Beyond the ‘Big Four’: What are the Other Major Consulting Firms You Should Know?
Deloitte, PwC, KPMG, and E&Y: Together these firms make up the “Big Four”—the four biggest professional services firms in the world. The companies offer auditing, assurance services, management consulting, corporate finance, legal services and more. It’s no surprise, that many of these companies are also ideal destinations for many MBAs. Continue reading…
Strong Hiring Numbers Highlight Banner Year for NYC School – New York News
Let’s explore some of the most interesting stories that have emerged from New York business schools this week.
Strong Hiring Proves Employers Crave Stevens’ Blend of Business, Technology Skills – Stevens Institute of Technology SOB Blog
The class of 2018 at the Stevens Institute of Technology’s School of Business recently posted a 98 percent placement rate, earning salaries of $72,480; far above NYC and national averages. The Stevens MBA focuses on how data and analytics are changing the way professionals work and how technology creates new opportunities while solving complex problems.
Associate Dean of Undergraduate Studies Dr. Ann Murphy notes, “We enjoy close relationships with managers in financial services, accounting, technology and media, which keeps us ahead of the rapid changes in industry. That real-world input influences our curricula, which helps our students get better internships and the jobs they want upon graduation.”
Seth Kirschner ’18, who majored in Business & Technology before accepting a position as a cyber risk advisory consultant with Deloitte, asserts, “The industry expertise of the faculty at Stevens comes through so clearly in the classroom. You’re learning from professors like Dr. Kevin Ryan, who have patents and years of experience in the telecom industry, or a turnaround strategist like Dr. Murad Mithani, who teaches you how to change a failing company. As a student at Stevens, you’re surrounded by excellence.
You can read more about the Stevens’ Class of 2018 here.
The Social Benefits of Candid Photos – NYU Stern School of Business News
New joint research from NYU Stern Professor Alixandra Barasch finds that candid photos elicit a more favorable response in certain social situations because they are seen as more authentic.
Barasch co-authored a new paper with Wharton’s Jonah Berger entitled “A Candid Advantage? The Social Benefits of Candid Photos,” which uses five experiments to determine how candid photos increase interest in observers in the realm of friendship and dating.
Barasch and Berger’s research finds that more candid, “real” photos are seen as favorable than staged ones, even in professional settings.
Barasch and Berger write, “People often assume that a curated, polished version of the self will generate the most favorable responses—that by smoothing rough edges and presenting one’s best side, others will like and want to interact with them more. But this assumption is not always correct.”
Barasch continues, “In some cases, viewers prefer an unvarnished picture because it seems more genuine. People value authenticity because it feels more accurate.”
You can read more about the research here.
Journalism Class Supports Lehigh’s West Coast Connections – Lehigh College of Business and Economics News
Launched in January 2017, the Lehigh@NasdaqCenter offers immersive learning experiences to six Fellows each year, offering a West Coast campus extension for Lehigh students based in Silicon Valley. This program is just one way in which Lehigh builds an academic bridge from Bethlehem to the innovation ecosystem of Silicon Valley.
Samantha Dewalt, managing director of the Lehigh@NasdaqCenter, describes the interdisciplinary program:
“The media fellows report on programs and events at the center, interview featured entrepreneurs and produce multi-media stories across a range of platforms about the risks and rewards of entrepreneurship. We work together to select projects the students are excited about and ones that will benefit both Lehigh and Nasdaq Center communities.”
Entrepreneur Craig Gordon, ’76, founder and Managing Director, Blueshift Research remarks, “I think this is a great example of Lehigh innovating in a course where there is nothing like it anywhere in the country. The enthusiasm was unbelievable. You want that at any experience you have at any university.”
You can read more about the Lehigh learning experiences here.
Rutgers Faculty Member Moving On Up – New York News
Let’s explore some of the most interesting stories that have emerged from New York business schools this week.
Rutgers Lends Expertise to Newark – Rutgers Business School News
When Newark’s Community Economic Development Corporation lost its chief executive, Mayor Ras Baraka enlisted Lyneir Richardson of the Rutgers Business School to take the reigns. The Rutgers professor the opportunity as an “act of service” and said that he would be thrilled to share his knowledge and ensure that the Newark CEDC continued its vital role in attracting businesses, guiding real estate development and helping to sustain small businesses across the city.
“I’m honored to be of service to the city at this moment of economic energy,” Richardson says. “My temporary role in the city “will bring new relevant examples to my teaching.”
Rutgers University-Newark Chancellor Nancy Cantor remarks:
“Rutgers is a committed stakeholder in the present and future of our great city—not just in Newark, but of Newark—and we are pleased to be able to assist during this critical transition.”
You can read more about Richardson’s role here.
Lessons from Mario Gabelli, Merger Master – Gabelli Connect
Mario Gabelli, Chairman and CEO of GAMCO Investors, Inc, is a legendary “arb” (better known as a risk arbitrageur). He has utilized the discipline of risk arbitrage to successfully invest in companies undergoing mergers, reorganizations and other corporate events. The Fordham University Gabelli School of Business stresses that there is no better discipline that will teach you everything you need to know about deal-making than arbitrage, noting that it teachers investors financial techniques applicable across the financial industry.
“Those things work on everything you do,” Gabelli says.
“It keeps you up-to-date on every financial technique that’s available.” For students, “this is a great business to be in because you learn a lot, it’s not complicated, and you can do it tonight.”
Kate Willing, writer of the recently-published “Merger Masters: Tales of Arbitrage,” asserts: “risk arbs must also have nerves of steel—the discipline to adhere to a strategy, a willingness to tolerate calculated risk, and an ability to make decisions under conditions of uncertainty.”
You can read more from the Gabelli Connect article here.
2018: Year in Review – Lehigh University
Alongside a myriad of learning experiences, research, and huge celebrations on campus, the Lehigh University College of Business and Economics wrapped up an exciting year. Five noteworthy moments in 2018 featured a one billion dollar fundraising campaign, a distinguished Lehigh alumni commencement speech, an outstanding successful wrestling season, discovery of a new geometric shape by a Lehigh professor, and a five-story residential facility.
Deloitte CEO and Lehigh alum Cathy Engelbert says to graduates: “Do what hasn’t been done,” and shared three life lessons at Lehigh’s 150th commencement.
Kicking off its $1 billion campaign, Lehigh announced a generous $20 million gift from Lehigh Board of Trustees Chair Kevin L. Clayton ’84 ’13P and Lisa A. Clayton ’13P.
A new geometric shape: “Team of researchers discover a new shape present in epithelial cells that minimizes energy and maximizes packing stability during tissue bending. The new research can lead to advancement in tissue engineering.”
You can read more about the year that was at Lehigh here.
What Do You Do If You Can’t Afford an MBA?
An MBA is expensive. There’s no doubt about it. So, how do you afford one?
According to U.S. News & World Report, the average cost of an two year, full-time MBA from one of the top business schools in the U.S. is over $130,000. That number doesn’t include the cost of boarding and books ($40,000), peripheral expenditures ($20,000), and the cost of lost income ($120,000). Altogether, your total opportunity cost could come to around $300,000 for a two-year MBA.
If that number sounds astronomical, you’re not alone. While earning an MBA can advance your career path and greatly enhance your future earnings, few people feel blasé about the upfront cost. However, with a little bit of research, insight, and know-how, paying for your MBA doesn’t have to be out of your reach.
If you’re a prospective MBA student worried that you can’t afford an MBA, here are a few ideas to help you pay.
The Big Payback: The Highest Paying Jobs for MBAs
Even in 2019, the search for the right MBA program is as unique as each student, and the reasons for applying are as varied as the programs themselves. Advancement in an existing career is an obvious motivation, as is breaking into a new industry or shifting one’s career focus.
One thing that all MBAs can likely agree with, however, is that earning potential is a leading incentive. This brings up questions about the most lucrative fields. Choosing the right concentration can be the first step toward achieving a position that will truly pay off. The following is a look at the current highest paying jobs for MBAs, as well as the majors that can open the necessary doors.
The Highest Paying Jobs for MBAs
Topping the list of the highest paid professions for MBAs in 2018 is strategic management. This specialization leads the way in terms of early to mid career salary, with salary averages beginning at around $125,000. Professionals with this degree and concentration earned $148,000 at the mid-point of their careers. Among the career functions for MBAs with a strategy focus are management consultant, senior strategy manager, senior product manager. Google, Amazon, PwC, and Intel are among the companies hiring for strategic management based positions.
Second on the list of highest paying MBA careers is technology management, which for many grows out of a background in IT or software development. According to Monster.com, tech management careers can start at around $113,000 per year, and advancement leads to a jump to upwards of $165,000. Roles such as senior project manager, vice president of IT, and IT director all emerge from a tech background. Companies such as Accenture, Deloitte, Cisco Systems, and HP all offer leading starting salaries in the IT management field.
Entrepreneurship also falls into the top three earning fields for MBAs. Starting salaries, according to data gathered from PayScale, hover around $100,000 per year, and reach up to around $135,000. Such roles as senior project manager and management consultant are options in the entrepreneurial field, as are various leadership roles in the growing fintech industry. Top hiring companies for entrepreneurship MBAs, according to PayScale, are Amazon, IBM, General Electric, and the Boeing Company.
A career in finance is the fourth of the highest paying categories for MBAs, with a starting salary hovering in the $100,000 range. Those with their sights upon chief financial officer, portfolio management, or financial management positions can hope to land jobs in this arena with high earning power. New York Life Insurance, Fidelity Investments, and Vanguard are currently seeking MBAs for various finance positions.
Along with strategy, tech management, entrepreneurship, and finance, marketing ranks among the most lucrative fields for MBAs. While some marketing jobs do not require an MBA, one can see a wider, more profitable range of options with a specialized study in marketing. Upper level marketing positions can start at around $80,000 per year, and can grow well above $120,000. Current listings for MBAs with a marketing focus include Dell, Microsoft, and, of course, Amazon.
New Consulting Job Openings Are Flourishing at These Firms
Top MBA talent has made its way into prestigious consulting firms for decades, creating what we’ve previously called “a virtuous circle,” where the demand for this talent grows. With high starting salaries and the opportunity to work with a range of clients across many industries, new MBA jobs at consulting firms are always highly sought after. Here’s a look at some of the best new MBA jobs out there in the consulting world this week:
