Join us for our second episode of the Kelley Momentum Podcast – a new offering that enables listeners to hear from Kelley professors and alums on various topics of interest. In this episode, IU Kelley MBA Professor of Operations Management Kyle Cattani discusses how companies are eager to hire supply chain-focused MBA students and what industries are hot versus not for decision science and supply chain management careers.
Building and Maintaining Relationships at Kelley
Ashley Scott
MBA’21 | Consortium Fellow
When I accepted my internship at E&J Gallo Winery, I had imagined spending my summer working in California and exploring everything that it had to offer (vineyards, Lake Tahoe, vineyards, Yosemite, and did I mention vineyards?) Because of COVID-19, I decided to stay in Bloomington, IN and honestly think that this is the best choice I made for me given the circumstances. I saved money and most importantly, I get to further build relationships with my other classmates who also chose to remain in Bloomington, IN. If there is anything that I’ve learned at Kelley, it is the power of building relationships.
In the last week of August, I remember when my class and I first started the Core and mid-through the week we attended Kelley Roundtables. Kelley Roundtables was the first networking event for the year hosted by GCS. We had the opportunity to network with companies. But, what made this networking night unique was at each company table there was a Kelley alumnus. My first interaction with E&J Gallo Winery was with two alumni. E&J Gallo Winery normally recruits on campus for Marketing Interns, but I had expressed interest in Supply Chain. I was immediately connected with people at E&J Gallo Winery, and I used those people’s connections to be connected with others. At the end of September, I received an offer to interview with Gallo at the National Black MBA Conference not only because of my work history but because of the networking I did beforehand. The National Black MBA Conference is an annual conference for networking and recruiting for internships and full-time offers. It is an inclusive event and not only for people of color. The networking didn’t just stop after National Black and my interview, I made sure to remain connected and follow up with the people who I made connections with.
When people say Kelley is like a family, it’s true. When I received the offer from Gallo, a few of the E&J Gallo alumni reached out to me to ensure they can answer any and all questions for me to say “yes” to the offer. Don’t be mistaken, the relationship between alum is similar no matter what company they’re at. A Kelley is always willing to go the extra mile to help another Kelley.
For the remainder of the summer, I will continue to foster the Kelley spirit of networking at my internship at Gallo, and for the rest of my career.
Pivoting as an MBA Community
Nick Chominski, MBA’21
As I think back on the past month-plus, I cannot help but think about the incredible Kelley community. It was unimaginable months ago, just as it was across the world, to think that we would have our lives turned upside down. Yet, as I have realized, the worst of times help you appreciate the best parts of everything else.
In April, I had my original summer internship at a management consulting firm rescinded due to COVID-19. Like others around the country who have also lost their internships, or worse, full-time jobs, I was stunned. We all feel invincible until we don’t. My first reaction was to tell the second-year MBAs that had helped train and coach me to get that internship. As always, they were incredibly supportive. Next, I reached out to my academy director and career coach in Graduate Career Services and I will never forget their reactions. It was essentially this: “Don’t worry, no problem, we have your back.” Instantly, a sense of calm washed over me. I knew that it, in fact, would not be a problem and that I would rebound. Afterward, I reached out to the rest of my network on LinkedIn and other recent Kelley alumni that I knew. It would be an understatement to say that I received incredibly supportive messages of encouragement from everyone. I now felt even more supported and empowered after hearing from people across my network. After a couple interviews over roughly 3 weeks, I had landed two more offers for the summer and finally accepted a new, 10-week, internship starting June 1st*. There were certainly moments of doubt over that time, but I always had the supportive Kelley community to rely on for words of wisdom and additional help.
Once the semester ended, though, I was stuck. As in, literally stuck in Bloomington since it was not feasible to go home to the east coast and my internship would be remote. So, over the last few weeks, I have, again, relied on the Kelley friendships and overall community for support. Most of my first-year friends have stayed local as well so it has been a chance to get to know them even better. As the weather has warmed up that has included long, socially distanced, walks down the B-line or numerous rounds of golf (and thus searching for golf balls) at the local course. The best moments of all though have come at the local park, The Mill, near where most of us live that has become the unofficial MBA summer picnic spot. So far, we have celebrated at least three birthdays there and, I expect, will do so for more throughout the summer. It has been the highlight of my time off before my internship and I expect it will be so the rest of the summer weekends.
Now though, as coffee shops and restaurants in Bloomington continue to reopen, a sense of normalcy is returning to all our lives. It won’t be like it was before, but I know that, along with the rest of the MBA community, it will be pretty darn close and that’s good enough for me.
*Nick will be interning with AthenaHealth in their customer success/business transformation team.
MBA Life During COVID-19: Bringing Out the Best in Us
By Jake Frego, MBA’21
Life within the Kelley MBA program has changed over the past few months, just as it has for the rest of the world. Since the conclusion of spring break, all classes have been conducted over Zoom, many of my classmates have returned home, and exams have been completed online. This is a time of uncertainty, during which end-of-the-year celebrations have been virtualized and internship plans have been subject to change or cancellation.
Yet, what I have found, and what I am sure many of my classmates would assert, is that this time of isolation has been an opportunity as well. Specifically, it has encouraged me to count and appreciate my blessings as a member of the Kelley MBA program. Distance does, in fact, make the heart fonder; I find that I am increasingly missing the casual conversations that occur in the hallways after class, the opportunity for my four roommates and I to host class gatherings at our house, and the ability to see my professors in-person. I know that my return to campus, when it does occur, will be sweet because it will be a joyous re-gathering of the Kelley community.
Kelleys rise to the occasion when presented with a challenge. Since March, this has been particularly evident across the Kelley community, as exhibited by students, faculty, and staff. With regard to students, I have witnessed my classmates collaborate to deliver exceptional outcomes, despite the inability to meet in-person. I was a member of a team that was scheduled to travel to Thailand for a GLOBASE trip over spring break. The trip was canceled, but, undeterred, my team members and I continued weekly calls with our Thai client. We delivered a pricing model that will improve the client’s ability to negotiate, and his feedback was, “Despite the best part of GLOBASE being canceled, you guys stuck with me and really went over and beyond to deliver something that will no doubt bring so much value as we move into this new side of the business. I can’t say enough how appreciative I am of you guys! I’ll say again, please come visit Thailand, especially Chiang Mai.”
Next, our faculty have been nothing short of excellent in their patience, availability, and competency. I have to admit, I was apprehensive about learning exclusively on-line. I have learned as much in this environment, however, as I did in-person, if not more. There have been many class sessions during which professors have handled technology snafus with grace and have graciously answered questions from the Zoom chatbox. And, finally, the Kelley staff has been noticeably proactive in their efforts to ensure that we feel supported and connected. For example, Executive Director Gale Gold Nichols hosted a cookie baking Zoom session on a weekend afternoon, which was attended by a mix of my first- and second-year peers.
While this semester has not transpired as expected, I can nonetheless say that it has been a good one. I look forward to the summer opportunities ahead and to more days in Bloomington in the future!
Introducing our new podcast: Kelley Momentum
The Kelley School of Business‘s motto is “Go from Moment to Momentum.” And the Kelley MBA Program is committed to increasing that momentum for its students and alumni. Our alumni are Kelleys for life, and it was in that spirit that I was asked to help build a new resource for Kelleys. Kelley Momentum—a podcast for Kelleys to get informed about new research and insights coming from campus. We wanted to build something that would be readily accessible to graduates. Something that would help them stay connected to campus, be informed of what is new and changing in the business world and stay sharp in their careers. We also wanted something that would be shareable, so you can showcase what is great about Kelley with others.
This podcast is the result of current student efforts, and we hope to build something that will stand out for years to come. If you have any feedback, questions, or requests for future conversations please reach out to us at mbagrad@indiana.edu. Every 3 weeks we will be posting a conversation with faculty, staff, or an alumnus to help you build your career momentum. Our first episode is a short introduction from me about how Kelley Momentum came to be, and what it is. In the coming weeks look for conversations with Jonlee Andrews, Neil Morgan, Scott Maloney, and others. I sincerely hope you find this interesting and valuable and stay tuned for more.
Dustin Roberts
Kelley MBA Class of 2020
Producer – Kelley Momentum Podcast
Trekking out West: Kelley Career Treks
Matt Tesmond, MBA’21
Kelley provides ample opportunity for us students to get up close and personal with a wide variety of companies. From networking nights to academy week trips, to case competitions and sponsored tailgates, we have a ton of opportunity to explore different career paths and company types through both the formal and informal events. One of the most impactful experiences for me was our student-led West Coast Trek. Treks are student-led excursions, locations not normally visited, that center around a certain business type or theme. Myself and two others designed the Tech Trek to straddle Seattle and San Francisco, focusing on not just the tech giants you might expect, but also on the high growth start-ups that could well be tomorrow’s tech giants. (more…)
How to Prepare for an Unknown Future Economy
By: Terri Cramer, Associate Director with Kelley Graduate Career Services
The Greek philosopher Heraclitus wrote, “Change is the only constant in life.” It’s a potent quote to apply to your work life these days as a growing percentage of the workforce suffers job losses due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Whether it’s the market, your responsibilities, the tools you use to do your job (e.g. working from home), satisfaction with your boss, your stakeholders’ expectations, or the organization itself, you are constantly going to be in a position where you will need to decide whether it is time for you to create change, or if it is time for you to react to a changing situation. In order to be ready when change happens and action is needed, you need to have an exit strategy.
What is an exit strategy? It’s the combination of activities you can engage in now to equip you to make a job change on short notice. We are all seeing the daily headlines illustrating the dynamism of the economy—companies who are implementing layoffs and others who need to ramp up their hiring at a jaw-dropping pace.
If you find that you need to change jobs, you do not want to start your search from the ground up. Most searches can take three to six months, even if you are staying in the same function, in the same industry, and in the same city. Landing a new job will take even longer if you are trying to move to a new city, and/or if you are trying to pivot to a new industry or function. So even if you have job stability now, be proactive, so that if you do need to switch, you can shorten the timing.
What does an exit strategy look like? Preparation in these three areas can ensure you will be ready for change: 1) Make networking a habit; 2) Keep your resume current and stay active on LinkedIn; and 3) Stay open to new possibilities; stay connected to the outside world.
1. Make networking a habit. No doubt about it, people get new jobs through networking. If you find yourself cringing at the idea of networking, then you should broaden your definition. Most people don’t like networking because they feel like they are asking other people for help or asking people to give them things that they otherwise have not earned. That’s not networking. Networking is about building strong relationships that create mutual value over time.
Think about connecting with people who are in jobs that you want to have, or who work for companies that you are interested in. Broaden your thinking to include alumni from all the institutions you’ve attended, vendors you work with, colleagues who have moved on, friends-of-friends and people in your various communities. You likely have a lot of people in your network already that you may just not be thinking about.
2. Keep your resume and LinkedIn profile up to date. It’s so much harder to recall the results of your performance after time has passed. Make your resume a living document that contains a running master list of your achievements, outcomes, and deliverables, updated as they happen.
You can avoid worrying about whether being active on LinkedIn signals your company that you are seeking a new job by always being active. Follow thought leaders, “like” the posts that your connections put out there, share articles and quotes that you think people in your network might want to read, or that really resonate with you. If you are knowledgeable about a topic, write an article and share it. You might be surprised at just how many people are interested in what you do. These activities are a great way to build your reputation in the open marketplace and to get noticed by recruiters.
3. Stay open to new possibilities; stay connected to the outside world. It is important to know what your market value is. Stay connected to the world outside of your organization. LinkedIn is a great way to learn what is going on in an industry, to learn about training opportunities, to learn about and understand your competition, and to stay in touch with your professional colleagues.
Terri Cramer is an Associate Director with Kelley Graduate Career Services. She helps alums figure out their next big thing by providing help with search strategies, feedback on resumes, and practice with interviewing and negotiating skills. For a listing of career services resources available to alumni and details for setting up an appointment to talk with Terri, send an email to tlcramer@iu.edu.
My First Semester at Kelley and Abroad
Kazu Maeda, MBA’21
After my first semester at Kelly, I’ve found that it has provided me with a bunch of great opportunities that I have never had before. Everything I have experienced here so far is far beyond my expectations. Among them, Integrated Core and Study Abroad.
Integrated Core Classes
In the first semester, we learned basic knowledge and skills about business overall (called Integrated Core). Each topic is made to mutually connect one another, so we could gain a holistic understanding of the entire business process, which is practical for our future jobs.
Throughout the Core classes, each student is assigned to a fixed group of four or five members. Kelley is well-known for its collaborative culture, and it was especially true for my Core team members. My team was quite supportive, and I believe we are the best Core team among all groups. In the final case competition, we got an award for our presentation as a team.
Exchange program in Winter break
This winter break, I went to Singapore as part of study abroad program. It was a one-week immersive program where I learned about technology, entrepreneurship, and the economy in Asia. We took great classes by NUS faculty, visited companies in Singapore, and interacted with 40 students coming from 15 different business schools around the world. It was a great opportunity to get a look at the business world from a different perspective than the U.S.
The Spring term of the first year is off to a busy start. We have classes, events, GLOBASE, Academy project, and of course recruiting. I enjoy every moment in the busy days.
I look forward to continued learning and challenge in the next semester!
Welcome to the Kelley MBA family
Sam McFadden, MBA‘21
One of the hardest parts of leaving my former job to enter the Kelley Full-Time MBA Program was saying goodbye to the people I had spent so much time working with. Over the course of ten years working in a small government office, my coworkers came to feel like a sort of second family. While I had heard that Kelley had a very close-knit and collaborative feel, I wondered whether I would be able to find the same level of connection and support I was leaving behind. Now just a few weeks into my second semester, I can emphatically answer “YES!”
At Kelley, I have found myself surrounded by students, faculty, and staff whose mission is to be their best selves while helping others become their best selves at the same time. For example, during the CORE in the fall, several students organized study tables that were led by fellow students volunteering their time just for the sake of helping each other get through challenging classes. Kelleys also sought to help one another and the community during the Faculty Auction put on by Kelley Women this fall. For this event, students, faculty and staff donated their time and talents to be auctioned off in support of the Boys & Girls Club of Bloomington and raised over $25,000 in the process.
As I listened to the debate between the two potential MBAA Slates (student leadership groups) running for student government election, I noticed that within each of their platforms was the idea that Kelleys are best when we work together – that we are a family. I couldn’t be happier that I have found this home, and I will forever be proud to be a member of the Kelley family.
The Kelley MBA: a program designed for the career changer
Amanda Sharpe, MBA’19
When I was first thinking of getting my MBA, I was a financial analyst for a semiconductor company in the Bay Area. I was budgeting, conducting product analysis, creating PowerPoints, and using Excel a lot. Fast forward 2 years and now I am an Associate Brand Manager at E&J Gallo managing two large wine brands. You might not think these two jobs have a lot in common, but through the help of my Kelley MBA, I was able to see the similarities and skills that were transferable to help me achieve my dream job and successfully make a career switch.
Me, Inc.
Me, Inc is a special time during the first 2 weeks of your first year of the Kelley MBA program where you start to dig into your prior experiences to develop an in-depth understanding of your personal story and how it connects to the next steps in your career even before classes begin. Regardless of where you want to go after school, Me Inc challenges you to uncover the amazing things that shaped who you are before you got to Kelley. People sometimes forget how important that piece is when uncovering where you want to go next. Me Inc helped me understand the invaluable skills I learned my three years in finance that would ultimately help me excel in marketing as well. During Me Inc, I also discovered the career path that I wanted to pursue. Like most people, I was a little unsure of where I wanted to go post-MBA, and the programs in Me Inc are designed to helped guide you to answers. I was able to talk to classmates in these industries prior to school, faculty that have seen countless students enter these jobs after school, and even representatives from companies that recruit at Kelley. Between all of this, I was able to narrow down my search and begin transitioning into my new career path!
Academies
While the classes at Kelley help shape your overall business skills, the academies dive deeper into the various roles you can begin post-grad school. The academies probably helped the most in my career search because not only did it open doors to companies to network with, but also we discussed brand roles in detail and I really got to imagine what life would be like in this new career path. In the Consumer Marketing Academy, we had the opportunity to speak with and hear from top CPG companies in the country. We visited offices in Ohio, Chicago, and Indianapolis and were able to uncover various roles in consumer marketing. I also did a “mock” internship project with Proctor & Gamble that helped me tackle my summer internship project at E&J Gallo. The academies were a very helpful tool and gave me a leg up while applying to internships and landing that full-time offer. It is something unique the Kelley MBA offers that enables students to understand specific industries before your summer internship.
Ultimately, Kelley helped me realize all the transferrable skills to highlight when speaking with new industries and companies. Kelley also prepared me with the necessary industry skills to completely change careers. I went from being a financial analyst budgeting for semiconductors to managing wine brands for the largest winery in the US. I couldn’t have asked for a better experience at Kelley or a better job post-MBA!