Category: Full-time MBA

Just completed the third day of my summer internship at a boutique CPG company (which sells children’s and sports products) here in New York. Unlike some of my classmates who are having the big CPG experience at a place like Unilever, I am the sole intern this summer. It’s a mixed blessing because although as the “only child” (as my boss referred to me) I am getting all the attention and support, I am also on my own in some ways to carve my path through the program. It’s a great test of my leadership and independence (luckily two skills I’ve been able to hone through my first year at Stern).

It’s going to be a great experience. On a per minute basis, I’ve never learned more in my life. It’s one thing to study marketing in the classroom; it’s a whole different animal to be out there doing it. But one that—if all goes according to plan—I will soon tame! I am really excited about the next ten weeks.

And then back for year two! Deadline to pick classes was yesterday so had to do a bit of planning ahead—but looking forward to more challenging classes. I’ve decided to take a computer science class that is wayyyyy out of my comfort zone; but based on my positive experience with Regression Analysis class last semester I’ve decided being out of your comfort zone is a great place to be.

Come to think of it, that’s what this summer is all about as well.

Final exams are among us!

Around this time of year study space is at a premium, when Sternies from both years are hitting the books hard prepping for exams, writing final papers, and working on capstone presentations.

My first semester, where I took just core required classes, was a bit trickier when it came to tests–each of those classes has there own final.  Now, with half my schedule as electives, things are a bit more balanced–I have 1 final, 1 paper, 1 report and one presentation left.  Far from easy, but a good mix of requirements that should take me through the last two weeks of school.

And then…summer.  Hard to believe year one is just about over.  Its definitely been a challenging, exciting, roller coaster ride of a first year.  My classmates and I managed to make it a pretty fun one too–which bodes well for the summer, where many of us will be in NYC with summer internships and looking for any excuse to rekindle that Stern spirit.

In other news, learned recently I’ll be a tour guide next fall… so if you need more Matt than you get in this blog do visit the admissions office and let me show you around Stern’s hallowed halls.  I’ll make sure to keep blogging this summer to keep you posted on my internship.

Enjoy the sun!  Finally!

M

 

 

Where Sternies live

What are the benefits and drawbacks of living near or far from school? What about dorm life? I set out to answer these questions as comprehensively as possible and ended up with a great set of insights from my fellow students, which are shared in this post. I think you’ll see that the biggest lesson in choosing where to live is to figure out what lifestyle and conveniences matter the most to you and start searching from there. The vastness and diversity of NYC means that there are neighborhoods to accommodate just about any set of preferences. NYC is more expensive than most other American cities, but based on your choice of neighborhood and amenitites you can find a place to accommodate your price range. Living within a 20 minute walk from Stern puts you in some vibrant neighborhoods like the West Village, Union Square, Gramercy, Chelsea and the Lower East Side. A 20 minute train ride gets you to some really unique places like Harlem, Queens, Long Island City, and various parts of Brooklyn, like Fort Greene.

I chose to live in Harlem because it has some great benefits, which I think are shared among most people who chose to live a 20 minute or more train ride away from Stern. Among the greatest perks are more apartment space and a more residential neighborhood feel compared to lower Manhattan. I have found that the price per square foot is cheaper than more dense areas of Manhattan, like the Lower East Side, and in general the apartments are larger. Likewise, I think its easier to find buildings with amenities, such as in-unit or in-building laundry, a doorman to receive packages, and a fitness center, which are not usually available for the same cost of rent in other parts of the city. I also love Harlem and other further away neighborhoods because they have a different vibe than the rest of the city. Harlem is slightly more mellow, there’s less foot traffic and quite frankly, more sun. Plus, while the restaurant and bar scenes are lively and diverse, they are not overwhelmed with reservations and large crowds. Access to large grocery chains and street parking or cheap garage parking are also things that I cherish about my location. And secretly, I find the train ride provides the perfect amount of time for me to catch up on reading or to plan my day.

Of course, there are also downsides to living further off campus. The biggest one is the pain of waiting for the train late at night or on weekends. During those hours, trains are fewer and further between and there is often construction, which results in a miserable wait time of up to 20 minutes. Second, if you choose not to take a train, then taking a cab can be costly. Usually these issues become relevant after late night study sessions or social events around campus. However, I find that the pain is often assuaged by the companionship of other students headed in the same direction who are either willing split cab fare or engage in lively conversation during the 20 minute wait for the train.

Based on their feedback, it appears the advantages to living close to Stern often outweigh the negatives for Sternies who choose to do so. Perhaps the biggest benefit is that there is virtually no commute. It’s easy to walk to school and cheap to take cabs late at night if you prefer. If you elect to take morning classes, it’s also great to get a few extra minutes of sleep. Plus, most social activities happen around campus. The neighborhoods near Stern are lively and filled with popular and diverse bars, restaurants and shopping as well. It’s hard to get bored with the vast set of choices.

However, the heavy foot traffic at virtually every time of day can sometimes be intense and make it tough to relax. The smaller square footage and higher rent can also be tough to adjust to and amenities that are readily available in apartments further away often cost a lot more around the Village. Many students living in the area choose to have roommates, which helps mitigate the high cost of rent. Plus, there are Laundromats on just about every corner so doing laundry, while not as convenient, is also not too tough. Perhaps one of the most painful things cited was the lack of full grocery stores nearby, which means an overreliance on bodegas or a longer commute to more robust chains and places like Trader Joe’s or Whole Foods.

The Palladium is the NYU dorm that houses some Sternies. The dorm is located a short fifteen minute walk from Stern in Union Square. The biggest convenience of living in the Palladium is that everything is taken care of: rent is added to your Stern fees, utilities are included, laundry is in the building, and there’s also a cafeteria and a very nice fitness center. The biggest drawback is that the Palladium comes with all the quirks of dorm life. The bedrooms are small and include an extra long twin and a small hot plate, microwave and fridge. You have to go to the lobby to check guests in and out, you answer to a Resident Assistant (RA) and, perhaps worst of all, undergrads live on the majority of the floors. However, if you want the ultimate in convenient living, the dorm is still the best option.

So how does living near or far impact involvement in Stern? In my opinion it enhances it. While sometimes I think twice about staying an extra hour at a bar when it’s getting pretty late, I have found that living far away has little impact on my student life. Whether participating in clubs, events, social activities, or even night or morning classes, I continue to be heavily active in all of these areas. I would venture to say the same for most other commuting Sternies as well. There is a vibrant community around campus at any time of the day and virtually any time at night as well. It goes along with the family vibe that’s truly present here. People living close by have the opportunity to run home between classes, but I’ve found that many students choose to hang out and go to lunch together between classes, have happy hour at one of the many nearby bars, and attend club events, among other things. I’d argue that the diverse living situations of Sternies have made student life more interesting. In the last semester alone I attended a house party in Brooklyn, a potluck in Hoboken, brunch in Harlem, a bar crawl on the Lower East Side and a picnic in Central Park, to name a few activities. Sternies use the city to our advantage, making our events just as fun and diverse as our student body. Plus, I can truly say that I’m now familiar with many different parts of the city, not just the neighborhoods where I live and go to school.

Around the start of first semester, the New York Times published a controversial article on gender equity at Harvard Business School that quickly dominated the discourse on what it means to be a woman in business school. The truth is, women are still severely underrepresented, both in MBA classes and in the higher ranks of management. At Stern, women comprise about 38.4% of the student body — and we beat out many of our competitors.

In true Stern fashion, a number of student leaders leapt into action following the article’s publication. A week later, the Stern Student Government and Stern Women in Business organized a lunchtime discussion on gender equity at Stern, which involved students, professors, administrators, and the author of the New York Times piece. The general consensus is that most women at Stern feel empowered to make their voices heard in classes, on teams, and in the ecosystem of clubs and recruiting and consulting projects that make up the student experience. In most of my classes, women are the first to raise their hands for questions, and they hold many of the top leadership positions in the school.

However, the conversation revealed a number of subtler behaviors, perceptions, and stereotypes that govern how men and women interact with each other, both at Stern and in the broader business community. Soon after, a committee of student volunteers came together to address these issues in more depth. One result has been the formation of “Lean In” circles: groups of students, male and female, who come together on a regular basis to discuss gender dynamics, particularly as they relate to Sheryl Sandberg’s recent book and movement. The circles have become a safe space to explore issues related to gender, perceptions, and working environments, and conversations often delve into separate but related topics, like structuring effective teams and navigating aggressive work environments. By establishing a set of norms that includes honesty, candor, and telling it like it is, we are breaking ground on subjects that are otherwise considered too taboo to say out loud.

But beyond having an arena to converse and vent and analyze, these circles have also turned into grounds for brainstorming solutions and developing action plans. Stern’s administration has signaled its support for the movement and is working with student leaders to incorporate the gender discussion in the classroom and into Stern programs like Launch (our signature two-week orientation). Our dean, Peter Henry, recently met with other business school deans at the White House for a discussion on how business education has a role in creating friendlier workplaces for working families, particularly women. Across Stern, women and men, administrators and students, are making the commitment to “lean in” so that we can make true gender equity — both at Stern and in the workplace — a reality.

My best friends and I make fun of each other constantly. When strangers see me with my friends they probably wonder if we even like each other. That is one of the benefits of friendship – being able to poke fun, tease, and even torment someone without them taking it personally. The best part about this is that the better you know someone the better you can do it! When there is mutual love and respect for everyone involved this teasing leads to incredible laughter. That is why I love Stern Follies.

First I should mention that I am one of the co-chairs of Follies, so I am a bit (ok fine… VERY) biased. Second, I should mention what the heck Follies is! Stern Follies is an annual ritual where students put together a variety show of live skits, video submissions, and musical performances that celebrate and lampoon NYU Stern students and faculty. The theme this year, The Torchy Awards, was a faux awards show in which awards were handed out for the Best Reality Show, Best Music Video, and Best Drama. One great element of this years show was the participation of the audience. In true awards show style they all dressed in formal attire.

So who got made fun of this year? First year MBA’s, second year MBA’s, faculty, administrators, other business schools, House of Cards, Breaking Bad, Law & Order, Project Runway, Real Housewives, and me. If you want to see videos you can watch them on YouTube (warning: language can be explicit and there are A LOT of inside jokes). For a quick taste, this video was fantastic and also the only video in which nobody was made fun of: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j7EtVKBnXJM&list=PLyUMo7BXSp4Htms6jmKp3oyMvIjp6NQxf&index=16

Ultimately Follies this year was a huge success. People love poking fun of each other, but that is not the main reason Follies is such a hit each year. The best part is seeing your classmates perform and demonstrate creative talents outside of the classroom. The magic lies in rooting for your classmates. It’s a breath of fresh air to take them outside of the classroom and watch them excel in another way. Some people’s skills are known, but far more debut amazing hidden talents at Follies. A few of my best friends at Stern proved themselves to be masterful writers, actors, editors and directors.

A lot of people don’t consider themselves “theater people”. If you are one of these people then buying a ticket to an amateur performance run by business school students probably sounds like your version of hell. However, if there is one piece of advice I can give it’s that you should go to Follies. You will be reminded of all the amazing times you have had over the last year (or two) and are guaranteed to leave with a huge smile on your face.

This past weekend was “Preview Weekend” — where admitted students get to join us at Stern for a few days of programming, dinners, social events, and lots of probing questions about the MBA experience. It was great fun for myself and some of my classmates to volunteer to speak to these students and help them to see what a great place Stern can be.

I ran the Entertainment, Media & Technology (EMT) table and got to meet a lot of potential future Sternies with fantastic qualifications and tons of passion for these fields. Always nice to know there’s a new wave of talent on its way. EMT department head Professor Craig was also at this event, so he was able to answer a lot of the students questions about academics first hand–which I think was really valuable for them.

Ultimately, I made my “final” decision to come to Stern during Preview weekend, so I know its a crucial weekend in the process of applying to and landing at a business school. Hopefully I made a good impression on some newbies who will be joining us this fall!

Preview Weekend, or Admitted Students Weekend, is one of my favorite parts of the Stern education. This past weekend marked my third (and probably last) Preview Weekend. I fondly remember my own Preview two years ago, when I first met my classmates and started forming lifelong bonds that continue to this day. I was super excited for the weekend but also a little nervous since I didn’t know anybody else who was going to Stern. But given the welcoming, collaborative community that I had experienced up until that point, I was confident that everyone would be down-to-earth, friendly, and as enthusiastic about Stern as I was. And of course, I was right!

As a Graduate Ambassador, I had the privilege of experiencing Preview from the other side this year. I spent the week gearing up for the event by signing up to participate in events over the weekend, dusting off my TORCH committee shirt, wrapping bars of chocolate from Madecasse (a Stern start-up), and congratulating recent admits on their acceptance and encouraging them to come to this weekend.

Saturday arrived and over 250 admits descended on Stern’s campus to kick off an unforgettable weekend and first step on their Stern journey. In the morning, they heard from inspirational student speakers, such as Jennifer Wynn, and military veteran Mike Petit. I was fortunate enough to escort a group of about 25 students on a small-group lunch to Nicoletta. This was really the first chance that students had to start to get to know each other in an informal setting, and we bonded over delicious meatballs, arancini, and pizza margherita. While I was there to answer questions, it was great to see the five girls at my table forming connections, exchanging phone numbers, and Facebook-friending each other already. Our table was very diverse, with an MBA/MPA and JD/MBA, as well as a French woman, but everyone was friendly and excited about Stern. I even made a great connection myself as one of the girls is involved with the same volunteer non-profit that I work with (Girls on the Run). What a small world!

The afternoon continued with “Explore your Path” – an opportunity for admits to speak with currents about potential career paths, experiential learning, global opportunities, and clubs. They capped off the evening with a fabulous reception at the swanky Dream Hotel where they could mingle and get to know their future classmates better.

I wish I could be in their shoes and experience Preview as a new admit all over again. I really enjoyed meeting future Sternies and I know that they had a great experience connecting with each other before school begins. I’m just sad that I won’t be here next Fall when they arrive on campus to continue their journey during LAUNCH.

Over the past few months I have talked to many prospective students who are interested in various careers in tech. Without fail I get the following question in all my conversations: Why should I choose Stern if I’m interested in tech?

Needless to say I also asked this question when I was deciding whether or not to consider Stern. So, I thought I’d blog about my Stern experience in regards to tech in order to perhaps provide a little insight to those wondering the same thing. Below are three reasons why I think Stern provides unparalleled access to some of the best resources for tech minded students.

First, Stern is in the Silicon Alley. In New York, fondly known in the industry as Silicon Alley, tech has taken off in various forms across various industries and all of them are a quick subway ride away. As a result Stern students have a broad range of opportunities to explore first hand while just about any day of the week. I recently read a report in Business Insider that does an excellent job of outlining the diverse and growing tech industry here in the Silicon Alley. Among some of the things the author, Steve Schlafman, points out about why he loves the tech industry in NYC is that it’s “welcoming: people new to tech can integrate quickly,” and “open: the community is accessible via Meetups, Twitter, and blogs.”[i] I would second that, and as a Stern student I have taken advantage of the discounted access we receive to Meetups and industry conferences around the city. One of my favorites was an EdTech Meetup where I networked with post-MBAs from various companies in the industry. Equally exciting was a digital music industry conference where I met executives and employees throughout the industry, and participated in a company crawl to Pandora, Spotify, and Youtube offices, among others. I have also participated in day treks led by our Entertainment Media and Technology Association (EMTA) and Entrepreneurs Exchange to the New York offices of large tech companies like Google, Facebook and smaller tech companies like Etsy and Rap Genius to get to know the New York City tech scene and its opportunities better.

Second, tech reaches all major industries and so does Stern. More than ever before tech is permeating every company and every industry. It’s no longer centralized to a few companies of a certain type and in a specific location. The article referenced above lists many of them in New York, such as publishing, advertising, commerce, healthcare, fashion, finance, education and mobile. I would also add media to that list. Technological innovation is a pivotal part of media, banking, and mobile, in particular, and it will play a critical role in their ability to differentiate and remain competitive. I’m excited for the possibility to participate in that. Through various industry club activities, like panels, knowledge management sessions, and treks and classes, including Managing Change, Digital Strategy and Advanced Strategy I have gained a much broader view of tech and how it impacts these industries. I have also been able to learn more about these companies and industries by leveraging our Office of Career Development to reach out to alumni that work within them. Stern students and alum embrace tech semester internships, summer internships and fulltime roles, like digital marketing, business analytics and product management at companies, like HBO, Etsy, American Express, Sony, Spotify and the New York Times, which area all nearby. The unique opportunity to participate in internships during the semester, in addition to the summer, is cherished among career switchers who want to explore various roles and get additional experience to build their resumes.

Fourth, Stern is connected to the valley. I was interested in pursuing some of the more traditional tech companies for my summer internship and Stern did not disappoint. Stern has a wealth of corporate partners, alumni and contacts that I was able to reach out to and network with. During the EMTA Trek to the Bay we visited and met with recruiters and alumni at places, such as Google, Facebook, LinkedIn and Paypal where I made a variety of connections, some of which turned into internship offers. At a mixer in the valley, I also met with an alumnus who has since served as a great resource on various opportunities off the beaten path in the Bay. Stern’s corporate partners, like Google and Amazon, work with the Office of Career Development to visit campus regularly to conduct corporate presentations, lead case study competitions and provide other networking opportunities. As my summer internship decision approached I got to choose from great companies located in New York, New Jersey, Washington and California.

You probably noticed a common theme of relationships and location threaded throughout the three reasons I provided above. I think Stern has a unique mix of both that empowers us students to get a comprehensive view of the tech world and opportunities within it. For me, the biggest payoff has been that through both relationships and location Stern has broaden my perspective on tech, shown me the forefront of innovation in various arenas and given me opportunities to pursue a wide number of industries that weren’t previously on my radar.

A question I commonly receive is whether being organized into blocks (a group of 70 students that you take core classes with) is a good or bad thing. Frankly I had questions about this as well because I was worried it would limit my ability to meet everyone that I could during my first semester on campus. If business school is about building a network, then why stop me from building that network in the classroom until I am already 25% finished with school?

Those are the questions, but this is the reality: the block system is the best thing that happened to my network.

The most valuable relationships I have at Stern are those with my block. By spending the entire first semester together, I was able to build bonds that were strong and lasted well after we left the core classes to take more specialized electives. Because of the block system I now have friends in Finance, Consulting, Luxury, Technology, Healthcare, etc. that I can safely refer to as my “go-to” people in those fields.

I also developed an especially strong network within my study group. Here is a list with the sex, hometown, job pre-Stern, and job post-Stern of the six members of my study group:

· Male, Los Angeles, sales background, Brand Management at Unilever
· Female, Hawaii, accounting background, Investment Banking at Wells Fargo
· Male, London, accounting background, consulting at Deloitte
· Male, Jamaica, insurance background, Sales & Trading at JP Morgan
· Female, Japan, artist, internal consulting at Samsung
· Male, Peru, corporate finance, investment banking in Peru

If I hadn’t been placed in a study group with these people the odds are that I would not have developed the bonds that I did because none of them take marketing classes with me. We did all our group work together first semester and got along so well that we are still doing group projects together today. This past spring break, four of us decided to go to Costa Rica and rent a house for the week. It was an amazing experience and let me know them even better.

In summation, I went back to school to get a job and build a network. With the strong bonds I have built between my block and my study group I am confident that I am leaving with both.

So I’ve been back in the country for less than 48 hours. No, I’m not complaining. Rather, I’m still marveling over my trip to Milan, Cinque Terre, and Florence. Over Spring Break, I participated in Doing Business in Italy. It is course that takes you to Milan to focus on luxury retailing and branding. We studied at Bocconi, which is a business school in Milan where we were taught by industry leaders in fashion and luxury. We had the privilege of visiting a silk factory in Como, the Versace Headquarters, and meet with one of the leading fashion PR and events firms, Attila and Co. In addition to delicious food, we also conducted a field study in teams of 4 or 5 students. We visited stores across Milan including Dolce and Gabbana, Prada, Tod’s, Louis Vuitton, Zegna, Versace, Armani, and several multi-brand stores. It was fascinating to see the differences in store layout, service, and branding within each location. With a critical eye, I found I learned a tremendous amount by making basic comparisons and traveling throughout the gorgeous city. If you’re interested in pursuing a career in luxury, I would highly recommend you enroll in this course.

Aside from the academic aspects, I was fortunate enough to travel to Cinque Terre with three of my classmates before class began. We hiked through three of five small towns on the coast of Southern Italy. The views were gorgeous and the food was beyond fresh. Due to our activity, we had few issues justifying our multiple trips to gelato shops. My only concern now is how I can find such delicacies in New York! Following the course, I also visited Florence. Simply stated, the city took my breath away. It was the best food during the whole trip. Plus, there were several beautiful cathedrals and museums. We even visited the Gucci museum. Lastly, I shopped in Florence. Conveniently located near the designer outlets, my classmates and I did some serious damage. It was the first time I’d shopped in some time, but it was worth the wait. Not only are the brands amazing, but you can find incredible deals (relatively speaking). Needless to say, if you visit, save in advance.

All in all, this was an incredible Spring Break. Regardless of whether you have an interest in luxury or retail, I recommend visiting Italy sometime if you haven’t already done so.