9th Annual MBA Consulting Forum Deemed a "Huge Success"

On Feb. 8, 2008, Smith students gathered at both Van Munching Hall and the Samuel Riggs IV Alumni Center for the MBA Consulting Forum. This is the ninth consecutive year that the MBA Consulting Association Executive Board has partnered with faculty, staff and student volunteers to host this daylong interactive event for students, alumni and industry professionals. Students in attendance had the opportunity to interact with consulting professionals from varied backgrounds, levels, firms, and industries both collectively and individually throughout the day.

"This year, our aim for the forum was to provide a 360 degree perspective into the consulting practice as we focus on the breadth and variety of opportunities in the marketplace," said Ganesh Sundaresan, president of the MBA Consulting Association.

Following opening remarks by Sundaresan, Carlos Alvarenga, vice president of Satyam, Ltd., a global supply chain strategy leader, spoke to the core attributes necessary to succeed as a consultant. "The key to consulting comes down to three: content, clarity and confidence," said Alvarenga. After his remarks, titled "Skinny Children, Bad Spreadsheets and the Randomness of Management: Preparing for and Excelling in Management Consulting," Alvarenga remained in Frank Auditorium and conducted extended, in-depth discussions with several students.

Attendees were then treated two high-profile panel discussions that were moderated by Smith faculty members Hugh Courtney, Professor of the Practice, Distinguished Tyser Teaching Fellow, and executive education fellow, and Michael Lawless, Distinguished Tyser Teaching Fellow.

The first panel discussion, titled "The Government as a Client," featured panelists from Booz Allen Hamilton, IBM GES, and Censeo Consulting Group. The second, "Business Development in Commercial Consulting," included panelists from McKinsey & Company, Deloitte, First Annapolis, and Diamond.

After the panel discussion, the forum moved to the Riggs Center for a cocktail reception and buffet dinner. Following dinner, Daniel Bresette, vice president of the MBA Consulting Association, introduced the Forum's keynote speaker, Mark J. Gerenscer, a senior partner and senior vice president of Booz Allen Hamilton. Gerenscer's address, titled "The Megacommunity Manifesto," spoke to how public, private, and civil leaders should confront together the problems that none can solve alone.

Attendees and consulting board members alike were very pleased with the MBA Consulting Forum on every level. "The forum was a huge success. The panels were really informative and gave all attendees some key insights into the consulting industry. But my favorite part of the evening was definitely Marc Gerencser's closing presentation on Megacommunities, it was a great finale to the day," remarked first-year consulting board member Eric Deinoff.

Peter Baird, MBA Candidate 2009, Smith Media Group