School of Business. (Joshua Weist/UConn School of Business)

Experts Encourage UConn Finance Students To Seek Jobs in Most Prestigious, Demanding Sectors

Careers in investments, asset management, banking and prestigious Wall Street opportunities were the focus of the inaugural Finance Conference at the School of Business.

“The conference continues the School of Business efforts to make a greater push to place students in more prestigious and demanding areas of the financial sector,” said Professor Larry Gramling, associate dean for undergraduate programs. Continue Reading

Women MBAs Connect at UConn-Sponsored NAWMBA Event

Posted on by Claire Hall
Insurance executive Melissa Cummings ’98 MBA urges women to be more gutsy in their career pursuits. (Nathan Oldham/UConn School of Business)
Insurance executive Melissa Cummings ’98 MBA urges women to be more gutsy in their career pursuits. (Nathan Oldham/UConn School of Business)

School of Business Lead Education Sponsor for National Association of Women MBAs Conference

The path to a top executive position isn’t a straight line, but, instead, a series of zig-zags that build competence, expertise and wisdom.

That’s what Melissa B. Cummings ’98 MBA, senior vice president and chief customer officer at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Rhode Island, told hundreds of women MBA students and graduates. Continue Reading

Brainstorming, Friendships & Mansions

Posted on by Claire Hall
From left: Alexis Flowers, Southern University of Baton Rouge; Tshepo Makobela, University of Johannesburg; Alison Witschonke, University of Vermont; and Laura Van Eeckhoudt, Belmont University. (UConn School of Business)
From left: Alexis Flowers, Southern University of Baton Rouge; Tshepo Makobela, University of Johannesburg; Alison Witschonke, University of Vermont; and Laura Van Eeckhoudt, Belmont University. (UConn School of Business)

CIBER Challenge Gives Students an Advantage in the Workplace

Career advice from GE executives, a scavenger hunt at Newport, R.I.’s famous mansions, a brain-teaser on global transportation, and a chance to meet business students from around the globe highlighted the 2016 UConn CIBER Case Challenge. Continue Reading

EBV Graduates 22 Veteran Entrepreneurs

Posted on by Claire Hall
The 2016 Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans with Disabilities (EBV) Class. UConn's EBV is a 10-day program that gives veterans the knowledge, skills and helping hand they need to create their own businesses. (Lisa Ducharme)
The 2016 Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans with Disabilities (EBV) Class. UConn’s EBV is a 10-day program that gives veterans the knowledge, skills and helping hand they need to create their own businesses. (Lisa Ducharme)

‘I Can’t Believe How Lucky I Am!’ Veterans’ Plans Include Cookie Business, Animal Shelter, Counseling Center

U.S. Army Lt. Col. Damone “D” Garner has a secret weapon for his post-military career.

Hailing from a family that boasts three generations of talented bakers, Garner has a collection of secret, family-cookie recipes that will make other bakers quake in their aprons. Continue Reading

Speakers at Women’s Business Conference Urge Self-Advocacy

Posted on by Melissa Ferrigno

Connecticut Post– Stomach pain has proven to be an auspicious symptom for Melissa Cummings ’98 MBA during her career.

“As I’ve considered new opportunities in my career, I’ve found that the thing that I often choose to do is the thing that actually gives me a stomach ache,” Cummings, the senior vice president and chief customer officer at the health insurer Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island, said during a speech Friday at the Stamford Hilton hotel.

A First-Place Tie

Posted on by Claire Hall
The creators of LambdaVision with two undergraduate student interns who helped represent the company during the CCEI fellowship and again at the Wolff competition. From left, Dr. Jordan Greco '10 (CLAS), '15 Ph.D., Molly Zgoda '17 (CLAS), Audrey Gallo '17 (CLAS), and Dr. Nicole Wagner '07 (CLAS), '13 Ph.D. (Nathan Oldham/UConn School of Business)
The creators of LambdaVision with two undergraduate student interns who helped represent the company during the CCEI fellowship and again at the Wolff competition. From left, Dr. Jordan Greco ’10 (CLAS), ’15 Ph.D., Molly Zgoda ’17 (CLAS), Audrey Gallo ’17 (CLAS), and Dr. Nicole Wagner ’07 (CLAS), ’13 Ph.D. (Nathan Oldham/UConn School of Business)

Revamped Wolff New Venture Competition Surprises Audience with Two Medical-Device Champs

The late Thomas John Wolff ’56 was an entrepreneur, and UConn School of Business alumnus, who ran five businesses simultaneously. He exemplified values like enthusiasm, mentorship and appreciation. Continue Reading

‘I Can Represent a Company Well’

Posted on by Claire Hall
Students prepare to meet with employers at the Undergraduate Business Career Expo. (Nathan Oldham/UConn School of Business)
Students prepare to meet with employers at the Undergraduate Business Career Expo (Nathan Oldham/UConn School of Business)

September Career Expo Gives Students, Companies a Jump-Start on Hiring Search

Junior Auna Harvey arrived 15 minutes early for the School of Business’ popular Career Expo—prepared with a clear strategy and an optimistic attitude.

Harvey is looking for a summer internship in human resources and is particularly interested in programs offered by Travelers, Aetna and United Technologies.

“I’ll try to get across that I’m very personable and comfortable talking to people, and that I can represent a company well,” said Harvey, who developed professional and networking skills as a freshman in the Business Connections Learning Community and later served as a resident adviser there. Continue Reading

‘You are an Entrepreneur!’

Posted on by Claire Hall
Kathryn Friedrich, Head of Global Monetization, YouTube (Nathan Oldham/UConn School of Business)
Kathryn Friedrich, Head of Global Monetization, YouTube (Nathan Oldham/UConn School of Business)

UConn’s New Xcite Conference Draws 200+ Women; Strives to Increase Connecticut’s Women Business Leaders

It was a simple assignment that YouTube executive Kathryn Friedrich gave to the audience of 200 business women: take a minute and think of an entrepreneur.

“If you’re not thinking of yourself, think again, because you are an entrepreneur,” she said. “Entrepreneurship is a mindset. You don’t have to start your own company to be an entrepreneur. You can start working on it right away!” Continue Reading

UConn Called Key to Stamford’s Business Future

Posted on by Melissa Ferrigno

News times – The University of Connecticut maintains its headquarters upstate, but its brand is quickly growing in the state’s southwestern corner.
The launch last week of a Stamford conference for businesswomen shows that university officials are intent on expanding UConn’s presence in the city through more programming and closer ties with the local business community.

Event Aims to Close Gender Gap for Entrepreneurs

Posted on by Melissa Ferrigno

Connecticut Post – After taking the stage Friday at the Crowne Plaza hotel, Kathryn Friedrich, YouTube’s head of global monetization, challenged her audience to question the stereotype of the entrepreneur.

Friedrich appeared as the keynote speaker at the Xcite conference, a new event organized by the University of Connecticut that aims to promote and support innovation and entrepreneurship among women in the business world.