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.
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