Becoming Prepared for a Career

As a student it can be difficult to know what classes to take or what careers to pursue. I’m  happy to say that I have made it through that process and am starting my sales career on Monday with Nalco in Midland, Texas. Although the journey was not easy, it was worth it, and I owe a lot of that to the courses I took at the Huntsman School of Business.

In my interviews with Nalco, I was able to show skills I had learned from my Strategic Sales class with Professor Sterling Bone. I was really able to seal the deal when I told them I was already familiar with Salesforce.com, a CRM that Professor Kristal Ray had us explore in our Marketing and Sales Technology class. It is a program that the company uses every day, and they were very impressed that I already had experience with it.

With the classes and background I had, it was easy and natural to showcase my skills and potential. I would not have had the opportunities I have now, had I not of taken advantage of these classes. I would highly suggest to anyone who has the slightest interest in sales to take these classes and explore the sales track at the Huntsman School.

Dallin Fukui

 

HMA Marketing Week: Zagg Case Competition Finals, Inside the Game

By Eliza Thacker

We won! We were so nervous the day of the final presentation. In preparation for the final moments of the competition, we spent hours researching our idea, practicing our presentation, and putting together our Prezi. My teammates did a fantastic job of presenting the data, and the judges seemed to like our idea, but there was no way of knowing if another team had done a better job. At the awards ceremony we waited in agony as the third and second place teams were read out loud. We sat in a tense trance as the first place team was announced, when suddenly we realized the name sounded familiar; it was our team. We immediately leaped up to shake the judges’ hands and accept our prizes. We each received not only an iPad mini, but also Bluetooth headphones, a folio keyboard, a screen protector, and a Bluetooth speaker. 

In addition to the physical prizes, we took away intangible rewards. We made great connections in the Huntsman Marketing Association and gained exciting talking points for our resumes. Best of all, we met new friends. My teammates were all incredible people that I never would have gotten to know without this competition, and after late nights filled with pizza and research, we became good friends. I am so glad I had this opportunity. It has given me greater confidence and has opened so many doors. If you are thinking about competing next year, don’t hesitate; win or lose you’ll take away more than just an iPad. Hope to see you there!

HMA Marketing Week: Zagg Case Competition Preliminaries, Inside the Game

Brady Hanks, Xander Hulme, and Aaron Bytendorp develop ideas

By Eliza Thacker

After a late night of brainstorming and writing, our team has officially passed the preliminaries. Our idea of having Zagg expand into a new leather-tech market seems to be working out well. I have to admit, I didn’t expect to have so much fun participating in the competition. It has been exciting and enlightening to try and work through a real-world situation, rather than a theoretical scenario; plus, my team members are all incredible people who I never would have gotten to know otherwise. Even if we don’t win, I’ve made some amazing friends and been given an opportunity that a lot of undergraduates never get. Here is to hoping that tomorrow goes well! I’m keeping my fingers crossed.

 

Eliza Thacker and Brady Hanks work late into the night

HMA Marketing Week Guest Speaker: Morgan Pederson

By Sheii Lindley

Morgan Pederson is the Visual and PR director for an up and coming shoe designer, Yosi Samra, in New York City. She graduated from Utah State University five years ago from the interior design department. I was lucky enough to be the student host for Morgan during her stay in Logan and was so impressed with her ability to remember people and constantly be aware of her surroundings as she documented her experiences through social media.

On Tuesday night Morgan spoke in the O.C. Tanner lounge to a packed house of marketing students. She shared with us her incredible transition from Utah to The Big Apple, what it took to get there, as well as many bits of great advice on self-branding. Morgan discussed the importance of 24-hour networking. She stressed making meaningful connections with everyone you meet, regardless of their status; stating that those connections could open many doors.

Morgan shared with us her secret formula called, "social stalking," or creative contacting. She described learning about someone through their various social media platforms, entering their conversations and making connections that lead to face-to-face meetings and potential job offers. She said the key is to start with the least personal social media platform and then make your way full circle to a personal connection. Her first job with a well-known New York interior designer was gained through the use of social stalking. It began with a bit of research, followed by adding her on social media, commenting on her posts, and then starting a conversation which led to a dinner meeting and eventually an offer for employment.

If you’re interested in viewing the full presentation, all creative tips and tools included, go here: http://1560811.mediaspace.kaltura.com/media/Morgan+Pederson+-+Huntsman+Marketing+Association+Presenter/0_cqogzrye

For more information on Morgan Pederson check out her website at: www.morgan-creative.com, or follow her on twitter: @morgancreative.

Morgan Pederson

HMA Marketing Week: Zagg Case Competition Kickoff, Inside the Game

By Eliza Thacker

Monday night was the Huntsman Marketing Association Zagg Case Competition Kickoff. I attended thinking that it would be a fun contest where I would meet some new people and learn a few marketing principles. I soon discovered that the competition would be much more exciting that I had imagined. One of Zagg's top executives talked to us about Zagg and its affiliate companies, and then challenged our teams to come up with a new idea for Zagg. Furthermore, he told us our teams would present our ideas to Zagg's top product managers in a week's time if we pass the qualifying round. It looks like this competition is going to be an intense race to the finish; however, my team is ready to meet the challenge!

Preliminaries, here we come!

January 26, 2015 – The Busiest Day

January 26, 2014 was the busiest day yet in the construction of Huntsman Hall. We had more people on site, and more different projects going on, than any previous day since we started construction.

The reason for so much going on was the combination of progress we've recently made, combined with the great weather. This list may be incomplete, but here’s what happened on January 26:

· We finished the roof on the two wings of the building. There’s a final membrane sealant that requires the temperature to be above 40 degrees when it is applied.

· We laid the steel support in the curved area to prepare to pour the concrete floor slabs later this week.

· The masons continued to lay bricks on both the outside (north face) and inside (Level 1).

· The sub-contractor building the tiers in the tiered classrooms had a couple of teams working the Level 1 classrooms.

· There was a team installing the drywall and acoustical tile walls in the Level 1 classrooms.

· The glass sub-contractor was finishing up the preparation to hang the sheet glass that will be the exterior wall on the west side of the west wing.

· And the electricians kept plugging away at installing the electrical service to classrooms.


A busy day. But we’re moving ahead. Now if only the weather can stay in the 40s…

Ken Snyder

Spring New Huntsman Student Orientation

Associate Dean Dave Patel started the spring new-student orientation by defining the importance of the Huntsman School's four pillars. He explained that analytical rigor is more than just doing well in class; it’s about thinking. “Thinking before we speak, before we write and before we do,” he said. Patel then explained that understanding the global economy can affect all we do. By having global vision, we can take advantage of opportunities that may have otherwise passed us. Entrepreneurial Spirit is a state of mind, Patel petitioned. “We must be open to new opportunities,” he said. Then he stated that there is no such thing as being 98 percent honest. Ethical leadership means we are always honest in all we do.

He concluded with three suggestions: work hard, live with purpose and be open to opportunities.

Ruth Harrison, Director of Undergraduate Programs, then explained how each student’s Huntsman Experience should be different than anyone else’s. She mentioned the importance of meeting with advisors on time, career opportunities available on campus (such as Career Aggie) and fostering meaningful relationships with faculty.

To finish off the orientation business senator, Scott Laneri, gave three pieces of advice. First was to get to know professors outside the classroom. “Introduce yourself after class and meet with them during their office hours,” he suggested. He also proposed to take advantage of all the opportunities available through the Huntsman School. He mentioned that his Go Global experiences shaped the way he thinks and lives every day. And lastly, he encouraged each new student to go on a Career Exploration Trip and join a club.