Spring Break~

I have a sun kissed glow  because I just got back from a week long vacation in Puerto Rico. Week 7 is officially over and therefore, I got a well deserved break! I was off to Puerto Rico with my fellow Pepperdine MBA classmate Rebekah. It was a brilliant time golfing, getting some much needed sun, running on the beach, venturing out into the city and exploring old San Juan and enjoying the fine dinning that Puerto Rico has to offer. However, we were still in school mode as we read for Business Law. Here are a few pics of us during our spring break...

Aside from spring break, as president of NAWMBA, I am planning the 3rd annual NAWMBA luncheon with an Executive. It was a huge turnout last year and expected to double in capacity this year. Essentially, it is a great way for 1st/2nd years and Fully Employed MBA's to network with Pepperdine alum's in the corporate world. We have female executives from Coca Cola, Sony, AT&T, Disney, Coffee Bean, Raytheon, Mattel and more, coming to network and share their stories up the corporate ladder. I am more excited this year to network as many of second years are still in the hunt for job searching. I find this is a great opportunity to build a foundation for a professional relationship. The event is not for another a couple weeks but the pressure is on as last year's event was a huge success! Stay tuned!

Week 7~

I am sitting in an air conditioned room in the library on campus and overlooking the ocean in Malibu. The sun is bright and 3 of my closets friends come over to my work space to say hello. My fellow classmates and I are  are all studying for finals, as it is that time of the semester again. Then it hits me... It is week 7 of Session A. I have 7 more weeks of school left until graduation. I begin to wonder if I have taken full advantage of Pepperdine. 

I am co-President of NAWMBA, taken almost every  OB course the school had to offer, studied abroad in Korea, attend 70% of the mixers (there's weekly MBA mixers) and developed life long relationships with professors and peers. As I am going into the final stretch, I wonder what more I can do to enrich my MBA experience at Pepperdine...

I guess the biggest advice I can give future MBA's is to be involved. In the whole scheme of things, 2 years is really a short time and it can go by quickly. (especially with all the workload) Be involved and come out of your comfort zone is a motto for anyone. As an MBA student networking with fellow MBA students from all over the states, I begin to think that the majority of people in the US have graduate degrees. But in all honesty, only 7% of the whole population in the United States have graduate degrees. This is an honor and a definite privilege to obtain your MBA. But in all honesty, I think it is the best investment I have made to myself. Coming to Pepperdine University and further developing my strengths and weakness is a present to myself. I think I have had this mentality since the beginning of the program and therefore put myself out there for everything Pepperdine had to offer. I encourage you to do the same thing! ^.^

Business Law

My most influential class this term has to be Business Law. Not only is the lecture engaging, but the lecture materials are so useful! Our topic for this week pertains to contracts, offers and agreements. Did you know that an offeree may reject by stating unwillingness to accept, providing a counteroffer? 

I know, this is all legal verbage so let me explain. So let's say I was job offered by Proctor and Gamble as the regional HR Director at a salary of $200,000 per year. And since I am an MBA grad, I am expecting at least $300,000 per year. (hey, it's my blog right??)  I call the HR representative and counter offer for $300,000 per year. By doing so, I am rejecting my initial offer of $200,000, while I assumed I was going back in to negotiate. And therefore, Procter and Gamble can terminate the initial offering of $200,000 per year and move on to the next candidate. Now most companies do not act upon this legality, but they have every legal right to do so. 

You're probably wondering the correct verbage in order to negotiate without automatically terminating your initial offer... well you'll just have to take Professor Gia Weisdorn's class and find out. ^^

Week 5

It is week 5 of session A and I am beginning to realize that I am into my classes more so than ever. I think it has to do with the fact that I got to choose my classes this term, based on electives. I have to take a couple required courses, but all the rest I got to choose. This term I am enrolled in Business Law, Corporate Strategy, Human Resources Management, CSR and Leadership and Ethics. 

For my strategy class, our group decided to analyze a local company in Los Angeles called Activision. Throughout the semester, we will be focusing on the companies internal and external environment and where exactly Activision fits in the scope of the industry. This is a huge class with a great project for MBA students to really develop a further understanding of corporate strategy. 

As for my time outside of class, I have been planing a charity event for Gear up for Success. A non-profit organization that enables women to get back in the professional world. I, along with the other leaders of the club are planning a fashion show to raise awareness and used professional clothing. The whole event is sponsored by Banana Republic and will have 1st/2nd years to model the wonderful spring collection of BR. This event is expected to be a huge turnout and a reporter so that this even can be featured in Pepperdine Waves newspaper.