Bren:Alumni

The Bren School Alumni Chapter is proud of our alumni, and we are pleased to showcase their activities in these “Alumni Spotlights”. To suggest a spotlight please contact Eric Kowalik.

George Riviere toasts to the Bren School’s 40th anniversary at his wine bar, Uncorked, in Rancho Santa Margarita.

For George Riviere, the Bren School of ICS was an important aperitif to a diverse career that ranged from software engineering to starting a wine bar.

“My education at UC Irvine and ICS has pretty much been the foundation of my whole career,” Riviere a 1974 alumnus said. “I pursued software development my entire career, from graduation forward.”

Riviere chose the upstart UC Irvine campus because it was a new school and the computer science department was one of the first dedicated departments for ICS in the country.

“There were other campuses that taught computer science but in terms of giving a degree in computer science and having a dedicated department and having faculty there that focused on that particular area, it was relatively unique at the time,” Riviere said. “So that certainly attracted me and in terms of environment it was one of the most beautiful campuses and was a great place to live and study.”

The software engineering skills Riviere learned at ICS got him a job doing code maintenance on some accounting software where he discovered an industry need for a better software accounting product.

“What we found out was, what I would say was the sorry state of software development at the time especially in the accounting software field,” Riviere said. “We felt we could bring a better quality software to market than what was available at the time.”

To remedy the problem, Riviere developed MAS 90, the most widely used mid-range accounting software product in North America.

“I still find it mind boggling that the software I helped develop back in 1986 is still in use today and being sold to thousands of businesses,” Riviere said.

VIN DE GARDEV

After retiring from Sage software company in 2007, Riviere began tackling new projects such as Uncorked, a wine bar he and his wife opened in Rancho Santa Margarita.

“A lot of people ask why I got into the wine business,” Riviere said. “I’ve been retired for a few years now and while I’m involved in some other technology projects, my wife and my family wanted something that we could do together.”

But Riviere still keeps his hand in the technology field, as KoldCast TV’s senior vice president of strategic technology. The start up web based entertainment portal boasts 13 channels of high-definition short shows on topics ranging from sports to comedy and from news to drama.

Riviere drew on his prior experience refining user interfaces for his accounting software and persuaded KoldCast’s designers that the screen of an Internet TV network shouldn’t look like an Internet site. He recommended the controls should be like a DVD’s start-up menu, with selections that can easily be made by a remote control device as well as a mouse.

As a member of the Bren School’s Leadership Council and mentor to teams in the school’s hITEC entrepreneurship competition, Riviere is providing insightful feedback to the technology leaders of the future.

“You have a unique opportunity attending an institution like UC Irvine’s Bren School, take maximum opportunity in terms of exposing yourself to as much of the field as possible,” Riviere said. “Don’t lock yourself into one particular path, there is nothing wrong with being focused and knowing where your going, but don’t preclude yourself from looking at all the other possibilities that are out there.”

This website is too funny…

http://businessguysonbusinesstrips.com/

I’d like to talk about software consulting, which is an industry that’s made a big impact on my career.  Also a disclaimer:  this is a reflection of my own work experience so do read it with a grain of salt, it does not reflect the point of view of my employer or ICS.  The intended audience for this article is the software engineer contemplating on getting into consulting, or the ICS grad that is deciding the path to start his or her career.  Hopefully I will cover some points in helping you decide whether or not consulting is right for you and your career.

Looking for a challenge?

First, if you need a challenge and want different things thrown at you simultaneously while juggling 3 balls and running away from a big angry/scary bear, this is for you :)  Jokes aside, being a consultant is about standing up to the obstacles your clients is facing, and punching it in the face.

Variety of experiences

Usually consulting gigs are short term projects typically 1-2 months.  There are lots of benefits tied to this.  Number 1, you will get a lot of exposure to different businesses, industries, corporate cultures, as well as people.  This was appealing to me because I wanted to try different things and be a jack-of-all-trades (or aka expert-of-none :P).  This experience helped me narrow down what role and what industry is the most interesting to me.  It’s kind of like picking your major in college, except you get to test drive each major for a few weeks.  The number 2 good benefit is that you never get bored solving the same problem, or looking at the same piece of code/module/architecture constantly.  You get to work with different teams, solutions, and problems (I realize this is both good and bad, so really depends on the individual).

Publicity / Exposure

I’m sure this differs between consulting firms but I’ve worked on a few projects that are products with a large reach, and highly visible to the public.  Not to say all of my projects are highly visible but it is very important and fulfilling to see the end product launch to say “hey, I was on the team that made it happen.”  Your mileage may vary on this one, but if you want it hard enough I’m sure it’ll come to you.

Customer Facing

I guess it’s the stereotype that the “software guys” are geeks who like to hide in the corner and code.  We despise human interaction!  But it’s interesting how ICS emphasized the role of communication in software.  I’ve since then took that to heart and tried my best in being clear and consistent in communication.  In consulting, they call this “soft skills.”  I believe consulting is the best way to develop your soft skills.  Since you are at the client’s site and you interact with them on a day-to-day basis, you get to practice your soft skills quite often.  Practice makes perfect.

Our Product is “YOU”

Consulting firms belong in the service industry, and the way they make their money is by billing clients by the hour for the amount of work done.  The consultant’s bill rate obviously will vary in the type of skills, amount of experience, and skill level he/she possesses.  Essentially, the consulting company is selling the consultant’s expertise, skills, and experience.  This is important because it’s in the firm’s best interest to invest in you, their best selling product!  Another way to think of this is, a consultant’s bill rate is directly related to the company’s earning ability.

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I’ve only scratched the surface on this topic, there’s so much more to talk about! (like travel, perks, work/life balance).  I’m sure many others have consulting experience who can chime in on this as well.  I’ll leave the next topics for a future post.

Just when I thought the MBA Journal series was over, Larry comes up with a big one!  Kind of like the Clippers landing Blake Griffin! (inside joke:  Larry’s a huge Clipper fan) Anyhow, yet another great article from our fellow alumnus, Lawrence Kao.  This time he talks about his job search after his MBA.

“Do what turns you on, not what the statistics say is best…Business ceases to be work when you’re chasing a dream that has engorged you…And if the passion isn’t there, then biotech and plumbing will be equal drags.” –Tom Peters, author and ex-McKinsey partner

Throughout my MBA year, I have had mixed emotions about going back to technology, jumping into a new career track, or starting my own company. Instead of writing snippets on these thoughts throughout the year, I thought it would be best to write one column wherein I sum everything up. Before I jump into my year at Saïd Business School, I thought it would be best to list my background and viewpoints before my yearlong journey. After all, nobody’s experience will be the exact same as mine, but perhaps my experience can be helpful to soon-to-be MBA grads.

This was me in October 2007:

Age: 26
Citizenship: USA
Ethnic Origin: Chinese-American
Born and raised in Southern California
Degree: B.S. Information & Computer Science at the University of California-Irvine
Career: Four years at Kingston Technology doing IT work

When I was an undergrad at UC Irvine, Professor Bernard McGrane’s sociology lessons forever changed the way I thought about education. He told us to pursue learning instead of the grade. Study what you want to study. It would be better to learn a lot and earn a ‘B’ grade than to learn nothing and receive an ‘A’ grade (Note to all: This may be not good for your GPA). Professor McGrane’s advice has changed me forever. In essence, he teaches that life is about the pursuit of truth and to seek out exciting projects that interest you.

These experiences have helped shaped my outlook on life and career, which has helped lead me through the turbulent job market and ultimately land a dream job in Central London without ever having to compromise. I’m positive that all MBA’s graduating this year will have the opportunity to well surpass the things I have accomplished. Stay focused, work hard, and be helpful.

MICHAELMAS TERM (FIRST TERM)—FALL 2007

As with all business schools, at Saïd there is a heavy emphasis on finance recruiting in the fall term, with financial firms making their first rounds at business schools during this time. I remember attending the Merrill Lynch recruiting event and one of the first things they did was crack a finance joke. Before the MBA, I sensed finance wasn’t something that would interest me and that joke confirmed my suspicions. My flat mate, a banker, insists I would make a great trader because of my quick wit and decision-making, but I decided to rid myself of striped suits and black ties. Finance was out of my life.

As the fall season continued, consulting began to “heat up.” A few consulting firms had early application deadlines but most firms came to recruit during the winter season with applications coming later. For some reason, I was never too interested in strategic consulting firms either, and ended up missing recruiting events for some top firms such as McKinsey, BCG, and PWC.

Many big corporations offer great rotational programs. Rotational programs typically offer successful candidates the opportunity to work in 3+ job functions in international locations. To me, that sounded exciting. After accepting my place at Oxford, I targeted the Adidas rotational program as my top choice. I had researched the role, envisioned myself strategizing on how to run ahead of Nike and stave off Under Armor. Many of these programs are highly competitive and Adidas is no exception. There are only five spots open for 1,500 applicants, but I knew I could be one of those few. Why not? I’m smart and completely obsessed with sports. I fit the role and the role fit me.

Many corporations tend to recruit later in the year, typically a third wave in the winter and spring time. Adidas was one of these. I worked closely with Saïd’s Career Services so I’d be prepared early for the Adidas application.

Luckily, a Saïd alum and Adidas manager convinced the company to come recruiting in the fall with the banks and consulting firms. I felt extremely prepared and glad I decided to study Adidas so early in the process.

The recruiting event was different from any other I had attended before. I knew the facts. I loved the pump-up video. I had a great conversation with the recruiter. I was ready to join the team. I took an unconventional approach to my cover letter, sought additional help from Career Services, family, and mentors and submitted my application. A few days later, BINGO! I get an e-mail from Adidas saying they loved my cover letter and wanted to chat about my background for the position after the deadline in January. My hours of slaving over the application had turned into a winning formula. I used similar research, hard work, and persistence for my applications with the NBA and Nike, meeting recruiters and having great e-mail communication with them.

The first term at Oxford was a fast-paced and heart wrenching experience. I was thrown into the thick of six classes, while trying to settle into a new country and balance a healthy social life. But with a few key applications sent out, I finally felt my life was starting to settle down and I was walking down the right path.

HILARY TERM (SECOND TERM)—WINTER 2008

January rolled around sooner than expected and we all started to trickle back into Oxford as we began Hilary Term. Before we could catch our breath, the annual Saïd Business School Careers Fair came swooping in. I remember only having enough time to focus on three companies: two in consumer goods and one consulting firm. Soon after the career fair, I received a rejection from one of the consumer goods companies and another from the consulting firm. It was the first time I was rejected during the school year, and little did I know, it was a foreshadowing of things to come.

During Hilary Term, I fell in love with marketing and innovation strategy. My four favorite professors all came during this term. Every class was stimulating and exciting. I was also deeply entrenched in the entrepreneurial project and I was having a great term, but nothing perfect lasts forever.

As the deadline for Adidas approached, I didn’t hear anything back from anyone. Trying to contact the recruiters led to short generic e-mails. Shortly after, I received rejection e-mails, first from Adidas, then Nike, and I never heard back from the NBA. I was devastated. What happened with the Adidas situation? What happened with all the situations? In the span of what felt like a week, I was rejected five times.

The MBA forces you to lick your wounds and forget about the losses. I didn’t have time to figure out what happened. I was busy enough participating in competitions for venture capital and public relations and immersed in writing a business plan for a book publishing Web site. I couldn’t wait for Spring Break.

TRINITY TERM (THIRD TERM)—SPRING 2008

Trinity Term was the most critical term, as I tailored my MBA towards strategy and marketing. I came into the MBA wanting to learn more about the commercial side of business and I was now more determined than ever to come out with a job on that end. I came up with a plan, schedule, and goal. I promised myself I would research hard and tailor my CV for every company I targeted. My schedule had me apply to a minimum of one company every week. And my most important criterion was that any role I applied for had to make me say, “That sounds like an awesome job.”

As the markets began to crash and companies went into hiring freezes, I stayed true to job searching as I repeated to myself, “There are five hundred Fortune 500 companies.” Additionally, with our Strategic Consulting Projects approaching, a new opportunity to impress a potential employer was right around the corner.

Throughout Trinity Term, I applied to companies likes of Procter & Gamble (Hong Kong), the International Olympic Committee (Switzerland), and Li-Ning (China).

In a strange way, applying to different companies in foreign countries started becoming both frustrating and fun. Finding a job turned into a challenge I was determined to master. By the end of Trinity Term, I had made no progress. I was rejected by every single company I applied for with no opportunities to interview.

STRATEGIC CONSULTING PROJECT—SUMMER 2008

As I mentioned in an earlier journal entry, my consulting team landed our number one choice project working for Williams Grand Prix Engineering. We worked in offices next to Owner Frank Williams, Chief Operating Officer Alex Burns, and every once in a while, we’d have lunch with drivers Nico Rosberg and Kazuki Nakajima (O.K., we never really ate at the same table, but the cafeteria is quite small and the drivers have been spotted eating there…by us).

I continued my intense job search with a goal of applying to three companies a night. By the end of summer, I had applied to approximately 50 companies with opportunities to interview at several. At one point, I started canceling interview opportunities because of the little time I had between work and applications. In the end, I focused on five specific interviews and landed a job at a consumer goods firm I had great conversations with back at the Careers Fair as a Brand Manager with a choice to manage any one of their three top brands. With a job secure, I dedicated the rest of the summer solely to Williams.

SEPTEMBER 2008

The school year ended in September and I began to really wonder if my soon-to-be employer was what I really wanted. I had lukewarm feelings about the company from the very beginning. I questioned whether accepting the role would be stimulating enough for me. At the same time, turning down a great offer in this job market could be career suicide.

I knew that Tom Peters would keep looking, so I decided to keep looking. I kindly declined the offer and began to search again. This led me to Singapore for a career fair. I’ve never had any big interest in working for a bank but Singapore changed my outlook. After a strange turn of events, I was given a great opportunity to interview several times with an international bank. Quickly following the bank opportunity, a few other opportunities began to emerge. It’s strange, but a mysterious momentum of success tends to lead to more success. One in particular stood out.

When I walked into the offices of McCann Erickson Advertising Ltd., I knew it was the right place for me. I never imagined working in an advertising agency or working in London, but this place clicked so seamlessly. I was hired as a Digital Strategist, a position that matches perfectly with my marketing/strategy focus as well as my previous IT background in a completely different industry. When it fits, it fits well.

MY TAKEAWAY

I had gone through a year of excitement and heartache. My first true love, Adidas, spurned me for someone else. At many points during the year, I was getting weekly, if not daily, rejections. I had to go through 50 companies to finally realize the right place for me. However, the entire process only makes you stronger, sharper, and faster so when you do meet that right career opportunity, you’re ready to seize it and take advantage. I still think “Awesome” every single day. I’m truly one of the lucky ones. I’m allowed to explore. Innovation is encouraged and creativity is mandated.

I do hope all of you who are studying for an MBA or are currently in the application process now get everything you dream of and deserve. And if you don’t, then create it. Don’t settle for second best. It’s your MBA, your career, and your life. Make it awesome.

via BusinessWeek

Gabriela Marcu, member of the Class of 2009, is giving back to ICS. Will you too?

Dear ICS Alum,

Forty years ago, ICS started its journey as an independent department with a handful of faculty and a small number of Ph.D. students. Today, as we celebrate the commencement of the Class of 2009, we have 73 faculty, more than 1,000 students, six undergraduate degrees and a variety of concentrations in our Masters and Ph.D. programs.

I invite you to look back at the memories shared by our alumni, to look forward with the hope we have in our students, and to reminisce about the special times you had in ICS.

Today, more than ever, your participation in our annual campaign is critical in helping the future Anteaters of ICS at UC Irvine make their own lasting memories.

I hope you’ll consider giving to your alma mater this year, and thank you, always, for your continued participation with ICS.

Debra J. Richardson
The Ted and Janice Smith Family Foundation Dean

Given it’s been a while I’ve contributed to this blog, I figured I’ll share my journey at CallFire. I’ve split it into three lessons:

1. Ignorance
2. Arrogance
3. Passion

I know some in the alumni community may disagree, so I’ll hasten to point out these are my personal observations, is by no means complete, and definitely not a prescription. I looked back at the almost two years I’ve spent at this company and tried to boil down the huge learning curve to its essence. So have a read, and let me know what you think, of course, please do share your lessons as well.

The Bren School Alumni Chapter is proud of our alumni, and we are pleased to showcase their activities in these “Alumni Spotlights”. To suggest a spotlight please contact Eric Kowalik.

David Cheng, ‘90, an avid scuba diver, shares his passion for UCI with the creatures of the sea, flashing them the Rip ‘Em Eaters hand sign. Cheng founded Accenx, a leading provider of health information exchange and interoperability solutions in 1997.

David Cheng, always wanted to be a businessman.

“My father told me the world is built by engineers, but run by businessmen,” Cheng a 1990 alumnus of the Bren School said.

In 1997, Cheng saw his opportunity and founded Accenx, a leading provider of health information exchange and interoperability solutions, with more than 150 customers and the largest dedicated team of integration specialists in the industry.

The company’s solutions allow hospitals, physician practices, and other participants in the healthcare community to quickly connect, and seamlessly share information, to improve patient care, reduce administrative costs, and create a high-quality experience for both patients and providers.

“I saw a need to provide information to physicians, we were ahead of our time, got a lot of support from health care vendors and got some great accounts around the country including the Cleveland Clinic one of the top health care organizations in the nation,” Cheng said.

With the recent passage of the economic stimulus plan that includes an emphasis on improving health care technology, Cheng and his company are excited to apply what they have developed over the past 11 years into a larger market.

“We want to provide better care for the patient, cut down on costs, and ultimately save lives.” Cheng said.

Cheng’s day is full of meetings and keeping an eye on cash flow, but it is as exciting as riding a roller coaster.

“Everyday you are going to get some great news, some good news and some bad news,” Cheng said. “Some days you feel like you are at the top of the ride, then the next thing you know you come careening down and feel like the car is going to fall off the track and you are going to land face first.”

Cheng is the first to admit that the roller coaster ride of entrepreneurship is not for everybody.

“You have to have the heart for it, you have to have the stomach for it and you have to have the passion for it,” Cheng said. “Successful entrepreneurs are the ones who can communicate their passion to their customers, prospects and employees. People buy from people and the first thing you always sell is yourself. You may have the best technology, but if people don’t trust you or believe you can get the job done, they won’t buy from you.”

BACK TO BASIC

Cheng got his introduction to technology in 8th grade, after they ran out of math classes for him to take.

The school had recently purchased a TRS 80 and the math teacher asked Cheng to play around with it so he learned BASIC and programmed a pong game.

“So in 1981, I got the opportunity to write my first BASIC program, that was a time when most people hadn’t even heard of computers,” Cheng said. “I got really excited about it and have been playing with computers since.”

Cheng credits his degree from the Bren School with providing him the ability to understand both the technology and business aspect of a company.

“The information aspect of information and computer sciences was very interesting to me and it allowed me to see the business aspect of the technology which is what I was also interested in,” Cheng said.

While at junior college where he was trying to figure out what he wanted to do, Cheng heard about the computer science program at UCI and was also impressed with what a friend of his who went through the program had learned.

“I looked at the ICS curriculum and saw a lot of classes that taught students about the real life applications of the technology, not just the theory behind them and how to write them,” Cheng said.

The mixture of classes allowed Cheng to dive deep into the technical side, like the class in which he wrote his own operating system, but also provided him a glimpse at life in the real world, like in ICS 125, a class that required Cheng to work in a team with a real world client on a business application.

“You learned theories and the application of those theories, but the assignments were made to mimic real world work and it was left up to us to figure out how to apply what we learned to solve the problem in the assignment,” Cheng said.

One of Cheng’s fondest memories was having “parties” in the lab, where he and his fellow classmates would gather in the lab at midnight with snacks and sodas, occupy a corner of the lab, pull the workstations together to make a jury rigged multi-window environment and between jokes, worked together to finish their assignments.

“I meet a lot of really quality people during my time at ICS, and I still keep in touch with many if them, in fact one of them works with me today,” Cheng said.

The program’s reputation in the business community also provided Cheng a plethora of internship and part-time job opportunities that honed his skills and prepared him well for a job in the real world.

“My first job out of UCI was working for Xerox in a five-member team to develop an operating system,” Cheng said. “It was like ICS 125 all over again, so it wasn’t a tough transition to the real world.”

UNDERWATER

Cheng admits he hasn’t achieved a work life balance yet, but is trying his best.

“I’m not there yet,” Cheng said. “My life is full of work, but I do a lot of things to take my mind off work and spend time with my family. I do martial arts with my kids, I scuba dive and build model airplanes.”

Cheng likes scuba diving because it gets him away from everything. As soon as he goes underwater, everything disappears and he is in another world, a world that occasional provides enlightening anecdotes.

While exploring two navy wrecks with a dive group in Hawaii, Cheng almost got run over by the Atlantis submarine tour. As he frantically swam out of the path of the submarine, he saw a plethora of flash bulbs as tourists snapped pictures.

“I should be in some people’s vacation photos and I’m sure they wrote next to it, this is the idiot that almost got ran over by the submarine.” Cheng said with a laugh.

Calling all Alumni!

The Bren School of ICS would like your feedback on planning an Alumni event celebrating 40 years of ICS.  Please take a minute to responde to this 10-question survey.  We appreciate your feedback!

Feel free to leave additional comments to this blog post.

Take the survey here.

The Bren School Alumni Chapter is proud of our alumni, and we are pleased to showcase their activities in these “Alumni Spotlights”. To suggest a spotlight please contact Eric Kowalik.

Jeff Monroe ‘92, flashes the Rip ‘Em Eaters hand sign. While still an undergraduate at UC Irvine, Monroe co-founded MOB Media, a company that allowed him an opportunity to meld his passions for art and technology.

Jeff Monroe didn’t see a difference between the creativity of the artist and the creativity of the software engineer, so he co-founded a company that melded the two and provided him an outlet for both of his passions.

“You don’t have to pick between the two,” Monroe, a 1992 alumnus of the Bren School said. “Creativity isn’t in the realm of classic design or artistic skills. Creativity is about how you attack a problem and how you solve it.”

While still an undergraduate at UC Irvine, Monroe and two other partners founded MOB Media, a company that provides media and marketing solutions for local businesses. The company recently celebrated its 20th anniversary and generated $20 million of revenue last year.

“We wanted to do something a little different,” Monroe said. “We didn’t want to be the typical agency that had a very narrow niche that they operated in, we are very generalist.”

At MOB Media, Monroe’s role at the company is one of a generalist too. He does everything from management to programming.

A current project Monroe and his team are working on is a commuter solution website for the Orange County Transportation Authority.

“What is groundbreaking about this project is utilizing social networking to create communities where people can connect and create these carpools and vanpools,” Monroe said. “Before, you couldn’t use the Internet to really facilitate that.”

The social networking tools Monroe and his team are creating will make carpooling easier by allowing groups of individuals to get answers to questions such as who in my area can I carpool with.

“My education at UC Irvine definitely helped give me the skills to succeed in this field that blends both advertising and technology,” Monroe said.

Despite the fun he has running his own business, he cautions that while running your own company can be fun and exciting, it competes for your time, because even when you go home, you are never really done working.

“If you are married, like I am, owning a business is like having a mistress, at least that is what my wife tells me,” Monroe said.

LOOKING FOR A CHALLENGE

Monroe was always a techie kid, pulling things apart and putting them back together.

“But that didn’t mean I didn’t have screws left over,” Monroe recalled with a smile.

When it came time to pursue a career path, Monroe initially attended Devry for a technical degree but found that the classes were too easy for him. He wanted more of challenge, something he found at UC Irvine, although he feels vocational schools have their place for some students.

“The experience of being at a research university as opposed to a vocational school was very beneficial,” Monroe said. “At a research university, like UC Irvine, the bar is set pretty high and the students are pushed to excel. You either sank or swam in the ICS program.”

Monroe credits his UCI education for honing his analytical skills.

“The ability to see a problem, analyze it and find solutions to it quickly without having to go down a development path and find out it was a dead end,” Monroe said.

CHANGING CHORDS

Monroe admits that there are some days where the technology side of the business can get monotonous and he can get discouraged from pressing on. But by switching chords, he finds a way to break the monotony and return later reinvigorated.

“Creatively your going to reach plateaus. There are going to be points in your life where you say, you know what, I just don’t want to go on because it seems like I’ve done everything there is to do,” Monroe said. “But you just have to look outside of your small little world your operating in and you can find other opportunities.”

Monroe does this by pursuing his passion of guitar playing and through the production of a reality TV show called House of Shred which is about building guitars.

“I played the guitar as a kid before putting it down, never really knowing how to read sheet music, then during my 30s I decided that it was going to be something I mastered,” Monroe said. “It gives me the opportunity to flex myself in other ways.”

Monroe stressed that current students should look to something outside of computer science they can turn to that will allow them to free their minds for a little while.

“Try to find a hobby or interest outside of the realm of computer science, something that you can get away from even if it is just reading something you can disconnect from the world for a while and helps you have dreams,” Monroe said. “If you can’t dream it you’re never going to achieve it.”

This is a 5 part series by our alum blogger Lawrence Kao posted by the MBA Journal of BusinessWeek during his MBA experience at Oxford Said Business School in the UK.  This is a series on his MBA journey from admission, job hunting, and reflection.  In Part 1, Kao talks about why he pursued an MBA education along with entertaining anecdotes.  In Part 2, Kao breaks down what career options his MBA program offers.  In Part 3, Kao talks about being in the Oxford MBA program and some of it’s unique traditions. In Part 4, Kao talks about finishing the 1 year program and the job hunting process.  In this final part of the series, Kao talks about his graduation and what the MBA experience meant to him. 

I was excited. I was jittery. I could no longer sleep. I jumped out of bed and into the shower. From my closet, I pulled out my sharp black suit, freshly pressed tuxedo shirt, creamy white bow tie, newly polished Johnston and Murphy shoes, and recently refilled Mont Blanc pen.

There are two pictures that may come to mind when you read the last few sentences: 1. This guy is getting ready for a formal Rotary Club dinner; 2. This guy is a ninny. Although I assure you I hope to be both one day, my situation was nowhere close. I was getting dressed for our MBA End of Course Ceremony.

It’s a familiar routine because it is virtually the exact same one I went through before matriculation, exams, and most of the other formal Oxford events I have described before. Although MBA students officially graduate with their colleges—so I will be attending New College’s graduation next summer with even fancier gowns—this may be the last timeI will see my MBA classmates together in the same place. In fact, this is one thing I did not think about before attending the Said Business School.

Surely the best business schools all boast leaders from around the world who study in their programs and my class is no exception. I cannot say how diverse our class is compared to other business schools, but I can say for certain that my friends and colleagues have invaluably widened my lens. Here’s a look back at some lessons learned:

September 2007: The Freshmen

On a cold Oxford night, I walked down a long "broad" street towards one of the city’s famous pubs to meet some new friends from the class. It was a funny gathering, including a Chinese-American Californian (myself), a bald and good-humored German, a fun and friendly Indian working out of Dubai, a studious London-based Indian, and a rock-star Thai chef. I thought to myself, "Wait, where is Dubai again?"

My Lesson: I have spent too much time focused on the United States and, specifically, California. I need to really expand my knowledge and viewpoints.

December 2007: The First Date

On a very cold Oxford night, I walked down that same street again, towards another one of the city’s famous pubs to meet a few older friends around the time we were heading into our first-term exams week. It was a full house with only one chair available. I sat down next to a shy Japanese classmate I had only briefly chatted with eight weeks prior, on the first day of our course. I learned she worked for the Bank of Japan. I thought to myself, "Bank of Japan is like Bank of America, right?"

My Lesson: The Bank of Japan is not like the Bank of America (BAC). In fact, it’s more like the Federal Reserve. They help set monetary policy, print money, etcetera.

January 2008: Getting To Know Each Other

On a cold, Spanish winter night in the Sierra Nevada, I found myself talking with my French-speaking, African-loving, venture-capital hungry, Virginian architect, Oxford-varsity-sailor, Skoll Scholar friend—yes, that is his official title. (Skoll Scholars at Oxford are five scholarship students who are terribly bright with unshakeable conviction that you can help the world and still be well off—if not terribly well off—financially. Pretty much those kids in high school you adore and hate at the same time because they are like you, but just a bit better in every single way). We were talking about the European Union, the opportunities in post-conflict areas, and many other subjects all way over my head. Midway through the conversation, I asked why we were talking about such deep issues on a ski trip. Besides, will we ever be in a position where what happens to the EU will affect how we do business?

His reply: "Yes, we will be."

My Lesson: Our MBA director said it best, "Things that seem elective now will be mandatory soon. Worrying about poverty, climate change, pollution, disease, and migration all seem elective now.

It’s overwhelmingly likely that they’ll be fundamental to any business in your lifetimes. You can choose to think harder about these things sooner."

May 2008: Making a Connection

On a very cold Oxford morning, we dragged our feet at 6 a.m. onto a bus, headed for a European MBA Sports tournament (MBAT) at the great French business school HEC Paris. I sat next to our class’ husband-wife MBA pair from Mexico. I never found the chance for a lengthy conversation with them and felt the long bus ride would be the perfect opportunity. I learned the wife had worked for Corona, and we talked about the exciting business of bottling and distributing beer. The husband had entrepreneurial aspirations similar to my own. He dreams of one day owning a vineyard and had previously thought about me when he found out I, too, wanted to start a wild and impractical business. I thought to myself, "Make sure you one day start a winery with Fernando."

My Lesson: No matter who we are or where we are from, MBAs have similar hopes and dreams.

September 2008: Remembering The Love

On a cold Oxford night, I sat in the Said Business School library, writing this note as my classmates left one by one.

The friend from Dubai, the one that taught me about the United Arab Emirates and the opportunities of the glitzy fantasy resort, had gone back to figure out her next career move.

The funny, bald-headed German is heading home to rock his country’s finance industry.

The Japanese economics researcher, my girlfriend, has headed back to Tokyo to research "stuff" that’s way too advanced for me.

The Skoll Scholar-sailor is making it happen, working with VCs from London to Africa on a venture to fund other African venture capitalists.

The Mexican couple is headed back to sunny Mexico to continue with their careers.

It was very exciting to think we would make friends with people all over the world, and we have. But eventually we must separate and now that the course has ended, our support system has stretched and thinned—globally. For all those first-year MBAs who will soon face these same experiences, I have three words of advice for you: Stay in touch. We may not remember what Ansoff, Wheelwright, or Clark did for business theory, but we will remember what our friends did for our lives.

Meanwhile, South Africa seemed to be the destination of choice for Oxford’s 2008 MBA Class. Thanks to a wedding and traveling happenstance, a few dozen of us found ourselves heading to the African continent. A group of us spent time together at the Waterfront Shopping Mall as if we were still in Oxford.

Now that the fun is over, we are all excited to move on with our lives. As we re-enter the business world, it is a changed place from where we left it a year ago. A financial crisis, depressed co-workers, and opportunities await us all. I hope all fresh business school grads will keep their MBA fires lit and that together we can do our small part to help lift the economic world back onto its feet, so that come June 2009, we will be able to welcome next year’s graduates with wide open arms (and jobs).

A note to my friends: Thank you for the best year of my life. You’ve challenged and argued and debated with me, which sharpened my crazy business plans and ideas. And if I forgot to mention you above, it does not mean I forgot you. It just means I wanted to thank you personally. Cheers.

via BusinessWeek

I hope you’ve enjoyed reading this series as much as I have.  Many thanks to Larry for providing the alum blog readers with his personal reflection and insights on his journey.