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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 this part, Kao talks about finishing the 1 year program and the job hunting process.

As the Said Business School students near the end of the program, we are faced with one bold reality; the wondrous, gruelling, and tantalizing one-year MBA journey is nearly over for us. The fall Michaelmas term was filled with mystery and excitement as we attended matriculation in the 300-year-old Sheldonian Theater. Not knowing what to expect and dreading the exams a mere 10 weeks away, it felt like a long time before our winter break. However, the second term, Hilary, brought a new set of challenges. Whether it was applying for jobs, attending seminars, or joining case competitions, the fast-paced term catapulted us into exams faster than a blink of an eye. Many students can agree: “We’re almost outta here. Where has the time gone?”

With the last term, Trinity, in sight, a slew of options dangles for the class of 2008. Some students are ready to “do their own thing,” using contacts established during our first major event: “Silicon Valley Comes to Oxford.” This appetite grew as Said brought in successful entrepreneurs and social entrepreneurs throughout the year. The ideas were ironed out as student teams were formed to create a business, complete with a business plan and a pitch to venture capitalists. Every student now has a viable business plan, and many of them can be successful. With Said Business School’s strong push towards entrepreneurship, the exciting world of startups, angels, and VCs is attractive.

Another major benefit of the Oxford MBA is being a member of a larger university with great schools and departments. Classmates can opt to continue their education in the form of research, PhD degrees, and other Masters programs. Others can use Oxford resources to network for opportunities or help raise money for their new ventures. They also might stay to take more classes to help round out their education. Many students apply to Oxford because of its one-year program but leave wishing it were the standard two years. Our time here has been so valuable, and we’ve barely begun to explore the wonders the great university has to offer.

Tough Topics

It’s events like the “Skoll World Forum on Social Entrepreneurship” that constantly remind me why I “gambled” by coming to Said . What other MBA school could host an event where we enjoy the company of Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Jody Williams on Wednesday, former President Jimmy Carter on Thursday, and former Vice-President Al Gore on Friday?

The Skoll World Forum, social entrepreneurship, social enterprise, and corporate social responsibility are why many MBAs are at Oxford. Many of the tough topics that leaders of corporations face in today’s business world are shared at the Skoll forum. With an energy that can only be created with hundreds of leaders in the social sector, the world of doing good and doing well are beginning to blend.

Attendees and MBAs see that as nongovernmental organizations are growing, it is ever more important to begin recruiting MBAs to help formulate strategies and action plans. Many social sector companies struggle with similar problems that for-profit companies face. Everyone, for-profit or nonprofit, is fighting for customers, dealing with egos, and struggling to retain talent. The forum is a beginning to help the social space consolidate ideas and resources. If we are the generation that needs to heal the world, then we need to stop fragmenting ourselves and beginning to share ideas for change immediately.

Jobs? Wait a Second

The most popular choice for students will be to continue their careers. Whether that means shifting gears into a different career track or continuing with their original path, either road will be a delicious journey after Oxford. No matter what, the 220-member class will be full of newly minted MBAs, internationally experienced managers, and multifaceted thinkers. That sounds pretty great, but how do I choose?

Said’s flexible summer plan affords students several ways to graduate. As I mentioned, students can take courses. And of course with the Oxford tradition, students can opt to choose to write a thesis and push forward the science of management. Finally, following the two-year MBA format, students who aren’t ready to make the commitment to a full-time job can test the waters with the summer internship.

Internships are great for the Oxford triple jumpers. Bankers can test careers in microfinance. Consultants can join ventures in social entrepreneurship. Engineers can prove their ability to enter marketing. Anyone who’s looking to make a change has an opportunity to take a test drive.

Speaking of driving, many MBA programs offer consulting-type projects for their students, and Oxford is no different. Teams of four place bids to consult for Oxford-sourced projects and will spend two months in the summer tackling a major issue for their assigned company. Top of my list: WilliamsF1, the Formula 1 racing team. What a cool project, right?

Other great projects include working with Coca-Cola (KO), Volkswagen (VOWG.F), IBM (IBM), Man Group (MNGPF), the International Cricket Council, and more. I am thrilled to see a diverse range of projects Oxford was able to source and I am looking forward to testing my game-theory knowledge to bid correctly and land a great opportunity to help solve a project problem for one of these companies.

Will the summer consulting project lead to a job opportunity? Will my new experience offer me insight into a field I never knew I loved? Tons of questions still loom for me personally, but at least my summer plans are clearer than they were one term ago. I’m looking forward to finishing my ultra-busy Trinity Term and working as a consultant in the summer. And who knows where I’ll end up, but I am optimistic about my choices.

via BusinessWeek

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 this part, Kao talks about being in the Oxford MBA program and some of it’s unique traditions.

Monday morning, 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 piercingly 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 probably come to mind when you read the previous sentences: 1. This guy is getting ready for a Rotary Club formal dinner; 2. This guy is a ninny. Although I assure you I hope to be both one day, my situation was nowhere close. I should have been nervous or going over formulas. After all, I was getting dressed for exams.

It’s true Oxford’s MBA is quite academic. The benefit of the program is that it can draw upon resources from a university older than many tourist attractions. The business school can make use of a network that extends to 800 years’ worth of business and world leaders. However, there is a real challenge to understanding the traditions and customs and transferring these beliefs to contemporary students (myself especially). University administrators and proctors believe chivalry, honor, and wearing a suit of armor are more important than business ethics, social entrepreneurship, and a suit from Armani.

The Oxford Scholar’s Uniform

Add to that the perceived truth that MBA students are different from most others and additional challenges to uphold tradition surface. MBAs have worked before, we have had million-dollar budgets, and most of us have had the good fortune to receive a high salary (possibly more than our lecturers). This “real world” experience instills arrogance and a sense of entitlement: “We should decide our MBA experience and if I don’t want to wear a gown and bow tie, I shouldn’t have to.” Truth be told, I, too, had similar thoughts. Truth be told, I was childish.

In order to be allowed to enter the exam hall, students must adhere to academic dress. Oxford University enforces the dress code very seriously. Although looking like James Bond or a fancy butler seems quite ridiculous, most students eventually learn to enjoy this age-old tradition. This tradition is known as subfusc.

What exactly is subfusc?

Men:

• Dark Suit—brown does not count

• Black shoes and socks

• White bow tie

• White dress shirt and collar

• Graduate gown

Women:

• Black ribbon tie

• White blouse

• Black skirt or trousers

• Black stockings

• Graduate gown

A friend of mine told his father that subfusc was a useless and uncomfortable process. It’s bad enough taking exam after exam, but in a penguin suit to boot? His father’s reply: “Son, you have to understand the uniform. Football players have a uniform. Cricket players have a uniform. Subfusc is the uniform of a scholar. Son, you are not yet a scholar, and so you don’t understand subfusc.”

I’ll admit I hated the idea that a huge part of my grade would be based on one exam. Many MBA programs emphasize teamwork and group assignments. Oxford’s process was a turn-off for me. A manager would never ask me to write my formulas or explain every source for my numbers. Projects that run within budget while creating satisfied customers led to a nice bonus and small raise at the end of the year. MBAs should never have to take an exam. We’re different; we are professionals.

The Testing Standard of Champions

My previous line of thinking was: I am an MBA student. I thought the three letters at the end of my degree were more important than the three words at the front of it (for those visual learners: University of Oxford, MBA). My thinking was completely wrong. I didn’t understand that there is something more important, an even greater club that I had joined. I am a graduate student at the University of Oxford. This fact is more important than any three letters could ever be. Because of this, a strict and formal exam that could swing my grade from a pass to a fail was essential.

One day I will be back in the “real world” and I will meet other Oxford graduates. Whether they are lawyers, scientists, or fellow MBAs, there is no doubt in my mind we will see each other as equals. We will instantly have a rapport and we will respect each other’s accomplishments. Because underneath a fancy gown or a trivial title will be the small fact that every Oxford student shares a rigorous testing standard, the Oxford testing standard.

President Bill Clinton, the writer C.S. Lewis, and the 12 eventual saints who have walked the halls of Oxford, all have shared the experience of facing the unholy examination proctors and the wrath they bring as they tower over students’ seats during the three-hour, sweat-producing exam. This is why the exam, the scholar’s suit of armor, and the strict rules are important. To challenge these traditions is to fight history and to disrespect the great men and women who have graduated from our fine institution.

That Championship Season

In basketball, they say stars are born during the regular season, but legends are born in the playoffs. That’s why I was excited to jump in the shower that day. I was thrilled to put on my best suit and best shoes. No other word than ecstatic could describe my mood every morning of exam week. I was 98% excited and 2% scared, or maybe the other way around, but either way that’s what made it exciting. It was like Christmas morning for four straight days.

Case studies with an unlimited amount of time to get every word right and every phrase flowing let other students know who was smart and who was serious. Presentations allowed those gifted speakers to shine and become all-stars of the classroom. But final exams? Final exams are the championship game for academics. They give students a chance to work under pressure, to tackle never-before-seen finance problems, and the opportunity to become legends. It is the process of becoming an Oxford University graduate.

via BusinessWeek

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 this part, Kao breaks down what career options his MBA program offers.

“Interesting,” (nod of the head) … “Interesting,” (another nod) … “Interesting,” (still another nod). The Oxford MBA interviewer challenged me to questions, counters, and double-counters unparalleled to any of those I had faced from U.S. B-schools. Many of my fellow Said Business School students said they had felt like they had climbed out of a steel cage, hopped through a ring of fire, and still kept running even when the interview was over.

A typical MBA interview (in my limited experience) ranged from a generic resume/CV run-through followed by other details of what you did and what you learned from those experiences to an oral version of an MBA admissions essay. Some questions I must have answered a half-dozen times throughout my entire MBA process:

1. Why do you want an MBA?

2. You’ve been out of school for a while, how will you adapt to being a student again?

3. What was the greatest challenge you faced at your most recent company?

But an Oxford interview:

1. From reading your essay, clearly you are happy being an engineer. Wouldn’t a master’s degree in Computer Engineering be a better fit for you?

2. Tell me Lawrence, you have a very young face, which would give an impression to people that you have a lack of credibility. How do you handle yourself or persuade clients during a business meeting?

3. If I’m a VC, and I had $100 million, pitch to me why I should invest in your company.

With all this being said, what helped me the most wasn’t intelligence, natural instinct, or luck (of course, all three of those helped me one way or another), but practice. Like anything in life, practice, practice, and more practice are the only suggestions I would really give to any difficult task one is presented. It can be rowing on the crew team, starting a business, or applying to business schools, the process includes tons of practice, tons of failures, and then loads more practice. And as a good salesman always does, he drinks his own Kool-Aid.

I tackled the MBA application process like any other project or daunting task: I took the medical school/law school approach. It’s not unrealistic for future doctors or lawyers to apply to dozens of schools. Other stories have Harvard-trained lawyers apply to 100 firms to find the right situation. Although my case wasn’t as extreme, I wanted to take no chances; I applied to 12 schools. This might seem like a lot for a prospective MBA, but I’m probably not a “normal” guy to begin with. I also wrote around nine revisions for each original essay. Further, I’d practice a few hours for the interviews, each and every interview, three days ahead—whether it was in airports, hotel rooms, or restaurants. I’d interview in front of anyone that would listen and received some real honest feedback.

My point isn’t to scare people into thinking that I’m competitive, that B-school is incredibly difficult to get accepted into, or that I am an overly pessimistic person. I knew I had one shot to get it right, so if the investment was one-month’s worth of sleep deprivation, I figured the lifetime’s worth of connections and world-class education would return a decent dividend.

The Entrepreneuship Project

Whether the topic is on social entrepreneurship or old-fashioned for-profit models, Said’s unique attraction lies in its ability to encourage students to practice starting companies now. The EP, or Entrepreneurship Project, makes Oxford one of the few programs that require students to start companies in order to graduate. What a great concept. An offbeat business school idea fits an offbeat business school student. With this in mind, I was excited to meet several other Me’s. Where else can I find a crazy American who would pass up the plethora of brilliant U.S. business schools for a British school barely a decade old?

And the term entrepreneurs, that’s already been designated for longhaired programmers, socially awkward salesmen, or overly excited thinkers. But this radical career choice is now embraced at business schools like Said.

I-Banker or Consultant?

The first company presentation was by Morgan Stanley (MS), a day before school started. Yes, that’s how early they start recruiting. I thought this place was supposed to be crawling with entrepreneurs.

I can understand the incredible draw of a high-paying banking job, but it has always perplexed me to study for an MBA to work in a bank. And consulting? Aren’t these just a bunch of people who don’t like working in one company, so to avoid this they work for five different companies a year? And yet, when I arrived at Oxford I started weighing my only two options, as if there were only two! I completely forgot the reason why I came to Said: I love business and I wanted to learn more about it.

I can’t give enough thanks to the CEOs and entrepreneurs who soon came to present their industries and careers in the following weeks. Finally, there were more places to work than banking and consulting. George David, Neville Isdell, and Andrew McCollum of Facebook were brought in to appease the “rest” of us.

Silicon Valley Comes to Oxford

Nov. 19: a day that may turn out to be the most important of my young career. It was the day a dozen venture capitalists, startup Web developers, and other entrepreneurs came to Oxford. They each gave a different perspective and one common underlying message: Do what you love, and if that happens to be starting companies, then please join us in Silicon Valley. It was amazing to see a panel of experts ranging from the early 20s to near retirement age talking about the same passion—technology companies. Further, in some way shape or form, they were all connected through some sort of network. In essence, the interconnectedness of everyone on the panel is what makes Silicon Valley special. Why this day may end up influencing my entire career is because it really began to fire up my creative juices and presented tons of realistic career tracks. Entrepreneurship became not just a required exercise to graduate but an actual career choice.

I think what I’m trying to say is that the MBA is pretty hard. It’s not astrophysics hard and it’s not medieval English literature hard. It’s just a confusing, challenging-the-way-you-view-business hard. Working in teams, juggling Type A personalities, and trying to find a way to make it down to your rowing practice takes careful planning and a balance of work and leisure. It’s important to take a step back, think about why you came in the first place, and just enjoy the ride.

via BusinessWeek

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. 

Applying to business school is a funny process—long and arduous, but funny nonetheless. It generally begins with an intimidated student, in this case my gravely intimidated self, eyes glazing over while scanning the BusinessWeek rankings and wondering which one of these schools I would be attending next fall. Attending a top school meant fighting off the next Bill Gates or Steve Jobs for that seat. How could I compete? But wait a second. Those guys never went to business school.

So why do I want an MBA? Let’s pinpoint exactly when I realized an MBA was for me. It may have been the day I sat in on an MBA classroom discussing RMA—return merchandise authorization—processes and the benefits of premium customer support, but that moment was more of a confirmation of why I belonged in an MBA program. How about taking a look at the beginning?

While in the third grade in Orange County, Calif., almost two decades ago, I asked my 80-year-old grandfather, "Grandpa, what should I study so I can make lots of money and make you proud?" My grandfather answered without hesitation, "Business administration."

Although I didn’t know what business administration was, I had a fairly good idea what it would lead to. I pictured an older version of myself wearing a black suit, sitting back in a leather executive chair, and sipping a giant mug full of Kool-Aid. Pretty nice.

My First Lucrative Venture

Maybe my grandfather and my grand vision of that leather chair helped spark my interest, but I was only eight. I knew I needed to learn about business when I was forced to shut down my first company: Sierra Vista Middle School’s Underground Candy Ring (its street name).

I remember sitting up at nights taping book covers over candy boxes to make them look like algebra textbooks. Coming up with different prices would allow kids to buy single pieces of delicious Cherry Airheads as well as an entire combo package of two juicy Fruit Roll-Ups, three tantalizing Laffy Taffys, and one sparkling Ring Pop—for their girlfriends, of course. After a great few months, I started running into problems. Students started littering the campus with candy wrappers instead of throwing them away. And should you offer discounts to friends? If so, how much? These were the kinds of questions I brooded over during eighth grade. When my business crumbled, I didn’t just count my dollars, I went over the details of my year-long venture to figure out what went wrong.

Lesson No. 1: Supply and demand. I went too fast and tried too many things.

My First Failure

With my failed candy-shop experiment, I had made $200, enough to buy a video game console and some games to go

with it.. Listen, when you’re 13, being able to afford your own Super Nintendo System is a big deal. Of course, I never bought the video games. I’m a businessman. I decided to invest the money…into comic books. For the better part of my middle school years, the Wizard Guide (basically the comic book version of The Wall Street Journal) was my bible. Not only did I memorize the prices of fan favorites such as Spawn and X-Men (the comics equivalent of the Standard & Poor’s 500-stock index), I decided to take an interest in the more obscure books, Bone and Space Usagi (penny stocks). Why I ever thought a white bunny samurai defending his honor in space would one day become the next Superman is completely beyond me, but I invested anyway.

Lesson No. 2: A green Incredible Hulk does not grow into a green Incredible Benjamin. Comic books aren’t sound investments.

It was then I decided I needed to learn more about business and investments. I found out the proper thing to do was to get an MBA.

Fast-Forward 10 Years

My next step was to figure out where I wanted to apply. Most applicants draw up five to 10 schools they would love to attend, hope to attend, and in my case, beg to attend. Researching universities was a tough task. This would probably be my last stop in the world of academia, so it was vital to find a school with the right curriculum, outstanding professors, and, most importantly, the perfect atmosphere. However, just because I found the right school didn’t mean the school would see me as the right candidate. I had to express my life story in language my dream schools would understand. I needed to compel them and leave them breathless. One hundred hours of GMAT preparation, 25 essays, and a few interview sessions later, I submitted all of my applications.

Where The Process Gets Funny

When I started the B-school process, I was the beggar. I needed to prove myself to these schools. What’s strange is that once that part of the process was over, it was the business schools’ turn to impress me.

Some schools used scholarships to lure me. Others used a beautiful welcome weekend with delicious jalapeño cheese bagels, freshly brewed coffee, savory turkey sandwiches on oven-fresh rye, and soda pop. All of them had alumni and current students phone and ensure me I would feel right at home. But no matter which school I looked into, I quickly realized there was one marketing point they all had in common. Every school boasted of a diverse student population with over 40 countries represented. UCLA has a room full of flags on the wall. Duke has flags draped over their hallway. And they all say, "If you’re from a country whose flag is not represented yet, we will put one up immediately." That’s when I realized I had to go international. Oxford fits this mold perfectly: Oxford students come from 48 countries around the world, the vast majority coming from outside the U.S.

Accepting Oxford’s Offer

It’s clear every major company has gone global. Staying domestic would be absolutely crippling. Some schools had courses titled "Business in China." Like it or not, all MBA candidates must view strategy from a worldwide perspective. Further, I’m international. Being Chinese-American affords no hiding of my skin color, my family values, and my traditional beliefs. There was no other choice for me but the University of Oxford, a truly international school for a truly international student in a truly international business world.

My name is Lawrence Kao. I’ve been a system analyst, a scholar athlete, and a musician for the Sydney 2000 Olympic Band. I’m now a full-time buisness school student. I hope to share my experiences at Oxford’s Saïd Business School with all of you through the MBA Journals during the 2007-2008 school year.

via BusinessWeek

Bring the whole family and join ‘Eater Nation for a fun-filled, FREE afternoon with fellow Anteaters.

The festivities begin at 4 p.m. on Saturday, February 28th and include:

• Greek Village
• Beer Garden
• Kid’s Carnival & Clinics
• School Booths
• Giveaways
• Live Entertainment Stage
• Onsite BBQ (available for purchase)
• 4 free tickets to the 7:30 p.m. men’s basketball game (while supplies last)

For more information and to RSVP, please visit the 2009 Homecoming Website.

Here are some upcoming events that may be of interest… please follow the links for additional information!

The UCI Alumni Association is hosting a few events during the month of January:
1. Beall Center Exhibit and Reception, January 8
2. UCIAA member recognition nights and Basketball Games at the Bren Events Center, January 10 and 17
3. Beer Tasting at Steelhead Brewery in Irvine, January 27

Intersted in Entrepreneurship? Join us for this year’s hITEC competition kickoff and hear from ICS’ own TJ Thinakaran, co-founder of CallFire. Visit the hITEC Web site for additional information and to rsvp.

photo credit: G i O 

During this season of giving, we are grateful for the support of alumni like you!

Dear ICS Alum,

During this time of reflection, we are grateful for our relationship with alumni like you.

The strength of our research and the quality of our faculty and students are possible, in large part, because of the support of our ICS family– near and far alike.

Our collaborative research community here today is fostering the leaders and innovators of tomorrow.

I hope you’ll take a few minutes to view this video from our undergraduate students, thanking you for your continuing support.

We hope you’ll think of us this holiday season and help our students’ dreams become reality.

Wishing you a joyous holiday season, and a Happy New Year.

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

From putting people first,

The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has awarded UC Irvine a $1.7 million grant to create a new research institute focused on the growing use of mobile technology in providing banking and financial services to people in developing countries.

The Institute for Money, Technology and Financial Inclusion will be the first to explore how the world’s poorest people spend, store and save money. The institute will study how these habits are affected by the emerging mobile banking industry, known as “m-banking,” which could make financial services and the security they provide available to millions of poor people for the first time.

Read full press release at Today@UCI