Smith Alums Recall Their Favorite MBA Courses
When alumni look back on their graduate school experience there will undoubetly be a course or two that stick out from the rest. MBAs at the University of Maryland’s Robert H. Smith School of Business are no differnet, with many of the offered courses leaving profound and lasting impacts on students. Here are a few view points for former Smith MBAs, giving testimonial to their favorite classes for their time at Smith:
Marketing for Social Value
Eric Choi, MBA ’12, says Marketing for Social Value with Rebecca Ratner was the best professional experience he had at Smith:
“The major project for this class was to work on a client pitch for Ogilvy and Mather in DC. We were to pitch a marketing strategy to the IRS for increasing online filing for businesses. It was an amazing experience to learn both from Professor Ratner as well as the marketing professionals at Ogilvy and my team was lucky enough to get chosen to present our ideas directly to the team at Ogilvy, as well as the team at the IRS. There is no better and real opportunity than to create a deck that I knew an actual client would see as well as present it to them.”
Game Theory
Sachin Agarwal, MBA ’07, says he enjoyed this class because: “Dr. Lele’s relaxed and quirky sense of humor, his respect for the subject and the students, and his ability to show us how to make connections with real life situations.”
Helina Haileselassie, MBA ’04, says: “This class challenged me to look at most of the things I do differently.”
Finance
Allison Davern, MBA ’16, says this about Finance with Michael Faulkender: “Coming from a liberal arts undergraduate program and career in public relations, I had not had much exposure to corporate finance. This class has been incredibly interesting and has provided me with greater insights and confidence that is directly applicable to my other Smith School core classes.”
Executive Power & Negotiations
Corrinne Hobbs, MBA ’09, says: “[Course instructor] Dr. [Joyce] Russell a dynamic teacher and I still use the skills learned in the class today. As an MBA woman looking to advance my career, I often think back to the lessons learned here: (1) always know your BATNA, (2) don’t be afraid to ask for what you want (your male colleagues do), and (3) don’t unnecessarily apologize or justify explanations for not getting promotions or higher pay because you are a woman.”
Marketing Management
Patrick Gillece, MBA ’15, says Marketing Management with David Godes was his favorite class: “Prof. Godes has a unique talent for leading case discussions. During his classes, I always felt completely engaged in the course content and intellectually challenged at the same time. The course gave me an entirely new perspective on what really goes into marketing decisions.”
Corporate Venturing
Tien-Seng Chiu, EMBA ’10, picked Corporate Venturing with Oliver Schlake as his favorite class: “Prof. Schlake is a great professor with a clear ‘this is not only what to do, but how to do’ attitude and aptitude.”
About the Author
Max Pulcini
Max Pulcini is a Philadelphia-based writer and reporter. He has an affinity for Philly sports teams, Super Smash Bros. and cured meats and cheeses. Max has written for Philadelphia-based publications such as Spirit News, Philadelphia City Paper, and Billy Penn, as well as national news outlets like The Daily Beast.
