I recently had the opportunity to visit China for graduate programs admissions interviews. It was wonderful to meet so many amazing prospective students from this part of the world and learn more about this beautiful country. (more…)
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Students from three of Olin’s Executive MBA programs will earn their degrees Friday, Dec. 11 in an awards and diploma ceremony scheduled to begin at 2 p.m. in Graham Chapel.
Michael Neidorff
Zhiwen YIN, Associate Dean of the Fudan School of Management and Dean Gupta will officiate at the ceremony.
The keynote speaker is Michael Neidorff, Chairman, President and CEO of Centene Corporation.
A total of 74 executives will be awarded diplomas. Class 13 from the Shanghai program managed in partnership with Fudan University has 30 graduates and Class 44 from the Kansas City- and St. Louis-based programs has 44 students.
Last month, Dean Gupta was invited to celebrate the Fudan School of Management’s 30th anniversary since reestablishment. He announced in Shanghai, that a faculty office at Olin will be named in honor of Fudan to mark this milestone and the successful collaboration between Washington University and Fudan University.
Pictured at right is the ceremonial ding presented to Olin by the second class to complete the EMBA program in Shanghai.
The ding is installed on the south side of the Knight Center, home to the Executive Education programs.
Brookings Executive Education (BEE) hosted Executive MBA students from Olin’s Shanghai program at the Brookings Institution in Washington, D.C., November 30 – December 2. The three day program included visits to the Chinese Embassy and presentations from several speakers including Associate Dean and Director of BEE, Jackson Nickerson. The Shanghai EMBA program is in partnership with Fudan University’s School of Management.
The Washington EMBA residency closed with a presentation from Carol Browner, former director of the White House Office of Energy and Climate Change Policy in the Obama administration (2009 – 2011), and Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) during the Clinton administration (1993 – 2001). Browner provided a brief history of the EPA and its mission. She also discussed the challenges and successes during her time in both administrations and the current global environmental challenges.
One Executive MBA student who is currently splitting his time between Shanghai and San Francisco was excited to have an opportunity to hear from an expert on creating and implementing environmental regulations. “Hearing firsthand how environmental changes were implemented provides insight on how to strategically go about implementing and upholding regulations. The focus on making businesses accountable and to make environmental issues more transparent is invaluable.”
In addition to the speakers and presentations, students also attended a reception with WashU alumni. Graduates from 1972 to as recent as 2011 mingled with Fudan students discussing everything from the best places to eat in Washington D.C. to opportunities for companies to collaborate on upcoming projects.
After their time in D.C., the Fudan students traveled to New York City and on to St. Louis where they will graduate Dec. 11.
Image: Carol Browner at the Brookings Institution
It was a an overcast, rainy Saturday in Kansas City, yet it did not dampen the spirits of Olin’s Executive MBA students in Kansas City who gathered to participate in the 11th annual Dragon Boat Races hosted by the Society for Friendship with China on June 13.
Drawing on lessons learned in the Team Development course with Professors Bill Bottom and Hillary Elfenbein, the “Strokes of Genius”team raced in two races on Brush Creek, the body of water that flows alongside KC’s famed Country Club Plaza. It was a day shared with family and friends, and one filled with laughs as our group of novice rowers came together.
The “Strokes of Genius” included members of EMBA 46 Kansas City.
EMBA student Brad Li, a native of Shanghai, participated in the event’s opening ceremony and before the team rowed he shared secret tips learned from Chinese Deputy Consul General Liu who visited his KC office on Friday.
Participating in this Chinese tradition is especially meaningful for Olin Business School. Our EMBA program in partnership with Fudan University in Shanghai was the first joint EMBA program recognized in mainland China in 2002.
For the program’s international residency, our students travel to Beijing and Shanghai to experience business in both the political and economic capitals of China. While in Shanghai, they will also engage with our Shanghai cohort to truly experience doing business on a global platform.
EMBA 46 Kansas City exhibits teamwork in action.
The 6th Kansas City cohort includes entrepreneurs, corporate executives, industry leaders, attorneys, and non-profit executives.
The cohort will continue their studies through January before rejoining their colleagues in St. Louis for the second half of the Executive MBA curriculum, which includes the international residency in Bejing and Shanghai.
Every year, more than a thousand people volunteer their time to enhance the Olin experience and support students by helping them develop into the best employees. We call these important volunteers, “Friends of Olin.” They are formal and informal mentors, case competition judges, practicum sponsors, speakers, employers hiring fresh talent and much more. They provide meaningful real world experiences for our Olin students.
Dean Mahendra Gupta and Olin invited these wonderful people on May 28 to the Atrium of Knight Hall for a reception to say, “thank you.” More than 100 attended.
Alex Goldberg (BSBA 2016)
After Dean Gupta’s welcome, there were three speakers.
Alex Goldberg, BSBA 2016, spoke about the opportunities presented to him through many memorable examples, some included student group speakers, company visits, and formal mentoring programs.
Michelle Duguid, Assistant Professor of Organizational Behavior, Olin Business School
Professor Michelle Duguid spoke of the inaugural Women in Leadership class she led as well as other projects, speakers and faculty research partners.
Rodney Kinzinger, Managing Partner, Deloitte
Rodney Kinzinger, Managing Partner at Deloitte, spoke on behalf of corporate partners who engage with Olin on a regular basis. “Any one of you could be up here,” he commented, looking around the room.
Around the room were screens displaying quotes from students and pictures of events and visits from various corporate friends throughout the year. See those slides here.
Below are some pictures from the event:
Kim Shaw Elliott (EMBA 96) and Anne Elliott (PMBA) with Mike Ferman (BSBA 68)
Michelle Brady (EMBA 08) and John Bacilek (EMBA 08) with Alex Goldberg (BSBA). In the back are Dean Meyer (EMBA) and Steve Degnan (EMBA 08).
Tim Mickelson and Nick Bhambri (EMBA 07).
Kurt Dirks, Christopher Gaskin and Michelle Duguid
Jim Klingler, Marvin Anderson and Jacob Siewert (BSBA 13)
Olin friends, students, faculty and staff had a great time reconnecting and networking.
Steve Degnan (EMBA 08), Dean Mahendra Gupta, John Bacilek, and Gil Bickel (BSBA 66)
Nick Bhambri (EMBA 07), Bob Balk (BSBA 67) and Associate Dean Steve Malter
Ken Hunt (BSBA 51)
Dick Mahoney, Sean Arp, and Dan Feder look on with the crowd as the speakers present.
The Friends of Olin Reception 2015 was a great success. We thank all of you who have participated with Olin in broadening the education of our students and helping our faculty with their research.
I don’t know what I was expecting. We got so many warnings about not using the tap water in the hotel (even to brush your teeth), and had to get so many shots before going to China. I envisioned a third world experience. Perhaps a hut without any running water at all.
Complimentary breakfast includes Asian noodle and bun options.
But I was surprised by how well we lived at the Shanghai Marriott City Centre for the EMBA International Residency. It was way better than home. Here are a few things I did that I would definitely do again:
1. Brought effervescent vitamin tablets to stave off any infection, mostly from the long flight. I made a point to drop one in a bottle of water to drink every morning, which was another good way to stay hydrated. I did not get sick while I was there. The hotel provides plenty of complimentary bottled water.
2. Had a good camera phone.
3. Brought a variety of weights of clothes and layers. It was much colder there than we expected, and a few people froze their toes waiting on train platforms and the like. We had rain, also. I had a water resistant coat I was grateful to have.
Watson’s convenience store, adjacent to Shanghai Marriott City Center.
4. Found a Watson’s in the mall attached to the hotel for forgotten toiletry items and Chinese candy to bring home for the kids.
5. Kept myself caffeinated. You can get Starbuck’s around the corner from the hotel, but there is also a coffee shop in the hotel. Both are pricey, so it depends on your coffee needs. The hotel coffee shop Tall latte was 35 RMB ( $5.64 today), though–slightly more expensive than the Starbucks (31 RMB for a Grande, $5.00 today). The coffee served at the daily complimentary breakfast (which was amazing in its variety), was too weak for my taste. There is also a cappuccino maker at guests’ disposal in the breakfast area, but I never had the patience to try it.
Starbucks, at right, is around the corner from the hotel.
6. Found inexpensive, delicious food in walking distance of the hotel:
Yang’s Fry Dumplings, essentially Chinese fast food, was very popular with our class. Very inexpensive and delicious. It’s an easy walk from the hotel. Check the Google map linked above, but do that before you go! The concierge can help as well.
Simply Thai was also really good. Dinner with a drink cost less than a single cocktail in the hotel bar, and another easy walk from the hotel.
7. Invested in a pocket guide to Shanghai. I got Frommer’s Pocket Shanghai Day by Day because I was interested in walking tours (I got it used because it’s out of print), but any pocket guide with an inserted map should work. I know this is pretty old school, but it came in handy when we all needed to look at a map as a group, or when I didn’t have internet access (which was often). It also helped me plan the outings I did take on my own, and help me get oriented in the city.
Shanghai Marriott 6th floor fitness center has numerous cardiovascular machines, weights, and fitness balls.
8. Worked out almost daily. If you like to work out, it helps with the jet lag to keep up the routine and the fitness center in the hotel is fantastic. There is also a pool–bring a suit if you like to swim. Good for jet lag as well.
I have a few “don’t”s as well:
1. Don’t run out of effervescent vitamins a day before it’s time to go home. And don’t leave the disinfectant wipes at home. I got sick as soon as I got home.
2. Don’t forget to learn about your new camera phone and how much capacity it has for video and photos before you go. I filled up my cloud storage by about day 6 and wasn’t sure how to remedy that.
Lindsay Wagner, EMBA 43, getting RMB from the cash machine outside the hotel lobby.
3. Don’t exchange money in the US airport before you board your flight to China. I got a really bad exchange rate, and there’s an easy to use cash machine that accepts US debit cards in the hotel lobby.
4. Don’t wait until the last day to explore the city in your free time. I wanted to take various walking tours, visit a museum or two, and see a few other things and time ran out. On my last day I noticed the former site of the Shanghai Race Club in People’s Park. Would have loved to go inside, but it was time to go. I think a bus tour would have been fun, too.
5. Don’t skip ordering something custom made at the fabric market. Make a plan in advance. It doesn’t have to be a suit. People in our class got dresses and camelhair coats. I was overwhelmed by the choices and self-consciousness and didn’t choose anything. I left knowing what I should have ordered.
Former Shanghai Race Club People’s Park.
6. Don’t skimp on shopping. Think about who you would like to buy gifts for in advance. The shopping is amazing in Shanghai, and you can get many things inexpensively. I would go back for one or two items that I forgot to get, or didn’t know to get. And I’d buy a dozen silk scarves…for anyone I need a gift for in the next 5 years. I did not do this…
7. Don’t stay in all the time. Try to eat and drink outside the hotel (my two outings above were way too few, but both were great, so that’s heartening). Most people in my class went out all the time, and I stayed in. You should have plenty of opportunities to go with others. It was tempting for me to stay in, since the hotel was a known quantity and I tend not to be adventurous with dining, but it was much more expensive than other very nice restaurants in the area.
Bus tour map of Shanghai. Tour start on Nanjing Road near Peoples Park.
8. Don’t expect to use Google and Facebook. Warn everyone who might want to communicate with you while you are in China that you won’t have access to them (including gmail).
Some people in my class had access to these tools, but I didn’t. I had people trying to reach me via these tools and they couldn’t.
