USC Marshall Women are ‘Stronger Together,’ and More – Los Angeles News
Happy Friday! Let’s dig into some of the biggest stories coming out of Los Angeles this morning.
USC Marshall’s’ ATHENA Conference Honors Women Entrepreneurs – USC Marshall News
USC Marshall School of Business’ second annual ATHENA conference, focusing upon women entrepreneurs, kicked off at USC’s Town & Gown with more than 500 guests to celebrate the theme “Stronger Together”.
With such guests as USC’s Interim President Dr. Wanda Austin, GOOP Founder and popular actress Gwyneth Paltrow, and Dr. Sumun Pendakur, Chief Learning Officer of the USC Equity Institutes, the event took place over a day and also featured a pitch competition and panel sessions.
Dr. Austin said, “I want to thank all of you for celebrating women leaders and their entrepreneurial journeys, which as I’m sure you have heard today, are not easy journeys, but they are tremendously rewarding… It’s an uplifting experience to hear from so many smart, talented, bright, innovative, inspiring women, and all of you should count yourselves in that group.”
Willow Bay, USC’s Annenberg School of Communication and Journalism dean, presented Paltrow with an award to honor her accomplishments as an entrepreneur, noting of GOOP, “A newsletter that she hit the ‘send’ button on in 2008 now reaches a reported 8 million people. And it’s really the starter fuel for what has become a significant global lifestyle brand.”
The Female Founders Pitch Competition, open to USC students, faculty, staff or alumni less than five years from graduation, awarded a prize of $10,000 to winner Thea Knobel. Knobel beat out 44 other entrants for her pitch, ‘Cool Cube’.
You can read more about the USC Summit event here.
Chapman University’s Argyros School’s MBA Mentor Participants Celebrate 10th Anniversary – Chapman Argyros News
Chapman University’s Argyros School of Business‘ 10th Annual MBA Mentor Program kicked off at the Leatherby Center for Entrepreneurship and Business with a welcome reception that honored 2018’s participants.
The program features 30 graduate students who will be mentored by 34 executives from such organizations as Johnson & Johnson, Disney, Taco Bell, and Experian. Stacey Moynahan, Assistant Dean of Undergraduate Programs and Career Services and Joel Pearson, Assistant Director, Argyros School Career Services are responsible for recruiting mentors and making appropriate matches with students.
Pearson and Moynahan interview participants at the end of each year to make improvements upon the program and to discuss the strengths and challenges involved in each of the mentor and student relationships. October’s welcome reception served as a foundation for students as they embark upon their career journeys with their mentors’ guidance.
You can lear more about the Argyros MBA Mentor Program here.
CSU Fullerton’s Mihaylo College Sales Leadership Center Welcomes New Director – Mihaylo News
The CSUF Mihaylo College Sales Leadership Center, which seeks to assist students in their pursuit of careers in sales leadership roles, recently welcomed Brad Anderson as the center’s new director.
Anderson hopes to develop new initiatives at the Center, including a new minor in sales, as well as expanding its reach with further connections with leaders in sales positions.
A look inside the Cal State Fullerton Sales Leadership Center / Photo via business.fullerton.edu
Discussing his own aptitude for selling, Anderson described how his career evolved when he realized his passion for cultivating relationships.
“I discovered that I had a proficiency for sales and relationships [and interacting with people],” he says. “My first offer came from Carnation Company to sell quality products to local grocers. I developed relationships with store managers and solved problems for them while earning a good living. I also had a flexible schedule and work/life balance.”
He proceeded to spend the majority of his 30 year career with Nestlé Purina Pet Care Company.
The CSLC has proven to be a hub of career development for Mihaylo students, through its sales competitions and events that connect students with numerous opportunities for their careers. “The sponsoring companies see our students shine as they present the scenarios in realistic settings with presentations to buyers. The students compete for scholarships and bragging rights, along with trophies, which are great résumé builders,” Anderson says.
You can read more about the Leadership Center here.
Finding The Best Affordable Full-Time MBA Programs
Earning an MBA is a great way to ensure some level of financial security in the future. However, if earning the degree leaves you with mountains of debt, that security can start to seem like a pipe dream. Fortunately, there are business schools that provide some of the best affordable full-time MBA programs in the country.
Analyzing the full-time MBA rankings from U.S. News & World Report, we outline ten of the best MBA programs throughout the country that don’t come with the hefty price tag. Check out the ten programs that cost less than $25,000 per semester below.
The Best Affordable Full-Time MBA Programs
The D’Amore-McKim School of Business at Northeastern University charges $1,600 per credit for their 55-credit program. The cost comes to about $22,000 per semester, which is not bad considering the average starting salary for recent grads is $88,000. The Boston school also offers its students a corporate residency while pursuing their degree, which helps alleviate financial pressure. The average salary for the Corporate Residencies was a respectable $32.52 per hour in 2018. Moreover, 91 percent of MBAs receive job offers within three months of graduation. Students with an interest in international business can participate in the Global Consulting Project or International Field Study.
At $11,855 per semester, going to La Salle University allows students to earn their MBAs without breaking the bank. The length of the program varies depending on a student’s previous credits and scheduling choices. Students who majored or minored in business can complete their degree in 12 months, whereas students without a business major or minor may take up to 24 months. Options for specialization include: accounting, business systems and analytics, finance, general business administration, management, and marketing.
Despite the reasonable price tag, La Salle grads have gone on to work high-level positions at well-known companies like Deloitte LLP and Morgan Chase.
The University of Colorado, Boulder Leeds School of Business ranks 65th overall among the best full-time MBA programs on U.S. News, and has a welcoming price tag to back it up. For in-state residents, the program is only $900 per credit ($1,200 for out-of-state residents). Over the course of 55 credits, this comes to just $49,500 for in-state residents over the entire two years of the program: $24,750 per year.
Leeds emphasizes entrepreneurship and a global outlook. The degree electives encourage students to concentrate on finance, marketing, management, or systems-operations. Students can complement this “functional focus” with a more tailored specialization like entrepreneurship, real estate, or sustainability. MBAs are not limited to MBA courses, as the program allows them to take up to four electives in other schools at CU Boulder. Additionally, students earning their MBA in Sustainability have the opportunity to take courses in University of Colorado’s Environmental Studies, Engineering, and Law Schools.
Upstate New Yorkers will be pleased to learn that the Binghamton University School of Management costs about $17,205 (with fees) per year for in-state residents. Non-residents pay about $26,745 (with fees) per year. Binghamton also does not require that entering MBAs have a business background, though they recommend a rudimentary knowledge of calculus, as well as strong skills in English and IT. The standard four-semester MBA is open to students from all undergrad majors. The school is currently 76th on the U.S. News list. Binghamton, NY may also be a strategic career-launch location, as the city made the Forbes list of “The Best Small Places For Business And Careers.”
Internships and opportunities to hobnob abound in the U.S. capital, making DC an excellent place to earn an MBA. However, with the cost of living on the rise, finding a relatively affordable school is key to maximizing return on investment. The cost of pursuing an MBA at the Kogod School of Business at American University comes out to about $20,923 per semester, for a total cost of $83,692. And, with a mean graduate salary of $84,725, it should not take grads long to see a respectable ROI. Kogod offers features like weekly Business Leadership Luncheons, wherein local business pioneers share their experiences and insights with students. Speakers have included senior executives from PayPal, IBM, and Marriott International. Graduates of the program have gone on to work at companies like Amazon, Deloitte, and Ford Motor Company.
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: The Five Most Valuable Online MBAs
MBAs at the Argryros School of Business—the 79th overall school on the U.S. News list—pay $1,655 per credit. Which, for the 50-credit program, averages to about $20,687 per semester. The Orange County, CA school offers tracks in accounting, business analytics, entertainment and media management, entrepreneurship, finance, global business, marketing, and strategic management. The school also offers a variety of dual degrees, including an MBA/MFA in Film & TV Producing.
The University of San Diego School of Business Administration MBA currently costs $1,420 per credit. With a 56-credit requirement for the two-year program, the cost without fees comes to around $19,880 per semester. It is tied with the aforementioned Argyros School of Business at 79th overall on the U.S. News list of the country’s best business schools.
USD’s curriculum is based on four pillars: Leadership development; business function core; corporate social responsibility, sustainability, and ethics; integrative problem solving. For students with a global mindset, the International MBA has the same cost per credit, but requires only 44 credits.
In addition to being affordable, the Lerner College of Business is located in Delaware, where tax-free shopping makes the cost of living far less daunting. The Lerner MBA costs just $825 per credit for Delaware residents, and $1,000 per credit for those from out of state. This puts total cost per semester in a range from $9,075-$11,000.
Lerner MBAs can choose from a variety of concentrations, including (but not limited to): business analytics, international business, and sport management. Students can pursue a full-time, part-time, online, or hybrid MBA. Pursuing a hybrid of online and on-campus courses may also be fiscally helpful, since online credits tend to be more cost-effective.
The CSU College of Business offers several options for students pursuing an MBA. The school has a nationally renowned online MBA program, and also offers a Global Social and Sustainable Enterprise MBA, an Executive MBA, and an Evening MBA.
According to U.S. News, tuition for the full-time program is $757 per credit for in-state students and $1,557 per credit for out-of-state students. Given the huge cost cut for Colorado natives, CSU may be a prudent choice for residents of the state.
Students who are NYC-bound might consider applying to the Pace University Lubin School of Business. The total cost of an MBA education at Lubin education can vary, as different tracks require a different number of credits. However, at $1,267 per credit, the cost can be very manageable, particularly considering its prime spot in downtown Manhattan and all of the internship and job opportunities this location presents. Particularly for those with a bent toward accounting or finance, Lubin may be the perfect launching pad for a career in the big city. A substantial 92 percent of recent grads found jobs upon graduating.
The Potential US-China Trade War, and More – Los Angeles News
Take a look at the latest news coming out of business schools in the Los Angeles metro.
Potential Trade War Shadows An Otherwise Healthy Economy, Chapman Economists Say – Chapman University Newsroom
The Economic Forecast Update, a recent report from economists at Chapman University’s Argyros School of Business, takes a look at the recent economic growth throughout the country, but warns of potential trouble down the road for California.
“In 2018 we see a strong economy, but clouds are on the horizon for California, especially if the trade war intensifies and especially if we lose construction as a major engine of economic growth, California’s economy will slow down,” commented Jim Doti, Ph.D., Chapman economist and President Emeritus.
The report, which was put together by Dr. Doti and economists at the A. Gary Anderson Center for Economic Research, also looked into factors beyond price that increase value for California properties. With assistance from undergraduate research, the Chapman report breaks down the areas in California with the most under and over-valued properties.
Find more information on economic insights coming out of the Argyros School of Business here.
CSUF Startup Incubator Helps Entrepreneur Launch Student-Focused, Money-Saving App – Mihaylo Community News
Through a partnership with the CSUF Startup Incubator at the Mihaylo College of Business, entrepreneur John Barton was able to turn his idea into reality—a discount app for student that encourages participation in diverse social experiences.
“I wanted to have an outlet for students who didn’t want to go out every night but wanted to have some type of social interaction that didn’t involve going to bars,” Barton explains. His Point ‘n Save app, which was developed through the mentorship and support of the school’s incubator program, is now available for anyone with a university email address. The app offers discounts for a wide variety of activities and local businesses, with rewards for frequent users.
The new Point ‘n Save app, which was helped by the CSUF Startup Incubator, offers students new, diverse experiences.
You can read more about Mihaylo’s entrepreneurship incubator and the development of Barton’s app here.
Aaron Concha: Pathway to Leadership Paved with Service – UCI Paul Merage School of Business Newsroom
Aaron Concha, a 2018 graduate of the full time MBA program at University of California, Irvine’s Paul Merage School of Business, is a stand out example of the kind of impact Merage students can make in their work.
Returning home after serving as a medic in Afghanistan, Concha was drawn to the Merage School of Business because of how his army experience was recognized and appreciated by the admissions office, according to the recent piece. In the first year of the program, class projects encouraged Concha to gain a deep understanding of interpersonal conflict, gaining the confidence he needed to take on even bigger challenges in his second year. He went on to become president of the Merage Student Association (MSA), under which all student organizations operate. During his time in the MSA, Concha not only learned how to turn an idea into reality, but also gained a lasting community of friends and professionals.
“My military service gave me the humility to understand how tough decisions impact an organization,” Concha comments. “The Merage MBA has given me the experiences to make those decisions.”
Check out more about the full-time MBA program at UCI Merage here.
The Fastest MBA You Can Earn in Los Angeles
Los Angeles may not be typically associated with the break-neck pace of life like New York or Washington DC, that doesn’t mean your business school career has to be slow there. A fast MBA is becoming an increasingly large priority for new MBA students throughout the U.S., and, luckily, Los Angeles has plenty of fast options.
With businesses constantly growing in the city (LA added 6,400 new jobs just last April), the faster MBA students can get their degree in hand means the faster they can get to work. Not to mention that accelerated or shortened MBA programs usually mean spending less money on tuition and living expenses while in school—minimizing the amount of time students will have to forego an income.
We looked at some of the fastest MBAs you can earn in Los Angeles, with some unique programs taking as little as 12 months to complete. These MBAs will allow you to get quickly down to business without sacrificing the quality or integrity of the program.
Finding a Fast MBA in Los Angeles
Marshall School of Business – USC
The USC Marshall MBA is one of the top ranked programs in the country, and with the One-Year International MBA for Mid-Career Professionals (IBEAR MBA), you can have that degree in your hand in just 12 months. The program, which is designed for mid-career professionals looking to expand their leadership opportunities in global business, provides career development opportunities, personalized career plans, and plenty of chances to explore the world.
The program is truly global and the average class size of 55 can represent anywhere from 12-15 countries. Participants, with an average of 11 years of professional experience, come from a wide range of academic backgrounds, including those with undergraduate majors in computer science, science & engineering, and even the humanities. These mid-level professionals can seriously minimize the amount of time they must take away from work, and in the process gaining an IBEAR alumni network of 1800 across 60 countries.
Mount Saint Mary’s University, Los Angeles
The Mount Saint Mary’s MBA program is designed to create effective global leaders who are trained in value-based decision making to bring real and impactful change to the businesses they lead. And the best part? The program takes just 18 months to complete. One of these semesters consists of “Foundations” courses for business leaders just starting out, and may be waived for candidates that have taken similar courses during their undergraduate studies, which may even further reduce the program’s length.
The Mount Saint Mary’s fast MBA is a unique program that centers itself around theme-based models, combining business disciplines like marketing, law, or finance, to give students a broader view of the interdisciplinary nature of business. The 18-month program also includes a final project that will require teams of students to partner with a “real world” organization to solve their business problems.
Argyros School of Business – Chapman University
The Professional MBA program at Chapman University’s Argyros School of Business allows students to customize their degree and move through the program at their own pace. For dedicated students, the program can be completed in as little as 21 months. The class schedule is flexible, which allows students the chance to move at their own pace throughout the program, choosing between both evening and daytime courses. Students may also choose a specialization in which to focus their degree, such as marketing analytics, entertainment, and global business, among others.
Even though the Chapman Professional MBA is flexible and at times fast-paced, the university does not compromise in quality and students will have the same benefits available to them as those in more traditional programs. Students in the Chapman MBA program will be taught by professional and renowned faculty, have access to the university’s career services department, and even have opportunities to travel around the world.
CHECK THIS OUT: Here are the Los Angeles Internship Opportunities You Need to Know
California State University, Long Beach College of Business Administration
The Accelerated MBA program at California State University, Long Beach is designed for young professionals with little experience in the business world. Focusing on entrepreneurship and innovation, the program will train these up-and-coming business leaders in how to bring new products to the market, identify business opportunities, and manage small business ventures.
The Accelerated program at CSULB can be completed in as little as 13 months, allowing students to jump back into work with an MBA on their resume just over a year after they start. The program is also heavily centered around internship experience, which will allow students to gain crucial hands-on experience while earning their degree, and get closer to the school’s objective of ensuring every student has a job offer by graduation.
Anderson School of Management – UCLA
The UCLA-NUS Executive MBA, offered jointly through UCLA’s Anderson School of Management and the National University of Singapore Business School, can be completed in just fifteen months and results in two fast MBA degrees from two of the world’s top business schools.
If you are looking for a truly global degree—and the international experience to back it up—this could be the perfect degree for you. Every three months, your cohort of students from around the world will gather for two weeks at locations from Los Angeles to Shanghai and anywhere in between.
MBAs: Here are the Los Angeles Internship Opportunities You Need to Know
If you’re looking for lots of sun, beautiful beaches, and a bustling business headquarters, Los Angeles is likely your city. So, it’s no surprise that it’s also a top location for earning an MBA. Not only is Los Angeles home to many top business schools—such as UCLA’s Anderson School of Management and the USC Marshall School of Business—but it’s also a central hub for tech startups and Fortune 500 companies.
Of course, this means is that Los Angeles is also an excellent city for MBA internships. There are a wealth of opportunities and companies where MBAs can start their careers. We’ve outlined some of our favorite Los Angeles internship opportunities below.
Los Angeles Internship Opportunities You Need to Know
21st Century Fox is an American multinational mass media corporation headquartered in New York City, but with a large office in Los Angeles. It’s the fourth largest media conglomerate in the U.S.
Both USC Marshall and UCLA Anderson have sent MBA students to intern at 21st Century Fox in the last year, according to their latest employment reports. These MBA students have the unique opportunity to participate in a summer internship program, which typically includes 20-25 hours per week of work.
More than 600 internships are offered each year in a range of divisions from film to television and sports. In addition, 21st Century Fox interns can work in a broad range of departments from marketing to finance, production, information technology, legal, digital, human resources, and business development and strategy.
Headquartered in Thousand Oaks, California, Amgen Inc. is a multinational biopharmaceutical company with a keen interest in MBA talent. Last year, Amgen hired 10-15 students out of UCLA Anderson, according to the school’s employment report. They were also a top hiring company at USC Marshall for full-time employment and internships.
As the world’s largest independent biotechnology firm, Amgen is the ideal company for MBA candidates interested in working in the biotech industry. MBA internships are offered in a variety of fields including finance, operations, marketing, or commercial leadership. According to the Amgen website, internships for first-year MBA students serve as the primary source of talent selection for the company’s full-time positions.
Located in El Segunda, CA, Mattel Inc. is one of the most well-known toy manufacturing companies in the world. They’re best known for brands such as Fisher-Price, Barbie, Hot Wheels, and American Girl. In 2017, the UC Irvine Merage School of Business sent six MBA students to Mattel for an internship opportunity and another four MBAs were hired full-time, according to the latest employment report.
Mattel Inc. offers internships for both full-time and part-time students interested in working in their marketing, finance, supply chain, or human resources divisions. Their Los Angeles internship programs are typically 12 weeks in length and often lead to full-time employment offers.
On Glassdoor, one MBA intern spoke about their experience at Mattel saying, “Mattel attracts diverse talent for various roles with serious intent to hire. Mattel’s summer internship is full of events and speakers that are specifically set up to welcome and educate interns, and the internship provides a great way for MBA students to try out the company before coming on full time.”
It won’t be surprising to hear this, but, Deloitte has a considerable presence in Los Angeles, CA; so it’s no wonder that the company hires many MBA students from the top business school programs in the area. Last year, Deloitte was the third largest employer of MBA students at UCLA Anderson. So, it’s no surprise that Deloitte made Fortune’s list of “25 Top MBA Employers.”
Internship opportunities vary at Deloitte with many options in consulting with focuses on either strategy and operations or business technology. Other internship opportunities include a business analyst summer scholar as well as a tax consultant internship. Depending on an MBA student’s interest and background, they can join various teams at the company.
In 2012, CNN Money ranked Nike as the 9th best company for MBAs to work for, and in the six years since, not much has changed. Headquartered in Portland, Oregon, the company looks to Los Angeles for many of its internship opportunities, which is currently one of the best ways to gain full-time employment at the company.
Nike internships are offered in almost every division of the company from technology to finance, supply chain, merchandising, legal, marketing, procurement, analytics, and more. MBA students who are chosen for a Nike internship will find themselves working on a team project over the course of 12 weeks with a project pitch at the end of the summer. There are also social events throughout the summer. UCLA Anderson and USC Marshall both sent MBA students to Nike in 2017.
Los Angeles News: Chapman Alum Returns as New COO, and More
Let’s take a look at some of the biggest news coming out of Los Angeles business schools this week.
Brian’s Journey to COO: An MBA Network That Made Career Aspirations Reality – Chapman University Newsroom
The Argyros School of Business at Chapman University profiled alumni Brian Goodman, whose experience in the Chapman MBA program led him to a role as Chief Operating Officer.
Goodman, who had been working as a corporate attorney, entered Chapman’s EMBA program in the fall of 2015, quickly taking advantage of the many networking opportunities the program offered. It was through one of these MBA-association events that Goodman met Robin Follman-Otta, who would ultimately help shape his career by offering him the COO role at her firm, Markall Incorporated and RA Industries. Although Goodman never expected finding himself in the manufacturing industry, he joined Robin’s company shortly after his May 2017 graduation and has found it a perfect fit. He credits the Chapman EMBA program with providing him both the professional network and experience to make crucial progress in the business world.
Read more about Goodman’s experience at the Chapman EMBA program here.
Brian Goodman, the new COO of the Chapman MBA program / Photo via blogs.chapman.edu
Center for Women in Leadership Hosts Outreach Conference – Pepperdine Newsroom
The Graziado School of Business and Management at Pepperdine University recently hosted the Women in Leadership Reachout Conference on February 13 in Malibu. The day-long event involved discussion panels revolving around issues that impact women in business, such as moving through male-dominated fields, work/life balance, and strategies and goals for mentorship.
“The conference brought C-suite level women to our campus to share real-life stories of making it to the top and thriving once you get there,” said director of the Center for Women in Leadership and Graziado professor Bernice Ledbetter. “Audience members were given a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to learn from some of the top women executives in the nation.”
The event was presented as a partnership with C200, which also presented $10,000 scholarships to three exemplary female MBA students.
You can read more about the Women in Leadership conference at Graziado here.
How and Why Cal State Fullerton Students Launch Companies Before They Graduate – The Orange County Register
The Orange County Register recently took a deeper look into the New Venture Creation and Funding class at the Mihaylo College of Business. The program, which has about 200 majors, encourages students to create startups even before graduation day—with the full support of mentors and faculty at Mihaylo. The program centers around the idea of the “lean startup,” which looks for market input early on in development. After students have created their pitch, a panel of investors hear their ideas and often are so inspired they offer funding on the spot.
Successful companies from past entrepreneurship students have included a local craft beer maker Bootlegger’s Brewery; a tutor service which helps connects students with tutors who have been through the same class, Wecademi; and an online piano lesson service called Piano with Johnny.
Read more about the Mihaylo entrepreneurship program here.
These LA Business Schools Are Helping Low Income Students Pursue Their Dreams – MetroMBA
Last week, we profiled several schools in the Los Angeles metro area, including the UCLA Anderson School of Management and Marshall School of Business at USC, which provide ample opportunities for in and out-of-state prospective MBA students that need financial assistance with their education. As well, we highlighted many of the offerings available to military veterans.
For low-income MBA applicants who also have a history of military service, there are many unique financial aid opportunities. The exact services available will depend on the school, but some of these programs are available at schools across California and the U.S.
First, there’s the Yellow Ribbon Program, which many Los Angeles business schools take part in, including Chapman University Argyros School of Business. This program awards MBA students up to $6,000 for tuition and fees. Another program open to military veterans is the Post-9/11 GI Bill, which includes payments directly to the university for tuition and fees, a monthly housing allowance, and an annual books and supplies stipend up to $1,000 per year.
Individual schools like the USC Marshall School of Business also offer their own specific scholarships for military veterans. The Schoen Family Scholarship Program for Veterans is available to full-time MBA students at Marshall and has, to date, provided a staggering $1.2 million in financial support to 173 students at the university.
You can read more about the financial opportunities for lower-income applicants here.
