Archive for October, 2009

By Nadia Karim ‘10, MBA in Global Management

Portion of Nan Kempner's amazing collection, but a savvy Thunderbird can utilize a skimpy closet just as effectively

The greatest event of Thunderbird life is upon us!  Well, second to ThunderOlympics that is…Career Week! A week of fantastic opportunities to research potential employers, learn about various industries, network with companies, and see our fellow Thunderbirds in their finest business wear. Along with the various things to remember comes a list of things to do and not do when it comes to dressing, and so here are my personal opinions regarding business casual and business professional basics.  [This is not CMC sponsored; these are the opinions of a style loving Thunderbird who just wants people to look their best!]

Business Professional (this one is fairly straightforward)

Put simply, this is a suit and tie for men, and a suit for women. Both jacket and bottom must match in color, fabric, and pattern. Hosiery should be appropriate (matching socks for men; sheer stockings for women).  Select your shirt underneath carefully, and have it ironed/pressed as appropriate.  Select accessories thoughtfully; this is often how a sea of suits are differentiated, and better to be simple and tasteful than overdone and gaudy.  Shoes should be clean and shined if applicable.

Men: Have someone check the back of your collar to be sure the tie is not showing.  This is the hardest thing to check yourself and the one thing that shows carelessness the most after an unpressed suit.  Shoelaces with frayed aglets (the plastic ends) are distracting, and worth the $6 to pick up a new set.  If your suit has a pattern, no matter how subtle, please PLEASE do not wear a shirt with a pattern!  This can be very distracting, and is extremely hard to match properly.

Women: Belted suit jackets may be trendy, but they’re not business professional for the most part, as is the same with overly trendy prints and flashy colors (red suits and animal prints should probably stay home).  The same thing should go for shoes; attention should be directed toward your winning smile and attitude, so closed toe pumps and simple styles that match the suit are the best bet here.

Business Casual

Now this is the difficult territory for dress, since it is impacted (particularly in the United States) by various regions and industries as well as general protocol.  The general rule of thumb is that business casual is business professional with the jacket removed (with tie removed as well for men).

Men, I know that polos are sometimes considered business casual, but I strongly feel that this is only the case with solid polos and those made of high quality thicker cottons.  Belts are still absolutely necessary, and the matching of socks is still paramount.  Again, if the pants have a pattern, please avoid it on the shirt.  For the most part, the best business casual outfits for men avoid patterns.  This is not because I believe solids are better, but because matching these is often done badly and results in a less polished look than the solid counterpart.

For women, this category can be more unfairly broad, since there are a variety of tops that can be considered acceptable.  The most important thing to keep in mind is that trends can be very dangerous here.  Stay away from laces, ruches, and corsets; these can cheapen the overall effect of the outfit.  Simpler is most often better, with embellishments kept to a single portion of the top and to one or two colors, to minimize the number of things that need to be matched.  If the length of the top is to your hip or longer, consider whether it is more appropriate tucked in.

Now, I know that deciding on general principles is very different from deciding upon a specific outfit, so go forth by thinking about what you already know looks good on you, what you are comfortable in, and what has garnered you compliments in the past (in a similar situation)!  Always think about the difference between looking good for a party and looking good for a job, and be confident once you decide upon an outfit.  Confidence can make or break ANY outfit.  If all else fails, I am always happy to give my layperson opinion (o: Enjoy your closets and GOOD LUCK!

(photo of Nan Kempner closet taken from NY Mag article; full text content of article can be read here)

By Nadia Karim ‘10, MBA in Global Management

Hello all!

The gorgeous weather and some inspirational signs around campus make for great study spots!

I am Nadia;  I am a half Palestinian half Vietnamese student from Houston, Texas here to study finance, and will take you on random insights into my life as a Thunderbird!  By way of introduction, I come to Thunderbird from a job as a Financial Controller in health care Accounting, and am looking to move my quantitative skills into a more global focus.  I speak English & Arabic well, and always am improving my French, Italian, and Vietnamese (what better place to practice than this campus?!).  So far my experience on this campus has opened my eyes, both academically and linguistically.

It is midterm week, which is why the blog is fairly quiet, but as a new first trimester accelerated student, I will try to bring you some inside information about what life at Thunderbird is like!

So far the weather has been fantastic, but now it is getting cooler, which means even more students are willing to agree to study outside.  Luckily, the campus has benches scattered randomly so that you can find somewhere to read in the sunshine in the shade, in groups or alone.

As you can see in the photo, there are signs scattered around campus, to inspire students and to spread the Thunderbird message.  I really like these signs, because they range from updates about career information to inspirational notes that make me proud to be a part of this place.  Behind me is the famous Thunderbird Tower, the restoration for which Campaign Thunderbird is working hard to raise money, and the site of some great gatherings of students and professors in the past (and hopefully, in the future).

Well, off to study a bit, but hello ThunderBlog readers!  I am excited to be part of the Knowledge Network Community and look forward to sharing my ThunderExperience with you!

By Nikhil Agarwal ‘10, MBA in Global Management

In what was deemed as the payback for losing to Arizona State University in the last weekend’s Rugby 10’s tournament ( ASU – 15, T-bird 10), Thunderbird Rugby beat Arizona State University (T-bird – 61, ASU- 8 ) in the game contested at ASU campus,Tempe on Friday October 9, 2009.

The weather was perfect, there was sizable crowd from both schools to cheer their respective teams and what better then the sweet taste of victory.

We extend three cheers for all three, Arizona State University Rugby team, The Referee and of course Thunderbird Rugby.

By Akshay Jakatdar ’09, MA in Global Affairs and Management

If you are from the Midwest (aka Cincinnati), enjoy eating a variety of foods, and couldn’t (because you are from Cincinnati), Phoenix might just be the place for you… Or maybe you are from another country, were excited about the prospect of eating “American” food and are quickly tiring of Indian Tuesdays and Mexican Wednesdays at the Caf…Phoenix might be the place for you as well… Over the last year I have discovered some of the delicious cuisine Phoenix has to offer, and in no particular order, I have described a few of my favorite restaurants below. If eating out (or eating in general) is something of a hobby, I would definitely encourage you to visit some of the restaurants mentioned below:

- FEZ: Downtown Phoenix. $$$. Modern decor, hip and trendy. Fusion.
Fez is a delightful restaurant specializing in a variety of “American-fusion” cuisine. Try their signature Fez Burger, their watermelon martinis, and the main purpose of your visit: A basket of sweet potato fries.

- Noodle Cafe: Downtown Phoenix. $$. Casual. Japanese.
Japanese is my favorite cuisine and Noodle Cafe offers much more than your average Japanese restaurant. Do not be disappointed by the absence of a teppanyaki grill. Try their katsu curry (Breaded, fried chicken breast served over Japanese brown curry and rice), their steaming bowls of ramen and udon, and the delicious banana bread served at the beginning of the meal.

- Sweet Tomatoes: Near 71st and Bell. $$. Casual. Soup and Salad.
I have visited Sweet Tomatoes more times than I can count. They offer a 10% student discount on their all you can eat soup, salad, and pasta buffet. The food is always fresh and excellent quality. Sweet Tomatoes is also a great place to eat and study – I don’t know of a Starbucks that offers soft serve and brownies!

- Pho Avina. 51st and Thunderbird. $$. Casual. Vietnamese.
If you love Vietnamese as much as I do, check out Pho Avina. Their noodle soups are absolutely amazing, as is their bubble tea, blended with homemade ice cream. They also offer Vietnamese sandwiches at lunch.

- Tandoori Times. 57th and Bell. $$. Casual. Indian.
This is one of the better Indian restaurants that I have visited in the United States and certainly the best one in Phoenix. The decor is really cool, with an open kitchen and a belly dancer on weekend evenings! They also offer free (and not just free refills) Indian chai, located near the kitchen counter. Spicy Indian food and five cups of chai, and the beginnings of a good Friday night.

- Little Saigon. Downtown Glendale. $$. Casual. Vietnamese.
Try the Vietnamese crepes, the vegetables in a clay pot, and the tofu and mushroom soup. Will is delightful, and is happy to make recommendations. All entrees come with unlimited servings of white rice.

- Siam Thai. Glendale. $$. Casual. Thai.
Don’t miss the duck and pineapple curry and the spicy tom yum soup. The restaurant is located in a fairly generic looking Glendale strip mall, but don’t be fooled by the decor. Some of the better Thai food I have eaten.

- In and Out Burger. Near Bell and the 101. $. American Fast Food.
In and Out Burger, one of my favorite discoveries in Phoenix. Their standard burger comes in three sizes – single, double, or triple – but their underground menu consists of cheesy fries, extra onions, and “animal style.” If you get drive thru, they will ask if your food is “take away or to eat in your car,” always a source of amusement for me.

Hopefully I have provided you with a few options for eating out. Although I will continue to add to this list, I would love to hear about your experiences and welcome new suggestions. Bon appetite!