Posts Tagged ‘Advice’

It will change your life forever!

Saturday, April 6th, 2013

Ayman Kaheel,  TMMBA Class of 2013 

A few years back I met a friend of mine after a long period of not seeing each other. My friend told me he had just finished his TMMBA at UW. “Did you find it useful?” I asked, his answer was “the world is no longer the same”. After my first quarter in the TMMBA, I understood why he said what he said, because the TMMBA student undergoes a mental change with every subject that he studies, such that he will never think the same way again.

I have a strong engineering background both by training and experience. I came to the TMMBA program thinking I will learn some business tools that can help me grow faster in my career, and boy I was wrong! The TMMBA program gives you much much more than some business tools. The TMMBA reminds me of the movie “Vantage Point” that tells a story about an event as seen from a different set of vantage points through the eyes of different characters. In the same way, the TMMBA tells you the story of starting, running, growing and selling a tech-related-business from  all different angles.. Each course you study in the TMMBA  puts one piece into the puzzle,  be it accounting, finance, leadership, economics (both micro and macro), marketing, strategy, entrepreneurship, and list goes on and on.

When people now ask me about the TMMBA program, I say “it’ll change your life forever!”

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TMMBA Student Resources 101

Saturday, February 2nd, 2013
Ally Wewers, TMMBA Program Coordinator

Today, TMMBA Class 13 students (who began at the beginning of January) have their first Saturday of class at Paccar Hall. TMMBA typically hosts one class per quarter on the Seattle Campus, which gives students an opportunity to see the other Foster Facilities and experience the campus environment. All morning, I’ve been listening to students ooh and ahh over Paccar Hall. “It’s like I’m back in my undergraduate days…” is a common comment from most.

Being on campus gives students a hands-on look at many other resources that TMMBA and the Foster School of Business provides for them.  Oftentimes, the 18 months of a TMMBA student go by so quickly that they forget to take a look around them and see what else is available outside of their classes.  I encourage all students to take advantage of these many benefits and resources:

  • Lounge for Foster MBA Students at Paccar

    Lounge for Foster MBA Students at Paccar

    Foster MBA Lounge and Access at Paccar Hall: With an activated Husky Card, students are able to access Paccar Hall, Dempsey Hall, and the MBA Lounge. Even when the Paccar Building is not open to the public, students are welcome to use the space for studying and group meetings. There’s even a dedicated space just for MBA students- the T-Mobile MBA Commons. This was a popular tour stop for our students today, and no- it does not come equipped with cigars and smoking jackets. It’s a study lounge- not to be confused with students other after-class haunts.

  • IMA (Intramurals Activity Building) – I was happy to hear today that a few students have already been working up a sweat at the IMA (only prompted in small part to the TMMBA ice cream cooler I’m sure). With a Husky Card, TMMBA students are allowed access to their fitness center and courts. UW Recreational Sports programs also provides the WAC (Waterfront Activities Center) where there are discounts available on canoe and rowboat rentals.

Husky Stadium

  • While we’re on the topic of fitness and sports, TMMBA students are always eligible for student tickets to Husky Athletic Events.  Some sporting events (baseball, volleyball, soccer) are free with a husky card, while others (men’s basketball, football) are subject to additional, discounted costs. Student tickets go fast for these events, so make sure to plan ahead for season or single-game tickets.
  •  UPass: Every UW student has a UPass which comes with their Husky Card. The U-PASS provides students with a variety of low-cost transportation options—from buses, commuter train service and light rail, to vanpooling and discounted carpooling. No activation required- once you get your Husky Card you’re ready to ride.
  • Foster Centers and Events:  The various Centers, including the Business and Economic Development Center, the Center for Leadership and Strategic Thinking, The Buerk Center for Entrepreneurship, and the Global Business Center- all welcome involvement from TMMBA students. Foster also hosts events, like the Leaders to Legends Breakfast Series and Meet-the-Firms. For an updated list of events, take a look at the Foster Calendar.
  • Finally, one of the advantages of being a student at the University of Washington is the world-class library system available for use. Today, a representative from the Foster Business School library came to speak to students about the amenities at their location in Paccar Hall. Available to students are recent business publications, database access, librarian assistance and much more. Whether it’s the Foster Library or one of the many other University Libraries, these student resources are not to be forgotten.

Husky Card

As you can see- many of these resources require a student to have their Husky Card. Getting a Husky Card is free to students, and only requires a visit to the Husky Card Offices. Other Husky Card benefits include discounts from a variety of merchants, free admission to UW Museums, access to UW Zip Cars, and many more.

In writing this, I know that there are still many other UW/Foster/TMMBA resources that I am not mentioning. From business cards to MBA clubs, to TMMBA Career Services and sponsorship affiliations, there’s always more to get out of the TMMBA experience. Hopefully, sometime between classes and homework and team meetings, our students will find time to take advantage of them all! Because TMMBA students always need one more thing to add to the to-do list…

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Seasoned students and alums offer advice to new students

Monday, November 26th, 2012

Starting the TMMBA program is exciting! There is a lot to learn, people to meet, and skills to build.  18 months is fast and it can feel a bit like a roller coaster ride at times. So, how do you stay on and get the most of your ride?  Current students and alumni have some advice to offer new students about to embark on their 18-month TMMBA journey.

  • Sit down before classes begin and think about what you want to get out of TMMBA. You can get as little or as much out of it as you want. 18 months is fast, so knowing what you’re interested in and who to network with is critical.
  • Trust the system that TMMBA has put in place. Much of the first quarter is about getting out of your comfort zone and adjusting to the new schedule and pace. Embracing the change with open arms will make your life at TMMBA more productive and enjoyable.
  • Use OneNote to take notes, and preferably in the cloud so they are stored remotely and updated across all of your devices instantly. Focus on setting a process in place early on for note taking and referencing.
  • Network and take advantage of all the additional opportunities offered by the program and the university, don’t see any of the aspects of the program as a “burden or distraction” but rather as an opportunity.
  • Find the best collaboration software for your team, and adopt it early; whether it’s Gmail or SkyDrive or Facebook Meeting Invites – getting a head start on where you will receive team updates and schedule meetings is critical in ensuring that you spend minimal time on managing this stuff.
  • Talk to your classmates. Learn about who they are and what they do. Make an effort to spend time with them outside of class. Turn them into your friends and contacts. The knowledge brought to the program by the students is immense and valuable and it is yours for the taking.
  • Prioritize, don’t hesitate to ask questions, and work with your study group! (And don’t forget to party every once in a while :) )
  • Focus on time management, do not procrastinate, and pre-read for class.
  • Be honest with your team mates about your expectations and desires for the program. Getting off to a good start is important and will set the tone for the rest of the program.
  • It’s only for 18 months. Make best use of the resources available to you.
  • Finish all of your reading ahead of time so you can socialize at dinner before class. You’ll have plenty of time to spend with your study group so break away from their safety net and use the time to get to know your other classmates, especially those in the other section.
  • Have fun. Network.

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TMMBA Faculty Spill the Beans on their Favorite Resources

Saturday, October 27th, 2012
By Sara Jones, TMMBA Assistant Director

There are so many books, websites, and resources for business professionals that it can be hard to find the golden nuggets in the mix. I recently caught up with two TMMBA faculty members and asked for a list of favorite resources they would recommend to students and alums. Here’s what they said:

Debra Glassman, Senior Lecturer in Business EconomicsProfessor Debra Glassman

Glassman has been at the Foster School since 1992 and began teaching Domestic & International Economic Conditions in TMMBA in 2011. Her specialties include international finance, global macroeconomics, international trade policy and institutions, and European business. When I asked for her recommendation, she suggested publications from the Federal Reserve. Here’s why:

Publications from regional Federal Reserve banks have articles that are short, timely, and accessible to the general business reader.  Examples include (but are not limited to) the “Chicago Fed Letter,”, the Cleveland Fed’s “Forefront,” and “The Region” from the Minneapolis Fed.   You can search topics across all Federal Reserve publications using http://fedinprint.org.

Warren Boeker, Professor of ManagementProfessor Warren Boeker

Professor Boeker teaches Strategic Management of Technology & Innovation during the fourth quarter of the TMMBA Program. He specializes in competition, corporate strategy, entrepreneurship, and international business. He has seven go-to websites and blogs on his list:

Boeker also recommends the book Where Good Ideas Come From by Steven Johnson.

What are your favorite business resources?

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