Hartford Business Journal – UConn is two years away from relocating its West Hartford campus to Hartford, yet an expansion of its nascent downtown campus already has begun. UConn last week bought the office building at 38 Prospect St. that is home to JCJ Architecture for $3.9 million.
EMBA
Moving Beyond Crisis Mode: Successful Corporations Merge Short-Term Goals, Long-Term Strategy, Expert Says
In a corporate world that is obsessed with immediate results, there is still plenty of need for long-term, strategic thinking, said David Souder, a management professor and the academic director of UConn’s Executive MBA program.
In a lively presentation, which touched on everything from light bulbs to major league baseball, Souder told 40 business executives that a progressive company must always strive for a balance between short-term goals and long-term strategy. Souder outlined four steps to bringing long-term goals into focus.Continue Reading
UConn B-School to Host Free Breakfast Seminar Feb. 24 – Long-term Thinking in a Short-term World
The University of Connecticut School of Business will offer a free breakfast seminar for the business community titled, “Long-term Thinking in a Short-term World,’’ from 7:30 to 9:00 a.m. February 24 at the Graduate Business Learning Center, 100 Constitution Plaza, downtown Hartford.Continue Reading
UConn Executive MBAs Experience Business in South Africa
Each year, a team of UConn’s Executive MBA (EMBA) students travel abroad to enrich their experience and understanding of global business issues. As part of the curriculum, the international study trip enables participants to experience firsthand how concepts and theories learned in the classroom are applied in the global arena.
The program’s latest destination was South Africa, a diverse, emerging global market that serves as the gateway to the African continent. Students returned equipped with new knowledge and insights, having visited with executives from an array of companies and industries. The business visits covered discussions on topics such as investments in the country, banking, business ownership, and various challenges and opportunities:
“Investing in South Africa: High risk or High Return?”
Mteto Nyati, Managing Director, Microsoft“Finance and Banking in South Africa”
Carolina Reddy, Head of Distribution and Sales, Standard Bank“Challenges and Opportunities in the South African Real Estate Industry”
David Stoll, Regional Head and Martin Kearns, Development Executive at Victoria and Albert Waterfront, both of Growth Point“Retail Strategies for Low-Income Population”
Suzanne Ackerman-Berman, Transformation Director, Pick n Pay“Labor Market Challenges in South Africa”
Nico Grobbelaar, Executive Director of Human Resources, Paarl Media Group“Building a Successful Business in South Africa”
Tony Gerrans, CEO, Grotto“The Wine Industry in South Africa”
Gary Jordan, Owner, Jordan Wines
While in South Africa, students also explored its cultural history. One of the cultural highlights was The Apartheid Museum—the first of its kind—illustrating the rise and fall of apartheid, the system of racial segregation in South Africa that blighted much of its progress for half a century. EMBA students were also able to visit Robben Island; where Nelson Mandela served his prison term for his rebellion against the Apartheid regime.
A guided tour of Johannesburg and Soweto—an urban section of the city—immersed the EMBAs in its turbulent history and diversity of people and cultures.
“Understanding the history and culture of a country in which you conduct business is critical,” said Noel Petrolati, a current EMBA student. “I knew it was important, but to see and experience South Africa’s turbulent past and to see its economic development was enlightening,” she said.
EMBA Class of 2014 Graduation
On the morning of Saturday, April 12, faculty, family and friends gathered at the Society Room in Hartford, Connecticut to celebrate the graduation of UConn’s Executive MBA (EMBA) Class of 2014.
Joe Connolly ’06 EMBA delivered the keynote address, “The Riddle of Leadership.” After briefly reflecting on his time in the Executive MBA program, Connolly advised the newly minted EMBAs that their journey toward successful leadership has really just begun. After acknowledging the importance of being equipped with the tools and technical skills of an MBA, he also emphasized the role of intangible skills and strong self-awareness.
“Effective leaders get identified because they get things done. They don’t make excuses. If they make a mistake, they fix it and move on. Leaders have a bit of a thick skin. They can take criticism. Leaders can connect with people. They can manage up and down. They communicate well,” he said.
Connolly shared that to learn and grow as leaders is a personal journey; that leadership is “not about you, but all about you at the same time.” He encouraged the students to explore their own beliefs, thoughts, and motivations, saying “…By learning to master and lead yourself you will be far better equipped to become the great leaders I know you all aspire to be.”
Congratulations to the EMBA Class of 2014: James Borzelli, Kevin Charles Brinson, John Cappelli, Russell Melvin Carson, Michael Eugene Casey, Michael John Chase, Jessica Beth Ficarra, Tara Ann Gerber, Stephen T. Haeckel, Allison Joel Hannah, Lisa Jacobi, Gregory J. Lancaster, Perry Chris Leros, Patrick Joseph Packard, Chris Perone, Ritesh Ashwath Rao, Alvaro Santos, Timothy Michael Sasur, and Caroline Elizabeth Ward.
UConn EMBA in China 2013
Eighteen Executive MBA (EMBA) students from the UConn School of Business recently visited China as part of their Global Business Issues class.
Led by Professor Robin Coulter, EMBA academic director and Ackerman scholar, the group spent ten days in Beijing, the second largest city in China. They engaged with in-country business executives across multiple industries, becoming better versed in global business challenges and gaining first-hand experience in the dynamics of international business management.
Experiential learning is an important part of the UConn EMBA, which strives to develop truly global managers and thought leaders. For more than twenty years, the international study trip has enabled participants to experience firsthand how concepts and theories learned in the classroom are applied in the global arena.
Beijing is a modern metropolis full of vitality, together with a history of over 3,000 years. In addition to corporate visits, students were able to experience several historical wonders including the Temple of Heaven, Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City, and the Great Wall of China.
Trip Highlights
U.S. Embassy – EMBA students had the opportunity to meet with Andrew Billard, a Commercial Officer working for the U.S. Commercial Service in China. Billard talked with students about doing business in China and how the Commercial Service helps bring American goods and services to China. (Pictured: UConn EMBAs visiting the U.S. Embassy in China)
Great Wall – EMBA students had the chance to visit one of the greatest wonders of the world. The Great Wall winds up and down across deserts, grasslands, mountains and plateaus. With a history of more than 2000 years, it is still one of the most appealing attractions all around the world owing to its architectural grandeur and historical significance. »See photo
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Director of UConn School of Business Part-time and Executive MBA Programs in Hartford Named
Colleen McGuire, an executive consultant with three decades of wide-ranging business experience, has been named the new director of the Part-time and Executive MBA Programs at the University of Connecticut’s School of Business Graduate Business Learning Center in downtown Hartford. These programs draw students from throughout New England who want to build their skills through UConn’s highly ranked offerings.Continue Reading