SIEML

UCR AGSM Co-hosts Successful SIEML Conference

ilseu — Tue, 30 Jul 2024 23:32:39 +0000

UCR AGSM Co-hosts Successful SIEML Conference ilseu Tue, 07/30/2024 - 16:32 More News July 30, 2024

UC Riverside’s A. Gary Anderson Graduate School of Management (AGSM) is proud to have co-hosted the recent University of California SIEML Conference alongside the six fellow UC business schools. This immersive business and career leadership experience, held May 20 to May 31, 2024, on the UC Davis campus, welcomed 50 high-caliber students from Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) and Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSI).

What is SIEML?

The Summer Institute for Emerging Management Leaders (SIEML) is a unique program designed to introduce talented undergraduates to the exciting world of graduate business education at the University of California system. Over the course of two weeks, participants gain valuable insights through:

Engaging lectures from UC faculty on relevant topics,
Interactive workshops that foster collaboration and skill development,
A real-world case competition with funding opportunities, and
Exposure to all six UC business schools, each hosting the conference for a day and showcasing their unique programs and faculty.

The structure of SIEML ensures that students not only learn theoretical knowledge but also gain practical experience. Each activity is carefully designed to prepare participants for the challenges of graduate education and future careers in management. By experiencing the UC system first-hand, students are able to see the breadth of resources, faculty expertise, and academic opportunities available across campuses.

AGSM at SIEML

The UC Riverside School of Business hosted SIEML participants on May 23. The day’s agenda highlighted the strengths of AGSM’s faculty, alumni, and programs. The schedule began with a thought-provoking lecture by Assistant Professor Mindy Truong on "Reducing Biases in Organizations and Understanding Microaggressions." Her talk provided participants with tools to recognize and address subtle forms of bias, an essential skill for future leaders seeking to foster equity in the workplace.

Following the lecture, attendees engaged with AGSM alumni through a panel and discussion session. This panel gave students the opportunity to hear directly from professionals who once stood in their shoes. Alumni shared their career journeys, insights on navigating graduate business school, and advice on building resilience in competitive industries.

Later in the day, Assistant Professor Demetrius Lewis delivered a captivating lecture on "Building Social Capital and Strategic Networks." His session emphasized the importance of relationships and community-building in achieving long-term success, underscoring how networking serves as a foundation for career advancement and leadership.

The day concluded with a comprehensive overview of AGSM’s graduate programs and the application process. Staff members provided clarity on admissions, scholarships, and opportunities for student engagement, encouraging participants to envision themselves as part of the UCR graduate community.

Investing in Diversity

SIEML is a cornerstone initiative in our ongoing commitment to fostering diversity within our graduate programs. By introducing talented students from various backgrounds to the exceptional educational opportunities offered by UC business schools, we can cultivate a future generation of business leaders who reflect the rich tapestry of our communities. The program underscores the belief that representation matters and that diverse perspectives lead to stronger, more innovative solutions in the business world.

Programs like SIEML also help dismantle barriers by making graduate business education accessible and approachable. For students from HBCUs and HSIs, exposure to UC campuses, faculty, and alumni demonstrates that pathways to advanced study and impactful careers are open and attainable.

Are you interested in pursuing a graduate business degree at UCR’s AGSM? We encourage you to visit our website business.ucr.edu/graduate to learn more about our programs and the application process.

#AGSM #SIEML #DiversityInBusiness #GraduateEducation #FutureLeadersIE

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Planting Seeds of Educational Opportunity

ilseu — Sat, 26 Feb 2022 01:14:16 +0000

Planting Seeds of Educational Opportunity ilseu Fri, 02/25/2022 - 17:14 More Blog Posts Elias Almarez-Herrera ’23 February 26, 2022

Before joining the UCR School of Business’ recruitment and admissions team or serving as its coordinator for the annual University of California (UC) effort to diversify graduate business programs, Keith Flowers Jr. was simply a local resident of the Riverside-San Bernardino metropolitan community.

"I grew up in Fontana and currently reside in Moreno Valley," he says. "My family and home are based in the Inland Empire. This area is up-and-coming in terms of the economy. It provides a range of opportunities for businesses to thrive. It's not Los Angeles and I love that for all the right reasons."

While studying sociology at UC Berkeley, Flowers Jr. worked closely with nonprofit organizations in the local region. He helped to prepare students within the community for the competitive nature of college applications.

"The goal was to provide Black, Latino, and Native American students with the information to become a strong candidate to get into UC Berkeley," he says. "I'm passionate about helping students understand their journey."

"Where I'm from, being admitted into a UC school is equated to getting a full scholarship, which was not the case for me,” Flowers Jr. says. "Throughout my undergraduate and graduate experiences, I worked full time and took evening courses. It's a dynamic I had gotten used to. I'm the first in my family to get a degree of any kind.”

In order to fully realize his potential to aid a broader group of young scholars, he set his sights on earning an MBA at UCR’s A. Gary Anderson School of Management (AGSM). Over the course of his graduate program, Flowers Jr. began to establish a network of like-minded faculty and classmates within AGSM. He emphasizes the familial bond that was created which led to his efforts to increase the visibility of marginalized communities across UC business schools.

"Even though UCR has maintained a positive trajectory for social mobility and diversity across its admitted students, there is always room to improve on systemwide shortcomings," he says.

The Summer Institute for Emerging Managers and Leaders (SIEML) was founded in 2012, and offers an immersive business and career leadership experience for undergraduate students currently enrolled in an HBCU (Historically Black College or University) or HSI (Hispanic Serving Institution) and is sponsored by the six University of California campuses with business schools. Following a format which rotates host location yearly, each of the campuses, Berkeley, Davis, Irvine, Los Angeles, Riverside, and San Diego, prepare a 12-day program for 50 students.

For Flowers Jr., co-coordinating the SIEML program is an integral part of his advocacy for proportional representation.

The 2021 SIEML program was hosted remotely by UCR Business. Keith Flowers Jr., top row, second from the left is the UCR Business program coordinator.

"I've been the UCR campus coordinator for the past three years," he says. "It's a yearlong process: Each coordinator on their respective campus has to secure employer sponsorships for industry engagement and develop workshops for financial literacy among other logistical planning efforts. The UC campuses collaborate brilliantly. In 2021 UCR, SIEML was hosted remotely by UCR Business due to the pandemic; the six business schools worked together to provide amazing programming so participants would have the best possible experience."

"It stuck out to me that students who are considering top ranked schools like Harvard and Stanford are just as interested in UC business schools after seeing firsthand the resources we have to offer," he says. "We've seen a considerable increase in applications to UCR's business programs—there is sense of energy and growth here—and the numbers show no signs of slowing down."

Beyond the numbers and statistics, Flowers Jr. never forgets to tend to the root of each students' needs. "It is extremely important that students understand the value of telling their story, detailing where they come from. Much of the work I do is to help students develop personal statements," he says. "Among those I've mentored, I’ve noticed the difficulty they have in bragging about their accomplishments or describing the strength it took to triumph over adversity. Some may view it as telling a sob story, but [admissions officers] are invested in the lessons you may have learned from those experiences."

Read about SIEML 2021, hosted by UCR Business:

View SIEML 2021 Story

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Keith Flowers

Leadership Program Draws Students Across Nation

ilseu — Mon, 30 Aug 2021 05:01:31 +0000

Leadership Program Draws Students Across Nation ilseu Sun, 08/29/2021 - 22:01 More News August 30, 2021

More than 50 college students from U.S. colleges and universities attended the May 2021 University of California Summer Institute for Emerging Managers and Leaders (SIEML), an initiative to increase diversity in graduate business programs within the six University of California business schools.

The 11-day, all-expenses-paid virtual event hosted by UC Riverside’s A. Gary Anderson Graduate School of Management (AGSM) was an immersive career-building experience for students from Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and Hispanic-serving Institutions (HSIs).

“I admire the SIEML’s initiative to increase diversity in graduate business schools,” says 2021 participant and Spelman College undergraduate Taylor Moorer. “It is essential to have different races and ethnicities represented in all spaces, and this program prioritizes just that.”

Annually, one of the UC business schools hosts the institute for undergraduate students, and this year, the online presentations, panels, and workshops provided an education in entrepreneurship; analytical, technical, and management skills; leadership strategies; networking opportunities; and insights for pursuing a graduate degree in business. SIEML students apply and are selected for the program, and SIEML alumni are eligible for a minimum one-year full fee and tuition fellowship at any of the UC graduate business schools.

The 2021 University of California Summer Institute for Emerging Managers and Leaders (SIEML) was held virtually. The institute explored leadership skills and showcased UC graduate business schools.

“One of my favorite parts of the SIEML program is when the students introduce themselves as ‘rising seniors’ from their home universities,” says UCR School of Business Professor of Practice Sean Jasso. “SIEML students evoke confidence and commitment to the learning community during their rigorous two-week exposure to the portfolio of business schools of the University of California.”

During the program, business and community leaders from across the state provided presentations, including California State Sen. Anthony Portantino and industry professionals from test-preparation and study-abroad counseling company Magoosh, Wells Fargo Bank, talent-assessment company CliftonStrengths, and professional services company Accenture.

Preparation for graduate school is chief among the institute’s goals. Deans, faculty, staff, and alumni provided extensive, in-depth guidance in all aspects of pursuing a master’s degree, as well as career-development strategies: Each of the universities presented workshops and lectures on different days, including “Developing Higher Quality Teams: Leader-Member Relationships,” “Entertainment and Non-traditional Career Paths,” “First-generation Leadership,” “The Customer Journey and New Product Design,” and “Storytelling for Leadership,” among many other topics. These activities aim to increase the excitement around the UC system and highlight the considerable benefits of a UC education that some students throughout the nation may not be aware of.

“In essence, these are really amazing students who already have their sights set on applying to top institutions in the U.S.,” says Keith Flowers Jr., AGSM associate director of graduate admissions. “This program showcases the potential of a UC graduate degree.”

SIEML alumni have earned master’s degrees and established fruitful careers: Kevin Lee, a 2016 attendee during the institute’s first year, is currently studying at Southern Methodist University’s Dedman School of Law, and was featured in a June 2021 issue of People magazine for his triumph over homelessness and excellence in academics.

“A hallmark of the SIEML program is the case competition when teams produce client-based solutions to real-world problems to opportunities,” says Jasso. This year, the competition’s industry partner was Accenture, and the case challenge was combating homelessness in the greater Los Angeles area, presenting competitors with the question: “How might the client break the cycle for youth experiencing homelessness following their departure from transitional housing?” Accenture judges selected the winning team, which included participants Iman Davis, an accounting major from Howard University; Olivia Fenwick, a sociology major from Hampton University; Alexis Hobbs, a political science major from Spelman College; Kevin Mwangi, a business administration major from Cheyney University; and Jacquelyn Rivas, a business administration major from San Diego State University. Each of the members within the top-three teams received monetary prizes awarded by AGSM.

“Although the SIEML students could not meet in person this year, our students from the AGSM Ambassador program did an amazing job speaking with participants and working personally with them on their case studies,” says Flowers.

“To top things off,” adds Flowers, “we hosted a dance party, sent out care packages, and provided self-care and reflection workshops to enhance the participants’ experience.”

“We were honored to host these scholars and had the pleasure of introducing the amazing benefits and resources available within the UC system to the attendees,” says AGSM Associate Dean for the Graduate Programs and Marketing Professor Rami Zwick, who was impressed with the participants’ growth, demonstrated leadership, teamwork, and networking during the nearly two-week program. “We know you will use the skills you learned from this experience to do great things in your life,” said Zwick during his remarks at the close of the institute. “We are happy to be an academic resource and advise you as you navigate your path through higher education.”

SIEML 2021 Quick Facts

Read about Spelman College student Taylor Moorer's personal SIEML experience:

View Taylor's SIEML blog post

We would like to thank all participating UC business schools that helped plan, organize, and execute the 2021 UC Summer Institute for Emerging Managers and Leaders:

A. Gary Anderson Graduate School of Management, UC Riverside, SIEML 2021 host school

Anderson School of Management, UC Los Angeles

Graduate School of Management, UC Davis

Haas School of Business, UC Berkeley

Paul Merage School of Business, UC Irvine

Rady School of Management, UC San Diego

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Discovering My ‘Why’

ilseu — Sat, 28 Aug 2021 00:17:26 +0000

Discovering My ‘Why’ ilseu Fri, 08/27/2021 - 17:17 More Blog Posts Taylor Moorer August 25, 2021

“What do you want to be when you grow up?” That daunting question is asked of us as early as we can speak. As a child, it would come naturally for me to respond with a movie star or celebrity. As I grew older and realized my lack of acting talent, my answers began to mold to complement my skill set, such as a lawyer or a CEO. In the grand scheme of things, none of that matters unless you know your “why.”

In May, I proudly represented the illustrious Spelman College at the Summer Institute for Emerging Managers and Leaders (SIEML) at UC Riverside’s A. Gary Anderson School of Management. Annually, the institute offers an all-expenses-paid immersive business and career leadership experience for undergraduate students currently enrolled in their sophomore or junior year at an HBCU (Historically Black College and University) or HSI (Hispanic-serving Institution). SIEML alumni are eligible to receive a minimum one-year full fee and tuition fellowship at any of the University of California graduate business schools.

Throughout my matriculation at the No. 1 HBCU in the country, I have grown both personally and professionally. I admire the SIEML’s initiative to increase diversity in graduate business schools. It is essential to have different races and ethnicities represented in all spaces, and this program prioritizes just that.

Let’s Talk Business

The institute is dedicated to ensuring that students make the most out of this experience. Workshops and lectures from esteemed faculty and administrators from the six University of California business schools stressed the importance of networking, personal development, and preparation for life after graduation. I have gained analytical, technical, and management skills that all play an intentional role as I pursue a graduate degree in business. Along with this, there are a plethora of other benefits of this program:

Two-year Fellowship for Full-time MBA
SIEML alumni who are admitted to the full-time MBA program at UC San Diego will receive the Anthony Portantino Fellowship—a two-year, full fee and tuition fellowship.
One-year Fellowship to a UC Graduate Business School
SIEML alumni admitted to any UC graduate business program will receive a fellowship that covers one year of their tuition and fees. This includes the MBA and other business master’s degree programs in innovation and entrepreneurship, finance, business analytics, accounting, and financial engineering. This also applies to the Ph.D. with a different funding model.
UC Graduate Business School Application Fee Waiver
When SIEML alumni are ready to apply to UC graduate business programs, they will not have to worry about the additional cost of application fees, which can quickly add up, especially if you apply to more than one program.

Your Journey Is Your Journey
From the outside looking in, it may seem like your peers have everything together. It is important to remember that your journey is unique to you and only you. The definition of success varies from person to person. I would be storytelling if I said that it will be easy, but discovering your path is all about trial and error. It is OK to change your mind or venture off from the original plan, as long as you are learning from it.

Discovering You
During the SIEML workshop presented by the UC Irvine Paul Merage School of Business, we used the CliftonStrengths assessment to discover our strengths and improve on areas where we are not as strong. Personal development is crucial, especially when applying for programs and preparing for job interviews. Taking assessments to learn your soft skills and strengths is key to building your personal brand.

As I approach graduation and I ponder what I want to be when I “grow up,” my answer is simple: a change-maker.

At the SIEML, I learned that I do not need to have all of the answers now, but rather focus on why. My “why” is answered by my passion in life to serve my community. I yearn to make a positive impact on many lives, whether that is through my service, entrepreneurship, or educational background. I want to act as a role model for the Black and Brown children who may not believe that their voices matter. I want to provide them with the resources and knowledge they need to achieve their goals and realize aspirations. I want to see them thrive.

This invaluable program fostered my growth both personally and professionally. It encouraged me to focus on my “why” and aid in the preparation for obtaining my MBA. I am humbly elated to share my story and experience with future HBCU and HSI students.

Taylor Moorer

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