Experiential / Reality-based Learning / October 30, 2017

Students Learn How Innovators Think

Students Learn How Innovators Think

Brett Prescott earned dual degrees in finance and economics from the University of Maryland, has a successful career in marketing and came back to College Park last week to share his experience with current undergraduates and be a part of the Terps’ Homecoming Weekend. During a “Lunch & Learn” on Oct. 27, 2017, a classroom-full of interested business students at the Robert H. Smith School of Business listened to and asked questions of Prescott, as he detailed his professional journey and described his current responsibilities as global partnerships director at Facebook and Instagram and professor at NYU Stern School of Business.

Prescott described how each of the jobs he has held helped him develop and learn and expand his network. Lesson to be learned: never burn any bridges and always keep your goals in sight.

The undergraduate students who met with Prescott are enrolled in the course, “BMGT289-How Do Innovator’s Think?” It is an “I” series course taught by Mark Wellman, clinical professor of management and organization, with one section restricted to freshmen in the Business, Society and the Economy (BSE) College Park Scholars program. Wellman is the director of the two-year, living-learning BSE program. When Prescott was an undergraduate student, Wellman was his professor and guided him through an independent study course, for which he created a complete business plan. The two have remained in contact since Prescott graduated more than a decade ago.

Prescott will also host a group of 30 Smith undergraduates on Nov. 3 in Facebook’s New York City office, as part of the annual "Smith in the City" student trip. For the past few years, Prescott has gathered a group of fellow Terp alumni in the NYC office to welcome the BSE students for an hour-long presentation, Q&A session and tour of the site. Following the Facebook visit, the undergraduates will be hosted by other BSE alums at Google and Goldman Sachs and the father of a BSE student at Bank of NY/Mellon. In addition to the business visits, students will have a guided walking tour of Wall Street and will join scores of alumni at the Smith in the City Alumni Reception on Thursday evening.

For more information about the undergraduate program at Smith, visit: www.rhsmith.umd.edu/undergrad.

- Claudia Donnelly, Smith Undergraduate Program

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Greg Muraski
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About the University of Maryland's Robert H. Smith School of Business

The Robert H. Smith School of Business is an internationally recognized leader in management education and research. One of 12 colleges and schools at the University of Maryland, College Park, the Smith School offers undergraduate, full-time and flex MBA, executive MBA, online MBA, business master’s, PhD and executive education programs, as well as outreach services to the corporate community. The school offers its degree, custom and certification programs in learning locations in North America and Asia.

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