And the Countdown Begins…

Extended winter Spring Break is officially over. During my break, I chose to work full-time at Land O’ Lakes. By working 40 hours a week compared to 15 hours, I was able to gain more insight into the sales field. I was able to work on projects for Customer Development Managers and attend meetings. The projects I was assigned helped me to gain more confidence in RetailLink. RetailLink is a decision support system that acts as a bridge between Wal-mart and its suppliers. If you plan to work in retail and sales in NWA, it is an essential skill to have.

Since I did not leave NWA, I decided to explore what it has to offer a little more. Below are some pictures from my visit to Crystal Bridges.

Crystal Bridges Entrance

Admiring the art

Beautiful Scenery

Picture this…

I want to try my best to keep you informed on the life of a MBA graduate student. Yes, academics consume a significant portion of my time. However, I still try to make time for other things. Below is a snapshot of what’s been going on with me lately.

MIDTERMS:

On my first day back from spring break, Dr. Kali greeted us with a midterm for Economics of Supply Chain and Retail Management. That was the last midterm of the semester. I can’t even express the joy I felt once my last midterm was over. The weeks leading up to our midterms were very demanding. Now, my peers and I can take a little breather before preparing to dive in for the home stretch. This semester will be over in less than two months. Time truly is flying.

MARCH MADNESS:

There’s no way I can end my March blogs without mentioning March Madness. The “madness” has been taken to another level this year. As I’ve mentioned before, I am very competitive. It hurts my heart to say this but my bracket is FAILING. I think I may have shed a tear when Georgetown went down. They were playing like they didn’t want to win. It felt like every time I blinked they were sending FGCU to the free throw line. Since the games start back tomorrow, I need Indiana or Louisville to pull through for me. Yes, I have two brackets. Dr. Jandik has been teaching us lately about diversifying risks. I am trying to apply that concept to other areas in my life. I hope that it pays off.

SCANDAL:

One of my favorite TV dramas is ABC’s Scandal. Kerry Washington (Olivia Pope) is a force to be reckoned with. She has people around the world wanting to be a gladiator in a suit. Thankfully, a new episode came on last week. This show is the highlight of my Thursday nights. ABC should not be allowed to go three weeks without playing a new episode of this show. If you have no idea what I am talking about, you are missing out. You should get on Netflix and start watching from Season 1.

ZUMBA:

This semester I have been extremely busy. I haven’t made as much time to work out as I would like. However, I did get a chance to attend a Zumba class at World Gym this week. Now that was a workout. I am looking forward to going again this week. Operation “Get Fit” is in full effect!

Well that’s all I have for now. I hope you make the most of the rest of your week.

Wise Words…

Finding My Place at the U of A

My New Home
Willard J. Walker Hall
University of Arkansas

Wow! This time last year, I had just finished taking the GMAT and started applying for graduate school. My brother that attends Howard University came to visit me in Columbia, MO for spring break. We thought it would be a great idea to visit NWA (Northwest Arkansas) to visit family. While on my trip, I was able to visit the University of Arkansas and speak with Rebel Smith, Associate Director of Admissions. She told me about everything the university had to offer and advised me to read the Walton MBA student blogs. The unique experiences of Walton MBA students set this program apart for me. It became clear that the U of A was where I needed to be. Who knew that this one trip would be a game changer? I am very happy with my choice. To have received a stipend and a graduate assistantship that waives my tuition each semester is just icing on the cake. Who wouldn’t love to have their graduate school education paid for at the school of their choice?

::crickets chirping::

Exactly!

After graduating from Washington University in St. Louis with a double major in Marketing and Human Resources, I wanted to obtain a career in either field. However, due to the economy, it was a challenge. Therefore, when I realized that I could get a quality education at an affordable price AND have a strong likelihood that I would be employed upon graduation in my field, I knew I found the right match. The Walton MBA program is ranked #2 by the U.S. News & World Report in graduates employed at graduation. If that isn’t impressive enough, another great thing about becoming a part of the Walton MBA program is being considered an “official” Razorback. No more holding down my hogs while being outnumbered by Mizzou and LSU fans at work. Don’t get me wrong, I truly enjoyed my coworkers. I just like that I can now yell, “Woooo Pig Soooie” and feel the love around me.

First game of the year
Arkansas vs. Vanderbilt
We won!

During my first week on campus, I had orientation. There were several events that helped me get to know my classmates, professors and staff. We were also given the opportunity to network with executives and participate in company visits. Close to the end of that week, each student was randomly placed in a group and assigned a case. We had a few hours to review the case and submit our presentation slides. The presentations were judged by faculty and potential employers. This is just one of the many opportunities you have to showcase your talent and network with potential employers. This year, my group won 2nd place in the case competition. I was very excited! Let’s just say I have a competitive side. 😉

As I stated before, I have a graduate assistantship. I was able to meet my employer at the case competition. I am currently working as a sales analyst intern at Land O’ Lakes. I work 15 hours a week during the school year and all summer at their regional office in Bentonville, AR. I have been working there for a month now and truly enjoy it. I just have to keep reminding myself, there is a learning curve. It’s ok if I don’t know everything just yet.

One thing I do know is that I am trying to make the most of my experiences in the Walton MBA program. In May, I am traveling to China for 3 weeks with the university. We will visit Hong Kong, Shanghai, and Beijing. I cannot wait to tell you about those experiences. As far as campus involvement, I am a MBA Ambassador, member of Women in Logistics, and Vice President of the S.L.A.M. (Supply, Logistics, and Marketing) Club. S.L.A.M is a new club that was just chartered this year. It feels great to be able to say that I was a founding member in an organization at the University of Arkansas. We are committed to educating and raising awareness about the marketing and supply chain fields. We host speakers on campus and will provide numerous networking opportunities in the future. There are so many opportunities to get involved in on campus. Each person’s experience is what they make of it.

Walton MBA Class of 2014

If you are interested in applying for the Class of 2015, please apply soon! The deadline is April 1st if you want to be eligible for financial assistance.

http://gsb.uark.edu/appdeadlines.asp