New web feature: Get course previews straight from professors
Click on the picture to view a sample video!
Terrified of Finance class? Want to know what goes on in Ops before you enroll in the course? Massey is here for you! We are in the process of posting course preview videos that enable you to learn about the class straight from the professor. Think about this as basically the video version of a course catalog.
Click on these two-minute interviews to learn the basics about each class, including purpose, content, format, lecture style and major projects. We will add more videos as the year unfolds, so keep checking back to view new additions. A sample video for Dr. Amy Crook's MGT 6650 (Organizational Behavior and Management) appears to your right.
Get sophisticated! Massey offers professional photography session
What does your online image say about you?
CNN reports that upwards of 70% of US business managers have chosen not to hire a potential job candidate based on unflattering images of the candidate online. Don't let this happen to you!
All Massey Graduate Students are invited to attend a professional photography session April 16-17 from 4:30-6 p.m. Sessions will be on a first-come, first-served basis. For $35, payable by cash or check, you will receive a disc with edited headshots for your own use online, in business cards, resumes, etc.
Come dressed to impress in your best suit and tie!
Specific location details to follow. Please RSVP to mgcmacc@gmail.com by April 12 so that we may estimate how many people to expect.
Massey classes partner with multinational manufacturer
The Spring 2013 Corporate Accounting and Management of Technology classes joined to conduct a “real-world” project for Fiberweb Plc., a UK based organization. Fiberweb is a multi-national manufacturer of a wide range of nonwoven fabrics and products for hygiene and cleaning, medical, industrial and technical applications. Fiberweb’s largest US location is 70 Old Hickory Blvd, Nashville, TN.
Fiberweb is implementing a global ERP with the Old Hickory location tapped to lead the initial implementation. The company would like to develop an understanding of how the ERP might impact its US operations.
The scope of class project was to develop an understanding of where the company is today and then how an ERP could help or hinder its operations. The first aspect developed key financial measures and compared these to a provided peer group. A benchmark was developed and was based on key financial measures.
The project also explored expected benefits and how these would improve Fiberweb’s benchmarks and overall operations. However, any new technology comes with risk which can impact the benefits so a risk analysis was also performed.
The classes presented their findings and recommendations to the Fiberweb executives on Monday, March 18th.
Massey announces 2014 study abroad destinations
The Massey School is pleased to announce its 2014 international trip locations! PMBA and MACC groups will have the option of traveling to three continents -- South America, Europe and Asia. Massey researched and decided upon three of the four international destinations, while students selected the fourth destination based on a vote completed last week.
The program will make a return trip to Beijing, which has served as a dependable destination in past years. China's capital city since 352 AD, Beijing is at the heart of the nation's transition into a global economic powerhouse. As China's Communist government relaxes economic regulations, Beijing continues to earn the international spotlight, both as an economic juggernaut and a cultural capital.
Almost every multinational corporation has an office here. In recent years, Beijing has grown tremendously in the financial sector. There are over 750 financial firms within the city that have generated close to 14 percent of its $150 billion GDP. Beijing is also rapidly expanding in other business areas, including venture capital, information technology, and pharmaceutical sectors.
Massey will visit two Olympic cities next year. In addition to Beijing, the program 
will take students to Rio de Janeiro. The 2014 Summer Olympics host is a beautiful, exciting and charming city. But beyond its sheer physical beauty, Rio is a business town. Its 12 million inhabitants make it Brazil's second largest metropolitan area (topped only by eternal rival São Paulo). In addition to tourism, the nation's increasingly powerful energy sector is focused in Rio, which is home to integrated producer Petrobras and dozens of oil service companies.
A new destination will delight students in 2014. Milan, Italy will host Massey students for the first time. Italy's second-largest city, Milan serves as the country's economic capital. The metropolis is home not only to magnificent cathedrals and The Last Supper painting, but also to Italy's stock exchange. A world fashion and design mecca, Milan is also diverse -- more than one-sixth of its population is foreign-born. Students will get a chance to take in Milan's rich culture and delve into its thriving business climate.
And (drum roll please!), following a vote of current students, the fourth destination will be Istanbul, Turkey, which was a narrow winner in popularity over New Delhi, India, which will serve as a back-up location in case any political or logistical problems interfere with the Istanbul plans. Massey students last visited Turkey in 2010, and it turned out be a very popular destination for study abroad. Because of its strategic location between Europe and Asia, Istanbul has played a key role in the history of the world since the emperor Constantine made it the capital of the eastern Roman Empire in the year 330 and named it Constantinople.
With its network of developed infrastructure and a globally competitive work force, Turkey has become a geo-strategic base for international business. A rapidly growing emerging market of 72 million people, over half of whom are under the age of 28, makes the country today one of the key trading partners of the United States. Turkey is the world's 15th largest economy, and it is predicted that Turkey will be one of the world's 10 largest economies by 2050. Turkey is a large emerging market and, with an average growth rate of 6.7 percent, recorded the some of the highest growth rates in the OECD between 2002-2007.
And of course, Accelerated MBA students will once again travel in May 2014 to Stellenbosch University in Cape Town, South Africa, while Healthcare MBA students will be traveling to two European destinations in May of 2014. Those cities will be announced shortly.
Executive Education event: How to turn conflict into creativity
Does workplace conflict prevent you for maximizing the potential of your personnel? Do you dread confrontation with your colleagues? Belmont's Center for Executive Education presents a one-day event aimed at turning conflict situations into creative problem-solving conversations -- Transforming Conflict into Creativity.
This one–day workshop equips participants with the “Owner’s Manual” for transforming everyday workplace conflict in to creative problem-solving and improved results. This unique program will equip you with mindsets and approaches that go beyond the typical tips and tools for “managing” or “mediating” conflict. It’s much more than that.
Who would benefit from this program? Leaders, managers, and professionals who would like to experience improved working relationships and improved results.
When does it take place? The event will be held March 19 from 7:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. 
What knowledge will I gain?
- Learn a 4-Step Process to achieve consistent results – no matter what the challenge or situation
- Transform conflict to creativity in real time in a manner that strengthens relationships
- Identify and address fundamental human needs
- Develop the skills to recognize and use emotions as a guide to meeting individual and organizational needs
- Harness the power of curiosity
- Embrace the power of choice for personal empowerment and accountability
- Learn to create respect in any situation to establish a sense of emotional and psychological safety.
One-day program focuses on coaching in the workplace
Sometimes it's hard to take advantage of teachable moments in the workplace, whether you're a senior manager or a front-line employee. The Center for Executive Education presents an event aimed at teaching the tools and approaches needed to conduct highly effective coaching conversations whenever and wherever learning opportunities arise.
Coaching in the Moment, a one-day event held April 3, will teach participants to:
- Recognize coachable moments
- Successfully conduct coaching conversations in day-to-day interactions
- Integrate coaching approaches into their leadership style
- Engage others in finding their own paths forward
Everyone can benefit from learning how to use coaching approaches in their day-to-day interactions. This workshop is well received at all levels of the organization. Whether your senior managers could create higher levels of engagement using coaching approaches, or your first line supervisors would be more effective taking a coaching approach to interpersonal challenges, Coaching in the Moment improves the capabilities of your people to integrate coaching into their work.
If you're interested in the event, you can find more details here. You can RSVP here.
Our 2013 rearview mirror and windshield
Article written by Dr. Joe Alexander, Associate Dean of the Massey School
Well, 2013 is already well underway, and I thought I would take this opportunity to update you on some of the latest events and announcements for The Massey School for this current spring term. Some of these you may well be aware of already, but in my discussions with both students and alumni, it is clear that there is generally a LOT more going on here in the school than what most are aware of.
Looking Back on 2012
- Voted the #1 MBA program in Nashville in the Nashville Scene Magazine's reader's poll. Vanderbilt's Owen School finished #2. Thanks so much to our alumni who felt strongly enough to put us in this top spot!
- Recognized as a "Best Business School for 2013" by U.S.News & World Report.
- Recognized for the eighth straight year as a "Best Business School" by the Princeton Review.
- Graduated a record number of MBA and MACC students for the year (138), far exceeding the previous record of 120 in 2011.
- Hired three new graduate business faculty from doctoral programs at Rice University, the University of Mississippi, and the University of Tennessee, respectively.
- Launched our brand new Massey Graduate School of Business website.
- Completed study-abroad learning programs in Amsterdam, Barcelona, Brussels, Cape Town, Dubai, Paris, Prague, Santiago, and Singapore.
Looking Ahead for 2013
- Continuing the launch of our brand new MBA for Healthcare Professionals, which includes the appointment of Dr. Harry Jacobson (former CEO, Vanderbilt University Medical Center) as our 2013 Executive-in-Residence; also hired Dr. David Wyant as a new faculty member for teaching healthcare finance and informatics in this innovative program.
- Offering our first new Six Sigma Black Belt certification program for existing MBA and MACC students (in partnership with our Belmont Center for Executive Education).
- Offering a brand new MBA elective in Global Supply Chain Management (taught by Dr. Dennis Chen).
- Announcing our international study abroad rotation for 2014, which includes Beijing, Cape Town, Milan, and Rio de Janeiro, in addition to our Normandy Business School partnership destinations in Europe. Stay tuned for a more detailed announcement of these upcoming destinations in the next eLeader.
- And finally, last week we launched our new Supply Chain University program in partnership with MedAssets. Sixteen healthcare professionals from across the U.S. joined us here on campus for this first cohort event.
As you can see, we haven't been content to sit on our laurels from last year's successes. And there are a number of additional items I will be sharing over the next 3-4 months as well that I think will continue to make you proud of your alma mater. To that end, please go ahead and reserve the evening of October 4th on your calendars for 2013. That is the evening of our next Massey Distinguished Graduate Award event for 2013. Additional details to follow on that program in the coming months.
2013 international trip destinations span three continents
Think you're a frequent flyer? Belmont students will log a total of 55,580 miles in 2013. That's enough to wrap around the world twice!
This year's Massey travel calendar features three continents and nine cities in five trips. Students will journey to a diverse array of destinations with rich histories and unique business climates.
March 2-9: Warsaw/Krakow, Poland
Poland has made a resurgence since its near destruction in World War II. Dr. Jeffrey Overby will take students to an emerging business leader in Eastern Europe. "We chose to visit Poland because this year because the country has been recognized as one of the top new countries for business in the world," Overby said. "In fact, it was the only country in Europe to avoid a decline in GDP during the global recession of 2009."
The group will visit businesses and cultural sites in Warsaw and Krakow along with a sobering but meaningful tour of Auschwitz.
May 4-20: Cape Town, South Africa
The Accelerated MBA students make their annual pilgrimage to South Africa this spring. Students will enjoy a top-notch course taught by Stellenbosch University, "an outstanding two-week program that includes instruction by their international business faculty," says 
Associate Dean Joe Alexander. The AMBAs will visit landmarks like Table Mountain and Robben Island (the prison that held Nelson Mandela). They'll even get to dive with sharks.
June 2-28: Know Europe
There are few adventures more compelling than a summer in Europe. Know Europe travelers will hit Barcelona, Paris, Amsterdam and Brussels, immersing themselves in the European culture and business climate. The trip earns credit for three courses -- six total hours.
August 10-17: Buenos Aires, Argentina
Buenos Aires has won over visitors for decades with its European flair and diverse culture. As Argentina's economy grows, the city has 
become an appealing destination for business travelers.
"South America is emerging as a market that offerings many opportunities," says trip leader Jeff Cornwall. "Of particular note about Argentina is a strong rise in entrepreneurial venture formation over the past few years. About 20% of the younger population in Argentina are involved in start-up activities."
Students will explore this growing business environment with site visits and cultural excursions.
October 26-November 2: Munich, Germany
Bavaria's festive culture has long endeared it to the world, and Massey students will savor an October trip to Germany's cultural capital. Munich is a world leader in finance and publishing; it also features an eclectic blend of innovation and tradition.
Dr. Joe Alexander will lead the trip, which replaced Tel Aviv on the destination list due to instability in Israel.
Spots still remain for the Munich trip. There is also a waiting list for the Argentina trip. If you are interested in traveling to either of these destinations, email melissa.mitchell@belmont.edu.
Power lunch: Getting a job using social media
Did you know that 80% of hiring managers use social media to find talent? At this month's power lunch, we'll discuss how you can boost your profile.
When: Friday, February 8 from 11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Where: Massey Business Center, Room 203A
Who: Joshua Waldman, national speaker and author
Register here for the event. Deadline is February 7. Space is limited, so the first 30 people to sign up will secure a spot.
Massey students invited to exclusive career fair
Massey students are invited to attend a career fair that's limited to a select number of Nashville-area universities. Recruiters from more than 150 employers will be present at the fair, which is Tuesday, February 12 from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. at the Williamson County Agricultural Exposition Park.
The event is free, but you'll have to buy tickets in advance. To request a ticket, email hiremassey@belmont.edu.