Smith Welcomes Full-time MBA Class of 2009

Members of the new full-time MBA class kicked off their Smith School experience Tuesday, Aug. 14, 2007, the first day of a weeklong orientation to introduce them to Smith and the programs they'll be immersed in for the next two years, as well as provide a chance to meet faculty, staff and each other.

The class of 2009 consists of about 130 students38 percent female, 36 percent international. Fourteen students are already Terps, with undergraduate degrees from UM. John Bullock, second-year MBA student and MBA Association vice president, welcomed students, saying, "Over the next two years the level of self discovery you will experience will blow your mind."

Smith alum Albert Lee, MBA 98, a senior vice president at Friedman Billings Ramsey Capital Markets, welcomed students and was enthusiastic about the education he received from Smith and talked candidly about his experiences. He encouraged students to take advantage of the opportunities and resources Smith has to offer while in school and after graduating by staying active as alumni. He was adamant that students create networks with classmates, faculty, alumni and others because those networks open doors to careers and other opportunities. He also pushed students to start looking out for the people that come after you, and continue to stay involved with the Smith School after graduation and turn to Smith students as a resource when looking to hire talent in the future.

Lee told students to enjoy the program and reminded them to use their business cards pass them out to everyone to build their networks. Focus on what you want, and what you want to get out of the program, he said. Go out there and be aggressive. He told students they had made the right choice in coming to Smith for their MBA. You have to go in with confidence that you, the Smith School and this program provide the skills and knowledge to compete and excel, he said.

On Wednesday, students had the unique experience of evaluating their personal health and wellness strategy with health consultant and Smith executive fellow Vik Khanna. Khanna is the founder and CEO of Galileo Health Partners, LLC, and an Exercise Specialist, certified by the American College of Sports Medicine and a physician assistant.

Khanna said that people who are regularly physically active have a better quality of life and told students that how they care for themselves over the next two years will play a big roll in their MBA experience. He challenged students to go to the university's Campus Recreation Center every morning before class, and to put "the gym" on their calendar six days a week. Khanna said, "Everybody here needs to be convinced to lift weights by the time you leave here today. It's all about mitigating risk. Nothing prevents disease, but you can maximize the quality and quantity of life."

Students were at the edge of their seats for two hours straight, asking question after question of the fitness guru "Should I take multi-vitamins?" (Yes, if you don't think you're getting enough nutrients in your diet just make sure the bottle is stamped USP: United States Pharmacopeia.) "Should I exercise or lift weights first?" (Lift first, then aerobics, and stretch at the end! Warm-up doesn't mean stretching.) One of the biggest surprises for many members of the audience was Khanna's recommendation to eat red meat only two to three times a month because of the correlation to heart disease and colon cancer.

Two days were filled with an overview of career management skills and assessment. "I was surprised by the sheer volume and depth of the career resources," said first-year Adam Weiner. "I expected the Smith School to offer many services in this area, but I was surprised by how many different avenues they have for students to use. It seemed a little overwhelming at first since there are so many options, but as they various representatives presented the resources to us, it became more clear and I was better able to understand how it could help me going forward."

On Friday, Adi Padha, MBA '98, managing director and information management practice leader in the Public Services Solutions Group at Bearing Point, Management & Technology Consultants, addressed students.

"I found Adi Padha's keynote address absolutely riveting," said first-year Pete Baird. "He barely touched upon his career, and instead focused on his experiences at Smith and his life journey. He was inspirational on every level, had a great sense of perspective and it was clear that he was really speaking from the heart."

Weiner agreed, saying, "Mr. Padha is a great storyteller and was really able to engage myself and the group at large with his stories and wisdom. He shared a lot of his personal experience, opened himself up to us, and gave us some great pointers in ways to use what he's learned in our own lives."

The week wasn't all lectures, though. Students received Blackberry handheld devices, attended happy hours, cookouts, a Washington Nationals baseball game, and participated in team-building exercises on the ropes course at the UM Campus Recreation Center. A very competitive UM scavenger hunt led student teams around campus, with the winning team returning back to Van Munching Hall out of breath and in record time.

"I thought the best part of orientation were the MBA team building activities at the Campus Recreation Center and the scavenger hunt," said Weiner. "They were interactive -- each of us were active participants on the climbing courses and while trekking around campus. It was a great way for us to be involved with each other, in a non-classroom situation. The two activities fostered a team atmosphere where we were all encouraging each other in a sort of friendly competition."

During the final day of orientation students traveled by bus to Fort Washington Park where they spent time cleaning up the park, which is a historic fort and part of the National Park Service situated in Maryland along the Potomac River.

▓ Alissa Arford-Leyl and Carrie Handwerker, Office of Marketing Communications