School vs. School: FSU vs Miami
Florida’s reputation as a sunburnt smorgasbord of vacationers, beach bodies, and retirees belies the ethnic, cultural, political, and geographic diversity within and between the state’s various regions. Simply put, there are many distinctions to be made from place to place and Florida’s institutions of higher learning are no exception. For aspiring business leaders, the choice of where to matriculate is a major factor to consider when deciding on a school.
Case in point: FSU vs Miami—two business schools at nearly opposite ends of the Sunshine State.
Alumni Spotlight: Sports Agent Drew Rosenhaus
If you are interested in the business of sports, it is highly likely you are familiar with the name of Drew Rosenhaus. Beloved and reviled in equal measure, no one has a neutral opinion of the man. Regardless of people’s feelings toward him, Rosenhaus has achieved the remarkable feat of becoming one of the defining figures in the NFL without ever having set foot on the field.
Rosenhaus is a football super agent who is relentless in fighting for his clients’ interests. He currently represents over 110 NFL players and has negotiated $1.1 billion in contracts. Rosenhaus’s industry presence was mythical enough for Cameron Crowe to base Tom Cruise’s character in Jerry Maguire on him.
The Start: University of Miami
Rosenhaus spent his entire youth watching the Miami Dolphins, his local professional football team. He went to games and practices whenever he could, and because his dad knew players through his work as a real estate agent and boat manufacturer, Rosenhaus had the opportunity to talk to players frequently. All of those experiences convinced Rosenhaus that he had to do something with football.
By the time he enrolled at the University of Miami Business School, Rosenhaus knew that he wanted to be a sports agent. However, he did not think that it was a real path until he befriended a classmate of his at Miami—Hall of Fame wide receiver Michael Irvin. Rosenhaus tutored Irvin and other students on the Miami football team. The players liked Rosenhaus’s ability to relate to them, and he liked being a part of the football world.
His First Client
After his experiences with Irvin and other football players, Rosenhaus pursued his desire to be an agent by enrolling in Duke Law School after completing his business degree at the University of Miami. In 1989, during his second year, Rosenhaus landed his first client, Robert Massey.
At age 22, Rosenhaus became the youngest sports agent working at that time. After going official, Rosenhaus decided to start his own firm, Rosenhaus Sports Representation. Rather than hire staff immediately, Rosenhaus convinced his brother, Jason, to get a degree in accounting so that they could work together; the plan succeeded. After Jason graduated from the University of Miami in 1991, the Rosenhaus brothers set out to create the largest agency in the NFL.
The Rise of Drew Rosenhaus
Rosenhaus’s status as a football agent rose quickly after signing Massey. As he noted in a question-and-answer session with ESPN, Rosenhaus says that he worked his way up to 12 clients within his first couple of years as an agent. The number of clients only increased after that. Rosenhaus believes his success is derived from the relationships he has with his clients.
As he noted in a 2011 60 Minutes interview with Scott Pelley, Rosenhaus works hard to maintain a personal relationship with each of his many clients. He said, “My clients are like my family, like my brothers—literally.” Like a brother, Rosenhaus always takes his clients’ calls: “If I get a call in the middle of the night, I have to take it. If I’m with a girl I have to take it. If I’m in the shower, I have to take it.” Like a brother, Rosenhaus always works to get his client the best deal possible, always watching out for their best interests in a sport that is notorious for its disregard of players.
This deep commitment to his clients and their welfare has made him into an extremely popular agent with players, if not necessarily with teams or other agents, who disapprove of his aggressive style. His clients range from exciting collegiate draft prospects to Pro Bowl veterans. Notable current clients include Antonio Brown, Trent Brown, and Kwon Alexander.
The Future
The story of Drew Rosenhaus and Rosenhaus Sports Representation does not stop at the NFL. While Rosenhaus stays active in the NFL, the firm is branching out into other sports. In the past two years, Rosenhaus’s firm has begun to sign baseball and basketball athletes. Although development in these areas is currently limited, Rosenhaus expects there to be growth in both these areas in the coming years.
Finding the Top Part-Time MBAs in Florida
Florida may not be the first U.S. state that comes to mind when rising business leaders consider where to make their mark. But don’t be fooled by the “Florida Man” meme; the Sunshine State is not only home to three of the highest-ranked “boomtowns,” but it also has the nation’s fourth-largest GDP and total personal income. It makes perfect sense why Forbes ranks Florida #7 on its 2018 “Best States for Business” list.
For prospective MBAs interested in part-time business school opportunities in Florida, we took a closer look at several stand-out options.
The Best Florida Part-Time MBA Programs
Ranked 32nd on the U.S. News & World Report list of the best part-time MBAs in the U.S., the University of Florida’s Hough Graduate School of Business offers several part-time MBA tracks.
The Weekend Professional MBA is available in both a two-year and a 16-month accelerated course to those who have completed an undergraduate business degree within the previous seven years. For those without an undergraduate background in business, a two-year track without prerequisites is also offered.
For students seeking options outside the Gainesville area main campus, University of Florida’s MBA Sunrise Center in Southern Florida offers another two-year track.
Part-time online options are also available. Tuition is reported at $26,622 per year in-state $26,622 and per year out-of-state.
Located in the capital city of Tallahassee, FSU’s College of Business offers multiple business degree options for those seeking a part-time MBA option. Overall, the program currently ranks 57th on the U.S. News & World Report ranking.
The Evening MBA format presents a seven-semester program tailored to working professionals, including a pathway for “Florida’s state-employee tuition waivers, giving state workers the opportunity to pursue an exceptional graduate business degree at minimal cost.”
The school also offers an Online MBA and a hybrid Online part-time with Real Estate track. Tuition is reported at $780.18 in-state and $810.24 out-of-state
UCF’s College of Business Administration offers two part-time MBA options, earning the 89th spot on the U.S. News & World Report part-time MBA ranking. The Evening MBA program allows a flexible pace with weekday evening classes at UCF’s main campus in Orlando.
The AACSB-accredited part-time Professional MBA program “features convenient evening classes at the UCF Executive Development Center each summer term and at UCF regional campus locations on a rotational basis.” Tuition is reported at $370 per credit in-state and $1,194 per credit out-of-state.
The Muma College of Business at University of South Florida offers a part-time MBA “designed with the full-time working professional in mind.” Located in Tampa Bay, Muma draws students from across the Tampa Bay area and boasts notable alumni such as FedEx Co-CEO and CIO Robert Carter and Dell Chief Innovation Officer Jim Stikeleather. The part-time program holds the 99th spot on the U.S. News & World Report part-time MBA ranking.
With a curriculum focused on “data analytics” and developing creativity in its business leaders, an accelerated calendar and evening courses are also offered to part-time MBA candidates. Tuition is reported at $467 per credit in-state and $913 out-of-state.
The Chapman Graduate School of Business at Florida International University offers a variety of part-time MBA options, including a Professional MBA Weekend, Professional MBA Downtown, Professional MBA Flex, and an the Professional MBA Online. In all, the school currently holds the 109th spot on the U.S. News & World Report part-time MBA ranking.
Each option is tailored to particular needs of the working professional, ranging in options from accelerated course schedules to flexibility in electives and field specialization.
Chapman’s Online program is AACSB-accredited and the school’s part-time programs boast a $103,000 average salary. Total in-state tuition is $48,000 while out-of-staters can expect to pay $54,000.
New MBA Jobs: CitiGroup, Cisco, IDEO and More
New and exciting MBA jobs are posted to the careers pages of great companies every week. Here’s a rundown of some of the latest and greatest opportunities for MBAs at corporate offices around the United States:
New MBA Jobs: Goldman Sachs, Walmart, Coca Cola, and More
A new week means a new rundown of the best new MBA jobs out there! This list features entry level positions and roles for seasoned vets, so there’s something for everyone here. Apply today and get your post-MBA career started right away!
LeBronomics: UCLA Professor Explains What to Expect in Los Angeles
When basketball ultra-star LeBron James inked his new deal with the Los Angeles Lakers, it was more than just a big move for him and fans: it was a big move for the Los Angeles economy. That’s because a star such as James can create a significant financial imprint in any city he plays, according to a study co-authored by Harvard University Associate Professor Daniel Shoag and Stan Veuger of the American Enterprise Institute.
The LeBron James Effect
“James has a statistically and economically significant positive effect on both the number of restaurants and other eating and drinking establishments near the stadium where he is based, and on aggregate employment at those establishments,” the study explains. “Specifically, his presence increases the number of such establishments within one mile of the stadium by about 13 percent, and employment by about 23.5 percent.”
It’s easy to see the difference that James’ presence can make when you take a look at the course of his career. He spent the first seven years in Cleveland, left for Miami for four years, and then returned to Cleveland in 2014, and there’s a definitive impact to the economy each time. Specifically, the effects were felt most strongly within one mile of the arena, but even within seven miles, a difference was still obvious.
As a quick example, the study put together two charts showing the number of restaurants within a one-mile radius of the stadium in both Miami and Cleveland during his presence and without.
Note: The figure shows the number of restaurants within one mile of the Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland for each year between 2006 and 2016. LeBron James left Cleveland Cavaliers in 2010 and rejoined in 2014. The horizontal line represents the average number of restaurants within one mile of the stadium before 2010.
Note: The figure shows the number of restaurants within one mile of the American Airlines Arena in Miami for each year between 2006 and 2016. LeBron James joined Miami Heats in 2010 and left in 2014. The horizontal line represents the average number of restaurants within one mile of the stadium before 2010.
So, based on all this information, what can Los Angeles expect from the James effect? We talked to Jay Tucker, the executive director for the Center of Management of Enterprise Media, Entertainment, & Sports (MEMES) at the UCLA Anderson School of Management, to get his opinion. With more than 20 years of experience in the sector, Tucker was able to offer a detailed look at James and the Los Angeles economy.
The LeBron James Effect In Los Angeles
“Selfishly, I’m excited that he’s coming,” Tucker starts out. “LeBron James is a generational athlete. He’s also a champion of social causes and a shrewd businessman. His arrival will create many opportunities for Los Angeles.” Those opportunities range from easily quantifiable variables such as more local restaurants and bars to less easily definable improvements that could cover everything from better public transport to increased merchandising and new business interests.
In general, Tucker sees Los Angeles as an excellent location for James because of the city itself and the team. LA, being more spread out and without a major city center, could gain even more restaurants, bars, and hangouts than other cities. Part of the reason is because Los Angelenos are already used to driving long distances to get to games at the Staples Center.
At the same time, the Lakers have a solid brand identity that is tied very closely to the city. This will make it even easier for LeBron James to create an impact because Lakers’ fans are already ready and willing to show support for their team. The truth of the matter is that Lakers game attendance is already impressive without James, with James it will only grow.
In addition, Tucker sees many opportunities for LeBron James on the business side. “LeBron has a lot of business interests, and there’s a good possibility that he’ll bring many of those interests here to LA,” Tucker said. “Who knows what the impact could be if LeBron invests in a local talent agency or line of entertainment. There are a ton of opportunities for him to plug into the LA ecosystem and be a part of Silicon Beach, so it will be interesting to see what happens business-wise. It’s really hard to imagine someone as smart, talented, and driven as James sitting back and playing basketball without getting involved in what the rest of LA is doing.”
As for downstream effects that Tucker expects, they’re difficult to quantify but could cover a wide range. For example, studies have shown that successful sports teams improve city moral. Then there’s the fact that as more fans try to attend Lakers games from around the city, there will be a higher demand for public transportation, which could encourage updated infrastructure.
However, Tucker does warn that Los Angeles can’t just sit back and rest on its laurels if the city wants to gain the full economic impact of James. Just as the city already offers packages for individuals looking to visit all the theme parks—Six Flags, Disneyland, Universal Studios, Sea World—the city should also look into creating Lakers’ game packages. This would be a great way to partner with different initiatives around LA and bring in outside visitors.
“With respect to LeBron’s larger business interest, the Chamber of Commerce should get involved as well,” Tucker says. “It would be smart to get the team into meetings to talk about the unique business opportunities in the area.”
What MBA Students Can Learn From LeBron James
Lastly, we asked Tucker what MBA students should take away from the James effect and his overall career. One of the first things he pointed out was James’ positive reputation.
“We live in an era where the media is at your fingertips 24/7,” Tucker says. “And one of the most interesting things about James is that in an environment where anything you do for good or ill can be tweeted out, he’s managed to maintain an image of someone who is socially responsible, who handles himself professionally, and who is a family man. That is something that many people fail to do.”
In addition, Tucker feels that students should pay attention to James’ ability to be multi-faceted. Not only is he deeply invested in his basketball career, but he also has business interests, social interests, and more. James does well on and off the court.
“There’s plenty to learn from his life examples and experience,” Tucker explains. “Some of what can be learned is based on his personal choices, but it’s also about the larger environment he’s in and the scope of opportunities he represents.”
