Arizona’s MBA Admissions Assistant Director Answers Our 5 Questions
In our latest installment of the MetroMBA “5 Questions” series, we speak with Kimberly Winchell, M.A., the University of Arizona MBA Admissions Assistant Director at the Eller College of Management. Winchell talks about what makes an ideal MBA candidate, advantages at Eller, and the perfect holiday gift, below.
1.) Who is the Ideal Candidate for the Eller MBA Program?
“The ideal candidate for the Eller MBA program is someone who is looking to make strong connections with faculty and their peers while developing their business knowledge and leadership skills.”
2.) What’s One Clear Advantage Arizona Eller Students Can Expect Compared to Other Schools?
“Here at Eller MBA, we offer a boutique style program which means each student gets individual attention. This means strong connections with faculty, staff, alumni and many opportunities to get involved.”
3.) For Those on the Fence on Enrolling in Eller’s MBA Program, What Alternatives are Offered at the School?
“All of our MBA programs focus on teamwork, and the ability to communicate effectively with others. Our business communication classes are renowned for preparing students to be successful in their careers, whether it is Negotiation, or Crisis Communications, Eller MBA graduates are ready to problem solve.”
4.) Are There Any Changes We Can Expect Coming to Arizona Eller Soon?
“We have some exciting new features to our programs including a student ambassador group, and mentor programs. We are also growing our dual-degree options for students interested in pursuing more than just their MBA.”
5.) With The Holidays Coming Up, What’s One Perfect Gift You Could Give an MBA Prospect?
“An excellent GMAT score! What I actually hope for all prospective students is that they find the program that is the best fit for them, one that will allow them to grow both personally and professionally.”
Loyola Quinlan Professor Offers Holiday Gift Buying Advice to Shoppers
News Flash: We’re less than one week away from Christmas! Have you finished your holiday shopping yet? Of course you haven’t! For those procrastinators who have not, Professor Mary Ann McGrath of the Loyola University Quinlan School of Business has some tips for you.
McGrath recently published a guide on the Quinlan website that outlines four shortcuts for gift giving. The list offers consumers a few different ideas on how to best spend money on others this holiday season. A survey by the National Retail Federation shows that shoppers are expected to spend about $967 this year, up 3.4 percent from 2016; and that number only increases for those in the 18-24 year-old demographic.
McGrath’s first piece of advice is to focus on one or two special people. Don’t get hung up on finding special gifts to everyone in your life, you’ll only be wearing yourself, your time, and your money thin. Instead, she advises that consumers “choose one or two special people in your life—perhaps your significant other, a very special friend, or a parent—and find that special gift for him or her.”
Next, McGrath encourages giving non-traditional gifts, such as services or nonprofit contributions. Think of who you are buying for an purchase a service that best suits them. Know someone with kids? Buy them credit toward a babysitting service. Got a foodie in your life? You can’t go wrong with a restaurant gift card.
For those who have everything, consider making a contribution to a charity in their name. “If you are not sure which groups your recipient favors, a charity that benefits children is always a good choice,” she says.
Ultimately, McGrath says that the most successful gifts are small do not necessarily come from a store. In fact, she has found that “the perfect gift” is oftentime the handmade gift of a child. “In just that spirit, give generously and freely, try not to burden yourself or your recipients, and enjoy the company of family and friends,” she says.
McGrath, a professor of marketing, is an expert on consumer rituals, gift exchanges, and shopping behavior. She recently expanded her research into the international marketplace, and publishing several papers related to shopping and consumer behavior in China, where she lived and taught for two years. You can learn more about McGrath by reading her bio page.
DePaul Combines Theoretical And Practical Knowledge With Big Data
With the rise of big data, marketers are finding new ways to analyze and predict consumer behavior in order to provide products and services to meet customer needs. The term big data refers to the collection of data that is large and complex and gathered through multiple methods. For marketing, that could be data from point-of-sale scanners at a store, loyalty cards or online shopping habits.
“Marketing has become more data driven over the last 30 years,” Sue Fogel, chair of DePaul University’s Department of Marketing said. “Based on the data about what people have bought, what we can do now is make recommendations for other products that they might like. You can get a very detailed profile of customers and use that to predict what it is they’re likely to buy.” Continue reading…
