Smith Newslink: Alumni

Financial Times Ranks Smith Among World’s
Best B-Schools
Smith’s MBA program is ranked No. 20 in the United States in the Financial Times MBA 2009 rankings. The influential rankings place Smith No. 12 in the world for research, our third consecutive year in the top 15. The Smith School’s MBA program also comes in at No. 6 program among public business schools in the United States in the Financial Times rankings. Read more.

ThoughtLeadership@Smith Lecture Series
Robert H. Smith School of Business - Washington, D.C. Campus
Ronald Reagan Building & International Trade Center
1300 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, D.C. 20004
8 a.m. - 10 a.m.
Learn from some of Smith’s most influential thinkers and network with fellow alumni at this series of breakfast presentations, held on the last Friday of the month at our Washington, D.C. campus. Come to one event, or join us for the whole series.

	Recession Proof Your Global Strategy Friday, February 27 The current financial crisis in the United States means it's more critical than ever to get your China and India strategies right. Join Professor Anil Gupta, a world-leading global strategist, as he offers intelligence and advice from his newly released book, Getting China and India Right. Please RSVP online for this event by Wednesday, February 25.
	Increasing the Accuracy of Forecasting Outcomes Friday, March 27 Increase your odds of winning - in business and in the March Madness office pool - with Associate Professor Wolfgang Jank, an expert on prediction markets. Gain hands-on experience in leveraging prediction markets as a business decision making using the NCAA Final Four as a real-life example. Please RSVP online for this event by Wednesday, March 25.
	Lead With Purpose Friday, April 24 With unprecedented global interconnectedness, organizations and their leaders need to consider how social, economic, environmental and ethical factors directly affect business strategy. Be prepared to take on roles of responsibility that advance a higher cause with a talk from Gerald Suarez, associate dean of external strategy and Ralph J. Tyser Teaching Fellow. Suarez served with distinction for more than 11 years at the White House under two administrations and is an internationally recognized authority on leadership development. Please RSVP online for this event by Wednesday, April 22.

4th Annual Cupid’s Cup Business Competition
Entry Deadline February 27
View the Commercial!
Join the Dingman Center for Entrepreneurship and top Terp entrepreneurs for the Fourth Annual Cupid’s Cup Business Competition on April 17. See who takes home the cup and $22,500 in prize money, awarded to the best University of Maryland student or alumni startup. Alumni of the University of Maryland graduating with an undergraduate or graduate degree between May 2005 and December 2008 are eligible for the competition. Deadline for entries is February 27. Enter today!

Finding a Job in a Tough Economy
Wednesday, March 4
4 p.m. - 7 p.m.
ATK's space in the First Mariner Bank Building in Canton
(Baltimore City)
The Smith School launched "Smith Connects" - a critical initiative to reach out to alumni, reconnect them to the school, and strengthen the Smith community. There are many facets to the program including this career-focused presentation and "Meet the Dean" networking event to assist with navigating the challenges of the current job market. Whether you recently lost your job or are thinking about making a career change, this presentation will explore useful trends to help you create a targeted plan of action. Don't miss this unique opportunity to sharpen your skills and prepare for the next phase of your career.

Smith Speaker Series, featuring Alex Counts
Tuesday, March 31 - Save the Date!
6:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.
Van Munching Hall's Frank Auditorium
The Smith School is proud to present Alex Counts, President and CEO of the Grameen Foundation. With the help of 27 countries and a dedication to social consciousness and change, Counts has impacted the lives of an estimated 31 million of the world’s indigenous people. This Smith Speaker Series - “Microfinance as a Platform for Change” will focus on the interests that have lead to Counts’ successful engagement with the global finance industry, including innovations focused on capital investment in microfinance, poverty, human resources, and technology. Please join the greater University of Maryland community in welcoming scholar, author and philanthropist Alex Counts as he discusses his platform for change.

New Degree Offered, MS in Business: Finance
The Smith School now offers a Masters of Science in Business: Finance. The program will prepare students to analyze and direct the financial decisions of an organization in the global economy. Emphasizing quantitative methods, students gain a deep understanding of and appreciation for the theoretical foundations of finance today. Learn more or apply today.

February 2009