December 2010
27 posts
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The changing face of the internet →
An interesting blogger wrote an editorial for CNN detailing the dramatic changes in privacy and advertising on the internet.
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The Mediation Skill Set
There are five concentrations at Graziadio for full-time students: Marketing, Finance (probably the two “big” ones), Entrepreneurship, Leadership and Organizational Change, and Dispute Resolution. Due to the fact that Dispute Resolution courses are managed through the Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution at the Pepperdine Law School, very little is really discussed about this concentration....
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First semester blues
Grades make no sense. The GPA points system is extremely unclear. At Graziadio, an A gets 4 pts/unit, an A- get 3.7 pts/unit, B+ gets 3.3 pts/unit, B gets 3.0 pts/unit, etc. There is nothing in between. If you got a 90% or 94%, you still get 3.7. Also, in some classes, I’ve noticed that teachers grade down. If you got an “A-” on a presentation, they put it in the gradebook...
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Hazards of buying a car (written Dec 15, 2010)
In early November, I crashed my car and totaled it. I received a settlement from my insurance company, and combined with some personal money, was able to pay cash for a new car.
I knew exactly how much money I had to spend, knew exactly what car I wanted (a Nissan Versa) and knew that it had to be a certified pre-owned. After a few test drives at a few Nissan dealerships, I realized finding the...
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Ethical Leadership Highlighted on "The Apprentice"...
On week 9 of The Apprentice, after two previous weeks where lying had come up as an unacceptable factor amongst the contestants, one contestant was fired at the beginning of the show for cheating.
On week 7, Mahsa was fired after initially breaking her team’s trust by discussing their financial winnings with the other team prior to the board room. She later denied this interaction to Mr. Trump...
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Bad Luck Baylor (written Nov 19, 2010)
Cursed from the start. It felt like we were cursed from the start. On Monday before the competition, I totaled my car. My face was bruised and a little worse for wear. However, I had been working with Dr. Andrea Scott to prepare for this competition for a few weeks and was not going to let something like this stand in my way. I packed my bags.
At the airport, I received a distressing phone call....
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Drive without distraction (written Nov 9, 2010)
I am busy. Being an MBA student makes me extremely busy. I am always making to do lists in my head, making phone calls from the car, and checking my emails at red lights. My commute is often 45 minutes to an hour. If I don’t get work done in the car, I have trouble with my time management.
Yesterday, I crashed my car. No, I totaled my car.
On my way to school, I was in my head about a...
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Prepping for case competition (written Nov 2,...
The next two weeks are nutty. I have always had a drive to win. I don’t like not winning, and the reason is not actually for the “glory” or the “bragging rights.” I like winning because it means I challenged myself and it was worth the effort. That being said, I don’t win very often. Athletically, I was ecstatic when I finished about a millionth in the LA...
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Canyon Curves Consulting reflects on Case...
Friday morning I arrived at school with nervous energy and positive thoughts. My team, Canyon Curves Consulting, was competing in the Values-Centered Leadership Lab Case Competition. This is an ethics-focused case competition. You are given two hours to read the case, analyze it, form a recommendation and create a presentation. Then, you present for a panel of judges for 20 minutes, followed...
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SEER Certificate and leading a SEER-centered life...
On Tuesday I attended the SEER certificate information session. For those who don’t know, the Certificate in Socially, Environmentally, and Ethically Responsible (SEER) Business Practice is a brand-new program specific to the Graziadio School’s full-time MBA program that focuses on certifying that those who complete the coursework are socially, environmentally and ethically responsible (SEER)...
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Establish shared vision for group dynamic success...
In the most recent episodes of The Apprentice, group dynamic issues are a direct reflection of a lack of shared vision. In the case of the show, this means that the contestants each want to get the job—they’re out for themselves and are not working for the greater good of the team. One strategy that has gone largely overlooked and underutilized is the fact that, by succeeding, no one from...
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Gallup does it differently (written Oct 19, 2010)
The first question the recruiter from Gallup asked the audience was, “What do you think of when you hear the name Gallup’?
The obvious response is polls. However, as she went on to explain, the skills they have to successfully generate polls are the same observational skills that allow them to improve businesses on a significant scale.
They are a consulting firm. During Consulting Week in...
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Tiny Kernels of influence (written October 6,...
My iPod is riddled with memories and influence. Better than Ezra is a reminder of a guy I briefly dated, Mika was received from a co-worker, and Billy Joel is one of the gifts my father gave me. When I hear Build Me Up Buttercup, my mind immediately goes to the moment when I crossed the finish line with my friend Kendall. No matter to what extent, these people have touched my life; these tiny...
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Trashy TV as a learning tool
Watch The Apprentice: The Recession Era to find out how not to do business
Donald Trump, you might actually be doing something right for once.
This recession has largely been about good, solid workers losing their jobs. Not just good workers, but sometimes, burgeoning success stories that never had a chance to blossom. Donald Trump has restored The Apprentice back to a show worth watching....
Capitalizing on Crazy (written Sept 19, 2010)
hy-po-ma-ni-a
[hahy-puh-mey-nee-uh, -meyn-yuh] Ҭ noun, Psychiatry. A mild form a mania, primarily characterized by an abnormal state of extreme excitement, great optimism, overactivity and reckless spending of money.
This condition recently has been linked quite extensively with success, specifically in entrepreneurs. Sparked by a recent New York Times article, I think it’s important...
Advice for businesswomen who live healthfully →
A woman who I have worked with who is a Registered Dietician recently posted on a topic I specifically asked for. As a woman who worked in a network heavy industry, I was always struggling with my weight, both due to the “required” alcohol intake and food. Business school is far from a break, like I had hoped it would be. Networking is just as important now as it was before. Check...
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Overachiever=Overwhelmed (written Sept 9, 2010)
Business school is one of the few places where the overachiever is no longer the teacher’s pet. We become the “popular kids.” This seems very high school in its simplicity but it’s true. The second year students who are most noticeable and have a positive reputation are those who are mentors, club leaders and have attained exceptional internships. There are already...
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Mac vs. "Knowledge" (written Sept 2, 2010)
Macs are arguably the “smarter” computer when compared to the consumer diverse PCs. They are more uniform both as a company (seeing as how PC manufacturers are many) and in the user functionality. Despite this, however, there is a down side. They do not always integrate well with PC based software/hardware. For example, my blackberry (of which I LOVE) is windows based, and...
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Play well with others (written August 22, 2010)
This is what it’s all about. When your parents sent you off for your first day, as you got on the bus, their main concern was that you would have fun, be safe, and make friends. As I began orientation, the little giddy girl inside me was reminded to always play well with others. This is something that has not been easy for me in the past. I learned, often the hard way, that my opinions...
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Networking as Yourself (written August 2, 2010)
There are tons of networking “rules.”
Part of being in business is that it requires connections to get things done and to excel. While my experience is specific to entertainment, the mother of all networking industries, a Rolodex can rule just about any businessperson’s life and success.
Especially if you are new at networking, I feel like it is very easy to just play the game. Drinks,...
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Chronically Ill (written July 5, 2010)
Kiddo is a seven year old white and calico cat. Chronically sick, he’s always had problems with his skin, respiratory infections, and tummy issues. A lost cause, I had just given up that he would ever be a happy, healthy cat. He has his kitty playmate, Billie, who he loves dearly, and is passionately sweet with me. But he is always sick. This is not a good life for a cat. Today, he was...
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Matching Your Personality to Your New Neighborhood...
I loved West Los Angeles. It fit me. When I first moved here, it was thrust upon me, as that was where my aunt lived and I was moving in with her. I stayed there for over five years. I literally had to be kicked out (new ownership) to move. I decided to broaden my horizons and try the hip new area, Silverlake. Hip it was, but perhaps I am not as “hip” as I thought. We were...
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Learning mandarin? (written May 22, 2010)
Working at the Census, my inclination to learn another language has been reinforced tenfold. I have always believed that those who speak more then one language have a benefit, a profound natural understanding of a variety of cultures, especially if they were raised bilingual. Not that I am any closer to having children, but I have always wanted to raise my kids bilingual. Unfortunately, both...
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Making peace with my commute (written May 9,2010)
Today, Friday May 7th, I went to my first MBA-related event, The Chick-Fil-A Leadercast. Leaving my house at 6:45am to arrive by 7:45, I realized this was going to be my life. I live in Toluca Lake, a small neighborhood near Burbank, a good 35 or so miles from Pepperdine. My lease is not up until February, so for at least the first six months of school, I will be commuting. During the...
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Old life? (written April 25, 2010)
August could not come soon enough and slow enough. The pressure at times feels overwhelming, trying to prepare for so much. In a way, getting ready for the full-time program, I feel like I need to completely finish this chapter in my life or I won’t be able to focus on the next one. For the last year, my focus has been playing creatively with a variety of projects. A few spec...
Silence (written January 2010)
It’s the second after an event where your reaction surfaces and your emotions bubble. It’s in that instantaneous silent second where future opinions are created and stereotypes live. It’s where expectations gather and you categorize your feelings. Whether the moment be as big as watching the towers fall or as small as the second after you say goodbye, it’s within the...
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Fingers and the story they tell (written April 19,...
Today will be a more interesting day then anticipated. I head to work at my “fascinating” temporary position working for the Census Bureau as an office clerk in recruiting and administration. Killing time and trying to pay off some credit card debt before I begin Pepperdine in the fall, this job is beginning to grow on me. I have been working here for a month now and today is the second day...
