Catching Up With Reid Bond, MBA ‘12

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Texas MBA Student Reid Bond

Reid with son William and daughter Charlie during his first semester in the program.

Reid Bond is a member of the Texas MBA at Houston class of 2012.

What have you been up to since you graduated?
Since the program wrapped up, I’ve relocated to North Carolina within my same company. I took a role as an Automotive Sales Territory Manager. The new job is in a part of our organization that is heavily marketing focused, which is what I wanted to become more involved in after my MBA. While the job is still evolving, the move has been great for me and my family.

That’s great to hear. What was your previous role?
I was formerly an Account Manager with Exxon’s Chemicals business.

Why did you decide to return to school and get an MBA?
When I decided to get an MBA I ran through all the payback scenarios, i.e. time and expense vs. future employment opportunities. What it came down to in the end was a personal decision to better myself with the hope of seeing a financial payback in the end.

How did this program impact your life and career?
The biggest impact has been in the way that I think. I think like an investor and a manager. I understand the big picture and how different pieces fit together.

In addition to that, the friendships that I formed will last me a lifetime. The people in our program impacted my life greatly. I think the caliber of students is one of the best things that the program has to offer. It’s one thing to learn from professors, but it’s another to see and hear the experiences of those in the class and form lasting friendships with them.

What have you been doing with your “extra” time now that you aren’t having to spend it studying and in class?
Most of my extra time over the past few months has been spent moving and getting my new house in order. I’m able to spend more time with my family which has been phenomenal. We had our third kid my last semester, so there’s no lack of need for my time. I think when you really look at it, it’s not overly difficult to find the time to dedicate to the program. And when it’s all done, there’s no problem filling the new time with new activities.

Anything else you’d like to share?
People often commented to me that they didn’t see how I did full-time work, full-time student, and full-time father. There were many parents in the program and obviously all were employed. In the end, it was an investment for myself and for my family. We will all benefit from the time dedicated to the Texas MBA program. Despite the energy required to do everything, I don’t regret my decision one bit. I actually miss my time in school as a chance to continue to learn and sit at the feet of great people – students and teachers alike.

Student Org Spotlight: Graduate Women In Business

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Student organizations at McCombs open doors to relationships, leadership development, professional growth, and just plain fun – and none of them are doing a better job at those things than the Graduate Women in Business (GWIB) organization.

I recently caught up with Kiley Baker, who served as co-president of GWIB for the 2012 class year along with classmate Marissa Kraines. As co-presidents the pair focused their energy on developing relationships externally with women business leaders and corporate sponsors as well as internally amongst their members. Kiley said that the position was an amazing opportunity to determine the direction of an organization that makes an impact on the development of Texas MBA women.

What is GWIB all about?
GWIB is an MBA organization focused on developing a professional and social network among McCombs MBA women. GWIB has more than 150 members across the Full-Time and Evening MBA programs, and we are proud that 95% of Full-Time MBA women have joined the organization across the Classes of 2013 and 2014.

GWIB focuses our programming on three pillars, including education, professional development and social networking. The Class of 2013 officer group worked hard to plan exciting and interactive events for our members, accomplishing our goal of developing a women’s network that capitalizes on our unique position in business. GWIB creates an environment at McCombs that allows women to explore their career interests, advance their professional development and meet supportive women to develop a life-long network.

Does GWIB host any special events?
GWIB hosts a number of events over the course of the academic year, ranging from cocktail parties to company-sponsored leadership development workshops. GWIB has a number of corporate sponsors that host recruiting events that are open exclusively to GWIB members. Last fall, one of our most popular events was a leadership development workshop with Deloitte Consulting. We not only heard from some of the top partners in Deloitte on how to tell your story, network by design and recognize your strengths, but also had the chance to network with Deloitte partners and recruiters. Another exciting event that GWIB members participated in was a “Powerful Austin Women” happy hour, sponsored by Laura Kilcrease, McCombs Entrepreneur in Residence and local venture capitalist. Through this networking event our members had the chance to converse with some of the most successful women in the Austin business community.

GWIB also hosts social events for our members, often with a Texas flare. Last fall we welcomed our new members in the Evening program and Class of 2014 with Tex-Mex and margaritas. We celebrate the graduation of each second year class with cocktails and hors d’oeuvres in the Four Seasons gardens on Austin’s Town Lake. An intimate lunch with Olympic Gold Medalist and University of Texas graduate Sanya Richards-Ross remains one of my favorite events. Sanya is an advocate of women’s rights and an impressive entrepreneur. Our time with her was incredibly inspiring and will remain one of my most memorable hours in the MBA program.

Who can join GWIB? Are there “no boys allowed”?
Students in the Full-Time, Evening, or Executive MBA programs are eligible to join GWIB. While we have an occasional male that joins, the organization is most appealing to women given the nature of the programming and events.

What has been your favorite part of GWIB?
Women remain unrepresented in MBA programs, and I take great pride in playing a leadership role in an organization that is instrumental in creating a network amongst our members. The McCombs women across the Class of 2013 have strong ties and I am constantly amazed by my women classmates. We have been given a number of opportunities to interact with and learn from each other through GWIB. Our women’s network is an accomplishment that I like to think our organization helped to facilitate.

What Are Executive MBA Programs Looking For?

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What is the ideal profile for someone trying to get into Exec MBA program?

Rodrigo Malta, Director of MBA Admissions, McCombs School of Business, says:

The answer to this question will vary by school, so it is always best to check with the programs you are applying to determine their entry requirements. EMBA programs offer the opportunity for mid-career professionals to enhance their ability to lead, gain top-management perspective, understand the economic, social and political forces driving business change, and gain command of core business fundamentals. Not a lot of schools offer both a Working Professional and an Executive MBA program format.  Many times, the key differences between these programs are the timing of classes (weekdays v. weekends) and work experience of those individuals in the program.  When evaluating Executive MBA programs, it is important to look at the class profile before applying but to also visit classes if possible to compare and contrast the classroom interaction between Working Professional and Executive MBA classes.  Additionally, it is important to ask if classes are taught by the same faculty members.

Original question and answer found on Quora.

Texas MBA at SXSW 2013

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With SXSW just days away, I wanted to share a couple of ways that the Texas MBA program will be involved at the conference this year.

Texas MBA at SXSWTexas MBA at SXSW Startup Village

When: March 9, 6-8 p.m.
Where: Vince Young Steakhouse

Along with the Master of Science in Technology and Commercialization (MSTC) and the Master of Science in Finance (MSF) programs, Texas MBA will once again be hosting a networking reception during SXSW Interactive. This year’s reception will feature a live band, complimentary food and beverages, and branded giveaways. If you made it to last year’s event, then you know that a great time is in store – don’t forget to RSVP.

Texas MBA at SXSW Trade Show

When: March 10-13, beginning at 11 a.m. each day
Where: Austin Convention Center, Exhibit Halls 3 & 4

Current students, as well as staff from our admissions and career management teams, will be on hand to talk with prospective students about the various opportunities within our programs. Staff and students will also be available to speak with prospective employers about the talent pool at McCombs for MBA internships and full-time positions. Stop by to learn more about the Texas MBA and pick up some cool McCombs swag.

In addition to our program’s involvement, many other faculty, staff, and students from across the university will be involved in SXSW activities. For more information, check out McCombs at SXSW and UT at SXSW.

Meet Jocelyn Sexton, MBA ’14

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Texas MBA Student Jocelyn SextonName: Jocelyn Sexton
Class: Executive MBA, ‘14
Hometown: Shiner, TX (home of the world-famous Shiner Beer)
Education: Journalism-Public Relations, University of North Texas
Current Job: In January, I accepted a new position as the Director of Programs, Products and Services at the Texas Land Title Association. Previously, I spent nearly seven years in state government working as an editor and communications coordinator.

Why did want to come back to school for your MBA?
I always knew that I wanted to earn a master’s degree and originally gained admittance into UT’s top-rated graduate advertising program. The program seemed to offer a good balance between creative and strategic thinking, and I was excited to attend UT in the fall. However, because I work full-time, I planned to take just one or two classes at a time and slowly work my way through the program.

I never really entertained the thought of pursuing an MBA because I was intimidated by all the math (… and still am). But after I received my acceptance letter to UT, I started to take a harder look at my future career plans, and realized all of my ambitions were ultimately tied to management. My career had reached a long plateau, and if I was ever going to get into a true leadership position, I felt like a business degree might help me finally make a move up the ladder. Lucky for me, UT had two great MBA programs available for folks like me who worked full-time. I’m happy to be in the Executive MBA program because I’ll finish in just two years, and I’m only in class every other week.

What has been your biggest surprise since starting the Texas MBA program?
If I’m being completely honest, I had a preconceived notion that MBA graduates from prestigious programs such as UT had a reputation for being a bit snobby. I worried about not measuring up or feeling insignificant compared to my classmates. But I could not ask for a better group of peers! By and large, my classmates are so nice, friendly, humble, encouraging and helpful. There’s not one snob in our bunch! Also, I’m incredibly impressed by the backgrounds of so many of my new friends. From military folks, doctors and engineers, to a farmer, an art dealer and a former MMA fighter… we have a crazy-awesome mix of experiences. Many of my classmates have already had exceptional careers, but when we’re in school, we’re in it together and totally there for each other. The professors at McCombs are really great, but I’ve learned more from my classmates.

Texas MBA Student Jocelyn Sexton and Family

Outside of class, what are you involved in?
At school, I serve as the co-chair of the Texas Evening and Executive MBA Women’s Forum, and I look forward to continuing a campaign that encourages more professional women to pursue an MBA at UT. At work, I’m involved with professional organizations that promote leadership, professional development and communication, especially for association executives. But the most important thing in my life — above school and work — is being a wife and mom. My husband and I are parents to (in my unbiased opinion) the world’s best three-year-old boy, and I try to carve out as much time as possible hanging out with my two handsome guys. It’s really hard to juggle everything, but I’m hoping it will all be worth it once I earn my degree!