News Releases

MBA students network in Dallas

Monday, January 5, 2009

Last fall, 13 MBA students travelled to Dallas for a personal tour of several companies led by KU Business alumni. Students visited 1st Global, Merrill Lynch, Sabre Holdings and BNSF.

Chuck Krider, KU MBA Academic Director, said the trip helped students consider jobs outside the Kansas City area and it served students in two ways: "first, to assist MBAs in their job searches by getting information about these companies and establishing relationships with employersÉ and second to acquaint major employers with the MBA program at KU."

Bradley Petzold, MBA student, said he was able to make connections at Sabre Holdings, which includes Travelocity, Sabre Travel Network and Sabre Airline Solutions.

"It was a surprise to see a company that was so passionate about being environmentally friendly and socially responsible," Petzold said.

Mike Thompson, former Regional Marketing Director of Merrill Lynch, KU alumnus and School of Business board member, set up a meeting for the students with the Managing Director at Merrill Lynch. He also arranged for each student to spend one-on-one time with two private bankers to learn about their practice, how they conduct it and how they started.

"It's an opportunity not many people have, to engage in real-life activities and to sit face-to-face in a pretty intimate environment to speak with professionals," Thompson said.

Tony Batman, CEO and President of 1st Global, KU Business alumnus and board member, hosted a two-hour discussion with the MBA students about his company, how they hire MBAs and how to have a "successful and joyous" life.

"It was a lot of fun, and I think I got more out of it than the students," Batman said. "Their questions were very sophisticated. I was very impressed with the critical thinking skills of the students who came."

Batman said his company visits KU every year to recruit MBAs to 1st Global. "I have a great lifeÉa lot of that is due to the University of Kansas, and as I get older and have more ability to help, I want to do that."

Other KU alumni who visited with students in Dallas included Sam Gilliland, CEO of Sabre Holdings and an engineering graduate, and Paul Bischler, Vice President and Controller of BNSF and a School of Business MBA.

If you would like to host KU graduate students in your city, please contact Chuck Krider, MBA Academic Director at 785-864-7543 or ckrider@ku.edu.

MBA students and advisors pictured above from L to R: Nick Arthachinda, Chuck Krider, Ashley DeMond, Luke Beuerlein, Rachel Magario, Shiloh Solomon, Dave Byrd-Stadler, Richard Smith, Brad Petzold, Jochen Mayer, Erin Gfeller, Scott Mitchell, Bo Donora, Nick Holmes, Allison Swain and Lucas Kempke.