OwenBloggers: Jared - MBA 2009

Our Dedication To Isaac

Over the next few days, we want to take some time to thank the outgoing OwenBloggers in the Class of 2008. It's the least we can do given their enormous contribution to the Owen community and we hope you'll join us in wishing them well on the next chapter of their lives.

It is my pleasure to make my Class of 2008 dedication in honor of Isaac Rogers, the first CEO of OwenBloggers and a truly great example of a multi-faceted business leader.  Not only the technical whiz that brought OwenBloggers to life, he is also very much the embodiment of the professionalism that has made OwenBloggers the force it is today.

Though not many people get a peek behind the scenes here, I can tell you that keeping things running is a full-time job in-and-of-itself.  Isaac has handled the job with such a steady hand and such compassion for his team that the legacy he leaves behind is very much personal as well professional.

I know, for my part, things won’t be the same around here without you.  Thanks for all you’ve done and we hope you’ll continue to see the fruits of your labor as we move forward with the next generation of OwenBloggers.

Technorati Tags: OwenBloggers, Isaac

Oh, The Things We Thought We Knew - Part IV

If there is one thing I can say at the culmination of not just this MOD, but at the end of my first year of business school, it is that I can safely say I don’t know everything.

Seriously, out of nine months of intense study, networking and, of course, socializing, I have found that the more you learn, the more realize you have yet to learn. Take marketing research for instance. I came into this year with a pretty solid background in customer analysis and segmentation. After three MODs with Jennifer Escales and Dawn Iacobucci however, I realize that the tools they have given me have loosened the floodgates of curiosity of what can be done in that area.

As such is almost everything in business school, I have found. And you know what? That’s the beauty of it.

If you can walk away from the kind of experiences you have in your first year at Owen, and feel humility at not only how much you have learned, but also how much road is left in front of you, its probably a sign that you’re doing something right.

Since this post represents the fourth end-of-MOD summation I’ve done here is also my dedication to the other major takeaways:

• The internship hunt is not just about long-range planning; it is also about flexible networking and willingness to get outside your comfort zone to reach the opportunity you really want.
• Never admit you can edit digital video.
• A wig and a pair of cartoon gloves can be a part of a legitimate business school presentation.
• Lastly, and mind you this one is taken as a lesson from the graduating 2nd years, you want to aim to be the person that leaves behind a great example as well as great ideas.

And, of course, the selected photos from this MOD:

Yeah, great mod...great year!

Technorati Tags: 1st year mba, business school, applying for jobs at mcdonald's, things we thought we knew

Say "hello" to the tornado sirens, everyone!

Just as preparations are in full swing for Welcome Weekend - the tornado sirens started to go off. Accordingly, we all filed into Owen's main auditorium and of course, immediately took out our laptops.

It's Spring, its Nashville; these things happen. The good news is that the storms should pass within the hour and we are promised pleasant, even crisp spring weekend.

As long as we are here - I thought I would snap some shots - say "Auntie M, Everyone!"

Technorati Tags: Owen Graduate School of Management, bored MBA, tornados

Prelude to the most-awesomest Owen week ever!

Disclaimer: the headline is a joke - we do have some sense of grammar in business school.

Unlike in real life, which occasionally has both slow and busy cycles, you're pretty much going full tilt here in business school. This week, in particular, finds Management Hall a hive of activity with a slew of programming including both Owen's Welcome Weekend for accepted students as well as the Annual Alumni Reception.

Despite the packed schedule, I wanted to single out a couple of things that are going to bring this week a crescendo of what makes Owen, Owen:

- John F. Brock, President and CEO of Coca-Cola Enterprises Inc.

As the cap to Owen's 2007-2008 Distinguished Speaker Series, John F. Brock will be speaking at Owen on Thursday. Mr. Brock, selected as the beverage distributor's CEO in 2006, is a member of Owen's Board of Visitors and will be speaking on "Delivering a Legacy of Winning." Mr. Brock is credited with re-focusing CCE's strategy by "grow{ing} the value of existing brands and expand the product portfolio; transform{ing} the go-to-market model and improve efficiency and effectiveness; and attract{ing}, develop{ing} and retain{ing} a highly talented and diverse workforce."

- The Official Debut of our new video newsmagazine, OwenBloggers Viewpoints

For a while now, we here at OwenBloggers have been working on a super-secret video project code-named: PROCRASTINATION. After four weeks, we are finally able to pull open the curtains to reveal a new, ongoing video report that will highlight different aspects of life here at Owen. Every MOD, OwenBloggers Viewpoints will take you behind the blog with video features and interviews, produced by business students themselves. Look for this to "go-live" as of Sunday with sneak previews to be held at Alumni and Welcome Weekend.

- Puttin' on the Ritz Saturday Night

In true Nashville style, Owen is lighting up the night at the Country Music Hall of Fame and the Schermerhorn Symphony Center (home of the Nashville Symphony) with events that will culminate with a joint reception for both Accepted Students as well as Owen Alumni. If past weekends like this are any precedent, these events should both be absolutely incredible and not to be missed.

Like I said, there is a lot going on.

Technorati Tags: business school, Coca Cola Enterprises, John F. Brock, Owen Welcome Weekend, OwenBloggers, OwenBloggers Viewpoints