November 2007

Welcome to It's All About You : News from the Eller MBA, sharing highlights and insights of the Eller MBA program at The University of Arizona.
 

Global Perspective at Eller

In today’s growing global marketplace, it is important for business leaders to understand and work in different regions and countries. 

For the second time this past summer, the Eller MBA program initiated an internship program that brought together teams of science, engineering, and first-year MBA students to evaluate technologies and prepare market analyses and financial plans for research institutes in Mexico.

	Yogesh Kumar Periwal, MBA '08, broadened his global perspective in Mexico.

One of the program participants, Yogesh Kumar Periwal, now a second year MBA student, spent the summer working with Instituto Nacional de Astrofísica Óptica y Electrónica (INAOE), which employs more than 130 researchers to work on inventing/discovering new technologies.  Yogesh co-led a team that conducted feasibility studies for two technologies developed at INAOE. For Yogesh, “The most challenging part was to understand each technology from a business potential perspective.”  In addition to Yogesh, seven MBAs co-led teams in different cities across Mexico.
 

Former U.S. Representative Jim Kolbe Teaches Global Economic Development Course for MBA and Law Students

This fall, former U.S. Representative Jim Kolbe — an adjunct lecturer at the Eller College — is teaching a course on global economic development for 35 graduate students. The course is jointly offered through Eller and the James E. Rogers College of Law.  The course focuses on policies that promote global economic development, particularly how the U.S. and other developed nations can help less-developed nations reduce poverty and become more competitive. It also examines current social and economic issues related to globalization and how these forces affect trade policy in the U.S. and abroad.

As a U.S. representative, Jim Kolbe served the eighth congressional district for 22 years, from 1985 to 2007. An ardent advocate of free trade, Kolbe introduced a resolution calling for a U.S.-Mexico free trade agreement several years before the countries advocated for an agreement. He was instrumental in supporting normal trade relations status for China, in advocating the Central American Free Trade Agreement, and supporting trade negotiating authority for the president.

'PodCats' Focuses on How Innovative Ideas Reach the Marketplace

	Marketing senior lecturer Steven Permut provides insight on how innovative ideas reach the marketplace.

The October 15th edition of UA's “PodCats” features an interview with Steven Permut, senior lecturer of marketing for the Eller MBA. Permut, who teaches how new and innovative technologies reach the marketplace, is a consultant to several major corporations and agencies.

Launched the week before, “PodCats” features news and conversations with members of the UA community on a range of topics as diverse as the university itself. Programs feature everything from cutting-edge, high-tech research to profiles on students and faculty working to solve society’s most complex problems.

PodCats is available on UANews.org at http://uanews.org/podcats. Listen to the interview with Steven Permut at http://uanews.org/node/16468.
  

Anne Durazo : MBA '06

Anne Durazo, MBA '06, interned with Los Alamos National Laboratories and is now in Raytheon's Business Development Leadership Program.

“My MBA has given me an overall understanding of business. Along with my engineering degree, I feel I’m prepared to be involved in many different industries and in many different functions,” says Anne Durazo, MBA '06.

Anne entered the Eller MBA program in 2004, after completing a chemical engineering program at Villanova University.  She always pictured herself working in the scientific or technical fields and she wanted to complement her scientific degree with an MBA.  As an MBA student, Anne combined her technical skills with business savvy at Los Alamos National Laboratories.

"I worked in the Tech Transfer Office in a team of six to coach scientists and local entrepreneurs through the process of starting businesses using their high-tech innovations."  She was also involved in the Eller community as president of the National Association of Women MBAs.  “It’s crucial to take part in working groups, community events, and extra projects, because networking and leadership are important strengths.”

After graduating from the Eller MBA program in May 2006, Anne began Raytheon’s two-year Business Development Leadership Program, a fast-track management program.  
  

By Nicole Akporiaye : MBA '09

	Nicole Akporiaye, MBA '09, finds the first eight weeks of the Eller MBA program busy, exciting, and exhausting.

The first eight weeks of the Eller MBA program have been busy, exciting, and exhausting. The orientation week was an intense 10-day program packed with social and academic activities that enabled me to get to know each of my classmates and get in the rhythm of being back in school. 

Following orientation, classes began in full swing. In addition to homework, study groups, and classes, there is the Business Intelligence Quotient (BIQ), an in-depth team project where you are assigned a company that aligns with your career interests. During this project, the team becomes the company and presents to the class, faculty, and eventually high-level executives. My team is learning as much as we can about ConocoPhillips. It is truly a real-world experience. 

There are also a whirlwind of student-organized social activities. One of my favorite events was a wine and cheese tasting at a local restaurant; both first- and second-year students mingled with staff and faculty while tasting great wines from Latin America.

The Office of Career Development has been keeping us busy with great informational and networking events with companies like FedEx, E&J Gallo, Intel, Deloitte, Raytheon, and Honeywell — and that was in the first eight weeks alone.  Many of the second-year students that I speak with are already interviewing for jobs with companies that are visiting the campus. 

See you next month with more updates on the life of an Eller MBA!
 

Articles of Interest

• Prominent UA professor gives his global perspective to The Wall Street Journal
   
• Eller professor recognized with prestigious award
   
• Eller alums recognized at Tucson's "40 under 40" awards
   
• UA names noted scholar Mark Schankerman to lead entrepreneurship research
   
• Connect with industry leaders at the Eller College Distinguished Speaker Series
   

Important Dates

Recruitment Fairs
Catch up with Eller MBA admissions staff in a city near you:

View all Eller MBA recruitment fairs and "Eller on the Road" events.

Application Deadlines
Be sure to get your application in on time:

Apply for Eller MBA admission now.
 

• mba_admissions@eller.arizona.edu
• 1.888.Eller.MBA