Dear CCMBA 2012 Alum,

As the MBA class that has the highest net worth and social capital in the world, we humbly invite you to return to Durham, North Carolina on the evening of May 5, 2022 for a 10 Year Reunion. 

The Fuqua team looks forward to welcoming you home for this event.

Sincerely,

Malcom Riley – Dean

Fuqua School of Business

Fast-forward to May 5, 2022.  The High Flyers wait staff is helping prepare the room for the exclusive private event that Duke is holding.  Security is at its peaks due to the high profile crowd that will be attending.  Sandra and Yasmine can’t help but chat with Brad the bartender about all the excitement.

Let’s listen in to what they’re saying…shalllllll weeee!

Sandra: “Yasmine, you know what this event is tonight right?”

Yasmine: “I heard it was a class reunion, but I’ve never seen so much hoopla over a class reunion before.”

Sandra: “It’s a reunion alright, this is the Duke CCMBA 2012 class.  Apparently the cumulative net worth of everyone in the room is 10% of the world’s overall net worth.  People like Abe Kim who owns the Uncle Abe’s coffee chain that bought out Starbucks.  Nick Sarraf, the guy that created the Nu-phone.  Talk about revolutionary…it’s hard to believe we ever had to carry a phone with us rather than just having the chip implant.”

Brad  chimes in:  “Hey ladies, what’s all the chatter about?  Don’t tell me you two are excited to see Lady A tonight?”

Sandra squeals:  “WHATTTTTTTTTT???!!!!  THE Lady A is coming?  I love Ayisha Jeter!!!  When she took over the O Network I just knew it was going to be huge.  Who was that lady that she replaced that used to be a big deal?  Oprah or something?”

Brad: “Yeah, yeah she’s great and all, but she’s not the reason for all the security.  You know Ben Brooks is coming right?”

Yasmine: “PRESIDENT Ben Brooks?  So those guys in the black suits outside are Secret Service?”

Brad: “Yup, that’s right.  Apparently he’s flying Air Force 1 down here for the event.  A lot of the classmates in the Duke CCMBA 2012 class are big world players you know.  There’s this guy named Tim Krysiek is big in the oil business.  He made a deal with Russia to get in the market early when everyone thought it was still too risky.  Man did that pay off.  He used some of the money to invest into a real estate investment with another classmate, Edan Amar.  You ever heard of Casino Island in Qatar?”

Sandra: “Isn’t that the man-made island that Qatar built right before the Olympics were held there?”

Brad: “Yeah it is.  It’s shaped like a roulette wheel with the casino in the middle of the island and the housing developments rotate red & black streets all the way around.  There is a cruise ship that goes around the island 24 hours a day to look like the roulette ball.  Pretty cool because you can make bets on where passengers will ask to stop next while you’re at the hotel bar.  Absolutely genius.”

Sandra: “Ohhh that reminds me, isn’t one of the women coming the one who put on the Qatar Olympics?”

Yasmine: “Fatma Al-Ghanim is coming?  You know she is the one who is doing the first inter galactic games on the moon?  I heard she did a reception with all of the world leaders, including President Brooks, on the International Space Station.”

Brad: “I hadn’t heard that, but it doesn’t surprise me.”

Sandra: “Guys I just found the guest list.  Shaliz Afshar is going to be here….ughh…I’m going to have a heart attack.  I love her!  I remember when she was on CNBC and I have followed her fashion blog every day since…forever!  She was just at the Milan fashion week with Anna Winters and I heard they are talking about starting their own line.  If they do I think I will need a new job so I can afford to buy EVERYTHING they make.”

Brad: “You ladies and the fashion.  I’m all about Brad Dubinsky.  He’s the guy that does the “F16 Instructional Videos”.  That stuff is awesome.  He goes up in an F16 and teaches you stuff like algebra at Mach 3 speed!  It’s so cool.  I used his course for Accounting and Professor Schipper gave me a perfect score.”

Yasmine takes a hit of oxygen and tries to calm herself down.  She nervously looks at Brad and Sandra and says: “You guys, this Duke CCMBA Class is seriously the best group of people in the world.  They all went to Duke in the same class?”

Sandra: “Yeah, I know.  Hard to believe right?”

Fade back to present.

Wow…I don’t know about you guys but I can’t wait for that day!  What’s even more amazing is that I believe that when that day comes, we’re all going to shocked at not just the accomplishments that Sandra, Brad, and Yasmine talked about here, but about all the other ones I didn’t have time to list or vision to foresee.

But guess what.  That day may not come at all if the Annual Fund isn’t there.  The Annual Fund isn’t just used for paying salaries or buying books.  It’s used for things like newsletters, reunions, regional networking events, and education events.

So if you are like me, and you believe that the 10 Year Duke CCMBA 2012 Reunion is going to be an epic experience to come together again with people that have changed the world, help make that happen.  You can still donate/pledge to the 2012 Class Gift campaign all the way up to May 8.

DONATE HERE

Let’s get ready for our practice run at Shooters in a few days, and get those donations in so we can have a great reunion!

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See You @ High Flyers is an article from The Fuqua Experience, THE place to find out about the daily life of a Duke Cross Continent MBA student

Some runners have a strategy to start strong and get a lead in the beginning.  Others try to conserve energy and have faster “mile splits” in the second half of the race.  And others, just have a goal of not collapsing.  Those first few miles are exciting.  You’re running in a pack and you’re all together.  You have started.  There’s no more waiting, it’s time to run!

After a few more miles the pace groups start to spread out and reality begins to set in, that you need to find your own pace and settle in for the longer distance.  The end seems far away, and rather than counting down, you’re counting up.  Mile 1, Mile 2, Mile 3…oh how far away the finish line seems.

You continue though.  You’re motivated.  You’ve rehearsed this scenario in numerous training runs.  You can do 13 miles before breakfast and not break a sweat.  You can slam gels without gagging.  You don’t even feel the blisters anymore.  Before you know it you’ve reached the half way mark and you realize that it’s all downhill from here.

Now it’s time for what runners call “negative split times”.  In layman’s terms, you pick up the pace.  With your goal of the finish line in site you begin to push yourself just a little bit harder than you did in your first half.  All the energy you conserved in the first half gets expended.    You feel your speed increase and you are proud.

Then…it happens…somewhere between Mile 18 and Mile 20…dun dun dun…”The Wall”.  The short term fuel you have from breakfast and from your carb load the night before is gone.  Your body has consumed all the energy it has available and now must tap into other sources.  Your body is screaming, and all of a sudden the thoughts start popping into your head, “I can’t take another step.  I’m so tired.”

You’ve trained for this.  That last long run, the 20 miler where you pushed through, you tap into that memory, and you somehow tell yourself that one foot can keep moving in front of another.  Just one more mile and you’ll take a break.  Just one more hill and then you can coast for a few minutes.  It’s somewhere about Mile 22 that you realize it’s 4.2 miles left.  Even if you’re running slow, even if you walk, you’re going to finish!

Nothing can stop you now.  The pain goes away.  The thoughts become less about not moving and more about finishing.  If you can move faster it will be over with sooner.  The cheers from the crowd push you on.  You see your family holding up signs, and you run a little harder for them.

There it is.  You finally cross the finished line.  The numbers on the clock don’t matter.  Where you placed doesn’t matter.  Within only a few hours your mission is over.  Months of training boiling down to these few hours are over.

When I think about marathon running, I see so many parallels with our journey to achieve our CC-MBA.  We’ve moved through the first half of our race and each of us has found our pace.  Now, in Term 5, we find ourselves hitting “The Wall”.

So much of what I learned in running, was that often it was not about my physical ability to complete run, it was about the mental ability to push through whatever was challenging me.  Particularly when you hit “The Wall”.  You have the choice to give up and to walk it in, but would it all have been worth it?

Instead of turning in my running shoes, I decided to consult my go to guide to find better ways to handle my obstacles in Term 5.  In an one of my marathon guides I found these tips for overcoming “The Wall”.

1. More Sleep – Set a goal to get your 8 hours of sleep in.  This isn’t about being lazy or slacking off, it’s about keeping yourself refreshed and avoiding that “I’m to tired to…” feeling.  Not only that, but you need those extra hours of sleep so you can keep your mind clear so you can keep focus your goal.
2. Perform a Visualization Exercise – Yeah, yeah, you’re rolling your eyes now.  But hear me out.  When we talk about marathon running, all of those training runs are little mini practice races.  In my head, that last mile, no matter how long my run, was the last mile of my race.  I was tired and I wanted the run to stop, but I pushed myself to “finish the race”.  I visualized crossing the finish and seeing my time on the clock.  You can do the same thing with every team assignment and quiz.  What’s so different about a final exam, when you’ve had so many successful “training runs”?
3. Use the Other Runners for Inspiration – When you came to Shanghai you realized for the first time that you weren’t in this race alone.  The excitement of the others in the program made you even more excited.  Take a minute to look around and think about your classmates, and look at their excitement and the positive changes you’ve seen for them as a result of the program.  As these last few miles get harder, it’s keeping pace with our pack that herds us towards the finish.
4. Feed Off the Crowd – If only there were people calling out your name, clapping and screaming to keep going, all along the way of the CC-MBA program.  It would feel so much better if on your way to work you saw someone holding up  a sign saying “This way to the CC-MBA Finish Line”.  But we do have a crowd of onlookers.  Our friends and family, who always ask “So what classes are you taking now?  Wow!  That’s crazy!  I’m so proud of you.”  Or your co-workers who say “You learned that in your MBA program?”  Or when you tell a complete stranger, “I’m getting my MBA in an international program and we’ve done ALL of these cool things!”  So when you see the look of awe or hear that pang of jealousy, use that to push yourself forward on the next assignment.
5. Remember Why You’re Running – Many runners dedicate their run to a cause.  The CC-MBA cause you’re running for is the new job, the new business, or the big promotion.  It’s not a final exam or a diploma you’re running towards…it’s the prize!  Run faster!  Run harder!  It’s so close!!!
6. Plan to Reward Yourself After the Run – We’ve talked about a Term 7 trip, we’ve thought about all of the naps we’ll take, the fabulous dinner we will have, and the monstrously large bar tab we will rack up on the day when classes finally end.  So start planning it.  Get yourself psyched!  It’s so close we’re planning the victory dance!  How can you not keep going when you have an ice cold beer to re-hydrate you awaiting at the finish.

If all else fails, you can always use some mental imagery from one of my favorite movies, Run Fat Boy Run!

Click here to view the embedded video.

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Completing the MBA Marathon is an article from The Fuqua Experience, THE place to find out about the daily life of a Duke Cross Continent MBA student

In the CCMBA 2012 program we have 3 Sikh’s who have each made strides to do just that.  Ravi Bansal, Raj Jhawar, and Rekha Raju have been wonderful ambassadors of their faith.  So rather than only educate our small population of 150 students, here’s my attempt at reaching a larger audience.

Taken by Sonal Patel

When we went to New Delhi, India for Term 4, only a few blocks away from our hotel there was a Sikh temple just like the one in Wisconsin.  It was early one morning before classes when 2/3s of the CCMBA Sikh population guided a handful of us to see what the religion was all about.  As I walked in wearing jeans and flip flops, the thought crossed my mind that perhaps tourists may not be welcome.

That could not have been further from the truth.  Eventually an older gentleman, yes, wearing a turban, walked up and welcomed us.  He explained how to check our shoes in, the procedures for washing our hands and feet so we could enter the temple clean, and even provided those of us who needed it with bandannas to cover our hair.

This turbaned gentleman then took us up a staircase where the sounds of scripture being read grew louder and louder.  We entered into the sanctuary, which was largely an open floor with an area in the middle where the priest read scripture aloud into a microphone.  The Sikh’s worshiping there sat quietly in contemplation and barely moved as they absorbed what was being read.

Photo Taken by Sonal Patel

As tourists we made a loop around the room, and came to a small area at the back of the building where gatherers were congregated.  Inside a small room with an elaborate door, the sacred scriptures were housed.  We all sat for a few minutes in silence before we exited the temple.

When we exited the temple we were greeted by the same man, this time handing us a special sweet that he insisted we try because it was eaten after the service.  While we were wary of how our Western digestive systems would handle this delicacy, we each carefully pinched off a piece and I must admit the honey flavored treat was something I’d try again.

It was at this point that our group was taken to a magnificent oasis in the middle of busy New Delhi.  Hidden on the back side of the temple was an amazing wading pool, filled with clean flowing water.  With the New Delhi sun already beating down on us so early in the morning, the water looked inviting.

Our tour wasn’t done there.  We were taken to a kitchen, where volunteers from the Sikh temple manned a full service kitchen that was open 24 hours a day.  They served the poor, the rich, and Western tourists.

As we collected our things we were all grateful to have a small insight into what had always been a foreign religion.  Suddenly the mystery and “strangeness” melted away, and there was an understanding, that Sikhism is similar to so many religions we in the West already know.

Debbie Barabe, Ravi Bansal, Neeharika Sinha, Sonal Patel, Jordan Lofton, Kristin Swartz

Now that you have read my description of the Sikh temple in New Delhi, think about the description of what you have heard on the news about the shooting in Wisconsin.  Imagine someone walking in to an open room with people sitting on the floor in prayer and opening fire.  Imagine the gatherers in front of the Holy Scriptures being cornered by a gunman.  Imagine the normal noises of a soup kitchen being interrupted by gunfire and screams.  Now imagine, that without saying a word or moving a muscle you could take the gun from this person’s hands and end the violence.

By reading about what your classmate Ravi Bansal has shared below about Sikhism and educating the people you know, you can do just that.

 What is your religion or faith?

In all honesty I believe in Ravi-ism.  By that I mean that I believe in a god but I am not tied to just one religion.  I was born into a household that practiced both Hinduism and Sikhism.

Were you born into this faith or did you choose to convert to this faith?  If you were born into the faith, describe how your faith was developed as a child.  If you chose to convert to this faith describe what drew you to this faith.

I was obviously born into both practices.  It was interesting because when I was a child I actually tried to run away from religion and religious studies.  We have “Sunday school” and I really didn’t want to have anything to do with it then because I wanted to do what my friends were doing.

As I got older I really wanted to learn more about everything.  I was very curious about Hinduism and I wanted to know more about it.  I studied Sikhism and wanted to learn more.  So now I think I have a great passion to learn about those religions in particular, but other religions as well.

What is/are the core belief(s) of this faith?

Hinduism-

With Hinduism you have to think of Hinduism as a continent.  There are really many different religions within one.  There were several kingdoms with their own version of what we call Hinduism today.  King Asoka tried to take over the various kingdoms and with his conquering the many religions became blended and labeled as one religion, Hinduism.  In reality there are many different ways to practice, for instance some Hindus are strict vegetarians and would never touch meat, whereas others practice animal sacrifice monthly.

In my sect, we believe there is one god and he/she takes many different forms.  All the forms that you see of god are really just a expressions of god.  It’s not many different gods that live in heaven together as one big family, but rather each form is just one aspect of the one god.

 Sikhism-

In Hiduism you have Namaste which is Nama sate means “God is true.”  In Sikhism the greeting is Sat Sri Akal which means “God is true.”  So you can see that there are similarities between the two.

The founder of Sikhism is Guru Nanak Dev Ji who believed that we’re all equal and that we’re all equal in God’s eyes.  There are 10 gurus which are similar to prophets.  Sikh actual means student for life.  We have something called Ek Om Kar which means “There is only one god.”  In Sikhism  there are 5 K’s and they define a Sikh and was developed by the last guru during a time of fighting between the Hindus and Muslims at a time when people were being forcibly converted to Islam.  A Sikh was a protector and would stand up for any unjust.  Guru Govind Singh Ji gave Sikhism their identity with the 5 K’s that represent a warrior because it came out of time of war.

• Kase – long hair- in a time of war you do not have time to cut your hair.  This is the reason Sikhs wear turbans.
• Konga – the comb- the warriors would comb their hair and keep clean to protect from spreading disease amongst their troops.
• Karpan – the sword- used for protection
• Kachera – warrior shorts- because it’s hot warriors did not wear armor but wore light clothing that resembled shorts so they could move quickly and stay cool.
• Kara – metal bracelet- originally this was  a large metal cuff worn around the wrists that was used as a shield to block attackers.  Today, this is now worn as a bracelet and identifies a Sikh and a reminder that as a Sikh you are a protector.  Because it is circular it represents that life is never ending.

Do you believe in a god(s)?

In India there is a saying: “Ishwar allah tero nam saab ko sumpaty deh baghwaan.”

Translation:  Some call you Ishwar(God) Some call you Allah (God) give peace to all baghwaan (God)

Basically in Hinduism and Sikhism there are several names for God but the true believe is there is only one god.  It is actually a sin to put down anyone “else’s” religious reference to god because technically you are putting down the same god you believe in.

Another similarity between Hinduism and Sikhism is in both religions every nationality and everyone is accepted into the Mandier (Hindu temple) and Gurdwara (Sikh Temple).  Everyone is served parshaad (food which is a blessing from god) and all are expected to sit equally when being served food.

A difference I would point out between the Hinduism and Sikhism is that in Hinduism we believe that there are incarnations of god.  In Sikhism that is not a belief.

Do you have a concept of “salvation”?  If so, how is that obtained?

In both religions we believe in Karma (do good and you shall receive good), we also have the concept of reincarnation. The ultimate goal is not to be reincarnated and go back to the light (god) but your new birth’s life circumstances depend on your deeds from your past life.

As a child I always used to ask my grandma why I was so lucky to be born in a country like Canada and have a wonderful family, while other kids around the world suffered.  My grandma explained this with the concept of Karma, and also reminded me that the reason why god gave me these strengths and benefits is to use them to help others in need. In Sikhism and Hinduism God loves all his/her children and we believe in charity to give back and help others in need.  That is an integral part of our salvation.

What are some ways that believers of your faith practice on a daily basis?

Both my mom and dad practice prayers every morning and evening.

Fasting is a very common practice in Hinduism but not so much in Sikhism.

Sunday is generally a big prayer day and day for worship.

Another similarity between the two religions is there is no conversion process.  You can become baptized but baptism is very strict in both religions.  But anyone can go to a Sikh or Hindu temple freely, be married in a Sikh or Hindu ceremony and be part of the congregation without any baptism.  If you want to be Hindu or Sikh just say it.

What is/are some common mis-conception(s) about your faith?  Can you share an explanation to clarify this misconception?

I think the number one misconception is that Hinduism polytheistic.  It is labeled as polytheistic but there are many Hindus that don’t see it that way.  They really do believe in just one god.

I think for both there is a perception of an inequality of women in the religion.  In reality that inequality is in the culture itself.  Hinduism has female versions of god, and Sikhism treats everyone as equal, so it is not a belief that women are lesser in the religion, but how people practicing that religion are behaving that causes the misconception.

Is there a verse or passage you’d like to pass along to the CCMBA class as encouragement for completing our degree?

Hinduism-

“On this path effort never goes to waste, and there is no failure. Even a little effort toward spiritual awareness will protect you from the greatest fear.” Gita

Sikhism-

“As she has planted, so does she harvest; such is the field of karma.”  Sri Guru Granth Sahib quote.

“While you are alive, conquer death, and you shall have no regrets in the end.” Sri Guru Granth Sahib quote.

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Sikhism – Sharing Knowledge And Ending Hate is an article from The Fuqua Experience, THE place to find out about the daily life of a Duke Cross Continent MBA student

Ben’s story reminded me of a great article written by the Harvard Business Review focusing on Footlocker’s CEO.  Ken Hicks graduated from the US Military Academy and served six years active duty in the Army before he joined the retail world.  Just as Ben has, Ken Hicks highlights the importance of valuing people’s service at all levels to achieve a strategic goal.  He points out that when leaders at an executive level show respect for and involve the frontline, these employees respond with the same self-sacrifice to work harder and deliver results.

Ken says in the article, “In retail and the military, you’re very dependent on the people at the front or the selling floor. You realize how important the sale associate is. It’s the same thing in the army; you’re very dependent on your privates and specialists, and so you talk with them and learn from them. Six or eight months after I’d left J.C. Penney’s, I was in a Penney’s store looking at some merchandise, and an associate recognized me and came running across the floor to say hello. She remembered me because I’d treated her with respect and listened to her. That’s what you have to do to inspire people. The people on the selling floor, just like the cannoneers, the gunners, and the infantry, are the ones who make everything happen.”

As you can see from Ben Brooks’ article here, he’s clearly learned the same lessons and is applying them towards his own bright future.

Military Leadership Questionnaire Response- Ben Brooks

1.       What branch of the military are or were you in?

I served in the U.S. Army on Active Duty from 2004 – 2009 as a Captain in the Air Defense Artillery.

2.       What were the core values or motto of your branch or team?  How did your training instill these in you?

The Army Core Values are comprised of the acronym LDRSHIP:

• L – Leadership
• D – Duty
• R – Respect
• S – Selfless Service
• H – Honor
•  I – Integrity
• P – Personal Courage

I learned these Core Values during my first day of Cadet Basic Training at the United States Military Academy.  My training throughout my Army career focused on putting myself in situations that gave me the opportunities to further instill these values.

3.       What are typical ways that you or your leadership would overcome challenges? 

•  Planning – I tried to mitigate risks throughout my career by conducting meticulous planning over an extended time horizon.  In the Army, as in the other branches of the military, detailed training schedules, along with risk management techniques were commonly used to plan.
• Communication – Inevitably, no matter how well one plans, there are always going to be some unforeseen challenges. I have found that constant, clear, and collaborative communication is critical to overcoming challenges in these situations.  I tried to ensure that each of the individuals involved in operations I was responsible for leading could explain every detail of our plan.  I found this way ensured each individual had a stake in our overall success as an organization, and in turn, fostered a stronger sense of commitment and dedication from everyone involved.
• Learn from each challenging experience – I constantly focused on learning from each challenge I encountered.  After the situation was dealt with and I had time to reflect upon my actions or those of my organization, I documented the things that went well and those that did not.  This documented list of lessons learned allowed me to draw upon these experiences in case I was faced with similar situations in the future.

4.       In your experience in the military, describe a leader you interacted with that you try to emulate and why that person’s leadership is a good example. 

 My final duty assignment in the Army, prior to leaving Active Duty, was Aide-de-Camp to the Commanding General at White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico.  In this unique role, I had the privilege of learning from my boss, who was a career officer with more than 31 years of service and leadership experience in the Army.   He was smart, inquisitive, and always wanted to understand topics from numerous angles prior to making decisions.  He listened to everyone’s point of view, worked diligently to make sure he was representing thousands of people in the best manner possible, and displayed a genuine care for each and every one of his subordinates.  He didn’t sit in the office all day, but rather went out and visited organizations, and most importantly, listened to what people had to say.  Finally, even though he possessed great power from a command perspective, he remained humble and was respectful of each and every person.  There are many other attributes that he displayed, but these ones I’ve described are the ones that resonate the most with me.  These are the things I remember, now more than three years later, and will continue to take with me throughout my life.

My boss’ leadership is a great example because even though he was the most important person on our entire installation, he put the needs, requests, and priorities of his subordinates above his own.  He always wanted what was best for those he commanded, and he never took people for granted.  In the year I worked for him, he never asked me or anyone else to do something he would not be willing to do himself.  He was constantly appreciative of all the great work everyone did, and he was quick to deflect any credit people tried to bestow upon him to the people behind-the-scenes conducting the hard work.  In essence, he truly appreciated each and every member of the greater team, and he understood that his success was ultimately dependent upon the success of others.  He epitomized the saying, “It’s amazing what can be accomplished when no one cares who gets the credit,” and this is why his leadership is such a great example.

5.       Within your CCMBA team from Terms 1 & 2, how did you use the skills you have from your military career to help your team? 

 I’ve been fortunate to be a part of two great teams thus far during the program.  I’ve had fantastic teammates who’ve challenged my thinking, shared their business experiences, and helped me enhance the manner in which I approach business challenges and situations.  I now consider these teammates life-long friends, as well as a part of my professional network.  A few of the skills that I believe are relevant from my military career, which I used to help my team during Terms 1 & 2, include:

• Time management – With so many tasks, deliverables, and graded assignments going on and due at the same time, it can be somewhat overwhelming to deal with everything and properly prepare, unless you manage your time efficiently and effectively.  Similar to my military experiences where I planned the training for my unit, I planned my workload for the Term, once the assignments were known, to meet the time lines and goals we established as a team.  This helped me better manage all my MBA, work, and family commitments for the Terms.
• Understand you’re part of a team, and be a teammate – You can’t do it all yourself.  No matter how smart, persistent, or hard you try, you’ve got to trust and rely on your teammates to help you be successful.  The Army was exactly the same way – we couldn’t accomplish our missions without the full support of the team and everyone performing their role to the best of their ability.  I found this to be true during Term 1 and 2 with my team.  We would not have been successful without everyone’s thoughts, inputs, and hard work.  We understood this as a team, and I believe teamwork is an important skill to hone.
• Communication – As a responsible commander or leader, being able to clearly and effectively communicate your thoughts and ideas is extremely important to any military operation.  Given that my teammates at the beginning of Term 1 were new to me, had different professional backgrounds and experiences, I worked hard to make sure I was communicating as effectively as possible my thoughts and ideas for our team assignments.  This is a two-fold skill.  I worked just as hard to make certain I listened effectively to understand my teammates’ points of view, ideas, and solutions.  I learned a vast amount from them, and I believe I’ve benefitted greatly from communicating with them over the course of two terms.

6.       If you are currently in a civilian job and have seen how there is a transference of skills, please share how you’ve been able to use your experience to enhance your organization and build your own brand.

The greatest influence the Army had on me was instilling leadership, and the idea that I was part of something much larger than myself.  The military thrives on teamwork, as does my current employer.  This is something that has translated well into my current role as a consultant, and it has allowed me to continue to build my brand as a demonstrated leader who achieves results.  I’ve been able to share my experiences from my time in the Army, as well as other industry experiences I’ve had, with other more junior professionals who may not have had an opportunity to lead a team yet in their career.  By sharing some the concepts, ideas, and situations I experienced, I believe it’s enhanced a portion of my current organization.

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Military Leadership- Ben Brooks- Selfless Service is an article from The Fuqua Experience, THE place to find out about the daily life of a Duke Cross Continent MBA student

It was in this moment that my sidekick Ravi Bansal popped online.  As each of us in the CCMBA program will attest, there is always that one person in the program that knows exactly what is going with you and can empathize with you so you don’t feel alone.  Here was my conversation with Ravi…and this is how I was inspired to write this blog post.

[5/30/2012 11:45:54 PM] Jordan Cathleen Lofton: bleh..i can’t believe finals are right here

[5/30/2012 11:45:57 PM] Jordan Cathleen Lofton: this is crazzzzyyy

[5/30/2012 11:46:12 PM] Ravi Bansal: i know

[5/30/2012 11:46:44 PM] Ravi Bansal: i have stopped looking at finance i need to start looking at it again but just need to get my dumb part in strategy done

 [5/30/2012 11:47:04 PM] Jordan Cathleen Lofton: i feel like a juggler

[5/30/2012 11:47:28 PM] Jordan Cathleen Lofton: if i can just toss this ball high enough in the air i can catch the next ball and then toss it up and so forth

Of course I am a nerd so I had to look up juggling and find out how it is done.  As if somehow learning to juggle balls would help me juggle responsibility.  It was this YouTube video that caught my eye and not only made me laugh, but think that there might be some practical applications for what we’re going through with juggling the CCMBA.

First watch Charlie then keep reading.  :)

Click here to view the embedded video.

So as you can see there is a process to learn how to juggle.  It doesn’t happen overnight.  On day one Charlie could barely even catch one ball going hand to hand, but after 8 days of practice and slowly increasing the difficulty Charlie developed a rhythm.

Not surprisingly experts say this same process of “learning to juggle” happens with juggling tasks.

• Step 1 – Selecting the Right Things to Juggle – before you even begin you have to actually understand what the tasks are you’re about to manage and in some way determine their priority to you.  You don’t have to pick up every task, like unpacking for instance, you just have to juggle the most important ones.
• Step 2 – Start With Only One – Just as Charlie started with only one ball and practiced tossing it from left to right, experts say that’s how you begin to juggle responsibilities.  By focusing on just one task or project you’re able to learn the rhythm of catching, throwing, and shuffling that is necessary to juggle.  Sooner or later it starts to feel like a well-oiled machine.  Looking back on it, that feels like what work was before I was in the CCMBA program.  I learned how to juggle work really well.
• Step 3 – Add In Another Task– Now that there is a good balance going on you can add another task or project.  The goal is to move seamlessly from one task to the other without missing a beat.  Work and school, school and work, work and school, school and work….School….ooops work dropped….I’ve felt a lot like Charlie in the Day 2 section.
• Step 4 – Full Blown Multi-Tasking – Now you’re ready for the biggest test of all….life, work, school.  The trifecta of juggling acts.  In this perfect balance all of your scores are SPs, you earn the promotion at work, and every single person in your family and all of your friends see you as much as they so desire.  Oh yes, and the bags from India are unpacked.  As you can tell I’ve progressed to attempt Step 3 (barely) at this portion of the program.

With that said, I head off to bed past midnight, awaiting my alarm clock, morning rush hour traffic and perfectly scheduled 9am meeting.

To quote Charlie, “Challenge completed.  I can juggle.  Gesticulation.  Awkward ending.  The end.”

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The Juggling Act is an article from The Fuqua Experience, THE place to find out about the daily life of a Duke Cross Continent MBA student

If this internal dialog sounds familiar, you’re not alone.  Sticking to a diet while in residency is tricky.  So I reached out to our own health guru Kari Severson for her recommendations on what to look for on the dinner menu.   She has provided a list of foods we often see on the buffet that we should load up on.  So here they are!

Kari’s Top 10 Vitality Foods:

1. Greens to the rescue: try to hit up plenty of leafy greens from the salad bar, the darker, the better – spinach salad is perhaps the most healthy option
2. Lean, not mean, protein: as tasty as that hamburger or steak might look, you’re better off opting for lean protein like chicken, turkey or fish
3. Fishing for seafood: Speaking of fish, either fresh fish or a fish oil supplement is a great addition to the diet – providing essential omega 3 fatty acids. Beware of large mouthed, salt water fish as they contain high levels of mercury and should only be eaten once per week. Small mouthed, fresh water fish (like WALLEYE, yes I’m in a Minnesota girl) are your best option
4. Beans are wonder food: Bring on the beans! Black, pinto, kidney – it doesn’t matter. This affordable, simple food works wonders for the body.
5. The joys of soy: an expert panel  at the Mayo clinic has concluded soy may prevent cancer and help cognition (it also helps menopausal symptoms, but thankfully we don’t have to worry about that just yet) Try a glass of soy milk to get you started – pouring it over cereal might make it easier to palate
6. Whole grains are holy: Whole grains is the way to go, always. White, starchy bread is the equivalent of sugar. The way your body processes it, you might as well drink a soda. Make whole grains the healthy, default choice.
7. Crusade for crucifers: broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, cress, bok choy, make it happen.
8. Berries are beautiful: The brighter, the better. Aim to add a handful of blue, black, straw or raspberries into your diet each day.
9. Go Nuts Over Nuts: Not too crazy, now. We’re not talking a full jar of Planter’s Peanuts, but a handful of unsalted almonds will work wonders.
10. Get Friendly with Flaxseed: Some call flaxseed one of the most powerful plant foods on the planet. Full of omega-3 essential fatty acids, lignans and fiber, studies show it can reduce your risk of heart disease, diabetes and cancer. Try adding some to a protein shake or fruit smoothie.

And if you’re looking for more health tips from a Minnesota girl, then Kari recommends Eat Clean with Kate.  Kate provides healthy tips daily about your favorite food products to help you pick the right foods for the right reasons.  If it’s a question about MSG or diet sodas, Kate is your girl.

Here’s to a healthy and happy term!

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Minnesota Girls Don’t Get the Munchies is an article from The Fuqua Experience, THE place to find out about the daily life of a Duke Cross Continent MBA student

By just doing a quick review of our class Facebook page I’ve come up with some unscientific  numbers.  Out of the 156 students, 24 men are fathers and only 3 of the women are mothers.  I don’t believe this is a problem at an organization level that is creating this phenomenon.  What I believe is that when women become mothers they take on what is a second and sometimes a third job.  All the doctors’ visits, the carpool pick up lane, the parent teacher meetings, play dates, birthday parties, soccer games, bath times, bed time stories, dinners, and so much more are added to the daily to do list of even the most successful woman.  While it’s true fathers have that same list of to do’s added, what our demographics show is that for most women it’s hard to add on the additional task of self-investment.

So on this Mother’s Day I want to take a brief pause to thank all the wonderful mothers who have made the CC-MBA possible.

• To the mothers in our program, you have taken on yet another full time job of gaining your MBA, in addition to your career and in addition to your job as a mother.  You are showing all of us, and most importantly those mothers considering an MBA, that it can be done.
• To the wives of the men in our program, you have taken over many of the to do’s your husband would take on as a father for these 16 months so your husband can pursue his degree.  The bed time stories you tell while he is studying for a Finance mid-term and the Skype calls you make to him with the kids during residency, you do so your family will one day benefit.  We as classmates recognize your contribution to our program.  We thank you for loaning your husbands to us as classmates so that we can learn from them, and after seeing so many of them turn in strong deliverables while missing their family, we know that the sacrifice you make during these 16 months will be worth it.
• To the mothers of each CC-MBAer, who instilled in us the values of hard work and drive for something greater.  The foundations of global leadership started long before we arrived at Duke.  So thank you to each of the mothers who believed that we were leaders of consequence long before a degree ever proved the point.
• To all the hopeful CC-MBA mothers thinking of applying and wondering how you can manage yet another set of responsibilities, I want to encourage you that the Duke family and in particular the CC-MBA program, is full of people who support you in your endeavor and are anxious for the opportunity to learn from women of your caliber.

So with that, I wish everyone a Happy Mothers’ Day!

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A Thanks to All the CC-MBA Moms is an article from The Fuqua Experience, THE place to find out about the daily life of a Duke Cross Continent MBA student

This week we’re all undoubtedly working on something we call “pre-reading”.  This post isn’t about our school work, it isn’t about our travels, and it isn’t about work-life balance, it’s about something small in that one phrase that we take for granted…reading.

As I’ve mentioned before, I grew up in a rural town in North Carolina.  More specifically I grew up on a farm 30 minutes outside of a town called Roxboro, about an hour from our beautiful Duke campus.  I guess you could say life growing up was simple.  My younger brother and I had lots of options to entertain ourselves, like fishing, weeding the garden, jumping our bike off of a bolder, and swimming in the lake.  But what I remember most about my entertainment on those long summer days was going through my mother’s library of books and sneaking one out to the barn so I could read at the top of the hay stack.  It was the best of all possible worlds for me.  There in the barn I could smell the sweet aroma of the alfalfa hay, catch the cool breeze coming across the fields and day dream about adventures in far- away places.

“Oh, to be the heroine in this novel or that.  Oh, to get to see  faraway places.”  Those were dreams and seemed so far away, but with each turn of the page I felt that world slowly became more real.  When the novels ran out it was history books, when the history books ran out it was the Merck manual, or old National Geographics.  Whatever I could find I would read.  It was through my love of reading that I saw doors open that would have otherwise been closed.

It’s years later and all those open doors and windy roads have brought me to Duke.  But they’ve also taken me to some countries where children who were born into the same situation as me, just a little farm girl, do not have the opportunity to learn to read.  I was 18 the first time I realized the blessing we have in our education.  It was in Andros Island in the Bahamas.  The largest island in the Bahamas, Andros is also the least populated, with only 300 residents.  The school house was located in the middle of the island, and children no matter how far away walked barefoot just to get a sixth grade level education.  Life after “graduation” meant success for 2-3 students a year when the entire community pitched in to send them to a community college in Nassau or if they were lucky Miami.  I was expecting a tropical paradise and everyone lived just like us, but with a beachfront property.  That was my first wake up call.

Since then I’ve been to Thailand where I’ve seen a child prostitute bartered off by his adult caretaker to a European man.  I’ve seen refugees run across the border from Myanmar with all their earthly possessions in a wheelbarrow.  I’ve seen mile upon mile of shanty town outside the airport in beautiful Cape Town.  All these things I’ve seen because I have received an education that has allowed me to travel to see them.  But how could I change these tragedies?  What caused them in the first place?

There are lots of answers to those two questions, but it was in India that I first became convinced of one of the best solutions for how to truly make a difference.  I was in India for work, and we were given Easter Sunday off.  After an adventure to an Easter Mass I will never forget, the driver drove me to see the sites in Mysore.  It was at a temple overlooking the city where I was greeted by a young boy who looked to be in his early teens.  He offered me a set of postcards for only a few rupees.  “Please, ma’am, it’s for my tuition.  For my school.”  I had been approached all day and was overwhelmed with the need I saw, but this boy gave me a reason, more than just begging.  I bought a pack of post cards and after I left the boy greeted me again at the exit.  “Ma’am I know the capital of every country.  Give me a country I will give you the capital.  I learned it in school.  I am a good student.”  I admittedly do not know very many capital cities so I threw out countries I thought impossible to know the capital of.  Whether he was right or wrong, I didn’t know, but I always acted impressed.  As we walked along the boy pointed down to a building that seemed crude in construction.  “That is my school.”  I said, “You learned all those capitals in that tiny school?”  “Yes, ma’am.”, he replied.  “Well you must keep going then.  You are very smart.”  I don’t remember how much more I gave him, but I left feeling like that small amount for someone’s tuition might make a difference beyond just one meal or one pair of shoes.

Education, and in particular reading, is the key to helping so many people.  That’s why I’ve become involved with an organization called Room to Read.  Their motto is “World Change Starts With Educated Children.”  Room to Read (RtR) focuses on two areas, literacy and gender equality in education.  They do that by building libraries, reading rooms, and schools.  They provide books written in local languages.  They pay salaries for teachers.  And they pay for scholarships for girls’ education.  Here are some facts that Room to Read has provided about India.

• 35% of the world’s illiterate population lives in India.
• 40% of students – mostly girls – drop out before secondary school (age 14)
• In 2005 it was estimated that 35 MILLION primary school children were not enrolled in school
• If this trend is not stopped it is estimated that more than 50% of the world’s illiterate population will live in India.

So I pose this challenge to those of us who are future leaders of consequence.  Let’s all do our part to help stop this trend.  Click on any of the links here or on the Facebook page where challenging our class of 150 students to raise $2,500.  That’s $16.70 each if we all donate.  And what will this do for someone in India?  For $250 Room to Read can provide a year of tuition money, a uniform, a bike, book bag, and books for a girl to go to school.  For a grand total of $2,500 the Duke CCMBA 2012 class can pay for 10 years of a girl’s education.  What a wonderful legacy to leave to someone.

Donate your extra per diem money, ask your friends, your family, your place of business.  Let’s see how many lives we can change in Term 4!

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World Change Starts With Educated Children is an article from The Fuqua Experience, THE place to find out about the daily life of a Duke Cross Continent MBA student