Real-World Learning

Students 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. View the class web page by clicking here.

The MBA program at KU is unique in providing its students with dual learning tracks: an academic track to learn the models and theories which are central to broad understanding of the discipline and an experiential learning track which enables the students, in a team environment, to apply those acquired skills to solving a major business challenge in the marketplace. Not only do students gain real world experience and a terrific resume building event, but students in the Jayhawk Consulting program have first opportunity for potential client employment opportunities.

In the consulting program 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. This program uses advanced entrepreneurial problem solving techniques to commercialize university sources technologies. The skills developed in this course are very useful for employees in larger corporations that also must be entrepreneurial. New Venture Creation is a part of the Entrepreneurship and Innovation concentrations, supported by KU Entrepreneurship Programs.

In September 2008, 13 KU MBAs visited several major firms and offices in Dallas, Texas.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 – In September 2008, 13 KU MBAs visited several major firms and offices in Dallas, Texas. Via connections through KU alums, the MBA students spent time with executives at Sabre Holdings (Travelocity) in Southlake, Texas, and the Merrill Lynch Private Bank in Dallas. Students also met executives at 1st Global, and BNSF Railroad in Fort Worth.
• 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.

Employers 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:

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Seven teams of four 1st year KU MBAs participated in a business case competition sponsored by Frightquote.com. The CEO presented an issue of current importance to the company on Wednesday January 14 and the MBA teams presented their analyses and recommendation on Friday, January 16. The presentations were at the Company headquarters before three judges form the company and one KU professor. This is an annual event which gives KU MBAs an opportunity to apply what they have been learning in classes to a current real business issue.

In the 2008-09 academic year, KU teams will participate in several case competitions including:

• 5th Annual KU MBA Business Case Competition on January 13th & 15th, 2010. 
• Net Impact Case Competition Beginning November 18, 2009

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 of 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 Mr. Buffett for an exclusive group meeting.  On November 20th of 2009, a group of MBA students will have such an opportunity.