Black MBA - Spring 2008 - (Page 53)

the analysis and provide them with recommendations.” W harton professor Ber nard Anderson reminds MBAs that while private-sector jobs can offer a good quality of life and provide such things as flexible work hours, he questions the ambition level of those focused on certain perks such as having a comfortable work schedule. “Why get an MBA if you don’t want to run hard?” he asks. DO WHAT MAKES SENSE Do you want to commit to 80-hour work weeks? Do you want stock options and mega bonuses? Or are you more interested in a quality-of-life position with guaranteed holidays off and a sane work schedule? Perhaps the only wrong answer is not being truthful to what drives you. After all, you ultimately determine what the return on your MBA should be. And while Page, Newbins and Harris have varying opinions on working for the government sector, they each express a similar goal – to add real value to one’s job – which is a main reason Page advises MBAs to consider working for the government sector. “There aren’t very many people with your background,” she says. “You have a unique skill-set, which allows you to ‘own’ projects and ‘own’ processes. You’ll have your pick of what you want to do. Sometimes, I sit back and say, ‘Wow, I think that’s a very small thing I’ve contributed, and it’s just a taste of what I can bring to the table.’” mba For more information about using your MBA to work in the government sector, visit www.ourpublicservice.org and www.usajobs.gov. Contact government career counselor Derrick Dortch at his company Web site, www.diversagroup.com. On the Job with Tiffani Alvidrez EXPERIENCE: 10 years service in California State Government (including executive and legislative branches) CURRENT TITLE: Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Coordinator, California Department of Transportation (state government/civil service) MBA: National University WORK can include…. My work day can include [working with] policy and program implementation and legislation, or I can make photo copies and help out another staff member. It surpasses a job description and job specifications. The work is whatever needs to be done. I’ve probably become more successful in state service, because I don’t have a typical state government [employee] mentality. I’m willing to do whatever needs to be done to get the work product out. TRANSFERRABLE skills… You need to be a utility player and have the ability to work with a cross-section of workers at various skill-levels. [Earning] the MBA taught me to meet people where they are…You may get the person who may not be college educated but has 20 years of state service and is considered the industry expert. You want to say to them, ‘I respect your skill-level and expertise and institutional knowledge,’ and pull-out what valuables they have to offer. In state government, institutional knowledge is a tremendous value. MYTHS or not… A popular myth is we’re [heaped] in bureaucracy. In general, there is a lot of bureaucracy in state government because there are very strict [laws and boundaries] you have to work within. But the higher up you go in government, the less bureaucracy you have. When I was a gubernatorial appointee in the executive branch, I would get assignments and senior staff saying to me, ‘this needs to happen, yesterday.’ Well, guess what – that means I’m not going through the bureaucratic lines, and I’m just making it happen. I was able to do that because I had authority at the highest level of government. The myth, too, is there’s no creativity. That’s a myth because you have to be creative when looking at [and working for] California, the sixth largest economy in the world. We have Arnold Schwarzenegger and politicians… who create the policies. But state workers are the people responsible for implementing all the phenomenal programs, policies and legislation. WHY consider state government… I don’t know anywhere else, other than the state government, where all of those principles learned in your MBA program can be put to better use. The principles are totally applicable. I would strongly encourage a Black MBA to consider the state government. There’s a lot of good work to do, and it’s full-filling. HINDSIGHT is 20-20 vision… It’s been a good ride. I’ve learned a tremendous amount. But I have to honestly say my career in state government has been much more full-filling post MBA than pre-MBA. I unequivocally attribute successes that I’ve had in state government, directly, to my MBA program. The MBA has boosted my value exponentially…and my dollar value at least between $20,000 and $30,000…and that’s even in state government. Experience is nice but the paper stands. –AS TOLD TO Temple Hemphill BlackMBA • Spring 2008 53 http://www.ourpublicservice.org http://www.usajobs.gov http://www.diversagroup.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Black MBA - Spring 2008

Black MBA - Spring 2008 Passion, Purpose and Power Contents Web Browsing From the President & CEO Up Front Advertising for Change CEO to CEO: Straight Talk with Barbara L. Thomas and Renetta McCann The New Executive Search Wealth Building: A Head Start on Investing and Saving Young Continuing Education: Lifelong Learning is Easier than You Think Making Good: Catching up with some of NBMBAA’s 2007 Scholarship Winners On Campus: Universities Win Grants to Fight Poverty Public Service: Does Your MBA Fit in the Government Sector? Bridge Building: Make a Career of Giving Back Steady Speed: Kim Harris Jones Shares what Drives a Successful Auto Industry Career Financial Planning: A New Way to Work Your MBA Global Focus: Keeping up with the Competition Clock On the Move: Member News, Promotions and More Industry Focus: Biotechnology, Energy, Food & Beverage, Global Media and Entertainment Employer Profiles: Campbell Soup, FINRA Financial Finesse: Denise Hales Harrod and CompuCredit Advocate for the Financially Underserved Creating Lasting Change: GE Impacts Quality of Life in Africa William W. Wells Jr.: Finding Strength in Diversity Leaders of Tomorrow® Community Service Program: NBMBAA® and Wal-Mart Partner to Reward Students Who Give Back Reaching Out: NBMBAA® Chapters Give Back to Their Local Communities How To… Buy a Franchise: Understanding the Basics of Acquiring a Franchise After the Gridiron: Keith Sims – Dunkin’ Donuts Franchise Confidential: Paul Hubbard – Papa John’s pizza Strength Through Adversity: Bob and Hortense Bobbitt – McDonald’s On the Ground Floor: Valerie Daniels-Carter – Pizza Hut, Burger King, Auntie Anne’s Use Your Superstar Status: Black Entrepreneurs Break into Japanese Economy Marketing Maven: Odyssey Media Entrepreneur Linda Spradley Dunn Staying the Course: Black Marathoners Share Lessons from the Race Relationship Forum: Soul-Mate Strategies for the Career-Minded Vacations that Matter: Travel to Make a Difference Advertisers Index

Black MBA - Spring 2008

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