Active duty members can use their benefits to expand their opportunities for new assignments and promotions, and, in some cases, to gain access to an officer candidate program.

Veterans can use their benefits to secure higher-paying positions when transitioning to the civilian world. In 2011, the average starting salary of an MBA recipient was more than two times higher than the average starting salary of someone who only held a BA. A graduate degree like an MBA can help veterans and service members advance their careers by developing knowledge and leadership skills that will benefit both their civilian and military careers.

Those who have served in the military have a range of options for financing their MBA education. Education benefit programs include Chapter 33 Post 9/11, Chapter 30 Montgomery GI Bill and the GI Bill Kicker.

The Chapter 33 Post 9/11 GI Bill is typically for individuals with 90 days of consecutive active duty service on or after Sept. 11, 2001. Disabled veterans discharged from active duty after 30 days also are eligible. This benefit includes funds for tuition, as well as a housing allowance and a book stipend. Service members might find that the availability of funds is greater under this allowance.

The Chapter 30 Montgomery GI Bill provides an educational supplement on a monthly basis. The current maximum benefit for a full-time graduate student is $1,564 per month, while the current maximum monthly benefit for a part-time graduate student is $782. Most veterans who receive an honorable discharge from the service are eligible for the Montgomery GI Bill. Basic eligibility requirements for the Montgomery GI Bill can be found on Military.com. In the event that the service member is unable to collect on hir or educational benefits, a family member might be able to collect in their place. All Montgomery GI Bill eligibility expires 10 years after the service member leaves the military.

The GI Bill Kicker, sometimes called the Army, Navy or Marine Corps College Fund, is offered to most enlisted service members who sign up for the Montgomery GI Bill program. The GI Bill kicker usually is offered as a bonus for taking specific high-need jobs in the military, such as positions in Special Ops, Communications, Military Intelligence and the Signal Corp. When a service member selects the kicker, his or her monthly benefit can increase by $950 per month.

The maximum possible lifetime benefit with the Montgomery GI Bill and the GI Bill Kicker is more than $87,000. These benefits could reduce the need for high-cost loans and debt. Veterans can determine their eligibility by completing the Veterans Online Application (VONAPP) through the Department of Veterans Affairs. Typically the process takes six–eight weeks. Active duty and veteran service members should always consult their education center and the Department of Veterans Affairs, respectively, to identify their funding options.

Earning an MBA can double one’s earning capacity while developing crucial skills for military and post-military success. However, tuition expenses at top schools can seem overwhelming at first glance. Fortunately, most veterans have a range of options to finance their graduate business education. To learn more about the options available to MBA@UNC students, visit our Veterans Benefits page. With options like Chapter 33 Post 9/11, Chapter 30 Montgomery GI Bill and the GI Bill kicker, active duty service member or veteran seeking a high-quality education from a respected institution will face fewer financial limitations to achieving their goals

Reference Sites:h
http://www.military.com/education/gi-bill/gi-bill-eligibility-details.html?comp=7000024063819&rank=2
http://poetsandquants.com/2011/01/08/how-much-does-a-top-mba-degree-cost/
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424053111904900904576554850808786960.html

Why is it such a big deal? Aside from the Super Bowl, the NCAA tournament draws some of the highest ratings for sporting broadcasts. Last year, the NCAA Championship game had 22 million viewers. Over the past 10 years, 275 different sponsors have spent $5.2 billion on television ads for the games.

We put together this infographic to highlight various aspects of the tournament — from ticket sales to bracketology to social media. Let the madness continue, and enjoy the rest of the tournament.

Embed Our Graphic On Your Website:

<a href=""http://onlinemba.unc.edu/mba-at-unc-blog/marketing-the-madness/"> <img src="http://onlinemba.unc.edu/wp-content/uploads/MBA@UNC-Marketing-the-Madness-IG-.jpg" alt="Marketing the Madness" width="605" height="2370" /></a></p> <p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://onlinemba.unc.edu" target="_blank">MBA@UNC</a></p> <p>

In the infographic below, we have partnered with the Forte Foundation and HowToMBA to examine the state of women in business and business school. We have examined how getting an MBA can dramatically impact women’s pay and position within their industry and organization. In addition, we highlight some of the top business schools that are creating programs and initiatives to better serve their female student body as well as profiling female executives who have received their MBA.

Some Key Findings:
- Women with their MBA see pay gains of 55-65% of their pre-MBA salary within five years of graduation.
- Companies with female board directors, experience on average, a 53% higher return on equity.
- 85% of MBA graduates attribute their MBA in advancing their careers.

What else do you think can be done to further advance women in the workplace? Please tell us in the comments below.

With all these commitments, making time to give back and stay involved in your community can be tough. Hands-on volunteering through a religious or community organization, like Habitat for Humanity, can be a rewarding way to give back. It also gives you the opportunity to see the direct impact you can make, even if you have limited time or resources to share. Another option is to use the professional skills and knowledge you are gaining with UNC Kenan-Flagler’s incredible MBA curriculum.

I joined an organization called Catchafire in August and was matched to my first project in September — creating a pitch deck for an adoption and foster care mentoring organization to recruit donations, volunteers and board members. Catchafire matches professionals with projects based on personal interests, skills and talents, and provides support to both pro bono volunteers and organizations seeking assistance. It trains organizations on how to realistically scope projects and efficiently and effectively engage volunteers. It also provides ongoing support for the volunteers to ensure positive and productive experiences.

The Catchafire application and match process is completely web-based, and I browsed projects based on the mission of the organization, the skills necessary to complete the project, as well as the amount of time to complete the project. I selected a project that required an estimated eight to 24 hours over two months. Upon accepting the project, I spoke with the project coordinator, who extended the deadline to accommodate my schedule. The organization is based in Boston, and we have worked together virtually, which is a skill that MBA@UNC students master early in the program!

I have found it challenging at times to fit the project into my schedule, but helping an organization that does great things is extremely rewarding. I also found it exciting to use the skills from my professional background as well as skills I am developing as I complete my MBA.

I highly recommend giving back through skills-based volunteer work, whether you fit it in while you are earning your MBA or after you graduate. Due to lack of resources, budget constraints and overwhelming demand, nonprofits often need help from professionals who can volunteer their skills and time. If you already have a relationship with a nonprofit, reach out to them and see if they have projects or organizational needs with which you can help.

UNC Kenan-Flagler is equipping us with incredible knowledge and skills that will benefit us in our careers, but think about how great a difference you can make to an organization in need. I am glad I did.

About Megan Schneider: Megan has six years of experience in a variety of organizational development, marketing and fundraising-positions in the US and abroad with community-oriented firms, such as SW Global, an African technology company in Ghana, and not-for-profit organizations such as the ALS Association and Canadian Cancer Society. She is now a marketing consultant for the Futures Company, working with clients to understand the consumer landscape and unlock new sources of growth within their business. Megan also continues to freelance with international organizations to help them grow their marketing and communications efforts.

To help you get to know our students better, we are starting a new student ambassador Q&A series. In the first of the series, we caught up with Louis Chen (MBA ’14). Louis is a senior research and design engineer at Space Systems Loral and lives in San Jose, Calif. Prior to attending UNC Kenan-Flagler, he received his MS in Engineering Management from Santa Clara University and his BS in Electrical Engineering and a second degree in Biomedical Engineering from University of Rhode Island. Feel free to find him on LinkedIn.

UNC: Where did you attend college for your undergraduate degree? How does the online classroom compare to your in-class experiences?

LC: I went to the University of Rhode Island for my undergraduate degree and Santa Clara University for my master’s degree. The MBA@UNC online experience is more like my experience at Santa Clara University — small classroom settings, front row seats and individualized attention. I actually enjoy the asynchronous materials because I can take it at my own pace and truly absorb all the material, something that doesn’t happen when you take the long evening or weekend courses as a working individual.

UNC: What are some of the key reasons you decided to pursue your MBA?

LC: I am pursuing my MBA so I can understand business in a holistic manner. It is important to understand the interactions between various organizations, from finance to engineering, in order to make decisions that are beneficial for the company and its stakeholders. Engineering is a great challenge — the thrill of creating something out of nothing will always be a part of me — but leading my company to rise above the competition is where I see myself in the next few years.

UNC: How have you been able to apply the coursework from MBA@UNC to your job?

LC: Because I have only been in the program for two quarters, I have been slowly testing the waters on applying my coursework to my current job. The first thing I did once I started taking financial accounting was to order a 10-K financial statement from my publicly held company. I feel like a nerd saying this, but I sat down one weekend and read through the package and looked at the numbers. I actually started to understand why we invested in certain areas and not others and how that changed as we went through the acquisition process (we were bought).

UNC: Even though you’re in San Jose, have you felt that you’re part of the UNC community? 

LC: Well, I bought my Tar Heel sweatshirt and basketball shorts — I hope that counts! Yes, the professors are engaging, and all the alumni I reached out to welcome me with open arms. Because of the intimate classroom experience, my classmates and I have gotten to know each other well. Group projects provided a more engaging experience, and I truly felt the type of friendship that I found during my master’s study at a private college. Over the course of two quarters, I’ve even met up with a few fellow students in the Bay Area.

UNC: What has surprised you the most about the MBA@UNC program?

LC: I was one of the skeptical individuals when I first heard about an online program from a top-20 school. How is the professor supposed to be engaging? How am I going to network with my classmates online? Am I even going to learn something?

First of all, the technology is great. On the screen, you have a live presentation area for materials, a live video stream of every student (and the professor) via webcam, and an interactive chat screen. I find it hard to hide behind a laptop with the MBA@UNC classroom’s structure and small settings, unlike my undergrad experiences. Students notice when you are not paying attention in our platform.

I am glad to have trusted in the great faculty of UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School. The technology is revolutionary, the course layout is engaging, and all my expectations for a great MBA program (and more!) have been met.

Do you have a question for Louis? Leave it in the comments below.

For 2013, we would like to help you sort through all of the content clutter. MBA@UNC has put together information about the web resources we rely on most. We have sorted it by different types of business news, so you know where to go to get the information you want, when you want it. These resources include small blogs, global publications, industry-specific sites and even lighter sites for when you want to take a break.

We hope you find this resource helpful when looking for business information and news. Take a look, and then tell us your favorite resources for business news by commenting below.

Embed this Graphic on Your Site:

<a href="http://onlinemba.unc.edu/mba-at-unc-blog/business-on-the-web-a-road-map-to-business-resources-in-the-digital-age/"> <img src="http://onlinemba.unc.edu/wp-content/uploads/business_on_the_web600x2856.jpg" alt="Business on the Web Via MBA@UNC" width="600" border="0" /></a><br />Via <a href="http://onlinemba.unc.edu">MBA@UNC: Top MBA Online</a> </p> </div> ]]></content:encoded> <wfw:commentRss>http://onlinemba.unc.edu/mba-at-unc-blog/business-on-the-web-a-road-map-to-business-resources-in-the-digital-age/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>0</slash:comments> </item> <item> <title>Student Voices: The Carolina Way</title> <link>http://onlinemba.unc.edu/mba-at-unc-blog/the-carolina-way/</link> <comments>http://onlinemba.unc.edu/mba-at-unc-blog/the-carolina-way/#comments</comments> <pubDate>Fri, 11 Jan 2013 17:19:49 +0000</pubDate> <dc:creator>MBA@UNC Students</dc:creator> <category><![CDATA[Global Immersions]]></category> <category><![CDATA[MBA@UNC Blog]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Student Ambassadors]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Student Voices]]></category> <category><![CDATA[chapel hill]]></category> <category><![CDATA[student voices]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">http://onlinemba.unc.edu/?p=4587</guid> <description><![CDATA[Legendary UNC-Chapel Hill basketball coach Dean Smith first coined the words “The Carolina Way” to reflect the spirit of the university. The Carolina Way means something slightly different to every Carolina student and alum, but underpinning every definition is a belief in excellence. This excellence drew me to Carolina as both an undergrad and graduate student, and it’s what attracts so many students from around the world.]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><a href="http://onlinemba.unc.edu/mba-at-unc-blog/the-carolina-way/attachment/537532_438725449516362_1689389406_n/" rel="attachment wp-att-4588"><img class="alignright wp-image-4588" alt="proposal" src="http://onlinemba.unc.edu/wp-content/uploads/537532_438725449516362_1689389406_n.jpg" width="234" height="286" /></a>Legendary UNC-Chapel Hill basketball coach Dean Smith first coined the words “<a href="http://giving.unc.edu/why-give/make-an-impact/gifts-at-work/video/CCM3_035293" target="_blank">The Carolina Way</a>” to reflect the spirit of the university. The Carolina Way means something slightly different to every Carolina student and alum, but underpinning every definition is a belief in excellence. This excellence drew me to Carolina as both an undergrad and graduate student, and it’s what attracts so many students from around the world.</p> <p>My MBA@UNC experience continues to embody the Carolina Way. From world-class instructors giving lectures on an innovative platform to retired U.S. General George W. Casey Jr. speaking about leading in a VUCA (volatile, uncertain, complex, ambiguous) world, the Carolina Way is synonymous with forward-thinking vision and strategy. Throughout the MBA@UNC program, I find myself impressed time and time again by how much my classmates have been able to accomplish and how much they have yet to accomplish.</p> <p>The MBA@UNC program is, at its heart, a distance program. In fact, a student could go through the program without ever setting foot in Chapel Hill. But this is not the Carolina Way, as many of my fellow MBA@UNCers learned at the December immersion weekend.</p> <p>The December immersion weekend felt like a homecoming. I could see how much the campus had grown since my undergraduate graduation in 2003. But what was most gratifying was witnessing the reaction of my classmates who were visiting the campus for the first time. I was proud to hear one fellow MBA@UNC student describe the campus as “what college should feel like.” As we walked by the Bell Tower, through Polk Place and stopped in front of the Old Well, I could feel the other students falling in love with Carolina (and the Carolina Way) like I did more than 12 years ago.</p> <p>But the University of North Carolina is more than just a pretty campus. It is even more than one of the United States’ premier educational institutions. Being a Tar Heel is something intangible that you carry with you. When you’re a Tar Heel, your friends and loved ones know it. Which is why, on the night before the immersion started, my boyfriend proposed to me in front of the Old Well. (I said yes!!)</p> <p>To me, the Carolina Way also evokes my most treasured memories: late night laughs with a roommate, playing in the UNC Symphony Orchestra, meeting new friends in a virtual environment, and cementing those relationships in locales like Brazil and Chapel Hill. And now — true love.</p> <p>I can only hope that the December immersion helped my MBA@UNC classmates to embrace the Carolina Way — I’m confident that they did.</p> <p> </p> <p><strong>About the Author:</strong></p> <p><em>Ana-Laura Diaz is currently a practicing attorney living in the South Florida area. After attending UNC-Chapel Hill as an undergraduate, she received her J.D. from the University of Miami. Her love for all things Carolina and the desire to expand her horizons led her to the MBA@UNC program, where she continues to be </em><em>“Tar Heel bred.”</em></p> ]]></content:encoded> <wfw:commentRss>http://onlinemba.unc.edu/mba-at-unc-blog/the-carolina-way/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>0</slash:comments> </item> <item> <title>Student Voices: How I Landed My Dream Job through MBA@UNC</title> <link>http://onlinemba.unc.edu/mba-at-unc-blog/dream-job-career-samasource/</link> <comments>http://onlinemba.unc.edu/mba-at-unc-blog/dream-job-career-samasource/#comments</comments> <pubDate>Wed, 09 Jan 2013 15:35:23 +0000</pubDate> <dc:creator>MBA@UNC Students</dc:creator> <category><![CDATA[Career]]></category> <category><![CDATA[MBA@UNC Blog]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Student Ambassadors]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Student Voices]]></category> <category><![CDATA[student voices]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">http://onlinemba.unc.edu/?p=4546</guid> <description><![CDATA[I decided to pursue an MBA because my responsibilities and oversight in the IT project management arena escalated, as did the necessity for integrating other functions across the business. I sought the managerial competence to ensure our technology priorities met the far-reaching needs of the organization as a whole. While I felt highly confident within the confines of my IT world, I lacked the business knowledge to advocate effectively at a broader, visionary level. ]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><strong><a href="http://onlinemba.unc.edu/mba-at-unc-blog/dream-job-career-samasource/attachment/headshot-2/" rel="attachment wp-att-4547"><img class="alignright" alt="Julia Lee Elliott Headshot" src="http://onlinemba.unc.edu/wp-content/uploads/Headshot.jpeg" width="162" height="203" /></a>Thanks to MBA@UNC, I landed my dream job.  </strong></p> <p>When I began the program in <a href="http://onlinemba.unc.edu/mba-at-unc-blog/unc-welcomes-third-class-to-online-mba-program/" target="_blank">January 2012</a>, I had been working as an IT project manager for an e-commerce solutions provider in Guangzhou, China. My husband and I were in China on a two-year overseas contract through his employer.</p> <p>I chose MBA@UNC, in large part, because the program offered me the flexibility to earn my degree from anywhere in the world. I was also won over by the thoughtfully constructed, globally oriented curriculum and UNC’s impressive faculty.</p> <p>As our time in China was nearing an end, my husband and I were weighing a number of options, both domestic and international. In March, I attended the MBA@UNC quarterly <a href="http://onlinemba.unc.edu/academics/global-immersions/san-francisco-march-2012/" target="_blank">immersion in San Francisco</a>. With the theme of “Innovation & Entrepreneurial Thinking,” it was a perfect fit with my tech passions. On the very last day—after an engaging array of diverse panels, activities and lectures—<a href="http://www.kenan-flagler.unc.edu/faculty/directory/operations-technology-and-innovation-management-otim/bradley-staats" target="_blank">Dr. Bradley Staats</a> presented a recently published <a href="http://hbr.org/product/samasource-give-work-not-aid/an/912011-PDF-ENG" target="_blank"><i>Harvard Business Review</i> case study</a> that he had co-written, “Give Work, Not Aid.” The case was about Samasource, a nonprofit social business whose mission is to alleviate poverty by employing impoverished youth and women to dignified work via the Internet. It was love at first sight.</p> <p>Allow me to back up and provide some context. I graduated with a degree in electrical engineering from the University of Pennsylvania, and I was heavily involved in activist organizations aimed at providing a voice for minority students. After graduation, with the heavy weight of student loans on my back, I pursued a practical, hearty-paying job. After several years dutifully following a technology consulting and project management career track, I found myself fulfilled intellectually but not invested emotionally. I had always promised myself to return to work with social purpose, but struggled to find an application that also leveraged my strengths in technology and problem solving. Enter <a href="http://samasource.org/" target="_blank">Samasource</a>.</p> <p>At the San Francisco immersion, Dr. Staats invited <a href="http://samasource.org/services/company/" target="_blank">Patricia Li, director of delivery of Samasource</a>, to join students for analysis and discussion of the case study. After the class session was over, I connected with Patricia to learn more about opportunities at Samasource, and today, I am Samasource’s sales engineer. I gather requirements and scope prospective projects with clients from companies including eBay, Microsoft and Walmart. I also consult cross-functionally between our engineering, sales and professional services teams. We break complex data projects that require human touch into microwork—small computer-based tasks—and distribute them among our workers via our proprietary SamaHub platform. This model empowers capable, marginalized people to perform sustainable digital work. Combining equal parts persistence and fortune, MBA@UNC connected me with this incredible opportunity.</p> <p>Now, almost a year into the program, my expectations have been more than exceeded. With every class comes fresh insight into new aspects of business that I can apply immediately to my day-to-day work.</p> <p>Marketing shed light on how to articulate value proposition and develop a pricing structure. In Operations, I began to think differently about process efficiencies in our workflow. Analytical Tools equipped me with skills to geek out on forecasting and statistical significance. With Finance, I am calculating estimated house payments and planning for retirement like nobody’s business.</p> <p>I cannot imagine myself more fulfilled in every aspect of my life, and I attribute a substantial part of that to MBA@UNC.</p> <p> </p> <p><strong>About the Author: </strong></p> <p>Julia Lee Elliott is a sales engineer with Samasource, a nonprofit social business that connects people living in poverty with dignified work via the Internet. She earned her BSE in Electrical Engineering from the University of Pennsylvania. Previously, she worked in Guangzhou, China, as an IT project manager for an e-commerce solutions firm overseeing a local team of developers. She currently lives in San Francisco, CA, with her endlessly supportive husband and dog. In her spare time, she loves nothing more than to watch hours upon hours of asynchronous course materials.</p> ]]></content:encoded> <wfw:commentRss>http://onlinemba.unc.edu/mba-at-unc-blog/dream-job-career-samasource/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>0</slash:comments> </item> <item> <title>Real-Time Professional Applications for Business Lessons Learned From MBA@UNC</title> <link>http://onlinemba.unc.edu/mba-at-unc-blog/real-time-professional-applications-for-business-lessons-learned-from-mbaunc/</link> <comments>http://onlinemba.unc.edu/mba-at-unc-blog/real-time-professional-applications-for-business-lessons-learned-from-mbaunc/#comments</comments> <pubDate>Tue, 04 Dec 2012 16:55:48 +0000</pubDate> <dc:creator>Harrison Kratz</dc:creator> <category><![CDATA[MBA@UNC Blog]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Student Voices]]></category> <category><![CDATA[academics]]></category> <category><![CDATA[student experience]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">http://onlinemba.unc.edu/?p=4467</guid> <description><![CDATA[I chose an MBA from UNC over an M.S. in real estate because of (1) the attraction to a top-tier business school that is known for its real estate concentration; and (2) the ability to be a part of an innovative program that will likely shape the way education is delivered in the future. The MBA@UNC program has proven an integral solution to modern education and these particular courses are applicable to my career. Let me give you a few specific examples to put this into perspective.]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>I’m nearing the end of my fourth quarter in the program and am taking finance and operations classes. The course content continues to impress me with how applicable it is to my profession as a project manager for a real estate development and construction company in the Washington, D.C. area. In multifamily real estate development, we evaluate properties for their best potential use and then decide a course of action to create an asset using a mix of debt and equity capital that will generate future return on investments.</p> <p><a href="http://onlinemba.unc.edu/mba-at-unc-blog/real-time-professional-applications-for-business-lessons-learned-from-mbaunc/attachment/photo-22/" rel="attachment wp-att-4468"><img class="alignright wp-image-4468" style="margin-left: 5px; margin-right: 5px;" title="photo (22)" src="http://onlinemba.unc.edu/wp-content/uploads/photo-22.jpg" alt="" width="362" height="272" /></a></p> <p><strong>1. </strong><strong>Buy or Sell?</strong></p> <p>This is often the million-dollar question for real estate developers (not to mention many other business managers), and the MBA@UNC finance course has provided me with the valuation tools to make this kind of educated business decision. Professor Jennifer Conrad’s lectures and case studies focus on what future cash flows look like between multiple assets and how to discount them back to the present value in order to compare them side by side. She discusses how to factor in growth rates, evaluate return on investment (ROI) and forecast earnings based on a number of financial modeling techniques —as well as myriad other critical topics, including stock and bond valuation.</p> <p>Oh, and did I mention I just took the midterm? Yes, all of this information was taught in the first few weeks of class. I came into this program with very little financial management skills, but at work I already am forecasting future monthly cash flows and realizing what they mean in today’s present value of money.</p> <p><strong>2. </strong><strong>Evaluate Your Cash Position</strong></p> <p>“John, we need to capture an eight-cap in this property.”</p> <p>“Hey Bill, did you hear re-fi rates are in the twos?”</p> <p>I have to be honest, as an engineer I had no idea what this mumbo jumbo meant two years ago. Thankfully, with help from <a href="http://onlinemba.unc.edu/faculty/larry-chavis/" target="_blank">Professor Larry Chavis</a> in economics and now Professor Conrad in finance, I have not only adopted this industry jargon into my vocabulary, but I’ve learned what they mean to the industry and the effects they have on business decisions.</p> <p>I have also come to understand the impact of borrowing money to fund a project, which has been a great help in the workplace. For real estate projects, there are often years of planning required to break ground on a new property or for property transactions to take place. Within those years are countless hours running numbers on factors like interest rates, debt-to-equity ratios and break-even points — just to name a few. Now that I can understand and implement financial indicators like these, my value to the company has increased and this has opened doors to working in a bigger capacity.</p> <p><strong>3. </strong><strong>Delivering the Goods</strong></p> <p>Outside of financial management, MBA@UNC has also provided me with insightful lessons in operational efficiency. Because the real estate industry includes the construction of buildings, the efficient and effective delivery of a newly constructed building is a science also covered in business school. Professor Wendell Gilland teaches the operations class and so far has delivered lessons in schedule and inventory management, as well as quality control.</p> <p>Delivering a newly constructed building on time, within budget and of acceptable quality to the client takes an enormous amount of planning. In Professor Gilland’s class, we have discussed preventing raw material delays from holding up a project, keeping value-engineered materials from detracting from quality, ensuring price inflation of materials does not add to the overall cost, and working to keep underperforming processes from holding up the overall project schedule. These are all topics that I have been able to implement immediately into my everyday job.</p> <p>*****</p> <p>Most business schools offer courses that teach their students the best management practices relative to any industry and MBA@UNC is no exception. Only instead of having to quit my job and lose two valuable years of experience during this remarkable economic time, MBA@UNC allows me to log out of my weekly classroom, pull up a spreadsheet and apply the training I just learned to my profession — all in real time. How’s <strong><em>that</em></strong> for efficiency, Professor Gilland?  <strong><em>That’s the Carolina Way</em></strong>.</p> <p> </p> <p><strong>About Dustin Kinney: </strong>Dustin is a project manager for a privately owned multifamily builder/developer based in the Washington, D.C. area. He earned a B.S. in civil engineering from Penn State University and complemented his undergraduate degree with minors in leadership development, entrepreneurship and real estate. Dustin completed an executive real estate program at the RE3 Institute of Real Estate in Washington, D.C. He joined the MBA@UNC community in January 2012 after being inspired by the program’s innovative delivery in championing a virtual learning environment.</p> ]]></content:encoded> <wfw:commentRss>http://onlinemba.unc.edu/mba-at-unc-blog/real-time-professional-applications-for-business-lessons-learned-from-mbaunc/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>0</slash:comments> </item> <item> <title>How Leaders Can Learn Through Improv</title> <link>http://onlinemba.unc.edu/mba-at-unc-blog/how-leaders-can-learn-through-improv/</link> <comments>http://onlinemba.unc.edu/mba-at-unc-blog/how-leaders-can-learn-through-improv/#comments</comments> <pubDate>Fri, 16 Nov 2012 19:06:10 +0000</pubDate> <dc:creator>MBA@UNC Staff</dc:creator> <category><![CDATA[Masters in Business Administration]]></category> <category><![CDATA[MBA@UNC Blog]]></category> <category><![CDATA[leadership]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">http://onlinemba.unc.edu/?p=4407</guid> <description><![CDATA[Business leaders need to be outstanding communicators, innovators, decision makers, change agents and critical thinkers. They must be able to handle ambiguity, to promote teamwork and collaboration, and to be the best coach and mentor they can be. It is a tall order. Improv can offer a safe, creative atmosphere for business leaders to develop these skills.]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><em><strong><a href="http://onlinemba.unc.edu/mba-at-unc-blog/how-leaders-can-learn-through-improv/attachment/theater-300x232/" rel="attachment wp-att-4408"><img class="size-full wp-image-4408 alignleft" style="margin-left: 5px; margin-right: 5px;" title="theater-300x232" src="http://onlinemba.unc.edu/wp-content/uploads/theater-300x232.jpg" alt="theatre masks" width="300" height="232" /></a>The following excerpt is from a <a href="http://www.kenan-flagler.unc.edu/executive-development/custom-programs/~/media/Files/documents/executive-development/leadership-agility-using-improv.pdf">white paper</a> written by Kip Kelly, director of marketing and business development at <a href="http://www.kenan-flagler.unc.edu/executive-development">UNC Executive Development</a>.</strong></em></p> <p>Developing these unique capabilities often requires a different approach to leadership development and is prompting some senior executives to embrace less conventional approaches. This is where improvisation—the art of performing without a script—can help.</p> <p>Improvisation can be funny—think Wayne Brady, Tina Fey or Amy Poehler—but that is not necessarily the goal. Improv is about working off the top of your head, being mindful and reacting to those around you, and being entirely in the moment. It is also about honesty. It teaches people how to react, adapt and communicate openly and honestly with each other, skills that readily translate into the workplace.</p> <p>Improvisation may be unscripted, but that doesn’t mean that it is without rules. These rules serve as guidelines for participants, and while seemingly simple on the surface, are more challenging in actual practice.</p> <p>Tina Fey, writer, actor, and alumni of Chicago’s famed Second City <em>and Saturday Night Live</em>, outlined her rules for improv in her book, <em>Bossypants</em>. Her rules can be readily applied toward building better leaders in the workplace.</p> <p>Tina Fey’s rules for improvisation:</p> <p><strong>Rule #1: Agree and say “yes”</strong></p> <p>Saying “yes” means the listener is open to new ideas and perspectives. It establishes recognition and respect for the person speaking. It sets the stage for positive communication and real dialogue. It is positive, affirmative, confident and optimistic. Saying “yes” can help turn around a negative organizational culture, spur creativity, foster innovation, and improve collaboration and teamwork.</p> <p><strong>Rule #2: Not only say “yes”, say “yes, AND”</strong></p> <p>“Yes, and” builds on what was said. In the workplace, it allows employees to take ideas and build on them to create something new. “Yes, and” can be used to brainstorm, problem solve, and resolve conflicts. It can also foster collaboration because it requires active listening and acceptance of different points of view. It builds rather than tear down, which can allow for more honest and effective interactions.</p> <p><strong>Rule #3: Make statements</strong></p> <p>Constant questioners slow things down—and frankly, time is of the essence in business. This rule prompts employees to be a part of the solution rather than exacerbating the problem. Making statements helps set direction and gives the conversation a roadmap that all participants can follow.</p> <p><strong>Rule #4: There are no mistakes, only opportunities</strong></p> <p>This rule is about accepting and moving on—not looking back to place blame.</p> <p>Pouring over past mistakes and casting blame wastes valuable time and can lead to an overly cautious organizational culture where employees are afraid to make mistakes and take chances. Good leaders take responsibility, learn from mistakes and move on.</p> <p>These rules can get organizations started in the art of improvisation—but keep in mind that like any art form, mastering improv takes time and practice. Business leaders are increasingly finding that taking the time and supporting the practice is worth the investment. McDonald’s, the United Way, U.S. Cellular, Nike, Kraft, Starbucks, and R.J. Reynolds are just a few corporations that have used improvisation in their leadership development programs at one time or another.</p> <p><strong>Conclusion</strong></p> <p>Business leaders need to be outstanding communicators, innovators, decision makers, change agents and critical thinkers. They must be able to handle ambiguity, to promote teamwork and collaboration, and to be the best coach and mentor they can be. It is a tall order. Improv can offer a safe, creative atmosphere for business leaders to develop these skills.</p> <p><em>(Editor’s Note: This post was originally featured on the <a href="http://blogs.kenan-flagler.unc.edu/2012/10/29/how-leaders-can-improve-through-improv/" target="_blank">UNC Kenan-Flagler Insights blog</a>.)</em></p> <p> </p> ]]></content:encoded> <wfw:commentRss>http://onlinemba.unc.edu/mba-at-unc-blog/how-leaders-can-learn-through-improv/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>0</slash:comments> </item> </channel> </rss>