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Two Prestigious Organizations Laud Rady School of Management MBA Program for Excellence in Entrepreneurship

written by Hallie Jacobs

Rady School of Management at UCSD.

The MBA program at the Rady School of Management at the University of California San Diego has been recognized as one of the top programs for entrepreneurship in the U.S. by the Princeton Review and Bloomberg Businessweek. The school’s MBA program ranked 16th in The Princeton Review’s “Top 25 Graduate Schools for Entrepreneurship of 2019,” and 24th in the Bloomberg Businessweek “Best Business Schools” entrepreneurship category.

Both rankings recognize the best programs for students aspiring to launch their own businesses.  In the Princeton Review ranking, the Rady School ascended from 25th to 16th in this year’s 2019 ranking, placing the school’s MBA program among the elite programs for entrepreneurship in the U.S.

“Since its founding, the Rady School has been dedicated to providing an outstanding education focused on innovation and entrepreneurship,” said Rady School Dean Robert S. Sullivan. “This ranking recognizes that the Rady School is a leader in entrepreneurial education. The incredible companies founded by our students and alumni are transforming our world and are proof-positive of the quality of entrepreneurship education the school provides.”

Since the school’s first MBA class graduated in 2006, students and alumni have started over 150 operational companies, contributing over $2 billion to the economy. The rapid success of startups originating at the school can be attributed to the unique structure of the Rady School’s MBA program, which integrates entrepreneurial education into the program through its capstone Lab to Market course sequence.

 

 

November 14, 2018 0 comment
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Startup

People of Rady: Davide Giovanardi

written by Hallie Jacobs

1) Why did you choose to pursue a Master of Finance?

The financial world became my fascination when I realized how it impacts all of us. I am captivated by the mathematics and financial rules governing our world and I am eager to understand the inner workings of the financial field to search for patterns that impact the future. Finance is my chosen professional life and where I am looking forward to making a significant contribution to the betterment of the world economy and its citizens.

2) Why did you choose the Rady School?

The Rady School of Management has earned the reputation of being a modern and very up-to-date program where the faculty and students are focused on the future. Rady highlights both the academic and the professional aspects, conferring knowledge in quantitative finance, but also training in communication and leadership skills that are fundamental for succeeding in today’s competitive world. The program challenges students to work individually, but also with teams and groups, which is imperative to getting real-world experience that will benefit students after graduation.

3) What do you feel makes Rady unique? How do you benefit from these aspects?

Being a relatively new program, its astute faculty and leaders were able to design it to be a modern Master of Finance program. The program offers a unique and original quantitative approach emphasizing data and matching the current job demand in the financial industry. Moreover, the Rady School has an esteemed history in quantitative decision making with Nobel Laureate Harry Markowitz. If we then consider the exceptional and devoted faculty, the result is a unique learning experience, which forges leaders in the modern data-driven financial world.

4) What classes are you looking forward to taking this year?

First and foremost, I’d like to emphasize that Rady shapes the program on the students’ strengths and skills by offering a superb variety of electives. Among my favorite classes, there is the core Financial Econometrics and Empirical Methods taught by Professor Rossen Valkanov. I am looking forward to taking the Collecting and Analyzing Financial Data, Computational Finance Methods and Analyzing Large Data courses as well. I’m fascinated by the relationship between finance and data science and eager to learn models and techniques by exceptional professors to further increase and deepen my passion for this expertise.

5) What are your goals after graduation?

My goals after graduation are to continue this incredible journey and to study and complete a top-flight Ph.D. program, and to participate in the financial, investment industry. I’m confident that Rady will provide me with all the academic and professional competencies needed to ultimately achieve my goals.

October 16, 2018 0 comment
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AlumniStartupStudents

StartR Demo Day Showcases Rady Innovation

written by Hallie Jacobs

Entrepreneurship is a fundamental aspect of the Rady School of Management educational experience. Whether students are pursuing an MBA, Master of Finance or Master of Science in Business Analytics degree, students have the opportunity to take an idea and transform it into a company at the Rady School. The StartR Accelerator – a free six-month long acceleration program open to all Rady School students and alumni – sets the stage for students to get businesses running through educational seminars, access to funding, mentorship connection and more. Recently, the StartR Spring Class of 2018 gathered to present their pitches to Rady School students, faculty, alumni and the San Diego business community.

Robert Sullivan, Dean of the Rady School of Management, kicked off the event by celebrating the success of the StartR program.

“Since its inception in 2013, the accelerator program has launched 61 companies,” Sullivan said. “Twelve of these teams have been accepted into the prestigious EvoNexus accelerator, and 60 percent of the teams that have been launched are still operational. StartR teams have generated more than $40 million in capital.”

A successful graduate of the StartR program returned to campus to speak about his company, CB Therapeutics. Sher Ali Butt (MBA ’16) entered the Rady School with an idea – to create cannabinoids without the use of marijuana plants. These compounds are not psychoactive. They do not produce a “high” or have potential for abuse and are already sold in the market similar to supplements. Since graduating from the Rady School, CB Therapeutics has been accepted into EvoNexus and Y Combinator, raised millions of dollars in funding and was recently selected as a finalist in a TechCrunch pitch competition in San Francisco.

“Rady was the best thing that happened to me and my business,” Butt said. “I came with an idea and left with a business. As a scientist, I was comfortable with creating the product, but I had no idea where to begin with the business side of things. CB Therapeutics would not have been possible without the Rady School.”

Here’s a look at the companies that were pitched at StartR Demo Day.

TrySpree

If you’re a fan of free stuff, TrySpree is for you. Developed by Ben Koonse (MBA ‘19), the website scrapes the internet to search for products offering free samples. The user is able to select free samples they’re interested in testing and choose to try them risk-free. TrySpree is then able to offer custom-selected samples to the customer based on their selections and interests. The company has created the most revenue out of any company actively involved with StartR, currently generating $1 million in revenue annually.

Hylite

Traditional shopping malls are struggling to meet the demands of dedicated online shoppers, but Rady School student Chuan He (MBA ‘18) is developing a solution to help both malls and customers improve their shopping experiences. Hylite is a precise marketing system that uses LED lights to identify preciswe shoppers’ location within a shopping mall. Shoppers are able to navigate better within a mall and can receive product offers from businesses in the location. Hylite plans to launch in China where almost 1,000 new malls were built last year alone.

AnalytixHub

Modern businesses have more data than they know what to do with in order to make informed decisions. AnalytixHub – launched by current student Fay Mehr (MBA ’19) – created a company that connects data scientists and analytics experts with companies and research institutions. The platform is also moving toward creating a database that provides advanced data analysis services and consultations on demand.

Bevea

Sugar-packed sodas are out and healthy beverage options are in! Bevea, created by Kabir Gambhir (MBA ‘10) creates beverages from a nutrient-dense coffee cherry byproduct. The beverage Cascaraa provides a solution for the 23 million tons of byproduct created annually while creating a low calorie, low sugar and delicious sparkling beverage. The drink comes in five flavors – original, mint basil, lavender, hibiscus, and rose chili.

Evolution Smart Bag

The average American woman owns 13 purses and handbags from seven different brands. To cut down on the clutter, Rady School graduate Suvi Tanninen (MBA ’18) created a smart bag designed to fit the needs of women on the go. The modular, washable and customizable bags come in a variety of shapes, colors and sizes and are equipped with pockets that provide wireless charging.

In addition to the pitch presentations, Herb Meistrich was presented with the Guru Award in recognition of his mentoring support of students in the StartR program. The audience also voted on their favorite pitch and selected Koonse of TrySpree to receive a $500 check for his company.

Due to the success of their startups, each five teams have chosen to continue building their companies after graduating from StartR.

“It’s inspiring to see these teams succeeding and contributing to the local and national economy,” Sullivan said. “The Rady School community is proud of their efforts and we are looking forward to watching them continue to grow.”

October 4, 2018 0 comment
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StaffStartupStudents

New Position Supports Student Entrepreneurs

written by Hallie Jacobs

Whether you’re looking to start a company or enhance your entrepreneurial skills, the Rady School of Management supports students eager to develop innovative companies. A new position was created to connect students and alumni to the wealth of entrepreneurial resources located at UC San Diego and in San Diego – one of the top cities in the world for startups.

Karen Jensen, the former program manager for the California Institute for Innovation and Development (CIID), recently assumed the role as the Rady School’s Entrepreneurship Advocate. Inspired by Rady students’ desire to launch and sustain businesses, the position was created to support students in every step of their entrepreneurial journeys.

“We have an ever-growing list of startups launched here at Rady,” Jensen said. “Our goal is to take these startups and get them beyond the campus environment, connect them with resources and community mentors, and continue to help them grow and flourish once they leave Rady.”

Jensen will also organize the Triton Innovation Challenge, a competition that spotlights commercially promising, environmentally focused technologies generated by UC San Diego’s students, staff and faculty. She will also coordinate mentorship breakfasts designed to connect startups with local industry leaders. She will continue to provide operational support to mystartupXX accelerator program dedicated to increasing the number of underrepresented students and alumni at UC San Diego looking to get involved with startups.

Local connections

San Diego is a hub for startups and innovation, and Jensen is leveraging her position to serve as a liaison between the Rady School and the San Diego startup community. America’s Finest City is home to a number of prestigious accelerators, clubs, conventions and events dedicated to connecting top talent with individuals eager to break into the booming startup scene.

“I’m looking forward to reaching out and connecting with leading entrepreneurs in our local community,” Jensen said. “One of the most exciting aspects of this positions for me is to identify resources for our startups so that we can connect them and watch them continue to grow. There are so many opportunities and assets here in San Diego that will be extremely useful to our students’ startups.”

In addition to connecting Rady School students with the local community, Jensen is working to get them more involved with the talented and innovative students across the UC San Diego campus. With a number of plans in place to increase collaborations with the brilliant minds of students in the Jacobs School of Engineering, Scripps Institution of Oceanography and beyond, Jensen’s priority is to ensure Rady School students have access to a diverse network of talented peers.

“There are so many intelligent and driven students here on campus with a diverse set of skills,” Jensen said. “We would be remised to not tap into the talent we have right here on campus. I’m making it a priority to work to forge more connections on campus to see what kind of partnerships and collaborative efforts we can create.”

Future goals

Since Jensen assumed the role, she has been involved in launching the new DRIvE program – Developing Rady Innovative Entrepreneurs, a mentorship initiative that connects current students with industry leaders who serve as coaches to help guide startup founders during their entrepreneurial journey. Although the program is in its infancy, DRIvE has already been able to connect six student-run companies with 25 mentors.

“The idea is that the startups participating in the DRIvE program aren’t just idea or pre-prototype — these startups are launched and have been able to secure some amount of funding,” Jensen said, “DRIvE provides mentorship opportunities to help these startups to the next level so that they can continue to grow.”

As Jensen settles into her new position, she looks forward to supporting students and helping them achieve their goals.

“My favorite aspect of this position is that I have the opportunity to work with students one-on-one,” Jensen said. “I admire their ambition and dedication and I am constantly impressed with their innovations. It’s an honor to be able to help them out during their journey, and I am so excited to be a part of their mission.”

October 1, 2018 0 comment
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AlumniStartup

Alumni Spotlight — Christopher Russow

written by Hallie Jacobs

Christopher Russow graduated from the Rady School of Management’s FlexMBA in 2014.

“I actually started in the FlexEvening program, and during my second year at Rady I ended up switching to the FlexWeekend program for greater flexibility,” he said. “This is a perfect example of why the Rady FlexMBA was perfect for me, as it gave me the flexibility to manage my career, my personal life and my pursuit of an MBA degree all at the same time.”

After graduating in 2014, Russow’s MBA experience helped give him the confidence to leave his previous job to go out on his own and pursue a career as an independent consultant. After consulting for a few years both domestically and in Europe, an opportunity came his way in 2017 to start a business with a former boss and mentor Sean Marsh, who is now his business partner.

“Our startup, Tangello, is disrupting the mortgage industry by creating a mortgage-less solution to affordably finance and buy a home that you love,” Russow said. “Starting your own business isn’t what it looks like on TV, and the skills I learned at Rady, as well as the support of the Rady School and my cohort, have really been invaluable.”

Outside of his current role with Tangello, Russow enjoys spending time with his wife Gabi, investing in real estate and other startups, and tinkering with classic German cars.

Why did you decide to come to the Rady School?

I had been thinking about getting my MBA for several years, and shortly after moving to San Diego to start a new job, the desire to get my MBA bubbled to the surface once again. I weighed the options available to me locally, as well as what I could commute to (either by car or plane) and decided that the Rady School of Management FlexMBA program was the right one for me.

The first thing I thought about was the fact that UC San Diego is part of the California Public School System, and as a lifelong supporter of public education, this was very important to me. Second, there are a bunch of great aspects to Rady’s program offering; the faculty are outstanding, the program is flexible and perfect for people who are working full-time, and it’s centered around entrepreneurship and the idea of cultivating startups and helping its alumni to enter the startup world. Finally, you just can’t beat the location, both of the school (you can see the ocean from campus) and of San Diego itself.

What was the most valuable thing you learned while at the Rady School?

It’s hard to really pick one thing as the “Most Valuable” thing that I learned while at Rady. I could talk about the Business Model Canvas, which is an incredible tool that anyone starting a company should utilize. I could also talk about the Lab to Market program, which isn’t really “one thing” but was a critical part of my Rady education. But even more than what I mentioned above, the thing that really stood out to me was the overall shift in the way that I evaluated business opportunities before my MBA and how I evaluate them now.

Before Rady, any time one of my friends mentioned their “new innovative startup idea” I would share in their excitement and enthusiasm, but not really understand if that idea had strong potential or how it could become a real business. After Rady, I feel like I can comfortably evaluate (on the back of a napkin sometimes) the potential of new business ideas and can quickly assess the value of those ideas in real time. This skill, of being able to evaluate opportunities, is what eventually drove me to start a company, based on what I felt was an incredible opportunity in a market I had a competitive advantage in.

What advice do you have for prospective students?

Take your MBA program seriously. I know that should go without saying, but it’s easy to get caught up in work, life, etc. and let some of the deliverables from your MBA program fall by the wayside. The reality is that what you get out of your MBA program will be directly correlated with what you put into it. Attend events, lectures and social gatherings. Take classes that are outside of your comfort zone and that challenge you. The MBA experience is about filling any gaps in your skill-set, forging lifelong bonds with your cohort, and creating a solid foundation from which you can pursue your post-MBA goals, whatever they may be.

September 21, 2018 0 comment
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AdvancingFacultyMSBAStartupStudents

The Benefits of Completing a Specialized Master’s Degree in San Diego

written by Joanna Hughes

The MBA may be the most well-known choice for people looking to enhance their career prospects in business. However, it’s far from the only option. In fact, many students are choosing specialized master’s degrees over the traditional MBA path.

Here’s what you need to know about this increasingly popular option, along with one San Diego school helping students position themselves for career success with specialized master’s degrees.

The MBA may be the most well-known choice for people looking to enhance their career prospects in business. However, it’s far from the only option. In fact, many students are choosing specialized master’s degrees over the traditional MBA path.

Here’s what you need to know about this increasingly popular option, along with one San Diego school helping students position themselves for career success with specialized master’s degrees.

More Expertise, Less Time

If you’re interested in gaining expertise in one particular aspect of business studies, a specialized master’s may be in your future. A recent US News & World Report article on the uptick in interest in specialized master’s degrees highlighted the allure of specialized master’s degrees for candidates who want to hone in on and deepen their knowledge of a specific subject.

Consider the case of Swagata Chakraborty, a recent graduate from the Master of Science in Business Analytics program of the Rady School of Management at the University of California San Diego. After working for two years on Citi’s Global Decision Management team in India, he’d reached an impasse.

“Towards the end of my tenure at Citi, I was trying to figure out whether I wanted to pursue an MBA or wanted to hold on to my engineering roots. On one hand, I loved working with datasets and writing codes to come up with analytical insights and on the other hand, gaining a formal degree to prepare for the business side of industrial problems seemed imperative to me,” says Chakraborty.

Rady School of Management UCSD

Enter the Business Analytics specialized master’s degree at the Rady School. “When I learned about the Business Analytics Program at the Rady School, I realized that this is exactly the specialization I was looking for,” continues Chakraborty.

Not only do specialized master’s degree programs support the acquisition of advanced knowledge, but they often do so in less time and for less money — without the extensive work prerequisite.

Another appeal of specialized master’s degree programs? They can be tailored to respond to financial, environmental and other global disruptions,” according to The Globe and Mail.  In other words, if you want a degree that will enable you to hit the ground running as an authority in an emerging area, specialized master’s degrees provide exactly that.

One other thing to keep in mind about specialized master’s degrees, recently declared by Forbes to be “the hottest new MBA [that’s] not an MBA at all?”, is that they do not preclude the possibility of continuing on to an esteemed MBA degree in the future if and when career advancement or a shift into general management mandates it.

Rady School of Management

Introducing Specialized Master’s Degrees at the Rady School

One school with uniquely compelling specialized master’s degree programs is UC San Diego’s Rady. Specifically, its Master of Professional Accountancy (MPAc), STEM-designated Master of Finance (MFin), and Master of Science in Business Analytics (MSBA) programs offer invaluable skills for students aiming for the inside edge.

MFin program executive director and instructor Michael Melvin says, “The MFin program is a one-year quantitative program aimed at giving the students the skills required to be competitive in today’s financial industry. It is more technical than an MBA program and specializes in finance with an emphasis on data analysis.”

Meanwhile, MSBA executive director Raymond Pettit insists, “Our graduates learn not just how to code, for example, but also how to take results and relate them to business objectives. In addition, the program exposes the students to all the major areas of business where analytics play a key role. This cross-fertilization of learning and techniques across multiple business dimensions actually strengthens the insights and methods that our students can bring to the table when they do arrive on the scene of their respective jobs.”

This mindset of customizable curriculum and hands-on industry experience is also being rolled into the Rady School’s most recent specialized program, the Master of Professional Accountancy (MPAc), which is currently enrolling its first cohort. In addition to preparing students for the CPA exam, networking and career services are a key component to helping MPAc grads get a jump on their careers.

No mention of Rady is complete without mention of its extraordinary location. Chakraborty says, “The location and the culture of California serve as an advantage. Proximity to the various companies in the Bay Area as well as the several startups that are booming in California just make networking and collaborating in the professional frontier easier for us.”

Pettit adds, “Data and the ability to make sense of data is endemic across nearly every facet of business today. Our students have outstanding local assets in the biotech, health sciences, communications, government, and analytical services industry, and our network and reach of possible experiences, internships, capstones, and job placement is rapidly extending further to include key US business centers, such as San Francisco, Boston, and New York.”

And while these programs may be shorter than their MBA alternatives, the intensive curricula are designed to pack in a lot, including sought-after practical experience.

“Every student gets a chance to work with a company to implement a real project. We get to interact with companies and solve real-world problems.  This provides students with the experience and confidence required to navigate through the new field of analytics,” enthuses MSBA alumnus Snehanshu Tiwari.

Tiwari is also quick to point out Rady’s extraordinary faculty. “Each and every professor has a very strong research background. Profs [professors] go out of their way to help the student succeed in the program. They are always open to discussions and open to feedback. In fact, “Every staff member in the school wants us to succeed and do well,” Tiwari says.

The takeaway for everyone from recent grads to mid-career employees hoping to level-up? A specialized master’s degree may make sense from an advancement perspective.

But it is also important to note that all specialized master’s degree programs aren’t created equal. According to Forbes, education consulting firm Eduvantis founder Tim Westerbeck recently cautioned that “among the many useful programs are a few that were ill-conceived, and are less likely to give graduates the outcomes they want.”  Because of this, choosing to pursue a specialized master’s degree is only part of the equation.

Also critical? Choosing the right school — which brings us back to Rady. If you’re looking not just for a degree, but also for the quality assurance that goes along with a degree from a top-ranked institution, Rady’s specialized master’s programsmay be the perfect fit.

September 17, 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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StartRStartupStudents

StartR Spring 18 Teams Showcase Innovation

written by Hallie Jacobs

Each year, the Rady School of Management taps the business potential of students by offering StartR — a non-profit accelerator program for Rady School of Management students and alumni designed to provide entrepreneurs the tools needed to start and grow their businesses.

The spring Class of 2018 will culminate their efforts with the accelerator at StartR Demo Day, which takes place on Wednesday, Oct. 3.

STARTR TEAMS – CLASS OF SPRING 2018

Analytix Hub

Analytix Hub provides big data and analytics services to corporations, startups, and research institutes using a unique platform of scientists and researchers across the nation.

Beggy

Beggy gives women convenience and connectivity with a highly functional and stylish Smart Bag.

Key

Bevea makes refreshing superfruit tonics made from organic coffee fruit, ginger, and botanicals.

Kibots

Hylite is an accurate and effective indoor navigation and position-based marketing solution provider.

Viking Scientific
Tryspree offers “One Click Free Samples” – the fastest easiest way to find and try free product samples.
August 22, 2018 0 comment
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StartupStudents

People of Rady: Jaden Risner

written by Hallie Jacobs

To say that Jaden Risner (MBA ’19) has a lot on his plate would be an understatement. When he’s not in class pursuing his MBA degree, he works as a Naval Officer and pilot, and also is working on developing Family Proud, a startup launched with his fellow Rady School of Management classmates.

“I chose Rady largely because I believe in the Rady School’s mission to develop ethical and entrepreneurial leaders who make a positive impact in the world,” he said. “Coming to Rady has afforded me the greatest opportunity to meet my co-founder of Family Proud. My story is not unique in anyway, however it has had its own set of challenges and tribulations over the years. Each and every one of us have stories and experiences that define who we are.”

1) Why did you choose to pursue an MBA?

I chose to pursue an MBA at Rady to give myself a foundation of business acumen and use the available resources to act as a catalyst for my startup.

2) Why did you choose the Rady School?

The Rady School is well known in Southern California for having a strong entrepreneurial program and with part of Rady’s mission demanding us to have a positive impact through innovation, I felt that it was the best place to be.

3) What do you feel makes Rady unique? How do you benefit from these aspects? 

Rady is unique because it brings together such a wide variety of people and backgrounds, which enables us as students to learn so much more through the people you engage with in program.

4) What classes are you looking forward to taking this year?

I am looking forward to Negotiations and Topics in Innovation of Healthcare Tech.

5) How has your perspective on your career or your life changed since you came to Rady?

I have enjoyed interacting with my classmates from different backgrounds as it has helped me learn about other fields that I have no experience in.

6) What are your goals after graduation?

My goal after graduation is to successfully transition to the Navy Reserves and be working on my startup full time.

7) What advice do you have for prospective students?

Take advantage of the resources available through both Rady and UC San Diego at large. Don’t just wait for that next seminar, plug yourself into the communities and networks you are interested in and go after it.

8) Anything else you would like to share?

Your time in any program will be short, build meaningful relationships with the people you are around and balance your learning with growth. Don’t forget to enjoy the La Jolla sunsets, albeit it might be from the study room.

 

August 15, 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  U.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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