Executive MBAs Volunteer at Junior Achievement Day

Students and alumni of the W. P. Carey MBA - Executive Program traded their business suits for teachers' caps as they taught global business concepts to elementary school children recently through the Junior Achievement volunteer organization.

Sixteen Executive Program students and alumni participated in Junior Achievement Day on May 1 at Kyrene de los Ninos Elementary School in Tempe. The W. P. Carey MBA volunteers stood among tiny chairs and tables, where groups of children sang and clapped, colored pictures and completed worksheets during the activities.

Junior Achievement Day is a one-day experience in which community volunteers, who are trained by the organization, are matched with an elementary classroom to facilitate fun and educational lessons about economics and finance. The mission of Junior Achievement is to inspire and prepare young people to succeed in a global economy.

"Even at a kindergarten level, it is important for children to receive exposure to the business world in general, to learn concepts of earning money and savings for future rewards," said Mariyah Badani, a 2007 alumna of the W. P. Carey MBA - Executive Program.

"This is a two-way learning experience. As executives, we get to see first-hand what the pool of employees of the future will look like, what they are exposed to in terms of technology and skill, and what their expectations will be of the workplace in the future," said Badani, Director of Strategic Initiatives for UMR, United Health Group.

W. P. Carey School of Business International MBA Showcase 2008

A group of W. P. Carey MBA students recently celebrated their diversity with colorful costumes, exotic food, music and dance from around the world at the International MBA Showcase at Old Main. Many nations were represented through food, attire, music and dance, including China, Colombia, France, Guatemala, India, Mexico, Taiwan, Turkey, Venezuela and others. The event was sponsored by the International MBA Association.

"Globalization is not a textbook term anymore," said Sudhi Somashekara, association president, while greeting the 60 participants. "It's real - and it's here to stay!"

The W. P. Carey MBA student body comprised 29 percent international students for the 2007-2008 school year. The International MBA Association is a student organization that helps students to transition smoothly into American culture during their studies at ASU.

Second-year MBA student Lovey Agarwal walked the runway in a burgundy kurta pajama, a traditional men's shirt worn for marriage ceremonies in India, drawing applause and cheers from the audience. "I have learned about different cultures and countries through the W. P. Carey MBA program; there are students from 20 different countries in the program," Agarwal said.

First-year MBA student Sabrina Goicoechea modeled a deep turquoise sari on the runway. When asked what she enjoys most about the MBA community, she said, "Diversity - I really like that you get to know people from all over the world, and they teach you differences about their cultures."

The International MBA Showcase 2008 included performances by ASU student groups reflecting tango, salsa and Arabian styles of dance, and an Indian band.

Executive MBA Success Story: Diane Neudorff

As she completes her studies in the W. P. Carey MBA - Executive Program in May 2008, Diane Neudorff is pleased with the return on her investment in education. Neudorff was promoted in March from her position as Business Director, Regional Aircraft and Component Customers to Vice President of Programs and Subcontracts at Honeywell Aerospace.

While Honeywell invested in the cost of her education, Neudorff invested something less tangible: her time and energy over 21 months. "For me, the return on investment is phenomenal," she says. "For Honeywell, I really hope the company has the same opinion, that it will receive the return on investment through what I can do for the company."

Neudorff entered the W. P. Carey MBA Executive Program in August 2006. Among her favorite courses have been finance and economics, which equipped the former engineer with the business tools she needed to compete in the global business environment.

"Finance, for me, was an area of weakness, because I had come from a technical background," she says. "I worked my way into a business function, so my understanding of a balance sheet and all the financial jargon that business people used was pretty weak."

Neudorff believes her success in Executive Program was a strong factor in her recent promotion. "Obviously there are other factors involved, but I definitely think the W. P. Carey MBA program helped me understand global aspects of business," she says.