Executive Mentor Overview...

When we first started out as students in the College of Business here at Loyola we were informed that we would take part in the Executive Mentor Program. When we first heard this we were not clear as to what this program exactly entailed, we could only imagine that we would have business people mentoring us in regards with the business world. Once we met with the teachers and the mentors we quickly learned the objectives of the Mentoring Program and that the mentors are to: 

·      Discuss a variety of topics, including time management, personal finance, goal setting, communication skills, and job market realities

·   Introduce and inform us students of the college of business the different types of jobs/careers hat are available to us business students

·       Take the students on field trips to local businesses( some examples: Berning Productions, Canal Place, Hubig’s Pies, etc…)

·       Provide networking opportunities in the New Orleans business community so that the students can find excellent internships, summer jobs, and post-graduation employment

Taking part in the Mentor Program it has been nice and beneficial to meet with fellow Loyola Alum. This was the most valuable and beneficial part of the experience, because as fellow students of Loyola, they informed us on what we should be doing while we are freshmen and where to start so that we do not prolong our goal to be successful in the business field, and at the same time they told us what we should be doing to get involved in our community. Also they have helped advise us with what we should do with our specific majors and how to make us stand apart from others so as to make us more valuable to the specific business field.

         When I first started out in the Mentoring Program I had a very different outlook as to what the program it self would entail. I imagined it to be a program where we would learn, to some degree, what it was to exactly work in our fields of business in order to see if that was truly what we wished to pursue. Even though this is not what I experienced through out the year of taking part in the Mentoring Program, I can say that at the beginning I did not know very much at all as to how to network and this is something which we discussed a great deal through out the period; and as a result my networking skills have greatly improved and I know what to do and what not to do.

         In regards with networking, there were many skills that were learned during the networking night in the St. Charles room. One thing I did well during the network event was being engaged in the conversations with the mentors/professionals as well as asking questions that would continue the conversation, allowing me to obtain as much information as possible. I also learned that if there is a common interest between us, it helped further the conversation and connect at a more personal level.
         After completing the Mentoring Program, I did not necessarily acquire much more knowledge than I already knew, but I did learn a great deal on how to successfully network. Learning this skill is probably one, if not the best, skill that I could have learned how to do during this program, because it is probably the most essential one in order to succeed in the business world. 

(we did not go on a field trip)

"Throw Me Somethin' Mister!" Its Mardi Gras time...

~ This semester with our mentors we have learned a few things in regards with business communication. Two examples that we have learned are: the manner in which one creates the message and what to be careful with when sending a message. In regards with how one creates a message, the ultimate goal is to express not impress the receptor(s). The reason why one should do this is because if one tries to impress the receptor with business jargon or fancy/fluffy wording, then it can differ from what you are initially trying to communicate to the person. Therefore, it is best to stick to the simple way and just express ones self instead of trying to impress them. As for the second example of what not to do in business communication, we discussed how one must be very cautious what they are sending through e-mail because it can accidently be sent to the wrong person and end up in the wrong hands. The mentors provided us with an example where one of their co-workers was sending a personal e-mail, which as a result contained personal information, and when they decided to send it they accidentally send it to the wrong person. The e-mail was actually sent to one of their managers and to say the least they received a warning that they should handle his or her personal e-mails at a different time and not at work. So lessoned learned is that one should deal with personal tasks either at home or out of the office.

~ One job that I have learned about which I might like to do is being a marketing director. The reason why I am interested in working in the marketing field is that it will allow me the opportunity to use my creative skills and at the same time to work with companies which I am interested in, whether it be fashion or sports. Another important reason as to why I am interested in doing marketing, and potentially international marketing is because with the new increase in the Hispanic population and “…quickly gaining importance in the US market, ad agencies are searching for marketing expertise to appeal to this audience. Publicis Groupe, Omnicom Group, WPP Group, and other agency giants have invested in or bought Hispanic-focused advertising agencies”(http://careerbeam.1stresearch.com). Therefore, I can use my bi-lingual capabilities to my advantage and work in this Hispanic market, which I would truly love to do and hopefully work in that specific type of market.

~This Mardi Gras I am looking forward to experiencing it with my friends, since in previous years I have always come with my mom and with family. Therefore, I want to experience a Mardi Gras with my friends and enjoy the music and the whole atmosphere which Mardi Gras provides during this time of year, and attempt to catch as many beads as possible too. The one thing I wish to avoid is to get in to any encounters with intoxicated people. This probably sounds a bit odd, but the reason being is because last year when I came with my mom we were waiting for the parade at Lee Circle and behind us was a group of guys, with two of them being heavily intoxicated. This all lead to the two of them to fight each other and almost caused me fall, but luckily that did not happen.

~ New Orleans has always been known for being the host of the largest party in the United States every year, Mardi Gras. Mardi Gras has been celebrated for 153 years this year in New Orleans, marking a huge celebration and the continual bringing back of New Orleans. The whole idea of bringing back New Orleans is in the sense of the cities old New Orleanians and tourists as well, everyone who made this city was it was and still is, a great city. One element that is noticeable, especially after Katrina, was that Mardi Gras to some degree was more family oriented. From personal experience, when I came down for Mardi Gras after the hurricane in 2006, I noticed how it was definitely more family oriented. In a way, it was a form for people to say that New Orleans is our home and that nothing is going to keep us away from it. This Mardi Gras exemplifies how we as a community will be strong and bring back our amazing city. A quote which describes the city to the tee is “Laissez les bon temps roulez” and it “has never meant more in the city that never sleeps, and one thing’s for sure… this year’s party will be bigger and better than last… and that’s a sure sign of a much needed return to normalcy, though the disaster that was Katrina will not soon be forgotten! One-phrase still echoes throughout the Quarter, “It is the PEOPLE that make New Orleans great!” OK… we keep hearing that we are an integral part of the party… even of every day life in New Orleans, so it is more important than ever to support the city that recognizes our value! So, let’s all meet in the Quarter and have a whole lotta fun… day and night… sound like a plan?” (www.tripsmarter.com). Ultimately New Orleans would not be the same with out its Mardi Gras essence, and that why I think now, more than ever, it is important for the city of New Orleans since it is what makes its identity complete.

Networking 101

On January 15, 2009 I woke up that morning with only one thing on my mind, what was I going to wear tonight for the Networking event with the mentors. I realized that I only had a few hours to spare after class in order to figure out the perfect and appropriate business casual outfit to wear with what I had in my closet. I had in mind the perfect pencil skirt to wear that was very business chic and all I needed was a button down collard shirt and my outfit would be complete, and luckily my roommate saved the day and lent me a white bottom down shirt. It was 6:14 p.m. and my friends and I were rushing out of Buddig on our ways to meet the mentors. On the way there I was extremely nervous and kept rehearsing what I was going to say when I met them and my closing line in order to obtain their business card. When I walked through the doors I told my self that I had to get over my fear of talking to strangers and just act as if it were an old friend who I hadn't seen in years and we were catching up. After getting used to talking with the mentors and, to my surprise, finding quite a few similar connections, it became easier to converse with them which put me more at ease. By the end of the night I had obtained six business cards and had had good and insightful conversation with each of the mentors and professors which I had spoken with that night.

    The backgrounds of the five business professionals you met were:

Jude Boudreaux:

˜  Director of Financial Planning for Bellingrath Wealth Management (which he started himself)

˜  A certified financial planner

˜  Pursuing a Masters of Science in Financial Services from the American College in Bryn Mawr, PA

˜  Helps people reach and obtain their dreams that they’ve always wanted and shows them that it is possible when they thought it wasn’t with their financial situation

Julie McDonald

˜  Has worked for the past 5 years for Science Applications International Corp.(SAIC) on the Entergy account as an Asst. VP/Customer Service Manager/ Project Portfolio Manager for various Entergy business units

˜  Attended Loyola University in New Orleans, LA, where she received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Computer Science with a minor in Business Administration.  She was a member of Theta Phi Alpha sorority.

˜  Some major lessons that she learned over the span of her career include: 

                                    1)  Listen to the customer 

                                    2)  Always look for better, more creative ways of doing things 

                                    3)  Get involved - Be a "do-er"

˜  Earned her Master of Business Administration from Tulane University

Mason G. Couvillon

˜  Employment History:

§  Dardis Couvillon & Associates, President, Principal/ Owner, Financial Planner

§  Companies of Becker & Suffern, Financial Consultant, September 2006- June 2008

§  Hibernia/Capital One National Bank, November 1999- August 2006, Vice President, Portfolio Manager, Trust Investment Officer

§  Moragan Stanley Dean Witter, October 1996- May 1999 Financial Advisor, Retirement Planning Specialist

˜  Went to Georgetown University in the College of Arts and Sciences (1996); then attended Harvard University in the John F. Kennedy School of Government, Coursework, Investment Decisions and Behavioral Finance(2002)

Francisco Cestero

˜  Received his Bachelor’s Degree in International Business from Auburn University

˜  Received his MBA from Loyola

˜  Worked for 9 years in the Shipping/ Maritime Industry

˜  While at Loyola he interned at Mayor Nagin’s office in the Office of International Business Development

˜  Worked for 1 year writing grants and proposals for Public Housing Authorities

˜  Financial Controller Position at Walton Construction

˜  For about 4 years he has been managing approximately ¼ Billion budget for one of the biggest construction companies in the Gust Coast Region

Meredith M. Hartley

˜  Director of Public Affairs and External Relations at Loyola

˜  Began working prior to Loyola in Journalism

˜  Lived in France for 2 years

˜  Also worked for CNN in Atlanta during the 1996 Olympics

 

One thing I believe I did well during the network event was being engaged in the conversations with the mentors/professionals as well as asking questions that would continue the conversation that would allow me to obtain as much information as possible. Also if there was a common interest/element that we both had that further helped the conversation, and made the conversation on a more personal level. 

One thing I could have done better would probably to be less nervous and possibly not have a friend with me when going up to the professionals and instead just go on my own and not have to rely on someone else to make me less nervous.

    A business professional that I would like to emulate would be Amancio Ortega, the founder and owner of fashion company Zara:

There reason why I would want to emulate Amancio Ortega on some level is because he started this globally known fashion company from his house and selling products at a low price but at the same time provided very fashionable clothes; and with his tremendous determination he has been able to create this fashion empire from basically nothing and has turned it in to this huge company and now is one of the richest men in the world.

A useful networking link, which I believe, would be beneficial for many to look in to is Networking 101 and at Mary Crane's website.

 

Overview of the Executive Mentor Program

At the beginning of the year we business students were informed that we would be taking part in the Executive Mentor Program. At first we did not really know what the program would entail exactly, but we were quickly informed what we would be doing while involved in the program. The objective of the Mentoring Program is for these mentors to:

·       introduce and inform us students of the college of business the different types of jobs/careers hat are available to us business students

·       Discuss a variety of topics, including time management, personal finance, goal setting, communication skills, and job market realities

·       Provide networking opportunities in the New Orleans business community so that the students can find excellent internships, summer jobs, and post-graduation employment

·       Take the students on field trips to local businesses( some examples: Berning Productions, Canal Place, Hubig’s Pies, etc…)

By taking part in the Mentor Program it has been nice and beneficial to meet with fellow Loyola Alum. The reason I guess this would be the most valuable and beneficial part of the experience is that as fellow students of Loyola they can inform us on what we should be doing while we are freshmen and where to start so that we do not prolong our goal to be successful in the business field, as well as tell us what we should be doing to get involved in our community. Also they have helped advise us with what we should do with our specific majors and how to make us stand apart from others so as to make us more valuable to the specific business field.

After taking part in the Mentoring Program for already a semester, my expectations did change a bit. My expectations at the beginning where a bit higher than what I have experienced over the course of the first semester, not saying that none have been met during this period of time, but I believe that my complete expectations were not met because seeing as we have only met about four times it is impossible for all of my expectations to be completely met, so I am sure and have no doubt that as the program continues that my expectations will surely be met and probably go beyond.

In regards with advising fellow peers at other universities with finding an executive mentor I definitely would recommend finding one. The reason being is that by having someone there advising you on what you should do in order to become successful in the business arena is definitely beneficial seeing as one is technically on their own in college and definitely could use guidance, especially from someone in that field of work which you are interested in, is definitely a great assistance and support system, not to mention providing one with beneficial advice.

         For the next semester, in regards with the Executive Mentor Program, I am greatly looking forward to hopefully doing more hands on activities in regards with my major/field. Also possibly to meet people who are professionals in my field of work to see what they do, what their everyday to day job consists of, and to get some feed back as to what to do in order to set my self apart from the rest of the crowd. As for next semester at Loyola I am looking forward to keep on working and learning more and to strive ahead in order to get closer to specializing in my field/major. Also I really hope to get involved with a group at school, my main interest is to become a member of the Loyola International Business Organization, which I believe would be very beneficial for me since that is the major which I am currently declaring. And ultimately to keep enhancing myself as a student here at Loyola.

         While we are all away during Christmas break it is going to be key for us business students to keep up with current business events in order to keep up and not get behind in the business world. So some helpful and useful sites for current business events are:

 http://www.businessweek.com

˜  http://www.nytimes.com

˜  http://www.news.bbc.co.uk

˜  http://news.google.com

˜  http://www.npr.org

Wolves on The Prowl 2008 :))

On Saturday, November 8, 2008, I woke up at 7:30 a.m. in order to go to the annual Wolves on the Prowl Community Service Day, which was held by the college of business. When we got there at 8 a.m. we received t-shirts that were made for the service day, which we were to wear during the day and our service project, and they also had breakfast for all of us before we began our endeavors Once every one was there we were split in to four different groups:

1. "Cubs in the Den" Good Sheperd school field day at Loyola. Volunteers will coordinate games and activities for the Good Shepherd students.
2. "Service Starts in Our Own Community" Volunteers will be cleaning up and painting a space i the basement of the Danna Center that will be used as a WFF break space.
3. Wilson Charter School Volunteers will help clean up and paint at the Wilson Charter School
4. LUCAP's project SMILE (Students Moving Into the Lives of the Elderly). Volunteers will be potting plants with the seniors at the Uptown Shepherd Center followed by lunch and fellowship. 

My group went to the Wilson Charter School. So we took a bus and were bussed to the charter school. There at the school there were multiple projects which could be done. Some people could help put gym equipment together for the physical education department, do garden work, make bulletin boards, or help teachers out with class tasks. Also when we got there we were informed about the history of the charter school and that the actual school was under remodel at the moment and that after Katrina that the community was going to be turned into a green area. While there Nataly and I helped out with one of the teachers in her classroom;we cut out laminated pieces of paper that would

 form to be a game that would help with the children in learning and we put the name of the teachers in the class books. Even though they appeared to be minor tasks and not important, it actually does mean a lot and especially for the kids. Because when they come back to school on Monday  they will be very excited and grateful for the tasks that we have done and will appreciate the effort we put in during that morning. And even though it was not a huge task it felt good to help in the some way and give back to the community around me. 

~Wolves on the Prowl is " an annual day of service planned and led by the Office of Alumni Affairs, which pairs volunteers from the Loyola community with programs that need help. This year, alumni in eight cities, including New Orleans, will roll up their sleeves for

 charity"(www.loyno.edu)

~Another compelling service organization in New Orleans would be the Global Green Rebuilding New Orleans Project. The reason I believe this is a compelling project is because after Katrina, besides other Gulf Coast Cities, New Orleans was affected a tremendous de

al and we all know had to be re-built. And now with the new craze of going green it makes perfect sense for this necessity. The Holy Cross Project, Global Green is committed to:

• "Creating a green model or showcase for development and rebuilding for New Orleans, and green affordable housing in the US"
• "Ensuring the sustainability and log term affordability of the Project's housing units for residents, and socioeconomic fabric of the neighborhood through the center"
• "Educating NOLA residents, the Gulf Coast and broader American public through the Project's visitors center, NOLA resource center, and website about the benefits of green building"
• "Advancing smart solutions to global warming that both benefit communities and engage stakeholders in building will for action"

Executive Speaker on Personal Finances...$$$

During the first half of the Thursday night class we listened to a speaker from Regions Bank give us information on personal credit for college students and the do's and don'ts. Some of the things we learned were: 6 Ways to Kill Your Credit

• Ways in which to build your credit
• The Causes and effects of good and bad credit
• *In pretty much any situation, your credit determines what you can and can't get. For example if you want to take out a loan on a house or a car, the amount you can take out and the interest will differ greatly if you have a good or bad credit score.
  
• You should always try to pay the complete or minimum balance on time, because if you're a day late you will be charged with a late fee.
• Don't buy items which are too expensive and put them on your credit card if you don't have the money to pay it when the bill comes. Basically don't spend money you don't have. 
• Use credit cards to buy big purchases not for little things 
• Have a couple of credit cards to build your credit

Besides the information which we were given about personal credit during the presentation here are other related web sites which provide good information as well:

• Financial Tips for College Students
• Money Matters for College Students
• Money Management

By taking into consideration the information given to us during the presentation and from these web sites we as students can hopefully stay away from being in debt and ultimately feeling like this:

CareerBeam Values & Vision

What is the vision of your ideal future?

When I think about my future and what I envision it to be like I see my self working for an international fashion company,preferably spanish or italian,either in Europe, New York or Miami. Possibly working for a company like Zara, H&M, Tiffany's to Miss Sixty. Or I see my self working in the marketing area of an international national soccer team. Ultimately environments in which I am passionate about those hobbies, in this case languages,fashion and sports. 

What are the benefits of writing a vision statement?

When writing a vision statement it first allows your creative juices to start flowing and ge

ts one to actually start thinking about what they really want to do with their life after college. Therefore by creating a vision statement and at the same time envisioning ones future, it serves as a building block to achieve that vision. Basically creating a goal that you wish to see be met and obtained since that is what you ideally would enjoy doing in your future, some what like your dream job.

What are the challenges of writing a vision statement?

An evident difficulty when writing a vision statement is that fact that it forces one to have to think far in advance as to what they wish to do in the future. The difficulty with that is that you may think that what you envision now is what you will want to be doing and at the same time you don't know if you will still want to be in the same career and strive for that vision in years to come; because as they always say people change careers multiple times in their life, so its not necessarily easy to automatically decide right then and there. 

Which of your values are most important to you?

When taking the Value assessment test on careerbeam is

 stated that my results were: 

YOUR SCORES:

• Driver:26
  
• Creator:23
• Humanitarian:25
• Pursuer:22
• Maximizer:24

When going over my value results they are all obviously important to me because they are what describe me as a person. However, if I had to choose which are most important to me would probably have to be driver and pursuer, because those are two key values to have if you want to get ahead in life because one lives on that and if you do not have drive or a desire to pursue then you will not achieve your goals and it also says what type of person you are in the fact that you will keep going until you achieve what truly wish to have and ultimately what makes you happy.

How do you express/display your values on a daily basis?

In my day to day life I believe that I always try to express or display my values even if I do it subconsciously. I always try to bundle them all together whether it be a combination of drive, creative, or pursuer, I use all of these in order to get any task done. For example if I set a goal for my self to finish something by the end of the day I will give it all I have and do everything possible in order to complete the job. Another way in which I use my values on a daily basis is when there is an obstacle in the way I will try to find a creative manner in which to over come it so as to continue going forward.

Find an organization that expresses a close match between your vision/values and the organizations vision/values. Quote the organization's vision/mission/values. Describe what it would be like to work for an organization with these vision/values.

When looking for an organization/company that expresses a similar vision and value system as me I looked at Zara. Zara believes that:

" The customer is the center of our particular business model

, which integrate design, manufacture, distribution and sales through its own network of stores. All processes, beginning with the creation of the product, share the same objective: to give the customers the fashion they expect. Every day, Zara interprets, adapts and takes trends to millions of people...The co-ordinated product is always the protagonist and shopping freely and in comfort is a pleasant experience"

Now knowing to some sort of degree as to what the company stands for I believe that working for this company with these sort of vision/values would be definitely a great experience. The reason being is that they know what they must do in order to compete with the competition there fore, with my drive, creativity, pursuance, and maximizing abilities to be able to meet the customers needs of providing them with affordable and fashionable clothes but at the same time maximizing dollars and cents, ultimately being innovative and putting my values to use.

Picture representing vision/value: