Global Consulting Fellows Network with Alumni

Undergraduates and alumni of the University of Maryland's Robert H. Smith School of Business’s Global Consulting Fellows Program (GCF) enjoyed an evening featuring an alumni panel discussion, program reflections, networking, and good food, Nov. 7, 2017, at the University of Maryland Golf Course Clubhouse.

“This is an opportunity for Global Fellows alumni and Smith undergraduate alumni who have contributed so much to growing the Smith School’s undergraduate programs to connect with each other and current students,” explained Pat Cleveland, the program's faculty champion who is also a lecturer in the Smith School's Department of Management and Organization and a former associate dean for undergraduate programs.

Mark Duchev '19, a current Global Fellow agreed: “It was great to hear about the success stories of past UMD students, from their days in the Global Consulting Fellows Program to their present successful careers in consultancy. It was also interesting to hear about the diverse backgrounds of certain individuals. Overall, the reception opened our eyes to the real world of consulting, and the network behind the global consulting fellows program.”  Duchev is double majoring in operations management and business and supply chain management.

Attending alumni represented area consulting firms including PwC, DAI, McKinsey, KPMG, Accenture, as well as other types of businesses such as Marriott International, Aetna Life & Casualty Company and Deloitte.

“One of the major takeaways from the event was seeing how many successful alumni have come out of the Global Consulting Fellows. Many of them had very rewarding careers and it was interesting to see how their schoolwork, their majors, and their passions helped pave the way or become incorporated into their jobs,” added Amy Zhang ’18, information systems and finance double major.

Kyle Brinker, a junior finance and government and politics double major,added: "This event helped very much in reaffirming my interest in consulting, showing me the wide array of prospects it holds, and showing me the specific paths that some took to get there.”

“From the Peace Corps to NYU law school to the Big Four, I had the opportunity to soak in knowledge from many people whose experiences defined their life and shaped them into who they were today. Their stories have motivated me to broaden my view in life and expand my openness to the opportunities awaiting me outside of college,” said James Wang, who expects to graduate in May 2018 with degrees in finance and information systems.

James Rouchard ’18 summed up the success of the event by adding, “I have no idea where I'm headed in the future, and it's nice to know that if I keep an open mind, life will take me where I'm supposed to go. Going to the event and listening to all of the speakers about their experiences and their paths to success has reassured me that everything will be fine … I'm glad to be a part of Smith and the Global Fellows Program.” Rouchard is an international business major with a minor in Spanish language and business.

The Global Consulting Fellows program is one of 15 special academic programs designed to develop global awareness and appreciation for the world’s business cultures, and cultural competencies for students seeking to work in global consulting, and to provide instruction and practice in business consulting concepts and methods. Students study intercultural issues in global management and learn skills in group research and consulting practices. 

APPLICATIONS ARE NOW BEING ACCEPTED FOR THE 2017-2018 GLOBAL CONSULTING FELLOWS PROGRAM.  

Students in one of the Smith School’s many one-year Fellows programs join a cohort of like-minded peers to engage in an intense study of a specific area of business, ranging from major-specific topics such as finance and supply chain to general interests such as sport management or global consulting.

Out-of-the-classroom and reality-based learning experiences are at the forefront of the Fellows programs. Whether through special speakers, workshops, site visits, case competitions, or networking events with corporate partners and Smith alumni, students gain practical insights into the business community. 

Small class sizes in reserved Fellows sections of business courses are a hallmark of all Fellows programs, facilitating strong working relationships among Fellows students and the faculty who advise and teach in the programs. Students engage, explore and experience the Smith Community through Fellows!

For more information on the 15 unique Fellows Programs available, go to: Smith Fellows.

For more information about the undergraduate program at Smith, visit: http://www.rhsmith.umd.edu/undergrad. 

- Claudia Donnelly, Smith Undergraduate Program