Twenty-one months. Thousands of miles traveled and hours spent studying. Dozens of trips to Austin. More caffeine consumed than I care to admit. It all leads to the ceremonies scheduled for this afternoon. Continue reading
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You’ve just found your “dream job” posted online. Now, you’re rushing to submit your resume in hopes of being called for an interview. But, when you push the “submit” button, your stomach churns as you wonder “Will they see what they are looking for? Were my resume and cover letter compelling enough?”
If you’ve ever applied for a job that you knew was perfect for you, but never received a reply, then these tips are meant for you. Developing and perfecting a strong “value proposition” – what you uniquely have to offer a company – is the most important Continue reading
Despite living in the great state of Texas, I will say that while we are busy keeping Austin weird, we don’t get to do very many “real Texan” things. Well, that all changed during the second annual Graduate Women in Business Retreat we had in April.
Carly Tanker, Lasso Queen!
This year, we had almost 20 ladies drive out to Rancho Cortez in Bandera, Texas for a night of fun and bonding with our official cowboy host, Larry. We began the afternoon with a scenic horseback ride and lasso lesson. My horse’s name was Whiskey, and he was poorly behaved – the irony does not escape me. After dinner, we went on a hayride where we were able to take in the scenic Texas Hill country as well as get up close, and a little too personal with some real, non-Bevo longhorns.
Later in the evening, we enjoyed s’mores around a campfire with some of the other guests, including a nice family from Sweden. We rounded out the evening with some time in the hot tub and some serious girl-talk before turning in for the night.
Morning Trail Ride (no filter needed!)
The next morning, which started early at 8am (despite his casual demeanor, Larry runs a pretty tight ship), we had breakfast and were able to split up into another two groups for final trail rides before heading back to Austin.
Carly and I were so happy that we were able to get the retreat together, because I have to say it was one of my favorite events for the year. We have such a strong community of women in the MBA program here, that it was great to spend some time together having fun and getting outside of our comfort zones. It was also great to have a diverse group of attendees, international students, exchange students, part-time students and first and second years. Overall, now that we are coming to a close on the first year of the MBA program I can say that I am so thankful to have met these wonderful women and can’t wait to hang out at Rancho Cortez again next year!
See you next year, Larry!
Whether you are looking to change careers, explore new opportunities, or start your own business venture, the Texas MBA has a part-time program to help you get there. The Texas Evening MBA, the Texas MBA at Dallas/Fort Worth, the Texas MBA at Houston, and the Texas Executive MBA are all flexible, part-time MBA programs that allow you to pursue your degree while continuing to work full-time. The FINAL application deadline for our Houston, Dallas/Fort Worth, and Executive programs is May 12th! Apply Now.
For those seeking opportunities for advancement within their current profession, check out what some of our current students, graduating this spring, had to say about “Career Enhancement” in the Texas MBA:
Raven Honsaker, Dallas MBA ’15
Background: BS Mechanical Engineering , West Virginia University; BS Aerospace Engineering , West Virginia University 7 years; Engineering, Bell Helicopter
Employment:
Bell Helicopter 2013 – Business Ventures Specialist (April 2014 – Promoted to Manager, Business Optimization)
“Coming from the engineering world and moving into strategy development, I was looking for a more formal education in business. The courses I have taken through the Texas MBA program have helped me immensely. I have yet to go through a semester without learning a concept in class that is directly applicable to a new project I’ve been assigned at work.”
Laura Handley, Houston MBA ’15
Background: 
B.A. Political Science, Texas A&M; 1.5 years – Maersk Line, Sales Support Specialist; 1 year – Foxconn, Business Analyst (supply chain); 3 years at M&H, HR Recruiter
Employment:
Started at Noble Energy (June 2014) in Talent Acquisition
Moved to new role at Noble Energy (Jan 2015) as a Global Mobility Advisor
Moved to new role at Noble Energy (Jan 2015) as a Global Mobility Advisor
“My pursuit of an MBA brought a lot more credibility to my resume when I was trying to make a switch to a larger company. Thanks to both my experience in the MBA program, I was able to move into a top notch HR department and then make a change to a more analytical HR role reporting under the compensation group.”
Ben Kleckley, Houston MBA ’15
Background: B.S. Agriculture Systems Management, Texas A&M; Undergrad Intern at HEB Distribution Center 4 years; IT consulting; AccentureEmployment:
KPMG, Senior Associate, Strategy Group (anticipated start date: July 2015)
Involvement at McCombs:
Graduate Business Council, President
Graduate Business Council, President
Consulting Club, Member & Supporter
Sarah Matt, Evening MBA ’15 
Background: BS Biology, Cornell University; MD, SUNY Upstate Medical University; Surgery Training, Washington Hospital Center
Employment:
Started September 2012 – Attending Physician Mobile Doctors; Started Nov 2013 – NextGen Healthcare, Physician Director of Clinical Content; April 2014 – NextGen Healthcare – Sr. Dir. of Clinical Product Management
Started September 2012 – Attending Physician Mobile Doctors; Started Nov 2013 – NextGen Healthcare, Physician Director of Clinical Content; April 2014 – NextGen Healthcare – Sr. Dir. of Clinical Product Management
“Going through the Texas MBA program gave me the confidence to move from medical practice to software. It has been a big jump, but now I manage a large team and am doing more of the strategy work I enjoy. I use my MD and my MBA every day.“
Life in the Texas MBA program goes beyond the cohort classrooms. The city of Austin is integral to our experience in the two years that we spend at McCombs. The best thing about Austin is that there is something to do here for everyone. From race-car enthusiasts to live music connoisseurs, everyone in the program takes a little bit of this city wherever they go. In this blog, we wanted to touch upon three different types of events that are truly unique to Austin’s soul.
For Music Lovers: Austin City Limits Music Festival
Move over Coachella, the biggest and best artists in music make their annual pilgrimage to Austin and play in front of 75000 people in the outdoor greens of Zilker Park. The venue is decked up with food and drinks, an art market, kids area for families, while music ranges from rock, indie, country, folk, electronic, and hip-hop. This year, the McCombs group created their own flag and made their presence felt all over Zilker Park.
For Technology Lovers: South by Southwest (SXSW) Interactive
SXSW Interactive is focused on emerging technology making Austin the breeding ground for new ideas and creative technologies. The festival includes a trade show, speakers, parties, and a startup accelerator. This year, Meerkat, the video streaming application, was one of the featured technologies gaining traction due to endorsements from many celebrities including Julia Louis-Dreyfus. Every year, Texas MBA has a booth at the SXSWi Tradeshow promoting new technology ventures supported by our own students.
For Fun Lovers: Eeoyre’s Birthday
It doesn’t get much more Austin weird than Eeyore’s Birthday Party – the annual Pease Park bacchanal known for outrageous costumes and booming drum circles. This event is celebrated on the last Saturday of April, featuring colorful costumes, a trash can of lemonade, honey sandwiches and a live flower-draped donkey.
University-wide Commencement events and ceremonies are May 22-23, 2015
Graduation for our Texas MBA Class of 2015 is only one month away! The “home stretch” is always a bitter-sweet time for McCombs students, since they are such a valued and dynamic part of the Texas MBA, but also eager to jump into the new ventures their future holds. The program is changed for the better because of their time here and we are proud of their hard work and accomplishments over the past 2 years and the legacy they will continue as new Texas MBA alumni. Congratulations, Class of 2015!
This time of year also means we are welcoming the newest members of the Texas MBA network: The newly admitted Class of 2017!
Texas Saturday & Preview Weekend Recap
The Texas MBA hosts two events in the spring for newly admitted students: Texas Saturday and Preview Weekend.
During Texas Saturday in February and Preview Weekend in April, new Texas MBAs explore the Texas MBA program and the McCombs School of Business, meet future classmates, current students and alumni, interact with faculty and administration, learn about the diversity of McCombs, and enjoy a beautiful weekend in Austin!
This is a great opportunity for new Full-Time MBAs to get to know the Austin community and what life as a McCombs student holds for them. Through the summer and fall, we look forward to getting to know these new MBAs as they begin their Texas MBA journey.
Congrats, Class of 2017 – Welcome to McCombs!
From Dave Jackson, Senior Admissions Officer, Texas MBA Dallas/Fort Worth Program:
It’s Good to be Back
Texas MBA Senior Admissions Officer, Dave Jackson
Hi everyone. I’m the new MBA admissions officer for the Texas MBA at Dallas/Fort Worth, but I’m no stranger to the program. I graduated from the DFW program in 2010. The two years I spent in the program were a transformative experience for me, providing me with the broad business exposure to enhance my career in corporate communications. I was excited to return to the McCombs School of Business to help give similar opportunities to others. And I have spent my first month on the job immersing myself in the admissions cycle – recruiting prospective students at both university and company-sponsored events, reviewing applications and interviewing candidates – to shape the Class of 2017 here in DFW.
Several things have changed in the five years since I left the program. Most notably, the campus and the residency hotel are both different. The curriculum has undergone a significant review, with changes made to allow working professional students to graduate at the same time as our full-time MBA students. We have greatly expanded the MBA-Plus programs to broaden students’ skills outside the classroom.
But many things have not changed. The faculty is still top-notch, with many of the professors the same ones who taught me and the new ones of the same high caliber I remember. The curriculum challenges you to bring your best effort to each class and project, and provides you with information and inspiration to apply when you return to work on the Mondays after class weekends.
And the students continue to bring a blend of diverse work and academic backgrounds and a collaborative and entrepreneurial spirit that enables everyone to maximize the value of their MBA experience. They seed the relationships that become their personal and professional network for many years to come. The Texas MBA is about what you put into the program, and in return you get much more than three letters.
As I get to know the Classes of 2015 and 2016 and as we build the Class of 2017, I’m confident the program’s most important component – its people – remains its best component. Getting to know them has been my greatest reward in returning to McCombs.
Pop quiz: What is the difference between student organizations, a.k.a. clubs, and the Texas MBA Fellows Programs?
According to everyone’s favorite Internet encyclopedia, Wikipedia, a fellow is “a member of a group of learned people who work together as peers in the pursuit of mutual knowledge or practice.” A club, on the other hand, is defined as “an association of two or more people united by a common interest or goal.”
To put it simply, Texas MBA Fellows Programs are hyper-clubs that offer students immersion learning experiences in a specific industry or function, such as Operations, Marketing, Finance, and Entrepreneurship. The programs are highly selective and typically comprised of only about 15-30 MBA students each year, which allows members to have special access to business leaders and, often, dedicated job and internship opportunities.
A short description of each McCombs program is below, but I encourage you to visit the Texas MBA Fellows Program webpage to learn more about the unique aspects of each one.
Board Fellows: McCombs Board Fellows places selected MBA students as non-voting board members of partner local non-profit organizations for one year. The purpose is to give talented and committed graduate business students the opportunity to work with and learn from non-profit leaders while contributing their time and business skills to benefit the community.
CleanTech Fellows: The CleanTech Fellowship is a selective leadership program that offers exceptional Texas MBA students the opportunity to deepen industry knowledge through hands on experiences in the clean tech world. Once selected, each CleanTech Fellow spends 10-15 hours per week working with a company of his or her choosing and meeting with the other fellows to check in, attend speaker series and discuss developments in the industry.
Corporate Finance Fellows: Founded by Intel, Corporate Finance Fellows brings together selected students to work in a team on a specific project designed by Intel and other corporate partners. Each student participates in a 3 credit hour practicum course during the spring semester, followed by a summer internship sourced by Corporate Finance Fellows’ corporate partners.
Marketing Fellows: The Marketing Fellows program gives selected McCombs MBA students committed to pursuing leadership in marketing the opportunity to develop their marketing acumen and management skills through a combination of focused curriculum and consulting projects. The program is student led and managed with support from Center for Customer Insight and Marketing Solutions (CCIMS) and Marketing faculty.
Sigma Fellows: Sigma Fellows provides selected MBA students interested in pursuing leadership in the functional areas of operations, supply chain or information management the opportunity to develop their management and leadership skills through a comprehensive integrated learning opportunity. Through a combination of focused classroom discussions and consulting projects, Sigma Fellows develop a better understanding of real-world challenges and enhance the Texas MBA experience within the three Sigma disciplines.
Venture Fellows: Venture Fellows was founded in 1999 to provide selected McCombs MBA students the unique opportunity to work with venture capital and private equity funds. The Venture Fellows program consists of a two-semester internship component and weekly meetings with a guest speaker from the venture capital or private equity community to discuss relevant industry topics and experiences.
Venture Labs Fellows: Texas Venture Labs (TVL) offers a combination of focused curriculum, hands-on learning and a speaker series to students with a passion for learning about the entrepreneurial and funding processes. Through a rigorous recruitment process, 30 graduate students from the Schools of Business, Engineering, Law, and Natural Sciences are selected to participate in the program, during which they work on cross-disciplinary teams to accelerate the formation and launch of 5-10 startups selected through an equally rigorous process. TVL teams provide immediate impact and value to the partner companies for which they consult.
I can say from experience that joining a Fellows Program has added practical value to my McCombs MBA journey. As a Marketing Fellow, I have (so far) been able to advise American Airlines about how to design and promote its in-flight entertainment package, offer ideas about engaging Hispanic Millennials to the Dr. Pepper Snapple Group and design a marketing campaign for Chipotle catering.
The best part about the immersion aspect of the program is how truly interested the companies have been in our thoughts, ideas, and recommendations. Having the ear of executives from Fortune 500 companies is not something every MBA student (or working professional, for that matter) receives, and I am so thankful to McCombs for giving me the opportunity on a weekly basis.
P.S. Although not technically Fellows Programs, the MBA Student Investment Funds (MBA Investment Fund & Real Estate Investment Fund) are equally elite and provide McCombs students with rigorous, hands-on experience in the school’s own private investment company.
The Dow Team, MBA+ Consulting Project, Fall 2014
The MBA+ Leadership Program connects Texas MBA students from all programs with thriving companies looking to overcome challenges through short-term micro-consulting projects. This past fall, Texas MBAs worked on 40+ projects with over a dozen major companies including Clorox, FABERNOVEL, Strategy&, OriGen Biomedical, PricewaterhouseCoopers, Big Red, & Dow.
“[For our project], we looked at venture capital investment trends in energy, transportation, healthcare, finance, and media/entertainment. We then looked at how these investment trends were indicative of trends in the various industries and how FABERNOVEL can work with potential clients to address issues they may be facing in these changing industries.
I think that we had a great project experience. We each were able to learn a lot more about trends in industries with which we were not necessarily familiar, and the client was very easy to work with so we had a lot of opportunity to guide the final output and be successful.”
– Matthew Cohen, MBA ’16, Team Leader, FABERNOVEL project.
Team Leader, Matthew Cohen (left) & the FABERNOVEL Team, MBA+ Consulting Project, Fall 2014
MBA+ projects are a great way to help students bridge the gap between concepts they are learning in the classroom and practice in the business world. Students are able to immediately apply what they are learning, as well as gain experience in a new industry or functional area. They are also able to get an inside glimpse into companies they might work for in the future to get an idea of the company’s culture and vision.
On the flip side, companies are able to identify students who are a good fit for their internship and full-time positions. It’s one of the earliest avenues for students to meet company representatives and practice their networking and relationship building skills. Since they are team-based, projects are also a great way for students to meet their classmates and expand their personal network. The MBA+ Program also helps students gain leadership competencies such as accountability, team-building, influencing, negotiating, conflict management, leveraging diversity, dealing with ambiguity, written and oral communication skills, problem-solving, decision-making, resilience, and more!
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