Network for the future

Though it may be tempting to avoid networking when you’re already employed, it’s important to remember that networking isn’t just a job search tool.

Networking is more than going to the career fair once a year. It’s a continual process of building and maintaining relationships that could later turn into job opportunities. Cathy Curless, a strategic management lecturer, said she believes networking should be a constant activity.

Marketing Night 2013

“You have an opportunity to network every single time you come in contact with anybody,” Curless said. “I don’t care if it’s a stranger in an airport, if it’s somebody you meet at a conference or somebody you connect with through friends.”

Jennifer Jordan, director of the Business Career Services Center, said the BCSC provides a variety of ways for students to get involved in networking, including roundtables, mock interviews and field trips to companies. She said the BCSC events provide structure to help students learn from professionals when they network.

“They’re all forums where they can – in a non-intimidating format – learn from people who are doing the types of work that they someday aspire to do,” she said.

Foster Casterline, president of ISAK, said he does most of his networking at happy hours and casual events, but he tries to attend bigger events like conferences as well.

“All the networking events I go to are startup or technology-related, and that’s good because that community is really big in Kansas City,” Casterline said. “There’s a lot of activity, so there’s a lot of events to go to.”

Student organization events can be a good source of networking opportunities. Logan Brull, president of KU Marketing Club, said the club’s guest speakers and marketing night provide opportunities for students to meet and pursue networking relationships with professionals.

“Keep in contact with them as much as they can, especially if you’re wanting a job over an internship or you want to be first priority,” Brull said.

Check out the BCSC for networking events, and keep up with happy hours and check out online resources like Eventbrite or Meetup.

by Allison Kite

Student wins scholarship for women in supply chain

School of Business junior Hannah Bremer was awarded the AWESOME scholarship, which will provide her the opportunity to go to the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals Conference in September.

The scholarship was created by the AWESOME (Achieving Women’s Excellence in Supply Chain Operations, Management and Education) Initiative, which was established in 2013 to advance women’s roles in supply chain leadership.

Roger Woody, an executive lecturer of supply chain management and director of SCM external development, said the conference will be invaluable because of the industry exposure it will provide. He said Bremer will be able to meet professionals from a variety of companies and countries and learn more about their experiences in supply chain.

Bremer said she thought the conference would be a good opportunity to interact with supply chain professionals.

“You learn the technical things in school, but you don’t know the nuances unless you hear people having genuine conversations,” Bremer said. “I’m looking forward to acting like a fly on the wall and moving through and hearing what they have to say.”

Bremer was nominated as KU’s candidate and then chosen along with four other students from 10 top universities.

by Allison Kite

School of Business announces new building name

The KU School of Business is excited to announce the name of its new building as Capitol Federal Hall.

Capitol Federal Foundation’s $20 million lead gift is the largest gift ever committed to the School of Business and the largest single gift ever given by the foundation. The donation is also one of the largest gifts contributed to Far Above: The Campaign for Kansas.

Capitol Federal Foundation was established to benefit the communities in which Capitol Federal operates. The foundation’s previous gifts for the School of Business include establishing the Capitol Federal Distinguished Professorship in Financial Markets. It has also supported The University of Kansas Cancer Center, scholarships for student athletes, the Lied Center of Kansas and Spencer Museum of Art.

When completed in 2016, the building will offer students and faculty top-notch resources to be competitive not only nationally, but globally.

Networking doesn't end at the career fair

So you've got a business card. Now what? When you leave a happy hour, career fair or conference with a new contact, it’s important to follow up.

Whether you’re a techy or you prefer to keep an address book, you need to make sure you keep up with the people in your network. Chances are a recruiter at a career fair will forget you quickly if you don’t follow up. Jennifer Jordan, director of the business career services center, suggests following up because employers often meet a lot of people at an event.

“Usually at a networking event, you’re not going to have a 30-minute conversation with somebody,” Jordan said. “People are moving around, talking to various individuals. You certainly want to be sensitive to not dominating somebody’s time.”

Twenty-two percent of Internet-users over the age of 18 have embraced LinkedIn, a major social networking site for professionals, according to the Pew Research Internet Project. Some here at KU, including Jordan, use LinkedIn to both manage and expand their professional networks. Jordan said she tries to connect on LinkedIn with those whom she meets at networking events.

“If I collect a business card, I’m going to go straight to LinkedIn and try to connect with that person electronically so that I have just pulled them into my network,” she said. “That’s how I personally organize my network, but I think that other systems are probably very workable for other individuals.”

Social media sites like LinkedIn make it easier to organize and keep track of your network. Devon Bull, president of the Entrepreneurship Club, said he connects with other professionals through Twitter. He said it’s important for students to have a positive image on Twitter if they’re going to give that information out to potential employers.

“I’m trying to develop an image on there that employers can see, but most students shouldn't do that unless they've already done their work beforehand,” Bull said.

No matter the method you choose to manage your network, the relationship is an active, two-way street. Reach out soon after you meet your new contact if you feel the relationship could be mutually beneficial.

Kayleigh Sellens, president of Supply Chain Management Club and co-president of American Business Women’s Association, said remaining in contact and asking questions has allowed her to develop strong relationships with her business contacts.

“Maintaining contact and asking questions have been most beneficial for me,” Sellens said. “It lets them know that you consider them to be a valuable resource for information.”

This is the third in a four-part series about networking. Check back for the fourth and final blog about when and where to network.

by Allison Kite

Business graduate finds success on and off field

Gavin Howard (left) was named Senior Scholar Athlete of the Year

KU football player and business school alumnus Gavin Howard was recently named the Bob Frederick Senior Scholar Athlete of the Year award.

Howard was surprised and grateful when he rose to accept the award at the Senior Celebration and K Ring ceremony on April 28. The offensive lineman from Owasso, Oklahoma, was honored for his dedication and commitment to both KU and his team.

“I was completely surprised when I realized I had won the award as there are a number of great combinations of students and athletes at KU,” Howard said. “I guess just the ability to know and perform my job as an athlete at KU both on and off the field helped me stand out amongst the other athletes.”

Howard said it’s always reassuring to see hard work pay off and the award allowed him to see that by working hard at something he can achieve recognition, which makes him want to work that much harder to achieve his future goals. He attributes his success to the people in his life.

“Always have people in your life that can both push you and mentor you or else you won’t be able to get where you’re trying to go,” Howard said. “That’s probably the most important thing. No one can do everything necessary to achieve their goals on their own.”

Howard graduated in the fall with his finance degree and will graduate this May with his mathematics degree. He is currently working for ConocoPhillips in Bartlesville, Oklahoma, as a revenue analyst.

by Mackenzie Leander

MBA student chosen for Supply Corps fellowship

Lt. Cmdr. Owen Morrissey

School of Business MBA student Owen Morrissey will represent the United States Navy and KU by participating in the Training With Industry program next year.

Lt. Cmdr. Morrissey has been selected for a fellowship with FedEx in Memphis, Tennessee, where he will spend one year learning about executive level decision-making and expand his professional supply and logistics education.

Morrissey was one of four Supply Corps lieutenants and lieutenant commanders from around the country to be selected for the program, including representatives from Duke University, University of Pennsylvania and NAVSUP Fleet Logistics Center Puget Sound. After he completes his fellowship, he will serve a three-year follow-on tour in one of the Supply Corps key supply chain management assignments to apply the skills and ideas gained from his experience.

Marketing is key to every business' success

Marketing is the business function that connects customer needs with company capabilities.

Marketing Professor Kissan Joseph speaks at Marketing Night

The new Marketing graduate certificate allows students to better comprehend the core principles of a business and its customers by helping them discover what consumers want and how to effectively reach them. Marketing serves a variety of critical functions in the success of businesses and business professionals. Sanjay Mishra, an associate professor in marketing and entrepreneurship, said marketing is valued as a tool for both the client and business.

“Marketing is the activity that creates value — both for the customer and the firm,” Mishra said. “Understanding the process, therefore, is critical to the success of any business, either for-profit or nonprofit.”

Mishra said marketing is so universal that every student will benefit from understanding its processes and functions, but non-marketing majors will benefit most. The certificate will provide students an advantage when applying for jobs.

Kissan Joseph, a marketing professor, said marketing requires a mixture of creative, analytical and personal assets. Someone who is comfortable with this breadth of skills would be most suited for a marketing certificate, which extends to all professionals.

“Some say that marketing is too important to be left to the marketing department — everyone should be involved in marketing,” Joseph said.  “As such, marketing expertise is critical for all business professionals.”

The certificate is open to current MBAs, MBA alumni and others not currently pursuing an MBA. The certificate is composed of five marketing courses for a total of ten credit hours. The courses cover marketing strategy, marketing research, pricing, advanced topic in managing products and discovering and evaluation of product opportunities.

Learn more at MBAcert.ku.edu. Apply by July 15 for fall.

by Mackenzie Leander

Entrepreneurship director receives Kansas service award

Wally Meyer

The man tasked with growing the Kansas economy through KU School of Business innovation has been honored with a service award. Wally Meyer, director of entrepreneurship programs, is a recipient of the 2014 Steeples Service to Kansans Award.

According to an announcement by Danny Anderson, dean of the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences, this annual award was endowed in 1998 by Drs. Don and Tammy Steeples to honor Don’s parents, Wally and Marie Steeples.

The accolade recognizes faculty who provide significant service to the people of Kansas as a purposeful extension of their teaching and research.

RedTire, a KU entrepreneurship program that pairs retiring small business owners with successors, of which he created, finalized its first official match in February, in Junction City, Kansas.

Read his faculty profile for more information on KU entrepreneurship programs.