BHP Alumni Mentor Network Provides Valuable Connection

BHP is now in its third year of a new alumni/student mentoring program which connects sophomores and juniors in the program with alumni who have been in their shoes and want to give back to the next generation of BHP students. We have had great participation from both students and alumni and encourage any alumni of the program to sign up here by this Friday if you want to be matched with a student this year.

*Note that the student registration for the program is now closed

Sayli Khadilkar

BHP Junior Sayli Khadilkar was paired up with Class of 2009 alumna Maggie Wallace last year. Sayli said the experience proved to her that one of her favorite things about BHP – the supportive, ‘pay-it-forward’ culture – carries on even beyond graduation. The two have never met in person, but have had a productive mentoring relationship through phone calls and emails.

Sayli signed up for the Alumni Mentor Network because she knew it would be a great opportunity to get to know a BHP alum. And she hoped to gain insight and advice that would help her through the rest of my time at UT and with her future career goals.

For Maggie, she wanted to pay it forward, saying that she received a lot of guidance from both older students in the program and BHP Alumni, and that those mentors played a critical role in helping her figure out how to spend her time at school and what to do after graduation.

Students are matched with mentors based on their majors, career path, and other interests. Sayli and Maggie definitely clicked and found their common interests. “We learned that we were in the same study abroad program in Paris and that we both love many of the same restaurants in Austin,” said Maggie. “It has been wonderful to develop a personal relationship with Sayli”

“I was very surprised by how real my mentor was with me,” said Sayli. “I asked my mentor anything from interview tips to study abroad travel advice, and felt completely comfortable asking seemingly silly questions. I loved how candid our conversations were, and really appreciated that my mentor was always willing to help me.”

Maggie Wallace - mentor(small)Maggie is a strong advocate for the program. “I definitely recommend the Alumni Mentor Program to other BHP alumni. Not only is it a way to give back to the BHP community, but it’s a lot of fun to relive what it was like when I was going through it years ago. I believe that mentoring is the best way to use one’s own experiences, both successes and failures, to help shorten the learning curve for others.” She says it is most important to her that Sayli knows she is there to support her and listen to her, not only to give her advice. “I want to be available to help here navigate stressful times and make the decisions that really count.”

Sayli is grateful for this constant support from her mentor. “Participating in this program has made me realize how lucky we are to have a strong alumni network and how important it is to continue to give back to the program even beyond graduation,” she said. “The Alumni Mentor Network has been a really valuable experience for me, and I can’t wait to be a mentor in the network after I graduate.”

Event Recap: BHP Class of 2018 Leadership Kickoff

Written by Kristi Tamberelli, BHP Leadership Kickoff Co-Chair

2014 Freshmen Group Photo

I love event planning and knew I would enjoy the preparation and creativity involved in co-chairing Leadership Kickoff, the signature event for incoming BHP freshmen. Now that the planning has ended and the kickoff is over, I realize my favorite part of co-chairing this event was actually getting to watch the freshmen interact and create lasting friendships. I still remember how much fun I had at BHP Leadership Kickoff my freshman year, and I felt so honored to help make that same experience a reality for this year’s freshman.

For a BHP freshman, there’s no better way to start the next four years than to attend the BHP Leadership Kickoff. This past weekend, students gathered to get a taste of how amazing their college careers are going to be, all while learning how to work together and become leaders alongside their fellow classmates. Here are a few of my favorite reasons why BHP Leadership Retreat will end up being a highlight in your college career at UT.

BHPeople. First of all, this weekend is all about making friends. It’s the first time you’ll realize how incredible the people you are surrounded by are, and it’s only the start of meeting colleagues and building connections. Students spend a majority of the weekend with their peer mentor groups that they work with throughout their first semester of college. This year’s peer mentors are dedicated, relatable, and fully equipped to help freshmen have a smoother transition into college. I loved getting to know each of the peer mentors this weekend and watching them interact with their students.

BHPlayoffs. This year we switched things up! Instead of having each peer mentor group perform a skit in front of the rest of the groups, we created a series of challenges to be performed. Students competed in challenges ranging from coming up with the best team cheer to shaking ping pong balls out of a Kleenex box using their best dance moves. According to the students, the playoffs were a hit, and all the mentors agreed that it was an exciting switch up from the skit tradition.

BHPledge. Towards the end of the first day of the retreat, all the students get dressed up for a more serious portion of the weekend. Every BHP freshman takes a pledge to act ethically in BHP and in their future careers. The ceremony included speakers from the BHP Ethic’s Board, as well as BHP Faculty Director Robert Prentice, followed by each student signing the pledge. This part of the retreat is really special to me because I think it’s unique that we take the time to emphasize ethics and set the expectations high from day one.

There you have it. In BHP, you can have it all: friends, healthy competition, and ethical behavior—but that’s only the start. After all, what starts here changes the world. Best of luck Class of 2018!

Ropes Course

Company Partner Spotlight – Deloitte

Each year BHP students join the Deloitte family through internships and full-time positions. Deloitte works with clients in four key business areas — audit, financial advisory, tax and consulting. We are pleased to have them as a partner for BHP this year. Students will have the opportunity to interact with their team members at multiple events throughout the year. We asked some of our recent BHP graduates working for Deloitte to share more about their experiences working for the company, as well as offer advice to current students.

Deloitte - RebeccaRebecca Robertson – Technology Consultant, Austin Office

BHP and MIS, 2011

Describe your favorite project so far in your role: I’ve been on 5 different projects since starting with the firm, and all of my experiences have been fantastic!  I’ve had the ability to travel to multiple states (including a trip to Canada), work in 5 different industries, and understand the unique issues that our clients face.  Each project has been a stepping stone as I build my consulting skills, gain technical experience, and begin to think from a client’s perspective.

What is the best thing about working at Deloitte:  Deloitte goes to great lengths to support its people and help them achieve personal and professional goals.  For example, I am heading back to grad school next fall fully sponsored by Deloitte through a program called GSAP (Grad School Assistance Program).

How would you describe the Deloitte culture: Deloitte is made up of smart, motivated, and energetic people.  I enjoy coming to work every day because of the people that make up my project teams.  We also take the phrase “work hard, play hard” very seriously.

Top traits you are looking for from a student interested in working for Deloitte: It may seem counter-intuitive, but when we hire students into our technology consulting group, we aren’t necessarily looking for those that are experts in computer programming.  We interact a lot with the students we recruit to understand their personalities and determine if they would be a good fit with our culture.  Ever heard of the “airport test”?  We definitely use it!

Advice for current students: Your undergraduate experience is all about prepping you for the “real-world” in whatever field you decide to pursue.  I would encourage students to try new ideas and don’t be afraid to be wrong or make mistakes.  McCombs is the best environment to learn from failures.

 

Deloitte - MichaelName: Michael Koetting – Consultant in Strategy and Operations (S&O), Dallas Office

Finance, BHP, Plan II, 2012

Describe your favorite project so far in your role: I got to work on the team managing and executing Deloitte Consulting’s sponsorship for SXSW Interactive.  My role bounced all over the place to include executive communication, content design and development, all the way to band screenings for our major event.

What is the best thing about working at Deloitte: The people are awesome. Almost as awesome as the alternative travel program.

How would you describe the Deloitte culture: Supportive

Top traits you are looking for from a student interested in working for Deloitte: Passion for learning and a quick learner, strong communication skills are all consulting traits in general.  Deloitte specific, be a people person for sure.

Advice for current students: Succeeding in the classroom is important but a strong network is just as important

 

Deloitte - YolandaYolanda Han – Tax Senior, Houston Office

 BHP and MPA, 2012

Describe your favorite project so far in your role: With Deloitte Tax, it is more common to have long-term clients rather than just one project at a time that you complete and then move on from. My favorite client/project I have been on was an oil and gas client with both partnership and oil and gas specific issues. I worked directly with the senior manager on my questions to get to our final deliverables. Due to the unique staffing of this client, I had the opportunity to step up and take ownership of the client. I was able to really grow my skills and gain technical experience while taking on a role greater than my title at the time.

What is the best thing about working at Deloitte: I love all of the people that I get the opportunity to work with at Deloitte. Whether it’s my peers or the partners at this firm, everyone genuinely cares about my well-being and happiness. I have found some great mentors at this firm and have discovered how much this firm invests in each individual’s growth.

How would you describe the Deloitte culture: I think Deloitte has a very open, supportive, and friendly culture. Whether its client work, personal issues, or your career path, you could reach out to anyone you run into at Deloitte and that person will take the time to help you. It is very much a community in which everyone supports one another and is invested in each other.

Top traits you are looking for from a student interested in working for Deloitte: We are always looking for students who are driven, eager to learn, work well in teams, and have strong communication skills. All of our work is done in different project teams and these skills become crucial both for interacting with the client and interacting with the team in order to work towards a successful end deliverable.

Advice for current students: McCombs offers a wealth of opportunities to grow and get your foot out the door. I would encourage students to build their relationships with their professors, to pick their brains and learn about their backgrounds and real-world experiences. McCombs also offers a multitude of workshops to prep their students for the “real world” from etiquette dinners to mock interviews. I would recommend students take advantage of all of these programs at their disposal in order to learn about all of their options and practice their skills.

 

Deloitte - JulieJulie Chong – Audit Senior Assistant, Dallas Office

BHP 2012, MPA 2013

Describe your favorite project so far in your role: My favorite project has been analyzing financial statements of nonprofit organizations in the Dallas area for those that applied to receive a grant. It was interesting to take an inside look at how nonprofits operate financially and socially and ultimately be a part of future social efforts in my community.

What is the best thing about working at Deloitte: Deloitte truly cares about its people. They know that happy employees want to do a good job and they enjoy their time at work. Deloitte recognizes that and motivates us with an unheard of number of paid time off (in addition to holidays), push for work/life balance, and other benefits.

How would you describe the Deloitte culture: Work hard, play hard!

Top traits you are looking for from a student interested in working for Deloitte: We look for students who are authentic and who strive to be key team players.

Advice for current students: Figure out what your top priorities/values are in life and stick to them. Don’t let your job or location determine that for you.

Internship Spotlight: Trina Bui – Southwest Airlines

Trina BuiCompany:  Southwest Airlines

Position:  Technology Analyst

What steps did you take to secure your internship? 

I applied on the Southwest Airlines NoLimits internship page.  Following that, I kept up with the company’s progress in reviewing resumes and applications through their NoLimits Facebook page.  The first interview I had with them was over the phone. I then had an in-person interview with two hiring managers and an individual from HR.  The internship offer came approximately two weeks later.

What were the responsibilities for this role?

My responsibilities were to manage the changes that my team made to our production and QA environments while also helping monitor the quality of code delivered to us through our third-party vendor for the revenue-accounting application Southwest uses.   I also had a separate set of responsibilities within the technology intern team I was assigned to. In that analyst role, I was in charge of creating the budget reports and outlining the phasing strategy for the solution we came up with to a current problem they were facing.

Describe the culture within the organization.

The culture is extremely welcoming.  Every person I met at Southwest, even if it was a random person who walked by, always wore a smile and said “hello!”  The people I worked with were always willing to help me, no matter how busy they are.  The leaders at SWA showed me that they were truly invested in me and my development as an intern (and a possible future employee).  All the employees worked so hard, no matter how large or small their roles were. And of course, the people at Southwest love to have fun!  Weekly parties brought all us together to be a family of employees who enjoyed each other’s presence.  I’ve never seen a company more dedicated to customer service; it’s a wonderful thing to experience on a daily basis.

What was most surprising or unexpected during your experience?

The complexity of Southwest’s booking and revenue-managing system was extremely surprising to me.  In order to provide their customers’ the easiest and simplest booking process, there are many different applications and software that must interact with one another seamlessly.  Learning about this system was overwhelming in the first few days of the internship, but luckily I was able to catch on quickly.

What advice would you offer your peers in the Honors Program about getting the most out of an internship?

My advice would be to ask questions!  There really are no dumb questions.  Each company has their own complexities and with Southwest, there were a multitude of acronyms for applications, software, and systems which I had no clue how to decipher.  By asking all the questions that I did, it helped me to fully understand what everything is and how it all ties together.  Additionally, you’ll have really smart people you work with who can give you remarkable advice for your future.  Never be afraid to ask.

What was your favorite part about this internship?

My favorite part about the internship would definitely have to be the people I worked with and having the chance to get to know each and every one of them.  I had a fully-functioning team that showed me that we could accomplish so much as one unit.  I met other interns who I’m sure will be my friends for the rest of my life.

How did you find your classes in the Business Honors Program at the university to be applicable during your internship?

It was great to see the different aspects of what we learn in our BHP classes shown in the real-world.  Given that I just finished my management class which talked quite extensively about a company’s culture, it was a unique experience to walk into one of the most well-known company cultures in the corporate realm.

How did this organization ensure you got the most out of your internship experience?

I was learning all the time.  I was always picking up something new – either about the company, a new skill, or about the industry as a whole.  They have workshops that even interns can participate in.  The people at Southwest encourage questions and educate you on different topics even when you don’t ask.  The culture pushes the development of its employees, and I got to benefit from it all!

What are the most valuable lessons you gained from this internship?

I learned that a successful organization relies on its greatest assets, its people; developing your organization’s people to be good to one another while having a high standard for the service you’re providing to your customers is a great business model.