One of Ball State’s somewhat infamous taglines is “Immersive Learning.” In fact, there’s an entire section of the BSU Website on it – you can check it out here!
Immersive Learning, as Ball State’s Website states, is at “the heart of a Ball State education.” It’s all about bringing students together from across campus to work on a project that benefits the local community. Besides making a difference in a business or organization, Immersive Learning projects provide opportunities for students to build their resumes with real-world experience.
So far in my career at Ball State, I’ve already been involved in two Immersive projects. From my perspective, what seems to occur sometimes is that classes are turned into Immersive experiences. That’s what happened in two of my classes! There are also numerous projects you can sign up for too. I would recommend signing up for a project you are interested in, though, rather than just waiting for a class to be turned into a project. If you aren’t very interested in the subject of the project, you definitely won’t enjoy it as much or be as dedicated to it!
My projects have both been classes of business majors, and the project I’m currently working on is through the Building Better Communities program, which you can read more about here. For this project I’m currently working on, my Marketing class has prepared a market research survey for a local bank, who is interested in learning more about small business perspectives and expectations of the economy.
After our meeting with the client, our class chose a team leader and divided up into three groups that would eventually come together into one team. For the first part of the semester, my class has been working together to develop an authentic, repeatable survey. Each group had an essential role in the creation process. At this point, we are in the middle of actually conducting the survey by calling local small businesses. Once the data is collected, we will be able to analyze it and create a presentation to exhibit for our client at the end of the semester.
The first project I did was through my Management class, which was for a local non-profit organization. After meeting with that client, we also divided our class into three teams, except each team would work on a different project for the organization. Our goal was to provide as many benefits to our client as possible. The first group was in charge of developing an existing fundraising program for the organization. The second group was also involved in fundraising, only from corporate and local sponsors. The group I was in planned a volunteer activity to be completed that semester.
We went through numerous planning stages, even going so far as to have a date set, until we realized that our timeline was much too short to coordinate all the volunteers, businesses, and materials. Our event wasn’t going to happen on time! So we had to backtrack and start basically from the beginning. It was hard because we felt like failures, but as our professor assured us, it didn’t have to be a complete loss. So what we ended up doing was gathering all the material we had prepared for the event and created a package for our client to implement the event the next semester with little to no planning on his part.
What I’ve discovered about Immersive Learning projects is that they are truly just that – learning experiences. Sometimes you’ll do really excellent work and feel great about your finished product; other times, you may fail. But that’s when you pick yourself and your group up and do better next time. No matter how your project goes, you will definitely have something to talk about during a job interview. These are experiences for helping you grow as a student, as a group member, and as a leader. And to me, that’s a pretty good reason for making Immersive Learning a BSU tagline.
Showing posts with label business. Show all posts
Showing posts with label business. Show all posts
Tuesday, March 20, 2012
Wednesday, March 14, 2012
Having Faith In Business
A group that I’ve gotten involved in recently is an outreach program through Campus Crusade (Cru). One of my Bible study leaders is a business major, just like me. She decided to begin an outreach program amongst other business majors. So she started having weekly meetings, which led to brainstorming for event ideas, which eventually led to actually planning the event!
Our event involves a guest speaker discussing the question, “Can faith play a role in business?” Here’s what the Facebook event page has to say:
“Can faith play a role in business? Have you ever asked yourself this question? As business school students, we often learn about success, making a profit, and beating the competition, but where does faith fit into the hustle and bustle of the business world? Come find out what Randy Tempest has to say about this topic. Mr. Tempest is a Ball State graduate working as the Director of Business Development for Receivables Management Partners. He has been involved with the youth at Harvest Fellowship Church for many years. He is passionate about this topic and will be coming to Ball State to talk about his experiences related to faith and business in the professional world.”
If you are a business major at Ball State (and even if you aren’t!), come hear what our guest speaker has to say about this interesting topic. To be honest, I don’t even know what he has to say! However, it promises to be an enlightening experience when it comes to having faith in business.
For more date and location information on the event, leave a comment on this post and let me know you’re interested!
Our event involves a guest speaker discussing the question, “Can faith play a role in business?” Here’s what the Facebook event page has to say:
“Can faith play a role in business? Have you ever asked yourself this question? As business school students, we often learn about success, making a profit, and beating the competition, but where does faith fit into the hustle and bustle of the business world? Come find out what Randy Tempest has to say about this topic. Mr. Tempest is a Ball State graduate working as the Director of Business Development for Receivables Management Partners. He has been involved with the youth at Harvest Fellowship Church for many years. He is passionate about this topic and will be coming to Ball State to talk about his experiences related to faith and business in the professional world.”
If you are a business major at Ball State (and even if you aren’t!), come hear what our guest speaker has to say about this interesting topic. To be honest, I don’t even know what he has to say! However, it promises to be an enlightening experience when it comes to having faith in business.
For more date and location information on the event, leave a comment on this post and let me know you’re interested!
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Miller Interview Day 2012
This past weekend was the Interview Day for the class of 2017 Miller Scholars. Gosh, that seems like so long from now! But at the same time, I am already almost half way done with college. I'll be a JUNIOR by the time this class starts college in the fall! Time really does fly, just like they say!
For me, Interview Days are much more exciting now that I am not being interviewed anymore. I enjoy being a host rather than an interviewee. We spent most of the day with the prospective students, guiding them to their interviews, getting to know them, and sharing our experiences with them.
There were several student panels for both prospective students and their parents. I was actually on a study abroad panel for the students. This was truly an enjoyable experience for me, since I got to talk about my trip to Europe last summer. The only downside was that it made me want to go back again! Every time I look at my pictures or reread my blog posts from last summer, it makes me miss Europe very much. Hopefully, I’ll one day have an opportunity to return.
I thoroughly enjoyed Interview Day, especially getting to know my student. I am looking forward to meeting our next class of Miller Scholars in the fall!
P.S. It’s not too late to apply for the Miller HONORS Program – deadline is March 1st! Apply Here!
For me, Interview Days are much more exciting now that I am not being interviewed anymore. I enjoy being a host rather than an interviewee. We spent most of the day with the prospective students, guiding them to their interviews, getting to know them, and sharing our experiences with them.
There were several student panels for both prospective students and their parents. I was actually on a study abroad panel for the students. This was truly an enjoyable experience for me, since I got to talk about my trip to Europe last summer. The only downside was that it made me want to go back again! Every time I look at my pictures or reread my blog posts from last summer, it makes me miss Europe very much. Hopefully, I’ll one day have an opportunity to return.
I thoroughly enjoyed Interview Day, especially getting to know my student. I am looking forward to meeting our next class of Miller Scholars in the fall!
P.S. It’s not too late to apply for the Miller HONORS Program – deadline is March 1st! Apply Here!
Thursday, December 8, 2011
What It Means to Receive
Last weekend, the Miller College of Business had its annual scholarship awards brunch, where scholarship recipients and donors are recognized. The event’s speakers discussed both sides of a scholarship: giving and receiving. As the donors spoke, I understood what it means to give back to a university that’s made such a difference in your life. As the students spoke about what it means to receive a scholarship, I found myself reflecting on what that means in my own life.
My scholarship was ultimately what led me to Ball State and the Miller College of Business. As a Miller Scholar, I receive tuition and fees, a laptop, a study abroad stipend, and more. These benefits were instrumental in deciding where to attend school.
Today, they still make a difference for me. Without my scholarship, paying for school would be easier said than done – college isn’t cheap! I also never would have had the opportunity to spend two weeks on a study abroad in Europe this summer. That alone was a once in a lifetime experience, provided by the generosity of my donors. And I know these benefits are just beginning, as there are many more to come throughout college and my future career.
I really should stop and think more often about how much of a difference my donors have made in my life. They didn’t know who I would be, yet they provided the money for my scholarship that allows me to attend school so I will one day have a successful career. What an incredible act of generosity.
It’s no wonder some of the donors that spoke at the awards brunch had once been students who had received scholarships as well. Maybe one day I’ll have the opportunity to pass along the generosity that I’ve received too.
My scholarship was ultimately what led me to Ball State and the Miller College of Business. As a Miller Scholar, I receive tuition and fees, a laptop, a study abroad stipend, and more. These benefits were instrumental in deciding where to attend school.
Today, they still make a difference for me. Without my scholarship, paying for school would be easier said than done – college isn’t cheap! I also never would have had the opportunity to spend two weeks on a study abroad in Europe this summer. That alone was a once in a lifetime experience, provided by the generosity of my donors. And I know these benefits are just beginning, as there are many more to come throughout college and my future career.
I really should stop and think more often about how much of a difference my donors have made in my life. They didn’t know who I would be, yet they provided the money for my scholarship that allows me to attend school so I will one day have a successful career. What an incredible act of generosity.
It’s no wonder some of the donors that spoke at the awards brunch had once been students who had received scholarships as well. Maybe one day I’ll have the opportunity to pass along the generosity that I’ve received too.
Monday, November 7, 2011
Business As Usual
A couple weeks ago, I had another excellent opportunity for networking amongst BSU alums. As part of the Miller Scholars program, I was invited to attend the MCOB Alumni Awards dinner. Initially, I wasn’t going to go, since I had gone last year, but eventually decided it would be foolish not to take advantage of this great opportunity. And boy, am I glad I did!
When I arrived, I was told that I would be seated at President Gora’s table. Wow, dinner with the president of the University! Sitting at this table also meant that I would be introduced to important Miller College alumni, as well as award recipients of the evening. It was a great experience to have the opportunity to network with such knowledgeable business men and women.
Throughout the rest of the evening, I spent time with my mentor from the Miller Scholars program. Each of us is paired with a mentor who works with us and supports us throughout our years at Ball State. The Alumni Dinner was a good chance for us to get together and catch up again.
Of course, the most significant portion of the evening was the dinner itself. If you have a chance to participate in an Etiquette Dinner through the Career Center, take the opportunity to learn proper manners for events like these! While it is easy to just follow what everybody else does, you never know when you’ll be seated with the University president or your company’s CEO!
Below are some photos from my evening at the Alumni Awards Dinner. John Huffer, coordinator of BSU’s Photo Services, was kind enough to allow me to use his photos on my blog – thanks, John!
When I arrived, I was told that I would be seated at President Gora’s table. Wow, dinner with the president of the University! Sitting at this table also meant that I would be introduced to important Miller College alumni, as well as award recipients of the evening. It was a great experience to have the opportunity to network with such knowledgeable business men and women.
Throughout the rest of the evening, I spent time with my mentor from the Miller Scholars program. Each of us is paired with a mentor who works with us and supports us throughout our years at Ball State. The Alumni Dinner was a good chance for us to get together and catch up again.
Of course, the most significant portion of the evening was the dinner itself. If you have a chance to participate in an Etiquette Dinner through the Career Center, take the opportunity to learn proper manners for events like these! While it is easy to just follow what everybody else does, you never know when you’ll be seated with the University president or your company’s CEO!
Below are some photos from my evening at the Alumni Awards Dinner. John Huffer, coordinator of BSU’s Photo Services, was kind enough to allow me to use his photos on my blog – thanks, John!
Ball State University MCOB Alumni Awards Dinner 2011
Networking with Miller College of Business Alumni
Conversing with my mentor and his daughter at the reception
Thursday, October 20, 2011
In Reality
A couple weeks ago, a surprising opportunity was presented to me: I was invited to a luncheon with the CEO of Pepsi Beverages Company. What an incredible opportunity! Mr. Eric Foss was personable and professional. The best part is that he’s a Ball State grad! A group of 10 business students were given the chance to eat and converse with a real-world CEO. I suppose you could call it an “immersive” experience!
We were each given the chance to ask a question or request advice about his experience. When I mentioned the importance of international business, he shared with us about the time he spent working out of Hungary. He explained that four things are important to success in his eyes:
One of the best pieces of advice Mr. Foss gave us was this: “No matter what happens in business, family and friends are the most important.”
Before that day, a Fortune 100 company like Pepsi seemed unreachable to me. Now that I’ve had the opportunity to meet the CEO of one of its divisions, it is very real to me. Mr. Foss is just a regular guy who loves his job and loves his family. He even said to us, “Do what you love and for the company you love.” That’s a kind of job I’d like to have, and one of my classmates that was there today even would like an internship with Pepsi. Our situation with the MCOB Honors Program affords us opportunities like this that are able to turn massive corporations into connections at the tips of our fingers. What could be more real than that? Thanks, Ball State!
We were each given the chance to ask a question or request advice about his experience. When I mentioned the importance of international business, he shared with us about the time he spent working out of Hungary. He explained that four things are important to success in his eyes:
- cross departmental knowledge
- corporate and local experience
- international and domestic experience
- a presence in emerging markets
One of the best pieces of advice Mr. Foss gave us was this: “No matter what happens in business, family and friends are the most important.”
Before that day, a Fortune 100 company like Pepsi seemed unreachable to me. Now that I’ve had the opportunity to meet the CEO of one of its divisions, it is very real to me. Mr. Foss is just a regular guy who loves his job and loves his family. He even said to us, “Do what you love and for the company you love.” That’s a kind of job I’d like to have, and one of my classmates that was there today even would like an internship with Pepsi. Our situation with the MCOB Honors Program affords us opportunities like this that are able to turn massive corporations into connections at the tips of our fingers. What could be more real than that? Thanks, Ball State!
Monday, September 19, 2011
Career Fair
Every year, there are several opportunities for BSU students to meet and network with companies looking to hire college graduates. Another perk of these events is that many of these companies also have internships available for undergrads. That’s why I attended the most recent Fall Career Fair last week.
At first, I really thought it was unnecessary for me to attend the job fair. Why would I go if I don’t need a job yet? Then I went and realized how beneficial it was. First, though, I had to develop my resume. This was kind of a big deal because I had no idea where to begin. Fortunately, Ball State has an excellent resource for students: the Career Center. This is a place where students can explore job and internship opportunities, as well as find assistance with interview skills and resume creation.
The Miller Honors Program sets up a “resume workshop” just before this career fair to help us prepare – a benefit of being selected for this program! I learned everything I needed to know to create a basic resume for the fair.
Like I said before, I really didn’t think I would need to be at the career fair. In some ways, I was right. As a sophomore, many companies weren’t interested in even hiring an intern my age. However, they still took my resume and made a note for next year. The benefits started coming in because I was able to make those contacts already for internships I may be interested in next time around. Also, there was less pressure to perform, because I’m just a sophomore. It made a good experience being able to practice networking with real recruiters, even though they won’t be interested until next year.
The moral of the story is that no matter your year, attend a career fair for the experience! There are more coming up this year - check them out here!
At first, I really thought it was unnecessary for me to attend the job fair. Why would I go if I don’t need a job yet? Then I went and realized how beneficial it was. First, though, I had to develop my resume. This was kind of a big deal because I had no idea where to begin. Fortunately, Ball State has an excellent resource for students: the Career Center. This is a place where students can explore job and internship opportunities, as well as find assistance with interview skills and resume creation.
The Miller Honors Program sets up a “resume workshop” just before this career fair to help us prepare – a benefit of being selected for this program! I learned everything I needed to know to create a basic resume for the fair.
Like I said before, I really didn’t think I would need to be at the career fair. In some ways, I was right. As a sophomore, many companies weren’t interested in even hiring an intern my age. However, they still took my resume and made a note for next year. The benefits started coming in because I was able to make those contacts already for internships I may be interested in next time around. Also, there was less pressure to perform, because I’m just a sophomore. It made a good experience being able to practice networking with real recruiters, even though they won’t be interested until next year.
The moral of the story is that no matter your year, attend a career fair for the experience! There are more coming up this year - check them out here!
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Better Than Christmas
Our European adventures finally led us to Paris, France. This was the city I had been waiting two weeks to see. Actually, I had been waiting five years to visit Paris. Seeing the beautiful City of Light and speaking the language I’d been learning was something I had dreamed of since high school. The night before we left for Paris was so exciting – I called it Christmas Eve.
We took the train from London to Paris and arrived in time to meet with the headquarters of the Michelin tire company. From there, we checked into our hotel and explored the city. A small group of us decided to wait until dark to go on our walk. It took us four hours to see everything, but we have some amazing photos of the Louvre, the Arc de Triomphe, and the Eiffel Tower at nighttime. They were truly beautiful sights. For me, standing under the glow of Eiffel Tower was even better than Christmas.
One of the must-dos on my list for Paris was “go to the top of the Eiffel Tower.” However, the day we left for Paris, I found out there had been a mishap with our tickets. A company visit had been scheduled for the same time as our tickets to the top and no others could be purchased. I couldn’t even find more available online. The stunning realization hit me – I wasn’t going to the top of the Eiffel Tower. I was heartbroken.
I kind of felt numb, going through the motions of our company visit when I was supposed to be fulfilling a long-held dream. Our French guide who led the tour of the city understood this was something many of us really wanted to do. She made contact with the travel company, who agreed to pay for new tickets, and she worked her magic with the employees she knew at the Tower and somehow returned with tickets for all of us to the top! It was amazing – she’s my new hero.
Reaching the top of the Eiffel Tower was everything I dreamed it would be, and more. The day we were there was truly beautiful. We could see everything a mile away. I can still remember the feeling of awe as I stood gazing at such an incredible city. Even the sky is more blue and beautiful after a moment like that.
Just when I thought my day couldn’t get any better, I turned the corner of the top of the Eiffel Tower and there stood one of my dance choreography idols – Tyce DiOrio! I gasped and slowly backed up around the corner, “oh my gosh!” Then I peeked again, getting my camera ready to sneak a photo. My day was made.
I loved Paris. Ashley and I spent our free day visiting the Louvre, the Musée d’Orsay, and Notre Dame. We saw works of art we could have only dreamed of seeing before – the Mona Lisa, Monet’s Water Lilies, Degas’ ballerina paintings, and so much more. We shopped along the Ile de la Cite, conversing in French with shop owners and customers. For me, Paris was a city of dreams come true.
The Arc de Triomphe
Luxembourg Palace and Gardens
L'institut de France
The Louvre
Musee d'Orsay
Notre Dame
We took the train from London to Paris and arrived in time to meet with the headquarters of the Michelin tire company. From there, we checked into our hotel and explored the city. A small group of us decided to wait until dark to go on our walk. It took us four hours to see everything, but we have some amazing photos of the Louvre, the Arc de Triomphe, and the Eiffel Tower at nighttime. They were truly beautiful sights. For me, standing under the glow of Eiffel Tower was even better than Christmas.
One of the must-dos on my list for Paris was “go to the top of the Eiffel Tower.” However, the day we left for Paris, I found out there had been a mishap with our tickets. A company visit had been scheduled for the same time as our tickets to the top and no others could be purchased. I couldn’t even find more available online. The stunning realization hit me – I wasn’t going to the top of the Eiffel Tower. I was heartbroken.
I kind of felt numb, going through the motions of our company visit when I was supposed to be fulfilling a long-held dream. Our French guide who led the tour of the city understood this was something many of us really wanted to do. She made contact with the travel company, who agreed to pay for new tickets, and she worked her magic with the employees she knew at the Tower and somehow returned with tickets for all of us to the top! It was amazing – she’s my new hero.
Reaching the top of the Eiffel Tower was everything I dreamed it would be, and more. The day we were there was truly beautiful. We could see everything a mile away. I can still remember the feeling of awe as I stood gazing at such an incredible city. Even the sky is more blue and beautiful after a moment like that.
Just when I thought my day couldn’t get any better, I turned the corner of the top of the Eiffel Tower and there stood one of my dance choreography idols – Tyce DiOrio! I gasped and slowly backed up around the corner, “oh my gosh!” Then I peeked again, getting my camera ready to sneak a photo. My day was made.
I loved Paris. Ashley and I spent our free day visiting the Louvre, the Musée d’Orsay, and Notre Dame. We saw works of art we could have only dreamed of seeing before – the Mona Lisa, Monet’s Water Lilies, Degas’ ballerina paintings, and so much more. We shopped along the Ile de la Cite, conversing in French with shop owners and customers. For me, Paris was a city of dreams come true.
The Arc de Triomphe
Luxembourg Palace and Gardens
L'institut de France
The Louvre
Musee d'Orsay
Notre Dame
Thursday, May 12, 2011
Roman Around
Rome is such a beautiful city! It took me awhile to get used to the different language and currency, but oh my goodness, there is so much to take pictures of! I have close to 400 from Rome alone. Our souvenir count has gone up, as well. T-shirts, postcards, bobbleheads....
Here's what we saw in Rome:
We made sure to eat authentic Italian food, too: pizza, lasagna, calzone, gelato, and more!
Leaving Rome this morning was a sad moment; I feel slightly nostalgic already. However, most of that is left behind when I realize we are now in LONDON! And it is certainly a fantastic city, and we've only seen parts of it! More to come on that later...
While we were in Rome, I made a list. This is my own version of a "When in Rome" list:
Here's what we saw in Rome:
Colosseum
Spanish Steps
Trevi Fountain
U.S. Embassy
EnLabs (an entrepreneurship incubation center)
Piazza del Popolo
Piazza Navona
Pantheon
Vatican City (including the Sistine Chapel, Vatican museums, and St. Peter's)
We made sure to eat authentic Italian food, too: pizza, lasagna, calzone, gelato, and more!
Leaving Rome this morning was a sad moment; I feel slightly nostalgic already. However, most of that is left behind when I realize we are now in LONDON! And it is certainly a fantastic city, and we've only seen parts of it! More to come on that later...
While we were in Rome, I made a list. This is my own version of a "When in Rome" list:
1) everything goes fast - traffic, people, the metro, time...)
2) lemons actually DO grow on trees! Who knew?!
3) "sleep and eating should be constants in my life...they aren't anymore" -my roommate, Ashley
4) try the language, eat the food, and talk with Italians - it's fun!
5) learn how to say, "no grazie," trust me.
6) there are obelisks in almost every piazza - make "the tall, pointy thing" your group's rendez-vous spot.
7) take lots and lots of pictures! And make sure you're in one every now and then.
Monday, May 9, 2011
Benvenuti!
Our study abroad adventure began today in Rome! We took a flight to New York to connect to Rome, so that was exciting. The plane ride was looooong though. It was definitely worth it...
Rome is so exciting, I can hardly believe I am actually here!!!! It just keeps amazing me that I travelled 12 hours, toured Rome, Italy on a bus, stopped by the Colosseum, walked to the Spanish steps and the Trevi fountain, AND had an authentic Italian dinner all in what seems like one day!
I am so thrilled to be blogging from Europe! Pictures will come soon, probably in a photo blog later on. Meanwhile, I'll continue posting as time permits; we are busy busy busy over the next two weeks!
Rome is so exciting, I can hardly believe I am actually here!!!! It just keeps amazing me that I travelled 12 hours, toured Rome, Italy on a bus, stopped by the Colosseum, walked to the Spanish steps and the Trevi fountain, AND had an authentic Italian dinner all in what seems like one day!
I am so thrilled to be blogging from Europe! Pictures will come soon, probably in a photo blog later on. Meanwhile, I'll continue posting as time permits; we are busy busy busy over the next two weeks!
Friday, May 6, 2011
Finally
My roommate, Becca, got a calendar for me at Christmas that has the Eiffel Tower on it. The French script on the cover reads “Nous irons dimanche,” which translates to “We will go Sunday.” Every day it gets closer and closer to Sunday, May 8th I cannot stop thinking,
“Nous irons dimanche…”
For those of you who don’t already know, this Sunday I will be leaving for Europe on a two-week field study. Yes, Europe. FINALLY!!!!! I’ll be going with the Miller College of Business from Ball State. We will spend the two weeks travelling between Rome, London, and Paris. I have a feeling this is going to be the most amazing two weeks of my life.
It’s not all fun and games though. We each have individual projects to work on while we are there, because we are getting course credit for the trip. Our group has been meeting all semester (a mostly great group of honors business students, I’ll have you know) in preparation for the trip. We are also going to be visiting local businesses in each city, which is an excellent opportunity to observe international business.
For me, though, it is mostly fun – even with my project. My idea is to focus on entrepreneurship in Europe, specifically dance studios in London. This is so interesting to me, because it is so relevant to my major and plans for my future. I’m especially excited to be immersed in my major so early; I can’t wait to share my final project with you!
Also, I’ve officially finished my freshman year of college! My last finals and move out were on Wednesday. It’s nice to be home, if only for a few days before jetting off to Europe. Be on the lookout for new posts the next couple weeks. Yours truly has been asked to continue blogging this summer and next year, as well! I am looking forward to continue sharing my college experience with you!!
“Nous irons dimanche…”
For those of you who don’t already know, this Sunday I will be leaving for Europe on a two-week field study. Yes, Europe. FINALLY!!!!! I’ll be going with the Miller College of Business from Ball State. We will spend the two weeks travelling between Rome, London, and Paris. I have a feeling this is going to be the most amazing two weeks of my life.
It’s not all fun and games though. We each have individual projects to work on while we are there, because we are getting course credit for the trip. Our group has been meeting all semester (a mostly great group of honors business students, I’ll have you know) in preparation for the trip. We are also going to be visiting local businesses in each city, which is an excellent opportunity to observe international business.
For me, though, it is mostly fun – even with my project. My idea is to focus on entrepreneurship in Europe, specifically dance studios in London. This is so interesting to me, because it is so relevant to my major and plans for my future. I’m especially excited to be immersed in my major so early; I can’t wait to share my final project with you!
Also, I’ve officially finished my freshman year of college! My last finals and move out were on Wednesday. It’s nice to be home, if only for a few days before jetting off to Europe. Be on the lookout for new posts the next couple weeks. Yours truly has been asked to continue blogging this summer and next year, as well! I am looking forward to continue sharing my college experience with you!!
Saturday, March 26, 2011
Build-A-Business
Yesterday, I had the unique opportunity to visit the national headquarters of Build-A-Bear Workshops in Saint Louis, MO. My business program, along with the Pre-Business Living Learning Community, travelled to attend a company visit there. We hit a few bumps along the way, including a major one that left us stranded at a McDonald’s somewhere in Illinois for 3 hours, but we finally made it to St. Louis!
The story of the company’s founder, Maxine Clark, is one that really impresses me. Before the trip, I read an article in BizEd, the AACSB magazine. What she has done with her company in about 15 years is so impressive. She says business students “must have drive, passion, and commitment - and it also helps if they have a single great idea.” I thought this was so inspiring, especially since I’m studying entrepreneurship.
Maxine Clark created a fun environment for her customers and for her employees too, as we saw yesterday. All of the people we met seemed to be fun-loving, with their desks surrounded by their own Build-A-Bear friends. I found it really interesting that dogs and children are allowed in the office, which makes for a comfortable, relaxed atmosphere. It seemed so simple an operation; I kept forgetting we were at the headquarters of Build-A-Bear, an internationally prestigious company.
As we sat in the Bear University where they train employees, we listened to representatives explain the main operations of the company to us, including sales, marketing, and the products themselves. It is always interesting to me to learn more about how much work goes on behind the scenes to present such a fantastic company.
This trip is another reason I’m so honored to be a student at Ball State and a member of the MCOB Honors Program. These kinds of opportunities are invaluable experiences that not every college student will have. Besides, spending an entire day with my Honors classmates is an experience in and of itself, especially spending 3 hours stranded at McDonald’s! We’re already becoming a tighter-knit group, which I think will be beneficial as we continue through college.
Thanks to those who put on the trip and especially to Build-A-Bear for having us!
Class of 2014 Miller Honors at Build-A-Bear Headquarters in St. Louis, MO
Taking a tour of Build-A-Bear Headquarters
Bear University
A life size “cub condo” at Bear University – just my size!
The story of the company’s founder, Maxine Clark, is one that really impresses me. Before the trip, I read an article in BizEd, the AACSB magazine. What she has done with her company in about 15 years is so impressive. She says business students “must have drive, passion, and commitment - and it also helps if they have a single great idea.” I thought this was so inspiring, especially since I’m studying entrepreneurship.
Maxine Clark created a fun environment for her customers and for her employees too, as we saw yesterday. All of the people we met seemed to be fun-loving, with their desks surrounded by their own Build-A-Bear friends. I found it really interesting that dogs and children are allowed in the office, which makes for a comfortable, relaxed atmosphere. It seemed so simple an operation; I kept forgetting we were at the headquarters of Build-A-Bear, an internationally prestigious company.
As we sat in the Bear University where they train employees, we listened to representatives explain the main operations of the company to us, including sales, marketing, and the products themselves. It is always interesting to me to learn more about how much work goes on behind the scenes to present such a fantastic company.
This trip is another reason I’m so honored to be a student at Ball State and a member of the MCOB Honors Program. These kinds of opportunities are invaluable experiences that not every college student will have. Besides, spending an entire day with my Honors classmates is an experience in and of itself, especially spending 3 hours stranded at McDonald’s! We’re already becoming a tighter-knit group, which I think will be beneficial as we continue through college.
Thanks to those who put on the trip and especially to Build-A-Bear for having us!
Class of 2014 Miller Honors at Build-A-Bear Headquarters in St. Louis, MO
Taking a tour of Build-A-Bear Headquarters
Bear University
A life size “cub condo” at Bear University – just my size!
Sunday, March 20, 2011
Burberry World
Last week, I had the opportunity to attend a lecture and meet the CEO of Burberry, Ltd.
Angela Ahrendts is a Ball State grad who has worked her way up the corporate ladder to the position of CEO in the English company famously known for its trench coats. She majored in Fashion Merchandising while at BSU and became president of DKNY awhile after graduating.
Since she’s been with Burberry, she’s been working to bring the company into the modern media world. Her company recently launched its new Website, Burberry World. It involves more interaction with videos, music, and photos and creates a unique experience for visitors. Burberry also is the first luxury brand to have its own social networking site, Art of the Trench. She is the cofounder of the Burberry Foundation, which works to give back to children in need.
While I personally am not a huge fan of luxury brands, I did find her presentation fascinating. What she is doing with her company is unique and interesting. Her innovation and motivation impressed me. I especially enjoyed talking with her at the reception afterward. She has a kind, warm personality. She even seemed genuinely interested in having our business field study group visit while we’re in London this summer!
All in all, it was an interesting experience. One of the excellent opportunities I’ve been given as a Ball State student and member of the Miller Honors program.
Below are some of my Miller Honors classmates with Angela Ahrendts.
Angela Ahrendts is a Ball State grad who has worked her way up the corporate ladder to the position of CEO in the English company famously known for its trench coats. She majored in Fashion Merchandising while at BSU and became president of DKNY awhile after graduating.
Since she’s been with Burberry, she’s been working to bring the company into the modern media world. Her company recently launched its new Website, Burberry World. It involves more interaction with videos, music, and photos and creates a unique experience for visitors. Burberry also is the first luxury brand to have its own social networking site, Art of the Trench. She is the cofounder of the Burberry Foundation, which works to give back to children in need.
While I personally am not a huge fan of luxury brands, I did find her presentation fascinating. What she is doing with her company is unique and interesting. Her innovation and motivation impressed me. I especially enjoyed talking with her at the reception afterward. She has a kind, warm personality. She even seemed genuinely interested in having our business field study group visit while we’re in London this summer!
All in all, it was an interesting experience. One of the excellent opportunities I’ve been given as a Ball State student and member of the Miller Honors program.
Below are some of my Miller Honors classmates with Angela Ahrendts.
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