#AskAPeerGuide

#AskAPeerGuide

Belk College of Business Peer Guide, Mansi Sodha, is checking in after I received several submissions for the “Ask a Peer Guide” initiative on the Belk College of Business’ Instagram. I answered all of the submitted questions below! Don't miss the next opportunity to submit a question for "Ask a Peer Guide" when you follow us on Instagram @unccbelkcollege.

1. Uptown campus events?
Check out our BCOB calendar here for all events (on campus and uptown) as well as this link for graduate program events at the Uptown campus!

2. Do student loans cover study abroad? Are there any options to study abroad for Operations and Supply Chain Management? How often can you study abroad in 4 years? Was it hard to fit study abroad into your academic schedule?
Studying abroad is a great way to learn more about different cultures, while also receiving academic credit! To learn more about study abroad, visit the Office of Education Abroad website and be sure to come out to our upcoming Peer Talk, First in Flight: Navigating Studying Abroad as a First-Generation Student on March 19th from 1:00-2:30pm on the first floor of the Friday building to hear about a Peer Guide’s experience and speak with the Education Abroad Advisor from the Office of Education Abroad! Be sure to visit your Academic and Career Coach for more information specific to your major and current academic standing.

3. Networking?
Start networking by building the relationships you already have. This can include friends, mentors, peers in your classes, or even professors. Other helpful strategies are joining clubs on campus, and coming out to Lunch & Learns and Professional Development Meet Ups at the Niblock Student Center are a great networking opportunity as well! Check out our Belk College of Business calendar here for all of our events, some may require signing up ahead of time!

4. What's the best way to find internships?
Hire a Niner is a great resource for finding internships both on campus and off! On this website, you can find multiple employers who are interested in UNC Charlotte students. Also, visiting the Career Fair on Friday, February 14th is an amazing resource to make connections with employers. If you already have an internship, be sure to check our PD Meet Up: Maximizing Internship Experience on April 14th from 1:00-1:30 in Friday 302. Additionally, to learn how you can get your internship counted for academic credit, get more information at this link and attend an information session in Friday 302 at the following dates: February 26 2:30-3:30pm, March 24 10-11am, April 2 4-5pm, April 27 1:25pm-2:15pm

5. What are some suggestions for mastering a Skype interview?
Pretend as if it is an actual face to face interview. Dress professional as you would if you were going to meet them in person, make sure to eliminate all noise, check your connection, microphone, and web camera ahead of time. With any interview, practicing is key, so be sure to utilize on campus resources such as scheduling a mock interview with the Career Center and Big Interview, which is an online resource with interview tips, resume advice, and more! 

6. What are some clubs that help you network?
Beta Alpha Psi, Alpha Kappa Psi, Gamma Iota Sigma, and American Marketing Association are some of the most popular organizations for business students. Head over to Niner Engage to learn more about these organizations as well as search for others!

7. Is there a place that can help me find my major within the business college?
Absolutely! Our Academic and Career Coaching Team is always ready to help students navigate through their college journey! Also, talking to our Peer Advisors is a great way to get a student perspective on deciding a major. Be sure to visit your Academic and Career Coach or come to drop in hours at the Niblock Student Center available here.


Don't forget to follow @unccbelkcollege on Instagram and submit a question during the next "Ask a Peer Guide".

Admitted Student Day Review

Each spring, Undergraduate Admissions hosts "Admitted Student Days" where new students admitted to UNCC can visit campus to learn more about why coming to UNC Charlotte is a great choice.

Last Friday, the Belk College of Business welcomed several admitted students and their families to learn more about what makes our college unique.

Guests were welcomed with a presentation by Associate Dean, Dr. Pat Mynatt and Director of the Professional Development team, Ms. Meagan Glasco followed by a student panel moderated by alumni Khabiryrul Gainey. Students and their families could then could visit each of our departments to interact with faculty and professional and student staff members to learn more about curriculum, career/job outlook, and the student experience.

Thank You to all who helped with this event and we hope those who visited chose UNC Charlotte!

Finance Department: Chair. Dr. King and Peer Advisor Erika

BISOM Department (Business Analytics, Management Information Systems, Operations & Supply Chain Management): Dr. Subramaniam, Peer Advisor Taylor, Dr. Zhao, and Dr.Khouja

Economics Department: Dr. Stivendar and Academic & Career Coach Ms. Knaul

 

Dr. Mynatt with ALPFA Jasmine and Beta Alpha Psi member Raechel,  Ms. Glasco 

Peer Guide Mansi, Assistant Director of Professional Development and Honors Programs Mr. Lord, Peer Guide Danielle, and Assistant Director of Professional Development Ms. Taylor

Marketing Department: Professor Fox, Peer Advisor Melisa, Academic & Career Coach Ms. Sigmon 

Accounting Department: Peer Advisor Arjun, Academic & Career Coach Mr. Winston, Dr. Sevin

Management Department: Peer Advisor Zena, Academic & Career Coach Mr. Holliday-Millard, Peer Advisor Kaiah, Dr. Ford-Eickhoff 

Peer Advisors Melisa, Arjun, Kaiah, Zena, and Erika 

Alumni Panel Recap!

On Wednesday, January 22nd, the Niblock Student Center held their first Lunch & Learn of the Spring 2020 Semester! This Alumni Panel was moderated by Nia Johnson and included the following alumni:

● Julia Loomer ’18, public health, and M.S. ’19, management; Regional Director of Chapter Services at The Ability Experience
● Kedric Wright ’16, economics, and M.S.’ 17, economics; Credit Risk Analytics Consultant at Wells Fargo
● Trey Williford ’18, accounting, and  MACC ’19; Tax Consultant at Deloitte

Throughout this Lunch & Learn, our panelists discussed how their experience in undergrad at UNC Charlotte shaped them as individuals, both personally and professionally. This was accomplished through internship experiences, extra-curricular activities and leadership positions. Panelists also shared how they came to the decision to pursue their Masters’ degrees, as well as tips on the transition from college life to post-grad life.

We are grateful to our panelists for coming to speak to our students and sharing their experience, thank you all for coming!

Be sure to come out to our next Lunch & Learn on Tuesday, February 18th at 2:30 to learn about Careers in Asset Management!

Get Involved: The Association for Information Systems

Looking for a way to get involved? Hear from Chase Thompson (President) on how to get involved with the UNCC Student Chapter of The Association for Information Systems.

"AIS is a student-run premier professional association for individuals and organizations who lead the research, teaching, practice, and study of information systems worldwide.  Our organization cultivates a community by providing services and products to meet the diverse needs of members and related communities. Throughout the semester our organization hosts numerous events including workshops, professional development, and social events to connect to our campus community. We also host business professionals within the information systems field to cultivate knowledge of current systems, learn more about the industry, and gain a first-hand perspective of the services they provide. Information systems are the future of productivity and innovation in the workplace being utilized by more and more companies today."

Join AIS for their first chapter meeting of the semester! 

February 4th, 2020 from 2:30pm-3:30pm in Friday 383
Last semester, AIS hosted representatives from Wells Fargo, Ingersoll Rand, and TIAA.

*Check them out on social media to stay up to date on information*

Niner Engage: https://ninerengage.uncc.edu/organization/ais

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/unccais

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uncc_ais/

Chase adds, "Having the opportunity to network with industry professionals, improve my own technical skills/knowledge, and meet peers that share a love for technology is one of the best decisions I made in my college experience. AIS challenges its members to look toward their own futures and prepares them to face the professional environment."

See the latest article from AIS about the majors robust salary and job placement opportunity!

Studying Abroad: Spring 2019 Review

Studying Abroad is one of the easiest ways to develop intercultural awareness! As businesses become more and more global and work with diverse employees and clients, it is important that students develop this competency.

Hear from the BCOB students below and how their Study Abroad experience impacted their academic and personal journies.

Jenna Zamin (Marketing- May 2020) pictured below at Duomo di Milano in Italy
Studied: University of Economics Prague in Prague, Czech Republic
Took classes in: Foreign Language, Marketing Topics, Brand Innovation and New Product Strategy, Topics in Management
"Studying abroad was the best decision I could've ever made. I was able to immerse myself in a culture different than my own and be more than just a tourist. I learned so much about myself, Prague, and all the places that I was fortunate enough to visit. It was interesting learning about business from a new perspective and how marketing differs from country to country or region to region. Study abroad pushed me out of my comfort zone and gave me memories that I will never forget."

Abbi Kinder (Marketing- May 2020) pictured below in Queenstown, New Zealand
Studied: University of Auckland in Auckland, New Zealand
Took Classes in: International Trade, Law and Economics, Special Topics Marketing, Consumer Behavior and Strategy
“Studying abroad in New Zealand was the most incredible experience of my life. Immersing myself in a completely different culture for 6 months allowed me to grow as an individual in so many ways. Gaining new perspectives, developing better professional skills, meeting people from all backgrounds, and experiencing a new way of life helped shape me into the person I am today. Studying abroad is a very rewarding and humbling experience that everyone should consider doing!”

Joshua Block (Marketing, International Business, French- December 2020) pictured in Lyon, France
Studied: Université Jean Moulin Lyon 3 in France
Took Classes in: French, Special Topics in International Business, Marketing, and Management
"Studying Abroad was a great experience. I made lifelong friends, experienced different cultures, and traveled to Germany, Italy, Spain, and Amsterdam while there. Also enjoyed and tried new foods! I learned how to budget money, assimilate myself to new atmospheres, and am looking forward to more opportunities to travel."

American Marketing Association Meeting - 1/21

Interested in building your professional platform? Come learn about AMA at our first our meeting this Tuesday, January 21st from 5:30-6:45 in Friday 155. We look forward to seeing you there and hopefully joining our club!

Lunch and Learn: Alumni Panel

Join us for our first Lunch & Learn of the semester on Wednesday, January 22nd at 4pm!
Management student and Peer Guide, Nia Jognson, will moderate a panel of Belk College of Business
alumni who will share about their college experiences and career journey. This is a great opportunity to
ask questions about their experiences and to network! Lunch is provided. Please see below for
information regarding the panelists:

Julia Loomer, Regional Director of Chapter Services at The Ability Experience (BS Public Health, MS Management)

Kedric Wright, Credit Risk Analytics Consultant at Wells Fargo (BS & MS Economics)

Trey Williford, Tax Consultant at Deloitte (BS Accounting and is currently pursuing MACC)

Please register in advance: Click here to register.

International Student?Apply to be a Cultural Ambassador

The Cultural Ambassador program provides international students with an opportunity to educate UNC Charlotte students, faculty, and staff about their culture and experiences as an international student in the US.

This is a great way for international students to develop public speaking skills and share their own
culture and identity, while giving back to UNC Charlotte.

Interested students can learn more here. 

Find the active application here. The deadline to apply is January 22nd!

Top 5 Reasons to Attend the 2020 CEO Speaker Series

Why you should attend:

1.  Support a Belk College alumnus. Dontá Wilson earned his bachelor's degree in management from UNC Charlotte's Belk College of Business.

2. Truist Financial Corp., which emerged last month after the merger of BB&T and SunTrust, is the sixth largest bank in the nation. The bank is headquartered in Charlotte with thousands of jobs in the region.

3. As chief digital and client services officer, Wilson is a member of the executive management team for Truist. At its predecessor, BB&T, he led a digital transformation for the bank.

4. A philanthropic leader, Wilson started the I am My Brother’s Keeper Mentoring Program to pair underprivileged young men with accomplished male mentors.

5. Take what you learn and apply it to class, internships and your personal endeavors!

Women in Business

The Women in Business Initiative is offering two open houses for any students interested in the Women in Business Initiative. This event is for you if you are interested in getting involved, but haven't had the opportunity to do so yet! They will be offered from 4pm- 5pm Monday, January 13 and from 12pm- 1pm Wednesday, January 15 in Friday 302.

Applications are open for the Women in Business Retreat in Greenville, SC February 7-8, 2020. Applications will close on Wednesday, January 15 and space is very limited. Spaces are filled on a rolling basis. For more information, please go to womeninbusiness.uncc.edu.

The University Speaking Center is looking forward to working with students this semester!

Additionally, to prepare for the Spring Career and Internship Fair on February 14th, Veronica Shoemaker, National Communication Association's 2019 Outstanding Consultant recipient, will reprise her elevator pitch best practices workshop.  All students should email universityspeakingcenter@uncc.edu to confirm reservations due to limited seating. 

MKTG 3250 Fall 2019 Recap- Congrats to the Winners!

Marketing majors are required to complete the Marketing capstone class, MKTG 3250, Marketing Strategy Consultancy. The class requires students to put together a marketing strategy plan for a local company. The semester ends with a final presentation to faculty members. Top teams are selected to present to the employer, with an overall winner chosen. Students in the Fall 2019 class worked with Bank of America. See a recap from previous semesters: Fall 2018 / Spring 2019 / Summer 2019

Congrats to Fall 2019 winners!

1st Place Team pictured below: Jorden, Sydney, Andie, Paulina, Liliana, Nora, Giselle 

Runner Up Team pictured below: Tyler, Jack, Casey, Maureen, Andrew, Matthew 

Students were asked to give advice to students who must complete the class in the future. Keep reading to learn how to best prepare and do well in the course!

"I would say that Managerial Communication with Mrs. Kane prepared me most for this course, as she taught us strong presentation and writing skills. 

The most challenging part of this project was communicating with team members to produce a strong and consistent presentation/strategy. 

My advice for students taking this course in the future is to pick team members carefully as you are only as strong as your weakest link, and to not worry too much about the final presentations, they are surprisingly fun and rewarding. 

Final takeaways from this experience are that this was a defining moment in my college career and one that I will never forget. Our college is special for giving students such an amazing opportunity and I suggest that all students take full advantage of it." --Matthew 

"The class that prepared me most for this project was Brand Innovation and New Product Strategy. Much of what I learned in that course was utilized throughout this course. 

The most challenging part of this course was meeting the weekly deadlines, especially when trying to coordinate with all of the team members’ schedules.

Advice I’d give to students taking this course in the future is to stay on top of things, and to also seek feedback from your professor regularly. That’s what they’re there for!

All-in-all, this was a challenging yet rewarding course. I’ve always hated public speaking and having to do weekly presentations (without using notecards) really helped me to conquer that fear and manage the anxiety that comes with it!" -- Tyler

Opportunities from the UNC System Office

2020-21 Presidential Scholars Position Announcement

The Presidential Scholars Program position provides a great opportunity to learn, build your resume and network at a level not available to most recent graduates. Students interested in higher education, law, politics, communication, etc. should be encouraged to consider this opportunity. This program is open to both December 2019 and May 2020 graduates. The salary of the 2020-2021 Presidential Scholars is $18.00 an hour (see below).

2020 Marian Drane Graham Scholars Program

The MDG Scholars Program will allow rising juniors and seniors a hands-on opportunity to learn about a state agency while learning more about higher education in North Carolina. We have expanded the MDG Scholars program from six weeks to eight weeks based on the feedback we received from scholars for the past two years. This is a great way for students to build their resume through a high-level internship opportunity. A stipend and housing at NCSU campus are a part of the program (see Below).