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10 Reasons to Attend the Rady Alumni Reunion

written by Hallie Jacobs

2018 marks the 5 and 10 year anniversaries of the Rady School of Management MBA Classes of 2013 and 2008, and the two classes will be gathering at the Bali Hai hotel in Mission Beach to reconnect and celebrate.

Are you a member of the Class of 2008 or 2013 MBA cohorts and haven’t purchased your ticket to the festivities yet? Here are 10 reasons why you should attend the reunion.

1) Reconnect with your classmates

How long has it been since you’ve seen your Business School friends? If you had to stop and do some mental math, it’s probably been too long. Reconnect with your old classmates, catch up on their lives and network with business leaders and entrepreneurs in America’s Finest City.

2) Raise a Mai Tai with Dean Sullivan and Rady faculty

Bali Hai is well known in town for their Mai Tai drinks, so stop by the event to chat with faculty and show them how much you’ve accomplished since crossing the Commencement stage while bonding over a legendary libation.  Don’t be nervous, they aren’t grading your papers anymore.

3) Spectacular views of San Diego Bay and the downtown skyline

A picture is worth a thousand words, and this picture speaks for itself.

4) Social media threads aren’t real conversations

No matter how many times you’ve “liked” their posts or commented on their pictures, social media interaction isn’t the same as connecting in real life. Take the communication offline and meet up with your friends from Rady in person!

5) Revisit and reframe your journey with fellow alumni

Chat with your fellow alumni and learn where their journey has taken them, and share your turning point moments as well. Have they started a business and found success? Did you transition careers or achieve balance? Toast to progress and learning from one another.

6) Change and aging is universal

And it’s for the better, of course! Like a fine wine, you’ve only gotten better with age. Join a group of educated intellectuals eager to have a stimulating conversation with you about the state of the business world or stock market. And, of course, everyone wants to see pictures of your kids, both furry and human.

7) Re-connect your educational life with your personal life

Earning an MBA is no easy feat. Throughout your journey, the emotional support provided by your fellow classmates was invaluable to your success. Raise your glass to aced exams, flawlessly-executed presentations, long night study sessions and a network of scholars and professionals. 

8) Because, photo booth

Complete with ample props and goofy disguises. The more you use – and the more people you can cram in the booth – the better the picture.

9) New business ideas and chances to learn

Did you join a pioneering biotechnology company after graduation? Interested in making a move into a different industry? Finding success with your Lab to Market startup? Connect with your fellow alumni to find what other opportunities and ideas are out there. You never know what insight you’ll be able to gain, or what companies are hiring!

10) Party with Erwin at one of San Diego’s top waterfront venues

You know you’ve missed him – here’s your chance to give him a hug! Erwin + photo booth + Mai Tai’s = Best. Reunion. Night. Ever.

 

 

September 18, 2018 0 comment
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Rady Golf Classic Raises Funds for Student Fellowships

written by Megan Theriault and Karlee Simek

At the 2018 Rady Golf Classic, participants mingled with innovators and community leaders at the beautiful La Jolla Country Club to benefit fellowships at the Rady School of Management. Held on August 27, 2018, this signature fundraising event brought together corporate and community sponsors, Rady School alumni, faculty and student golfers.

We extend our gratitude to Cubic, which returned as the presenting sponsor for a second year, continuing its eight-year long partnership with the Rady School. Not only is Cubic supportive, it also turns out great golfers—the Cubic team won 2nd place in this year’s tournament! Matt Newsome, Senior Vice President and General Manager, shared that “The Rady Golf tournament is one of our favorite events of the year. It’s the perfect blend of comradery with fellow Cubic, San Diego, Rady and UC San Diego friends and colleagues while all for the benefit of graduate student fellowships.  We are proud to be a sponsor of such a great event.”

The Rady School is grateful to steadfast supporter, Curtis Swindal of Morgan Stanley, who has sponsored the tournament every year. One of his Morgan Stanley team members, Arlene Brown, took home the women’s “closest to the pin” award.

“The accomplishments and success of the Rady School of Management are well-known throughout San Diego. PostalAnnex is pleased to provide its support through sponsorship at the annual Rady Golf Tournament. One of the best parts of the day is talking with current students and alumni who are part of our foursomes. Their dreams and work is indeed inspiring,” said Steve Goble, Executive Vice President and Chief Brand Officer, Annex Brands, Inc.

The 1st place award was won by a team that reflected the makeup of the course: a Rady administrator, community member and alumni Brett Blazys (MBA ‘14). “The Rady Golf Classic is my favorite event each year. From beautiful scenery to great food with Dean Sullivan and Ernest Rady himself, the built in comradery of the day is inspirational. Keeping in touch with old alumni and beating Bosco Lujan, is truly some of the most fun I have ever had on a golf course.” said Blazys. Lujan (MBA ’12) is a Rady School alum who continues to sponsor the Rady Golf Classic through Morgan Stanley and has won many years in a row.

UC San Diego Chancellor Pradeep Khosla even tried his hand at the putting contest and connected with the golfers.

Current Rady students and alumni attended the event, sharing their Rady School experiences and demonstrating the lasting impact fellowship support. Among them was Danny Tyson (MBA ’16), who enjoyed his day on the course.

“My fellowship allowed me to obtain my MBA without the burden of student debt, which has given me a strong foundation on which to build my career,” Tyson said.

Supported in many ways by Ernest Rady, the Rady School develops ethical and entrepreneurial leaders who make a positive impact in the world through innovation, collaboration, and knowledge. The Rady Golf Classic is a wonderful opportunity to bring together the community in support of student fellowships and to honor Ernest Rady’s support of the organization.

We’ll be announcing the 2019 Rady Golf Classic date, soon! Join us next year for this fun and meaningful event.

2018 Rady Golf Classic Sponsors

  • Cubic Transportation Systems
  • American Assets Trust
  • Annex Brands
  • Rady Children’s Hospital
  • Biomed Realty
  • Morgan Stanley – Bosco Lujan, ‘12
  • Morgan Stanley – Curtis Swindal
  • Hale BioPharma Ventures LLC
  • CalPrivate Bank
  • San Diego Marriott Del Mar
  • Robert Kibble
  • Rafael and Marina Pastor
  • iAM Physical Therapy

Golf Prize Sponsors

  • UC San Diego Art Power
  • UC San Diego Athletics
  • UC San Diego Econ Roundtable
  • Center for Executive Education
  • UC San Diego Challenge Course
  • La Jolla Playhouse
  • Snake Oil Cocktails Co.
September 7, 2018 0 comment
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AlumniStudentsUncategorized

Leveraging Rady to Secure Careers and Internships

written by Jessica Bonilla and Dan Deng

KLA-Tencor (KT) has been a leader in process control for the semiconductor and related industries for 40 years, developing and manufacturing inspection, metrology and data analysis systems that rely on innovative optics, sensors and high performance computing technologies. KT’s Corporate Procurement division focuses on globally strengthening KT’s competitive advantage through optimizing supply chain innovation, reliability, effectiveness and efficiency.

Jessica Bonilla FT MBA ‘18

I came across KT during my first year at Rady. The University Relations team at KT reached out informing me that they received my resume from Rady and asked if I was interested in applying for their supply chain summer internship. After a couple interviews with my Manager, Kirk Maloney, I knew KT would be a great place to be. I then received and accepted an offer to intern.

During my internship I worked on a “Corporate Procurement Re-engineering” project. I conducted market research and analysis, recreated the departments UI/UX, and conducted analysis on a workforce initiative. During this project, I was able to implement many skills and knowledge gained during courses such as: Operations, Lab to Market, and Finance. Toward the end of the internship, I received a fulltime job offer from Kirk and the Head of Procurement, John Proverbs, for upon graduation.

Now a year later, I’m working as a Supply Chain Specialist focusing on KT’s implementation of a global Contracts Lifecycle Management solution. With this project, I’ve been able to implement many of the skills acquired during Rady’s Project Management and Costs in Supply Chain Management courses.  As I progress in my career, I look forward to further development at KT and implementing the knowledge acquired during my time in San Diego and Rady.

Dan Deng FT MBA ‘19

My experience with KT was a very interesting one. I haven’t previously thought about a supply chain position, but the passion of the Supply Chain professors I met, such as Anklesaria and Shin, really drove my interest in the supply chain field. I originally applied for the KT supply chain internship program back in December, through Careers Rady. I hadn’t heard back; but, I noticed that the contact for the internship happened to be with one of the second year students, Jessica Bonilla.  I then took the initiative to reach out to her and set up an informational interview. After speaking with Jessica, I learned a lot about KT and her experience there as an intern, which increased my interest with the company. Afterwards, I received a request for a phone interview, and after a few rounds I received a supply chain internship offer from my manager, Scott Bostic.

During my internship I worked on a Conflict Minerals Expansion Project. This entailed a thorough review of KT’s current process, improvements, and expansion of the program. This project utilized my background as an analyst as well as important lessons learned through the core Rady curriculum.

As I prepare for my second year at Rady, I am hopeful that I will be part of the Israel Immersion course (which Jessica spoke very highly of) as there is a large tech and startup culture there.  I hope to bring back my experience to share with my fellow cohort and the incoming MBA cohort, and further my knowledge in supply chain and business.

August 30, 2018 0 comment
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Rady School Celebrates Top 15 Accomplishments in 15 Years

written by Hallie Jacobs

It has been 15 years since the Rady School of Management opened its doors to welcome a premier group of students and inspire the next generation of business leaders. Graduates have gone on to lead top companies, and have even launched companies that are leading in their respective industries. Despite less than two decades of operation, the school has reached many remarkable milestones, including earning spots on top ranking lists, launching more than 150 operating student and alumni led startups and graduating students who are now leading global organizations.

Since its founding in 2003, the Rady School MBA program has expanded its curriculum to include additional graduate programs designed to meet the needs of the business world. The Master of Finance, Master of Science in Business Analytics and Master of Professional Accountancy programs joined the stellar MBA programs offered at the Rady School to ensure a holistic and comprehensive approach to tackling important issues in all facets of the vast network of global industries.

Through the generous support of the business community, the school has grown exponentially in its 15 years, expanding the ranks of its world-renowned faculty, encouraging entrepreneurship and innovative thinking and significantly contributing to our economy. Here’s a look at the top 15 accomplishments the Rady School has achieved in its first 15 years.

  1. Over 150 operational startup companies have been started by Rady School alumni and students. These startups have revolutionized industries, led to breakthrough medical devices, drastically enhanced the lives of the visually impaired, improved personal wellness monitoring and have forever transformed our world for the better. Many of the startups are a product of the Rady School’s unique Lab to Market core sequence and accelerators.
  2. The Rady School community is driving local, national and global economic impact. Rady School start-ups have raised over $1.1 billion in the last 15 years.
  3. Founded with the intention to provide quality business education to leaders in innovative industries, the Rady School has launched distinguished graduate programs to serve the needs of the business community, including the school’s flagship Full-Time MBA and FlexMBA programs, which are already recognized among the best.
  4. In addition to the MBA programs, three specialty graduate programs have been launched: a Master of Finance, a Master of Science in Business Analytics and a Master of Professional Accountancy.
  5. The school also has three robust undergraduate programs, a business minor, an accounting minor, and a entrepreneurship and innovation minor, all of which are among the most popular minors on the UC San Diego campus.
  6. Rady School faculty are recognized as leaders for the quality of their research. Over the past 15 years, the school’s faculty have been ranked #1 in the U.S. for intellectual capital by Bloomberg Businessweek, 14th globally for faculty research by the Financial Times and 12th globally in student rating of teaching quality by The Economist.
  7. Since its inception, the school has received strong support from the business community. The school’s many supporters have been generous with their time and with gifts to support the mission of the school. Notable gifts include: a $100 million gift from Ernest and Evelyn Rady to fund strategic priorities and recruit faculty; a $4 million legacy gift and endowed chair from Nobel Laureate and Rady School Professor Harry Markowitz and his wife Barbara, a $30 million naming gift from Ernest and Evelyn Rady, a $7 million gift from Pauline and Stanley Foster for fellowships and an endowed chair, and a $5 million gift from Carol and William Stensrud for program development and faculty recruitment.
  8. The Rady School has established five Centers of Excellence: the California Institute for Innovation and Development (CIID), the Beyster Institute, the Center for Business Analytics, the Center for Social Innovation and Impact, the Institute for Supply Excellence and Innovation, and the S. – Israel Center on Innovation and Economic Sustainability. Each of the school’s centers focuses on a different topic of importance and provides additional learning opportunities and experience for students.
  9. Launched in 2013, the StartR Accelerator at the Rady School is a non-profit program for Rady School students and alumni designed to provide entrepreneurs the tools needed to start and grow their businesses. The StartR program includes workshops, mentoring, advice and access to other resources for early-stage companies. At the conclusion of the program, teams present their pitches at Demo Day, attended by investors, industry experts and the San Diego community. To date, 61 companies have participated in StartR, raising over $41 million in capital.
  10. The Rady School’s mystartupXX program is a one-of-its-kind accelerator that was created to increase and encourage diversity in entrepreneurship. Program participants take workshops on launching startups, team building, leadership, market assessment, consumer feedback, creating a value proposition, validating business models, and understanding financing strategies needed to launch the business. Each team works with a mentor and advisors who monitor and encourage their progress.
  11. The Rady Venture Fund, a student-assisted venture capital investment fund, was established to support the Rady School’s educational objectives in the areas of entrepreneurship, innovation and transfer of discoveries into the marketplace. Students screen investment leads, perform due diligence, make investment recommendations, and monitor portfolio companies. To date, the fund has invested in five early stage companies.
  12. The Rady School’s Center for Executive Development (CED) offers courses and certificates that provide valuable learning experiences to meet the needs of executives and managers in the rapidly changing world of business. Popular CED courses include: leadership, team building, and interpersonal skills. Executive Development faculty are industry experts, renowned researchers, engaging teachers and authors.
  13. The Rady School’s D. program began in 2009, attracting top doctoral candidates from around the world. Rady School Ph.D. students have gone on to teach at top schools across the U.S. and the globe.
  14. Two state-of-the-art buildings have been constructed to house the Rady School and provide a modern and technology-forward learning space. Otterson Hall opened in 2007 and Wells Fargo Hall Opened in 2012. Wells Fargo Hall has been LEED Gold certified for its sustainable practices.
  15. The Rady School earned accreditation from the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB International) in 2011. AACSB International is the premier business education accrediting body, with less than five percent of business schools worldwide achieving accreditation.

 

August 2, 2018 0 comment
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AlumniStartup

Rady Takes San Diego Startup Week by Storm

written by Hallie Jacobs

San Diego has been the epicenter for a startup company revolution for years, launching innovative companies in biotechnology, consumer products, mobile applications, medical devices and more. To cater to the needs of the region, the Rady School of Management integrated startup-centric curriculum to encourage students to develop entrepreneurial skills necessary to launching a company or innovating systems and operations at existing companies.

Each year, entrepreneurs and innovators gather at San Diego Startup Week to celebrate the pursuits of local startups and entrepreneurs supporting America’s Finest City’s startup ecosystem. The weeklong event hosts panels, sessions and pitch competitions covering topics relevant to those in the industry. Topics covered marketing strategies, blockchain for startups, design thinking, app development and fundraising for success.

Four Rady School of Management alumni were invited to share their expertise and knowledge as startup experts at a variety of panel sessions.

  • Silvia Mah (MBA ’10) led three sessions – From Bench to Blockbuster, which explored how to turn an idea into a fully-functioning company, Choosing Your Unique Path for Passionate Entrepreneurs, and San Diego Startup Ecosystem, a panel analyzing the current state of San Diego’s startup scene and evaluating future projections. Mah is a startup expert, with two businesses dedicated to launching startups developed by women and minorities.
  • Lauren Lindner (MBA ’15), Director of Strategy for Brain Corp, hosted a talk titled Scaling an Artificial Intelligence Business: How to go from Local to Global. Brain Corp develops artificial intelligence technology with cloud-based capabilities.
  • Marcos Rivera (’07) spoke in part A and B of the Hiring Product Managers: The Who, What, When, and Why for Success. The two-part series explored the intricacies of hiring the right people for the complex position. Rivera works as a Program Director of Product Management for Vista Equity Partners.
  • Julio de Unamuno (MBA ’14) was a speaker in the panel titled Minorities Doing Crazy Sh*t. The diverse panel featured minorities who are leading startups in San Diego. De Unamuno’s company LabFellows, a Rady School StartR Accelerator alum, created a platform that simplifies the logistical needs of life science companies.

UC San Diego also hosted a Pedicab Pitch competition, which featured three experts judging pitches from participants. More than 40 people participated in the event, showcasing their 90 second pitches in one of downtown San Diego’s most popular forms of transportation – the pedicab.

July 3, 2018 0 comment
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AlumniStudents

Supporting Veteran Students at Rady

written by Hallie Jacobs

From young and eager innovators with big ideas to career professionals looking to revamp their industries, entrepreneurs come in many forms. The Rady School of Management at UC San Diego is committed to fostering the spirit of entrepreneurship by making it accessible to all through a number of programs, accelerators and community partnerships. A recent event targeted a very specific audience and highlighted the new Veteran Ventures Accelerator housed in the Rady School of Management.

Throughout the years, a growing number of veteran students at the Rady School are embracing the entrepreneurial spirit, launching sustainable startup companies out of programs offered by the School, such as Lab to Market and the StartR Accelerator.

Sean Haggerty, founder and president of Protector Brewery, took advantage of the Lab to Market program to help his brewery get off the ground. Since completing the Lab to Market sequence and graduating from the Rady School, his brewery has grown significantly, launching a number of beers and securing a brick and mortar location in San Diego.

Haggerty recently spoke at an event highlighting veteran entrepreneurship at UC San Diego.

“The Rady School of Management was integral in the success of Protector Brewery,” Haggerty said. “There are a number of accelerators and incubators at the UC San Diego that serve veteran students and support their unique needs and abilities.”

Globier, a veteran-founded company launched at the Rady School, is also making waves in the food and beverage industry. Noticing a lack of beer in the nightclub industry, Joshua Schaffer (MBA ’17) worked with a fellow student to launch the world’s first glow-in-the-dark brew.

Another Rady veteran pursued a startup in the healthcare industry. Ryan Ruehl (MBA ’18), a Marine veteran, worked with fellow Rady alum Jon Wilensky (MBA ’17) to develop Braykion – a wearable sensor paired with technology that encourages healthcare workers to wash their hands, preventing spreadable infections.

The Rady School launched Veteran Ventures, an accelerator dedicated to helping veterans turn business ideas into functioning companies in 2017. The 10-week program supports veterans interested in learning more about the entrepreneurial process, introducing them to mentors and helping them scale their ideas into successful enterprises. The program is free and open to the community.

Recognizing the former military students bring specialized skills and experience to the School, the Rady School Admissions team worked to provide active duty and veteran students fee waivers for the application to the School as a thank you for their services.

“Veterans bring a unique set of experiences and leadership to the MBA classroom.  The insight they bring adds a great deal of depth and exposure to students who pursued a very different civilian career,” said Jay Bryant, Director of Admissions at the Rady School. “Rady Admissions offers application fee waivers and specialized one on one admissions advising sessions for applicants.  Once a current student, veterans have access to a tight-knit network and resources from UC San Diego’s Veteran Resource Center.”

As more veterans join the Rady School of Management community network, the School is eager to continue to cater to the population to support and grow their entrepreneurial skillset.

June 15, 2018 0 comment
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AlumniStartup

Two Rady School Startups Recognized on San Diego Venture Group’s “Cool Companies” List 2018

written by Ashley Anderson

The San Diego Venture Group recently named the 30 startups on their “Cool Companies” List for 2018, and two companies created at the Rady School made the cut.

LabFellows and Epitracker were among the highly-ranked startups selected from 180 applicants this year. According to the San Diego Business Journal, these “Cool Companies” will meet with about 100 venture capitalists and investors from San Diego and beyond this summer. The SDVG organizes these events to connect the startups with investors and facilitate other opportunities for growth.

LabFellows, founded by Rady alum Julio de Unamuno, manages a software that assists biotechnology startups. De Unamuno (MBA ’14) recognized the difficulties that many biotech companies encounter when starting research and development, including the inability to afford necessary lab equipment and the time-intensive administrative duties. After participating in the Lab to Market course and the StartR Accelerator at Rady, de Unamuno began his subscription-based company that allows startups to access and organize the essential resources for research without the heavy administrative or financial burden that traditional labs require.

Epitracker, founded by 2010 MBA alum Eric Venn-Watson, is also making waves in the biotechnology industry. This startup researches incurable diseases and other health problems through a new perspective—nature. The startup researches dolphins and the oceans to gain valuable insights into possible health discoveries for both humans and animals. Epitracker researches small molecules to find nature-based therapeutics that could aid in numerous health issues, including Alzheimer’s disease, diabetes and skin repair.

Both of these companies will continue to grow and expand with the financial support and recognition of the San Diego Venture Group. The Rady School is excited to see where these startups will take the future of biotechnology.

A complete list of the SDVG “Cool Companies” for 2018 and additional information on the organization can be found here. The San Diego Business Journal article can be found here.

Learn more about Epitracker and LabFellows here.

May 31, 2018 0 comment
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AlumniStartup

4 RADY ALUMS HONORED IN UC SAN DIEGO 40 UNDER 40 LIST

written by Hallie Jacobs

UC San Diego is a hub for the world’s brightest minds to think innovatively and creatively to solve pressing issue and develop solutions to make the world a better place. Students cross the Commencement stage and become alumni poised to put their education into action.

Four outstanding Rady School of Management alumni were recognized on the UC San Diego Alumni 40 Under 40 list, honoring leaders and changemaking Tritons under the age of 40 for their contributions to the greater good.

Byron Myers, MBA ’10
Co-Founder and Executive Vice President of Sales & Marketing, Inogen 

  • Inogen’s mission—to improve the quality of life for millions of supplemental oxygen users—began in 2001 when Mae, a beloved grandmother, was prescribed oxygen therapy.
  • Inogen launched an IPO in February 2014, becoming the Rady School’s first startup to achieve this accomplishment.
  • Deloitte’s 2017 Technology Fast 500™ recognized Inogen as One of the Fastest Growing Companies in North America, and the co-founders were awarded as Ernst & Young’s Entrepreneurs of the Year and Inc. Magazine’s 30 Under 30 Coolest Entrepreneurs in America.

Peter J. Preuss, MBA ’14
Director of Business Development, Tecate Group 

  • Professional experience at leading edge of technologies and education in virtual reality, augmented reality, AI, robotics and energy, working to democratize the field of robotics and automation.
  • Success as Director of Business Development at the Tecate Group and at Brain Corporation, working with frontier technologies like robotics, drones and artificial intelligence. At Qualcomm, Preuss worked in the Vuforia Augmented Reality group, where he helped foster the first Developer community and run the first Augmented Reality competition.
  • Passionate about education, science, technology and medical research, his philanthropic roles include vice president of the Preuss Family Foundation, co-chair of the Preuss School Gala, board member at the Ruben H. Fleet Science center and EvoNexus committee member.

Pierre Sleiman, MBA ’13
Founder and CEO, Go Green Agriculture 

  • At Go Green Agriculture, innovation and farming are combined to find new ways to grow healthy food locally and reduce environmental impact. Go Green has become one of the largest organic-hydroponic producers in the U.S, producing 500,000 heads of hydroponically grown organic lettuce per month.
  • Sleiman’s vision is to have “mini-farms” in every urban area of the U.S., supplying local and organic food, eliminating the need for major trucking, creating local jobs and improving food quality. The company reports that by employing state-of-the-art technology, it uses one-fifth of the land typically needed in traditional farming, has reduced water usage up to 80% and enjoys 365 days of production per year.
  • Awards include President Obama’s “Champion of Change” in “The Future of Agriculture,” the 2015 UC San Diego Alumni Emerging Leader Award and San Diego Magazine’s “50 People to Watch.”

Ashley Van Zeeland, MBA ’12
Chief Technology Officer, Human Longevity, Inc. 

  • Career is focused on commercializing life science technologies and developing synergistic relationships between commercial and academic research pursuits. Co-founded Cypher Genomics, now part of Human Longevity Inc., producing groundbreaking work in the genetics of autism and supervising large-scale genetic sequencing studies.
  • Listed in San Diego Business Journal’s 500 Influential Business Leaders of 2016.
  • A passionate alumna, Van Zeeland received 2016 UC San Diego Alumni Emerging Leader Award, has served as a Rady School Alumni Board Member; Rady School Advisory Board Member, California Institute for Innovation & Development (CIID); and Rady School of Management Spokesperson for their “Rady Made” and “Never Stop Starting Up” Campaigns.

 

May 25, 2018 0 comment
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Alumni

Alumni Spotlight — Sara Jones (MBA ’13)

written by Sara Jones

Sara Jones, M.Ed. MBA
FlexWeekend 2013, Rady School of Management
Founder and CEO, Plum Blossom Creations
Author, Getting Ready: Your Journal to Help You Deal with and Heal from Sexual Harassment
Author, Stories from Athena’s Garden, blog, www.storiesfromathenasgarden.com
Public Speaker

What impact has Rady had on your career progression?

I cannot begin to express the value of this. When I lost my job in DC, I had very few career options. I immediately called up Rady and asked them if I could reapply. They said yes and they accepted me. This was 2011. I had been accepted in 2006 but did not matriculate. Now jobless and moving back to San Diego, I relied on the Rady Career Center to help connect me with a local part-time job.

My expertise up to this point was in education and emergency management, but as a Rady FlexWeekend student, I was learning about entrepreneurship and high-tech innovations. After a few months of searching, I started with a local software firm as their Director of Client Education and Strategic Advancement, part-time. Immediately upon graduating, I moved into full time and was promoted to also be the Director of Marketing, a skill and talent that I did not know I also had until I took Professor Ayelet Gneezy’s class. I quickly realized that marketing and education are very similar – they both teach you about things you, the customer, want or need to know about or that the company wants or needs you to know about.  A few years later, I was promoted to Senior Director of both positions.

But the seeds of innovation for my own company, Plum Blossom Creations, had been planted a while back and in 2015 I began my blog. I started very slowly at first. I had a demanding day job with responsibilities in two relatively high-level positions and these took much of my energy. As I put the ending period on the first draft of my memoir, the nation started discussing my newest area of expertise. I knew when the #MeToo movement took hold, that I needed to finish my book and start teaching a different kind of topic altogether – how to deal with and heal from sexual harassment. The 2nd book to be written but first to be published, Getting Ready: Your Journal to Help You Deal with and Heal from Sexual Harassment, came very quickly after that.

From Lab-to-Market, to real-world experience, to incubator and investor exposure, Rady has helped me become aware of my talents and my passions as well as helped me understand how to think about and grow into being an entrepreneur.

Has your Rady MBA enabled you to change industries or functional areas or even achieve a promotion? 

Initially yes, and long term yes.

Tell us a fun fact about you, or something people may not know about you.

I love to hike. I had the opportunity to hike for four days along the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu in Peru when I lived in Brazil back in the late 90’s. On the longest climb day, it was a glorious thing to be sitting along the trail for a break with our guide, four of my friends and eight other hikers in our group from around the world. We enjoyed the effort, each other and the moment so much that we spontaneously burst out into a chorus of “I’m on top of the world” by the Carpenters. I met one of my totem animals on that trip. I’m currently training for a section hike along the Appalachian Trail which, this year and the launch of my new business, may become the Pacific Crest Trail. The bucket list hike may have to wait a year.

What was your favorite class and why?

I loved almost all of my classes at Rady – I found the finance classes to be very difficult to work through. I really tried to be a sponge and learn as much as I could and my professors all had lots to share and teach! Even though I got the most out of the marketing classes, it was the Advanced Management Communications course taught by Todd Salovey that I really enjoyed. Worth only 2 credits, with little to no team work and with no exam, it was supposed to be my “easy” class. But perhaps it was because I let myself relax in that class that I opened up and really let the professor show me how to find my core and then find my voice. Less than 2 years after that class, I started my blog and now I am a published author with a second book on the horizon.

How did your view of entrepreneurship/innovation change throughout your time at the Rady School?

I’m not sure my view of entrepreneurship and innovation has actually changed. I think what happened is that I learned how to live into them. I learned to value my innovative side and find the path to successfully manifesting it. I learned to have the courage to be an entrepreneur as well as how to recognize when to risk being one!

What advice do you have for prospective students?

Go for it! All of it. The curriculum is rigorous. The professors are demanding. And the team work reveals the worst (and best!) side of you. Regardless of the challenges, commit to the process. Trust that you are in good, caring hands and open up to the interpersonal work.  It’s where most businesses succeed or fail. Why not practice in the best incubator, before you risk it all with the innovation you want to bring to the world.

How have you applied your studies to your career?

Everyday!

What is the best thing about being a Rady alumni?

I ended up being the only woman in my cohort for a good portion of my track. In my time, the student body had “Rady Ladies” but the group focused mostly on the full-time students and did not reach to the level of professional growth focus as the Women of Rady. As an alumna, I am very much enjoying being a part of the newly resurrected Women of Rady chapter of the NWMBA. The very recent Rady Women’s Forum, Discussions and Action Plans for Vibrant Leaders, was a fantastic achievement in planning as well as an invaluable tradition for years and alumnae to come! I respect our current students so much for the time they put into this group and the impact it has on not only the current students but we alums as well.

May 3, 2018 0 comment
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AdvancingAlumniCareersStudents

Negotiating is an Art: Tips from Rady Graduate Career Connections

written by Terra Saltzman-Baker

Negotiating for what you’re worth can be a challenge even for seasoned professionals.  Typically, people don’t like this part of the interview conversation or talking to their boss about a raise, yet they still fixate on it.  Negotiating is an art, not a trick.  At the UC San Diego Rady School of Management, graduate students learn these helpful tips from their Careers Team:

  1. Forget about the money. Too much time is spent “researching” salaries and anticipating a low offer. Focus on getting the interview, then winning the interview.  Without this, you won’t have an offer to negotiate. It is when the hiring manager determines that you’re the right person for the job that you now have leverage. Focus on what’s important.
  2. Understand your worth. That’s right, it is about your history, what you’ve learned in grad school, and how that all matches with what the employer is seeking. Also, all candidates are not made equal. Specific skills and experience are worth more to certain employers — it’s not only about the degree or years of experience. It’s best is to talk to someone close to the industry or the hiring market to get real time input on realistic salary expectations.
  3. Be careful when doing the research – size of the company, the industry, where the job is located all factor into the numbers. A small public company in the southwest will pay differently than a public company in the northeast. Use validated compensation data tool, such as Payscale.com, which includes the complex factors, or again talk to someone close to the industry to help set your expectations.
  4. Be a good judge of your counter negotiation. It’s not about the dollar difference, but the percent difference. If someone offers you $80,000, I’d strongly advise that you don’t counter with $100,000. You may be thinking “it’s only $20,000 more” but it’s really  a 25% increase. I doubt anyone is going to try and lowball their offer to you by that much. It’s not logical. So take emotion out of it and think about what a reasonable response is (I suggest starting with a “thank you for the offer…can we discuss” approach). And remember, if you like the offer, it is ok to accept without negotiating. Some companies start with their best offer, knowing the market is tight and the best talent is important for the company’s success.
  5. Last, set yourself up for a non-emotional conversation when it comes to compensation. Build a spreadsheet of either your last or current compensation package in one column (line item specific – base salary, bonus, 401K, vacation, benefits, stock, etc.) and then the offer in the adjoining column. This side-by-side comparison opens the conversation up to a simple business discussion and allows both sides to come to an offer that is fair.

Yes, it can be that simple! Remember, both sides want the offer to work out and to start you out as a happy employee. Keeping this in mind should decrease some of the stress you’re already feeling. Good people want to hire good people – the rest is simply a professional conversation. Happy negotiating!

April 9, 2018 0 comment
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