Investment or Tech: Which Industry is Right For Your Career?
Job hunting between a career in investments or tech is a good problem to have. Each one, especially with an MBA under your belt, has enormous earning and growth potential, job security, and perks.
Continue reading…Top 5 Business Schools for Investment Banking Careers
If you’re hoping to land a high-paying investing career, not just any business school will do. You have to attend a top business school that has a history of employing graduates. Even then, you’ll most likely need to be near the top of your class or have an impressive background/internship to land the job you want.
Continue reading…News Roundup – Pepperdine Professor Talks Nostalgia TV Trends on NPR, and More
Let’s take a look at some of the biggest stories from this week, including a Pepperdine professor discussing the allure of nostalgia TV, and more.
NPR Podcast Invites Cristel Antonia Russell to Discuss Nostalgia TV – Pepperdine Graziadio Newsroom
Dr. Cristel Antonia Russell, Professor of Marketing at Pepperdine Graziadio School of Management recently spoke on the power of nostalgia TV on the NPR podcast On Point.
Along with Eric Deggans, NPR’s television critic, Dr. Russell discussed the phenomenon of the wide popularity of all things 1990s in current culture. A major topic of Russell’s research is the reasons behind why people tend to consume and re-consume certain pieces of pop culture. Take Friends, for instance, the rights of which was recently purchased by TimeWarner Media for $125 million. There has been a massive resurgence in the last five years or so of Ross, Rachel and the gang’s popularity.
Russell says, “Twenty-five years is a huge chunk of time to anyone. Nostalgia is a double-edged sword where a part of you wants to go back to these earlier times but a part of you is glad you are no longer an 18-year-old watching Friends. It allows people to reflect and realize how they have grown.”
For more on Dr. Russell, read here, and to download the On Point podcast about the nostalgia TV revival, visit NPR or listen below.
Dean Amy Hillman Drives an Unprecedented Year of Giving – ASU Carey News
Arizona State University’s W. P. Carey School of Business, led by Dean Amy Hillman, reached an unprecedented fundraising goal this year.
A $25 million donation from the W. P. Carey Foundation kicked off the $50 million campaign, and overall the school raised $43.7 million in fiscal year 2018-19. Alumni and current students helped to round out the gifts, with 615 individual donations from them and other private supporters. In all, alumni gave an impressive $11.7 million.
Hillman says of the campaign, “Of course what we do at W. P. Carey is business, but I always practice that ‘business is personal … What donors share with us, no matter the gift is about the people who are impacted through a scholarship, research, or career opportunity.”
The gifts came at a welcome time, as the state of Arizona has reduced funding for higher education in recent years. The money from the campaign will help to improve student resources, enhance research, and fund scholarships. For more on Dean Hillman and the fundraising campaign, read here.
‘Crazy Rich Asians’ Writer’s Dilemma Illustrates How Hollywood Pay Gap is Alive and Well – Kellogg in the News
Nancy Qian, Professor of Managerial Economics & Decision Sciences at Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management recently weighed in for an article in the Chicago Tribune on the massive pay gap in Hollywood for non-white writers and actors.
The most recent event that prompted this discussion was the departure of Adele Lim, one of the screenwriters for ‘Crazy Rich Asians’ from the film’s sequel. Her white male counterpart was offered considerably more for his contribution to the sequel’s script—nearly a million dollars, compared to Lim’s offer of $110,000.
While a comment in The Hollywood Reporter claimed that Lim’s offer was based solely upon her experience and past accomplishments, her supporters believe otherwise. Professor Qian says:
“The Warner Bros. response that they have a formula for determining pay seems like an excuse, since they can always build in more components to the formula to give it more flexibility, such as take into account expertise on the subject, the number of other people with similar expertise, the success of the last project, and the evaluation from co-workers.”
“Every situation is different,” she adds. “But it wouldn’t be crazy to see this as Lim getting hit by two forces—on average, for the same level education and work experience, 1) women get paid less than men and 2) Asians in the U.S. get paid less than Caucasians. The question of why is subject to debate.”
Read here for the full Chicago Tribune article.
NYU Stern Receives $5 Million Gift from Alumna Entrepreneur Elizabeth Elting (MBA ’92) to Support the Advancement of Women in Business – NYU Stern News & Events
NYU Stern alum Elizabeth Elting, founder of translation firm Transperfect, recently donated $5 million to the school with the goal of nurturing Stern’s female entrepreneurs.
The gift, which is the largest ever from a woman entrepreneur in the school’s history, will fund Elizabeth Elting Women’s Leadership Fellowships for a total of forty female MBA students. Students who demonstrate both academic merit and the desire to build their own businesses will benefit from the fellowship.
“Starting my own business is the best and most rewarding decision I ever made for my life,” Elting says. “It gave me the resources I needed to provide for my family and influence the world for the better. That’s why I’m so excited to provide this gift to NYU Stern. This money will not only make Stern accessible to a greater number of ambitious young women eager to create their own futures, but will also help the best and brightest launch new enterprises and carry out visions that could transform the world.”
You can read more on Elting and the fellowship here.
Avolio Ranked #2 Most Influential Researcher in Leadership, #3 in Organizational Behavior – Foster School of Business News & Events
Bruce Avolio, Professor of Management at the University of Washington Foster School of Business, was recently named one of the globe’s foremost thinkers on leadership and organizational development by The Leadership Quarterly.
The publication named Avolio the number one scholar in the world at forming networks in the field of leadership research, and second best in productivity and influence of his leadership studies.
Another industry publication, the Academy of Management Learning and Education, lists Avolio the third most influential author since its inception. Avolio’s wide list of accomplishments include the 2013 Eminent Leadership Scholar Award from the Network of Leadership Scholars in the Academy of Management, the American Psychological Society, the American Psychological Association, and fellowships in the Academy of Management, and the Society for Industrial & Organizational Psychology.
Read more on Avolio and his research here.
News Roundup – UNC Hosts Former Obama Advisor, Georgetown Promotes Gender Equity, and More
Let’s take a look at some of the biggest stories from this week, including former Obama advisor Valerie Jarrett speaking at UNC Kenan-Flagler.
To Address Public Pension and Infrastructure Funding Gaps, Connect the Two: NYU Stern Infrastructure Finance Initiative – NYU Stern News
NYU Stern Professor Ingo Walter recently co-authored a book addressing challenges faced by many Americans: their pensions and the systems funding them.
Along with colleague Clive Lipshitz, Walter wrote Bridging the Gaps, which aims to address the concerns of the working class with regard to their financial future.
“Ultimately, we hope to make a positive contribution to the search for solutions to public pension sustainability as well as unlocking capital to remedy America’s persistent infrastructure gap,” Walter says. “We hope that this study provides greater transparency to complex public finance challenges. It lays out a range of ideas that can be explored by responsible officials and policymakers.”
The book gives innovative suggestions on how governments can finance pensions while investing money in the vital infrastructure systems that keep Americans employed. Lipshitz and Walter’s research was part of NYU Stern’s Infrastructure Finance Initiative, sponsored by the Global Institute for Advanced Study. For more on Walter, Lipshitz, and the new book, read here.
Foster Ranked #5 in the World for Financial Accounting Research – UW Foster Blog
UW Foster School of Business recently earned top spots in the lists of the country’s most influential researchers and schools for financial accounting.
Experts at Brigham Young University have compiled the data based upon the volume of research produced by a number of leading teams over periods of 6, 12 and 29 years. Foster comes in at FIFTH in the world among renowned institutions for financial accounting research.
Dawn Matsumoto, Foster Financial Accounting Faculty, ranked in the BYU Top 100.
The BYU data also explores the number of individuals with the most valuable contributions, and five faculty members from Foster have contributed in the period since 1990 to land on this list. Four Foster professors made the top 100 list for research performed within the last twelve years. Foster School of Business has also been acknowledged for its training of doctoral candidates who have been influential in the field of accounting.
Foster holds the number THREE rank for overall research record of its accounting Ph.D.s over the past six years, and fourth for alumni contributions since 1990. Read more on the ranking methodology and the listings here.
Embracing the Zigzag–and Learning to Absorb the Pain– UNC Kenan Flagler News
UNC’s Kenan Flagler Business School recently held its first annual MBA@UNC Alumni Immersion, featuring former Obama advisor Valerie Jarrett. David Hoffman, Professor of Leadership and Organizational Behavior and Senior Associate Dean for academic affairs led the conversation.
From 2009 to 2017, Jarrett chaired the White House Council on Women and Girls, along with managing the Offices of Public Engagement and Intergovernmental Affairs. Prior to her service in the Obama Administration, Jarrett was chair of the Chicago Transit Board, commissioner of planning and development, and deputy chief of staff for Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley. She also served as CEO of Chicago’s Habitat Company.
Jarrett received her undergraduate degree in psychology from Stanford, at which point she decided to earn her law degree at the University of Michigan. After practicing corporate law, she shifted into public service after discovering that this was her true passion.
To the audience of Kenan Flagler alumni, Jarrett advises:
“You have a safety net with the great education you received. You can do it. You can try it. You can experiment. Work toward something meaningful, even when it’s a grind. If you think you don’t want to do it, don’t. The only adventure is in the zigzag.”
For more on the talk and the Alumni event, read here.
Dignity Health Global Education and Pepperdine Graziadio Launch Online Certificate in Healthcare Marketing – Pepperdine Graziadio News
The Pepperdine Graziadio Business School announced its new partnership with Dignity Health Global Education which will launch a new online certificate in Healthcare Marketing.
Designed for both administrators and marketers in the healthcare field, the goal of the certificate is to further innovation by training staff in strategic marketing and communications skills. According to Kurt Hayes, Chief Learning Experience Officer at Dignity Health Global Education, “Rapid technological advances coupled with societal and regulatory [factors] make it imperative to stay ahead of the curve.”
The certificate is comprised of nine units, and it can be completed in nine weeks with an average of six hours per week of studying and coursework. Lynda Palmer, faculty practitioner at Pepperdine Graziadio, says, “This is a unique program that teaches marketing concepts with a healthcare spin … It will equip healthcare professionals with the tools they need to develop [effective] strategies for their organization.”
For more on the new Healthcare Marketing certificate, read here.
Georgetown McDonough and USAID Expand Gender Equity Program – McDonough School of Business News
Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business has announced that it will deliver a Gender Equity Executive Leadership Program beginning this summer in Amsterdam. Participants from 17 energy utilities from around the world will participate.
In partnership with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), McDonough began the program in 2018 with individuals from 21 countries including Nigeria, Jordan, and Kenya. The goal of the program is to train utilities to instate gender equity practices across every level of their organizations.
Brooks Holtom, the program’s Academic Director and Professor of Management at Georgetown McDonough, says, “This program has helped participants think deeply about how they can positively contribute to the active recruitment, development, and retention of women in male-dominated positions and industries.”
Recent participants in the Georgetown McDonough and USAID Expand Gender Equity Program.
Beginning with a week-long in person module, the program also employs virtual modules. It concludes with a final in person session at McDonough in 2020.
Osinubi Oyinlola, a 2017-18 participant from Nigeria, says, “The program has changed my perception of various aspects of my job as head of organizational development, which includes policy formulation, recruitment, and manpower planning. I have learned to consider gender equity [at all times].”
Read here for more on this year’s program.
NYU Stern Announces New MBA Deadlines, Essay Updates
Leading up to the beginning of the 2019-20 academic season, the NYU Stern School of Business has unveiled its newest MBA deadlines and updated essay questions. For those looking to apply, take note of these details below:
Top MBA Recruiters: American Express
The fact that “Don’t leave home without it,” once American Express’ omnipresent tagline, is now “Don’t live life without it” speaks to its transformation. Its YouTube channel features content ranging from “Unlock the Money,” showing the evolution of various startups, to “Epic Everyday,” which offers crafty lifehacks like how to make smoothie ice cubes. Not just a credit company anymore, AMEX has billed itself an “engine of commerce.”
Like many global financial services groups in 2019, AMEX has learned that to thrive, it must adapt to meet the many needs of the millennial consumer. This, along with its wide variety of job opportunities and a top global recruitment program, make it a great place to work for MBAs.
Why American Express?
With over 65,000 employees worldwide, American Express was ranked 13th by Fortune on its “100 Best Companies to Work For” list in 2019. One of its major attractions is the recent added focus on work life balance, and it now offers a whopping five months of family leave time for new parents. Other benefits include generous healthcare coverage which begins on day 1 of employment, wellness and prevention programs, and tuition assistance. American Express also offers a variety of virtual positions, along with a compressed work week.
The company also matches employee donations to nonprofits, offers a variety of volunteer opportunities, and prioritizes environmental sustainability efforts across all levels of employment. It has also earned 100 percent on the Human Rights Campaign’s Corporate Equality Index for LGBTQ—inclusive workplace policies and practices. In addition, AMEX was voted the “Best Company for Diversity” by Black Enterprise in 2017 and one of the “Top Companies for Women in Tech” in the same year.
Phoenix, Salt Lake City, and Fort Lauderdale are listed as key cities for external hiring and internships, and the New York City headquarters is a top hiring location as well.
American Express Salaries
Glassdoor reports the typical American Express Analyst salary at $72,034. Managers make $101,000, while Senior Marketing Managers make $118,000. Top salaries are $149,000 for Marketing Directors and $196,000 for Vice Presidents.
Starting an American Express Career
American Express’ recruitment program is robust, and it hires MBA interns across all disciplines. According to one recruiter, “The culture and people at AMEX are what make it a great place to intern … [it’s] an environment centered around collaboration.” Interns can find opportunities in the following areas:
- Consulting
- Finance
- Marketing
- Operations
- Human Resources
- Risk and Governance
One former intern says, “Many of the casual coffee chats of my intern days have developed into true mentor-mentee relationships in my full-time career.” The 12 week summer internship program is offered in New York, Phoenix, or Fort Lauderdale, and AMEX also offers ‘talent communities’ in which students and professionals can track available opportunities and find matches for their abilities. Having shifted in the past decade to a focus on digital commerce, AMEX seeks MBA graduates who are well versed in data analysis, no matter what position they seek.
Top recruiting schools for AMEX include the New York University Stern School of Business, Columbia Business School, the University of Michigan Stephen M. Ross School of Business, Cornell’s SC Johnson School of Management, London Business School, IESE Business school in Barcelona, IIT Bombay, and IIM Ahmedabad. Roughly 250 interns and full-time hires are brought into the company each year, according to recent figures.
A final helpful piece of American Express career advice offered by a recruiter:
“It’s your job to sell us on your passion. I also need to understand that you know what the job is. That might seem obvious, but a lot of people come in unprepared. I love questions from candidates that look to the future: ‘What do my first 90 days look like?’ ‘What are the key things you’d like to help me to achieve?'”
