Fu: NEWS
Ping Keynote Speaker for the Fourth Annual Women in Business Conference
by Rita Lei, Class of 2007
brunner, who became Fus husband and the co-founder of Geomagic. Fu also teamed up with OSBI Consulting (now titled Illinois Business Consulting (IBC)), praising the organization and its director, Paul Magelli, for their knowledge and efforts. For more details about the Women in Business Conference, please contact Margretta Angdjasrin: [e-mail].
DECEMBER 2006
VOLUME II, ISSUE 4
IN THIS ISSUE
Women in Business Conference .....1 Global Business Conference.............1 Admissions............................................2 Social Events.........................................2 Career Services ...................................2 NAWMBA Conference .....................3 Faculty Profile.......................................3 Alumni ...................................................4 Lunch with the Dean ..........................4 Message from the Dean.....................5 MBAA Board Elections ......................5 Club Roundup................................. 67
Ping Fu will be the keynote speaker for the Fourth Annual Women in Business Conference.
Global Business Conference Gives Future IMBA Leaders Lift
by Judy McDermott, Class of 2008 The Global Business Conference (GBC), Giving Leaders of Business a Lift, held on November 10 in collaboration with four IMBA clubs, was a successful day filled with animated guest speakers who discussed the importance of looking at the business world from an increasingly global perspective. The Latin American Business Society, the MBAs of Color, the Asian Business Society and the International Business Society put on the event at the Levis Faculty Center. Almost 100 students, faculty members and outside guests enjoyed keynote speeches, breakaway sessions and a raffle of two Motorola Razr phones. The conference began with a presentation from Claudia Knowlton-Chike, director of global supply chain at Motorola, and later included a lunch-time keynote address from Manuel Favela, chief financial officer of McDonalds Latin America. Favela discussed several points about McDonalds business strategy as well as more personal points, such as the importance of maintaining integrity and self identity throughout your career. A special thank you goes out to conference chairperson Monica Belalcazar, whose hard work allowed this conference to happen. In addition, a thank you goes out to the entire GBC board of first-year and second-year IMBAs. The success of the event seals its prospects of becoming an annual event for years to come.
The Fourth Annual Women in Business Conference will be held on February 10, 2007, at the Illini Union. The theme of the conference is Leading Change From Inspiration to Performance, and the event highlight will be a keynote speech from Ping Fu, 2005s Entrepreneur of the Year according to Inc. magazine. Fu founded Geomagic and led the company from a start-up to an industry leader. With Fu at the helm, Geomagics revenue has grown by 2,105% to $30 million within five years. What makes these results particularly outstanding is that Fu did not attend school between the ages of 7 and 18. She grew up in the Chinese Cultural Revolution era, and was deprived the right to learn at a young age. After schools reopened, she entered university and conducted research on infanticide, which led to worldwide publicity but also sent her to jail. She arrived in the United States as a Chinese exile in the early 1980s, while she only knew three English words and phrases: Please, Thank You, and Help. Fu went to the University of New Mexico to study English, and later earned a Masters of Science in Computer Science at the University of Illinois at UrbanaChampaign. While at Illinois, she worked at Bell Labs and the National Center for Supercomputing Applications where she met a professor named Herbert Edels-
UPCOMING EVENTS
Dec. 1: Dec 5: Dec 7: Dec 8: WiB Talent Show Last day of class! MBA1 final exams begin Club Officers Elections for the Class of 2008, winners announced
Dec 11: MBA 2 final exams begin Dec 11: Applied Business Perspectives begins Jan 6: Jan 16: PartTime MBA Pre-term Back to School Picnic
CONTACT US
Web: www.mba.uiuc.edu Phone: [phone] Fax: [phone] Sixth Street Journal 2.0 is a publication of the Illinois MBA,1407 W. Gregory Dr., Urbana, IL 61801 USA
ADMISSIONS
Putting Together the Class of 2009
by Ben Moreland, Assistant Director of Admissions A new admissions cycle for the Illinois MBA is now underway, and before long the applications will be pouring in from prospects hoping to join the Class of 2009. We are off to a good start, with an unexpected number of applications having been submitted prior to the early application deadline of December 15. The admissions team will be working hard to encourage prospective students to apply, but as usual, the more help we receive from the larger Illinois MBA community, the more successfully we will attract great candidates for admission to our program. The admissions staff would like to thank Hideaki Uchida (Class of 2005) and Eriko Ito (Class of 2005) for holding two informational sessions for prospective MBA students: one at the Princeton Review of Japan and another at the Institute of Foreign Study. When asked what motivated him to organize the sessions, Uchida answered, I love the Illinois MBA and want to contribute to it. I learned a lot from the Illinois MBA faculty and my classmates, enjoyed life in Urbana-Champaign, and was able to get a great job in Tokyo afterwards. I want to let Japanese applicants know how wonderful our program is and, as a result, improve the quality of students at the Illinois MBA. If you would like to hold a similar session in your home city, contact the admissions office to request brochures and other materials to hand out to potential students. You can contact admissions by email at [e-mail] or by phone at 217-244-7602. Hideaki Uchida spreads his enthusiasm for the Illinois MBA by holding informational events in Japan.
SOCIAL EVENTS
Students Have a Blast at Halloween Barn Dance
by Rahul Kalsi, VP of Social Programs The Illinois MBA Association hosted a Halloween Barn Dance on Saturday, October 28, at Farm Lake near the University of Illinois. Students arrived in costume for a haunting evening complete with hayrides, a costume contest and a bonfire to help keep the guys and ghouls warm amidst the crisp fall night. For many international students, this was their first experience celebrating Halloween. For others, it was a chance to take a break from assignments or simply an excuse to dust off their favorite Halloween costumes, which had been sitting in the back of their closets. The farm was decorated in a Halloween theme with pumpkins and spider webs, and a DJ played classic Halloween tunes and led country and western line dances. Thank you to everybody who helped set up and attended this event. We hope to have an even greater turnout next year.
IMBA students Savva Amusin (Spiderman), Anyu Chang (Cleopatra), and Bryan White (Gas Station Attendant) dress up for the Barn Dance.
IMBA students Clara Spaanstra (Flapper) and Monica Belalcazar (Angel) are in the Halloween spirit.
CAREER SERVICES
Fall Recruiting Results in Great Opportunities for Students
by Julie Sweet, Associate Director of Career Services Illinois MBA Career Services is completing our on-campus fall recruiting season, and we have hosted 25 MBA-focused companies for on-campus interviews (up almost 80% from last fall), and we have posted an additional 30 job postings since September 1. This has been a great opportunity to bring some new employers to campus, as well as host some companies that have not recruited from the IMBA program in a few years. Some of these include Huron Consulting, Sears Holdings Corporation, Whirlpool and Deloitte Consulting. Our students are starting to receive offers from many of the companies that have been recruiting. The 2007 recruiting season (for full-time and internship placement) will kick off on January 30 and 31, which is when the Spring Business Career Fair at the Illini Union will take place. If your company would like to consider MBA candidates for internship or full-time opportunities or would like to take part in the Spring Business Career Fair, please contact [e-mail] or log onto your employer account in EASE (http:// www.easemba.com/mbauiuc/) for more information. Illinois MBA Sixth Street Journal 2.0
2 - December 2006
NEWS
NAWMBA Conference a Memorable Experience
by Min Ju Lee, Class of 2008 Some first-year IMBA students took their midterm exams at 6 a.m. on November 3 just so they could attend The National Association of Woman MBAs (NAWMBA) Conference and Career Fair at the Olin School of Business at Washington University in St. Louis on November 3 and 4. First-year students in attendance included Min Ju Lee, Dianne Gregory, Kate Kim and Tina Yu. Second-year attendees included Mona Haggag, Emily Yeh and Margretta Angdjasrin. As a state-wide level event, the conference was very well-organized and professional. The career fair is thought to be the most excellent aspect of the event, largely due to the quality of the attending companies. Each IMBA student in attendance had the chance to hold detailed conversations with recruiters about their careers; they also discussed their personal fit with potential employers. The speakers and panels aspect of the conference was also valuable. Students listened to successful businesswomen as they discussed how they gained success and balanced their jobs and family. IMBA attendees also had the opportunity to meet other female MBA students from other schools. These conversations made me take a look at myself and compose my thoughts for the rest of my MBA experience, said Lee. The conference ended with the announcement that the University of Maryland would host next years NAWMBA conference, providing another opportunity in 2007 for female IMBA students to visit another school and meet more MBA contacts.
PROFILE
Professor Aguilera Casts International Light on IMBA Program
by Rita Lei, Class of 2007 Fluent in five languages, University of Illinois Professor Ruth Aguilera has conducted research in Berlin, Madrid, Milan and Tokyo. With a degree in economics from the University of Barcelona and a PhD in Sociology from Harvard University, Aguileras research interests lie at the intersection of economic sociology and international management. Raising student awareness toward cultural diversity and encouragement of students to think globally are the key goals of Aguilera in her global strategy class. The class covers diverse issues in crossborder mergers and acquisitions, negotiation in different cultures and global corporate strategy. Ruth Aguilera's vast international experiences make her well-qualified to teach global strategy in the Illinois MBA.
Born in Catalonia, Spain, Aguilera lived in different European countries from a young age, and these experiences sparked her interest in international issues. Her crosscontinental background solidifies her comparative studies in corporate governance, organizational theory and corporate social responsibility. Aguilera is also interested in the role of women and human capital in todays global business world. Each employee has his or her own cultural baggage and family relations, such as children and parents to take care of, and that affects how we all participate in this world, she believes. How to view each individual in a larger social web is the essence of caring for human capital. Aguileras most memorable experiences took place in Japan. The culture is very different from Europe and America. Taiwan and Korea are the next stops on Aguileras travel itinerary, after recently returning from a month in China. Outside of the university, Aguilera cherishes the time she spends with family and friends. Traveling and cooking Catalan food are her favorite hobbies. Married and with one son, Aguilera is expecting twin daughters this December.
Min Ju Lee, Tina Yu, Kate Kim, Dianne Gregory, Margretta A n g dj ra s i n and Mona Haggag enjoy a nice meal at the 2006 NAWMBA Conference.
Illinois MBA Sixth Street Journal 2.0
December 2006 - 3
ALUMNI
First Annual Alumni Banquet and Tailgate a Success
by Rahul Kalsi, VP of Social Programs
The Friday-night event was followed by a Saturday-morning football tailgate in the IMBA business quad, which was attended by faculty, students and alumni.
recruiting events and founding or contributing to a scholarship fund for the College of Business. So, if you have not yet had the opportunity to attend, we would enjoy having you! Second Tuesdays is held at the Elephant & Castle Pub from 57 p.m. at 111 W. Adams Street (near the El and Metra). Light nibbles are provided.
Thank you to everybody who helped make More than 150 these events students, faculty, possible and for administration and all in attenalumni filled the dance. A special Illini Union Ballthank you goes room on Friday, out to IMBA November 3, for alumni who the first Annual helped make Alumni Awards this a very speBanquet, which IMBA alumni Paul Lubbers, Elizabeth Lub- cial weekend. honored Paul Lubbers, and Jim Suggs enjoy the banquet. bers, Class of 2001. Alumni from The New-Look Second as far as Washington D.C. joined in the Tuesdays in Chicago evenings festivities, which included by Leah Pettit, Class of 2003 dinner, the awards presentation and dancing. For those of you who do not know me, I am the new recruit for the ProfesThe Illinois MBA was delighted to sional Development/Networking Comhonor Paul Lubbers with the events mittee. I hope to meet many of you inaugural award. Paul has been an active soon! As you may have read in the April supporter of the Illinois MBA. He cur2006 issue of the Sixth Street Journal 2.0, rently serves as President of the Illinois Illinois MBA alumni who live or work MBA Alumni Association. He has been in Chicago have the opportunity to cona familiar face to the current MBA nect with each other during our Second classes as a participant in PreTerm the Tuesdays past events. two years, serving as a guest speaker in 2005 and as a panelist at this My first priority on the committee is to years CareerQuest event in Chicago. put some spark into our Second TuesPaul is truly an ambassador for the prodays gatherings. So let me begin by givgram, actively working to improve the ing you the 101 on this great event. As relationship between alumni and current you probably have figured out, Second students. Tuesdays is held on the second Tuesday of every month. The event is hosted by the College of Business Alumni and MBA Alumni Associations. This networking event was organized to enable alumni to catch up with old friends, make new ones and do a little business networking all at the same time. So why havent you been to a Second Tuesday? Furthermore, we would like to make this event more than just food, beverages and socializing. We are looking to improve the event by finding corporate sponsorships, increasing involvement from alumni through committee involvement, hosting CBA and MBA
NEWS
First-Year Students Have Weekly Lunches with Dean
by Anna-lisa Peter, Class of 2008 To help build a strong relationship between the administration and students, the Student Academic Council has helped implement a program in which Dean Miller meets weekly with select first-year students to engage in conversation and eat lunch in a comfortable setting. To date, Dean Miller has met with more than half of the first-year MBA student body, in groups of 20 each. The meetings are held on Wednesdays from 12:30 to 1:00 p.m., and lunch is provided by Blues, a local barbecue restaurant. At each meeting, the Dean begins by listing an agenda, which is to simply eat lunch and talk. Each student is given the opportunity to say something about him or herselfsomething not many people in the program know. These meetings proved to be enlightening, not only to the Dean, but to many students in attendance. Students spoke about their hobbies and exhilarating experiences, which include skydiving in Switzerland, scuba diving in Taiwan and building radios. Some even spoke of their intentions to go back home to take care of their parents after they complete the IMBA. So, is the goal of Lunches with the Dean being accomplished? Definitely, said Noel Vivar, Student Academic Council member. Not only is the Dean learning new things about us and vice versa, but we are also discovering new and exciting things about our classmates. Illinois MBA Sixth Street Journal 2.0
MBA students Mike Lewis, Nicki Chiu and Chris Mulh are all dressed up at the Alumni Banquet.
4 - December 2006
NEWS
Message from the Associate Dean
by Mary Miller, Associate Dean This is the last issue of the Sixth Street Journal 2.0 for 2006. As the year comes to a close, Id like to take a few minutes to reflect on the semester and also to thank the current MBAA officersChris Mulh, Savva Amusin, Grace Lo, Rahul Kalsi, and Radhika Makhijafor their exemplary service to the Illinois MBA. It has been a pleasure to work with them, and I am proud of what they have accomplished during their year in office. It has been an active fall, and I congratulate the students on their new initiatives. I am especially pleased that for the first time four clubs (LABS, MBAs of Color, ABS and IBS) joined together to sponsor our first Global Business Conference. Im also proud of the MBAA for establishing an alumni award, which was recently presented to Paul Lubbers, Director of Affinity Global Practice Group at Aon, at the first annual Alumni Awards Banquet. We also hosted some great alumni speakers on campus for our Conversation with Leaders series: Doris Christopher, founder and chairman of The Pampered Chief; Mark Essig, president and CEO of Barjan Products; Darryl Cheeks, president and CEO of DKL Enterprieses; Chris Cole, CFO of McDonalds USA; and Rafael Colorado, director, product marketing & strategy for Motorola. They shared their wisdom, and we learned from all of them. So as 2006 comes to a close, I want to thank all of you for your continued interest and support of the Illinois MBA. We have high expectations for 2007. Happy Holidays!
MBAA NEWS
New MBAA Board Elected for 2007
by Rahul Kalsi, VP of Social Programs We are pleased to announce the new Illinois MBAA Executive Board: President (Thomas) Ed Austin Ed served the past nine years in the U.S. Army Aviation where he directly supervised subordinates ranging in number from four to 70, including two combat tours. He earned a Bachelors of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York. VP of Finance Amy Wu Amy, a native of Taiwan, spent the past two years working for Far Eastern International Bank. Her responsibilities as a Foreign Exchange (FX) trader included managing a $5 million FX portfolio. Amy earned a Bachelors of Arts in Economics from National Chengchi University in 2004. VP of Programs Martin Lauw Martin worked the past four years at Unilever in Paraguay in the finance department as a controller and more recently in brand management in the marketing department. Martin graduated with a degree in economics from the Catholic University of Asuncin. His undergraduate experience included serving as Trustee of the
Students Association of the College of Business and Economics in 2001. VP of Alumni Affairs Mike Lewis Fittingly, Mike is an alumnus of the University of Illinois with degrees in economics and political science. He has spent the last nine years in roles of increasing responsibility in sales and marketing, most recently for AT&T in Chicago as a global services account manager. VP of Social Programs Judy McDermott Judy served as a financial journalist and editor in New York City for four years before joining the Illinois MBA. She has also freelanced for the Event Marketing Resource Group, doing promotional work for social events at various venues in New York City, including New Years Eve 2003 and 2004 at the Theater at Madison Square Garden. VP of Communications David Payne David worked as a website designer during his undergraduate years at Brigham Young University. His technical skills include advanced HTML, Javascript and Flash design. David previously served as a software developer for a trade show company. He continues to do website design for both corporate and academic institutions. Also, make sure to check the next issue of Sixth Street Journal 2.0 for the results of the 2007 Club Elections.
Illinois MBA Sixth Street Journal 2.0
December 2006 - 5
CLUB ROUND UP
MSA Reflects on a Successful Fall Semester
by Mark Lockwood, President, MBA Service Association A year comes to a close, and what a semester it has been! The MBA Service Association (MSA) has continued the tradition of the sober driver at all alcohol-serving events, donated over $1,000
in contributions from a fund raising tailgate and had strong involvement with I-Help, a day of service by University of Illinois students. Additional projects and support have been provided to Habitat for Humanity and the Special Olympics. You may also notice as you drive through Urbana that a two-mile stretch of Highway 45 has been adopted by the MSA. It has already been cleaned once. As we approach the holiday season, it is vital to remember the importance of service in every community. Along with Brett Klinker and George Kritikos, the MSA helped the Eastern Illinois Foodbank by collecting more than $700 in donations this Thanksgiving season. Indeed, the MSA and two exceptionally strong MBA classes have combined this year to make an impact in the Urbana .
Mark Lockwood presents a check to Jeff Trask of Champaign County Christian Health Center (CCCHC). Champaign community. I want to take this time to thank all of the volunteers and members of the MSA. It has been a wonderful year of helping, and I believe that we have truly made a difference. Soon there will be a new leadership team in place, and knowing those who are running for office, it will be excellent. My fellow MSA leaders Kent Hammack and Kapil Rajurkar, I thank you for your support, and I wish you the happiest of holiday seasons.
First-year IMBA students George Kritikos, Mark Lewis and Brett Klinker round up food for the charity food drive benefiting the Eastern Illinois Foodbank.
Mary Kay Comes to Campus
by Judy McDermott, Class of 2008 The Women in Business Society (WiB) recently helped several of its members get all dolled upholding a Mary Kay Makeover Night. Students gathered in the...