Yonnie Zheng, Class of 2009

Hometown:  Huntington Beach, CA
Undergraduate degree: BS in Business Administration and BA in Asian Studies from the University of California, Berkeley
Prior work experience: Three years in digital media transformation consulting at Accenture in Los Angeles for major Hollywood film studios, and in the three months prior to attending NYU Stern, consulted for international nonprofit through Accenture Development Partnerships
Current specialization(s): Strategy, Entrepreneurship & Innovation, Global Business
Club affiliation(s): Social Enterprise Association (VP of Career Development), Emerging Markets Association, Asian Business Society, Graduate Marketing Association, Stern Women in Business
Career interest: Corporate Social Responsibility/Corporate Citizenship
Summer internship: Corporate Social Responsibility & Environmental Strategy Intern at Ann Taylor
NYC neighborhood: Union Square

View past entries: 

Here’s the scoop on the courses I’m taking this semester:

Authentic Leadership Development with Professor Diane Mayer – You will embark on a personal journey towards authentic leadership development in this course. We are encouraged to reflect on and share our life stories and experiences to date and how they have shaped our leadership values, principles, ethical boundaries and such. Through case discussions of prominent leaders, small development groups and one-on-one sessions with the professor, we are able to openly share our personal insights, experiences, ambitions and fears in a comfortable environment. This is not like any Stern course I’ve taken to date, and I always look forward to actively participating every Wednesday evening!

Competitive Strategy in the Marketplace with Professor John Czepiel – This is a rigorous advanced course in competitive strategy that covers topics such as strategic interactions, branding as a source of competitive advantage, strategic modeling, scenario analysis, competitive signaling and competitive intelligence. Throughout the semester, we work in teams of five students to analyze a business case, where we actively apply the tools and training we’ve learned in recommending the best possible strategy for a business to succeed in a competitive landscape. Big time commitment – lots of work – but it’s proving to be well worth the tremendous effort!

Consumer Behavior with Professor Anne-Laure Sellier – You are a consumer. Your behavior is one of the most interesting and important aspects of marketing management. Virtually all decision involved in developing an effective marketing mix for a product or service relies on thorough knowledge of the consumers who comprise the target market. This class is full of real-world examples of the psychological and social influences on making purchase decisions and their impacts to marketing strategy.

Multinational Business Management with Professor Robert Salomon – If you want to learn corporate strategy in a multinational context, this is the class for you. The course helps you understand the strategic issues and trade-offs in the global community and how individuals can manage business activities effectively in multinational firms. I find the class very interesting and insightful, and it will be especially helpful if I work for a multinational corporation or abroad in the future.

Search and the Economy with Professor Panos Ipeirotis – I haven’t started this course yet, but I believe it will be an eye-opener for me. At a high level, we’ll examine how search technologies affect business and society. Given the emergence of search engines over the last decade, business landscapes in many industries have drastically changed. Traditional business models are now completely outdated, other business models are deeply transformed and many new models are emerging now, which are based on the unprecedented access to vast amounts of information.

Professional Responsibility with Professor Lawrence Zicklin – This is a mandatory core course for all MBA2s, and I love it. I learned so much in this class that I wish it was one semester long instead of just half of a semester. Zicklin is a phenomenal instructor – he pushes us to think about moral, ethical and social issues that we may deal with as we become future managers/leaders in organizations after graduation. What’s the difference between right and wrong? Where is the slippery slope? All the decisions you make will have consequences and repercussions – where do you draw the line? Many situations are gray – are you going to be comfortable with that? I think you will enjoy this class as much as I did!

On that note, it has been a pleasure to blog for Admissions this past year, and it’s my honor to pass the torch onto a fabulous MBA1 who will be taking over for the remainder of this academic year – Chris Cramer. Stay tuned for his Stern adventures!

Lastly, I leave you with a quote that has been resonating in my heart lately…“Much is required from the person to whom much is given; Much more is required from the person to whom much more is given.”

Good luck to all prospective students! Have faith that the best is yet to come.

As my second year at Stern gains momentum, I’m acutely aware that I’m seeing the world through a new and improved lens. While you’re in business school, you’re constantly evolving and shaping your future with every opportunity you seize and each experience you engage in. It’s remarkable what these two years will do for you…and I’m a little more than half way through!

So much has happened since the academic year started a month ago. I went to a Yankees game (it’s the final season at the original stadium) in the Bronx, watched some phenomenal tennis matches at the US Open in Queens and ran the Nike Human Race 10K on Randall Island. I also saw the incredible Broadway musical “In the Heights” and had dinner with a group of twenty Cal alumni who are currently attending Stern. I’m not sure how I managed to pack all these activities into my schedule, but school definitely trains you to become the king or queen of prioritization and time management. I’ve been fortunate to have time to be a Resident Advisor, serve as a Teaching Fellow for Marketing, continue my internship at Ann Taylor (part-time now) and still remain involved in various Social Enterprise Association (SEA) functions. In fact, SEA invited Mike Indursky, Chief Marketing and Strategic Officer of Burt’s Bees, to speak at Stern about the strategic development of the Burt’s Bees brand, including the expansion of the company’s earth-friendly natural products portfolio and his work to redefine the natural personal care industry by establishing a “Natural Standard” and a “Natural Seal.” It was a great way to start off the school year with a strong message of social consciousness!

Now that autumn is here, I’m hoping to find some time to escape the city and see the fall foliage in upstate New York. As a West Coaster, who rarely experiences the changing of the seasons, I heard October and November is the best time to see the brilliant shades of red, orange and gold leaves. If I can finish my readings and papers by this weekend, I may join the Stern Adventures on a day-trip to Breakneck Ridge for some great outdoor hiking and peak foliage views.

Stay tuned for the latest and greatest updates on my awesome courses for this semester…

The summer internship experience has come to an end. It’s incredible how fast the weeks flew by! After wrapping up the projects I worked on this summer and handing them off to management, I know that I’ve gained a better perspective regarding my future career goals – whether it will remain in the world of CSR or not. For many of us, this summer was definitely a time of tremendous self reflection, exploring new territories, testing our limits and most importantly – GROWTH. I’m sure everyone will have a story to tell, a new perspective, a newly acquired passion or even disappointments and frustrations. This past year in business school was definitely about perspective; but I’m starting to feel that the theme for this year will be balance.

Summer is here!!! Everyone looks absolutely gorgeous and cheerful! You definitely feel happiness radiating from all the smiling people around you. Flowers are blooming, the sun is shining brilliantly, skies are clear, street vendors line the sidewalks, restaurants entertain outdoor seating, people sunbathe and play sports in Central Park, and I…am in bliss.

The weather’s been in the upper 80s with occasional thunderstorms. The rain usually pours for 30 minutes to an hour and goes away. I never thought I would say this, but I appreciate the rain (in the summer months only), because it cools down the temperature and relieves us from the intense humidity.

Instead of returning home to California, I spent two weeks “vacationing” in New York City prior to starting my summer internship. It was a great opportunity for me to catch up with friends I haven’t seen in a while and refresh my body, mind and spirit in preparation for the next three months of full-time work. I woke up late every morning and wandered the streets of the Big Apple without a care in the world about homework, projects, exams or deadlines!

My eleven-week internship started after Memorial Day and will end around mid-August. On my first day at work, I was already conducting research and creating documentation for one of my many summer projects. What a way to hit the ground running! Within the first week of being on the job, I was invited to attend an exclusive networking event with other corporate social responsibility (CSR) executives in the industry, hosted by Martha Stewart Home Living. Executives responsible for the social responsibility at Tiffany’s, Time Warner, Hewlett Packard, Eileen Fisher, NBC-Universal, Business for Social Responsibility, Deptartment of State, Macy’s and Ann Taylor took this opportunity to get to know one another and share ideas and experiences in the CSR world. It’s truly remarkable to hear what other organizations are doing and find ways to collaborate and leverage best practices across multiple industries.

Since then, my work load has been non-stop, and I am learning something new every day! I’ve also been fortunate to work an 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. schedule, which leaves me with time to enjoy “life” outside of work. This is definitely a highlight of the summer, especially with the large number of activities going on in the city. No matter what your interests are, you will definitely find something to do and explore! I’ve already gone to a Mets game, loaded up on BBQ at the Big Apple BBQ Block Party and attended the 2nd Annual Food Film Festival! It’s absolutely gorgeous to spend a lunch break in Bryant Park as well – I try to do that as often as I can when my workload permits!

Tonight, I will attend a panel discussion hosted by CNN Chief International Correspondent, Christiane Amanpour, at the New School. The topic is the humanitarian crises in Bangladesh, Haiti and other countries caused by the rising cost of food. Yes, I know I’m a nerd – it’s summer and I’m still attending lectures out of my own volition!

For those who attended Pre-View Weekend for admitted students, I hope you all walked away with a better sense of how Stern is Downtown. Down to Earth. Down to Business.! This past weekend highlighted the strong community here at Stern and hopefully gave you a sneak peak into all the memorable experiences you will have once you join us in New York City!

Let me take you on a quick tour around all the excitement buzzing at Stern and New York City in the past month:

• Net Impact Career Night – For the first time in Net Impact history, four universities in New York City (NYU Stern, Columbia University, Baruch College and Fordham University) joined together in a collaborative effort to host a Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) & Sustainability Career Night for our members. We invited four passionate executives who spoke about their careers in CSR, future trends in this up-and-coming space and how to start a career in CSR and sustainability.
• Social Enterprise Association Officer Selection – The second-year officers for next year’s SEA board have been selected! We’re excited to see returning officers and fresh new blood join us in strengthening the social enterprise presence at Stern for the incoming generation of members. The board is looking forward to the next academic year; get ready for some craziness!
• New York Botanical Garden – A couple Sternies and I took a trip to the Bronx (my first time there!) to visit the gorgeous orchid exhibit at the New York Botanical Garden. It was a perfect day – great company, magnificent flower displays and plenty of sunshine! I am thrilled that it’s finally spring time, and the weather is warming up!
• Stern Follies – Stern’s Annual Talent Show. Must see entertainment. Enough said.
• Walter V. Shipley Business Leadership Case Competition – A team of MBA1s and I participated in the first-ever business ethics case competition, sponsored by JPMorgan Chase and the Aspen Institute Center for Business Education. Eight of the country’s top MBA programs, including Columbia, Darden, HBS, Kellogg, Ross, Stern, Tuck and Wharton, lined up to compete for the grand prize of $20,000. My team rallied and partied like rock stars (i.e. cranked away) into the wee-hours of the night to produce a masterpiece business case write-up! Unfortunately, we didn’t get selected to represent Stern, but it was definitely a rewarding experience! Thank goodness for the peanut butter & white chocolate popcorn that sustained us through the night.
• MBA Housing – Some of you who are traveling from far-away places (e.g. West Coast or abroad) may be interested in signing up for graduate student housing through Stern. Currently, we offer two housing options: Palladium Residence Hall and Stuyvesant Town. I will be one of the RAs for the Palladium next year, and I recommend this housing option for those of you who love convenience. You are located in the heart of Union Square, with quick access to public transit, grocery stores, restaurants, entertainment and the Stern campus (only a 12-minute walk away)!
• International Passport Day – International students at Stern exuded tremendous spirit for their respective countries this past week by hosting International Passport Day, an event showcasing each country’s culture, traditional food, local delicacies, costumes and performances. Over 1,500 students, faculty and administration attended this event to celebrate the international diversity at our school!
• President’s Service Award – Wow. I just attended the President’s Service Award ceremony, where awards were presented to NYU students and student organizations, recognizing them for their distinguished achievements and service to the NYU community. It was an honor for the Social Enterprise Association (SEA) to receive the award this year, along with other Stern clubs, such as Stern Women in Business, the Luxury and Retail Club and the Media, Entertainment and Sports Association! At the same time, R.J. Panda (SEA’s VP of Greening) was recognized for his contribution to Stern in helping our campus emerge as a leader in NYU’s environmental sustainability. Go R.J. and SEA!

Tomorrow, I’m joining a group of Sternies on a visit to The Metropolitan Opera for a dress rehearsal of the new production of Donizetti’s La Fille du Regiment (The Daughter of the Regiment), with Met stars Natalie Dessay and Juan Diego Flores. Only a couple more weeks left before my first year comes to a close…I can’t believe how fast the past year has flown by!

The season of spring is upon us, and I just returned from a bombastic spring break excursion to Puerto Rico! Before I left for the one-week trip, I went through a month of an all-intensive Stern boot camp…and loved every minute of it! Each week was filled with some school activity:

• Vice Dean Kim Corfman sat down to have lunch with my block and listened to what we had to say about our experience thus far at Stern. She was keen on hearing our different perspectives and understanding our concerns as first-year students. She also addressed our questions pertaining to the economy, the summer internship outlook and other tough questions. It was encouraging to see the administration so actively involved in the students’ well-being and their motivation to learn from us regarding how to enhance the MBA experience at Stern.
• Dean Gary Fraser took a group of MBA1s out for a “Dean’s Night Out” in New York City to enjoy the Broadway show, Avenue Q. Some students met up with the Dean for drinks prior to the event, which provided us with a great opportunity to get to know him outside of a campus setting.
• Dean Thomas Cooley has a tradition of inviting a small group of MBA leaders to breakfast at his office during the year. The intimate setting provided us with personal one-on-one interaction with him that we probably wouldn’t have gotten otherwise, due to his busy schedule!
• The Social Enterprise Association (SEA) kicked off our marquee event of the year, “Think Social, Drink Local” on March 7^th. The annual fundraiser event was a tremendous success as we had over 500 guests attend and show their support of SEA’s many initiatives and programs throughout the year. This was the first year that SEA partnered with the Luxury & Retail Club in an eco-fashion show, featuring models from the Stern administration - Dean Fraser and Assistant Dean Pam Mittman, student club presidents and other Sternies! All food and drinks were organic and locally-sourced and donated by our generous sponsors. SEA is thankful to all our supporters and can’t wait for next year’s event!

After all that hyperactivity, I flew off to the island of Puerto Rico for some peace and relaxation. A group of Sternies and I went canyoning (e.g. zip-lining, rock climbing, cliff jumping, swimming in waterfalls, hiking) through the El Yunque forest, sunbathed on Vieques Island, kayaked in the illuminated bio-bay and soaked in as much sun as possible! We were able to get away from the distractions of the city and retreat to calm beaches and warm weather as we regrouped for the remainder of the semester.

I’m assuming that most of you are hearing back from Stern regarding your admissions statuses. As you take time to reflect on yourself and where you want to attend business school next year, make sure you are honest with yourself and really think about what you want to get out of the MBA experience. Avoid the herd mentality. Listen to your heart.

Although the outdoor temperature in New York still resembles that of winter, the sun has been coming out more and more. It’ll soon be warm enough for me to run through Central Park in the coming weeks as I train for the New York Junior League Mother’s Day 10-Mile Run. Till next time…

As I mentioned in my previous entry, spring semester is the time when MBA1s pursuing the social enterprise trek are actively seeking summer internships. With that in mind, the Social Enterprise Association (SEA) and the Office of Career Development (OCD) are pleased to announce a great new resource for the Stern community: the MBA-Nonprofit Connection for summer internships and full-time jobs in social enterprise! Stern has partnered with this organization to provide access to summer internships specifically tailored to MBA students – in areas ranging from socially responsible investing, alternative energy, foundations and nonprofit and charter school management.

On top of this progress, we will have the first ever Social Impact Internship Fund, where Stern will award two MBA1s supplemental funding for internships in the areas of social enterprise (nonprofit, foundations and many more). These are huge leaps forward for Stern and SEA!

Stern also hosted two action-packed conferences this past week: the 5^th Annual Conference in Leadership and Ethics - Corporate Social Responsibility in the Global Environment and the 8^th Annual Global Business Conference - Investing in the Emerging Markets: Financing Growth and Development.

At the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) conference, some SEA officers and I were invited to sit with Alice Tepper Marlin (President, Social Accountability International and Fifth Annual Distinguished Citi Fellow in Ethics and Leadership), Pamela Flaherty (President and CEO, Citi Foundation & Director of Corporate Responsibility, Citi) and Anant Nadkarni (Vice President of Corporate Sustainability, Tata Group) over lunch to discuss the latest initiatives and programs that each organization was involved with to be socially responsible in the global landscape. It was fascinating to see these leaders spearheading social responsibility within their companies and encouraging thought discussion and stakeholder dialogue within their industries so that CSR will eventually become just a way of “doing better business.” Throughout the day, executives from Fortune 500 corporations also gave their perspective on CSR and NYU faculty. Business professionals and students walked away more aware of how they could take part in creating a sustainable future.

Are you ready to start changing the world? Where will you make the greatest impact? For those interested, here’s an article in The Economist regarding CSR.

I took a detour from Stern-only activities and went to the Asia Society of New York City to hear a special speaker series on “China and the Olympics: Opening Ceremony?” Since winning the Olympics bid, China has been hard at work preparing itself for a successful “coming out party” in August 2008. This event was the first in a series that will examine the sustainability of several aspects of China’s explosive and unpredictable growth both in the months preceding the Olympics and in the aftermath.

Time for hip-hop class and then a three-mile run in the snow…

I’m back! It’s been two months since my last entry, and I’ve been occupied with a whirlwind of activities. Luckily, I was able to spend three blissful weeks at home in Huntington Beach and caught up on some quality time with family and friends over the holiday break. It was one of the most restful and relaxing times I’ve experienced in the past four years because I was doing things on my own terms – no schedules, no deadlines, nothing. I went to the beach, snowboarded and even finished three leisure reading books! It was just about enjoying life, one moment at a time.

After returning to New York, I’ve been entertaining friends who were visiting the Big Apple and continuing my summer internship search. For students interested in non-traditional career tracks (anything outside of finance, marketing and consulting), internship recruiting usually starts in the spring semester. This is the time when the Office of Career Development receives job postings from companies (e.g. from industries such as media/entertainment, technology, nonprofit, etc.).

I am also very excited about the courses I’m taking this semester. They are the following:

• Managing Organizations with Professor Anat Lechner - In this class, we’re learning how to face management challenges in the areas of: how an organization should be designed; how culture and control affect organizational dynamics; how to make effective decisions; how to manage individuals and evaluate performance; and how to manage teams effectively. We’re actively engaged in cases and presentations that push us to think about organizational effectiveness, so we are better prepared to develop appropriate solutions as managers in the future. Professor Lechner challenges our thinking in ways that make us grow both personally and professionally.
• Brand Strategy with Professor Scott Galloway - I am learning so much in this class, and I’ve only had one session so far. This is a course that gets your heart pumping with energy and enthusiasm, especially with cold-calling from the professor. Recent real-world examples in branding are incorporated into discussions, and we’re provided with frameworks for building a brand-equity driven, sustainable business. Over the course of the semester, we will work in teams of seven students on a brand-building project for a small company of our choice. I’m excited for what’s to come!
• Foundations of Finance with Professor William Silber - My classmates mentioned this core course to me last semester, and I was intrigued, especially knowing that it was taught by one of the most reknown professors at Stern. Anyone working on Wall Street knows of Professor Silber, and now I know why! This is a course that will introduce you to the fundamental principles and tools necessary to value stocks, bonds, options and other derivatives.
• Corporate Branding & Corporate Social Responsibility with Professor Bruce Buchannan - I’ve wanted to take this class since arriving at Stern, and I’m stoked that it’s finally happening! The first class session gave me an overview of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) in the context of corporate branding. The rest of the semester will involve guest speakers from corporations, NGOs and investment management firms who will provide us with a better understanding of the politics, strategy, and implementation of CSR in today’s ever-changing global landscape.
• Managing Growing Companies with Professor Glenn Okun - Have you ever wanted to open up your own business? Then this is a class for you! Even though I don’t have immediate plans to start my own business, it’s always good to learn and absorb what I can now and perhaps utilize this information in the future. This course seeks to provide an understanding of the knowledge and skills that are required to manage and grow small- to mid-sized firms. Professor Okun is hilarious and insightful and provides us with great cases and readings to help us learn to effectively navigate through the management challenges of growing our future start-up.
• Crisis Communication with Professor Irv Schenkler - This course doesn’t start for me until April, but it should be an eye-opener for sure. It examines the variables involved in crisis planning, communication and management. We’ll look at an organization’s vulnerabilities, the environment in which it thrives, the stakeholders who can influence its operation and the strategies best suited to maintaining or enhancing its reputation.

Lastly, in the spirit of the Lunar New Year (February 7^th) that just passed, I wish you all a 新年快樂! 恭喜發財! 年年有餘! Now I’m off to the a Brooklyn animal shelter (BARC) to walk some dogs! Till next time…

Woohoo! Today is officially the last day of classes for the Fall semester! MBA1s celebrated with pizza parties and happy hours hosted by our professors, namely Professor William Silber of Foundations of Finance and Professor Amitav Chakravarti of Marketing. We ate, drank and toasted to the coming of winter break!

This past weekend, I had the opportunity to see a dance performance at the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater with a good friend (who is a Stern MBA2)! It was a phenomenal display of artistry and cultural nuisances that opened up my eyes to interpretative modern dance. I’d definitely go watch them again in a heart beat!

Being a student again has its many perks, especially during finals week. The NYU Student Resource Center, Stern clubs and NYU Housing have been providing us with free food and drinks during this major crunch time. These groups are providing us with free “breakfast for dinner” at midnight, free boba, cupcakes, cookies and milk!

To top off the festivities, over ten Sternies are celebrating their birthdays this weekend. It’s going to be the last hoorah before finals hit next week!

Lastly, for those of you who are applying to NYU Stern for the second round deadline…

• Write your essays from your heart. Don’t tell admissions what you think they want to hear; they can see through that immediately.
• JUST BE YOURSELF in your interviews. Relax, smile and have a good time. We like to see that you’re comfortable with yourself…we want to get to know who you REALLY are!
• Don’t get so caught up with writing your essays and filling out applications that you forget to enjoy the holidays! The holidays are about spending quality time with family and friends. I hope you will take the time to have fun!! Really…I mean it.

In my previous entry, I mentioned that it was finally autumn in New York. In fact, it’s already winter, because it snowed for the first time this past Sunday! Whatever happened to autumn?! That season barely lasted one month. Nevertheless, I walked through a snow-covered Washington Square Park, wandered through Greenwich Village to Magnolia Cupcakes and bought a beanie to protect my head from the freezing temperatures! I’ll definitely need to start investing in a new wardrobe to survive the winter months ahead, especially since I don’t own any rain boots, thick coats or gloves. (I never needed winter clothes in California! It was always summer time.)

In this entry, I’ll tell you about some great festivities available to you in New York during the holiday season (from a non-native New Yorker perspective):

• Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony at Rockefeller Center – Throngs of New Yorkers and tourists turned out for this annual ceremony on Wednesday evening, November 28^th, at the Rockefeller Center.  Celebrities, the Rockettes and music artists performed at the event leading up the illumination of the 60-year-old spruce tree. All the streets near the Center were closed off by the time I arrived, so I wasn’t able to see the festivities! I guess there’s always next year…or just catch it on TV if you want to avoid the masses.
• Holiday Lights NYC Bus Tour – NYU graduate students took a whirlwind trip through the streets of Manhattan last Thursday evening as we toured the holiday lights at Columbus Circle, Macy’s Christmas decorations, Fifth Avenue shops, Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree and Lord & Taylor’s animated windows, to name just a few! Be sure to bring your camera and bundle up in layers because it gets windy!
• Blue Man Group – Some Sternies and I were able to catch the Blue Man Group’s performance in the local East Village this past Friday night. It was a spectacular psychedelic performance, filled with interesting humor and randomness. It’s a great alternative to the movie theater experience.
• Radio City Christmas Spectacular starring the Rockettes – This requires no explanation. I went to this show four years ago, and I highly recommend it. If and when you attend Stern next year, be sure to check out this performance during the holidays. You will not be disappointed!
• Ice Skating at Bryant Park or Rockefeller Center – I have yet to ice skate in NYC’s winter wonderland; however, I’ll definitely make sure I do this activity soon!

The lottery results for my spring semester courses came back. I was fortunate to get into all my first choice picks: Managing Organizations; Foundations of Finance; Brand Strategy; Managing Growing Companies; Corporate Branding & Corporate Social Responsibility; and Crisis Communication. I’ll let you know more about these courses when I start them next year…this is so exciting!

In a blink of an eye, the month of November has passed rapidly by…and final exams are just around the corner. Wow. As I’m sitting on the plane right now, flying back to New York from a week-long Thanksgiving vacation in sunny California…I’ll give you a quick update on what’s been happening in/out of Stern.

Corporate presentations are finally winding down, and the Office of Career Development has been preparing all MBA1s for upcoming job interviews. MBA1s are required to participate in behavioral and technical mock interviews, conducted by external consultants and MBA2 career coaches. This is Stern’s way of equipping us with the best possible interviewing tools and techniques, so we can secure the summer internship of our dreams. I recently went through the behavioral mock interview and was extremely impressed with the candid, direct and actionable feedback I received on ways in which I can improve my interviewing skills. I’m looking forward to the technical mock interview coming up this week!

On the social front, Stern hosted the annual Charity Ball and silent auction that raised funds for Minds Matter, an organization that pairs underprivileged New York City high school students with young Manhattan professionals for mentorship and academic guidance. Students from both full- and part-time programs dressed up in formal attire and enjoyed an evening of fine cuisine, good music and great conversation at Tavern on the Green in Central Park. It was a great way to spend time with our classmates and contribute to a worthy cause (we raised over $13,400!).

I also managed to attend a couple special speaker events:

• Haitkin Lecture: Google, Privacy and Social Responsibility: Marc Rotenberg, Co-founder and Executive Director of EPIC and a recognized expert on privacy, civil liberties and the internet, analyzes the ethics of Google’s quest to organize all the information in the world, and the challenges it poses to the rest of us.
• Global Issues in Campaign 2008 – Prosperity or Protectionism: Jobs, Trade and American Votes: Stern hosted a discussion on the issues of globalization and trade as they relate to the U.S. presidential campaign, with Matthew Bishop of The Economist, Amity Shlaes of the Council on Foreign Relations and Dean Thomas Cooley of NYU Stern.
• Ecology of Chinese Corporate Governance: Donald Clarke, visiting professor at NYU School of Law from the George Washington University Law School examines the proliferation of rules about corporate governance in China. But how significant are the rules if enforcement mechanisms, whether state or non-state, are weak or lacking altogether?
• Cooperation Creating Change: Executives at Gap, SAI, Chiquita and the RainForest Alliance address their challenges and successes in their partnership both on domestic and international fronts.

Lastly, the weather is changing drastically these days – autumn is here, and leaves are changing colors.  It’s gorgeous to walk through Washington Square Park and see the plethora of leaves falling and people bundling up in layers. I’m reluctantly swapping out my summer flip-flops for some warm winter boots…

Goodbye Nashville, and hello New York! I’m back from the Net Impact Conference, refreshed and rejuvenated to take on the rest of the semester. The weekend was a good way to wrap-up the chaotic month of October – we showered ourselves in fun memories, good food, laughter, intellectual stimulation, network-building, and country line-dancing!

Yvon Chouinard, the founder of Patagonia and author of Let My People Go Surfing, opened up the conference as the key note speaker.  He reminded us that our goal in life is not to reach the summit, but to enjoy the process of getting there. Do what you can in your own way to get to where you want to go. As long as you stay active, things will work out.

There are two key phrases that I’d like to point out in his comments:

• in your own way…The more you know about yourself and what you want, the easier it is for you to come into business school and blaze your own path. It’s easy to get caught up in careers/jobs that other people are interested in; however, it’s important to think about whether or not it’s a fit for you. Be true to yourself…do what you can in your own way.
• stay active…In the search for our ideal career or even business school, we will encounter times when we want to throw in the towel and just give up. As a prospective student, don’t get discouraged with the looming MBA application process! Stay active – do research, talk to as many people as you can to get a good perspective on each school, start early and in the words of Winston Churchill…“Never, never, never give up.”

This year, Stern’s representation at Net Impact doubled from the number of folks who attended last year’s event. We had a spectacular time at a joint happy hour with Wharton and even country-line danced at Wild Horse Saloon with over 1,700 students and professionals.  During the day, we attended various workshops and panel sessions, featuring topics ranging from: Viewing Corporate Social Responsibility from a Strategic Perspective; Nonprofit Board Service: Is It Right for You?; Green Product Design; Healthcare Innovation; Microfinance Today and Redesigning the Urban Community, just to name just a few. Each one of us walked away better equipped with more knowledge and contacts in the social enterprise space! We can’t wait for next year’s Net Impact conference which will be held at Wharton – just a train ride away from Stern!

Now it’s time for me to sign up for next semester’s classes through a lottery system.  Cross your fingers that I’ll get into my elective courses!