Archive for October, 2010

By Jeremy Macdonald Traditional MBA 2011

Career week is officially over, but for many students, the decisions about second round interviews are still lingering, as are the psychological effects. I attended NSHMBA as well, so between Thursday October 21st and Friday October 29th, I introduced myself to well over 50 companies in the traditional approach-the-booth-and-sell-myself technique. As expected, some visits were more productive.

I have never been to a speed dating event, for better or for worse, but I think that a career fair epitomizes the concept. I think we can also compare it to a blind date. Either way, I think that the interviews on the second day are a lot more enjoyable than the introductions on the first day. To continue the dating comparison, it’s the second date. Having passed the introductory stage, we both know that we like each other and we are excited about the potential for the relationship to develop.

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By Shally Sarawagi, Thunderbird MS-Global Management  ‘11

What do you get when you have 19 Afghan women, Bollywood music and Indian food on a Friday night – one big party! Friday, October 22nd was supposed to be a movie night for the Project Artemis fellows from Afghanistan who are on campus for a two weeks training program.

We started to play a Bollywood movie for them, until a few minutes into the movie one of them said, “lets turn off the movie and have a dance party!” They taught us some Afghan dance moves and we all danced together for two hours straight. I was specially surprised by how well they could dance to Bollywood music and Shakira!

They said they wanted to learn an American dance and so we taught them the Cupid Shuffle. The Indian Kabobs and Nann reminded them of the Afghan food they had been missing ever since they left home. I had the honor of meeting some of these women during the Artemis Reception, but that night I really had the chance to see who they are. I have never met a group of women so courageous, smart and so full of life.

It’s truly an honor just to be in the same room with them and there is so much to learn from them. Just a week into the program, they have covered so much ground in terms of coursework. “They are like sponges,” said one of the mentors. “They absorb everything we teach them.”

As they go through another rigorous week of training, we are sure that they will take with them not only business skills that will help them run/establish their own businesses, but also the global mindset that is an integral part of every Thunderbird.

By Kate Robertson ’10, full-time MBA student

The purpose of the Brazil Winterim course, “Sustainable Business in Practice,” is to expose students to the Brazilian business environment, one in which many companies take sustainability to heart.

In Brazil, they don’t just “talk the talk,” but they “walk the walk”! Although the course’s itinerary varies slightly each year, this serves to give students a brief glimpse into the companies that have previously been visited during “Sustainable Business in Practice.”

• Dedini S.A. Industrias de Base Manufacturing Equipment (site in Portuguese)
• Deutsch Bank (site in Portuguese)
• Fibria Forest Products
• Friends of the Earth
• Fundacao Amazonas Sustentavel
• Natura Cosmetics
• Tecsis Wind Turbine
• Vale do Rio Doce Mining Company
• Wal-Mart (site in Porguese)

The Winterim covers a wide range of companies and industries. From the not-for-profit sector to banking, mining, consumer products, manufacturing and government organizations, the course has something for everyone! Thunderbird Professor John Zerio, Ph.D., is always forging new relationships with Brazilian companies, so contact him (john.zerio@thunderbird.edu) if you have ideas or if you are a business owner who would like to receive a visit from a group of sustainable-minded T-Bird students.

By Nadia Karim, MBA in Global Management ‘10

Once the time-management routine is down, Thunderbird students find many ways to explore and enjoy the Valley. The Arizona State Fair is one way to have a relaxing evening away from the stress of classes and job hunting. For those not filled with Career Week duties, this is the perfect time to see the festivities!

The Arizona State Fair lasts several weeks in the fall, currently running until 7 November, and is an experience everyone should enjoy, whether local or not. The entertainment is lively and plentiful: multiple ferris wheels, arcade games, food booths, performances, a hypnotist and destruction derby (where cars actually TRY to destroy each other) all keep the entertainment busy enough for hours of fun! Throughout all of this is stands of food and stalls of random sales; there is barbecue, Indian fry bread, fresh roasted corn, and handmade crafts.

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By Kate Robertson ’10, full-time MBA student

As Thunderbird students contemplate the many Winterim offerings, they usually have a tough time narrowing down the options and making a final decision. If you are wondering whether to apply to the Brazil Winterim course, Sustainable Development in Practice, listen to the course professor, Dr. John Zerio, answer the question of “Why Brazil?”

Dr. Zerio gives a brief history of Brazil including the important developments during the 1960s and 1970s that caused Brazilian countries to begin thinking and acting sustainably. He also explains the definition of sustainability as it relates to developed countries versus emerging markets. Even if you aren’t planning to apply to the Brazil Winterim, this short video is a must-see. I guarantee you will learn a thing or two …

By Kate Robertson ’10, full-time MBA student

Watch this short video to learn about the benefits of participating in the Brazil Winterim, Sustainable Development in Practice. Dr. John Zerio explains some of the key takeaways that students have as a result of their two-week studies in the emerging economy of Brazil.

As a past-participant in the Winterim, I can vouch that I definitely learned everything (and MUCH MORE) that Professor Zerio strives to teach students. I’d recommend this course to anyone. In fact, it was such an eye-opening and educational experience that it should be a prerequisite for graduation. Perhaps I will pitch that to Thunderbird’s administration…!

By Kate Robertson ’10, full-time MBA student

We decided to ask Thunderbird’s Brazilian professor, John Zerio, the motivation behind creating the popular Brazil Winterim. The course, Sustainable Development in Practice, introduces students to approximately 10 of Brazil’s most pioneering companies. These organizations have paved the way and excelled in sustainable business practices such as the use of carbon credits and adoption of ethanol production.

In this video, Dr. Zerio discusses his initial research trip to Brazil in 2008. He explains how the resulting Winterim program fits into Thunderbird’s goal of creating sustainable prosperity worldwide and why Brazilians place a high value on sustainability.