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Students make it to the Final Four Round of the Business Plan Competition.
Xylemed took the $10,000 second place prize and GroBox won $2,500 for the Best Consumer Product Idea. Read about the TMMBA teams that entered the competition and hear from Xylemed participants about their experience.
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We admitted our 13th class into the TMMBA Program.
The newest class is made up of 72 students representing 44 organizations from 13 countries averaging 12 years of work experience. They kicked off their journey in a packed 7-day Immersion Week in December. The immersion courses covered teamwork, negotiation, communications, and ethics. Students also got to practice their business etiquette at our annual Etiquette Dinner.
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TMMBA joined the WTIA.
Through the Washington Technology Industry Association membership, students and alums now have access to a wide array of benefits. This is just one more opportunity for them to expand their network and get access to a great mix of events and continuing education opportunities.
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Alums hit the fields on second annual TMMBA Ultimate Frisbee team.
We played against teams from Microsoft, Google, Tableau, Boeing, and many other local companies in the DiscNW summer league. There were 24 players representing the Classes of ’03, ’09, ’10, ’11, and ’12. Read highlights from season.
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TMMBA held its first local company visit in the fall.
Students visited Boeing in Everett for a VIP tour of the factory floor. They got to see first-hand how one big company puts into practice the operations and supply chain strategies they were learning about in the classroom.
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Students visited Singapore and Beijing on the International Study Tour.
From hot and humid to cold and snowy, Class of 2012 students ventured out to explore these cities, the local culture, and visit a mix of companies spanning healthcare, energy, telecom, luxury goods and many other industries. Students shared their takeaways in these blog posts.
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TMMBA added two new courses into the curriculum.
In Social Media for Managers, students were introduced to successful social media programs and took a broad look at social media – from tactics and tools to how to use social in their business strategy. The new Venture Capital Investment Practicum is a two-day course that synthesizes the TMMBA curricula with a refresher of marketing, finance, and management through the lens of venture capital investing. The output is an all-day competition where teams analyze two businesses and present their analysis and investment decision to a panel of entrepreneur judges.
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“TMMBA Contributes” turns five.
Once a year for the past five years, TMMBA has invited students, alumni, and staff to take a break from their hectic lives and lend a helping hand in the community at our TMMBA Contributes event. Whether packing food at Food Lifeline, helping out at the Treehouse store, or pulling invasive weeds at the Seattle Youth Garden, we come together for a few hours of service. View photos from this year’s volunteer event at Food Lifeline.
About TMMBA
Eight TMMBA Highlights in 2012
Monday, January 7th, 2013
New benefits for TMMBA students and alums!
Monday, October 22nd, 2012
The Washington Technology Industry Association (WTIA) is one of the largest statewide tech trade associations in North America, and we’re it’s newest member! What does this mean for you? Through the TMMBA WTIA membership our students and alumni now have access to their wide mix of member benefits, including:
- Free and discounted attendance at WTIA events
- Access to the WTIA network (800 member companies and 100,000 tech workers statewide)
- 13 community and special interest groups to join
- Access to online WTIA Job Center
- Discounts through WTIA Marketplace (health benefits, human resources, 401K, computer equipment, personal insurance, and more)
Work + TMMBA doesn’t mean you can’t still find time for fun!
Thursday, October 18th, 2012Anuradha Raju joined TMMBA in January 2012 and is now halfway through the program. She has seven years of work experience and is currently a Design Verification Engineer 3 on the Microsoft Surface. We asked Anu how life has changed since joining the program and she shared this great graphic. It looks like Anu has really mastered the art of balance!
Monday Myths: Part I
Monday, August 13th, 2012
Who doesn’t love to start their Monday with a little myth de-bunking? At TMMBA, we want to help applicants get beyond the rumors and misconceptions to help them submit their best application. Over the next few Mondays, I will be posting some of the most frequent myths that we hear from applicants and prospective students, and in response- the TMMBA truth.
A perfect GMAT score guarantees I’m in.
Truth: Achieving the “holy grail” of an 800 (or even a 750-790) GMAT score doesn’t guarantee you anything, besides maybe bragging rights around your cubicle. While the GMAT is a required portion of the application, the admissions team uses that number in conjunction with many other factors to determine if a student should be admitted. For TMMBA, we’re looking for more than just numbers and off-the-charts intellectual ability. It’s also important that you are well rounded both professionally and personally- showing the ability to interact with others, contribute to your class, and handle the rigors of the program.
Bottom Line: The GMAT is one component of the holistic selection process for TMMBA. A perfect score doesn’t give us any information about your interpersonal skills, leadership ability, or professional experience.
I have to wait until my entire application is completed online before hitting “submit”.
Truth: You can submit your application anytime that you have filled out your online profile, uploaded your resume and essays, and designated your recommenders. In fact, by submitting with an incomplete application, it helps us to keep in touch with you and get your application processed faster, once complete.
Bottom Line: If you’re waiting on your GMAT, recommendations, or an English proficiency test, click submit anyway! That way, we can get your file in order so it’s ready to be evaluated as soon as your final component is in.
Stay with us Mythbusters- next Monday we’ll tackle two more myths on our road to the TMMBA truth. In the meantime, let us know what questions you may have regarding TMMBA misconceptions. We’ll do our best to get the truth out there!
Spreading out the cost of your TMMBA (Tracy Gojdics, Director)
Thursday, April 12th, 2012The Technology Management MBA Program is excited to announce that beginning with the TMMBA Class of 2014 we are making it possible for students to pay the program fee over seven quarters rather than the traditional six. You decide what payment plan works best and will benefit you the most.
What does this mean for you as a prospective applicant? The answer is increased access to financial aid, increased access to calendar-year company education reimbursements and the ability to budget for the program over a longer period of time.
Many students breakdown the program cost by quarter or month, we’ve done both below based on each payment option -
| Quarter | Month | |
| 6 – Quarter Payment Option | $ 11,200 | $ 3,733 |
| 7 – Quarter Payment Option | $ 9,600 | $ 3,200 |
Additionally, we are extending the “Orientation” now referred to as the “TMMBA Immersion Week” from 3.5 days to 7 days and have moved the Negotiations course to the Immersion Week. Students take 10-credit hours* in a condensed format over 7 days. It will be fast-paced and intense, but very fun – just like the program as a whole.
Please feel free to contact us if you need additional information on these exciting updates!
* all new students are registered for the 10 credits of coursework during Autumn 2012 due to the TMMBA Immersion Week courses and will receive grades for those credits during Autumn 2012. Students electing the 7-quarter option can take advantage of their yearly company education subsidy and apply for Financial Aid for Autumn Quarter.
Highlights from 2011
Thursday, January 5th, 2012Sara Jones, TMMBA Assistant Director and Class of 2012
2011 was a busy and exciting year for TMMBA. As we embark on a new year and welcome the Class of 2013, I wanted to take a moment and share a few highlights, happenings and milestones from 2011:
- We celebrated our 10th anniversary! It’s hard to believe how much has changed over the past 10 years. From curriculum improvements to increased networking opportunities and enhanced alumni continuing education and support, the TMMBA team is always focused on how to make this the best program possible and provide a great experience for our students and alumni.
- TMMBA expanded the career resources available. We added new and fresh content to the career resources that we provide to better help our students navigate the career development process. This includes new written materials, workshops on topics such as crafting an effective resume and LinkedIn, and content customized to the unique needs of the various career paths that students are pursuing. Here’s a LinkedIn tip sheet with a few takeaways. In 2012 we will continue to offer new career workshops topics and individual coaching sessions for our students.
- Students traveled to Munich & Istanbul on the International Study Tour. There was record student participation in the 2011 International Study Tour. Students spent 10 days in Munich and Instanbul learning about international business through company visits and the exploring the rich culture in these two cities. You can read a brief summary of the study tour here and information about the various companies that were visited here.
- One of our beloved professors joined the Libyan revolutionary government as Minister of Finance and Oil. Ali Tarhouni had taught in the TMMBA Program for several years. His class was fun, engaging, and a favorite of many students. This past spring, he took leave from the Foster School to join the Libyan revolution. Students have continued to follow and discuss his journey through news stories of the revolution. One student shares his account of Professor Tarhouni’s last class session here. He has now taken a role as special envoy to the US and returned briefly this month to spend time with him family and thank the US government for its support of the revolution. You can watch a video of his recent press conference and Q&A session held at UW this week and read about his experience as Finance Minister in this Seattle Times article.
- TMMBA launched a Professional Communications course. Presentation and communication skills are essential for business leaders today. TMMBA recognizes this and has created a Professional Communications course to address this need. The class runs the entire duration of the TMMBA program with a different topic of focus each quarter. The course series kicks off during Orientation with an Etiquette Dinner and a class on the Elevator Pitch. Instructor Lorraine Howell shares her perspective on the importance of communication skills in this post.
- Study teams switched it up at the half way point. TMMBA modified the team structure so that groups changed after the 3rd quarter. Students get to practice their teaming skills with a new group, expand their perspectives, and make closer connections with more of their classmates. Learn more and meet a few teams.
- Alumni tossed a disc on our first Ultimate Frisbee team. TMMBA expanded our athletic adventures beyond golf and created an Alumni Ultimate Frisbee Team last summer to compete in a local corporate league. It was a great way for our alums to show their school spirit, make friends, and stay fit! I hope we continue to find new and exciting ways for our alums to stay connected and have fun in 2012.
These are just a few of my memories at TMMBA from 2011. I’m looking forward to the year ahead – onward and upward!
Prepare for going back to school: advice from current students
Tuesday, November 15th, 2011Sara Jones, Assistant Director and Class of 2012
Tonight is the Welcome Reception for the newest class of TMMBA students. They will get to meet their study groups for the first time and pick up their reading materials and assignments for the orientation weekend. To help prepare for the journey ahead, we talked to a few current students to see what advice they have for new students or people who are considering TMMBA. Here’s what they had to say:
- View every experience as a learning opportunity. Put yourself out of your comfort zone and you will be surprised what you learned about yourself.
- Talk to family who are going to be impacted by going back to school. Set aside time to be with your family and make it a priority.
- Know what you want to do or where you want to go after TMMBA. Be conscious about it and find opportunities to gain the right experience during the program.
- Have a strong support system in place to help get you through the program.
- Seriously consider the amount of time it’s going to take. You can’t do everything, so pick your activities and be really good at time management.
- The program is a safe environment to stretch yourself. If you see an opportunity, go for it!
What would you add to this list?
Do you feel the difference already?
Saturday, June 25th, 2011Hamed Ahmadi – TMMBA Class 11
The music has been always “rock and rolling” in my car and everyone enjoyed riding with me. Not anymore!
Well, unless you like to listen to all the business news broadcasted from reachable radio stations around the Puget Sound. I never thought I would prefer business talks over music. I even felt insulted the other day when my friend, sitting in the front seat of my car, changed the channel to listen to rap music while I was listening to NPR morning edition discussing the interest rates. I do not blame him, I had not anticipated that myself either.
That is a small example of the how my life changed since last December, besides not getting enough sleep or missing my soccer games. It is amazing how the “noises” I’ve been hearing all these years around various business topics are gradually turning into dialogs, talks, discussions, and decision makings … Right, because I can now understand it and be a part of it; and that feels really good 
Good day to you.
TechFlash features TMMBA
Monday, June 13th, 2011Dan Turner, TMMBA Faculty Director and Associate Dean for Masters Programs and Executive Education, discusses the UW Foster TMMBA Program. Read full article here. The article is also featured in this week’s Puget Sound Business Journal.
How do you keep up with technology and business events?
Tuesday, May 24th, 2011Jared McInelly, TMMBA Class 11
Everyone is very busy. There are so many demands on our time, work, family, school, etc. I’ve found that school has taken all of my leisurely browsing-the-web-to-keep-up-on-technology time. So, I have to boil things down to a few key resources. Here are the things I use to keep up on technology and business issues along with a short description of each.
Podcasts
I love podcasts. By subscribing to them in iTunes, new updates are downloaded to my iPhone automatically. I have an FM transmitter that allows me to listen to them on my car radio while driving around in the wonderful Seattle traffic. Here are my favorites. All of these can be subscribed to in iTunes by searching for them by name. (Sorry Andriod users, I have not joined your secret society and so I don’t know how to help you get these).
Entrepreneurial Thought Leaders Series. Stanford University. This is a weekly (during the school year) speaking event open to Stanford students. They record it and post the talks online. This is one of my favorite podcasts to listen to. Because it’s Stanford, they get some of the best speakers from some of the most interesting companies in the world.
TWIT: This week in technology. Leo Laporte is the moderator with a panel that changes weekly. They discuss the tech news of the week. This is a great way to find out what is new and upcoming. Plus, there are some great personalities in the group (and some consistently grumpy ones).
HBR IdeaCast. This is a 20 minute interview with the author of one of the main articles for the week’s Harvard Business Review. Very insightful and a quick and easy way to get the point of the article without having to read it.
Business Week – Behind This Week’s Cover Story. Similar to the HBR IdeaCast, this is a short interview with the author of the latest Business Week cover story.
Manager Tools. I don’t know where these guys came from but they are pretty good. They discuss, sometimes in painstaking detail, specific, actionable tools you can use as managers. My favorite Manager Tools podcast was the one that had 17 steps to remember for a perfect handshake. I don’t bother trying to remember all of their items but I do find the overall point of each podcast very helpful.
RadioLab. If you like science, even a little bit, you’ll love this podcast. I look forward to a new episode of Radiolab like I look forward to Christmas. Yes, I’m a geek.
Websites:
Geekwire. This is a site founded in Seattle to cover the tech beat in the Seattle area. These guys are good. They also have a podcast but it tends to be boring.
Google News:
I set up alerts on topics I care about and check it on occasion. I include on this list all of the blogs that I like to read. That way I get to see them all at once and it’s easy to tell if they have a new update. Which is much better than checking them all individually.
I’m interested in what you have found helpful, please respond in the comments if you know of a good site, podcast, etc. that you use to keep up on the latest business ideas and technology.
