Real-World Learning
Real-world learning opportunities are a significant part of the Full-Time MBA program. Divided into categories, each opportunity is specifically designed to provide practical, employer-valued experience. There is no better way to begin a new career.
Applied Portfolio ManagementStudents enrolled in the
Applied Portfolio Management Program (APM) learn the skills necessary to become successful investors by managing an existing stock portfolio. The class is competitive, fast-paced, fun, and an incredible learning experience. More than 100 top executives and Wall Street professionals from all over the United States and other countries have participated in teaching the class.
Student teams serve as independent consultants assigned to address current issues within a major Kansas City-area business. These consulting teams interact with high level executives to analyze and recommend solutions and implementation strategies for their clients. Business Consulting is supported by
KU Entrepreneurship Programs.
Entrepreneurial students are given the opportunity to start their own businesses. From developing business plans, opportunities to compete for venture capital, and leveraging available KU resources, MBA students gain the experience and knowledge necessary for starting their own new ventures. New Venture Creation is a part of the Entrepreneurship and Innovation concentrations, supported by
KU Entrepreneurship Programs.
At various times during the year, the Business Career Services Center organizes multi-day trips to select cities throughout the country. MBA Treks include company tours and meetings with executives designed for students looking to advance their career in a different area of the country. Previous MBA Treks have visited:
- New York - In fall 2007, students visited with senior executives at the New York Stock Exchange, Merrill Lynch, Banc of America Securities, and Wasserstein & Co., a private equity firm.
- Chicago - Students took a three-day trip in September 2007 to the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, and on visits with senior executives at UBS, Morningstar Investments, and Fortress Trading.
- Omaha – Fall 2008. The Omaha trip will include a visit to TD Ameritrade.
- Kansas City – Fall 2008
- Dallas – Fall 2008
- Previous MBA treks have taken KU MBA students to Denver, Colo., and Los Angeles, Calif. in addition to the above cities.
The series of Professional Skills courses is designed to enhance the “softer skills” of business. Professional Skills I is a career-oriented course, centered on resume development and networking opportunities. Presentation Skills is a presentation seminar filled with impromptu and prepared presentations on a variety of topics.
Business Case CompetitionsEmployers look for professionals who can effectively develop and present business solutions all while under intense business pressures. These abilities are not learned in a classroom, but only from experience. And the most supportive atmosphere for gaining these abilities is through competition.
Each spring, KU students participate in various Business Plan Development and MBA Case competitions. While some competitions are hosted at KU, teams travel throughout the country to compete against the nations other great MBA programs. During case competitions, the teams are challenged to analyze a real-life business problem and present a solution to business executives; all within 24 hours. For business plan competitions, teams are challenged to develop the most viable start-up plans for small businesses.
For more information, contact MBA Program Director Charles Krider,
ckrider@ku.edu.
Current case competitions:
On Jan. 10-11, four KU MBA teams competed at the First-year MBA Case Competition held at the North America headquarters of Bayer Animal Health. Bayer’s marketing research director presented background information and fielded questions as students examined the case problem: research and develop a marketing strategy for the Advantage Flea and Tick line of products. Students had one day to build a strategy before presenting their research and recommendations to Bayer senior executives. Competition awards included:
- Best Overall and Best Case Analysis: Greg Ballenger, Luke Beuerlein, Eric Foss, Cliff Gill
- Best Presentation: Andrew Argetsinger, Paul Gregory, Justin Lueger (Best Presenter), Michael Smithyman
- Best Industry Analysis: Juri Groenland, David Linhardt, Stephanie Ma, Nick Orens
a. In 2007-08 academic year, KU teams participated in a several other case competitions including:
- Thunderbird Sustainable Innovation Case Competition, at Thunderbird School of Global Management in Phoenix, Ariz. First round: Oct. 2007. A major case competition with a top prize of $20,000, the Thunderbird event brought MBA teams from universities across the U.S. The KU chapter of Net Impact coordinates formation of teams for KU MBAs.
- Big 12 Case Competition in Kansas City, Mo., March 14-15, 2008. MBAs from the Big 12 business schools analyzed a live case from Garmin Ltd., and built a marketing strategy for the new Nuvi phone. The case was presented by KU MBA grad Kevin Rauckman, CFO and treasurer of Garmin.
- Neeley MBA Marketing Case Competition (March 29, 2008) at Texas Christian University. KU MBAs joined teams including students from Harvard Business School, the University of California at Berkeley, the University of Indiana, and TCU. Sony Electronics presented the business case, the winner of which received $6,000.
- CIBER International Business Case Competition, at the University of Madison, Wis., April 16-19, 2008. Second-year MBA students from the 30 federally-funded Centers for International Business Education and Research came together to assess a key issue for the Disney Co. The issue: identifying strategies to develop Disney’s next theme park location. KU MBA students competed against MBAs from the following universities: Ohio State University, the University of Connecticut, the University of Maryland, the University of Washington, the University of Wisconsin, Bocconi University (Italy), Chulalongkorn University (Thailand), Copenhagen Business School, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, and Tecnológico de Monterrey (Mexico).
Every year KU MBAs and undergrads are invited to attend the Berkshire Hathaway shareholder meeting in Omaha, Neb. KU was the first university to send its business students to the Berkshire meeting to learn face-to-face from Buffett and business partner Charlie Munger, and now hundreds students from across the world vie for access to the annual meeting. At the meeting, Warren Buffett, Berkshire’s CEO, answers questions from a crowd of business-minded individuals and Berkshire shareholders. In addition, students enrolled in the Securities Analysis, Applied Portfolio Management, or Investment Analysis courses sometimes have the rare opportunity to sit down with Buffett for an exclusive group meeting.
