This blog will be my last as a Freeman MBA student and it is very bittersweet that this two year journey has come to an end. These past two years have been wonderful and I feel so rewarded by all the experiences I have been able to partake in.

Our trip at the end of March was to Beijing, China where we spent one week learning about the Chinese economy, entrepreneurial and financial markets, culture, history, and people at Tsinghua University. Our tour guides were great and we were able to visit the Summer Palace, Great Wall, Tiananmen Square, and the Forbidden City. On our last night, we went to a restaurant for a special Peking duck dinner. Many of my classmates gave speeches commemorating our journey and the sadness that our last trip together was coming to an end.

From Beijing, a few of my classmates and I went to Bangkok for one day and night before heading to Phuket to explore some of the nearby islands. It was incredibly hot, but we all enjoy it after the cooler temperatures at the Great Wall and in China. Thailand has many Buddhist temples and amazing food. We saw the Big Buddha statue in Phuket and did an island tour of Ko Phi Phi and some neighboring beaches. It was beautiful. We spent the last 2 days and one night exploring Singapore and going to the Night Safari. I highly recommend traveling to Asia. It was such an educational experience and the trip was very well organized.

After our trip, we came back to finish our last few weeks of classes. Basically, it was the culmination of our two year academic journey. Our Asia class focused on other countries such as Japan and India. Our New Venture Planning projects wrapped up with presentations were we presented new business plans or evaluated young business ventures. It was fun to hear some ideas my classmates had for new businesses and I was really impressed.

The job hunt has continued and several people have lined up opportunities. I am currently trying to find the best fit for myself as I look to enhance my skills while finding a good work environment.  I am excited to see where all of us will end up. Many of my classmates are looking to stay in New Orleans. Jazz fest 2013 was phenomenal and this cooler weather has been appreciated. As we move forward to graduation, I want to wish everyone the best and future success.

I am glad I made the decision to spend two years in New Orleans and many thanks to the teachers and faculty who have helped guide and teach me along the way.

All the best,
Amy Garrick
ar.garrick@gmail.com

The April 12 campus event enabled prospective students to visit Tulane and New Orleans – many for the first time. The attendees learned how the program can enable people from all sorts of backgrounds be ready to enter the dynamic energy industry.

The agenda included faculty, staff, current students, and alumni panels.  The faculty presented information on the curriculum as well as a trading room demonstration.  Several current students shared how the program fit into their career goals and their success in landing jobs prior to graduation.  Four alumni flew in (from Houston and Chicago) and spoke about how the experiential learning and software used in the program is applicable to their current jobs.  It was amazing to hear how much the current students had learned in less than one year and how much the alumni had grown just one year after graduation.   The evening closed with dinner at Superior Seafood for all.

It was a great opportunity for incoming students to interact with faculty, current students, alumni, and staff to learn more about the energy program.  The feedback was extremely positive.  So positive we decided to host one more event for potential applicants to attend prior to the start of energy program this summer.  If you are interested participating in the next event on June 7th, please contact me at llandry1@tulane.edu and I’ll make sure to add you to our database.

Lorraine Landry

Graduate Admissions Counselor

Last Friday, over 20 admitted and prospective MBA students visited the Freeman School for a day packed with information about the School, the MBA program and some of the things that make the Freeman MBA experience unique.  Current students, faculty and staff presented to the group.

Here’s what visitor Harry Dixon had to say:

“The whole visit was fantastic. Not only did the programs offered align with my interests, but I was also impressed by the caliber of the prospective and current students. The Burkenroad reports, even though they were a driver in my initial interest in Tulane, blew me away. Producing research from within such a fantastic program would be an amazing asset when trying to land a job. “

After a short tour highlighting some of the neighborhoods where Freeman MBAs live and play, we enjoyed a great New Orleans style meal at Superior Seafood while watching the historic St. Charles Avenue streetcars pass by.

The next MBA Campus Visit is scheduled for April 19.  Please contact Margarita Ahumada, Assistant Director of Admissions, at margarit@tulane.edu if you are interested in being considered for an invitation to the April 19 event.

One part of the student visit is a panel of current students who talk to the visitors for an hour. The students get to ask us any questions they want. No professors or Tulane employees are in the room at the time so it really is an open conversation with peers. We usually start by giving a little background on who we are and then give the floor to the guests for questions. We frequently get asked certain questions so I figured I’d take the time to share this information on the blog.

What made you decide to come to Tulane?

Everyone has their own reasons, but the most common answers are New Orleans, the global aspect of the program, and the finance or entrepreneurship program. I came for the first two reasons. New Orleans is a wonderful place to live, and I really wanted the opportunity to spend some time down here. I also spent a lot of my childhood traveling, but I passed on the opportunity to study abroad in undergrad. Many MBA programs offer you the chance to travel, but it is either over winter break or for an entire semester. Tulane’s program differs because we have 3 international trips built into the semesters. It is a great way to learn how other cultures do business. Since so many businesses are going global, I felt this aspect of the program was unique and valuable.

I haven’t taken a math class in years, will I struggle? How hard is the first semester? I’m nervous about certain classes.

I won’t say that the first semester is easy, it is really hard. It is tough to get back into the swing of school and you hit the ground running. Our core classes are 7 weeks long and that is a lot of information to cover in a short period of time. But, the good part about all of this is you have 80 classmates right there with you supporting you. The professors are very willing to help you if you are struggling and will help you get the additional resources if you need them. The professors act like this is everyone’s’ first time learning the material and you do not need to have any prior knowledge. Some basic math skills are good to know and familiarizing yourself with excel can be helpful. Tulane now offers online courses you can take before starting in August and I recommend taking a look at those if you are concerned.

Why should I not go to Tulane?

I think business school is a personal decision for everyone and you want to choose the right program for you. The best way to know if Tulane is right for you is to come and visit. If you can’t, I recommend looking at the course offerings to see if Tulane offers classes on topics you are interested in. Also, it is a smaller program and that might not be right for everyone. I personally like the smaller class sizes because we really get to know all our classmates and professors really well.  But remember, it is a personal decision and you know what is best for you.

Do I need to know what I want to do before I get to business school?

No, you don’t. Some people have a good idea of what they want to do afterwards, but others are trying to figure that out. I would recommend having an idea, but I would also suggest being open-minded. Many students change their concentration or find themselves being drawn to a class or topic they did not expect to enjoy.

What about the internship process?

Many students get internships over the summer. I would recommend starting your search early. If you want a finance internship, you really need to start applying right when you get to school. The career center can put you in touch with people and is a good resource for information on specific careers and industries. Do your homework and then go talk to a career counselor. The best advice I can give you is to apply, apply, apply. I know it is hard to find time your first semester, but make the effort and you will be grateful later. Also, try and attend a national conference and network early on. These conferences give you the opportunity to meet a lot of people and it is good exposure for you.

What is your favorite part about the Freeman school?

I really have to say the people. From the admissions office to professors to my awesome classmates (MBA2s and MBA1s), there are great people here. Everyone is supportive of each other. Many business schools are competitive and cutthroat. We aren’t like that here. Tulane really is a family, and I think that is special.

As graduation approaches, I can say I have really enjoyed my time here at Tulane. I will be sad to leave this place. I have gained so much knowledge and I feel prepared for the next step.

As always, I am happy to answer any questions so feel free to email me at ar.garrick@gmail.com

Amy Garrick
MBA Candidate, Class of 2013

Members of the Tulane Black MBA

In September, our members attended The National Black MBA Association (NBMBAA) Conference in Indianapolis, Indiana. During the conference, a team of four, Sabine Baptiste, Pierre Dunbar, Jerica Kelley and Dakarai Anderson competed in the Chrysler Fiat 500 BEV case competition. In support for the chapter, the New Orleans chapter president Tonia Moore helped sponsor the group participation for the event.  The team was asked to create a marketing plan for the new Fiat Electric Car as well as suggest prices and selling locations for the vehicle. Although, the team did not leave as the winners of the competition, we were congratulated for having one of the best marketing plan ideas and feel as though we represented Tulane very well.

Case Competition team: Jerica Kelley MBA ’13, Pierre Dunbar MBA ’13, Sabine Baptiste JD/MBA ’13

In October and November, we hosted networking events titled “The Young Professional Exchange.” These events were designed to bring together the many members of graduate programs at Tulane as well as other schools in the city. Organizations who attended these events included the Tulane Black Law School Association, The Society of Young Black Health Professionals, National Association of Black Accountants and the Dillard Alumni Association. It was great to network with young professionals from schools such as Xavier, Dillard, Loyola and LSU.

To me personally, my favorite event was held in December. A toy drive with the New Orleans Black MBA chapter was held, but we also sponsored a member of our Freeman Family. The entire MBA program donated to provide a valued staff member and her family with gifts for Christmas. There were so many students who were influential in making this happen and it was so fulfilling to see a program come together and support someone who is vital to our experience at Tulane. The genuine gratitude of the staff member was extremely humbling.

Our biggest event of the year was in January. The National Football League and 2013 New Orleans Super Bowl Host Committee aligned with Tulane Black MBA, New Orleans Black MBA and the Tulane Family Business Center to provide targeted business development content focused on discussing ways to navigate the many challenges facing small businesses. We organized breakout sessions that covered the areas such as Effective Marketing Strategies, Tax Planning, and Access to Capital. Two of the three breakout sessions were facilitated by Tulane alumni. One lucky attendee even won a raffle for two Super Bowl tickets!

Ms. Stephanie Navarre: Guest speaker, Tulane Executive MBA and member of The Tulane Family Business Center

Christopher Cobb MBA/MHA ’14, Michael Cobb: Presenter on Tax Planning, Tulane BA Economics and MBA Finance & Accounting, Dakarai Anderson MBA’13

It is February now and the next thing on our plate is to be active members in the recruitment of minority students to the MBA program here at Tulane. We have had great conversations with members of Graduate School Admissions about how we can showcase the many opportunities Tulane has to offer. Other upcoming events include career management workshops on negotiating salaries and co-programming with organizations such as The Woman’s MBA.

Overall we have had a great year so far and still have 3 months left in it to provide quality programs that will benefit the entire Tulane community. Often times as students, we have very busy academic schedules and tend to limit activities to just our specific degree or campus. I am proud that our organization’s impact has spread past the walls of our campus community and into the city of New Orleans. We are on a campus in a city where diversity of thought is embraced and where a culture of young and talented African-Americans is flourishing. I am excited to be a part of an organization whose leadership has experienced success in areas such as entrepreneurship, interior design, marketing, finance, healthcare and technology. I am also excited at all the great things our members will experience at Tulane and beyond!

For more updates on general information, past events, photos and upcoming programs check out these links!

National Website: http://www.nbmbaa.org/

Like us on facebook: http://www.facebook.com/TulaneBlackMBA  

Follow us on twitter: https://twitter.com/TulaneBlackMBA

Sincerely,

Christopher Cobb

President, Tulane Black MBA Association

MBA/MHA 2014

ccobb6@tulane.edu

GMBA students at ITAM in Mexico City, August 2012
(From left to right): Brea May (U.S.A.), Domingo Gutierrez (Venezuela), Sandra Alcántar (Mexico), Horacio Rincon (Colombia), Qingbo Feng (China), María Luisa Plaut (Venezuela)

Even when the prospect of getting an MBA was but a tiny seedling in the recesses of my mind, I knew that I needed an international experience to fully realize my goals. I considered my options within the United States, and in Europe, Asia, and Latin America, but I was concerned that those options would leave me too focused on just a single country. Then I stumbled upon what seemed to be the perfect compromise to satiate both my wanderlust and my desire to live somewhere absolutely unique; the Global MBA program at the Freeman School of Business in the exceptional city of New Orleans.

The Global MBA (GMBA) is a joint-venture of four prestigious business schools: ITAM, Mexico City, Mexico; IESA, Caracas, Venezuela; Universidad de los Andes, Bogota, Colombia, and; Tulane University. The program provides a global perspective through real business cases and travel; during the breaks in the course of a two-year MBA, students attend classes in five countries with an international cohort of top MBA students. You have the option of taking the GMBA as a concentration (and potentially graduating in three semesters) or as a second master’s degree called the Master of Global Management.

I have attended intensive immersion classes in Mexico City and New Orleans. Over the summer I will attend classes in Paris, France, Shanghai, China, and Bogota, Colombia, and finish with my final class in New Orleans during the winter break. I also received sponsorship from the Goldring Institute of International Business to attend another class in Buenos Aires, Argentina next fall, which is part of the Global Leadership Module that all Freeman MBA students take part in.

I could not be happier with the quality of faculty and students that make up this amazing program. The classroom experience is second to none; my GMBA classes have students from the United States, Egypt, Mexico, Colombia, Venezuela, China, Taiwan, India, Russia, and Brazil, all with varying experiences and unique perspectives. These truly international, executive style, intensive classes challenge me intellectually, socially, and emotionally.

Due to the nature of our globalized business economy, I am certain that the skills I acquire in the GMBA program will transfer into any work situation, whether I end up working for a multinational based in the United States, or a tech start up in Colombia. I urge any prospective MBA student with a taste for international adventure to consider the GMBA program at the Freeman School of Business.

Please contact me at nbravo@tulane.edu if you would like to learn more about my experience at the Freeman School or in the Global MBA program.

Lola Bravo

MBA and MGM Candidate 2014

Sources: Goldring Institute of International Business, A.B. Freeman School of Business Global Programs

1. What do you think all entrepreneurs should know before starting their endeavors? Being an entrepreneur is not glamorous – it’s tough and challenging. But it is also fulfilling and fun if you have the dedication and drive to be successful.

2. How did you get started? 

My family business is in real estate, so I always had some exposure to the industry. While attending the Tulane MBA program I took the real estate development courses and thought I would like to go in that direction. But then I spoke with a family friend who worked at RE/MAX specifically and also happened to have an MBA. Hearing about his experience, his success, and his lifestyle encouraged me to try being a residential agent myself. At his recommendation I spoke with his RE/MAX broker and thought it was a great fit. I took the licensing course and exam during the summer between my two years in the MBA program. So my first year as an agent overlapped with my second year at Tulane. Upon graduation from Tulane, I had been with RE/MAX for a year and had built up enough initial business to continue as a full- time agent.

3. How did you initially finance your business? 

For the first year of my real estate career I was technically still a full-time student at Tulane. So while I worked many hours trying to grow my business I considered the little pay I received as if it was a part-time, side job. The start up costs for this business were small compared to other entrepreneurial ventures. I made a conscious effort to spend little money on anything other than licensing fees, required membership dues, and the bare basics. And meanwhile, I took advantage of many free online tools for marketing purposes.

4. What does your typical day look like? 

Any given day can be different! That is part of what I love about this business. There are days where I can do all of my work from home on my computer and other days where I am running around town juggling showings, inspections, appraisals, and closings. There are plenty of nights and weekends where I have to work a few hours, but there are also times during the work week where I can take care of personal errands too. It all evens out. One thing is certain, my schedule can change to accommodate a client at any given time, so I have to remain flexible – and glued to my smartphone.

5. What three pieces of advice would you offer entrepreneurs starting their own business? 

1) Learn the industry – do as much research and talk to as many experienced professionals as possible. Ask tons of questions and take advantage of educational opportunities.

2) Keep your expenses low and be prepared for little to no income for a good amount of time.

3) Don’t be shy! Talk to your friends and family – and anyone you meet – about your new venture. You
never know what connections they may have to resources, clients, etc.

6. What is the worst advice that you have ever received? 

I can’t think of a time when anyone gave me bad advice specifically, but there were a number of people who made somewhat judgmental comments about my decision to go into residential real estate at all. Admittedly, it is definitely not the traditional route for a new MBA. To take the real estate licensing course, you actually do not even need a college degree. But if I had worried about other people’s opinions, I would not be where I am today.

7. What outside influencers have been the most important to your business success? 

The relationships I have built within the industry have been invaluable. From inspectors, to appraisers, to lenders, to closing attorneys, everyone works together to ultimately reach a common goal of having the deal close. With regard to building my business, I have met clients through 504ward events, a local kickball league, a nonprofit board I serve on, and many other areas. So staying active in the community and getting involved have proven to be important as well.

From left: Dan Morrell MBA ’13, Ahmed Al Massry MBA ’14 and Timur Invannikov MBA ’14

A total of 9 teams presented at the first FCG Consulting Showcase on Friday, January 25, in the Lavin-Bernick Center at Tulane’s uptown campus. The purpose of the event is to allow students to showcase consulting recommendations they have provided to small businesses and nonprofits throughout the semester. This year the Freeman Consulting Group offered its members an opportunity to compete for a $500 cash award. The naming of the top team was based on the teams comprehensive understanding of its clients needs, development of a strategic plan of action, and client satisfaction. This year’s winner was the Tulane MBA Project, which consisted of team members Dan Morrell, Ahmed Al Massry, Timur Ivannikov, Ana Hernandez, Olga Bustamente, Wei Shen, Yutong Ding and Zhu Jinghong.

First Place project winners:
The Tulane MBA Project team was asked to view all  Freeman MBA programs and develop a strategy  that would assist the Freeman School in its effort to effectively compete with other business schools in a rapidly evolving market. To view the presentation click onTulane MBA Project presentation.

Second Place project winners: There were two teams that placed second, the Mayors Office Cultural Economy and Be:Well Nutrition.

The Mayor’s Office requested a FCG team to review and analyze the state’s system for  allocating Live Entertainment Tax Credit incentives. Team members consisted of Tucker Thorpe, Connor Aucoin, Kristen Lynch, Kang Jing Lin, Matt Davis, Sijia Tao, Vineel Kondasani, Xiang Li and Gilbert Zou. To view the presentation click on Mayor’s Office of Cultural Economy.

Be:Well is a non-carbonated nutritional alternative drink supplement. The FCG team developed a Chanel and Marketing strategy for its brand drink, “Iconic”. Team members consisted of Gustavo Baptista, Anastasia Petri, Damon Slater, Chenwei Jiang, Dafei Wang, Heath Gardenshire, Michael Greenblatt, Samantha Troyanovich, Xu Yu and Yiting Wu. To view the presentation click on Be:Well Nutrition.

Third Place project winners:
The Lens is a nonprofit investigative journalism organization that tasked the FCG team with researching and developing alternative means for renvue generation. Team members consisted of Scott Armand, Nuttapol Kamsaeng, Li Chen, Shenting Luo, and Sisi He. To view the presentation click on The Lens.

Each fall semester clients from the small business and nonprofit community are invited to come and  pitch their business projects before FCG members. Selected clients receive pro bono services in the areas of market research, business development, strategic planning, and financial modeling. To read only a description of the other team projects that were presented click on FCG Consulting Showcase.

To view other video presentations from the FCG Consulting Showcase see below:

ABB Group  - provides power, robotics and automation products and solutions to improve energy efficiency and productivity. The FCG team provided a market analysis of the company’s position against its competitors. Click here to view presentation.

City of New Orleans - the FCG team reviewed how the city’s public parking facilities were managed and provided recommendations for developing a more efficient management system. Click here to view presentation.

Offshore Inland - is an oilfield and marine contracting service provider. The FCG team examined how the company could expand its’ Galveston operations in this highly competitive region. Click here to view presentation.

South Coast Angel Fund - the company requested assistance with exploring alternative methods for reporting key financial and operational metrics. The FCG analyzed and provided feedback on the company’s current structure and designed a new reporting system. Click here to view presentation.

Robinson Lumber - is an importer and exporter of lumber, decking and flooring. The company wanted to determine its level of customer satisfaction with their product, services, and relationship with Robinson Lumber. The FCG team designed a comprehensive customer survey and conducted direct customer interviews. The data was compiled and the company was presented with actionable recommendations to strengthen their relationship with current and perspective clients. Click here to view presentation.

THANK YOU TO OUR JUDGES

From left: Rick Conway of JSC Management, Kristi McKinney of Deloitte, Allen Bell of Topside LLC, Axel Freudmann of AIG and Seth Hamstead, MBA 12, of Cleaver & Company

Congratulations Freeman Consulting Group Officers

From left: Ahmed Al Massry-MBA1 Relations, Jean Paul Rodriguez-VP of Operations, Lizy Freudmann-VP Client Relations, Nicole Nunsey-President, Scott Armand-VP Marketing, Marcus Duhon-Executive Vice President. Not pictured above: Nancy He-MBA Finance Relations and Hayner Rude-VP of Client Relations, Sherif Ebrahim-Faculty Advisor, and Rosalind Butler-Staff Advisor

   Nancy He              Hayner Rude                Sherif Ebrahim           Rosalind Butler

MARK YOUR CALENDAR

March 8, 2013 - Tulane Family Business Forum, 8:00 a.m. – 12 noon, Kendall Cram Lecture Hall of the Lavin-Bernick Center.

April 19, 2013 - Tulane Business Plan Competition, 8:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m., GW2, Room 1111.

April 19, 2013 - Tulane Council of Entrepreneurs Dinner Gala , 6:00 – 9:00 p.m., at the Audubon Tea Room.

Kate Leithead
Director of Communications – Tulane Energy Club
Master of Business Administration

The morning started off with Ambassador Paro speaking to a group of Freeman students in one of our presentation halls. The Ambassador discussed a bit of Croatia’s history, where it stands now as a future member of the European Union (EU), the process Croatia has undergone to try and become a member of the EU, and some general hopes he has for the relationship between the United States and Croatia. After he concluded, he opened the floor to the students who all had very interesting questions about leadership, emerging economies, and crisis management.

After the talk, we were excited to have the opportunity to sit down with the Ambassador and other members of the Croatian delegation, including Freeman alumni, Jamie Coleman.  For the lunch itself, most of us had never even stepped foot on Audubon Place (a gated community where Drew Brees lives), let alone been inside one of the houses. At the door we were greeted by three butlers that took everyone’s drink order and made us feel at home.  Looking around the house, there was an art collection that rivaled any private collection most of us had ever seen.  Lunch was three courses and was prepared by a chef that had his own published cookbook!  Not to mention, the conversation and company could not have been any better.

It was truly an honor for us to spend time with such incredible company, only an experience we could have had here at Tulane.

Amy Garrick, Albin Soares, and Juan Carlos Aguirre

MBA Candidates