Friday News Roundup – Fox Alum Promotes Financial Literacy, Haas Hosts Conference on African Business, and More
Let’s take a look at some of the biggest stories from this week, including Temple Fox promoting new financial literacy initiatives.
Fox Alumnus Offers Affordable Financial Literacy Programs to Philly’s Small Businesses – Fox School News
A Temple University Fox School of Business MBA alumnus has made it his goal to promote financial literacy through a new non-profit startup.
Thomas McDevitt, MBA ’02, formed Philly Financial Planning to offer underserved communities the tools to make informed financial decisions – tools which have not been available to these communities in the past. Philly Financial will seek to partner with various organizations to promote their cause and to implement programs.
McDevitt said, “Philanthropists, faith-based organizations, local government officials, community and neighborhood leaders, … corporations, learning institutions, and financial [institutions] can all play a meaningful role in helping us to achieve our long-term strategic goals of closing Philadelphia’s wealth gap”. In conjunction with Philly Financial, McDevitt hopes to form ‘The Eagle’s Nest’, a Shark Tank style competition series geared toward inner city entrepreneurs.
Education on financial matters has been McDevitt’s focus since his time at Fox. He formed McDevitt & Kline, LLC, with another Fox alum, Dr. Bill Kline, to offer continuing education to attorneys and CPAs.
Programs like his are necessary, because, as he says, “The financial literacy programs that exist in Philadelphia today are definitely not addressing the root causes of generational poverty.”
Africa Business Forum to Focus on Opportunity, Innovation in a Growing Economy – Haas Newsroom
The University of California, Berkeley Haas School of Business will host the 5th Annual Africa Business Forum, entitled “Africa on the Move: Enabling Homegrown Innovation,” on April 6, 2019.
The factors at work in Africa such as rapid growth and a youthful population make it appealing for existing companies and startups alike, as well as for investors.
Cheikhou Diaw, MBA 19, co-chair of the event, says, “There are billions of opportunities[in Africa]. Making people aware of those opportunities is something I’ve been trying to do since I joined Haas … It’s really important for us to make sure that people in the Berkeley community and the Bay Area understand that Africa is more than a place with safaris or a place full of poverty and disease.”
Of utmost importance to the chairs of the conference was focusing upon ways in which policymakers and leaders of business can support the growth of economies in the most beneficial and responsible ways. The conference will be comprised of panel discussions, keynote talks, and a hackathon on public policy innovation. Among the forum’s guests will be Andile Ngcaba, founder and chairman of the investment group Convergence Partners; Benjamin Fernandes, founder of fintech company NALA; and Nichole Yembra, founder and managing director of The Chrysalis Company.
Rutgers MBA in Supply Chain Management Leads to Opportunities to Work in Canada – Insights & News
Rutgers University Business School and the Supply Chain Management Association (SCMA) have joined forces to grant MBAs assistance in receiving their Supply Chain Management Professional (SCMP) designation.
This partnership will benefit MBAs seeking opportunities in Canada, as the SCMP designation is frequently required by Canadian companies as they search for qualified supply chain professionals. Christian Buhagiar, President and CEO of SCMA, says:
“Rutgers is the first U.S. university with which we’ve partnered to develop advanced standing pathways into our SCMP designation. Immigration is a key economic driver for Canada, supported by the Government of Canada, and creating international pathways to Canada’s most sought-after supply chain designation will open opportunities for those wishing to emigrate to work in Canadian supply chain management.”
Under the agreement, MBAs from Rutgers’ program receive exemption from certain SCMA workshops and educational modules as they pursue a SCMP designation. Andy Gogates, Manager of Corporate Relations at Rutgers Business School, was a major player in forming the partnership. He says, “It’s a testament to the strength of Rutgers supply chain management curriculum to so closely match the requirements for the SCMP designation … This is a real advantage for Rutgers MBA graduates looking for career opportunities in Canada.”
Harvard Business School Joins Farm Forward’s Leadership Circle – Harvard Business School Newsroom
Harvard Business School recently joined the Leadership Circle of sustainable agriculture non-profit Farm Forward.
Farm Forward works to promote awareness and access to food options that support humane treatment of animals and responsible farming practices. HBS joins Villanova University, UC Berkeley, and 12 other organizations as an institutional partner.
Leadership Circle members, according to Farm Forward Executive Director Andrew DiCoriolis, “practice the kind of values-based food purchasing that all institutions should strive for. Through thoughtful procurement policies, institutions like Harvard Business School meet growing consumer demands for more ethical and sustainable food by decreasing their carbon footprint and improving the welfare of farmed animals.”
The relationship with Farm Forward is part of a growing effort by HBS to implement sustainable practices across campus. Its alignment with Farm Forward will result in procurement of food products that are from certified organizations, along with the introduction of more plant based foods on the menus of the campus’ dining halls. Both dining halls are certified by the Green Restaurant Association, and leftover food is donated to Food for Free, which donates to shelters or to others in need.
The University of Texas McCombs School of Business and Moody College of Communication Join Forces with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas – Newswire
The University of Texas McCombs School of Business and Moody College of Communication will partner with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas to conduct research on administration of adult vaccines in two Texas counties.
The $500,000 grant will help advance research on issues that result in the ever rising cost of healthcare. The study, “Improving Adult Vaccine Delivery by Optimizing Clinical and Health IT Processes in Austin/Travis County, Texas” will be led by Dr. Leanne Field, a clinical professor at the College of Natural Sciences and director for Digital Health Care Innovation at McCombs.
Dr. Vince Fonseca, a physician specializing in public health and community based medicine, will also be part of the team. He says, “Vaccines are some of the most cost-effective, high-value health services available, yet adult vaccine coverage is suboptimal in the United States.”
The research team hopes to implement their findings to improve access to vaccines and other interventions at a lower cost to the consumers who most need them.
Shark Tank Success, Security, and More – Los Angeles News
Check out some of the latest news coming out of business schools in the Los Angeles metro this week.
The Founders of a ‘Shark Tank’ Success Relied on a Key Piece of Business School Advice – Business Insider
Hanna and Mark Lim, husband and wife entrepreneurs, recall the crucial role the UCLA Anderson School of Management played in the $100,000 investment their company was awarded on the hit TV show Shark Tank.
In 2012, Hanna and Mark presented a pitch for their startup company, Lollacup, which produced safe sippy cups for children. Going into the pitch stricken with fear, Mark reminded Hanna of an important piece of advice he had received during his business school education. While at UCLA Anderson, Mark had already gained experience in pitching business plan. During school, he and his classmates would often pitch ideas not just for professors but for professional venture capitalists. Throughout all this, he learned to not be overwhelmed by the celebrity of the investors but to instead treat them as equals.
“We’re here pitching to investors who are essentially our equals,” Mark told Hanna before their Shark Tank pitch began. “We’re not here for a handout; we’re not here to beg. This is an investment. We’re potentially handing over part of our company that we’ve built.”
The advice payed off, with both Mark Cuban and Robert Herjavec deciding to invest $100,000 for 40 percent of the company. What began as Lollacup has since re-branded as Lollaland, which provides a range of products for infants and toddlers, and recently passed $2 million in sales.
You can read more about the Lims and their experience on ‘Shark Tank’ over at Business Insider.
Neel Patel Won the $3,000 HIMSS Scholarship – Cal State LA CBE News Archive
Neel Patel, a MBA/MSHCM at the California State, Los Angeles College of Business and Economics, was recently awarded with a $3,000 scholarship from the Health Information Management Systems Society (HIMSS). HIMSS, a premier organization for professionals in the healthcare information management field, presented Patel with the award earlier this summer, making him the second student in Cal State LA history to receive the distinction. Patel has left his mark on the university before, however, as part of the winning team in this year’s Western Regional Healthcare Executives College Bowl Case Study Competition.
Patel connected with the HIMSS through Thao Tran, Chair of Academic Alliance Community for HIMSS, who was brought in as a guest speaker for one of Patel’s classes. Tran has been a crucial part of the connection between CBE and the HIMSS, helping introduce students to the organization and its benefits since 2011.
Read more about Health Information Management at CBE and the HIMSS here.
In Network Security, “The Bad Guys are Always Ahead” – USC Marshall Newsroom
Richard Drobnick, Director of the IBEAR MBA program at USC’s Marshall School of Business, recently interviewed Global CTO of NTT Security Kazu Yozawa for the USC Marshall Business Class podcast. During the interview, Yozawa maintains a positive view of the future of network security but warns vigilance. From young forgers to state sponsored hacking, the threats against network security may be greater now than ever.
Global CTO of NTT Security Kazu Yozawa / Photo via marshall.usc.edu
According to Yozawa, “only a few executives understand the situation,” making education surrounding security and how computer networks operate will be crucial going forward.
You can listen to the full interview here.
‘Shark Tank’s’ Mr. Wonderful Talks About MBAs, and More – Toronto News
Take a look at some of the top stories coming out of the Toronto business schools this week.
Kevin O’Leary: Here’s How Much an MBA Matters in Business – CNBC
Kevin O’Leary may be one of the most successful businessmen in Canada now, but when he graduated from the University of Waterloo in 1977, he struggled to even land an entry-level job. After two years of frustration and rejection, O’Leary decided to pursue an MBA at Western University Canada’s Ivey Business School. The business giant, known on ABC’s Shark Tank as “Mr. Wonderful,” sees his decision to enroll at Ivey as a turning point in his life.
“The real value of an education is who you meet while you’re getting it,” O’Leary said in an interview with CNBC. “Think about that if you’re in college right now.”
“‘The great thing about an MBA is not the technical skills you’ve learned—because frankly, to be honest with you, I forgot all of those—it was the people I met in my class,’ O’Leary explains.
‘Where are they now? Running banks, they’re industrialists, they’re venture capitalists, they’re investors, they’re all around the world,’ he says. ‘I can pick up the phone and say, ‘Hi. Mr. Wonderful here, let’s talk about a business idea.'”
You can read more about O’Leary’s education and success here.
Bank of Canada Fellowship for Rotman School Professor Renewed for Second Term – EurekAlert!
In 2013, Peter Christoffersen, professor of finance at the University of Toronto’s Rotman School of Management was awarded the Bank of Canada Fellowship, which was recently renewed. The Fellowship Award goes to academics whose research provides insight in areas essential to the bank. Christoffersen has been committed to researching new technology and its effects and potential in the finance realm.
“The Bank is pleased to renew its support for Professor Christofferesen’s work,” said Governor Stephen S. Poloz. “He is helping to shed light on some important issues facing Canada’s financial industry.”
Learn more about Christoffersen and the Bank of Canada Fellowship Award here.
Schulich Students Win Developers’ Den Competition – RemiNetwork
Two groups of students from York University’s Schulich School of Business placed in the top three in this year’s Developers’ Den international case competition. The winning team was made up of four students from Schulich’s Master in Real Estate and Infrastructure (MREI) program: Derek Wei, Jordan Trinder, Alannah Bird, and Bao Nguyen. The competition, which took place on March 23rd, is in its eighth year.
“The Developers’ Den competition provides an important opportunity for the best students to develop and showcase their analytical, creative and presentation skills as emerging talent in front of leaders within the real property sector,” said Jim Clayton, who was recently appointed to the Timothy R. Price Chair at Schulich’s Brookfield Centre in Real Estate and Infrastructure. “We are grateful for the tremendous support the competition receives from industry and alumni.”
Check out more about the competition here.
UNT Alum Sponsors New Competition for Student Entrepreneurs
A new competition at the University of North Texas – College of Business, created by a celebrated UNT alum, allows students to put their creativity and entrepreneurial skills to the test—with a chance to walk away with a significant cash prize.
Wharton Entrepreneurs Dive into the Shark Tank
Entrepreneurs at The University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School of Business will again have a chance to hatch their ventures with another swim in the Shark Tank.
The popular show held auditions exclusively for Wharton students in June 2016 at Huntsman Hall on Penn’s campus.
Smith School Alumni Successfully Navigates “Shark Tank” TV Show For $100K Investment
Evan Lutz, a 2014 alum of the University of Maryland’s Robert H. Smith School of Business, recently appeared on ABC’s Shark Tank, according to an article by the school’s Office of Marketing Communications. The television show challenges contestants to pitch a business idea to a panel of potential benefactors (including Mark Cuban) in order to receive investment capital. Lutz appeared on the January 8th episode and ultimately received a $100,000 investment from Robert Herjavec for a 10 percent stake in Hungry Harvest.
