The Tulane MBA

Job search

Wed, 25 Aug 2010 23:14:00 -0500

Now that we are 2 weeks into the semester I think it would be useful to list some of the job hunting opportunities coming up. This is by no means a comprehensive list but I’ve listed some biggest events this year:

Freeman days New York will be held September 16 and 17. This is a great opportunity for anyone interested in finance.
Freeman days Houston will be held September 30 and October 1. Anyone interested in energy should attend.
The national black MBA conference will be held September 21 -25 in Los Angeles, CA. More information can be found here: http://www.nbmbaa.org/home.aspx?PageID=637&
The national Hispanic MBA will be held October 21 – 23 in Chicago, IL. More information can be found here: http://www.nshmba.org/

It is a big investment in terms of time (being away several days in the middle of the semester can be though as coursework accumulates) and money (airfare, hotels, meals, etc.) but with good planning due dates can be arranged so that going to these conferences will not affect your classes. Career fairs can be intimidating at first (I had never seen so many suits in one place before) but offer a great opportunity to scout out tons of companies and talk with recruiters.
Some advice for anyone thinking of attending: look up the companies you are interested in and try to find out who is going to be at the conference (the CMC can help with this). Then contact them before the conference and let them know you would like to meet. If everything goes well you will probably get an interview spot during the conference.

Good luck out there.

Photo

Mon, 23 Aug 2010 14:28:13 -0500

Rock 'n' Bowl Social

Mon, 23 Aug 2010 14:27:23 -0500

It’s a Freeman School tradition. After the first week of school, we all come together and bowl. Rock ‘n’ Bowl is one of the those only-in-New Orleans places - a bowling alley that always has live bands. It’s almost best described as a live music venue with bowling lanes. Needless to say, a good time was had by all.

Now that we’ve all had a week to get used to being back on campus, back in the classroom and back around each other - it’s time to get back to work. Most of us have assignments due this week, and our fall calendars are filling up with not only school projects but the many social events that the city has to offer.

Next month, when the Saints play their first home game of the season, we’ll all be treated to a rare fall parade. The NFL is putting on a Mardi Gras-style parade that will wind through downtown before the Saints play the Vikings Sept. 9th. We just have to make sure we get our homework done, before we get serious about Who Dat Super Season Take II.

Back to Life

Thu, 19 Aug 2010 09:47:18 -0500

After spending all summer in the affectionately named “Boulder Bubble”, the time came last week to start packing up to head back to school. Admittedly, I was less than excited to get back to the 90+ degree weather, the never ending “work” day, and Ramen noodles (yes, I still eat Ramen noodles). My journey back to New Orleans started rough. Two days before leaving Boulder, someone set a couch on fire that happened to be abandoned on the curb next to my car (Let this be a lesson people: Don’t park next to abandoned furniture, particularly in a college town). Exhibit A:

After five trying days on the phone (or not on the phone rather) with Progressive, I finally collected my belongings, packed them into a rental car and headed south. Even though I wasn’t able to spend a day or two unwinding and refocusing from the summer, I was surprised how eager I was on Monday morning to get back to classes and my long lost (OK, three months isn’t that long) classmates.

As our time here progresses, we have much more flexibility in our schedules, which to me means that I’ll never see several of my group mates, who are narrowing in on their finance classes while I take all the Marketing classes possible. I guess we’ll just have to make an extra effort outside of the classroom! I’m also excited to report that my new schedule means that I’ll never have class before Noon. Can’t complain about that!

Tomorrow night is the Rock N Bowl Welcome (Back) party for all the business school students. I’m sure there will be pictures to follow.

-Sarah
sgaddis@tulane.edu

MBA 2’s at the Liberty Bell in Philadelphia. Louis David,...

Wed, 11 Aug 2010 14:42:00 -0500

MBA 2’s at the Liberty Bell in Philadelphia. Louis David, Leslie Johns and Paul Santarelli.

Wrapping up the Summer

Mon, 09 Aug 2010 22:36:30 -0500

After a summer of internships, everyone is beginning the late summer ritual of taking a few days off and then making it back to campus. This week I’m in New York and Philadelphia visiting a few friends before school starts up again August 16th. Friday night, I got the chance to meet up with some classmates who spent their summers doing internships up here in the city. It was great to see everyone after a few months apart.

Wednesday, I’ll leave New York for Philadelphia to meet up with another Freeman classmate. I’ve never been to Philly, but have always wanted to see the Liberty Bell and the historic sights. My classmate Paul, who is from Pennsylvania, will be in town visiting family so he’s promised to take me to his favorite cheese steak joint.

Back in New Orleans, a number of our classmates had the chance to check out the annual White Linen Night in the Warehouse District this past weekend. Every year, art galleries in the area open their doors, and the roads are shut down. Obviously the dress code is white linen, which is a New Orleans summer staple. (I’m working on posting a few pictures.)

I know the first-years are going through pictures of their orientation this week - so I’ll try to get a few pictures from their events.

As always - email if you have any questions.

Louis David

The following guest post is from incoming Graduate Business...

Tue, 27 Jul 2010 15:15:00 -0500

The following guest post is from incoming Graduate Business Council President Ian Jones who is wrapping up an internship with the Federal Reserve Bank of New York in New York City.

——

There are few places that can match the energy and beauty of New York City. I have been fortunate to intern at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York over the summer, and it has been fantastic! I had visited the city a few times in the past, but never had I actually lived here. I’m a native of Shreveport, Louisiana and moved to Chicago after undergrad, so I feel that I had the “big city experience” under my belt. Chicago minimally prepared me for the organized mayhem that is New York City.

On a typical day I wake up around 6:45 and am usually out of the door by 7:45. Hopefully by then the trash bags have been picked up off the streets and someone has swept the sidewalk. With 1.6 million people packed into 23 square miles of land, you can imagine how dirty the place can get. I take the 1 train and transfer to the 2-3 to Fulton station (If Im feeling adventurous, I’ll get off at Chambers Street to swing by Jamba Juice, my favorite).

Forty minutes after getting on the train in Morningside I arrive in lower Manhattan, financial capital of the world (sorry Midtown investment bankers, this is where the action is). As I peak my head from the underground tunnel, I am surrounded by ornate masonry and overall architecture that makes midtown look like rows of steel poles. The New York Fed building is beautiful and takes up an entire city block. It is hard to find though if you don’t know where it is because the Bank only has one sign on a single brick stating what the building actually is, and not to mention that the Bank is surrounded by much taller offices.

Inside the Bank is where some of the most important economic activities are executed. I have had the privilege of working on a special project closely aligned with the Markets group. This is the team that carries out FOMC directives to sustain a viable national economy. I urge you to consider opening up your career search to a wide array of firms. When I first entered b-school I never thought I would intern as a central banker. Now I have an experience on my resume that few can match.

Quiet Campus

Tue, 06 Jul 2010 15:34:00 -0500

Going to the post office is never fun. Even if you have a package waiting for you, the 20-person line can scare off anyone who doesn’t have an entire afternoon to kill. That’s why I went to campus the other day for the first time in about a month. It’s beyond convenient to be near / on a college campus - almost everything you need is there waiting for you, including a line-free post office. But when I went to campus Friday to mail a package, it was so odd to see very few people out and about. No undergrads playing frisbee, no dodging bicycles on sidewalks, no delivery trucks.

Our building (Goldring / Woldenberg Hall II) is next door to the post office, and across a main campus walkway from the student center (Lavin-Bernick Center). Walking through the barren halls of GWII, I realized how ready I am for school to start up again in August. This week, I’ve talked to a number of classmates who feel the same way - and we all admit it’s a little strange. When you spend so much time with one group of people in one place, it can get a little old. But being away from both for nearly the past two months has been an adjustment.

Most of us (including myself) are doing internships this summer, so our time is being well-spent. About a third to a half of us are in New Orleans, the rest are spread across the country - New York, San Francisco, Dallas, Chicago. We’re all learning not only how to use our newly-learned skills, but we’re also remembering what it’s like to be back in the workplace. School will be much appreciated when it returns in just a few weeks.

Until then, we need to enjoy the most out of this summer. This past Independence Day weekend, I got to spend a great few days with some friends at False River, which is near New Roads, La., about an hour and a half away. Enjoy the view.

Louis David

False River, July 4, 2010.

Tue, 06 Jul 2010 15:33:38 -0500

False River, July 4, 2010.

Summer Life

Tue, 22 Jun 2010 14:42:24 -0500

I’ve been quite the delinquent blogger since I began my summer internship. After much prodding and guilt-tripping from fellow blogger, Louis, I decided it was time to send an update.

This summer I am working on the Research + Strategy team at a small(ish) design and advertising agency in Boulder, Colorado. Back in May, I was excited to start this internship as that moving into advertising was a total career shift for me. Having spent better part of my post-collegiate years in environmental nonprofits, I couldn’t imagine a bigger change! And of course, moving to (yet another) city is always change that I have welcomed in the past.

In short, I couldn’t be happier with my decision. While some people might say “unpaid internship”, I prefer to think of it as “free summer learning experience!” A month and a half into the internship, I’ve already been very involved in several projects. Currently, I’m working on a new name and logo for a product ready to hit the market - no pressure! The hours are long (10+ hour days are normal), but relative to the hours that we put in at the Freeman School, it doesn’t feel all that strenuous. And it is nice to be able to “walk away” from work at the end of the day as opposed to always feeling like there is more I could be reading, writing, and studying.

I’m also loving Boulder itself. It is nice to escape that New Orleans heat that Louis referred to for the summer! Returning in August is certainly going to be a rude awakening. Here’s the view from my office…awful isn’t it?

As always, if you have any questions, please email!

Sarah

-sgaddis@tulane.edu

Stormy in the city. Despite the fact that high temperatures...

Fri, 18 Jun 2010 13:47:10 -0500

Stormy in the city. Despite the fact that high temperatures have been topping out in the mid to high-90s, it rains almost every afternoon. This is a view of parts of downtown, with the French Quarter and Mississippi River in the background as clouds roll across New Orleans on a typically sultry summer afternoon.

It gets hot here

Fri, 18 Jun 2010 13:43:47 -0500

Attention anyone who is not yet aware of New Orleans weather in the summer - it gets hot here. For the past two weeks, high temperatures have been topping out in the mid-90s, the heat index usually runs around 100 degrees. A few miles inland, north of Lake Pontchartrain, the heat index has been hitting about 110 degrees. Oh yeah, it’s also very humid.

Most people who have ever been to the Gulf Coast in the summer know that it is a human endurance test of tropical conditions. However, if you’ve decided on the Freeman School and you’re moving here soon - don’t forget to bring a sweater. It may sound crazy, but as the first few cool fronts hit us last year (October, November), a number of our classmates were running around buying blankets and Tulane sweatshirts from the bookstore. They thought they’d get by on shorts and flip-flops until going home for Thanksgiving. This is not Miami.

Cold fronts don’t last long, but it can get chilly quickly. I guess that’s one of the quirky things about living along the Gulf Coast - the weather changes often. I think we really get to appreciate sunny blue skies because we also trudge through the hot, humid, cloudy days all too often.

Louis David

Summer School

Tue, 01 Jun 2010 16:40:01 -0500

After a few years of working, the thought of spending a summer in school for a couple of hours a day may be appealing. Last year, I took the pre-MBA summer courses offered at the Freeman School and I can honestly say those classes helped me out when our real classes started in August.

About thirty of us signed up for the program, which ran for about four weeks in July. One class is a statistics course, one is accounting. The statistics course is taught by Russ Robbins, who teaches the mandatory stats class that first-year MBAs take in the fall. This means you have a head-start on your classmates. I had no experience whatsoever in Microsoft Excel. Russ’ class was quite the (much-needed) boot camp.

The accounting class was also a nice refresher, as most of us who took the summer classes were coming from jobs where we had limited financial experience. The best part of being in school early was getting used to being physically at school every day. It’s also a great way to meet your future classmates. The workload is not extremely intense, so you have lots of time to enjoy New Orleans with your classmates.

If you have any questions about the summer program, let me know.

Louis David

It's (half-way) Over!

Fri, 14 May 2010 15:23:51 -0500

This time of year, it’s easy to stumble upon college students at any level writing about how they can’t believe the semester is over. Add me to the cliche clique. These past nine months have flown by. It’s been a non-stop ride, but I’ve learned a lot and met a bunch of great people. I’ve built a financial model for a real estate deal, put together a marketing project for an NBA team and been a part of about nine groups. It’s been awesome.

As the summer air creeps across New Orleans, my classmates are fanning out across the country for internships. It’s a little sad to see us all leave the nest, but a good bit of non-natives are staying here in New Orleans, which surprises me. I’ve got a few options, and my summer plans aren’t set. I know if I stay or go - any internship will be a great chance to put our Tulane skills to work.

A year ago, I was preparing to move to New Orleans to start the Freeman School’s summer program. I had been out of school for a few years, and my math background was not strong. If you fit that category - I’d definitely come to Tulane early. Not only do you get a head-start at meeting your new classmates, but the statistics and accounting help goes a long way once school gears up in August. If you have any questions about the summer program, ask away. Also - throughout the summer we’ll have guest bloggers tell us about what they’re doing this summer.

Louis David

Last Day of MBA Lectures

Thu, 06 May 2010 19:48:10 -0500

A few hours back I had the last lecture of my MBA Degree! Wow !

Can’t believe it’s been 2 years, and it has been a heck of a ride. Next week is the finals, and we have the graduation ceremony on May 15^th.

We also had the graduate champagne toast today and found out the newest members of freeman 50.

Freeman 50 is a group of alumni dedicated to furthering the cause of the Freeman school. At this stage, several of my friends have got jobs, and some are still looking.

I am sure all the people seeking jobs will have something in their hands soon. The economy is slowly but surely recovering.

This is also the time when everyone is making his or her plans after graduation.

It’s odd how quickly it comes to an end. After May 15^th, my friends for the last two years will leave New Orleans quickly. Some will go to their home countries to resume their jobs, many will move to different parts of the USA, and some of us will stay back in New Orleans.

I am staying a bit longer in NOLA, so if any of you is considering Tulane MBA, feel free to drop me an email.

Karthik M ; mkarthik01@gmail.com

Guest Blog - Study Abroad!

Wed, 05 May 2010 11:13:47 -0500

Hi everyone, my name is Johan Andrés Acosta and I am a 1^st year MBA student. Currently I am doing an exchange semester in Denmark and I would like to share with you my experience abroad. During my 1^st semester at Tulane, I started to look for an opportunity to study abroad. I decided to apply for an exchange semester in Copenhagen Business School, the second largest business school in Europe and one of the most recognized schools in the area due to its quality and program diversity. I was fortunately admitted for the spring period 2010 and embarked myself in a fulfilling experience in every sense. Here at the Copenhagen Business School, I am: learning another approach to business, getting in touch with different cultures that enhance my knowledge and ideas, and meeting a lot of new friends as well as expanding my networking activities.

Tulane University’s semester abroad program is a great opportunity for students to take another insight at their MBA program, with travel possibilities to places like Paris, Hong Kong or Buenos Aires, among others. The process is simple and flexible at the same time, and I was always supported by the International Programs Director, the Director of Graduate Education, as well as the Faculty of the B-School, who analyzed and validated the courses that I was going to take in Denmark. First, you need to select the school that you want to go to, then you apply to get a place as an exchange student representing Tulane University abroad. At the same time, it is recommended to start analyzing with the Director of Graduate Education which courses you plan to take abroad, in order to have similar curriculums to facilitate the validation of credits process. After that, if you are one of the lucky admitted students, you prepare yourself for an experience that is going to be definitive in your career process, and, of course, be ready to represent Tulane as the quality and top B-School that is.

I would recommend that everyone take advantage of an opportunity like this one, because it will definitely change your life, allow you to expand your professional and personal horizons, and be a great complement for the International Business concentration that we already have at Tulane. I hope that many students consider this challenging option and dare to open their minds to the opportunities that the globe provides us.Remember, a whole new world is waiting out there for you to try it!

-Johan Andrés Acosta

jacostaa@tulane.edu

Jazz Fest vs. Finals

Wed, 28 Apr 2010 11:30:10 -0500

Sometimes it is tough to live in a city with so much going on and be able to focus on school work at the same time. I never could have done it as an undergrad! It’s festival season in New Orleans and there are activities every day/night/weekend. This week is particularly tough as we wrap up our first year as MBA students, and we’re in the middle of Jazz Fest. While the main festivities of Jazz Fest were last weekend and this upcoming weekend, there are related events every night this week. Not too mention, we all have friends coming in town to grab a little piece of the Jazz Fest action. And, some of us are starting internships almost immediately following exams and need to get our lives here in order before leaving town. And, it is gorgeous outside.

Finding that work/life balance is tough. I know when I started in August, it was 80% work/ 20% life (or perhaps I was just wanting to stay at school and soak up some of that famous Tulane air conditioning!) Now, I’ve really found the balance and am proud to report that I’m splitting my time about 50/50 (or perhaps that’s just the spring fever talking.)

Changing subjects, I am one of those folks who will be headed to an internship immediately following our last (and hardest) final exam. This summer I’ll be working on research and strategy at a design and advertising agency in Boulder, Colorado. I’m excited to get back out into the “real world” and expand my Tulane-provided marketing & consumer behavior knowledge base through this experience.

Per usual, if you have any questions about Tulane or New Orleans, please email!

-Sarah
sgaddis@tulane.edu

The Final Week

Sun, 25 Apr 2010 20:40:06 -0500

So tomorrow marks the last week of classes, and the final week of classes for myself and my fellow second year MBAs. I’ve been spending a lot of time with my friends reminiscing, doing all the “only in New Orleans” things that we decided we must do before leaving and generally just taking in all that The Big Easy has to offer. Saying that I’m going to miss New Orleans is an understatement. With all of the challenges that this city has I have truly grown to love it and while I’m extremely excited for the next chapter of my life there is a part of me that will always remain in Nola. I don’t know if it’s the people, the food, the culture, or the weather but there is something about this city that is truly amazing. If you ever have the experience to live here, even for just the two short years of b school, do it. But, just a word of advice once you get down here you may never leave. Or, like me you may move away, but you’ll be planning your return before you even step foot out of the parish limits.

Amina

First-year MBA bloggers at Alcatel-Lucent headquarters in...

Tue, 13 Apr 2010 10:36:36 -0500

First-year MBA bloggers at Alcatel-Lucent headquarters in Paris. Juan Molina, Sarah Gaddis and Louis David.

Back in Action

Tue, 13 Apr 2010 10:35:47 -0500

After more than two weeks in Europe, it’s back to work for many of us first-year MBA students. Two weeks ago, we left for a Global Leadership class in Paris. The following week was our Spring Break - so many of us stayed in Europe to travel. Along with some friends from school, I left Paris for Nice, Monaco and Barcelona. It was an amazing trip.

The school portion was fast-paced and pretty interesting. We learned about working overseas, doing business in a foreign country and how global corporations evaluate investment opportunities around the world. Add all of that to having nearly 90 classmates in a foreign city and you can understand how things got a little crazy.

My favorite parts:

School - Definitely our trip to visit with Alcatel-Lucent executives at the company’s headquarters in Paris. Alcatel is a French telecommunications company that merged with Lucent, a spin-off from the old AT&T. We got to meet a number of company executives from the US who are now working in France. They went over the benefits and challenges of working overseas. It’s a great experience, but there are certainly drawbacks. Above is a picture of the three fist-year bloggers (Juan Molina, Sarah Gaddis and myself) at Alcatel-Lucent.

Traveling after school - Barcelona. What an awesome city. I’ve been lucky enough to travel Europe a few times before this trip - but this was my first visit to Barcelona. I think it’s now my favorite European city. The architecture is beautiful, beaches are gorgeous, it wasn’t too touristy and the locals are beyond laid-back.

Louis David