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Dal MBA team strikes gold – RMA Credit Risk Case Competition

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RebeccaFiander.j175 McKenney.Christopher-208x300Becky Fiander and Chris McKenney recently competed in and won the RMA Credit Risk Case Competition in Halifax, along with fellow CRMBA students Jason Reid, and Mary-Eleanor Walker. Five of the top Canadian business schools sent teams, including Dalhousie’s Rowe School of Business, Saint Mary’s Sobey School of Business, Queen’s University, U of T’s Rotman School of Business, and Wilfrid Laurier’s Laurier School of Business.

First, can you tell us about yourself?

Becky: My name is Becky Fiander and I’m from Liverpool, NS.  I completed my undergraduate degree at the University of King’s College with a major in International Development and a minor in Journalism.  My hobbies generally revolve around food and fitness. I love to cook, try new restaurants and participate in wine tastings. I’m also a big fan of staying active (I’m a bit of an endorphin junkie), and right now I’m into spinning and boxing, with some running and badminton on the side. My next big trip will be to Barcelona, Spain, to do a 5-week, intensive Spanish immersion program. I decided to do that to solidify my Spanish as fluent (my third language altogether), as I will be returning to Scotiabank after graduation. They have operations all over the world, and my goal is to live and work internationally!

Chris: I grew up not far from Dal in Truro, Nova Scotia. I didn’t go too far, doing my undergrad in Biology and Economics (double major) here at Dalhousie. My hobbies include climbing, hiking, waterskiing and, of course, beer and wings.

How did you guys decide to put together this team comprising first and second years?

Becky: Back in July 2012, I received an e-mail from our MBA Society President, Christie Lang, about this case competition that would take place the following February. At the time, I was completing my corporate residency at Scotiabank in Commercial Lending. The bones of this case competition were things that I saw every day at work, so I felt that it would be fun to spread that knowledge to a team. I had never done a case competition before, so this seemed like a good fit, and an experience I wanted to have before I graduated from the program.

The fact that the team had first years and second years was something completely random. After I received Christie’s e-mail, I responded pretty enthusiastically, and was given the responsibility of getting the word out to the two cohorts, and possibly registering a couple of teams. After sending out the initial email, I received responses from both first and second year students. It all fell into place from there. I honestly believe that having such a diverse team, with different educational backgrounds and different strengths, was what made us such a strong team.

Chris: Becky and Mary-Eleanor had posted a team on the Facebook page for a risk competition. I was looking to put a few case competitions under my belt, so I signed up not really knowing too much about the competition or my team. It was a really great experience to work with some people who I probably wouldn’t have ended up working with originally, simply because we didn’t know each other very well or at all back in September.

Now tell us about the case; what did you have to do to prepare?

Becky: Since I had done my residency at Scotiabank, I had access to some great people with vast amounts of knowledge on the subject. As a result, to prepare, we looked at old cases from the competition and worked through them as a team. We met regularly, beginning in November 2012, and also had two meetings with two of my colleagues from Scotiabank. They were very helpful in giving feedback, suggestions and direction.

For this competition, it was laid out as follows:

  1. Prepare a pre-selected case from a previous year (all teams received the same case), and put together a 15-minute presentation for a panel of judges. All teams received the case at the same time, and had plenty of time to prepare before the competition began. This presentation on Friday, February 22, would represent 25% of your team’s overall score.
  2. After Friday’s presentation, all teams took part in a “quiz” to determine the presentation order for the following morning. The quiz was about credit risk, the financial world, as well as current knowledge. Funnily enough, our team came in last and became one of two teams that presented first the following morning.
  3. On Saturday morning, our team received the case at 8:00am and had until 11:00am to prepare a 25-minute presentation about how we would address the issues in the case from the perspective of the bank. Start times were staggered (8am, 8:35am, 9:00am, 10:05am). We decided, going in, that we wouldn’t spend too much time questioning each other’s ideas or answers to the issues we saw in the case. We knew that everyone had their specific strengths, and we organized our attack based on those strengths. We worked together exceptionally well, and had a lot of fun doing it!
  4. After our three-hour preparation time, we presented to a panel of judges, took questions and then sat down to wait for the announcement of the top four teams.
  5. When we heard our team name called, we all got REALLY excited!!
  6. We were promptly moved to a room to prepare for the crisis round. We were given a scenario that related to the case we prepared that day, and were told we had 10 minutes to prepare. We were very systematic with our approach – problem identification, decision, justification, who would present, and GO!
  7. We presented our recommendation to the judges, fielded questions and then went back into the audience with butterflies in our stomachs.
  8. Then…WE WON! BAM!

Chris: Like Becky said, the first round was a practice case. We were given a week to prepare for this, although being students we had finished it at midnight the night before (better than some teams from what I hear). We presented this case on Friday, and then went on to a lunch networking session, followed by a trivia quiz to determine time slots for the next day. I’m pleased to report Dal came in second to last and last (by no narrow margin), and so we got the early slots for Saturday, which worked well for us anyway. On Saturday we showed up at 7:30, had some breakfast and were given the case at 8:30 sharp.

We went through the steps as we had practiced on many previous cases and worked extremely well together as a team. I was impressed by everyone’s ability to complete their tasks and not question or second-guess anyone else’s. After presenting, we sat around waiting for results. I personally wasn’t optimistic about making the finals (we had done a great job, but there were some impressive and intimidating teams there).

Once we were announced as a finalist, we were led to a room and handed a piece of paper. Once it was opened, the official started a stop watch, giving us 10 minutes to the second to analyze the problem, identify the components and come up with a solution to each. We then had 5 minutes to present. This was by far the most exciting part of the case. The four of us again worked well together to hit all the points. When presenting we did have a slight contradiction, however Becky did a fantastic job of covering this up and kept the presentation going.

Talk about that win and what it means for you personally, the team and Dalhousie’s MBA program?

Becky:  While the cash prize is an absolutely fantastic bonus, I was honestly just concerned about making my corporate residency employer (Scotiabank), my parents and my school proud. As I said before, I will be going back to Scotiabank after graduation, so this win is an even bigger win for my career in credit with Scotia. It was also an amazing experience to work with Chris, Jason and Mary-Eleanor – everyone brought something unique to the table, and we all really showed up during the competition.

  1. Team:  Our team was so excited, and thrilled, to have won the competition. We were a close-knit team and, as I said before, I think our strength was that we had individual attributes that meshed well together. We recognized that everyone on the team had value, and made sure that we all had the chance to demonstrate that value, and put it to good use. We also didn’t take ourselves too seriously, because we all know that there’s no place for ego on a winning team!
  2. I am so excited for the Dalhousie Corporate Residency MBA program. I think this shows to everyone that we are on par with the best MBA schools in the country. Wins like this, great professor, and successful graduates will grow the CRMBA’s great reputation in the future.

Chris: For me personally this was a big confidence boost. There were teams there with members from commercial and investment banking backgrounds. Beating those teams made me realize that the people I will compete against for a career are fallible and can be beaten. I think I can say that my teammates felt the same, with many other emotions as well. In addition, this was a fantastic networking opportunity, and a great way to show off the skill set that the MBA has provided us, much better than you can in an interview.

For Dalhousie, I think having two teams there who represented the program very well was a big deal. Showing the flag at these events demonstrates that we are a serious university, with some excellent talent to recruit! Having the win against top schools from across Canada was a really big deal to me, and I hope to Dal as well. While university programs are measured by dozens of metrics, I feel that having Dalhousie place in case competitions (which we have done a great job of so far this year, especially MBA Games!) is one of the best ways to demonstrate the quality of students coming from our school.

Can you speak to the overall experience and what you have learned/gained from it?

Becky: I had a really amazing experience doing this competition. I made some great contacts with prominent people in the business community, and there is a lot of value in growing your network. While I personally learned that a diverse team has a lot of value, that egos need to be checked at the door, and not to take oneself too seriously, I was told by a teammate that she was impressed by my ability to teach, and transfer my banking knowledge to the rest of the team. It’s not something I really ever considered as one of my strengths, but is definitely something I enjoy and something that gave our team an edge.

Chris: Going in to this, Jason and I, especially, had little to no experience with commercial banking practices. We had to learn everything we touched in the competition (with great teachers such as Becky and Mary-Eleanor), as we went along. While there was a lot to take in, it wasn’t too difficult given the background we had from the MBA so far. We also learned a great deal from practicing with the other Dal team as well as finance professor and mentor Rick Nason. The practice sessions with them gave us a great deal of insight, as well as a bit of a wakeup call to get serious! (They do a great job of presenting.)

The contacts we made over the course of this were excellent. I had a chance to run into an old friend from high school, get to know some competitors from across Canada, and forge some (hopefully) long-lasting relationships. In addition, we had an opportunity to meet judges who were leaders from all of the major banks, as well as major consultancy firms and government. These individuals all donated their time for the competition, and made an effort to get our information (it’s usually the other way around), with some going to great lengths to create Linked-In groups from the competition.

What recommendations do you have for someone entering their first case competition?

Becky: Prepare!

Don’t be afraid of having a diverse team, with a mixture of younger and older members.

Leave the ego at the door – it’s all about team!

Have fun! Do your best, but remember that there is learning to be had if you come last, just the same as if you come first.

Chris: Don’t be intimidated. This was my first live case, and while it was intimidating, doing well is very possible for anybody coming through Dalhousie. Half of our team had zero experience, and the other half had to spend time bringing us along, but through a bit of hard work and a very practical approach we managed to pull it off.  That brings me to the second piece of advice, which is KISS (Keep It Simple, Stupid). While complex analysis is a great tool, if you aren’t careful you will end up missing the basics. We saw this on a few occasions. Make sure to address ALL the major points, find practical solutions and, if you have time, do something to differentiate yourself.

Overall, a great learning experience, good opportunity to network and a great résumé line. I strongly urge everybody to try and participate in a case at some point in their academic career. You will increase your employment prospects, have a great time and you might surprise yourself with the results!

 

 

First impressions on the job – Jessica Markic

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Markic.JessicaJessica Markic grew up in Richmond Hill, just north of Toronto. She started post-secondary education at the University of Guelph in 2008, and in her second year her parents moved from Richmond Hill to Guelph, making it her new home when not in Halifax. Jessica graduated from the University of Guelph with an Honours Bachelor of Science degree in human kinetics in April of 2012.

 

What made you decide to do an MBA? Why did you choose Dalhousie?

I had known for some time that I wanted to further my education after my undergraduate degree. I looked into an MBA because I knew it would open up a greater number of job opportunities for me once I graduated—opportunities that I would not have had with only a Bachelor of Science degree.

I originally looked at Dalhousie because I had read an article in Maclean’s magazine about Dalhousie’s MBA program being at the top of a list for Canadian MBA programs for return on investment. I looked into several programs on that list and what appealed to me most about Dalhousie’s program was the work experience I would gain from the 8-month corporate residency.

I think that Dalhousie’s unique program structure definitely gives it a competitive advantage. The first 6 months, during which a number of core classes are taken, prepares students for the 8-month corporate residency. The residency allows students to gain work experience and apply some of what they learned in their first 6 months. During the last 8 months back in the classroom, students choose some elective courses, perhaps influenced by their work experience, to focus their learning.

Additionally, I was really attracted to the smaller class size that Dalhousie advertised, compared to other schools. Coming from a science degree, and having never taken any business courses, I took comfort in knowing that there was a smaller student to teacher ratio and should I need help along the way, I wouldn’t be just a number in a classroom.

Where are you doing your residency and with whom?

I’m doing my residency with Scotiabank in Kitchener, Ontario, working in Commercial Banking.

Could you describe one of your typical workdays for me?

A lot of my days, so far, have been spent spreading financial statements provided by our customers and prospects into a program called Moody’s Financial Analyst. This permits analysis of important margins and ratios to determine financial risk of these customers and prospects. The next step in the lending process would be determining management risk, and my job is to answer specific qualitative questions for each of our customers, which then affects the level of credit risk that was determined from the customer’s historical financial statements.

It is also my job to populate annual reviews for existing customers. This process ensures that customers are still within the covenants they agreed to when the relationship began. It allows us to ensure that the products we are offering to our customers still fit their needs. Populating a credit application entails some research about the history of the company and its owners and managers, as well as a full financial analysis of year over year interim and annual results.

What skills are required in your position on a day-to-day basis? 

A strong understanding of financial statements is key. Understanding what is happening and why it is happening is important when determining whether or not to lend to a customer, so strong analytical skills are a must.

What parts of your job do you find most challenging? 

Figuring out where to find the information I need to populate applications and answer questions about the customers is most difficult. The bank has a very large database of information, some of which is being transferred onto newer systems, so some information is scattered, and most of the time I find myself having to search for what I need.

What do you find most enjoyable? 

I really like the people I work with and the environment I work in. Everyone is eager to help me, and their doors are always open if I have questions. I also really like that I work independently, and have the opportunity to try and figure things out on my own, but can ask for help whenever I need it.

How would you describe the corporate culture?

Relaxed, supportive and inclusive are words that come to mind. Everyone in the office works really hard, but the office also takes opportunities to have fun. There’s a healthy work-life and I really like that. As I said before, everyone in the office is very supportive and they actively make an effort to include me in deals that I might not otherwise get to participate in, and introduce me to other business units of Scotiabank. The corporate culture has really allowed me to adapt to my role and feel very comfortable, which I am thankful for.

What are the important personal qualities or abilities for a person in your type of work?

You have to like working independently, analyzing financial statements and doing research. Although there are opportunities to work in small teams, most of the day is spent working on your own. However, this doesn’t mean that there aren’t opportunities to make connections as I have already established a strong network comprising both friends and colleagues.

What skills has Dalhousie taught you that have prepared you for this job?

I believe that without the first 6 months of the Corporate Residency MBA I would definitely find it difficult to excel in my current position. I am really thankful for my accounting and finance classes, because without them I feel I would really struggle in this position. Dalhousie definitely helps prepare you for the work term with the intense combination of soft and hard skills classes.

Are you making lots of connections on your residency? What opportunities have you had to meet people outside of your office?

I have definitely made connections with the people in the office that I intend to keep in the future. I work with a great group of people. Outside of my office there are opportunities to meet other Scotiabank employees such as Young Professionals, and opportunities in the community to meet other business people at Business After 5.

It’s all fun & MBA Games – Leadership in athletics and recreation

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Mike ParconMichael Parcon is a second-year MBA student and the current Director of Athletics for the MBA student society. He was born and raised in Corner Brook, Newfoundland, and graduated from Memorial University with a bachelor’s degree in business administration. Growing up, Michael played a variety of recreational and varsity-level sports, continues to be active on the local athletics scene and is an avid sports fan. Always looking for a new physical challenge, Michael completed his first full marathon this past May while on his corporate residency with the Royal Bank of Canada. You can read more about his personal story here.

What sports did you play growing up?

I was quite active in sports growing up, and played for my high school basketball, soccer and softball teams. During my leisure time, I was heavily involved with downhill skiing and became a certified ski instructor, and later a volunteer ski patroller. Once I got to university and, later, graduate school, I had the opportunity to join intramural and club level teams that competed in sports I never had the chance to play as a kid, such as wrestling, judo, ultimate frisbee, flag-football, volleyball and long-distance running. I even got the chance to apply my knowledge in these areas as the Logistics and Facilities Coordinator for the 2008 Newfoundland & Labrador Summer Games, where I oversaw the logistical operations of over a dozen different sports in six venues.

You are the Director of Athletics for the Corporate Residency MBA program. What sports did the Dalhousie MBA team participate in, and can you talk about how this experience has built strong relationships and adds value to the program?

For the fall semester, we competed in the flag football and ultimate frisbee co-ed leagues, and also participated in weekend tournaments for softball and 3-on-3 basketball. This winter, we’re playing in the basketball and volleyball leagues, as well as a dodgeball weekend tournament. We even fielded a floor hockey and basketball team to go head-to-head against other business schools at this year’s MBA Games in Hamilton. Always looking to give back to the community, we’ve participated as a team in charity fundraisers such as Run for the Cure and Inside Ride. On the recreational side, we’ve organized an inter-cohort dodgeball match, a surfing trip and a curling night.

The thing that’s great about an intramural sports environment is that we each get to reveal a different side of ourselves on the sports field. Though we often get closely familiar with our fellow classmates and their respective personalities in an academic and social setting, athletics and recreation fosters our competitive spirit and allows us to interact with each other through ability, teamwork, determination and heart. The majority of our MBA candidates are Type A personalities who are instinctively competitive, and we all relish any opportunities to bond as a team and compete against another school or program on the sports field. This has resulted in a stronger sense of community in our school. Though ours is a close-knit program, friendships are sometimes forged and strengthened between two people who may not necessarily be close in the classroom or at a social activity, but have something in common in athletics or who work well together as part of a team.

Can you tell us how intramural sports have helped you develop as a leader, both inside and outside the classroom?

As Director of Athletics and captain of the intramural teams, I learned a lot about the difference between ‘management’ and ‘leadership’. In my role, the concept of ‘management’ involved deciding what leagues to play in, getting registered with league officials, recruiting team members, liaising with other teams and making sure everyone has all the information to show up to our games on time. This type of team management required me to stay on task, be organized and communicate effectively with all involved.

‘Leadership’, however, represented more intangible aspects of the role. As captain and leader, I’m often faced with motivating our team toward a common goal, leading by example with a basic strategy to win, and walking a fine line between ensuring everyone is having fun and being competitive enough that we represent our school well. My central philosophy regarding athletics and recreation for the program is that we are all “students first, athletes second” so the academic demands of the program take precedence over anything else. My role is simply to provide a fun outlet for our students to relieve some stress on the sports field and foster a sense of teamwork and competitive spirit. In order to fulfill my role, I have had to develop the right mix of ‘management’ and ‘leadership’ that works for the team.

MBA students are constantly developing and honing their leadership skills, and the lessons I’ve learned with sports have helped me tremendously both in an academic and professional setting. Values such as learning and practicing new skills and abilities, triumph through teamwork and achieving your goals in the face of adversity with hard work, self-motivation and determination have all been transferable off the sports field. As a student, you are constantly challenged to learn and apply new material in a fast-paced environment; group projects and case competitions require tremendous amounts of teamwork and the cooperation of strong personalities; adapting and adding value to a new setting such as a corporate residency requires hard work, self-motivation and determination.

How has your experience with sports and recreation shaped your view and approach to the Corporate Residency MBA Program with Dalhousie?

When I was last featured in this blog, I spoke of how I was in the midst of my corporate residency with RBC and training for my first marathon that I ran in May. I ultimately concluded that training for such a physical challenge is the perfect analogy I can make when talking about my experience with the program, and it’s a view I hold to this day. Getting your MBA is a lot like training for a marathon: both are completely new experiences requiring you to learn and adapt to new skills, work harder than you ever have before, pace yourself and focus on a long-term goal, no matter how hard it may get. Some days will be good and others will be bad; some days can feel like a race to the finish, while other days you’ll find that slow and steady wins the race; some days you’ll feel like the task in front of you is impossible, and then you feel a sense of pride in your accomplishment; and sometimes you’ll question what you’ve gotten yourself into, but most times you’ll feel that you made the right decision. Ultimately, no matter what happens, the overall fulfillment comes not just from reaching the “finish line”, but from the overall experience itself.

Combined MBA/JD degree – Otis’s story

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otissmith

Otis Smith was born and raised in Bathurst, NB. He started Dal as a Commerce student, graduating with a BA in Political Science. After his undergrad, Otis moved to Edinburgh, Scotland, and worked in the finance department of a law firm for eight months. He then continued his travels in the UK, ending up in Cambridge, England, to work for the summer as an event coordinator for a study holiday company. Otis then taught English in South Korea before finally returning to Canada. Apart from travelling, Otis is an avid sports fan, especially football (Minnesota Vikings). He has also been involved in music his whole life.

What made you decide to do a combined MBA/JD degree at Dalhousie?

One of Dal’s competitive advantages lies in the integrated JD/MBA program. The law school is well known across the country and the new corporate residency MBA is gaining awareness thanks to an innovative and practical approach to the study of business.

I’ve never been an excellent student, which is why it was important for me to differentiate myself from my peers, who may perform better academically. The integrated program offers someone like me the opportunity to be recognized as a top candidate because of the added skills I will bring to prospective employers. If I chose to practice corporate law I would not need further training to be able to read a client’s financial statements or to understand the business jargon. If I chose the business side, then I have an advantage in the way the study of law teaches you to strategically work through problems and synthesize large amounts of data.

Where did you do your residency and with whom?

I did my residency here in Halifax with Deloitte’s strategy and operations consulting division.

What was the greatest takeaway from your residency?

It was the realization that even when you have a job, you have to work to get work. No one is going to hold your hand and make sure you’re doing your work well. It is up to you to actively seek out projects and ensure you produce high quality of results/deliverables. This will prove your worth and lead to more challenging work. More challenging work will lead to working with senior people and working with senior people will help you advance in the organization.

What skills are required in your degrees on a day-to-day basis? 

Problem solving and reading comprehension are very important. The MBA helped me to become more agile in my approach to solving problems. Law has greatly improved my ability to actually get to the point of whatever I’m reading.

What parts of the combined degree do you find most challenging? 

The transition from MBA evaluation to law school evaluation can be challenging. The MBA is progressive and keeps you continuously thinking and working at problems through assignments, presentation, etc. Most law school classes have final exams worth 100%, meaning that you don’t get the opportunity to track your progress. It is a much more self-directed approach to learning.

How has the MBA helped you to develop as a leader?

It has given me confidence in what I’m talking about though the knowledge I’ve gained, and it has helped develop the way I deliver what I’m saying through presentations. It has also helped me with my approach to team work and enhanced my ability to interact with different personalities.

What are some important personal qualities for someone doing the combined degree?

Be determined and open-minded – they are very different approaches to learning and you have to understand there will be a learning curve. Key into your weaknesses and work to improve them.

Have you learned a lot from other students in your program? If so, what have they taught you?

I definitely got more out of my MBA cohort. Align yourself with people who excel at what you find difficult and ask for help. Its good practice for them to teach you and you’ll benefit from the extra tutelage. Law school is slightly more competitive, but the same principles apply. People just may not be as forthcoming with help.

What advice do you have for prospective students thinking about entering the JD/MBA program?

Make sure it’s something you’re serious about. It’s a lot of money to drop on a hunch.

Dalhousie’s MBA program is well known for its innovative curriculum. Does anything specific come to mind that you would like to speak to?

The integrative weekend was great and made you think strategically on a Saturday night… which is somewhat uncommon for most people.

Finally, make sure you take advantage of the networking opportunities. When I’ve been at the market/out for drinks/getting coffee I’ve run into business professionals I’ve met at these things and they can really help establish relationships and build your network.

 

 

 

Society life – Kaetlyn’s story

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kaetlyngrahamKaetlyn was born in Ontario, but spent most of her youth in Vancouver, BC.   She earned a bachelor’s degree in Commerce from the University of Victoria where she specialized in business management. Likely a product of moving so much in her formative years, one of her favourite activities is travelling. Kaetlyn loves being exposed to and learning from different cultures. In her undergrad she was fortunate to integrate travel into her degree by going on two exchanges, to Australia and France. These exchanges really helped shape her university experiences. 

Why did you choose Dal’s MBA? What influenced your choice of major?

I chose to come to Dalhousie to obtain my MBA for several reasons. First, I wanted a change of scenery and to attend school on the East coast in order to make some new connections and challenge myself personally. Secondly, many aspects of the Dalhousie MBA program, such as the smaller class sizes, high accessibility to professors, the corporate residency component, and the personal and professional development program, put Dalhousie above many other MBA programs. Most importantly, though, the MBA program at Dalhousie allowed me to take advantage of the employer relationships with CPGs in Toronto. This really helped me to get my foot in the door and begin to pursue a career in marketing management.

My decision to specialize in marketing was influenced by industry experience. I gained experience post-graduation as the marketing manager for an upscale restaurant in downtown Vancouver, and as a marking management intern for Colgate-Palmolive on my corporate residency. I love marketing because there are so many different aspects to it. In order to be successful, marketers have to have a strong analytical and strategic skill set, as well as an ability to manage projects, multi-task and have a good creative eye. Further, being a good marketing manager requires the ability to be persuasive and sell others on your ideas. This comes from having a good understanding and analysis surrounding the market and consumer, and how to build, develop and execute a strategy that will be effective.

What do you think is the most valuable skill/lesson you learned from your residency? Do you have any advice for prospective students heading into their residencies?

I did my residency at Colgate-Palmolive as a marketing management intern for the toothbrush brand.  One of the most valuable things I learned was how and when to leverage other people in the organization. For example, I helped develop the strategic brand plan for toothbrushes for the first quarter of 2013, which included determining which new products to introduce and which ones to discontinue. By gaining a better understanding of what people in each functional department are responsible for, and the insight they have into product performance, I was better able to leverage my colleagues’ knowledge in developing my recommendation.

My advice to students going into their residencies is to challenge yourself! In my position with Colgate-Palmolive, my manager (who was the brand manager for toothbrushes) was promoted to another brand. I was asked if I felt comfortable enough to manage the brand on my own for the final four months of my residency. While I didn’t exactly know what I was doing, I was confident in my ability to learn and challenged myself by accepting.  It was a lot of work and a steep learning curve, but it was the best decision I could have made because of how much I learned and the experience I gained.

What is your role in the MBA Society?

I am the director of program culture for the MBA Society. My role is to strengthen personal and professional ties within the program. I do this by creating opportunities for people to interact with one another outside the classroom. I also, along with other members of the Society, determine ways in which we can improve the program from a student perspective.

What events have you organized? How do you think activities outside the class add value to the program?

I have organized dinners, gift exchanges, holiday parties and a city-wide scavenger hunt, among other things. Currently, as head of the graduate committee, I have helped organize a tall ship cruise, dinner and grad trip for the class of 2013.

The activities I organize add value to the class by allowing students to connect on a personal level. Building friendships within the program allows for an enhanced level of comfort, which leads to more dynamic discussions in class and will be beneficial in the long run as we leverage our relationships with classmates in our careers.

What has been your favourite event you organized?

My favourite event was the city-wide scavenger hunt I organized at the beginning of this academic year. This event was designed as a way for the first and second year classes to get to know one another. Teams were created so that groups mixed the two classes and created a list of activities that would help facilitate bonding between the cohorts. We ended the night at a local bar and had pizzas delivered as we shared stories and presented awards. It was a great team-building exercise for the two classes, and really set a positive tone for the year.

What value do you think the Society adds to the program? Has it helped you create any significant friendships?

The Society does a great deal for the program. We really try to have a positive impact by representing student interests to the program. This year we have been able to actively participate in implementing curriculum changes, provided support for first year students, organized community and fundraising events and worked towards improving the program for future years’ students.

If you could give one piece of advice to prospective students, what would it be?

To get the most out of the program, you need to get involved. Beyond being on the MBA Society, I was a teaching assistant for an undergraduate Commerce class, a mentor for incoming students, I created and ran a marketing consulting firm with two classmates, and took part in case competitions like the MBA Games. These extra-curricular experiences have been just as important to me as my academic experience, and added some invaluable experience to my MBA degree.

Four weeks in – Jason’s story

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Reid.JasonIt is now the end of January, which means most Corporate Residency MBA students are finishing the first of eight months on their corporate residency. The ABC team caught up with one such student, Jason Reid, to discuss his thoughts so far on the job and in the program.

Jason grew up in Guelph, ON, and moved to Halifax in July to begin the CRMBA program at Dalhousie. He earned a BSc in Human Kinetics with a minor in Business Administration at the University of Guelph.

First off, where are you doing your residency?

I work at Nova Scotia Business Inc. (NSBI) as a Corporate Analyst. My office is located in downtown Halifax at the World Trade and Convention Centre. NSBI is a private sector–led business development agency for the province of Nova Scotia. Its purpose is to expand business activity in Nova Scotia.

When did you start?

I began my residency at the beginning of January and have been working there for four weeks now.

What is a typical day like so far?

As a co-lead of the Life Science and Clean Technology sectors I am responsible for scheduling meetings and developing a strategy and budget that will help each respective sector grow and improve within the province. I also do supporting work for the other teams at NSBI. Specifically, I help companies and our departments with strategic planning, which in turn will help the province grow economically. I meet with clients regularly and help determine their needs and objectives, and match them with ours.

What do you enjoy most about working for NSBI, or the corporate residency in general?

I enjoy meeting people and learning about the life science and clean technology industries here in the province. Some of the projects and people behind them are fascinating and a lot can be learned from them. Also, I am still doing some training and getting lots of support to get to the next level. My colleagues and managers are committed to helping me grow in terms of career and abilities.

What differentiates the residency from other jobs or co-ops is that I have been given high-level work right from the start. There is definitely lots of trust and responsibility involved. It’s also great to work and network with C-Level executives and other high level managers of various companies.

What projects have you worked on so far?

There are several initiatives we are currently developing with the goal of expanding business in the province in each of the sectors. They involve multiple companies and industry partners and it will be very exciting to watch the sectors grow.

There are three major projects I have worked on so far. First, I wrote a report summarizing the renewable energy potential in NS to be circulated at Canadian embassies around the world. The purpose was to attract investment and promote Nova Scotia. Secondly, I worked with the VP of a vaccine company to help him get to clinical trials. Finally, I helped to plan and market the Nova Scotia representative part of an international trade show on life sciences.

What do you believe to be the most important skills or abilities for your job?

Research and strategic planning are among the skills that I use every day. It is important to utilize the ability to think big picture and across multiple provincial sectors in order to come up with the best possible solution while at the same time being able to focus on the specific details involved when working with an individual client.

How much of a pay increase have you received in comparison with your last job?

Compared to my previous job right out of undergrad, this residency position has increased my pay by 65%!

Do you have any words of advice for those starting their residencies in the future?

My advice would be to get involved with as many extra-curricular activities as you can. The MBA program runs a very interesting and informative Investment Club and gets involved in the community through various networking events and social activities. Participate in as many extras as you can without losing focus on your studies or your job.

What skills do you hope to gain from your residency?

I hope to learn how to manage multiple projects effectively as well as fine-tune my presentation skills and meet as many people in the industry as I can.

What is your ideal job?

My ideal job would be something that allows me to work on projects within the company, but also get outside and deal with clients. Ideally, it would be something that was in the life science industry so I could utilize both my science and business backgrounds.

Marketing herself – Kerry Bullock

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kerrybullockThe ABC team recently spoke with second year student Kerry Bullock regarding majoring in marketing at Dalhousie’s Corporate Residency MBA program. The interview focuses on Kerry’s experience as a student at Dalhousie so far, as well as her career aspirations in the marketing industry.

Kerry was born and raised in Sarnia, Ontario. She did her undergrad at Western University, completing a double major in business (BMOS) and political science. During and after her undergrad she ran a painting business in Sarnia and then joined a couple of her colleagues to run a similar business in Muskoka, Ontario. It was during these entrepreneurial experiences that she developed an interest in sales and marketing and decided to pursue an MBA.

What made you choose Dal’s MBA and what competitive advantage do you believe the program offers?

I first heard of Dal’s Corporate Residency MBA program at a graduate school fair in my second year at Western. I talked with a Dal rep at the fair and got a package to take home and look through. I skimmed the package, put it in a drawer and completely forgot about it for the next two years. Later, when I was researching MBA programs, I remembered that conversation and started the application process for the CRMBA program. My priorities for an MBA were to choose a program that would not be exactly the same as my undergrad, to focus on marketing and to go somewhere where you weren’t just a number.

Dal ended up being my first choice program for a variety of reasons. The main advantages I saw coming into the program were the eight-month corporate residency, the personal and professional development components, the small class size and the employer relationships. Now, nearing the end of the program, I realize it is the relationships you develop with your colleagues, professors, administration, employers and other stakeholders that is the most valuable component of the program. While there are many advantages to the structure and elements of this program, it is the amazing people you meet who are invested in your success that make the real difference. At the end of the day, the CRMBA program was the perfect fit for someone looking to develop her career, business knowledge, and personal and professional skills at the same time.

Where did you do your corporate residency?

 Johnson & Johnson

What interests you about marketing? How did you initially decide marketing was the career path you wanted to pursue?

I was initially interested in the ‘people’ aspects of marketing. When I was running a painting business my favourite part was meeting with potential customers, figuring out their particular needs and bringing them to life by delivering an end product that directly met those needs. This process continues to interest me about marketing today. The process of researching to find a consumer need, developing a consumer insight, building a strategy around that insight, developing the strategy, executing it and seeing the final product of your work is what I love about marketing.

What is your dream marketing job?

Although I am not sure this is considered a “marketing job” (even though it definitely will include marketing), my dream job is to be a successful business owner and create something entirely new for consumers.

Has any professor at Dalhousie influenced your decision in any way? If so, how?

I decided to focus on marketing before I entered the program and clearly that has not changed.

I had a moment of hesitation after taking Dr. Nason’s finance class; however, a month into my residency I knew marketing was the right decision for me. Since then the marketing professors at Dal have helped solidify my decision and provided me with further knowledge to take back to work.

How would you describe your personal style and how does that fit with a role in marketing?

My personal style is entrepreneurial, collaborative, decisive and independent. During my residency, I was surprised to find out that brand management is ‘entrepreneurial’. I was given a lot of responsibility and autonomy to make decisions, which I found both amazing and terrifying. My collaboration skills were vital to my role since everything is done in cross-functional teams, but at the same time it was my responsibility to keep projects moving forward. This required a degree of independence, as well as problem-solving and decision-making skills.

Who has influenced you the most? Is this person in the marketing industry? What has he/she done to influence you?

As both a parent and entrepreneur, my dad has influenced me the most. Through observing him as a business owner and manager over the years, I learned how to manage people, problem-solve, work hard and use common sense. In other words, he was the first person to teach me ‘soft’ business skills, which you cannot learn from a textbook.

Who do you admire most in the marketing sector?

My manager at J&J. She is the most intelligent individual I have ever met, and has been an inspiring leader, manager and teacher. The most valuable marketing skills I developed over the last year, I learned from her. I am very fortunate not only to have gotten such a great manager for my first marketing job, but also to have had a manager who challenged me, taught me, was invested in my success and that I could look up to.

What dreams and goals have inspired you to succeed?

My overarching goals have always been to continually learn and challenge myself (i.e. avoid boredom), build strong relationships, try new things, and as cliché as it sounds, be a good person. I think that I am doing all right so far.

Are there any marketing books you recommend for someone interested in entering the industry?

These aren’t all marketing focused, but books I found interesting and somewhat relevant were:

The Little Red Book of Selling by Jeffrey Gitomer

How We Decide by Jonah Lehrer

Blink by Malcom Gladwell

Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand

If any prospective students have questions, feel free to reach out to me via email at Kerry.Bullock@dal.ca. I would be glad to help in any way possible.

 

 

 

MBA Games 2013

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Started in 1988 at Queen’s University in Kingston, ON, the MBA Games is the largest gathering of MBA students in Canada. Participants compete in athletic, academic and spirit competitions, as well as appear at networking events to meet fellow MBAs from across the country.

Dalhousie’s Rowe School of Business made its comeback in 2013 after a three-year hiatus from the games. The ABC team discussed this event with Afif Nassif who organized the Dalhousie presence at the games, as well as two participants, Becky Rogez and Kyle Palantzas. The following is a combination of their responses.

Where were the games this year?

The games were hosted by McMaster University’s DeGroote School of Business in Hamilton, Ontario, January 4-6. All participants stayed at the Sheraton Hamilton hotel and events were held at the main McMaster campus and the Ron Joyce Centre, which is the building for all McMaster MBA students.

How many universities participated?          

Twenty-two universities from across Canada participated in the games. Syracuse also sent a small team.

What were the competitions?

There were three main types of competition: Spirit, Academic and Athletics. Dal participated in the opening ceremonies’ team dance competition, all four academic cases (Finance, Crisis Management, Strategy and Marketing) and two of the four athletic events: basketball and volleyball (the others were floor ball and dodge ball).

How many Dalhousie students attended?

Fifteen Dal students attended. Twelve were in second year (2013 cohort) and three were in first year (2014 cohort). The second-years were Mahmoud Zeidan, Kareem Sobaih, Kerry Bullock, Sara-Beth Harrison, Kaetlyn Graham, Ryan Meyers, Lyndon Bentley, Eric Dunford, James Ewart, Jen Jackson, Mike Parcon and Kevin O’Hearn. First-years were Becky Rogez, Kyle Palantzas and Lauren Glass.

What were your roles surrounding the games?

Afif was the organizer for the team and the person responsible for Dalhousie’s presence at the games. He took care of all the logistics involved leading up to the event, including organizing flights, registering the team and pushing for funding. In regards to his role, Afif said, “the whole process can be daunting, however it is extremely gratifying once you succeed at the games and achieve great results that reflect well on your school.”

Becky was the team captain, and played basketball as well as participating in the crisis management case competition with Kyle.

What awards did Dalhousie receive?

Dalhousie won the best showing at the opening ceremonies, first place in the crisis management case competition, third place overall for academics, and the “Mini Cup” which is an award for the most points per participant. For the finance and marketing case competitions Dalhousie was in the top five and top 10 respectively.

How do you believe this experience has been beneficial to you?

The MBA Games is a great avenue for students to hone the skills and use the knowledge they have accumulated through their MBA program while collaborating with others in challenging situations that require diligence and commitment. The is also an opportunity for MBA students from all across Canada to network with each other and with various professionals. As Becky said, “[the games] validated all of the money I spent on tuition and made me extremely proud to be a part of the Dalhousie MBA program.”

What did you learn—anything specific?

“After getting the chance to watch other schools participate in the case competitions it really hit home how important soft skills are in business, and how important it is to be personable and sincere. People want to work with real people. It’s all well and good if you know all of the academic theories on a topic, but it’s more important to connect with people. It’s also important to be modest and to be able to identify and capitalize on new learning opportunities.”

“The MBA Games also taught me how rewarding it can be to step outside your comfort zone. In the case competition presentation I presented the bulk of the important information, and I had never done a case competition before. The other members of my team were all extraordinary presenters and they trusted me to do a good job. It felt so great to finish those presentations, knowing that we did a good job, and then go on to win.” – Becky

Can you talk about the excitement/challenges associated with the games?

“It was a little bit intimidating to be such a small team walking into the Sheraton as all of the other teams were arriving. Other teams had been preparing for the games since the beginning of the year and had so much team “swag”—t-shirts, jackets, hoodies, sweat pants, scarfs. All we had were our Dalhousie t-shirts that the MBA Society donated. We made it work, though—with some supplies from Ardenes (funky socks, suspenders and sun glasses)—and we kept getting compliments on our cool outfits.” – Becky

What was the highlight of the games for you?

“The highlight of the MBA Games was the remarkable way both the Corporate Residency MBA program and the Dalhousie University Rowe School of Business were represented through the achievements of the team and the awards we collected. This is particularly important for the CRMBA program, its image and what it stands for, given that it is still a relatively new and young program.” – Afif

“The highlight of the games was definitely when we were sitting at the opening ceremonies after dinner and they started the awards. The first award was for the opening ceremonies. When Dal’s name was called for first place, above UBC which had an amazing presentation, the entire table got out of their seats and screamed and cheered. That was pretty amazing. Then, things got even better when the academic awards were called and my team won crisis management. I was sitting beside my team mates and we all jumped up and cheered. That high stayed with me for most of the night. I was very lucky to have an amazing team—Eric Dunford, Jen Jackson, Kyle Palantzas and myself.” – Becky

Anything else you want to add?

“I would like to mention that our supporters were the Rowe School of Business and CIBC. Without their support we would not have been able to participate.” – Afif

“Every MBA student should have a chance to attend the MBA Games. It was definitely the highlight of my MBA experience thus far and, like I said earlier, it validated every penny that I have spent in tuition and it made me extremely proud of my school and my classmates.” – Becky

“The MBA Games really opened my eyes to how competitive Dalhousie’s MBA program is relative to the rest of the country. We are really part of something special here. The crisis management competition was challenging and tailored for high-level thinkers and presenters. Every member of our team brought something to the table and I think it’s our diversity that put us over the top.”  – Kyle

For more information on the MBA Games, check out the website at www.mbagames.ca

Standing out as a leader – An interview with Jim Power

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Drayton Berger met with Corporate Residency MBA accounting professor Jim Power to discuss his experiences with leadership, both in his career and in the program.

Jim was born and raised in Montréal and has a commerce degree from Concordia University, as well as a CA designation. He has had a successful career spanning the private, public and not-for-profit sectors. Jim has worked at organizations including KPMG, TransAlta, the YMCA and the Government of Nova Scotia.

What made you choose accounting as your profession?

Very early in my schooling, I came across an opportunity for learning—something called chartered accountancy. I put that in my head as being something I wanted to do when I grew up. When I tell you that I did this in grade seven, some people say “oh my god, that’s so young”. In reality I used chartered accounting as an answer to the question: “what are you going to do when you grow up?” When I heard about chartered accounting it sounded appealing to me. The person I had spoken with about this seemed to have a great job, a beautiful house, as well as a nice car. As a kid around the age of 12 the perks seemed appealing. I pursued it by taking it day by day. One thing led to another. I went to university and enrolled in commerce, majoring in accounting. Next thing you know I was on the verge of graduating and was able to seek out jobs through campus recruiting. I had offers from CA firms and pursued them. I started taking courses at McGill University. The next thing you know I passed my CA exams. Goal number one was accomplished.

What did you do after you received your designation?

[Read more…]

President-elect – Andrew’s story

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Jordan Hirtle caught up with Andrew Frazer a few days after he was elected president of the Dalhousie MBA Society for the 2013-2014 term. The interview focuses on Andrew’s thoughts about the MBA program so far, his residency and his future role as president.

Andrew is originally from Mississauga, Ontario, and moved to Nova Scotia to do his BBA at Acadia University where he majored in marketing. He is a three-time recipient of the Academic All Canadian Award as well as many other awards. Apart from academics, Andrew played football for over four years at Acadia, was captain for two years and is now involved in all types of sports at Dal. He recently obtained a corporate residency position with Scotiabank Global Banking and Markets as a credit risk analyst.

First off, why did you choose Dalhousie to do your MBA?

I decided to apply to Dal’s Corporate Residency MBA (CRMBA) program to further my academic success and to get real work experience. This was essential. I also enjoy the east coast culture, and the faculty made me feel welcomed and wanted during the application process.

So you’re the new president, congratulations!  Do you plan on implementing any changes?

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