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Corporate Residency MBA

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Into the Personal and Professional Effectiveness curriculum

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Soft skills are a combination of personality and character traits, communication and language skills, emotional intelligence, and other interpersonal skills. While often overlooked through typical school programs, understanding and developing your soft skills can make a significant difference in launching a successful career.

One of the many perks of Dalhousie University’s Corporate Residency MBA program is its Personal and Professional Effectiveness (PPE) curriculum. The PPE curriculum provides students with personalized soft skills modules and guidance to prepare them for success in the workplace.

The PPE curriculum begins with modules that introduce self-management, engagement, and career management techniques. These include teaching students reflective practice, conflict resolution, and interview skills. Learning how to set and follow-through on personal and professional goals is a main focus of the first several months. Another particular highlight is the dining etiquette session, which teaches specific tricks to navigating professional dining situations that we might encounter during our residency or post-grad job.

After the corporate residency, the second year of PPE pulls the focus to skills that will support the post-grad job search and the development of long-term career success. Specific topics include navigating situations that require a robust understanding of creativity and complexity, as well as developing an understanding of different leadership approaches. A particular focus was placed on design thinking, which is a strategic approach to facilitate creative brainstorming and problem solving.

Throughout its entirety, one of the large focuses of the PPE program is on networking. One of the keys to a successful career is the ability to build and maintain a strong network that can facilitate the job search but also provide support throughout your career. The PPE program provides with many networking opportunities both in the classroom and while on residency through mixer events, as well as employer and alumni panels. There is also an entire week devoted to jump-starting the residency application process, with specific events and opportunities for meeting potential employers while supporting the first round of job interviews.

PPE is not a typical class. Rather than merely sitting through theory-based lectures, students engage with the material through interactive activities and class simulations. Whether the focus is on goal setting, design thinking, complex problem solving, or event networking, students are encouraged to take risks and try new approaches.

The PPE curriculum is a unique opportunity among MBA programs, allowing students to develop those necessary soft skills that can take them to the next level in launching their career. Learn more about the PPE curriculum at dal.ca, or read our breakdown of the Negotiations Integrative also offered through the CRMBA program.

Preparing For Your First Day

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Author: Phillip T’ien

With the incoming class of 2020 beginning their program in a few short weeks, students are likely starting to feel the pressure of entering graduate school. Looking back at my time at Dalhousie, it’s hard to believe that it was already two years ago that I was experiencing my first day jitters. To help manage this, here are a few tips to ensure you start the program on the right foot.

Keep Calm

Your first day in a graduate program may seem quite intimidating at first glance. New requirements and expectations are set, such as a 70% minimum requirement for passing. In addition, a hectic intensive first summer awaits the class.

While it is normal to feel some stress due to entering a new environment, be excited for the amazing opportunity ahead. The summer may seem overwhelming at first, but the intense schedule really works to bring the cohort together.

Reach Out

Although you will be meeting your entire class on your first day, a great way to prepare prior to this is to reach out to your cohort ahead of time. Don’t be afraid to ask a future classmate to go for coffee. Better yet, make a post in your Facebook group inviting the class to go watch the game or grab a drink. Seeing some familiar faces will help shake the stress of your first few days.

Check Out the Campus

With the summer arriving in full bloom in the coming weeks, take some time to explore Dalhousie’s beautiful campus. While you will be familiarized with certain buildings quite quickly (such as the Rowe and the Student Union Building), feel free to explore other areas as well.

The Wallace McCain Learning Commons has fantastic study rooms with large whiteboards, and the Killam Library has the “Grad Pad,” an area dedicated exclusively to graduate students. Don’t forget to also scout out nearby cafes and food joints.

Get to Know your Upper Classmates

Don’t hesitate to get to know the members of the class of 2019. Although many are scattered across Canada on their current residencies, some members will be coming back to Halifax for orientation week to greet all of the program’s newcomers. Furthermore, they’re all available on social media. Feel free to reach out to them in order to get some insights on their first-year experiences, see if they have study tips or notes they are willing to share, or get some information on their residency.

Likewise, don’t be afraid to reach out to alumni of the program. The CRMBA has a very close-knit alumni base, who are always happy to pass along advice from their own experiences.

 

Interested in learning more about Dalhousie’s 22 month Corporate Residency MBA?  Check out more information about the program.

Case Competitions: Expanding Your Skill Set

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Common advice for new MBA students is to embellish your academic experience with extracurricular activities and events. Case competitions are an excellent way to do this: participants gain academic, problem solving, and presentation experience, while getting the chance to network, travel, and even win prizes!

How so? We interviewed three of Dalhousie’s graduating CRMBA students — Priyanka Kochhar, David Hatcher, and Ryan Bunker — for their perspectives on what makes case competitions such unique experiences.

 

Applied Learning

A case competition is an interesting way to apply class learnings to business scenarios in a high pressure environment. Competitions require an analysis of the situation as well as a proposed solution to the problem, which then must be presented to a panel of judges.

“The most valuable component to me was getting the practical experience and the understanding of what it would be like to work in the subject area of the competition,” says David Hatcher. “I see case competitions as a way to gain additional experience outside of the classroom and have the ability to learn practical skills.”

“A colleague from my residency, who is also a CRMBA grad, suggested I try to fit in as many extracurricular activities as possible to gain more practical experience in a field I could see myself working in. That was great advice as I’ve learned a lot about myself in the process,” says Ryan Bunker. “Another underrated benefit, in my opinion, is having to stay disciplined in your coursework to ensure that you’re not falling behind; I think time-management and learning to work the most efficiently is a skill that will be helpful in my career.”

Priyanka Kochhar agrees, adding in: “Competitions have also significantly improved my presentation skills. I feel much more comfortable speaking in front of large groups than I did before.”

 

Networking Opportunities

Plenty of opportunities exist at case competitions to mingle with students of other schools as well as business professionals. In fact, many case competitions include networking mixers among the scheduled events.

Priyanka found that attending the case competitions helped to expand her network. “I have met entrepreneurs across Atlantic Canada, government and industry professionals in Nova Scotia, and am currently coordinating with contest organizers in Australia. It has been great to meet so many people, hear their stories, and learn about opportunities that exist beyond grad school.”

“I have met many people with different backgrounds,” says Ryan, “all of whom I wouldn’t feel awkward asking to meet up later in my career over a coffee.”

 

Teamwork

“Working on case teams really brings out how people react under pressure,” says Priyanka, “Case competitions can be quite nerve wracking. With travel and time crunches, networking and presenting, there are a lot of components that push people outside of their comfort zones. It is interesting to watch the different personalities at play and how people come together to present such high-quality work in short periods of time.”

David further explains, “These competitions forced us to work as a team to solve problems and put together quality work under time constraints, something I think will be very valuable for our careers. Each person would bring a diverse set of skills and would have strengths in different areas that allowed us to be efficient and have trust in each other.”

“Working with others can be challenging at times,” agrees Ryan, “but how each of our different skill sets came together, creating something unique was amazing — the whole really is more than a sum of its parts.”

 

Fun

Case competitions may be challenging, but these also provide many fun opportunities. Teams can travel across Canada and internationally, and usually have the chance to win cash prizes!

When asked if they were interested in giving any shout-outs, all three participants were enthusiastic.

“Shout-out to all my teammates this year,” says Priyanka. “Each of them taught me something new along the way.”

“Thanks to all of my case teammates and coaches for their dedication — we had a lot of good times that I will cherish,” says Ryan.

“All my teammates for being awesome to work with, as well as our coaches for their guidance and support,” agrees David, adding a special thanks: “And Rick Nason for his help in Advanced Corporate Finance class by getting us to think differently about problems and prepping us to think on our feet and be ready for tough questions.”

 

For more, check out our recap of the 2018 MBA Games, or learn how to maximize your networking opportunities.

 

Priyanka Kochhar participated in the IBM Watson Global Analytics Competition, won second in the Nova Scotia Open Data Contest (with teammate Cory MacRae), and won first in the BMO Apex Business Plan Competition (with teammate Ryan Bunker).

Ryan Bunker participated in the Venture Capital Investment Competition, was a runner-up in the National Investment Banking Competition (with teammates David Hatcher, Jack Dellaire, and Hadyn McInroy), and won first in the BMO Apex Business Plan Competition (with teammate Priyanka Kochhar).

David Hatcher participated in the MBA Games Strategy Case, Pacific Venture Capital Competition, the Venture Capital Investment Competition, was a runner-up in the National Investment Banking Competition (with teammates Ryan Bunker, Jack Dallaire, and Hadyn McInroy), and won first in the CFA Research Challenge (with teammates Karah Lee, Kelly Hawa, Christian Thomas, and Dharshan Imbiraj).

Be Prepared: Maximize your networking opportunities

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networking [net-wurk-ng] : Creating a group of acquaintances and associates and keeping it active through regular communication for mutual benefit.

You’ve heard the term before. After all, networking can surely be counted among the greatest business buzzwords. No matter the industry, there is a high likelihood that the act of creating and maintaining a network is a necessary tool for developing your career.

In fact, according to a recent survey by Lou Adler, an estimated 85% of jobs are filled through networking – even for the most active job-seekers. (Check out the full survey breakdown on LinkedIn.)

It is hardly a surprise, then, that networking is such a hot topic for students of the Corporate Residency MBA program. As such, we have compiled a list of top networking tips that may help you develop your own connections.

Be prepared

Many networking opportunities can actually occur outside of formal events: consider informational interviews, guest speakers, or even chance meetings on the street. Have your elevator pitch and business cards ready for any such interaction. You never know who might become a valuable addition to your network.

Know your goals

Consider ahead of time what you really want to get out of networking opportunities. Do you wish to meet professionals from a particular industry? Perhaps learn more about a particular skill? Do you have a specific individual that you wish to meet? Don’t be afraid to be strategic; determining your goals will make your networking that much more effective.

Make conversations matter

Given the number of interactions that take place at a networking event, it can be difficult to stand out. Aim to have meaningful and authentic conversations to leave a more memorable impression. Again, be strategic: know who you wish to speak with, what questions you wish to ask, and what information you wish to impart.

Ask more questions

People love to talk about themselves. Don’t bombard a new connection with too many facts about yourself; instead, learn more about them by asking questions. This is a great opportunity to gain knowledge about their job, industry, and accomplishments. Even better, your interest will be noticed.

Use the business cards

Handing out your own cards is valuable, of course, but here’s another tip: in a moment of quiet after making a new connection, jot down some notes on the card they just gave you. This will allow you to be more specific when following up.

Watch your drinking

Alcohol is frequently paired with networking events, which makes it especially important to be deliberate about your consumption. While one drink may help ease your nerves, increased consumption can significantly decrease your inhibitions and professionalism. It should go without saying but please, drink responsibly.

Just do it

Networking has become an essential skill. While meeting new people can be difficult for the more introverted, pushing yourself outside your comfort zone will allow you to meet valuable contacts. The more often you practice your networking, the easier it will become. At the end of the day, you’ll thank yourself for striking up those conversations.

Preparing for Residency: How to Start on the Right Foot

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January quickly approaches, along with the beginning of the first-year students’ residencies. As excitement (and nerves) are building, it is easy to stress out and lose sight of what’s really important. To help avoid this, here are 10 quick tips to get off on the right foot:

Dress to Impress

First impressions are incredibly important. After all, you’ll never get a second chance to make a first impression with someone. When in doubt, ask your manager what the dress expectations are, and consider going slightly above this. Remember: Better to be overdressed than underdressed.

Know where to go

This might seem like a no-brainer, but make sure you know where you’re going. Prior to your first day, take a trip to the neighbourhood where your office building or workplace is located. You can also use this opportunity to scope out the parking lot and find the right door to enter. If you aren’t physically able to make the trip beforehand, try exploring the area on Google Maps’ street view. This will allow you to avoid any oversights, and will help to calm the nerves.

Arrive early

The last thing you want to have happen on your first day is to plan your trip to work perfectly, only to be surprised with a delay due to traffic. Depending on the length of your commute, plan on arriving around a half hour early. Arriving early will make a great impression. If you’ve budgeted too much extra time, simply grab a coffee nearby or read the paper while you wait.

Plan your coffee and meals

While buying coffee OUT can be an easy habit to fall into, this small cost will add up quickly. Buying a $3 coffee every day totals to over $1,000 in a year. Buying your lunch every work day is even more expensive, easily costing over $2,500 annually. Consider packing your meals and beverages to cut down on costs and you could save a few thousand dollars each year.

Be confident in your abilities

It’s natural to feel nervous about how you’ll perform in your new job; remember that you got hired for a reason. Your qualifications and experiences up until this point have lead you here, and your employer has seen potential in you. Have confidence in your abilities, and don’t be afraid to volunteer to help out if the opportunity arises. This residency is a chance not only to practice what you know, but also to learn new skills.

Don’t be afraid to ask questions

Many residency partners have had students from previous cohorts in the past. Don’t be shy to reach out to these individuals, as they are more than happy to help and can prove to be invaluable resources. Whether you are looking for quick tips for success in the corporate environment or insights on what the company culture will be like, your fellow students and alumni have been in your shoes and will have plenty of insights to offer.

Likewise, once you begin your residency, don’t be afraid to direct questions to your co-workers and managers. If you’re worried that you’re asking too many questions, consider making a list to ask during a status meeting with your manager. While it is perfectly acceptable and expected to ask for help, you should also be prepared. Have some potential solutions at hand when requesting assistance to demonstrate that you’re organized and resourceful.

Show initiative

During your time with your employer organization, there will be times where you have additional capacity. Take advantage of this time to further your growth by taking on additional tasks. Ask your manager and coworkers if there is anything else that you could provide them assistance with. If you’ve still got additional time, find ways to create value for your organization such as by helping to organize shared drives or creating status documents for projects. Many organizations also have volunteer programs, which could provide an extra chance to add value to the company.

Set goals for yourself

Your two primary goals heading into your residency should be to provide value to your organization and to achieve personal growth. While your value creation should come somewhat naturally with the guidance of your employer, your personal growth is in your own hands. Before starting, take some time to reflect on what skills and abilities you’re hoping to gain from this experience. Then, once you’re on your residency, keep an eye out for opportunities to assist with tasks that will help you achieve these skills. Be sure to take some time every couple of weeks to evaluate your progress and to set new goals when necessary.

Network

As you get in the hustle and bustle of your residency, networking can find itself pushed to the backburner. To help avoid this, give yourself a concrete target to hit, such as going for a networking coffee or informational interview once a week or twice a month. This will provide you with a tangible objective to help keep this a priority. Lunch times and company events also provide an easy opportunity to network with coworkers. In addition, keep an eye out for a potential mentor who can provide you with guidance, introduce you to useful contacts, and help shape your networking strategy.

Be excited

Don’t forget, you are at the start of a great opportunity. If you’re not enthusiastic about your presence at the company, why should anyone else be? Regardless of whether your residency represents the chance to dip your toes in a new industry or the first step towards accomplishing your dream, this is an opportunity to kickstart your future career and gain invaluable experience that you’ll leverage down the line. Be excited, have fun, and good luck!