Graduate Students

Q&A: How To Get the Most Out of Grad School

cfabi002 — Wed, 04 Sep 2024 17:08:07 +0000

Q&A: How To Get the Most Out of Grad School cfabi002 Wed, 09/04/2024 - 10:08 More Blog Posts Laurie McLaughlin September 04, 2024

For Sonal Agrawal ’24 MBA, moving the United States from her home in India was a big leap, but she was determined to supercharge her career with a master’s degree at UCR. The COVID- 19 pandemic was a time of reflection and big decision-making for her, and the choice to take that leap paid off beginning the first day at UCR.

“From the moment I stepped into my first information systems class, I had found my calling,” says Agrawal of the course taught by Rich Yueh, assistant professor of teaching in information systems, at the School of Business. “Coming from a technical background, the course resonated deeply with me, strengthening my inclination toward product management. It cleared many of my doubts and solidified my career path.”

In the years before she set foot on UCR’s campus, Agrawal earned a bachelor’s in engineering in computer science at the University of Rajiv Gandhi Proudyogiki Vishwavidyalaya in India, and embarked on a career—starting as a system engineer and then as a SAP (systems, applications, and products in data processing) associate manager—with various companies, including EY, PwC, Atos, and Tata Consultancy Services.

At UCR’s A. Gary Anderson Graduate School of Management (AGSM), Agrawal intentionally immersed herself in myriad opportunities that would fine-tune her understanding of the culture, augment her knowledge of the industry, sharpen her technical skills, and polish her leadership capabilities as she now heads toward her immediate goal as a product manager. “I’m excited about the prospect of working closely with diverse clients to develop solutions addressing complex challenges,” she says. “My long-term vision extends beyond technical proficiency: I aspire to be a leader known for strategic acumen and empathy. I believe in leading teams toward shared goals while ensuring their well-being and professional growth.”

Her studies and deliberate involvement will get her there: “AGSM is focused on innovation, and UCR is a place where diversity is celebrated, and everyone’s voice is heard,” she says. “The hands-on learning opportunities and the network I built—thanks to UCR’s strong ties with industry leaders—provided solid steps toward achieving my career goals.

“I learned from the best, was challenged, and found support every step of the way. Each of our journeys is unique, and comparison is futile. We own our stories, our achievements, our failures. We set our pace, and with the belief in ourselves, nothing is impossible.

Sonal Agrawal ’24 at 2024 Global Case Competition

Agrawal shares her strategies for maximizing her AGSM career:

You have said, “Outside the classroom I thrived in extracurricular activities.” Which do you feel most strengthened your academic experience?

With the Programming Club, I was treasurer and vice president, and I learned to lead and mentor, assisting peers in improving their tech skills. These roles helped me understand the nuances of team dynamics and the importance of effective leadership, and I connected with essential networks, like Blackstone Launchpad. I was also director of the first-ever Programming Club AI competition in 2024; the event challenged students to analyze real-time business data, use LLM models for analysis, and make data-driven business decisions. It was a fantastic opportunity for participants to refine their leadership and public speaking skills, advance their tech knowledge, and master the art of data-driven decision-making.

As a member of the AGSM Career Advisory Council, I mentored first-year grad students on their academic and professional paths. Understanding the unique challenges faced by international students, I offered guidance rooted in empathy and my firsthand experience. With the AGSM Student Success team’s leadership and mentorship committee, the goal is to boost confidence and provide strategic advice for academics, on-campus employment, internships, and sometimes, personal matters, and I hosted one intern panel event in the fall quarter.

With the AGSM Women in Business club, I started as marketing executive and then communications director; we created a supportive environment for aspiring female leaders through events like case competitions, speaker series, and collaborations with other UC campuses.

I also volunteered with Americas’ SAP Users’ Group (ASUG), where I presented my experiences from working with Big 4 companies like PwC and EY in the SAP domain. I also discussed how SAP is leveraging AI to upgrade systems and solve business problems. Through ASUG, I built a network and connected with multiple mentors who have provided guidance, support, and empowerment.

During your internships, what were your responsibilities? You first interned with the National Science Foundation and then two internships with Willmeng Construction, including as a tech product manager intern for data platforms.

With Willmeng, I initially completed a rotational internship focused on business strategy for real estate using data analytics tools, like Power BI visualization platform, for informed business decisions, and I designed marketing materials for public sector U.S. clients. The tech product manager internship was an exceptional opportunity to integrate my previous SAP technology work experience in India with the business acumen I developed through my MBA studies. In this role, I was deeply involved in the entire life cycle of product strategy, from initial concept to market launch. My responsibilities included overseeing design and implementation phases for product development and product demonstrations, and throughout the internship, I leveraged my technical expertise with strategic business goals.

During my time at NSF, I worked as a marketing intern for a startup, responsible for crafting and executing strategies to build brand awareness, drive growth, and optimize digital marketing. I also conducted market research and client interviews to inform our decisions and refine our approach.

You competed in multiple contests with UCR winning teams, including the International Collegiate Business Strategy Competition (ICBSC) and Global Case Competition hosted by USC and the UC Davis Food and Agriculture Business Challenge. What did you gain from participating?

In the ICBSC business simulation game, I learned how a business operates by making informed decisions on product pricing and advertising strategy. I also realized that commitment to staff and customers is essential for achieving higher value in the business world.

In the USC Global Case Competition, I tackled financial and environments, social, and governance criteria, explored high-net-worth client strategies, and applied MBA skills. Competing with students from around the world, I enhanced my cross-functional collaboration, boosted my confidence, and gained leadership experience.

Participating in the UC Davis case competition opened my eyes to the intricacies of the food and agriculture industry. I learned to adapt to new sectors, manage stress, and apply strategic thinking. The challenge of developing a practical, cost-effective business solution was exhilarating and instrumental in bridging the gap between academic theories and real-world applications. I also learned the importance of meticulous planning and understanding customer needs to develop effective business and financial models.

Besides your experience in information systems with Professor Yueh, what other courses stood out for you?

The capstone course with Management Lecturer Alexandru Roman was particularly engaging because it involved working with real data from actual companies. Each week, we crafted presentations, gaining insights directly from company employees, which broadened our understanding of business strategies from an entrepreneurial perspective. His constructive feedback enhanced the real-world experience. Professor Sean Jasso was another significant mentor. Serving as a teaching assistant for him, participating in competitions, and learning about business ethics profoundly influenced my professional outlook and ethical considerations in business.

The school’s focus on innovation really spoke to me, especially because the professors are teachers, mentors, and experienced professionals bringing real-world insights into the classroom. I found support every step of the way.

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Graduate Students

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Immense Personal Growth

ilseu — Tue, 30 Jul 2024 23:20:28 +0000

Immense Personal Growth ilseu Tue, 07/30/2024 - 16:20 More Blog Posts Laurie Mclaughlin July 30, 2024

At the 2024 commencement ceremonies for A. Gary Anderson Graduate School of Management (AGSM), Pious Khemka ’24 MSBA carried the Master of Science in Business Analytics (MSBA) processional banner representing her cohort and classmates.

“This honor came as a surprise to me and signifies that my efforts, even though they weren’t aimed at gaining recognition, have indeed been acknowledged by the school,” says Khemka of being selected to carry the banner. “Being part of the graduation ceremony in this capacity was a great honor and a meaningful culmination of my journey at UCR.”

Gaining Experience with Intensive Involvement

Khemka’s selection to carry the MSBA ceremonial banner was much less of a surprise to faculty and her academic colleagues due to her wholehearted engagement in AGSM student life. But the transition to a new community was daunting.

“Stepping outside my comfort zone fostered immense personal growth,” she says. “I used to avoid doing things alone, but now I embrace independence and have developed time management skills. Balancing coursework, a teaching assistant job, a capstone project, and social activities has taught me discipline.”

Khemka’s involvement in the Women in Business student organization was just one of the many projects she undertook while studying for her master’s at AGSM. “Women in Business has been a cornerstone of my UCR experience,” says Khemka, who served as the group’s partnership director and helped organize their UC Collab event with UCR, UC San Diego, and UC Irvine.

“The club has provided a platform to champion women’s empowerment, a cause close to my heart. I aspire to support and mentor women in business, creating networks and opportunities for them.”

While also competing in a number of case competitions, including her team’s second place win at the UC Davis Food and Agriculture Business Competition, the intensive preparation and presentations were “exhilarating,” she says, “and challenged me to apply classroom knowledge to real-world scenarios, sharpening my skills and broadening my perspective.”

Khemka is a member of the Beta Gamma Sigma International Business Honor Society, which welcomes graduate students in the top 20% academically. In the classroom, Khemka compliments Finance Professor Jean Helwege, who also holds the Anderson Chair in Finance. “She may not know this, but she is one of the professors I hold in the highest regard at UCR,” says Khemka. “Her lectures are so insightful and engaging that I was torn between taking notes and absorbing her every word.”

Off campus, Khemka interned as a startup business consultant with the INNOVAR project (part of the National Science Foundation I-Corps program offering introductory training workshops to entrepreneurs) at UCR and was a teaching assistant in the Economics Department within the university’s College of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences. “Both experiences underscored the importance of networking and professional relationships,” she says. “The INNOVAR internship required extensive outreach, and the teaching assistant position highlighted the need for both qualifications and connections.

“I’ve built a diverse network of peers, learning from their unique experiences and backgrounds. Being among the youngest in some classes has been a blessing, because I’ve gained insights from seasoned professionals that I could not have elsewhere.”

Education is Essential for Long-Term Growth

“Initially, pursuing a master’s wasn’t part of my plan because the job I had as a business analyst at Goldman Sachs was fulfilling,” says Khemka, who joined the global financial services firm upon earning a bachelor’s degree in business administration in 2021 from Christ University in Bangalore, India. “However, I realized that continuing my education was essential for long-term growth, and UCR stood out because it offered an excellent analytics program and the opportunity to live in California.”

Her hometown is Indore in Madhya Pradesh, India, and she says she is naturally inclined toward business studies: “My parents’ dedication to our family business instilled in me a strong work ethic and entrepreneurial spirit. My interest in analytics was sparked during my first job, where I realized the transformative power of data.

“My MSBA degree is the pathway to mastering these skills and making a significant impact on the business world.”

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From Grad Student to Founding CEO

cfabi002 — Thu, 20 Jun 2024 17:08:47 +0000

From Grad Student to Founding CEO cfabi002 Thu, 06/20/2024 - 10:08 More Blog Posts Aurora Abt June 19, 2024

Emil Shirokikh ’25 PMBA

Have you ever wondered if a classroom lesson will be relevant in the real world? For Emil Shirokikh ’25 PMBA, a class project spurred the idea for a new AI startup, and a subsequent health crisis heightened his awareness of maximizing his time while bringing his business to fruition.

Last fall, Assistant Professor of Teaching in Information Systems Rich Yueh assigned students, including Shirokikh, to develop an idea for a technology startup. The deliverable was a business plan with cost estimates, defined employee roles, and a market analysis. At the time, artificial intelligence was on Shirokikh’s mind because the industry’s growing pains frequently appeared in the news and on social media. His startup idea would be form-filling AI software, thus tapping into the new and evolving technology to revamp an application that sorely needed an update.

At the same time, Shirokikh’s childhood friend, UCR undergraduate Carlos Langer, was writing his bachelor’s thesis on environmental, sustainability, and governance (ESG) reports, which summarize the environmental impact of a company’s operations. This topic was interesting for Langer because many of his friends are sustainable finance consultants who share a perplexing obstacle: locating reliable data when writing ESG reports. The consultants’ first challenge is the time-consuming process of contacting multiple sources to collect data. The second is the lack of a uniform reporting system among the stakeholders. By identifying a problem (locating and collecting data for ESG reports) and then building a solution (AI-powered data management and form-filling), a new tech startup was born.

The Will to Win

Over the past year, the “Belto” team, led by Shirokikh, has been prolific in generating product ideas. The company’s future is promising; however, early in its development, the startup was almost sidelined. In October 2023, Shirokikh and Langer were diagnosed with a tumor at age 24 and 25, respectively. “It was shocking news for both of us,” says Shirokikh. “It is scary, and honestly, what are the odds that both of us would develop a tumor at the same time?”

Shirokikh and Langer have since successfully recovered from surgery and emerged with a clear purpose. “It made us realize one thing very quickly: time matters. We only have so much time on Earth to make a difference,” says Shirokikh, who pushed aside his fears around the risks of entrepreneurship and focused on the opportunity to deliver a unique, quality product to the marketplace.

Addressing Inefficiencies

Contrary to public sentiment, AI does not eliminate the need for human participation. In reality, AI-powered software leads to better tools in the hands of humans, who can then make smarter business decisions.

Developing solutions for businesses has become easier for Belto staff as they become more comfortable redefining the way daily tasks are done. One of the uses of their AI-enhanced software is for managers who frequently draft reports, such as an ESG report, income statement, or balance sheet disclosure. Shirokikh defines the issue: “These businesses gather a lot of decentralized data, analyze it, and then use the gathered information to write a report. This is a multi-step process that involves valuable time. Belto ESG software is designed to integrate seamlessly and cost effectively into their environment, gather and analyze the data automatically, and draft a report within seconds.”

Fall Product Launch

Still in the initial stages of startup development, Belto has an ambitious plan for 2024. It is scheduled to complete the initial testing phase for its first viable products in summer 2024, with the software to be published by October 2024. The stakes are high as the team works diligently to complete the product development process. Shirokikh admits to closely managing company and product formations. “We are heavily invested in building our product lines, including designing and building a professional website and web app,” he says. “We even build our own hardware and run our app on Belto servers.”

Tech Industry Recognition

The company’s approach to fearlessly incorporating AI into business solutions recently caught the eye of industry insiders. Shirokikh and Belto were honored by The 2.0 Conferences, an organization that facilitates discussions and tech collaborations among innovators in fast-moving industries. Its Internet 2.0 tech conferences are a platform for introducing innovative products and rising talent. For his role in leading a team of technology and business specialists in developing AI-based applications, Shirokikh received the Young Leadership Award at the March 2024 Internet 2.0 Conference in Las Vegas. For Shirokikh and his team, the award verifies that Belto is on the right path.

Human Connections Are Key to AI Growth

Determined to keep momentum, Shirokikh has built a strong support base by networking on social media and at the Internet 2.0 conference. “I have met many executives, business owners, and venture capitalists. I have also found lots of encouragement from innovators at the conference and in the Los Angeles business community,” he says, adding that these connections believe in the viability of AI applications and have shared insights. “I feel confident that I can access funding to continue growing the business.”

Belto Founder Emil Shirokikh sits for his first interview after receiving the Internet 2.0“Young Leadership Award” in Las Vegas, March 20, 2024.

Fun Facts @ Startups

> 60% of entrepreneurs believe that AI is the most promising innovative technology.
> Technology and health care startups are the strongest industries, bringing in the most revenue compared to other startup categories.
> The United States is the leading country by the number of startups, followed distantly by India.
> 95% of entrepreneurs that create startups have a bachelor’s degree, and 47% have more advanced degrees.

___________
Source: FounderJar; quoted from founderjar.com/startup-statistics

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Meet the UCR School of Business MBA Class of 2025

ilseu — Mon, 04 Dec 2023 19:57:47 +0000

Meet the UCR School of Business MBA Class of 2025 ilseu Mon, 12/04/2023 - 11:57 More News Meghan Marrin | Poets & Quants December 04, 2023

This article was recently published on Poets & Quants, a premium online resource for prospective graduate business students worldwide. Also read the second part of the article: "An Interview with the Leadership Team".

“Study hard, work hard and play harder.” That is MBA Fengan (Phannel) Li's motto, and it suits many of the other MBAs in this year’s class at the UC Riverside A. Gary Anderson Graduate School of Management.

UCR MBAs, many of whom are international (51% this year), first-generation, and underrepresented students, come to the program for a variety of reasons — so naturally, their needs and interest vary.

Some have backgrounds in the Navy and Air Force, some in entrepreneurship, and some in consulting and marketing; some wish to keep on their current career path, while others are looking to pivot. But they all have one thing in common: dedication.

Quite intentionally, the program prioritizes offering personalized attention to cater to the individual needs and objectives of every student. Located an hour outside Los Angeles, the school connects with the diverse business landscape of the region. Recent graduates have secured positions in an assortment of companies like Google, Tesla, Amazon, Disney, JPMorgan Chase, Hulu, and PepsiCo.

Charting a Course for an MBA at Riverside

MBAs choose to pursue their degrees for a wide array of reasons. As a member of the Brazilian Navy, UCR MBA Luiz Fernando do Nascimento Vieira chose to set sail on the course for an MBA at Riverside for both personal and professional reasons.

“As I progress and take on greater responsibilities in my naval career, the weight of my decisions becomes increasingly significant,” says Vieira, who has held a 16-year career managing supplies on ships, overseeing the procurement of supplies for Brazilian submarines, and advising on financial matters for the Submarine Force staff just to name a few things.

He will be taking on even more responsibility post-MBA. “After graduation, I hope to be equipped with new skills and knowledge that will not only guide these critical decisions but also allow me to improve my organization and establish a broader world view and perspective,” adds Vieira. He plans to return to work in the Navy post-grad, where he will be leading organizations or advising on pivotal decisions. “It’s imperative to remain informed and continually seek innovative solutions and ideas to better serve my institution,” he says.

Unlike Vieira, MBA Yingchao Fu prefers the land to the sea, yet similarly to Vieira, she has over a decade of experience in her industry. “It was the right time for me to start a new journey,” she says.

UCR AGSM Students at the annual campus color festival celebration

A New Voyage through UCR

“I have 12 years of work experience in vehicle engineering, and I can clearly see the promotion path I will have in the vehicle industry. I have varied engineering and team-management experience, and the UCR MBA program is a good chance for me to explore future career opportunities,” says Fu. She’s planning on working to design more efficient vehicles in the future.

“I’d like to merge new technology into vehicles to redefine the expectations of a car,” she says. “In the future, automobiles will serve as more than just transportation with integrated functions and innovative technology—almost like a home that’s mobile as people spend more time in their cars.”

MBA Ishita Singhal, from India, is pursuing her degree to master all there is to know about brand reach, marketing, and social responsibility in order to lead a culture of responsible marketing. “Filtering through the large pool of prospective colleges, I was certain about studying at a university that would help inculcate a mindset of excellence and innovation, provide global perspectives, and hone my leadership skills,” she says.

At UCR, Singhal has been sharpening her analytical, creative, and social intelligence leadership skills. “Today’s interlinked challenges in the changing business landscapes demand exactly such leaders, and this kind of preparation is what I found at UCR.”

AGSM Student Ambassadors celebrate with the dean and executive fellows at the annual Fellows Installation Dinner

A Sense of Tranquility from the get-go

Many MBAs felt a sense of readiness and tranquility entering the fall semester, in part due to the Summer with UCR and Business Ready program that played a key role in their smooth transition into the rhythm of MBA life.

Though they officially began the program in the fall of 2023, the UCR experience started months before in the summer. “The curated sessions gave me a glimpse into life at UCR, what to expect, how to be more prepared, and most importantly, how to be business ready.” It was a much-needed prelude for me as I transitioned back into school after working for more than three years,” says Singhal, who previously worked at Deloitte India.

Felipe Gomez also found Riverside’s Business Ready program to be extremely beneficial for connecting with those he’d be spending the next few years studying alongside. A local Californian, Gomez has served in the Marine Corps and hopes to work in supply-chain after graduating. “I connected with classmates, advisors, and staff, which has been extremely beneficial in preparing me for the school year. The activities I enjoyed the most were the reviews of my LinkedIn profile and résumé offered by AGSM’s Career Development Center,” says Gomez.

Professor Rich Yueh uses generative AI tools in his teaching practices

A Selfless and Ambitious Community

Students described the community with many positive words, with diverse being the most frequently stated. A few others stuck out, one in particular: selfless.

“The students and alumni, including the staff, have a positive attitude that is contagious. No matter how busy they are, everyone is willing to offer their time and support with any personal and/or professional challenges you are working through. This is truly inspiring to see, and I hope their selflessness carries on to everyone they touch,” says Gomez.

MBA Manideep Bommakanti was working as a portfolio analyst at BNY Mellon, and he hopes to transition into a role as portfolio manager post-graduation. He describes the others in the UCR community as ambitious. “The peers I have interacted with so far are driven, determined, and eager to excel in their academic pursuits and professional endeavors. This ambition is likely to serve them well in their future careers and contribute to their overall success,” he says.

Manideep is from Hyderabad, India and has studied in Ireland. “The diverse international background of the students also creates a rich and inclusive environment at UCR. I’ve personally felt warmly welcomed, and the openness to various perspectives and cultures has enriched my experience,” says Bommakanti.

Professor Elodie Goodman helps students learn reasoning to solve complex problems in her Quantitative Methods course

What they Learn and a Course they Love

The curriculum in the UCR MBA contains a total of 20 courses, or 80 quarter units over 21 months. The two professional development courses, Business Career Development and Fieldwork in Management, give MBAs the chance to level up their hands-on skills and sharpen their business mindset. Along with the professional development courses, students are expected to complete a capstone group case analysis or write an individual thesis.

In a candidate’s second year, they can choose from seven concentrations in desirable areas, including Accounting, Business Analytics, Finance, Information Systems, Management, Marketing, and Operations & Supply-Chain Management – and some know exactly which they’d like to pursue going in.

For this year’s class, one course stood out as a favorite – Management 205 – Information Systems. Air Force combat veteran Normarie Soto from Orlando says, “The course I’ve enjoyed the most so far is MGT 205 Information Systems. The professor has perfected the content presentation and makes it easy to understand and apply the knowledge to our assignments and group start-up projects.”

Several others stated this as their favorite as well, one of them being social responsibility and sustainable lifestyle enthusiast Phannel Fenian Li. “I have so far enjoyed taking Professor Rich Yueh’s course because, besides the content, it is designed with a strong personality that comes from the professor’s taste in style, his keen grasp on the tech industry, and his perspectives on how to make the ‘information system’ more chic and human,” she says. “He knows how to create an atmosphere for brainstorming in his classes tailor-made for MBA students.”

One of the biggest draws to the UCR MBA for Li was the STEM-designation. “STEM-designated MBA programs go one step further by focusing on technical skills, data analytics, and approaches for innovation management, which was the training I was really looking for,” she says.

MBA candidates connecting with major employer Esri at an in-person career fair

Entrepreneurs on all Horizons

Li is setting forth on a steady course to promote social innovation within marketing post-grad. “After graduation, I want to work for a multinational corporation and promote social innovation in the field of marketing and guide businesses toward sustainability and social responsibility. Long-term goals include becoming a thought leader in marketing and international business promoting gender equality, sustainable fashion, and cross-cultural understanding.”

MBA Wangda Lu from China says he prioritizes his life with trying new things – including traveling, collaborating with well-known TikTokers, and last but never least — entrepreneurial ventures. One of his biggest accomplishments is funding his own business back in Pittsburgh.

“My business Drama Goblin Entertainment became the first board game studio in the Pittsburgh area with more than 1,000 customers. The studio was especially popular among the Chinese community in the Pittsburgh-area; they liked to come and play some board games, including Avalon and Werewolves of Miller’s Hollow.

Professor Ashish Sood connects to his students through interactive activities and by building relationships outside of class

Ambassadors at Work

The UCR MBA has a beloved experience called the ambassador program, consistently named as one of the best opportunities available at the school. Should an MBA be chosen as an ambassador, they become the figurehead of the school, navigating the waters of alumni, donors, Executive Fellows, the community, prospective students, and other essential stakeholders. As ambassadors, they contribute to the community through service, and participating in special networking events.

“It has also been an honor to be selected for the A. Gary Anderson Graduate School of Management (AGSM) Student Ambassador program and represent UCR. As an ambassador, I’m looking forward to attending different events and conferences,” says Lu.

California native Kevin Thiphavong formerly served in the Navy, and he says becoming an ambassador has been the pinnacle of his MBA voyage thus far. “My biggest accomplishment as an MBA student so far is being accepted into the Graduate Student Ambassador program at the A. Gary Anderson Graduate School of Management (AGSM). I was selected among many applicants, and being an ambassador allows me to sharpen my leadership skills, challenge me throughout the school year, and mold me into a better business leader.”

Incoming MBA candidates talking with MBA peer mentors at orientation

Taking the Leap to Begin

For some, the challenge comes during studies but for several, the toughest hurdle to navigate is simply beginning. This was the case for MBA Normarie Soto. “My biggest accomplishment as an MBA student has been taking the leap and starting the program. I think it’s easy to get overwhelmed when thinking about pursuing an MBA in addition to everything you already have going on. You wonder where you’ll find the time, but I know I have what it takes to work through the challenges, especially with the support and encouragement of my family,” she says.

For financial consultant Tu-Anh Viet Nguyen, the biggest hurdle was being accepted into the program. Prior to acceptance, she was fairly content, but a question persisted in her thoughts – “What if there’s more?”

“I applied to UCR; I put all my eggs in one basket to apply to the school that I felt an instant connection with.” She had many sleepless nights worrying if her decision to only apply to one school was too risky, yet in the end, fortune favored her. “Countless times I checked the student portal to see if there was any change to my application status. And I received the offer! Just being here is already a massive first step for me,” she says.

Alumni and professors give advice to incoming students during orientation

A Class Profile

This year, the program had a total of 331 applicants and accepted just 37 students – making for a 41% acceptance rate for this year’s Class of 2025. The GMAT scores stood at 663, with the GMAT range hitting 688. Over half of the class are international students, at 51%, and just under half the class, 49%, are women. On average, the UCR MBAs have four years of work experience entering the MBA.

Most of the class has an academic background in business – a whole 54% of them, yet some come from Engineering (14%) and Social Sciences (11%), Computer Science (3%), Humanities (3%) Economics (3%), Science (3%). The other 11% came from varying backgrounds.

Before beginning their degree at UCR, the class was intermixed in a variety of industries. The top industry was consulting, accounting for 16% of the class. The next top was Industrial with 10% of the class, then Entrepreneurship, Finance, Military, and IT – all at 6% individually, then Healthcare, Marketing and Non-Profit each with 3%. A little under a third, 32% of the class, came from industries outside of the aforementioned.

Meet the UC Riverside MBA Class of 2025 featured candidates:

MBA Student	Hometown	Previous Alma Mater	Last Employer
Normarie Soto	Orlando, Florida	International Academy of Design and Technology	Anchor Wellness Insurance Agency
Fengan (Phannel) Li	Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China	University of Hong Kong	Independent consultant
Tu Anh (Tini) Viet Nguyen	Vungtau City, Vietnam and San Diego, California	San Diego State University	Aron Consulting Services
Wangda Lu	Xi’an, Shaanxi, China	University of Pittsburgh	Morgan Stanley
Luiz Fernando do Nascimento Vieira	Rio de Janeiro, Brazil	Brazilian Naval Academy	Brazilian Navy Budget Management Board
Yingchao Fu	Shanghai, China	Tongji University	NIO Inc.
Kevin J. Thiphavong	San Diego, California	UC Berkeley	DCG Communications
Manideep Bommakanti	Hyderabad, Telangana, India	University College Cork, Ireland	The Bank of New York Mellon
Felipe Gomez	Pomona, California	California State University, Fullerton	United States Marine Corps
Ishita Singhal	Hyderabad, Telangana, India	Symbiosis Centre for Media and Communication	Deloitte India

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Poets & Quants: UCR Business Leadership Interview

ilseu — Mon, 04 Dec 2023 19:52:55 +0000

Poets & Quants: UCR Business Leadership Interview ilseu Mon, 12/04/2023 - 11:52 More News Meghan Marrin | Poets & Quants December 04, 2023

This article was recently published on Poets & Quants, a premium online resource for prospective graduate business students worldwide. Also read the first part of the article: "Meet the UC Riverside School of Business MBA Class of 2025."

Meet the UC Riverside School of Business MBA Class of 2025

An Interview with the UCR Business Leadership Team

Q&A with UC Riverside Anderson Graduate School of Management Dean Yunzeng Wang, Ph.D.

P&Q: What are the most exciting developments at your program in the past year and how will they enrich the MBA experience for current and future MBAs?

Dean Yunzeng Wang: “Anticipation is growing on campus for our new state-of-the-art, LEED building opening in fall 2024. The new building together with the iconic Anderson Hall will house classrooms and the administration of the UCR School of Business in a blend of tradition and innovation. Upon entering the new building, students will be captivated by high ceilings, open spaces, and wide windows, encouraging expansive thinking.

The new classrooms offer innovative tech integration. Wireless connectivity and ceiling microphones ensure optimal sound quality for in-person and hybrid classes. Equally exciting is the use of auto-tracking cameras also built into the ceiling. These cameras create individual Zoom boxes for each person in the room, seamlessly bridging the online and in-person experiences. The computer lab also features Fintech equipment and a real-time ticker for up-to-date stock market reports.

At the UCR School of Business, these design and technology elements have been intentionally created in alignment with our values and embody who we are as a school.”

P&Q: What is the most innovative thing you have introduced into the MBA program in recent years? How has it been a game changer for your program?

UC Riverside Anderson Dean Yunzeng Wang

Dean Wang: “Our most exciting initiative is the launch of the new Technology, Innovation, and Design Lab. Drawing inspiration from other renowned universities, this lab serves as a creative playground where students can harness the power of AI, machine learning, and other technologies to craft real-world solutions under the guidance of our esteemed faculty.

The lab will focus on three core areas: artificial intelligence and machine learning, persuasive technology, and technology for social betterment. Professors Sanjoy Moulik and Rich Yueh are the driving forces behind this initiative, recognizing the need to identify business opportunities, brainstorm, experiment, and develop technology-based solutions that can genuinely benefit communities and enterprises.

While the lab will live within the School of Business, it will welcome students from all disciplines and involve dedicated alumni. In short, the lab expands the horizons for UCR students, empowering them to become problem solvers, developers, entrepreneurs, and pioneers in the digital realm, with the potential to create life-changing, market-disrupting products.”

P&Q: UC Riverside is an hour away from the heart of Los Angeles. How does the MBA program tap into the LA ecosystem to provide school projects, employer partnerships, and job opportunities for students? What types of jobs are your students landing and which companies?

Dean Wang: “Riverside County, in particular, has recently outpaced both LA and Orange counties in terms of job growth, adding 100,300 new jobs from 2019 to 2023 (Orange County Register, 2023). This thriving region offers a wide array of management and supply chain roles for our students looking to build roots in the Inland Empire, one of the most cost-effective areas in Southern California.

Nevertheless, our strategic location near four other major metropolitan cities and counties, including LA, Orange, and San Diego counties, opens up even more diverse job opportunities across different industries: entertainment, technology, health care/sciences, banking, food and beverage, and more. Some recent employers of our graduates include Amazon, Boeing, Disney, EY, Esri, Kaiser Permanente, PIMCO, and Red Bull.

These companies offer positions like financial analyst, product manager, head of operations, and client success manager, among others. For example, Diana Cullen ’19 MBA serves as a senior manager of retail operations at Fabletics, Brandy Taylor ’20 MBA holds the position of senior development manager at Wetzel’s Pretzels, and Aniedi Effong ’21 MBA works as a senior program manager for pathway operations at Amazon.

More recently, many of our students have secured exceptional internships that turned into full-time jobs at graduation, like Ashley Sanchez ’22 MBA who works as a financial analyst at the Walt Disney Co. and Franchesca Jefferson ’23 MBA who is now the integrated marketing campaign manager at Esri.”

The new School of Business building will sit adjacent to UC Riverside Anderson’s current building, the iconic Anderson Hall

Q&A with Sabine Freij, Ph.D., UC Riverside Director of Graduate Advising & Student Services

P&Q: If you were giving a campus tour, what is the first place you’d take an MBA applicant? Why is that so important to the MBA experience?

Sabine Freij: “After taking you to the iconic Anderson Hall and the construction site for the new school of business building, we would swing by the HUB (Highlander Union Building) at the center of UC Riverside campus to give you a taste of our various student clubs and resource centers on campus as well as a sampling of the food options available on campus before we take you to the Student Recreation Center (SRC).

The SRC is a state-of-the art facility equipped with the latest workout equipment in addition to a stunning pool and spa, a rock-climbing wall, a multi-activity court gym, tennis, racquetball and squash courts, an indoor track, rooms for fitness classes and personal training, and other health focused event spaces. As much as we continue to invest in academic buildings and success, we equally invest in the importance of maintaining a healthy and balanced lifestyle for our students.”

P&Q: What kind of resources, opportunities or support systems does your campus and school offer to both the faculty and students that may be experiencing fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic, whether it be physical or mental health repercussions?

Freij: “The university prioritizes both mental and physical health in addition to supporting other basic needs, particularly for those navigating the challenges exacerbated by the pandemic. First, we continuously share the new policy updates related to COVID that align with the CDC regulations. At the campus, we provide complimentary resources such as testing sites, covid testing kits, masks, and hand sanitizer.

In fall 2023, the campus opened a new Student Health and Counseling Center. The new building provides holistic wrap-around services in one location: the Division of Student Affairs, Student Health Services, Counseling and Psychological Services, Student Affairs Case Management, and The Well. Through these offices, free mental health services, case management, and student disability services are offered to our students.

Our Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) center additionally offers both in-person and virtual assistance so that UCR students can easily connect with providers. Additionally, our Basic Needs office offers a free on-campus pantry referred to as the R’Pantry and a free business professional clothing closet called R’Closet.”

UC Riverside MBA students have access to UCR’s gorgeous Student Recreation Center

Q&A with Rami Zwick, Ph.D., UC Riverside Associate Dean for Graduate Programs & Professor of Marketing

P&Q: What have MBAs told you is the most memorable, signature experience they’ve had in your program? Why did it resonate so much with them?

Zwick: “UC Riverside School of Business annual traditions and events have become our students’ favorite memories from their graduate experience. These include the annual beach bonfire, Mt. Rubidoux hike, and nights at the Getaway Cafe in addition to the cultural appreciation events such as Thanksgiving celebration, Lunar New Year, and the spring Color Festival.

These events and more bring together our diverse student body to not only celebrate important holidays together, but to also learn about other cultures. They also bring students and faculty together, helping to create a strong sense of community, belonging, and acceptance.”

P&Q: How does the MBA program integrate DEI in its MBA programming? How does the program leverage the larger university’s commitment to diversity in building its MBA program and what dividends does this commitment provide to its students?

Zwick: “We believe DEI integration is the work of every member of our community. We take a holistic approach to create a culture of inclusion and belonging for our diverse student body. Our efforts include recruiting a diverse cohort, hiring a diverse faculty team, enabling student affinity groups and resources, and integrating the topic into course content.

One of the most recent developments was the addition of a new course to our MBA curriculum: Diversity and Reducing Bias. The course covers topics including diversity in organizations, cross-cultural management, research-based strategies for reducing bias in organizations, and workplace inclusion.

Not only do our students have the opportunity to learn about the concepts in the classroom, they have a chance to practice these skills in an experiential environment through their MBA Capstone course, where students work with local/regional clients to develop business strategies, often for small and medium-sized businesses in historically marginalized communities.”

P&Q: The UC-Riverside MBA program is known for strong teaching and scholarship. Who is a standout in your faculty – the kind of person who graduates talk about a decade after they leave? How does he or she personify your school culture and the best of your MBA program?

Zwick: “We are proud to have a diverse and accomplished faculty team dedicated to making a lasting impact on our students.

Dr. Ashish Sood is both an associate professor of marketing and the academic director for the MBA and Professional MBA programs at UCR School of Business. He teaches marketing management and pricing strategy, and his students praise him for his passion for teaching, his industry experience, and the hands-on activities he uses to make marketing concepts come to life. He received a UCR Innovative Learning Technology Initiative Award in 2019 and two School of Business student-voted Golden Apple Awards for Excellence in Teaching in 2022-2023.

Another recipient of a Golden Apple Award, Dr. Elodie Goodman, professor of operations and supply chain management (OSCM), is one of those professors that challenges you to rise to the occasion of her class. Dr. Goodman teaches Quantitative Analysis in the MBA program as well as other OSCM courses. With the increasing importance of data analysis in the workplace, she enjoys equipping students with the skills they need.”

P&Q: How does your B-school incorporate technology into the curriculum and how has it engaged students and faculty on the use or incorporation of such new, emerging technologies, for example like ChatGPT?

Zwick: “Dr. Rich Yueh, assistant professor of teaching in information systems, was an early adopter – and so were his students. Since ChatGPT’s release in November 2022, Yueh added new class modules and assignments on how to use the tool effectively as well as considering the ethical and bias issues that artificial intelligence poses. He teaches his students to view AI as augmented intelligence tools – the tools help us do things better and more quickly than we could have ever done before.

Dr. Margret Campbell, professor of marketing, department chair and associate dean of faculty, notes that the emergence of AI and large language models will have a significant impact on the field of marketing, especially as it pertains to quickly developing content and conducting data analyses. She adds that these efficiencies will enable marketers to use their ingenuity and human creativity in other ways, just as humans have done with the adaptation of each game-changing technology.

Along similar lines, our faculty have recently partnered with an education technology company that allows participating courses to gain access to real-time case studies and simulations from Fortune 500 companies. We believe this tool is a game-changer for business education, as it allows students to get practice solving current challenges that companies are facing as a part of their coursework. Second, when students submit their work, companies will have the opportunity to review solutions and use the channel to recruit candidates. This becomes a win-win for both the students and the participating companies.”

Meet the UC Riverside MBA Class of 2025 featured candidates:

MBA Student	Hometown	Previous Alma Mater	Last Employer
Normarie Soto	Orlando, Florida	International Academy of Design and Technology	Anchor Wellness Insurance Agency
Fengan (Phannel) Li	Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China	University of Hong Kong	Independent consultant
Tu And (Tini) Viet Nguyen	Vungtau City, Vietnam and San Diego, California	San Diego State University	Aron Consulting Services
Wangda Lu	Xi’an, Shaanxi, China	University of Pittsburgh	Morgan Stanley
Luiz Fernando do Nascimento Vieira	Rio de Janeiro, Brazil	Brazilian Naval Academy	Brazilian Navy Budget Management Board
Yingchao Fu	Shanghai, China	Tongji University	NIO Inc.
Kevin J. Thiphavong	San Diego, California	UC Berkeley	DCG Communications
Manideep Bommakanti	Hyderabad, Telangana, India	University College Cork, Ireland	The Bank of New York Mellon
Felipe Gomez	Pomona, California	California State University, Fullerton	United States Marine Corps
Ishita Singhal	Hyderabad, Telangana, India	Symbiosis Centre for Media and Communication	Deloitte India

Are you ready to set your future in motion?

Tamra Johnson, Associate Director of Graduate Admissions

Schedule a consultation

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Hands-on Experience: UCR Business Case Competition

ilseu — Fri, 26 May 2023 22:42:39 +0000

Hands-on Experience: UCR Business Case Competition ilseu Fri, 05/26/2023 - 15:42 More Blog Posts Laurie McLaughlin May 26, 2023

With less than 48 hours to prepare their final presentations, eight UCR School of Business teams presented their case studies to a panel of judges at the inaugural UCR Business Case Competition on Feb. 25.

A team of graduate students—Jazmin Hernandez ’23 PMBA, Minhua Jiang ’23 MSBA, and Aarev Rawalh ’24 PMBA—were awarded the $300 first prize.

The teams were challenged with a case from the Harvard Business School, “3M: Rethinking Regionalization to Adapt to the Supply Chain Disruptions,” and made their presentations in person to the judges on campus.

“I think the reason our presentation was successful is that we brought our individual experience to the problem,” says Hernandez. “Our winning presentation was about a supply chain issue, and we focused on short-term and long-term goals integrating technology."

“Minhua brought her analytical background; Aarev brought his consulting background; and I brought in my experience working in strategy. We collaborated and exchanged ideas organizing our thoughts in a strategic way.”

In preparation, all teams participated in a January workshop, including a Saturday seminar on case study preparation led by Professor of Practice Sean Jasso and HCT Global Consulting/UBIS Adjunct Professor Erick Jensen. “During the workshop, students learned market sizing, market entry, and profitability within the larger framework of preparing case analyses for a client,” says Jasso.

UCR Case Competition 2023 judges and Women in Business leaders

Along with Jasso and Jensen, the judges for the day’s competition included Alyssa Stump Sherick ’16, ’18 MBA, foundations and grants deputy director with Best Buddies International, and Valtteri Salomaki ’20 MBA, CEO of EDGE Sound Research and co-founder of Free Logic Inc.

Hernandez is pleased with the victory, but immersion into a new and instructive experience is what she values most. “I was able to test my problem-solving methods, sharpen my speed and analytics skills, and learn about different industries,” she says.

“I gained insights on the supply chain industry, as well as how technology can be integrated within a global company. This allowed me to connect all the skills learned in my finance, marketing, information technology, and corporate strategy courses.”

This inaugural UCR Business Case Competition was envisioned by MBA students and members of the A. Gary Anderson Graduate School of Management Women in Business organization led by Renuka Kulkarni ’23 MBA and Shubham Thakur ’23 MBA.

“The Women in Business recognized the need for more competitions within AGSM and were inspired by the 2022 UC Davis Case Competition,” says Jasso, who provided mentorship for the organization. “The case competition furthers the overall readiness of the UCR business graduates entering the competitive labor market.”

“I’ve never done anything like this competition before,” says Hernandez. “It was an amazing opportunity because it showed me I could think under pressure, speak confidently, and apply outside knowledge to find a solution.”

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Header image (from left to right): Valtteri Salomaki ’20 MBA, Alyssa Stump Sherick ’16, ’18 MBA, Jazmin Hernandez ’23 PMBA, Minhua Jiang ’23 MSBA, and Aarev Rawalh ’24 PMBA, Adjunct Professor Erick Jensen, and UCR School of Business Professor of Practice Sean Jasso

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Grad Students Tackle Company's Analytics Projects

ilseu — Tue, 16 May 2023 23:12:37 +0000

Grad Students Tackle Company's Analytics Projects ilseu Tue, 05/16/2023 - 16:12 More News Laurie McLaughlin May 16, 2023

Louis Young is the CEO of Healthmetryx Inc. in Boston, and he had previously worked with Md Moniruzzaman, lecturer in business analytics at UCR School of Business, on analytics work. And, as Young was looking at other projects within his company that needed attention, “Md said, ‘You know, if you want to turbocharge what you’re doing, we have some really hungry master’s students that would like help,’” says Young.

The CEO made a presentation to UCR’s Master of Science in business analytics (MSBA) students: “They were really enthusiastic about the possibility of working with us,” says Young, who founded Healthmetryx, an exhaled-breath health-data analytics and artificial intelligence company that is working with NASA, NVIDIA, and Amazon to launch the Respiratory Cloud Machine, an IoT-enabled cloud-based AI platform.

“The platform’s intent is to provide drug developers, clinical decision-makers, and population health managers with real-world data and evidence to make better decisions related to the health status of any target population,” says Young.

The grad students were indeed eager to work with Healthmetryx. Each cohort of MSBA students participates in a capstone project like this one: a hands-on, real-world experience that allows students to take the concepts and methods they’ve studied and apply them in a practical setting. “The capstone course for business analytics emphasizes the importance of analytical skills, data visualization, data mining, and big data analytics,” says Moniruzzaman.

A Win-win for Everyone

Working virtually, the five business analytics master’s students provided strategic goals, areas to work on within the company’s data on the Amazon cloud, and how to “plug that data into different visualizations,” says Young.

“They developed a host of analytics visualizations that allow for population health management uses and understanding the status of particular populations—males, females, individuals living in certain states, people working in certain industries, and other categories.”

Young feels the project was a win-win for everyone.

“They did very good work, and we couldn’t be more pleased,” says Young. “Their work positioned us to understand what the analytics and visualizations would look like from an artificial intelligence standpoint and how to use those analytics and visualizations as mockups for our larger work with Amazon and AWS.”

Creating a Capstone Experience

Each year, master’s students work on different capstone assignments, and Moniruzzaman’s extensive contacts within the industry allow for exceptional experiences for grad students. He finds companies that are willing to share existing projects within their organizations and pairs executives with capstone students, who then take a deep dive into an actual business challenge.

“In this instance, Healthmetryx’s expertise in respiratory early detection and self-monitoring technology aligned with some the health care-related problems that the students might work on in their careers,” says Moniruzzaman.

Projects Come to Life

Florian Sterr, MSBA ’22

“It was interesting to see a data-driven project come to life,” says MSBA alumnus Florian Sterr ’22. Along with four other MSBA students, his capstone project was with Lionchase North America (LNA), a private equity firm (which was the initial investor in Healthmetryx).

LNA President Kenneth Brown says the capstone students did an “excellent job. They were an ambitious group and very inventive. They helped us with a large Department of Transportation database and came up with a process to learn how the data could assist us with site location.”

Sterr was a product manager in the banking industry before deciding to make a career pivot, which included earning his master’s in business analytics; the capstone project was a valuable immersion into the work he loves. He is currently a product manager for Playstudios, a developer of free-to-play mobile and social games.

“Using data from the U.S. government predicting the movement of perishable goods through trucking, we investigated and validated an approach to identify ideal locations for the warehouse sites for perishable goods,” says Sterr of the LNA capstone project. “We used geographical information systems in conjunction with statistical analysis programs.”

Executives Understand the Value of Hands-on Immersion

Brown and Young know that taking the time to work with business master’s students is important. “Any real-world opportunity to learn about client needs is extremely helpful. It’s also ideal to learn the limits of technology and intersection of practical approaches to solve problems versus always relying on technology because it might not be available all the time,” says Brown.

Young agrees, and says, “The combination of classroom education and getting experience in the real world is necessary because these students now have a substantive project they can talk about as they compete with their peers for jobs.”

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UCR, UCI, UCSD Women in Business Networking Lunch

ilseu — Mon, 17 Apr 2023 20:52:52 +0000

UCR, UCI, UCSD Women in Business Networking Lunch ilseu Mon, 04/17/2023 - 13:52 More Blog Posts UCR AGSM Women In Business Organization April 17, 2023

During her keynote address before a group of women business students, Sophia Fischer shared her personal experience with how people from similar backgrounds do not experience the workplace in the same way. This created a dialogue among those present about equality versus equity, the importance of women of color in the workplace, and steps to take this forward.

Fischer, the marketing manager at Johnson & Johnson, was part of a March 11 celebration of International Women’s Day, which is centered around empowering and uniting women to advocate for one another, inspiring progress, and striving toward a more equitable world.

Event speakers, left to right: Sophia Fischer (keynote), Sabina Tinajero, Natalie Barron, Caitlyn Lubas, Jessica N. Grounds

The day’s events—including a mixer, luncheon, and panel discussion—were a collaboration between the A. Gary Anderson Graduate School of Management (AGSM) Women in Business (WiB) graduate student organization and the Women in Business organizations from the University of California, Irvine (UCI), which hosted the group on its campus, and the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) to celebrate the spirit of women in leadership.

Riya Yadav ’24, MBA

Raina Williams ’22, ’24, MBA

“Working with a group of driven and determined women to put together a visionary event celebrating International Women’s Day was an extraordinary opportunity,” says UCR AGSM WIB, Director of Partnerships, Riya Yadav ’24 MBA. “Organizing the event from the ground up, including every step of the process from the first RSVP to post-marketing, was also a learning opportunity for me. The great sense of accomplishment that resulted from this event becoming a reality was incomparable.”

The AGSM WiB organization was founded to empower young leaders to navigate the corporate world and provide opportunities to build essential leadership skills, and participants appreciated the chance to learn and socialize at the luncheon, says attendee and UCR student Raina Williams ’22, ’24 MBA of the gathering: “The opportunity to converse with the panelists was eye-opening and valuable to me. And, I had the opportunity to meet women who are also pursuing their MBA degrees in other schools. I came away feeling more inspired and motivated than ever before.”

The afternoon’s speakers included:

- Jessica N. Grounds, CEO of Corporate Directors Forum, shared insights on maneuvering the workplace as a woman, how changing times have transformed the world for the better and the work that remains to promote true inclusivity.

- Natalie Barron, co-founder of Momentum Partners and PPC Executive Coach, stressed the importance of negotiating salary and benefit packages, asking for help when needed, and aligning work with personal goals.

- Caitlyn Lubas, the product manager at Inkitt and a successful publisher of her book, You Are Where You Go (Palmetto Publishing, 2021), brought a unique perspective, having traveled to more than countries and seven continents during her education at NYU. She emphasized the importance of storytelling and building a personal brand to showcase one’s skills and suitability for the job.

- Sabrina Tinajero, vice president, middle market business, at Wells Fargo, has continuously challenged herself time after time by going back to college and taking a courageous step toward learning in a traditional sense. She highlighted the importance of allies, taking on challenges that make one uncomfortable, doing the necessary homework when discussing compensation, and knowing what to ask for according to the market valuations.

A networking mixer was part of the agenda at the UC International Women’s Day collaborative event. Left to right, Skye Anders and Deepali Jain.

The universities’ Women in Business collaboration is expected to be a recurring event so that students may come together and interact with each other to create and inspire change in the corporate and professional realm, build awareness about various topics that affect women, and empower and inspire each other to create an inclusive and compassionate world where everyone feels heard, seen, and a sense of belonging.

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Header image: UCR Women in Business members at the UC International Women’s Day collaboration event at UC Irvine.

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Graduate Students

Executives Share Expertise in the Classroom

ilseu — Tue, 04 Apr 2023 07:53:51 +0000

Executives Share Expertise in the Classroom ilseu Tue, 04/04/2023 - 00:53 More News Laurie McLaughlin April 03, 2023

Professor Ashish Sood hosts high-level marketing pros who share frontline experiences with master’s students.

Associate Professor of Marketing Ashish Sood

As recent guest speaker at the graduate-level Marketing Management course at UCR’s School of Business, Rohan Raghunath’s presentation was about the impact of disruptive technologies on marketing and branding.

“I particularly focused on the four most impactful disruptive technologies: cloud, artificial intelligence, Metaverse, and generative AI,” says Raghunath of his lecture. He is the director of client services for Infosys, and he brought first-hand knowledge and expertise during his visit to the classroom during winter quarter this year.

“I wanted students to take away how technologies and their underlying capabilities are driving modern market strategies,” he adds. “No matter in which industry they land, they will need to stay ahead of these technologies and be able to leverage their impact.”

Student Iuliia Nemudrova ’23 is studying for her Master of Science in Business Analytics with a concentration in marketing and appreciated Raghunath’s insight and experience: “He is future-biased in a good way, and he strongly believes in technology. He emphasized how tech and data are changing the game.

“I agree with him 100%, and I enjoyed the discussion about new technological trends and how people are adopting them.”

Bringing Execs to Class

Raghunath is just one of the many business leaders invited to speak to students throughout the year by Associate Professor of Marketing Ashish Sood, who is also the academic director of MBA programs at UCR’s A. Gary Anderson Graduate School of Management.

“Having business leaders speak to master’s students provides insight and perspective from experienced professionals with a wealth of knowledge and experience in the business world,” says Sood, of the two courses, Marketing Management and Marketing Research, which feature the guests. “It allows students to learn from the successes and failures of these leaders and gain better understanding of the challenges and opportunities they may encounter in their own careers.”

Experiential learning is important, according to Sood. “The speakers bring real-world business problems and issues to the classroom and challenge the students to think outside the box and come up with innovative solutions,” he says. “The idea is to expand on the theories and lectures covered in the week with relevant examples from the industry.”

In addition to Raghunath, the expert guests and topics recently included:

- Agil John, principal customer solutions manager at Amazon Web Services, spoke about breaking free from traditional marketing strategies and embracing a multifaceted approach, including storytelling, sustainability, and shaping

- Malvika Gaur, a seasoned product manager with extensive experience in building large-scale consumer products at Meta and Google, explored marketing in tech companies with a deep dive into the Metaverse along with specific examples of branded partnerships

- UCR School of Business Executive Fellow Kenneth Leung ’87, ’89, marketing director for Oracle, underscored the importance of balancing exponential growth with financial expectations and analytics-driven insights

- Rajiv Ramanan, co-founder and CRO of Spendflo, shared insights on nonlinear growth channels and B2B marketing

- Samarth Setia, president of Southeast Asia for Ever.Ag and former CEO and co-founder of Mr. Milkman by Ever.Ag, explained the startup journey, from inception to exit

- Rohit Valia, senior vice president of technology and product management at Point Predictive, examined the use of artificial intelligence and machine-learning methodologies for creating client solutions in the B2B space

Prof. Ashish Sood's graduate marketing class in Anderson Hall

In-person Interaction and Inspiration

“Samarth Setia stood out for me tremendously,” says Nandini Swarup ’24 MBA, when asked about her favorites among the speakers throughout the quarter.

Setia, a 2020 Forbes Asia 30 Under 30 honoree, focused on the business of startups, and “talked about how he saw a problem and had a solution for it but no experience building a business or monetizing the idea,” says Swarup. “I learned how he and his team used marketing as an important tool to grow their business. They constantly updated their marketing techniques to make it more customer focused and innovative to reach their target audience.”

Interacting so closely with executives on the front lines, adds Nemudrova, is instructive: “Having moments of connection is the biggest value along with the opportunity to ask questions—any questions—about their work and industry.”

Guest speaker Raghunath can relate: “When I was in business school, listening to executives was a whole new experience, and I felt so enriched. I see this as a great opportunity to give back to the students and play a small part in their journeys toward finding their dream careers.”

Both Nemudrova and Swarup also appreciate the professor’s considerable effort in bringing prestigious speakers to his courses. “Dr. Sood provides all the tools that create a friendly environment for learning,” says Nemudrova. “He gives us the opportunity to expand our networks and interact with influential, experienced people.”

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Steering Internship and Love of Cars to a Career

ilseu — Tue, 28 Mar 2023 23:14:08 +0000

Steering Internship and Love of Cars to a Career ilseu Tue, 03/28/2023 - 16:14 More Blog Posts Laurie McLaughlin March 27, 2023

During his internship with the city of Moreno Valley, MBA student Joe Wu has jumped into new areas of business.

“I have learned an incredible amount about the commercial real estate world,” he says. “One of my duties is to aid in attracting commercial real estate clients to the city – industrial, office, and medical – and I send out marketing campaigns to various companies.”

Wu has been interning with Moreno Valley’s Economic Development Department since June 2022, and he also helps manage the city’s business website and marketing materials and staffs a booth for city events, like job fairs and ribbon cuttings.

“I make the occasional cold call to talk to business owners or real estate representatives,” he says, which was at first daunting, but he’s more comfortable now, and feels it’ll be a good skill to have in his career.

“Overall, student internships are important, especially for an MBA student, as it helps us gain practical experience in the working world and prepares us for post-graduate life,” says Wu, who earned a B.S. in marketing at UCR in 2021 and is now earning an MBA with a marketing emphasis. “While a great résumé enhancer, internships are also helpful for building professional networks, increasing your job prospects, or even securing a job.”

Expanding a Professional Network with Social Involvement

Wu has already parlayed the expertise he’s earned with his internship into activities at UCR’s A. Gary Anderson Graduate School of Management (AGSM). He is vice president of the student car-enthusiast club, Rides@UCR, founded on campus in 2021. “I manage the club’s social media, design fliers, and create and host events,” he says, and his work with the city has helped him with these duties.

“Whether you like to work on cars, modify, or race them – or even if you’re just starting to get into the hobby – Rides@UCR is a safe space and social gathering opportunity for everyone who has an interest in vehicles.”

He’s also an active member of the Purist Group. “It’s an automotive charity based Los Angeles that hosts events, such as toy, backpack, and food drives, and other volunteer activities throughout year,” says Wu.

These extracurriculars, he adds, “have constantly reminded me to become a socially responsible leader. I love to bring people together. But at the end of the day, I make sure to give back to the community. It’s important to remember that businesspeople should always be a positive influence on society and care for others.”

Driving Toward a Career in the Automotive Industry

Wu’s hometown is Hong Kong, and his dream is a career in the automotive industry when he graduates. With the spirit of an entrepreneur, he’s already got a start in the business and has been buying cars since high school, and he started selling cars last summer.

“I purchase cars from auctions and dealers in Japan, arrange for their shipment to the United States, and sell them to American buyers,” says Wu, who is a licensed used-car dealer, which required hours of study and a Department of Motor Vehicles exam. “I got tired of dealing with brokers and dealerships and losing a huge portion of my hard-earned cash in fees.”

Despite being what he calls a “hobby,” Wu has invested a great deal of time in learning how to buy and sell. “After months of carefully researching the importation process, the logistics, and paperwork behind it, I eventually became confident enough to try importing cars,” he says. “I purchase the vehicles, I pick them up at the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, and then I list them for sale.”

While he adds that he doesn’t earn a lot of money buying and selling the cars, he has a different motivation: “I mainly do it for the experience and as an excuse to buy my dream cars.”

Road to a Degree

Wu chose AGSM to study for his MBA because he knew it was the best place to fine tune his professionals skills, and he was attracted to the flexible curriculum.

“The ability to network is definitely my favorite part about the MBA program,” he says. And he’ll no doubt use that network while focused on attaining that dream career: “My goal is to become part of Toyota North America’s marketing team.”

Joe Wu ’21, ’23 MBA in front of Anderson Hall, UCR School of Business

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