Robert H. Smith School of Business - University of Maryland, College Park

Meet Our Students

Name: Miguel Dieguez
Hometown: Hartford, Connecticut
Undergraduate Institution: U.S. Naval Academy (Class of 1997)
MBA Focus: Management and Organization

What did you do before you arrived at Smith? Active Duty Naval Civil Engineer Corps Officer

What path did you take to Smith? Since the federal government is striving to operate more like a business, I wanted an MBA that would allow me to focus my studies in areas that the government is especially weak in. Specifically, I sought a national-ranked program that would teach me how to leverage technology as a business advantage while giving me a lot of flexibility in choosing electives since I have an interest in areas ranging from change management to organizational behavior to e-commerce.

What made Smith the right choice for you? Smith was definitely the right choice for me. In addition to giving me what I was looking for as far as the program, the Smith community has been the difference. With only about 120 students enrolled per year to the full-time MBA program, Smith is a small, tight-knit student body which has several advantages. Specifically, you are more than just a student in a seat. Every single one of your classmates and most of the staff/faculty will know you by name. Additionally, the Office of Career Management has partnered with professionals to develop programs, such as professional writing, executive presentations, etiquette and professional polish, aimed at preparing you for the future. This is what separated Smith as the right choice for me.

Name: Rita Mullane
Hometown: Winthrop, Massachusetts
Undergraduate Institution: College of William & Mary
MBA Focus: Consulting

What did you do before you arrived at Smith? I worked at the Armenian Assembly of America doing fundraising and development.

What path did you take to Smith? How did you decide on attending business school? I felt there were a number of business and management skills that I wanted to development and improve. I was ready for a career change, but wanted to stay in the D.C. area and take the time to really examine all of the opportunities out there.

How is your first semester of business school? It’s busy. Really, really busy. I knew that Smith would draw a quality group of people into the program, but I have been surprised by just how awesome each and every one of my classmates truly is. They are all intelligent with diverse experience and just fun to be around. Quite an impressive group. My goals are to do well in my classes, excel in my extracurricular activities, get my internship search on track and make some incredible friends.

Have you joined any clubs? What was it about the club that influenced your decision to join? I’ve joined Smith Association of Woman MBAs and I've become a first year officer. I have also joined the Consulting and Marketing Clubs. The clubs all provide educational and networking outlets that will help me develop professionally.

Name: Qi “Alex” Guo
Hometown: Beijing, China
Undergraduate Institution: West Virginia University
MBA Focus: Strategy and Finance

What did you do before you arrived at Smith? I worked as a project manager and in international relations at a biotech research firm in Beijing, where I worked with international collaborators to build partnerships and coordinated multinational projects and conferences.

What path did you take to Smith? I started off as an engineer, then moved into project management and communications. I attempted to build a broad skill set combining strong analytical and problem solving skills with interpersonal and public communications skills. Business school is the bridge that will help me complete the transition into a career in consulting.

How is your first semester of business school? Any surprises? What are your goals for your first semester? The academics at Smith are definitely challenging. No slacking allowed! I have felt very productive in everything I have done. There’s always immediate feedback for all your actions, and all your efforts are always rewarded with positive results.

Name: Eduardo Vargas
Hometown: Lima, Peru
Undergraduate Institution: Pontificia Universidad Catolica del Peru
MBA Focus: Strategy and Supply Chain Management

What did you do before you arrived at Smith? I was a consultant and manager for process improvement. I established my firm’s first office in Ecuador and managed staffing, client relationship building and market entry strategy.

What path did you take to Smith? How did you decide on attending business school? I am sponsored by the Fulbright Commission and they recommended me to the Smith School of Business. For me an academic update was necessary and an opportunity also to develop a contact network in the U.S.

Name: Tekisha Harvey
Hometown: Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Undergraduate Institution: Florida A & M University
Work Experience: Merchandise Planner for Polo Ralph Lauren.
MBA Focus: Marketing and Strategy

What path did you take to Smith? After working in the corporate retail environment as a merchandise planner for Ralph Lauren for several years, I wanted to broaden my exposure and knowledge of other business functions.

What made Smith the right choice for you? First, I was attracted to Smith's focus on developing leaders for the digital economy. Once I visited the campus, I was also drawn to the vast amount of resources made available to ensure success. Finally, the truly friendly and supportive environment let me know that Smith was the perfect fit for me.

Have you joined any clubs? I am a first year board member in the Graduate Marketing Association (GMA). The GMA is very connected to the marketing community and they work hard to provide members with the necessary tools and information to successfully attain Marketing positions. We're also committed to representing the talent at Smith to the Marketing community.

Name: Kate Hannon
Hometown: Cleveland, Ohio
Undergraduate Institution: Loyola College in Maryland
Undergraduate Major: Business Administration
Work Experience: Financial Analyst, CareFirst BlueCross Blue Shield
MBA Focus: Finance
Smith Activities: MBA Finance Association, Net Impact, Grassroots Social Venture Program

What path did you take to Smith? I began working at CareFirst immediately after graduating from Loyola College. My employment in a corporate finance role was something of a happy accident. I enjoyed corporate finance, but I wanted to broaden my experience. I studied economics and finance as an undergraduate and I’ve always been interested in international financial economics and monetary policy. After graduating from Smith, I hope to move into a role related to one of those fields. I view business school as an opportunity to strengthen my skills and as a transition between my work in corporate finance and whatever comes next.

What made Smith the right choice for you? Smith’s attitude made it the right choice for me. When I described what I want to do after graduation, the staff responded by telling me how Smith could help me do it. The people at other schools I applied to focused on the challenges of pursuing a job in such a specific area of finance. Smith accepted the challenge and informed me of the resources the school has that can help me pursue my desired field.

How is your first semester of business school? Any surprises? What are your goals for your first semester? The first semester is going very well. No surprises. Four classes, group projects, clubs, and figuring out what I want to do for my summer internship keeps me busy. My goal is to manage my time efficiently and to get everything done well.

Name: Matt Bardill
Hometown: To quote Johnny Cash, “I’ve been everywhere, man, I’ve been everywhere.” My life has included stops in Florida, Missouri, Kansas, Ohio, Pennsylvania, California, South Carolina, North Carolina, and Virginia.
Undergraduate Institution: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
MBA Focus: Marketing and Entrepreneurship

What path did you take to Smith? How did you decide on attending business school? I wanted to explore other career paths in business and decided that attending b-school would provide me the skills, resources, and the network to do so.

What made Smith the right choice for you? I looked at other business schools in the Washington, D.C., area and went to as many schools sponsored events to figure out which b-school was right for me. During my viBe visit and admitted student weekend, I felt like I would fit in well at Smith both in terms of the academic program and with my fellow classmates.

At Smith, students are introduced very quickly to a broad range of business disciplines. Smith's curriculum is a balance between teaching knowledge and skills, depth and breadth. Core courses, which prepare us for choosing our elective classes and participating in clubs and extracurricular activities, are the foundation of our MBA education.

First-year MBA candidates have six courses during their first semester: two full-semester, 15-week courses, Data, Models, and Decisions, and Financial Management; and four seven-week courses, Introduction to Financial Accounting, Managerial Economics and Policy, Leadership and Teamwork, and Marketing Management.

@SMITH: What is your favorite class so far?

Matt Bardill: Managerial Economics, because it has given me economic structure and mathematically explanation for things that we see in business everyday.

@SMITH: Has a course given you new insight on an issue or problem you’ve thought about before?

Alex Guo: Managerial Economics. Game theory. It has given structure to some of the decisions I have had to make in the past.

Managerial Economics and Public Policy (BUSI 681) is taught by Professor Rachelle Sampson of the Logistics, Business, and Public Policy Department. Professor Sampson earned a law degree from Queensland University of Technology in Australia and her Ph.D. from the University of Michigan.

We’ve heard from first-year students; now, @SMITH asked Professor Sampson about her classes and her research interests.

@SMITH: What are you looking for in your first-year MBA students?
Professor Sampson: The best things a first year MBA can bring to the classroom are curiosity, enthusiasm for learning and an excellent work ethic. While each MBA class teaches a specific set of skills or tools, fundamentally, the most important skill we can teach is critical thinking. In BUSI 681, the tools we teach include how to optimally set price and production quantities, evaluate the inherent profitability of an industry and better understand competitive dynamics between firms.

@SMITH: How do your interests find their way into BUSI 681?
R. S.: My research interests surround the economics of organizations, specifically, how firms can effectively collaborate to better compete in the marketplace. I am most interested in R&D collaboration between firms. Several of the tools I use to understand firm cooperative and competitive dynamics are covered in BUSI 681, including the use of game theory, understanding oligopolistic markets, and when vertical integration makes sense.

@SMITH: Do you have any advice for prospective students as they think about the rigorous first semester of business school at Smith?
R.S.: Be prepared to immerse yourself in the entire MBA experience—this is one of the few opportunities in your adult life when you will have the chance to devote yourself to learning new skills, meeting new people and evaluating your career path. You should relish the opportunity to work hard and recognize that you will learn almost as much from your experiences with your fellow students as you will within the classroom. Take advantage of every chance to experiment and learn.

Students at Smith are given many great opportunities to grow as business leaders outside the classroom through student clubs, case competitions, and the extensive alumni network around the world. One of the most innovative is the Dingman Center for Entrepreneurship. The Dingman Center helps students and regional entrepreneurs develop and grow their businesses through services and programs and outstanding entrepreneurship education. It's a one-of-a-kind resource for Smith students who are interested in starting their own business and learning the fundamentals behind business development.

Entrepreneurship and personal development are fundamental in every aspect of Smith's academics, and the Dingman Center plays a central role in helping MBA students make the most of our two years of business school.

@SMITH asked Dingman Center Managing Director Asher Epstein (MBA '02) for his thoughts about what the new year holds for Smith's MBA Class of 2008.

Asher Epstein: We have a number of new opportunities for students this year. We have created a dozen liaison positions, which are a great way for students to get involved with the programs of the Dingman Center. Our portfolio companies, Capital Access Network, Mentor Program, and Pitch Dingman program all have liaisons positions to provide students with hands-on opportunities to gain exposure to entrepreneurs, entrepreneurial companies. and the entrepreneurial process. Additionally, another big change is the addition of Melissa Carrier as our Associate Director. Melissa has a Wharton MBA and a strong background in corporate venturing. She is a great addition to the team.

@SMITH: How do student-entrepreneurs typically change and grow over the 18 months of their studies?

A. E.: The biggest change is that students gain practical experience starting and running their business. There is no substitute for experience and students that work with the Dingman Center will be more seasoned at evaluating business opportunities and determining where they should allocate resources. Additionally the students interacting with the Dingman Center will gain strong execution skills necessary to advance their ideas in the marketplace.

@SMITH: What are your goals for the entrepreneurs in the class of 2008? For the class in general?

A. E.: Our goals are always to provide students with practical hands on experience with the entrepreneurial process. Many students have interest in being entrepreneurs and we feel that business school is an ideal, almost risk free time to get your feet wet. The Dingman Center really offers a tremendous opportunity for students to get exposure to the entrepreneurial process and try things they might not otherwise have the opportunity to try. We always encourage students to go the extra mile. It isn’t easy being an entrepreneur and, if you aren’t disciplined and willing to work hard, it is almost impossible. We hope that many students from the class will visit the Dingman Center and learn about all of the opportunities available.

August and September were filled with orientation events, professional skills workshops and presentations, and the first club meetings of the year. Oh, and then there were the homework assignments, projects, and exams. Orientation was a time for us to prepare for business school and learn more about the ways the Smith School of Business’ invaluable career development and technology assets would become important resources for our first semester. We were also introduced to what might be the key aspect of a successful MBA education: teamwork.

Miguel Dieguez: In my opinion, Orientation is about two things: meeting the individuals that will be my classmates for the next two years and learning about the opportunities I'll have to become part of and express myself in the Smith community. Not surprisingly, my favorite activity during Orientation was the team building exercise we did at the outdoor climbing complex.

Kate Hannon: Orientation allowed me to get to know my classmates and it made me realize how diverse our backgrounds are. The Myers-Briggs workshop was my favorite activity. It helped us understand each other and the information we learned makes teamwork easier.

@SMITH: Any advice for prospective students considering a Smith MBA?

Miguel Dieguez: You have just two difficult decisions to make as far choosing an MBA programs. You already made the first one by deciding to pursue an MBA. The other one is selecting a school. If you consider that just about every nationally ranked MBA program is structured similarly, then picking a school boils down to where you will feel most comfortable.

Eduardo Vargas: Prepare for the GMAT and for the interviews, and try to get more and more involved with the Smith community. This program is not for people who only want to study, it’s for people who want to participate and have developed extracurricular activities successfully.

Tekisha Harvey: Business school is challenging, so be sure to choose a school that is vested in your success. The support that you receive from the students, faculty, and staff at Smith truly sets them apart.

Alex Guo: Make sure you can answer “Why MBA”, “Why Now”, “Why Smith”. Because you’ll need these answers (for job interviews) even after you start the program!

Rita Mullane: Come meet us for yourselves. No printed materials can capture the community and quality of the Smith MBA program.

The Robert H. Smith School of Business strives to provide many varied opportunities for prospective students and applicants to experience our community for themselves.

• Meet current students and ask for their insights and advice;
• See the state-of-the-art facilities and resources of Van Munching Hall;
• Sit in a first-year MBA class (reservations required);
• Talk with members of the admissions committee, career office, and other key staff; and
• Imagine yourself as part of the Smith community.

• What is unique about Smith?
• What does Smith offer?
• Why did current students choose Smith? and
• What has been your greatest surprise since you arrived?

If you would like to take advantage of a structured visitor program, consider participating in Beyond the Classroom or Visits with viBe:

Beyond the Classroom was developed to offer admitted students and applicants insight into life at Smith, but without a classroom visit. Events have included guest speakers, new product focus groups, and industry forums.

Visits with the Volunteers in Business Education (viBe) are half-day sessions designed to provide participants with a tour of Van Munching Hall, overview of the program, a class visit, and lunch with current MBA students.

If you are unable to travel to College Park, please join us for an upcoming online chat. Send us an e-mail if you would like an invitation to participate, click here, and continue to watch your e-mail inbox for monthly issues of @SMITH and other exciting announcements!

To visit the Robert H. Smith School of Business Admissions Office online, please click here.

There’s no shortage of great things to do at the University of Maryland (if you’re caught up on your team projects and homework assignments, that is).

Wander the University of Maryland’s Union Gallery’s exhibit, “Emory Kristof: Around the World in 800,000 Chromes”, featuring work by famed National Geographic photographer Emory Kristof (’64).

See the new sloth bear cub at the much-anticipated Asia Trail, or just watch giant pandas Tian Tian, Mei Xiang, and baby Tai Shan snack on bamboo and roll around at the National Zoo.

Or just keep an eye out for Marine One landing at the White House while you walk the National Mall on a sunny, breezy fall day.