Black MBA - Winter 2008/2009 - (Page 54)

EDUCATION Case Competition JMW: I felt nervous energy, but the trick is channeling that into a good thing. Knowing I had a great team that really did our work was very reassuring. MBA: The NBMBAA’s focus continues to remain global. How important is the global focus of the competition? JMW: It’s huge! The global business world is realistic and every day that passes makes embracing a global perspective all the more important. MBA: Now that you have competed, what are some of the lasting skills and thought processes you foresee taking into the workplace? JMW: “What gets measured gets rewarded. What gets rewarded gets done.” This is a quote provided by several of our MBA instructors, and I think it provides great insight into the business world. MBA: What are your thoughts about FAMU having another top win in next year’s NBMBAA Case Competition? JMW: It’s not going to happen! (laughs) But I hope FAMU places so they can share the stage with us as we take first place (more laughter). MBA: Any closing remarks about the competition? JMW: What a tremendous experience! The competition and overall event was the highlight of my MBA experience. BRIAN WOODS, UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS MBA CONCENTRATION: CORPORATE FINANCE Black MBA Magazine: How did your MBA studies prepare you for the NBMBAA Case Competition? Brian Woods: The biggest benefit came from my marketing class, where we were assigned a weekly case to read, analyze and present our recommendation in class. This gave us an opportunity to think outside of the box with limited in- Capturing the Top Spot LYDIA A. MCKINLEY-FLOYD, dean of the School of Business and Industry (SBI) at Florida A&M University (FAMU), says it was not a fluke that the university finished first place at the NBMBAA 2008 Case Competition. The competition, sponsored by The Chrysler Foundation, was held during the NBMBAA 30th Annual Conference in Washington, D.C. “From day one, our students are exposed to the very training, thought skills, presentation skills and data and critical analysis that allow them to compete so well,” says McKinley-Floyd, referring to the introductory professional development program required for students enrolled in the five-year professional MBA program. (Additionally, FAMU offers a three-semester MBA.) The FAMU 2008 case team members each have benefited from the professional development program, which was started by founding SBI Dean Sybil Mobley. The program mandates freshman students take physics and engineering courses, which McKinley-Floyd says help to cultivate students’ analytical mindset. This year’s FAMU winners include Tiffani Davis of Dallas, Texas; Lia Naomi White of Greenville, S.C.; and John V. Hinson Jr. of Miami, Fla. The team members were awarded $15,000 in scholarship money and championship trophies. Second- and third-place winners, representing The University of Tennessee and The University of Texas at Austin, won $12,000 and $8,000 in scholarship money, respectively. Teams were given a hypothetical business case related to the automotive industry with a global focus. Each team presented before a panel of corporate executives and business professionals, and students were judged on case analysis, quality of presentation and the feasibility of their recommendations. McKinleyFloyd says the competition’s global focus was “on target.” She adds, “It is a flat world… We must think internationally. I applaud [NBMBAA] on [the focus].” Case team member Lia Naomi White adds, “As the world continues to open and boundaries begin to disappear, what we do every day and the factors that influence our work and learning environments will continue to change. With this in mind, it is fitting that Chrysler Corporation chose a case focus that pushed current MBA candidates and future business leaders to recognize and explore what impact globalization will have on businesses and industries alike.” The SBI’s focus also is on the global financial crises and the changing outlook for business students. McKinley-Floyd discussed these topics in September 2008 on National Public Radio’s (NPR) “Tell Me More” – sharing airwaves with business school deans from the George Washington University School of Business in Washington, D.C., and Simmons School of Management in Boston. “We are using the financial crises as a teachable moment,” says McKinley-Floyd, who shared a similar comment on NPR. “The crises have given us, especially historically Black colleges and universities, the opportunity to look at the values and ethics that we teach so… we’re not focused on high incomes and lavish lifestyles. We have to focus more on things that are important to the society and country overall.” Looking ahead to the 2009 NBMBAA Case Competition, McKinley-Floyd is optimistic about a third consecutive win. “Everyone wants to go after the guy on the top,” she continues. “I think it will become even more competitive. It will really stretch us to our limits, but I am so confident in this program, students and faculty and what they produce. It is well within our reach.” –Temple Hemphill 54 BlackMBA • Winter 2008/2009 • www.nbmbaa.org http://www.nbmbaa.org

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Black MBA - Winter 2008/2009 Contents Preserving Dr. King’s Legacy: Harry E. Johnson is Six Years and $100 million into his First Fundraising Effort Online: www.nbmbaa.org and www.blackmbaonline.com Up Front: Inauguration Takes Over D.C. From the President: Connecting With the Basics The First 100 Days – Already in Progress Back to Basics: Finances 101 Is the Middle Class Disappearing? – Your View From Medals to MBA Conference Highlights Market Forces: The Job of Trying to Find a Job in a Tight Market Applying to an MBA Program?: Avoid Making these Five Critical Mistakes How They Did It: Catching up with the Winning Teams from NBMBAA’s 2008 National Case Competition Change It Up: If a New Job is at the Top of your New Year’s Resolutions, it’s Time for Careful Planning and Preparation Bull Market: Now is the Time to Take Advantage of Web 2.0 On the Move: Member News, Promotions and More Backstage at BET: NBMBAA’s Leadership Institute Takes on BET’s Case for Growth Toronto Rising: NBMBAA’s Toronto Chapter is on a Progressive Track, Building Strong Partnerships and Exposure as Membership Climbs NBMBAA® Chapters: Find Your Local Chapter Here Do What You Love: Turning Your Passion into a Successful Business Requires Patience, Planning and Plenty of Hard Work Above and Beyond: Meet the Winners of the 2008 Wells Fargo/NBMBAA Entrepreneurial Excellence Award Decorating by Design: Michelle Rider Leaves Corporate Life for Entrepreneurship Culture Shock: Black Museums Nationwide Appeal for Greater Support from the People whose Heritage they Strive to Preserve Gear Up for 2009: Books to Herald Success in the New Year Advertiser Index: Who’s Who in the Issue

Black MBA - Winter 2008/2009

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