#americanu

[leonxdavis]

Transition.

[feauxtography-blog]

American University // March 29

[viviendoenvelvet-madrid17]

First Impressions

(view from the plane on the LAX runway)

Things I've learned so far:

Spanish sayings are very different than the Spanish I know and understand

It's colder than I thought it would be

There's a whole lot of walking around the city

It feels like a city, but just with an older feel to it...when you look up

Never, ever, travel again without at least two outfits in my carry-on

So my luggage was lost. Mine and two other girls on the same connecting flight from Dublin to Madrid. Talk about a stressful trip. We each made the connection just barely, so we're pretty certain that's where something went wrong. And while I didn't completely listen to my mom when she said I should pack an extra outfit, I luckily had brought a second shirt and a pair of running shorts, so I was able to sort of make it through the second day of not having luggage. Granted, I did spend about a half an hour blow-drying articles of clothing after washing them in the sink of my hotel room the first night to be able to wear them again (sorry to my roommate that night who was sleeping!).

...

Seeing as I've never really traveled this far before, the jet lag was pretty bad. I didn't feel it the same way when we went to Northern Ireland my freshman year, so these past few days have certainly been a struggle. I'm just starting to feel more awake in the mornings, but my body is still pretty exhausted.

More things I've learned so far:

Spaniards eat A LOT of ham

Meals here are very, very long and I'm most certainly not accustomed to it yet

I'm excited for the Spanish TV show options on Netflix here

Never, ever, travel again without at least two outfits in my carry-on

I'm definitely having a bit of trouble adjusting to the difference in how things are planned out here. Rather, how things aren't really communicated about in advanced, so we're kind of just going along with the flow. And being the type of person I am, where I like to systematically plan out what my days, weeks, and months are going to look like in advance, this is definitely a learning curve. I didn't know which homestay I was going to live in until the minute before I actually met my señora. We just got our class schedule yesterday, today I get information about how interning will work. It's definitely something that I'm going to just have to get used to and navigate as well as I can.

(my homestay bedroom)

...

The time difference from Boston and home is certainly a struggle, but I'd like to think I'll find a way to make it work.

Things I've grateful for:

Having an understanding of the language these first few days to help adjust a little better

Ryan, my parents, and family and friends for being so supportive

Putting an extra shirt and running shorts in my carry on….

[kogod]

Gaining an international perspective

Over the last five years, I have had the opportunity to manage nearly $100 million dollars in energy projects. Not all projects have been successful, and some were more successful than they deserved to be. However, in life, leadership, and business, hindsight is often 20/20.

Six months ago, I walked into the office on my 28th birthday. I expected it to be like any other Monday. My cellphone was glued to my ear and the typical Monday morning fires had already begun. Once through the front door, I was met in the hallway. I was told to put the proverbial fire extinguisher down. I was being laid off.  Being laid off, on my birthday, nonetheless, was a great moment of clarity for me. It was the sledgehammer I needed to breakthrough my own comfort zone to pursue what I knew was next for me and my career.

I began exploring MBA programs in the summer of 2019. I knew then that I was ready for change. I wanted to pivot my career from an operations focus to a more strategic role. After numerous interviews with different companies over the past year, I came to understand there was a disconnect between my past work experiences and what I knew was my new path forward. An MBA was never in my plans and frankly quite opposite from my desires. In evaluating my options and mapping out potential paths, I explored the MBA route almost as a last resort. In that process though, I quickly realized that an MBA was not a stodgy piece of paper but could become anything you made it to be.

This realization freed me to layout the bridge and path I needed to connect my past work to my new future. In bouncing my thoughts off other professionals and mentors, I came to see an MBA as an opportunity to invest in myself. To pause, reflect, reset, and find the space to carve out my path in a new, changing economy. At American University, I found that space.

I chose American’s dual MBA/MA in International Economic Relations as it reflected the best bridge forward for me. Built on the foundation of an MBA’s focus and paved with the global insight of an MA, the dual degree program seemed best prepared to equip me to lead in both the private and public sector. This was key to me because I see the private and public interests increasingly intertwined. Multinational firms are facing more barriers to their business from trade uncertainties, immigration and workforce complexities, and explicit, State-level power competition. For me to develop holistic strategies, to step into these issues confidently, and to lead at all levels, I felt the dual degree program offered the most diverse network, seeded a unique perspective, and provided multiple, credible frameworks to navigate global issues. When coupled with its Washington, DC location, the epicenter of international policy and business, I knew American is where I wanted to be.

With my first set of finals now complete, hindsight again is 20/20. When I was laid off, it was an inflection point. My personal experience reflected the greater change happening in lives all around the world. Having the blessing and opportunity to choose to work, invest, and spring forward my career is not lost on me. My short time at American, though, has made this transition easier and affirmed that my work here is laying the groundwork for my next chapter.

- Brent Bowles, MBA/MA

[kogod]

(Net) Impact in Action

Net Impact Kogod is our American University chapter of the global Net Impact organization. This organization connects undergraduate, graduate, and professionals around the world who are interested in finding the intersection between profitability and positive social impact. 

Our Kogod chapter serves the cohort by providing direct access to this massive network of business-minded folks from all industries and markets. Specifically, we provide students with social and learning events to examine how much American University students can push themselves to become more civically engaged and aware of critical national initiatives such as Sustainability, Impact Investing, Climate Justice, and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion practices. 

As part of this incredible organization - I was able to attend the Net Impact Leadership Conference this past September. This event connected graduate students and professional chapters from all over the world - reaching mission-driven individuals in over 20 different countries! Our daily activities included hands-on workshops and panels from sustainability thought leaders and advocates. 

These learning opportunities and connections are so critical in digital and remote times - reminding us that we all have much more in common than we have apart. Not only does Net Impact Kogod reach a wide audience of students and advocates outside of campus - our cohort has committed to contributing to our local community as well! 

As of this fall, Net Impact will be the official home of the AU Sustainability Club and is a partner of the AU Office of Sustainability providing attendance and support to their important student-centric mission. 

-Stephanie Holzinger, MBA ‘20

[kogod]

“Out of this World” Consulting Experience

The Global Consulting Project is one of the hallmark projects as an MBA student in the Kogod School of Business. For an entire semester, students are placed in a group with other members of your cohort and work in a consulting capacity for real international businesses in order to solve an issue that the company may be facing.  

When my team was assigned to consult for Satellite Applications (SA) Catapult we were given only a seven-word prompt to describe the journey we were about to embark on “Feasibility analysis of commercial production in space.” “Space?” I asked myself. “Like, outer space? Commercial production in space? Like manufacturing stuff for sale in space? Um, I’m having enough trouble trying to study finance, now I have to learn about space stuff… the great unknown?” It was overwhelming, but we had to start somewhere. 

That initial step was to talk to SA Catapult and figure out who they are and what they expected from us. We quickly learned that SA Catapult is one of nine technology centers established by the United Kingdom to help facilitate economic growth through various industries. SA Catapult’s mission is to contribute to the UK’s Space Agency’s goal of capturing 10% of the global space market. To do so, they will provide government funding to new innovations and endeavors in the UK that focus on space and satellite operations.

“Ok, but how can I help your business? I don't know anything about space!?" 

We connected with Michael Curtis-Rouse, the Head of Manufacturing for Space at SA Catapult and our main point of contact for the project. He explained to us the various experiments taking place on the International Space Station and noted that because of the environmental elements of microgravity found in space, there’s a benefit to producing certain items in space rather than here on earth.

The objective now became clear: is there a business model for a product that can be manufactured in space, returned to Earth, and be sold for great profits? 

We explored a slew of options: solar panels, pharmaceutics, and medical devices among others. However, one product stood above the rest - a fiber optic cable called ZBLAN, that although can be manufactured on earth, its full capabilities can only be realized when produced in space. We started scouring the internet, reading anything and everything we could find about their product and analyze their company in every aspect we could. Let’s get to work.

One month later - COVID-19 hits Washington, D.C.

As the positive cases begin to rise and AU transitions to online learning, we realize that traveling to the UK isn't going to be an option this year and transitioned our presentation to a virtual format.

On the day of our presentation, we were no longer a group of MBA student-consultants, we were now the knowledgeable consultants our client expected, and most importantly, needed us to be. When it was all said and done, our client was thrilled with our findings, even telling us that our presentation “was the best they’ve ever seen on the subject.” 

This project taught me so many things, but the most important thing I learned was with enough hard work, there isn't a subject that can’t be tackled by students who work hard, work together, and work towards a common goal. Believe me, it was a lot of hard work but now reflecting back on it, it was one of the best parts of the MBA program.

- Kevin Gold, MBA ‘21  Real Estate Certificate | Data Analytics Certificate 

[kogod]

Sky-High Marketing Dreams

My team and I worked with Etihad Airways, the UAE’s national airline based out of Abu Dhabi. Etihad asked us to provide them with recommendations to improve their customer experience (CX) in the next 3-5 years. This project was challenging yet, rewarding as it allowed us to think critically, expand our knowledge in marketing and CX, while also learning more about the airline and travel industry.

Due to the nature of the project, we held weekly meetings with key representatives in different departments in the organization before we arrived at Abu Dhabi- from Marketing to Enterprise Analytics and Etihad Guest (their loyalty program). Once we were in Abu Dhabi, we also met with Etihad’s Digital Team, Legal, and Guest Satisfaction to finish polishing our recommendations.

Meeting the client was an interesting experience in and of itself. Before we went to the UAE, we had representatives from their embassy visit Kogod to share insights about the Emirati business world and the way business is conducted there. Coming from a latinx culture, I remember taking notes to make sure I was respectful of their culture. Note to self: never underestimate the power of the word “shukran” or thank you.

The Kogod faculty was very supportive throughout the course of this project. Not only did we get guidance from our Professor, but we also reached out to collaborate with other professors in the Marketing and Information Technology & Analytics departments.

I found this project very useful as I prepared to pivot into marketing roles post-MBA. It was an exciting and real way to put many of the skills we develop and the concepts we learn in class into practice. The experience of working with an international client addressing an important business problem was one of the highlights of my MBA experience at Kogod. Not to mention, it also gave me great talking points for interviews!

- Carlos Aguirre, MBA ‘20

[kogod]

Best of Both Worlds

In college, my desire to strengthen my cross-culture understanding led me to pursue my degrees in Political Science and Latin American Studies. However, studying in rural Minnesota, where subzero temperatures accompanied half the school year, did not exactly attract multitudes of international students. Despite this, I sought out every available intercultural exchange opportunity as an undergraduate student and became increasingly aware of a gap between theoretical effects of international policy and its real-world effects on an individual level.  

After three years with the Peace Corps and various on-the-ground experiences, I realized that I did not yet have all the tools necessary to be effective in addressing the root causes of development issues. After doing some research on different programs and school options, I chose to pursue the MBA/MS Dual Degree in Development Management with Kogod School of Business and the School of International Service at American University to better understand the economic factors behind behavior change and develop financial analysis skills for organizational management.

I can already sense that during my time in the MBA/MS program, I will gain a much stronger understanding of how private investment can be used generate community-led development. My professional goal is to manage a development organization that guides and empowers rural community members on personal finance and business plans, which would generate income and enable them to invest more money into their children’s education.

- Anna Cron, MBA/MS ‘23