AGSM

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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Four Reasons To Study Supply Chain In California

ilseu — Mon, 15 Apr 2024 23:33:05 +0000

Four Reasons To Study Supply Chain In California ilseu Mon, 04/15/2024 - 16:33 More Blog Posts Almha Murphy, BusinessBecause April 10, 2024

This story was originally published on BusinessBecause.

There’s more to California than leafy palm trees, golden-sand beaches, and the Kardashians. It’s also a major supply chain hub. California is home to two of the US’s largest ports in LA and Long Beach and a key operations base for delivery companies such as UPS and Amazon.

Aniedi Effiong ’21 MBA

It was a location that appealed to Nigerian-born Aniedi Effiong (pictured right), who had spent five years working in various telecommunication roles across Africa before feeling the need for a career change.

In order to switch paths, Aniedi began to search for the right business program that could provide him with the necessary tools to upskill.

So, when his brother suggested the STEM-designated MBA program at the University of California, Riverside—which offers a specialization in Operations and Supply Chain Management—he leapt at the opportunity.

“[Riverside] is one hour away from Los Angeles, which coming from Nigeria, it's like the City of Angels,” he jokes. “So, it was just a dream location.”

Now an operations manager for the multi-billion-dollar tech conglomerate Amazon, his supply chain-focused MBA at Riverside has indeed proved to be a career blessing.

But what are the four ways that studying in California helped him get there?

1. Experience a campus catered for international students

Moving halfway around the world is no easy feat. Finding accommodation, organizing travel, and preparing to leave your home are all stressful endeavors. But when Aniedi stepped off his 11-hour flight from Nigeria to LAX, he was met with a more-than pleasant surprise.

“An associate director of admissions actually came to the airport to pick me up,” he says.

Having driven over an hour and a half to collect him and taxi him to his new room on-campus, the UCR faculty and staff immediately made clear their dedication to making each student feel at home.

It’s an ethos that is maintained within the MBA program, where about half of the cohort are international. While at UCR, students can receive counseling from student advisors on everything from adjusting to US culture to improving their English.

“[UCR] was a family for me,” Aniedi says.

Plus, the university also provides over 450 clubs for students to get involved with, from hiking, to art, to organizations for underrepresented groups. These provide a great way to build friendships.

2. Learn from state-of-the-art experiential teaching

During the program, one aspect that really impressed Aniedi was the high quality of the UCR teaching staff, which consists of renowned business professors from fields such as finance and management.

Since students don’t specialize until their second year, attending a diverse range of classes helps broaden their career outlook.

“Just hearing my professors talk exposed me to different areas of business,” Aniedi says.

High quality teaching is compounded upon by practical core courses, such as a professional development workshop requiring students to learn key skills that include networking, interviewing, and salary negotiation.

They are then able to put this into practice by participating in a summer internship of their choosing, helping to prepare them for a chosen career path.

Aniedi was offered the opportunity to work with one of his professors in program management for the World Food Organization. Unfortunately, the opportunity fell through due to Covid travel restrictions, however, with travel now open again, students can intern with top companies such as IBM and Deloitte.

3. Explore different areas of supply chain

While to some, supply chain may seem like a niche area, the field encompasses a wide range of skillsets.

Once studying the supply chain specialization, students have the opportunity to pick from a wide selection of courses, which include Business Analytics for Management and Logistics and Supply Chain Management.

One optional course that Aniedi found particularly useful was Spreadsheet Modelling for Decision Making.

“Even today, I think of a problem and the first thing that comes to my head is how can I model this in Excel,” he says.

Equally, there are also plenty of opportunities to incorporate more innovative sustainability practices, such as ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) principles, into supply chain.

According to the supply chain technology company Sedex, ESG practices are becoming increasingly popular in the industry in 2024—however, there is room for further innovation with regards to using data and analytics to improve companies’ environmental impact.

“It’s a field where there's a demand for talent,” Aniedi adds.

4. Access top job opportunities

Undoubtedly, one of the top benefits of studying supply chain in California is the wealth of industries that use it as a major distribution hub.

UCR endeavors to expose students to these nearby companies by hosting key industry speakers and organizing networking events, as well as offering students one-on-one career coaching through the Student Success Center.

Aniedi attributes the interview practice he was able to undergo while in the program to landing his Amazon Pathways role straight after graduation.

“The skills I gained my first year were sufficient that I was able to get a job just as I was finishing my internship,” he says.

After moving to Dallas, Texas, for his role, he was quickly promoted to a senior manager position, where he now uses several key skills that he learned during his MBA in his day-to-day—including supply management, capacity planning, and people management.

“It's multifaceted,” he says. “You use people skills, organizational behavior, your understanding of yourself, and emotional intelligence.”

Other popular companies that supply chain specialization graduates go on to work with include Walt Disney, KPMG, and eBay.

Reflecting on his decision to apply to UCR, Aniedi feels that for anyone considering a role in supply chain, California is a great place to launch their career.

“UCR, especially, is the in the heart of the Inland Empire, so you're in a prime location for keeping your options open.”

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Supply Chain and Operations Management

How We Secured Careers at Red Bull & Pacific Life

ilseu — Fri, 07 Jul 2023 23:11:36 +0000

How We Secured Careers at Red Bull & Pacific Life ilseu Fri, 07/07/2023 - 16:11 More Blog Posts Laura Wise, BusinessBecause July 01, 2023

This story was originally published on BusinessBecause.

Landing a top job in a renowned company is the ambition for many MBA grads.

In fact, salary is the most important factor for job hunting b-school students. Yet landing a top job with a high salary is no easy feat—you’ll need to sharpen your skill set, build an effective network, and stand out among tough competition.

Business school grads Simon Isaac and Natalie Qaqish were ready for the challenge. After studying an MBA in California, they landed their dream jobs at Pacific Life and Red Bull, respectively.

Pursuing an MBA in California

Natalie knew her long-term career plans did not include a nine-to-five job.

Natalie Qaqish, MBA '22

“I couldn’t picture myself working a nine-to-five in an office or even from home. I knew I wanted to work a job that inspired me while also helping to gain more networking and connection opportunities.”

Before her MBA, Natalie (pictured) worked at Red Bull as the student brand manager. After a lot of consideration she decided the University of California, Riverside (UCR) School of Business was the right fit for her to grow her career and make connections.

“I took a good amount of time really diving into each different program before settling on my MBA. I appreciated the different approaches UC Riverside took in order to help their students grow,” Natalie says.

Meanwhile, business school grad Simon attended the UCR for his bachelor’s in Applied Mathematics. After graduating, however, he felt that something was missing.

Like Natalie, Simon had a clear vision of his career journey. He had always wanted to launch a career in analytics but he felt he needed a better understanding of business and a more comprehensive range of soft skills before he could do this.

“I decided to pursue the STEM MBA program at UCR, instead of a traditional analytics or data science program, because I wanted a more business-focused approach to my career. I also wanted to improve my soft skills that could complement my hard skills as I progress in my career,” he says.

Learning a mix of skills on a STEM MBA in California

One of the many reasons students want to attend business school is to gain life-long learnings that can be applied in their career.

Simon Isaac ’19, ’22 MBA

“The Management and Negotiation courses have given me skills that are hugely helpful me in my career today," says Natalie.

“I am constantly speaking with managers and owners, creating and developing contracts to each specific account, while also ensuring I'm keeping my company at the top of my priority list to ensure premium marketing and execution,” Natalie explains.

The UCR School of Business curriculum is varied and accommodates diverse interests.

Core courses include Organizational Behavior and Theory and Statistics for Management, with students able to select from 7 different concentrations, including Management, Marketing, and Business Analytics.

From his time at UC Riverside School of Business, Simon says the most valuable skills he gained related to his improvement in computer software knowledge, database management, project management, business analysis, and leadership.

As part of the compulsory internship, Simon worked as an IT business systems analyst for the Riverside County Clerk-Recorder under the supervision of his professor and mentor Kan Wang.

Similarly, the required internship is something that attracted Natalie to the UCR MBA. From her experience, she says she improved her soft skills in communication and public speaking.

“This seemed like a great challenge for me to step out of my comfort zone and I ended up choosing an internship within fashion and lifestyle public relations,” Natalie says. “I was able to communicate with my professor all the new learnings and appreciation I obtained.”

Launching a business analytics career at Pacific Life

One of the many reasons why Simon was interested in pursuing an MBA at UCR was to take advantage of the business school’s strong graduate outcomes.

86% of students are employed within three months of graduation and reach a median starting salary of $86k.

The STEM MBA in California offers a business career development course that provides students with the tools to execute a strategic career management plan, covering everything from targeting a specific career to interviewing and negotiating job offers.

Following interviews at several different companies, Simon landed a job at insurance company Pacific Life.

“The business analyst position offered the perfect opportunity to launch my career as I can gain exposure to both the analytics and supply chain side of the insurance industry.”

“The main skills and knowledge that I learned on the UCR MBA are how to work in large groups, effectively manage projects to completion, coding languages, as well as business analysis,” he says.

Building a management career at Red Bull

Business school isn't just about gaining learnings from MBA classes, there's a lot you can gain from utilizing your school's career service.

“I personally used the career service to help me understand and negotiate the right pay I deserve with an MBA. The [career experts] taught me how to professionally communicate what pay I want and help me land a comfortable salary,” Natalie says.

After gaining extensive management and negotiation skills, Natalie elevated her career at Red Bull to become an on premise manager.

“I used the tools and knowledge I gained from my professors and leaders to help better myself to gain the job I really wanted in the On Premise team.”

In this role she works across different departments with a range of different responsibilities, fulfilling her ambition of working in an atypical position.

“I work for our top nightlife and dining scene and festival industry. I use many of the skills I learned from my courses in marketing, sales, negotiation, and management.”

For both Natalie and Simon, it wasn’t just about the skills they gained, but the growing confidence they found within themselves after graduating from UC Riverside.

“It was great to observe how my classmates and I bloomed into high-functioning professionals by the end of the MBA program,” says Simon.

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UCR Business Professors Honored by Students

ilseu — Fri, 26 May 2023 23:46:33 +0000

UCR Business Professors Honored by Students ilseu Fri, 05/26/2023 - 16:46 More News Laurie McLaughlin May 26, 2023

On May 19, faculty were honored by students for their achievements inside the classroom. The evening was hosted by AGSM Student Association President Merve Sekercigellar ’23 PMBA, and awards were presented to faculty for teaching excellence.

“As you know, the faculty of the School of Business are world-renowned scholars, publishing in top academic journals. They are also outstanding teachers and mentors,” said Sekercigellar at the A. Gary Anderson Graduate School of Management’s Student Association Banquet celebrating the end of the academic year. “Each year, the school provides students the opportunity to vote for the professors who have had the greatest impact on them during the academic year.”

There are three award categories: the Golden Apple recognizes teaching excellence in the core and prerequisite courses and elective courses at the undergraduate and graduate levels for a total of four awards; the James Merino Innovation Award; and the Schulman Endowed Excellence in Teaching Award.

In presenting a 2023 Golden Apple award, MBA student Kyla Sycip ’23 said: “The Golden Apple Award is for the professor who, in the estimation of students, has provided the best overall experience in terms of learning, engagement, teaching style, and innovative teaching methods.”

Associate Professor of Marketing Ashish Sood was recognized with two Golden Apple awards—for excellence in teaching in graduate core courses and for graduate elective courses. “[Sood is] described by his students as accessible, caring, passionate about teaching, and able to connect course theory to real world applications,” said Sycip.

The Golden Apple for excellence in teaching the undergraduate prerequisite and core courses was awarded to Professor of Practice Sean Jasso by Chief Undergraduate Student Ambassador Jaya Gazula ’24, who is earning bachelor’s degrees in both public policy and business administration with a concentration in management, and School of Business Leadership Council President John Healey ’23, who is earning a bachelor’s in business administration concentrating in accounting and auditing.

“[Professor Jasso] is engaging and passionate,” said the presenters. “His students say that while his classes can be difficult, they were the among the best learning experiences, and everything he teaches and stands for is built upon a foundation of strong ethics and morality.”

Gazula and Healey awarded the Golden Apple for teaching excellence in undergraduate elective courses to Assistant Professor of Teaching in Marketing Jonathan Lim.

“[Professor Lim] is amazing and enthusiastic and makes the course material easy to understand,” said the presenters. “He supports his students in an accessible and fun learning environment and creates a sense of community among classmates.”

Gazula and Sycip jointly presented two more awards, which were voted on by both undergraduate and graduate students.

Assistant Professor of Teaching in Management Kyle Ingram received the James Merino Innovation Award, which recognizes a faculty member for bringing innovative ways of teaching or utilizing innovative tools and technologies in the classroom.

Gazula and Sycip shared comments by students who voted for Ingram: “‘This professor is an incredible teacher and is thankfully doing what he is meant to do. He makes an indelible mark on all his students’; ‘In his class, I was able to truly experience teamwork in a way I had never experienced before. It was just such an amazing and fun experience’; and ‘Working continuously with one group allowed me to make some great connections and build relationships. The issues faced between members allowed me to implement the theories from class as we tried to solve issues that arose between one another.’”

Professor of Practice Raj Singh received the Shulman Endowed Excellence in Teaching award, which recognizes an outstanding faculty member who embodies the fulfillment of learning through their excellence in teaching.

Gazula and Sycip shared comments from student voters about Singh: “‘He is an outstanding professor who is dedicated to teaching his students about real world topics that will benefit us in the future;’ ‘His unique teaching technique engages students and creates an environment that allows them to look outside of the box and tie their experiences to the learning material;’ ‘He continuously makes sure the class is on track for understanding the material so we excel in the course;’ ‘He was able to increase my ability to participate in class by being empathetic.’”

Congratulations to each of these stellar professors as they bring their unique and effective teaching styles into the classroom.

View the 2023 winners:

Faculty Teaching & Innovation Awards

View more photos on Flickr:

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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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Student, Grad Win at Blackstone Pitch Competition

ilseu — Wed, 23 Nov 2022 18:18:42 +0000

Student, Grad Win at Blackstone Pitch Competition ilseu Wed, 11/23/2022 - 10:18 More Blog Posts November 23, 2022

Seth Freeman MFin ’22 along with Jason Roberts MBA ’24 won $1,000 for their pitch during the Blackstone LaunchPad Ideas Competition on October 25. They edged out the rest of the competition in the Climate and Social Change category with their product, BMBOO, an eco-friendly water bottle made from bamboo. The bottle can be deconstructed for cleaning purposes, as well recycled when it breaks or wears down.

Roberts and Freeman have been nominated, along with the winners from the three other categories, Health and Life Science, General, and Consumer Products and Services, to participate in the Blackstone LaunchPad Network round. Students from 54 colleges and universities will be competing for up to $10,000!

Seth Freeman, MFin '22

Jason Roberts, MBA ’24

Congratulations to Seth Freeman and Jason Roberts for their achievements, and good luck in the upcoming competition!

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A. Gary Anderson Graduate School of Management

Career Center Hosts First Graduate Job Fair

ilseu — Wed, 23 Nov 2022 03:07:11 +0000

Career Center Hosts First Graduate Job Fair ilseu Tue, 11/22/2022 - 19:07 More Blog Posts Jordan Driscoll '23 November 22, 2022

The Graduate Career Development Center hosted their first Graduate Business Job Fair on October 14, 2022. The purpose of the fair was to provide an exclusive opportunity for graduate students to meet and learn more about potential employers. Rachel Murray, a representative for Hub International Insurance, was enthused with the fair, stating that there were several students interested in the company's programs, including their Early Career Programs, which is seeking motivated students and college graduates to join in their mission. They offer several internship programs across America focusing on different aspects of their business. HUB employs over fifteen thousand individuals across North America, and is ranked fifth in the world among the largest insurance brokers.

UCR Business MBA student Cassidy Davidson weighing her options at the Graduate Business Job Fair

The event featured over a dozen companies and government representatives, including:

Advanced Building Technologies, Inc.
Aragon Construction
Basic Products
Best Babie Distribution
Caltrans HQ
Consolidated Electrical Distributors
Continent Solution System, Inc
County of Riverside
DVBE Insurance & Financial Services LLC
Eadie + Payne, LLP
Federal Bureau of Investigation
HUB International
MPK Advisors & CPAs
Mutual of Omaha
New York Life Insurance Company
ProAction Insurance Services
Riverside County Office of Education
San Bernardino County Assessor
Sorenson Engineering
Sun Yin USA
Thrivent
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Volcus LLC

Students in attendance were glad to see a graduate-student-focused job fair. Sanjeev Prakash Rao, a finance MBA student, spoke with New York Life Insurance Company representatives and plans to follow up regarding future opportunities.

Three graduate students at the 2022 Graduate Business Job Fair

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A. Gary Anderson Graduate School of Management

Programming Club at UCR's AGSM on Decoding Coding

ilseu — Thu, 07 Jul 2022 22:06:09 +0000

Programming Club at UCR's AGSM on Decoding Coding ilseu Thu, 07/07/2022 - 15:06 More Blog Posts Elias Almarez-Herrera ’23 July 07, 2022

Jason Roberts, MBA ’23

As professional careers commence, understanding the expectations which come with entering the workforce can create a whirlwind of confusion for recent graduates. In his time spent removed from the college setting, MBA candidate Jason Roberts ’23 determined his next pursuit would be to aid in expanding business students' coding knowledge.

“I graduated from UCR with a bachelor's in economics in 2020. I quickly realized many of the business opportunities I sought expected experience with programming, which I didn’t have,” says Roberts. “A lot of people in business are going to end up working with data. It is an increasingly valuable skill to bring to the table.”

During the first year of his MBA program, Roberts established the Programming Club at UCR’s A. Gary Anderson Graduate School of Management. Rather than emphasize expertise in coding, Roberts and the club's executive board members discuss fundamental introductory aspects of programming with graduate students hoping to gain that experience.

The group explores topics such as database languages, like SQL, and work toward demystifying Python and Code Academy programs. The Programming Club also hosts competitive activities for members with the club's student tutors.

Vincent Tan, MBA ’23

“Meetings provide a student-teach-student situation, offering a lot of opportunities for mentorship,” says member Vincent Tan ’23. “These people are my classmates. Some of them have been in the industry for more than 10 or 15 years. They know what they're doing when it comes to coding. It never fails to amaze me how diverse our MBA program is.”

Community is at the heart of the AGSM Programming Club. The team of involved members gather weekly to study for informal homework assignments distributed among the students, recognizing strengths, and supporting one another where struggles exist.

Through the mistakes, frustration, and inevitable confusion which comes with acquiring a new skill, the AGSM Programming Club cultivates a space for students to explore software development as important ability in today’s business environment.

“We are always looking for more students interested in learning,” says Roberts. “As an AGSM club, we welcome people from different backgrounds of study to come together to get the fundamentals down.” If you are interested in joining the club, please email Jason Roberts.

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Students Learn to Plan for Retirement Now

ilseu — Wed, 31 Mar 2021 06:40:33 +0000

Students Learn to Plan for Retirement Now ilseu Tue, 03/30/2021 - 23:40 More Blog Posts March 18, 2021

Time in the market is more important than timing the market—start investing in your future early.

This timeless piece of advice was one of many strategies shared during a recent panel discussion presented by the Greater Riverside Hispanic Chamber of Commerce for student ambassadors representing UC Riverside’s A. Gary Anderson Graduate School of Management (AGSM). As part of a series of quarterly panel discussions, these gatherings serve as a bridge between the business community and the School of Business. They allow ambassadors to interact with professionals, gain real-world insights, and ask questions about how to prepare for long-term success.

The February session was attended virtually by 23 student ambassadors and focused on retirement and investment strategies. This was a particularly relevant theme, as many ambassadors are preparing to enter or re-enter the workforce and are making key financial decisions that will affect their futures. The topic was suggested by Vice Chief Ambassador Caspar Gaviria ’22, a Professional MBA student with a concentration in management. His initiative helped bring forward a subject that impacts every graduate student, regardless of industry or career path.

The discussion emphasized that graduate students should begin thinking about retirement and investing as early as possible. Panelists reminded the group that financial planning is not something to delay until later in life. Instead, small, consistent investments made now can grow substantially over time. The ambassadors were encouraged to take advantage of opportunities to learn, ask questions, and begin building their financial portfolios while still in school or at the beginning of their careers.

“Although I have a few investment products of my own, this event showed me that there is even more out there than I knew about,” says Ambassador Danielle Wright ’21, a Professional MBA student concentrating in finance. “I will definitely be looking into some of the investment opportunities suggested by the panelists.” Her reflection captured the impact of the event — not only affirming what students already know, but also opening their eyes to new resources and strategies that could support their financial growth.

Among the presenters was Yundra Thomas, an agent at New York Life, who encouraged attendees to adopt a proactive and optimistic perspective on finances. “Your mentality should be the abundance mentality, not the scarcity mentality,” she said. Thomas’s perspective highlighted the importance of mindset in financial success. Rather than approaching investments with fear or hesitation, students were advised to see the opportunities that lie ahead and approach them with confidence.

Thomas was joined by other speakers representing a range of expertise across the financial and insurance industries. Daniel Garias, managing partner at Virtue Agency, shared his professional insights on planning for the future. Laura Ritchie, an agent at PHP Agency, offered strategies for navigating insurance and investment options. Micah Tokuda, a financial advisor at Edward Jones, contributed his knowledge on how students can begin planning for retirement, even if they are just starting out in their careers. Together, the panelists created a comprehensive discussion that blended professional expertise with actionable advice.

“This is super helpful, especially for me,” says Ambassador Natalie Qaqish ’22, who is pursuing an MBA in management. “I needed information regarding wills and trusts, and Daniel Farias helped me with that.” Her comment underscored the practical impact of the session. By addressing specific, real-world questions, the panelists were able to meet students where they are and provide tailored advice that can influence personal financial decisions immediately.

The partnership between AGSM ambassadors and the Greater Riverside Hispanic Chamber of Commerce has become an invaluable learning opportunity. By bringing students and professionals together on a quarterly basis, the series ensures that ambassadors gain not only theoretical knowledge but also practical skills and networks. Events like this help strengthen the relationship between UC Riverside and the business community, reinforcing the School of Business’s mission to prepare students for leadership in all aspects of life.

Through sessions like the February panel, student ambassadors are gaining tools to manage their financial futures, approach investment decisions with confidence, and develop habits that will serve them throughout their careers. The conversations do not end with the event itself — they inspire ongoing exploration, encourage dialogue among peers, and plant the seeds for long-term financial well-being.

AGSM student ambassadors meet via Zoom with the Greater Riverside Hispanic Chamber of Commerce for quarterly networking events.

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AGSM Student Ambassadors

Greater Riverside Hispanic Chamber of Commerce

Alumni Referral Scholarship

ilseu — Tue, 12 Jan 2021 05:49:32 +0000

Alumni Referral Scholarship ilseu Mon, 01/11/2021 - 21:49 More Blog Posts January 11, 2021

The UC Riverside School of Business, home of the A. Gary Anderson Graduate School of Management, is proud to announce our new alumni referral program, a way for you to help your network and support the School of Business!

We're asking you to refer your friends, family members, colleagues, and acquaintances to one of our business master's programs. Upon acceptance into a program, they'll receive a significant scholarship toward their tuition, and you'll receive some UCR-branded merchandise as a "thank you!" This new referral program is a win-win-win for you, your network, and AGSM.

Learn more and start paying it forward today!

Business Master's Alumni Referral Scholarship

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A. Gary Anderson Graduate School of Management

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alumni