Archive for August, 2010

As Thunderbird President Dr. Ángel Cabrera and key staff travel around the world for Thunderbird this year, they will also be presenting the Thunderbird 2020 Vision to certain alumni chapters along the way.

The presentations will begin on August 17 at the Phoenix Chapter’s International Dinner.

T-bird alumni have played an important role in the development of Thunderbird 2020 – through brainstorm sessions held in Macau, Dubai, Geneva, New York City and Panama along with feedback provided during last spring’s Homecoming activities.

Our vision for 2020 centers around the theme “global leadership for global impact.”

We are committed to remain a world leader in management education to dramatically extend the impact we have in the global economy.

These are certainly bold words, but they are backed by an equal boldness of thought and commitment to action centered on the following four strategic priorities:

1. Strengthen Our Unique Approach to Global Leadership Education

2. Innovate for Scale and Impact

3. Engage Deeply in Emerging Markets

4. Build a Global Community of Learning and Practice

By Deepak Agarwal, Thunderbird MBA ‘12

Last week, after we wrapped up our draft report to our client at about midnight, we decided to celebrate this milestone at a nearby café. This is when it occurred to us – “How about we hold a First Tuesday on August 3rd? Read more.

Twenty new laptop computers loaded with software await this year’s Project Artemis fellows when they arrive in October, thanks to the generosity of T-bird Rob Owen ’06, an adjunct professor at the school.

Owen, who also provided computers to the 2008 fellows, said he will continue to contribute for years to come.

Project Artemis Afghanistan is a business training program that aims to build the entrepreneurial skills of promising Afghan businesswomen. The newest group of 20 fellows will arrive at Thunderbird on Oct. 16.

In a recent e-mail Owen described why he believes in Project Artemis and what inspires him to help:

“I don’t give laptops to contribute to Project Artemis. I hate injustice, and injustice is what I see a great deal of in Afghanistan, especially so to women. I also feel for people who feel they lack power and the opportunity to be powerful. (A much more complicated conversation than one simple sentence) The real reason I give is because I know my contribution of 20 laptops goes to 20 specific people; and what’s even better, I get to meet the 20 people. I get the human connection that I may be making a difference for that person. It is not nameless, faceless, giving.”

Rob will deliver the laptops to the fellows during an informal orientation the day before their program starts Oct. 18. He said he will ask nothing in return, only for the recipients to “make a difference for someone else.”

Project Artemis Program Manager Wynona Heim ’08 said that the laptops donated by Owen have set this program apart from many other similar programs.

“This year we had more applications than we’ve ever had before, and from more provinces in Afghanistan and a wider diversity of business models,” Heim said. “It’s a fantastic group of women and they all seem to be budding leaders, so we’re excited to see what they can do.”

Forty-four women from Afghanistan have participated in three previous sessions of Project Artemis, held in 2005, 2006, and 2008. This year, the fellows will leave Thunderbird on Oct. 31 and head to Washington, D.C. for three days, where the U.S.-Afghan Women’s Council will host them.

They will then head home – with fresh knowledge and skills, a new professional network, and, because of Owen’s gift, their computers.

Here is one perspective from Goingglobal.com. These tips are also featured in the “Recommended Articles” section of MTB’s Alumni Career Management pages.

Ekaterina Walter ‘08 recently sat on the BlogHer business panel where she discussed effective social media strategies. Visit Walter’s blog to have a look at her key points.

Jeff Lockwood ’68 believes that self-confidence and self-awareness in children comes from learning.

And although Lockwood and his children have had the opportunity for quality education, he knows that there are many students whose circumstances have hindered them.

That’s why the Bay Area-based owner of Lockwood International steps away from the office and into the classroom one day each week. And that’s also what has kept him coming back to help for 13 years.

“You hear some of the children’s backgrounds and you’re just amazed,” Lockwood said. “You think of regular kids and what they go through to go to class, but these kids really have it pretty rough in some cases.”

Lockwood volunteers in a Northern California school district where many of its children are living in poverty. Regular meals are provided to the students, but oftentimes they need a little extra attention.

“I’m blown away by how smart these kids are,” Lockwood said. “We just give them a little encouragement.”

In addition to emotional support, Lockwood follows a lesson plan for math that is created by the class teacher. One day each week, he and 14 other tutors fill the classroom and give one-on-one attention to the children.

Lockwood said that he believes math and reading are most important.  Lockwood focuses exclusively on math.

“I think we’ve been fairly effective based on the test results,” Lockwood said. “But these teachers are also remarkably dedicated.”

Lockwood said he was inspired to help after serving as the chairman of the board of directors for a school foundation group. He wanted a more “hands on approach,” so he headed to the classroom.

Lockwood looks forward to his tutoring time each week. And he even follows up his morning routine with some more generosity – a visit to his former secretary and her husband, who are in their 80s. The pair is from England, so Lockwood brings them “little treats that are English” and takes them out to eat.

The Thunderbird Career Management Center and Alumni Relations Office offer a variety of career resources for alumni. Whether you are looking to transition in your career or simply stay up-to-date on current opportunities, we’ve compiled a list to make your search easier.

Getting started: Sign up with Global Connect. This job database features dozens of mid to senior-level opportunities for working professionals, advanced qualifications and experience. Once we verify that you graduated from T-bird, you’ll want to invest the time filling in your profile. The profile you create will allow Career Management Center staff to locate you when companies are looking to hire alumni with a specific set of skills or interests. Next, you’ll want to upload your resume. Although Thunderbird doesn’t have a full-time staff member reviewing resumes, you can find Thunderbird-recommended resume templates on MTB (under Alumni Career Management) to guide you.

Next sign up with MBA Focus, which is a Thunderbird Alumni Resume database which is exclusively available to top global firms. It is free of charge. By posting your resume here, you can make yourself available for these firms to see.

Networking: The Thunderbird alumni network is a powerful tool that you can access and utilize in many ways. Since alumni are spread throughout the world, you’ll want to make sure you tap into as many resources as possible.

-          Join Thunderbird Alumni on the main LinkedIn group

-          Join your local alumni chapter by logging on MTB

-          Sign up for MTB and go to the “Networking” section of Alumni Career Management.

-          Use the Search function in MTB to search alumni by profession, geographic location and even keyword – Reach out to them!

Career Tips: Visit the Alumni Career Management pages on MTB and read articles developed by Barbara Limmer, a professional career coach with over 10 years experience in career consulting. This section offers guidance on a plethora of topics.

-          Redirecting your career

-          Job search strategies

-          Self-marketing

-          Interviewing

For further guidance, select the “Personalized Career Assistance” link for professional coaches who have partnered with the Thunderbird community and can offer personalized advice in your search.

Online Resources: Thunderbird partners with several career Web sites to provide free access to online resources. You can find these on the Alumni Career Management pages on MTB.

Career Resources Check List:

-Sign up with Global Connect

-Fill out your profile

-View resume templates

-Post your resume

-Search the posted jobs

-Join MBA Focus

-Sign up on MTB

-Visit “Alumni Career Management “on MTB

-Find people in your industry/location with MTB search feature

-Find your local chapter on MTB and start attending events

-Join Thunderbird Alumni on LinkedIn

-Network

Want to know more about Career Management and Networking with T-birds? Every second Tuesday each month, check back here for a new career tip. Have additional questions? Contact the Alumni Relations Office at alumni@thunderbird.edu

Curing the sweet tooth of customers in the San Francisco area and beyond has been the mission of Mike Litton ’74 for the past 10 years.

Litton and his expanding company Bridge Brands Chocolate, formerly called San Francisco Chocolate Factory, were recently featured in the San Francisco Chronicle.

In the story, Litton says he was about to attend law school in Los Angeles when he instead followed the advice of a friend and enrolled at Thunderbird.

According to Bridge Brands Chocolate’s Web site, customers can choose from a delicious selection of colorful tins filled with gourmet-quality chocolates in flavors such as Wine Lover’s Chocolate and Tea Lover’s Chocolate.

Bridge Brands Chocolate participates in local and national events, festivals and trade-shows year round. They invite you to visit them when they come to your town.

Cindy Yeager ’08 came to Thunderbird to not only change her own life, but to change the lives of others – and that’s precisely what has kept her here.

As the new fiscal year gets under way, Yeager will serve as the Thunderbird Development Fellow, reaching out to her T-bird network for grant proposal opportunities.

“There are so many great opportunities to form partnerships that will have a true impact in the world and at the school,” Yeager said. “It doesn’t necessarily have to be a grant either.”

But she can’t do it without the help of her fellow T-bird alumni! So, T-birds please consider a few questions.

Do you work for a corporation with a foundation or corporate social responsibility department? Do you know someone who does?

If so, please reach out to Yeager. A personal connection opens the door to many partnership opportunities that could otherwise go unnoticed.

“Some T-birds have already put me in contact with foundations in certain industries,” Yeager said. “Organizations get inundated with requests and introductions set us apart.”

Some exciting T-bird projects that have been partially grant-funded include Project Artemis, a business skills training program that aims to build the entrepreneurial skills of promising Afghan businesswomen and TEM Lab, an on-campus Organizational Consulting Practicum prerequisite course with a team-based international consulting assignment.

While these projects are having sweeping impacts across the globe, Yeager said that she will pursue any opportunities that come her way.

“Alumni can provide an introduction to colleagues that is heartfelt because T-birds are so passionate about the school,” Yeager said. “Then we can see if there is a synergy between their social responsibility initiatives and our goals, and we can form a partnership.”

To reach Cindy Yeager, e-mail cindy.yeager@thunderbird.edu
 or call (602) 978-7081