Student Profile/Course Highlights: Svet Miloshev

by Svetlozar Miloshev.

I am an MBA candidate specializing in International Business and Finance. I work as a Department Head in a luxury hotel in downtown Boston. It is a highly demanding position. My day starts as I wake up at 5am, and sometimes ends at 7 or 8pm. I am passionate about management and serving society while providing value for my organization. I continued my education at the College of Management in UMass to gain tacit knowledge and critical skills that will help me to further advance my career. I have found that choosing the right MBA courses, which will help me develop new skills and knowledge, is imperative. Thus, I would like to share my experiences about two strongly recommended courses.

I would like to advise you to consider joining the Graduate Student Managed Fund/Asset Management Practicum (MBA AF 632).  I took it in spring ’15 and it has been a vital instrument for helping me reach new momentum in my graduate career. The course provides great networking opportunities, fun seminar-style discussions, and essential finance-related technical skills. The course is a simulation of a real-world working environment and fosters teamwork, communication, and leadership.

The Bloomberg terminals at the Healey Library are a wealth of knowledge. I became Bloomberg certified 3 years ago. Since then, the Bloomberg idea has expanded into few terminals and a dedicated space at the Healey Library. Here is more information for anyone interested: http://www.umb.edu/academics/cm/smf/grad

Second, if you would like to be a leader that solves macro and not micro problems, I would advise you to join the exquisite MBA MGT 677 Globalization & Multinational Corporations. I took the course in spring ’15 and it has been a real eye opener and a journey in the world of globalization and MNEs. The course fosters your problem defining skills, critical thinking, and independent research project related to your industry field. The class lectures and discussion are applicable to multiple industries and the reading materials foster fast learning curve. If you are looking for the course that will set you apart from the competition and will provide you the fundamentals for success this class must be your choice.

Best Regards,

Svetlozar Miloshev

Student Post: UMass Boston – My Journey So Far

UMass Boston: My journey so far
by John Chacko

After years spent in the Information Technology industry, serving Fortune 100 companies that used legacy systems to transact business, I was looking for an avenue to grow as a business analyst and manager. My focus was to get an MBA degree and learn Business Intelligence (BI), and I knew both courses of study are available at UMass Boston. I felt that an MBA program would help me better understand the different aspects of the business, and that with this insight I would be able to grow within the corporate world. Business intelligence would also enable me to review and analyze transactional and historical data in order to plan the business operations.

With the advances in communication technology, the world has become smaller. Many of us have had to work with a global workforce; diversity at UMass helps us to prepare for this new global environment. The MBA program from UMass Boston allows me to study with a small group of students from diverse backgrounds. The smaller classes at UMass Boston give me an opportunity to have a better interaction with students and faculty alike. The College of Management has excellent faculty, professors who have studied at the top universities and have excelled in their respective fields. Students at UMass Boston are lucky as they are tutored by some of the best minds at a fraction of the cost that they would have had to pay at a private university. The different methods of teaching, such as interactive case studies, help me to explore different solutions for a problem. Moreover, discussions with my peers and faculty give me new perspective and ideas on how business problems are solved. Project work helps me understand and practice data collection, information processing, and presentation of information.

 Being an international student has its own challenges as you leave behind your family and loved ones on a quest for knowledge. The students, faculty, and staff at the university are very welcoming and inclusive. I have not felt out of place and I feel that UMass Boston will be my home away from home. The proximity of the university to Boston downtown will provide me with internship opportunities and allow me to be part of the cultural setting of the city. Thus, studying in Boston will provide me with a holistic education that gives exposure to different ways of thinking. As a result, the program will better equip me to overcome issues and challenges later on in my life. I would like to end this note with a quote from President Obama’s commencement address at UMass Boston in 2006:  “[…] no matter where you’re born or how much your parents have; no matter what you look like or what you believe in, you can still rise to become whatever you want; still go on to achieve great things; still pursue the happiness you hope for.”

Welcome new students! Survival tips from a current MBA student

Welcome to the Spring 2015 New Incoming Students Cohort

by Marco Bellin

Spring is a magical time of the year. While there are people dreaming of summer and long sunny days where the cold winter is only a memory, there are others seeing their dreams come true once they board on a plane, or any other mean of transportation, with Boston as final destination. You are about joining the UMass Boston community and starting the pursuit of your graduate degree or visiting program. Hard work and long nights on standardized tests and applications are now behind, a new chapter is about to start. Congratulations to each one of you! You made it! You have made the right decision, and by undertaking this step you just took your career, as well as personal and professional development, to the next level. Embrace this joyful and extraordinary moment, celebrate the admission with your loved ones, and then get ready to embark on one of the most enriching experiences of your life.

I was in your shoes two times, in 2009 when I joined UMass Boston as an exchange student and in 2014 when I returned to my home away from home, again UMass Boston, to pursue my MBA. I had to relocate from Italy, so I have been down the same steep road, and I have been through the emotional turmoil that comes with the big move twice. Going to Graduate School, be it across the country or on the other side of the globe, is never easy. You will find very challenging moments and will go through hard times. The sooner you take this into account, the better off you will be, and the more you will derive from this new experience you are about to start. Here is some advice that will prove useful when settling down in Boston and UMass.

1) Stay calm, no matter what. Always take a deep breath, remember that you made it till here, and tell yourself that everything is going to be fine.

2) Be humble, adapt to the new environment, and accept the fact that life will not be like it was back home. I am not saying it is going to be worse; it just will not be the same. Every place has its own pace, uses and habits, rules and culture. Embrace it with full heart! Do not try to change it, do not try to replicate the one from back home, enjoy the change. Change is positive!

3) Pack cleverly and strategically. If you are an international student, do not put any of your important documents into the luggage that you check in if you are flying. You want to exclude the possibility of losing them, were your luggage to be lost or delayed. All your identification documents, school-related paperwork, accommodation and travel documents, especially passport, letter of admission, I-20 (if you are an F-1 student) or DS-2019 (if you have a J-1 visa), should mean everything to you right now. Safeguard them day and night!

4) Ask for help, do not be afraid or shy. There will be moments where you do not know how to find a place or what you are supposed to do. It is okay. It is part of the learning process. Ask someone for help, you will be amazed at how helpful strangers can be. By the way, on-campus there are no strangers, we are part of the same family.

5) Dedicate your first week in town to sort everything out and settle down. Sightseeing can wait a few days. It is crucial to start with the right foot and fulfill the induction on-campus as well as find the right accommodation, if you have not found one yet. If you are international, report to the ISSS (International Students and Scholar Services – Campus Center, 2nd floor) office on your first visit to campus. They will tell you what you need to do. The One Stop office is another place you should become familiar with.

6) Take nothing for granted. Both if you are coming from the West Coast of the States or from the other side of the globe, remember that uses and people are different from the ones you were used to. Be respectful, always, and make sure you ask what you do not know or are not sure about.

7) Everyone likes and feel more comfortable to hang out with his or her own fellow students and friends, but life and learning happen outside your comfort zone and safety network. Integrate with different people. This will benefit you from day one, not only socially wise but also academically speaking. If your first language is not English, try as much as possible to stay with people that speak English. Your grades will improve hour after hour, and you will discover your untapped potential.

8) Do not be shy. At first glance classes will seem different, somehow surreal, and/or challenging, if you are used to a different system or school environment. People will actively participate in the class discussion, and there is no silly question. Get used to it. Speak up, so that you and the rest of the class can benefit and learn from each other.

9) Nobody will ‘project manage’ your days and your life inside and outside school. You need to do it. A graduate program can be intense, challenging, demanding, and all of the above. Keep your focus, keep your priorities clear in mind whatever they are, and plan accordingly. Be punctual at meetings, time is precious. If it is not precious to you, it will definitely be to the people waiting on you. Be responsible.

These are some of the keys to make your new experience as meaningful and positive as possible. There are surely other important aspects that you should think about in this new endeavor of yours. But that will be the ground for our next conversation, hopefully in person, on-campus. Feel free to stop me and introduce yourself in the hallways of our beautiful campus whenever you see me. I would love to make your acquaintance and clear any doubt you may have. Do not be shy, I will be happy to have a chat over coffee!

In the meantime, all the best and good luck for this new exciting phase of your life! I am excited for you and happy to have you joining our student community.

Welcome to UMass Boston! I look forward to seeing you this spring!

Marco Bellin

Thursday: Coffee & Donuts with the Dean

 

 

 

 

 

Join us this Thursday (December 11) from 5pm-6pm for coffee and donuts with our new dean, Jorge Haddock. Dean Haddock will be available to talk with students and answer questions. This is a drop-in event; come at a time that is convenient for you!

 

We hope to see you there.

 

Cheers,

 

College of Management Staff and Faculty

Coffee & Donuts with the Dean GRAD

 

Our First Student Post: Welcome!

by Deepak Bidwai
MS-Finance, 2014
Current MS-Information Technology Student

Welcome!

Just like everybody else, I researched a lot before starting the MS-Finance at UMass Boston in Fall 2012. It was no small decision. It was going to decide my journey for the rest of my life. In hindsight, it was the right decision; I was anxiously looking for more information. I wanted to know about the College, faculty, students, placements, food, city life and so many other things. I wanted to know more and more.

I felt it would be great if I could hear from the students and alumni about their experiences. I know everyone wishes the same. But now the wish has come true – we are starting a student run blog with everything students want to know. This blog will not only be about the students, but also about alumni. Since I started my journey at UMass Boston, I have met many great students from all around that world. I met students from Lebanon, South Korea, China, Libya, Columbia, Germany and of course from the US. Many of them graduated, but I still meet them during alumni events and online. Many of them expressed their strong desire to reconnect with their alma mater. They wanted to know about current development at the College of Management, and they wanted to share their experiences. This blog is also about them.

I welcome everyone to the blog and expect your participation.

College of Management students during last year's trip to the New York Stock Exchange.
College of Management students during last year’s trip to the New York Stock Exchange.

 

NEW CPT FORM PROCEDURE

International Students: Please be advised that the College of Management process for CPT approvals has changed. All CPT signature requests should be submitted electronically using this web form.

Instead of bringing forms to the office on a walk-in basis, please fill out the web form to request a review of your paperwork and upload completed CPT forms. Once we receive the forms electronically, an advisor will review them and arrange an appointment for you to pick them up and be enrolled in the Practicum or Extended Practicum class.

When completing the form, you will be asked to select two time ranges during which you can come to the office to pick up your form and check in briefly with an advisor. We will then contact you via email to set up a specific appointment time.

You should submit the web form after your supervisor has provided you with an offer letter and job description, and has signed in the designated areas on the CPT paperwork.

More detailed instructions can be found on the web form and on our Student Resources page.

Biogen Idec Fellowship 2014-2015

SERC – Biogen Idec Fellowship 2014-2015

Background
The Center for Sustainable Enterprise and Regional Competitiveness at UMass Boston in partnership with Biogen Idec is pleased to announce the Biogen Idec-SERC Fellowship in Clean Energy and Sustainability for academic year 2014-2015. The fellowship will create an opportunity for an outstanding graduate student to conduct applied research in collaboration with a professor in the area of clean energy and sustainability and thus gain practical experience and improve their knowledge and skills.

The fellowship is similar to the Graduate Assistant fellowships. The student will receive a stipend to do research during the academic year (two semesters). S/he is expected to work 4.5 hours/week on the research project and submit a final report/case study for publication on the SERC website by May 31, 2015.

The topic of the research will be determined jointly by SERC and Biogen Idec to assure a match of interests and capabilities. Potential topics for research include (but are not limited to):

  • Sustainability Design Guidelines – outline energy efficiency criteria for new equipment for use in laboratories;
  • Procurement Guidelines – outline minimum environmental performance expectations for companies selling to Biogen Idec commodity environmental products over a certain $$ threshold;
  • Energy Management System – identify and bridge gaps in Biogen Idec Energy Management System (EnMS) versus ISO 50001.

Eligibility
The fellowship is open to any UMass Boston College of Management graduate student with GPA over 3.0. Preferences will be given to students taking the environmental management/clean energy and sustainability specialization or members of relevant organizations, such as Net Impact, Enactus, and the UMass Boston Sustainability Club.

How to Apply and Selection Process
Students interested in applying for the Biogen Idec – SERC Fellowship should send their resume and a brief cover letter to Vesela.Veleva@umb.edu by Sept. 15, 2014. A committee comprised of SERC faculty and Biogen Idec will review all applications and notify the selected student by October 1, 2014. The fellowship will then take place from October 1, 2014 until May 31, 2015.

For questions and more information please contact:
Vesela Veleva, Co-Director SERC, at Vesela.Veleva@umb.edu
David Levy, Director SERC, at David.Levy@umb.edu

Introducing Our New Career Services Specialist, Deb Federico

Deborah Federico, Career Specialist for the College of Management

Deborah is available to meet with College of Management students regarding all aspects of career planning such as resume and cover letter writing; interview preparation/mock interviews; career exploration; networking strategies; LinkedIn usage; and job and internship search strategies. To make an appointment with Deborah, please call the Career Services & Internships Office at 617-287-5519. On Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays Deborah meets with students on the fifth floor of the McCormack Building (please check in at the College of Management reception area). On Tuesdays and Fridays she meets with students in the Career Services Office in the Campus Center – 1st Floor – 1300 Suite.

Tonight at 5:30 – Expanded Bottle Bill Debate – Join Us!

Join us tonight for a debate on the expanded bottle bill. Moderated by Interim Dean Maureen Scully, this debate will weigh the pros and cons of the expanded bottle bill which will likely be a ballot question in this November’s election. This event will be in the Healey Library, Lower Level, Room 3507 (Media Auditorium). We hope to see you there!


Bottle Bill Event

Thursday: BizLaunch Competition 2014 Final Presentations

Venture Development Center will be hosting BizLaunch 2014 presentations on Thursday, May 8th, from 4:30 pm to 6 pm. There will be five teams presenting, and only one will take home the 1st prize of $5,000. Please stop by to cheer up the teams!

Venture Development Center
Wheatley bldg., 3rd floor
Thursday, May 8th
4: 30 pm – 6 pm

If you have any questions please email at vdc@umb.edu