We would like to introduce you to the newest member of the College of Business Administration's Advising Staff, Joey Maman. Joey joined the Student Services Advising Team this January, after serving for the past three years as a member of the college's Events Team. He will now serve as an Academic Adviser for UIC Business graduate  students. Please read below to learn more about Joey!

Favorite Chicago Activities/Places: I’m a thrill junkie and a nerd! I enjoy:

• Escape rooms: Escape Artistry is a great company
• Murder mystery dinners
• Theme parks and water parks. I make sure to go to Six Flags at least once a year
  • Outside of Chicago
    • I have tried zorbing, flyboarding, scuba diving, etc. If you haven’t heard of these extreme sports, look them up!
    • I pick my vacations on the proximity to the theme park and purposefully selected a hotel for the lazy river.
• Playing in a recreational kickball league (Stonewall Sports, Fall and Spring) and volleyball league (Chicago Metropolitan Sports Association,Summer)

Favorite Chicago Restaurants:

• Chicago Pizza and Oven Grinder (featured on Food Network!)
• Gorilla Sushi Bar on Clark. My favorite local sushi place! They’re affordable and put extra sauce on your sushi.
• Greek Islands (mainly for the saganaki!)
• Demera Restaurant. The spongy bread (injera) is my favorite part!

Hometown: Lincolnwood, IL

Tell us a little about your personal/professional background?

I received my MA in Education and Human Development with a concentration in Higher Education Administration from George Washington University. As an undergraduate student, at Illinois State University, I was very active and involved with the campus. I had a double major in Political Science and Theater Studies with a concentration in Directing.

During the past three years, I have served in the Office of the Dean as a Program/Student Adviser as a member of the Events Team. In this new role, I will continue to serve as the liaison for the 20+ UIC Business student organizations and the Center for Student Involvement and support the Business Ambassador Program in addition to advising students in the MSF and MSM programs.

How did you end up working at UIC? After graduate school in Washington, DC, I moved back to Chicago to be closer to family. While my journey could have taken me anywhere in the world, I am thankful UIC found me. By that, I mean that I am fortunate that someone from HR and the hiring manager picked up my resume as I didn’t have a network established with UIC at the time. When people say networking is crucial to obtaining your next position, they aren’t joking. I am thankful to this day that someone gave me an opportunity because ever since working here, I really enjoy working with our passionate and driven UIC Business students.  

What are you most excited to do in your new role? I’m excited to watch our students grow from the moment they first enter the university to becoming involved on campus and building experiences that coincides with what they are studying, and ultimately watching their happiest moments as they cross the stage at Commencement.

What critical information should students know about? GET INVOLVED! As a student, it’s important that you value succeeding within your courses. It is equally as important to get involved in a co-curricular activity that will help you get to the next level of your career. Below are some examples:

• Join and lead a student organization… or create one
• Study abroad
• Volunteer and be civically engaged
  • Work with professional and non-profit organizations that are within your field.
• Take on an internship or shadow someone for a day
• Find a mentor
• Guide peers that are new to the college

As the first in his family to receive a college education, Don Hermanek (BS Marketing ’70) chose to attend The University of Illinois at Chicago for his undergraduate degree because he could commute, receive an affordable education, and work full-time at Goodyear Tires in Berwyn, IL to help pay for it. Little did Hermanek know how beneficial his UIC Business education would be. 

Hermanek credits his UIC education with providing a strong foundation that extended beyond business theory. It gave him a solid understanding of “real world” business and prepared him for professional success.

Additional fun facts about Don: 

• Don’s favorite meal near campus was on Taylor Street. First he would stop for a Big Al's Italian Beef with sweet and hot peppers, extra wet and would wash it down with a Mario’s Lemonade.
• Don loves being on the water in his free time, whether it is fishing or boating on the Gulf of Mexico in Florida.
• Don was the 2017 Keynote Speaker at UIC Business Commencement.

With more than 35 years of leadership experience in sales and expertise in the insurance and automotive industries, Hermanek currently serves as the Senior Vice President and Chief Client Officer of Insurance Auto Auctions, Inc. 

Hermanek was fortunate enough to sit on the Dean’s Advisory Board as a student and had the opportunity to share his personal insights about campus life, the college, and the university. Hermanek's experience as a student and his interactions with many influential faculty members have motivated Don to give back to UIC Business in many ways.

As a student, Don's favorite professor was Professor Fred McLimore, the founder of the Executives in the Classroom course.  Professor McLimore created this program for students to gain an exceptional learning experience and build strong relationships in the business community. This program has continued on through the leadership of Clinical Associate Professor Michael Miller and is a program Don is very passionate about supporting. 

As Hermanek stated, “The way this course brings senior business leaders in touch with students to give them firsthand knowledge of what it takes to run a business, contribute to the business world, and how to be successful, I believe makes it one of the most innovative programs at any business school in America today.” Hermanek has volunteered his time speaking with students about how to prepare for the business world, how they can stand apart from their peers, and to provide them with career advice. 

In May 2017, Hermanek decided, with the motivation from friend and colleague Clinical Associate Professor Michael Miller, to create a lasting impact and support students by establishing the Hermanek Family Endowed Scholarship at UIC Business. This scholarship supports first generation undergraduate business students and provides them with the opportunity to receive a top-notch education while relieving some of their financial burden. This was the first academic year was the first year Don's scholarship was awarded, and the recipient, Kevin Nhan ’21, is a grateful accounting major from Chicago. Nhan spends his free time tutoring children off campus. Financial support from alumni and donors like Don is essential to attract and retain UIC Business students, build out critical programs, and provide a foundation for future business leaders. 

Acknowledging his passion for and support of UIC Business and its students, and in honor of his upcoming retirement, Hermanek's company recently made a significant gift, adding to his scholarship fund and contributing to key programs for the benefit of UIC Business students. Don is a cherished friend and involved supporter of UIC Business, and we are grateful for his ongoing commitment to the college’s mission of transforming student potential into success.

The 2018 Management Leadership Association and Target Case Competition took place at the end of last month, with 11 teams presenting to a panel of Target staff members.  Each year, Target partners with the UIC Business Career Center to host this program that asks students to develop and present solutions to a unique challenge facing the company.

This year’s case study prompt presented teams with the opportunity to directly apply their lived experiences as college students. The retailer gave students the challenge of addressing the needs of college students and their families during Back to College (BTC) season. In particular, the case study tasked teams with creating an innovative BTC experience that incorporated website, mobile apps and brick-and mortar retail experiences.

The winning competitors, Team Bersaglio, made up of Marjie Halko (Marketing, Sophomore), Wende Leverton (Management, Junior), Alanna Peccia (Psychology, Business Administration Minor, Junior) impressed the panel of Target judges with their “Target Move-In” proposal.

“Our goal, as the e-commerce bulls-eye for Back to College shopping, was creating and offering a unique and special value compared to Target's competitors. We did this by tackling the hassle of move-in day,” Team Bersaglio responded, describing their plan.

The team selected five universities across the United States where students living on campus would receive free shipping when placing orders through a Target college gift registry. On move-in days, the students would then pick up purchases from a designated “Target Zone” on campus and receive customer service support and delivery assistance carrying packages to the dorms.

“This eliminates the hassle, for the college student, of storing items over the summer in preparation for college. Also, hauling all the items in a car to campus can be stressful,” Team Bersaglio said.

Overall, the judges were inspired by the level of competition.

“The material, the presenters, and the whole package has been elevated from year to year. It becomes more and more impressive with the different out of the box ideas that they think of,” noted panelist Jelena Leticia, Target Human Resources Business Partner.  The teams were also able to incorporate relevant personal knowledge in their presentations.

“For us, it’s maybe been a little bit since we were on campus or going to school. Their personal experience is really evident in what they present. I think that’s important too, to put ourselves in their shoes as we think about how to cater to that guest,” said Mike Deyle, Target District Team Leader.  Throughout the day of competition, UIC Business students integrated thorough background research into their submissions that impressed the judges.

Rebeca Garcia, Target Store Team Leader observed, “I’ve liked seeing some of the statistics and research they’ve brought in.  I’m thinking ‘oh yeah, that is intriguing, why haven’t we thought about that?’ ”

And for all the competitors, the Target team suggested the experience of grappling with tough challenges and forming innovative solutions will continue to be valuable in the future.

“Never stop innovating and continue to think outside the box in whatever area they go into,” Leticia said, “you always want to be relevant, you always want to try different things and that will help any company going forward.”

The 12th annual MIT Sloan Sports Analytics Conference took place this past February, providing a forum for industry professionals and students to discuss the expanding role of analytics in the global sports industry. The MIT Sloan School of Management is dedicated to encouraging growth and  innovation in this space, and the conference enriches opportunities for learning about the sports business world. UIC Business’ own Kaushik Kompella, a graduate student currently pursuing a dual degree in Business Analytics and Finance, attended this conference in hopes of expanding his knowledge. He competed and participated in various workshops and attended sessions with high profile speakers, such as former President Barack Obama. We caught up with Kaushik to talk with him about his experience at the conference:

I always loved to solve puzzles and was also inclined towards stats and data. This made me pursue Business Analytics at UIC. I am also passionate about sports and was involved in close to 15-20 sports. I soon realized analytics in the sports industry will be very useful and create a revolution similar to other fields (like healthcare, finance, etc). Later, I did some research and learned that every year MIT conducts the world's largest Sports Analytics Conference, the MIT Sloan Sports Analytics Conference. I highly recommend this conference to any individual who is fascinated either with sports or data analytics.

To be honest, every part of the conference was worth it and fun. I enjoyed every bit of it, as it was a great learning experience. My selection to the Hackathon was the initial accomplishment and a happy moment for me. However, in spite of all this, I would pick Barack Obama’s speech to be my favorite part of the conference. It was really amazing to listen to him speak live! He shared some golden words about how a good leader can use the right data from the right sources, which will stick with me forever.

The theme for this year’s Hackathon was “Storytelling with Data.” Each Hackathon participant was challenged to develop a story that could be used in the preparation of a matchup between the Golden State Warriors and the Houston Rockets. I got shortlisted and was able to participate as well as present.

I used NBA Advanced Stats in the form of optical tracking data collected by Second Spectrum. This was provided to participants by ESPN. I developed an analysis to explore player gravity, the impact of player movement on offensive efficiency, impact of defensive movement on offensive efficiency, and identification of efficient plays/defensive tactics.

On the day of the Hackathon, participants received access to approximately 15 games of optical tracking data that included five games for both the Warriors and Rockets. We could augment the optical data with other data sources, but the optical data was the center of the story, so it was recommended to focus on stories that cannot be told without the spatial data.

We were given 4 hours to work on the data, build applicable statistical and machine learning models and come up with our analysis. At the conclusion of the Hackathon, all participants were given a brief opportunity to present their submitted presentation. The biggest challenge was that each presentation should be no longer than 90 seconds!

I believe in this competitive age, analytics becomes crucial for most sports! This is especially true for team-oriented sports. Sports leagues like the NBA (basketball), NFL (American football), NHL (ice hockey), MLB (baseball) are already implementing/incorporating a lot of analytics to drive their strategies and also for player sourcing.

I feel analytics would play a major role and create an impact in cricket. At present, analytics and data science has not been exploited or used extensively in cricket even though there is a lot of scope. So definitely, cricket analytics would be the next big thing in the sports industry.

Well, analytics is something new for most of the industries, especially in sports. It also gets difficult because sports has an additional characteristic of emotional quotient attached to it. It may take few more years to implement in a full-fledged manner in all the sports at all the levels. However, it has penetrated into few sports at the highest level like basketball. A lot of coaches are relying on analytics to strategize their plans depending on the game needs.

Currently, usage of analytics in basketball, football, and other sports is producing great results, which shows that it is sitting in a strong position and heading in the positive direction. This will help to boost analytics into various other sports like Golf, Cricket, Swimming, Shooting, etc and create a larger market. Therefore the future of sports analytics is in safe hands.

View Kaushik’s Hackathon presentation here.

Thank you to Kaushik for his insight! For more information on The MIT Sloan Sports Analytics Conference, visit sloansportsconference.com

by Jasur Rasulov

A premiere benefit of the UIC Business Scholars Program is the Speaker Series.  Every semester, several well-established business professionals—most of them UIC alumni—visit UIC Business to deliver speeches on a variety of topics, exclusively for Business Scholars.

Although the specific details of every speech vary, the common underlying themes surround the topics of leadership, determination, paths to professional success, personal branding, and dealing with setbacks. 

The speakers appeal to scholars across majors and a range of professional interests, representing backgrounds in varied industries and diversity in career roles. The different perspectives the speakers bring ensure that the interests of all students are addressed, and everybody has a meaningful opportunity to learn.

The first unique element of the Speaker Series is that the industries the speakers represent are not limited to only a handful of well-known sectors, but instead are extremely wide-ranging. For instance, over the course of the last two semesters, scholars have had an opportunity to benefit from the speeches of industry leaders in banking & financial Services, supply chain management, technology, restaurant business, healthcare, and the public sector. Companies represented in the series have included BMO Harris Bank, UPS, Motorola Solutions, McDonald’s, X-Change Financial Assets, Cooper’s Hawk, Tiger Electronics, and many others. This gives students an incredible opportunity to connect directly with the professionals in almost any future career field.

Moreover, diversity with regards to the roles and job titles held by speakers is another appealing feature of the series. We have had speakers from sales, strategic planning, recruitment, digital media, options trading, and many more. This presents a remarkably distinct learning experience for our ambitious scholars, as each student has unique career aspirations.

Scholars often have the opportunity to interact directly with the speakers. For instance, when Stefond Harris, Vice-President of Human Resources for the UPS Supply Chain Group, came to speak, he dedicated his entire presentation to students’ questions, engaging in conversation. Another example was the keynote speech delivered by Senior Finance Director of Global Managed & Support Services at Motorola Solutions, Tim Jones. He used, for the first time in the Speaker Series, Poll Everywhere, an audience response gathering tool. This technology made the presentation interactive, as Jones asked a number of questions along the way, and related students’ answers to the topics he was covering in his talk. 

In summary, the Speaker Series is a motivating and beneficial aspect of the Business Scholars Program, contributing directly to the professional development of students. By dedicating two hours per week to connect with experienced industry leaders, students receive practical insights on career success. In addition, the speakers often mention how much potential they see in scholars, and express their confidence in our future. Overall, this is another bright example of how UIC Business embodies the concept of “Chicago’s Living Classroom,” and prepares high-achieving students for professional success. 

Jasur Rasulov is a UIC Business Scholar in his junior year, studying towards a Bachelor of Science in Marketing with Finance and Business Analytics minors. In the summer of 2017, Jasur was a treasury sales and services officer intern at the BMO Harris Bank’s Treasury and Payment Solutions group.  At UIC, he works as a service management analyst with ACCC and a student coordinator in the Business Scholars program. He serves as vice president of the UIC Political Science Student Union.

Kera Beskin is a graduate student and researcher here at UIC. She grew up in rural Minnesota and is graduating this May with her dual master’s of public health and master’s of business administration at UIC. The president of the Public Health Student Association and currently working as a research assistant at the UIC School of Public Health, she has also served as a Business Ambassador and will deliver this year’s graduate speech at the UIC Business commencement. We caught up with Beskin as her time at UIC comes to a close.

Q: Why did you choose UIC Business? 

I have lived in Chicago since 2012. When I was selecting graduate programs UIC stood out because of their dual MPH/MBA program. I heard amazing things about the professors and classes. Many of the people in the healthcare world I was networking with had degrees from UIC. In-state tuition was just the icing on the cake!

Q: What elective class would you recommend and why? 

Here are my top three:

• Strategic Management with Dr. Perkins - Dr. Perkins worked for Proctor and Gamble, focusing on marketing their products internationally. This class has a real international focus. It tackles the question of how to best use the market and non-market forces around the world to not only create good products but help countries' economies in the process.
• Negotiations with Dr. Brickson - Negotiation is a life skill that everyone should have. This is a highly interactive class where you role play different negotiations: job offers, business transactions, large purchases, and disputes.
• Improv and Leadership - This class focuses on improving your networking and interviewing skills, which is super helpful, especially in your last semester.    

Q: What is an article or book that you’ve read recently that expanded the way you think about your career? Brag: The Art of Tooting Your Own Horn Without Blowing It is a book that focuses on the fact that just doing the work and letting your numbers speak for themselves is not enough. You need to be able to highlight your accomplishments in a professional way (but not over the top) if you want to get promoted. 

Q: What will you miss most about campus? Personally, I will miss the number of professional development opportunities on campus! One of the best aspects of graduate school is the constant stream of internships, volunteer, and training opportunities that are not as prevalent in the workforce.

Q: What is UIC Business's best kept secret? Take advantage of things outside the classroom since that is part of the education you are paying for. Networking events, volunteer consulting opportunities, and study abroad! 

UIC Business is currently seeking motivated students to join the Business Ambassadors. The Business Ambassador Program was developed as part of Dean Mikhail’s mission to activate our brightest student leaders in support of UIC Business outreach opportunities. Responsibilities include staffing Open Houses, conferences and recruiting or alumni events, hosting class shadows, and performing other special functions. Apply here by Friday, May 11 to be considered for an ambassador position.

Congratulations to all the 2018 UIC Business graduates! We’re looking forward to hearing Beskin’s speech at commencement and welcoming a new group of Business Ambassdors in the fall.

Vinita Choradia is graduating in May 2018 as a Finance major with a minor in Management Information Systems. Throughout her time at UIC, she has been involved with the Finance and Investments Group and she has held internships at Exelon Corporation and Ernst & Young. After graduation, Choradia will be starting a full-time position with Ernst & Young. She will be speaking at UIC Business commencement this year as the undergraduate student speaker and talked with the UIC Business Blog about her time on campus:

Q: What's the biggest change to campus since you've been at UIC?  

The biggest change I have witnessed is the increase in involvement from the student body to extracurricular organizations. During my four years at UIC, I have seen so many new student organizations form and existing ones have seen a huge growth in membership. This change has added to the small community feel of UIC while being such a large university. 

Q: What UIC Business elective class would you most recommend?

Hands down my favorite business elective has been BA 420 Professional Presence. I took it spring semester with one of my favorite professors, Kimberly Warner. It is a very interactive class that pushes you to get out of your comfort zone. The best part of this elective is that by the end of it, you will know everyone’s name and will feel like a small group of friends rather than just classmates.

Q: What is your advice for the UIC Business class of 2022 (incoming freshmen)? 

Be your own biggest competitor and challenge yourself. Your time as an undergrad will fly by so fast, and you will want to leave with no regrets. Identify your goals early, so you can start working to achieve them. UIC has so many opportunities, it is just up to you to take it upon yourself to make the most of it. This is your time, so do what makes you happy and helps you grow.

Q: What's UIC Business's best kept secret?

The Business Career Center is no secret, but I still feel like students do not use it enough. The Career Center puts on so many events that I have especially found helpful as an underclassman such as the career fairs, resume reviews, and networking events. I have gotten both of my internships through the Career Center, made some valuable connections, and grown as a professional.

Congratulations to all the 2018 UIC Business graduates. We can’t wait to hear Choradia’s speech at commencement!

Courtney Hickman is a full-time fundraising professional with UIC Business and is graduating in May 2018 from the Master of Science in Marketing program. Hickman is passionate and confident of her skill set in donor relations, capital campaign fundraising, front-line fundraising, brand management, promotions/marketing, and event planning. She will be singing the National Anthem as this year's commencement student singer, and reflected on her time as a UIC student for the UIC Business Blog:

Q: Tell us about a memorable event that you attended on campus.

Being a part-time MSM student, I found that the most memorable and valuable events to attend were the various graduate student happy hours. They were a great opportunity to further engage with my classmates, as well as the various speaker panels that feature UIC Business alumni. These panels, especially hearing from others in your industry, were very inspiring and provided helpful insights into where the marketing industry currently stands.

Q: What UIC Business elective class would you most recommend?

My favorite UIC Business elective was International Business Operations. This class fell into the marketing realm, but it was an opportunity to be in the minds of companies that operate internationally and learn about the various challenges they may face. This course was very hands-on and interactive.

Q: What is UIC Business's best kept secret?

Don’t be afraid to utilize the staff in the library. They are so helpful! When it comes to needing various sources for research papers or even specific software, most computers in the library have the software that you can use without having to download it on your personal laptop.

Q: What is your advice to incoming UIC Business graduate students?

My advice for incoming UIC Business graduate students would be to constantly be curious, ask questions, and keep an open mind. The connections you will make with faculty and colleagues in your program, as well as the content you learn, will help further your business career. Think outside of the box and take elective courses that interest you but might not exactly be in your concentration.

Congratulations to all the 2018 UIC Business graduates. We’re looking forward to hearing Hickman sing at commencement!

William O’Brien, assistant professor of finance, received this year’s Silver Circle Award for the College of Business Administration.  The award, presented since 1966, honors excellence in teaching by UIC faculty, with winners selected by graduating seniors from each college. O’Brien joins the 13 other faculty receiving the 2018 award and will be honored at UIC Business commencement.

O’Brien teaches Introduction to Managerial Finance (FIN 301), the first finance course that students take at the university. With 75-minute-long classes, he has adjusted his teaching style to keep everyone’s interest and attention over the sessions.

“I try to keep my lectures at least somewhat conversational rather than just reading off the slides, when I can, and I attempt to make everyone laugh or change the subject once in a while,” O’Brien says.  Scott Reese, a senior finance major, describes O’Brien’s teaching style as a dynamic blend of lecture and interactive engagement.

“He is able to explain lessons in a manner that every student can understand, but allows us the opportunity to reason out the answer first. He was able to ask us questions that pertained to real world experiences and he also was sure to tell us why and where it mattered in real-world situations. This made the lessons much easier to remember and also made them worth learning in the first place,” Reese explains.

Over time, O’Brien has fine-tuned the course to put more focus on the kinds of skills that will be useful in the jobs many students start upon graduation, including financial analysis using Microsoft Excel as a tool.

Says O’Brien, “The CFO probably won’t ask you to design the optimal capital structure for the firm, but your boss, six levels of management below the CFO, might want you to update and check an Excel report and distribute it to the sales department.” Another former student and a junior finance major, Marlena Szymczak, reflects on these real-world applications from a project assigned as part of the class.

“This project required an analysis of Tesla's financial statements and calculating answers to a few questions. This was a hands-on approach to helping students learn, and I was able to use this project as an example when being interviewed for internships,” Szymczak recalls.

O’Brien has a reputation for being responsive to student comments and investing in the success of his students beyond the classroom. He asks for feedback whenever possible and tries to read the room to adjust the pacing of topics based on how quickly students are absorbing the material.

“Ask a lot of questions, inside and outside of class,” O’Brien advises, “the faculty and advisors are here to help, but they can’t help you if they don’t know who you are.”

Szymczak describes O'Brien as willing to take the time to invest in his students. And while it has been a number of semesters since Reese or Szymczak had class with him, both students have stayed in touch with O’Brien throughout their time at UIC. 

On behalf of UIC Business, congratulations to Assistant Professor O'Brien and thank you for your dedication to teaching students with authenticity and clarity.

Studying abroad is one of the best opportunities presented to college students and Alleia James, upcoming fourth-year finance major and UIC Business Scholar, has seized that opportunity. This summer, Alleia will be studying International Business and European Economics at University of Deusto in Bilbao, Spain and shared with UIC Business how she made it happen.

As a first-generation college student of color who never knew that an opportunity like studying abroad would be possible, I’m glad to share the steps I took to make this dream a reality. I decided to study abroad because I want to experience an entirely different culture, enhance my cross-cultural communication skills, and refine my Spanish speaking and writing skills. Studying abroad will allow me to broaden my educational and career goals on a global scale and return to UIC to stride into my senior year. Studying abroad will give me a competitive advantage in the business world because fewer than 10% of USA college students study abroad according to Forbes. Employers value the skills cultivated by studying abroad such as resilience, independence, and adaptability.

My outstanding family, advisers, and professors encouraged me to study abroad because of the immersive experience and plethora of networking opportunities. My cousin, who is a UIC alumni told me, “Studying abroad is the opportunity of a lifetime because of the different styles of teaching, exciting new traditions, and distinct architectural buildings.” My study abroad adviser, Katherine Aldag, helped me through the process by providing relevant information and personal support. Katherine helped me narrow down to a specific program, notified me of scholarship opportunities, and provided real-life advice that will help me navigate as an international student.

The entire process of selecting a program, filling out paperwork, and searching for funding took one year. I conducted extensive research by utilizing the UIC Study Abroad website, Office of Financial Aid, and meeting with Katherine several times throughout the summer and fall of 2017. I compared different prices, locations, and housing options. I knew that I wanted to study abroad in a Spanish-speaking country and what better way to learn the language than in the country from which it originated?

At the conclusion of my research, I selected the "Business, International Relations and Spanish at the University of Deusto" program. Spain’s deep history and sophisticated culture separate it from other countries in Europe. I was attracted to this program for its affordable tuition, the residential housing, generous meal plan, courses offered and the opportunity to interact with Spanish professionals and locals. The program also offers company visits to Mondragon Cooperative Society, Bilbao Stock Market, and IDOM Consulting.

I successfully secured funding from various scholarships both inside and outside of the University of Illinois at Chicago. In addition to the financial support I received from my family, I also received the Honors College Study Abroad Scholarship, Honors College Sally and Kevin Desouza Family Scholarship, Financial Executives International Chicago Chapter Scholarship, UIC CHANCE Financial Assistance Scholarship, UISAVES Scholarship, as well as financial support via a GoFundMe campaign.

My scholarships and family contributions covered my ENTIRE Study Abroad program. I am so grateful for the tremendous amount of financial and personal support I received from my family, the Honors College, and cultural support departments like the UIC CHANCE Program. It is definitely possible to study abroad without spending an outrageous amount of money or taking out five-figure loans. However, it is always good to have a contingency plan, which is why I saved an emergency study abroad fund just in case I didn’t receive financial aid. Also, be aware of the hidden costs that come with studying abroad, which include the UIC Study Abroad fee, plane tickets (most programs do not cover the cost of flights), purchasing a passport, and a few other expenses. I worked several part-time jobs and saved 80% of my paychecks, so I advise prospective study abroad participants to start saving early!

I am looking forward to developing intermediate-level Spanish speaking skills. Spain is the perfect place to practice Spanish because it will provide me an unparalleled advantage in gaining fluency through my regular interactions with native speakers and students. I hope to become more open-minded and gain an in-depth understanding of cultural variations. I enjoy trying new and exciting food—as long as it’s vegetarian-friendly.

I am super thrilled to travel to different parts of Europe and speak to as many locals as possible! I have dreamed of walking on cobblestone sidewalks, watching Spanish La Liga football in person, visiting Gaudí’s La Pedrera, and zipling in Comares. I can’t wait to take adventures and explore Spain with my study abroad group. I hope to make lifelong friends on this trip and become more independent.

In the second semester of the 2017-18 academic year, Robert Chirinko, Professor of Finance, took sabbatical leave to further his research on the Puerto Rican debt crisis and other research projects. Between January and March, he was a visitor at the Booth School of Business, University of Chicago. He continued working on his research projects at the Einaudi Institute for Economics and Finance in Rome from March until June. The Puerto Rican research was a continuation of a paper he started to write at UIC, but now he’s had the opportunity to finish up in the Eternal City. His paper, entitled “What Went Wrong?: The Puerto Rican Debt Crisis and the ‘Treasury Put’” explores why investors continued to purchase bonds issued by Puerto Rico knowing the country’s tumultuous financial state.

“The fundamental question is, if Puerto Rico was in such bad shape financially, why were investors continuing to loan money to them?” Here’s some finance 101: bonds are debt securities that companies or governments issue when attempting to raise capital. An investor purchases the bond, and the issuer agrees to pay back the loaned amount, plus interest, over a designated period of time.

Puerto Rico, a United States territory, issued bonds to raise capital for governmental needs, despite its inability to pay back the value of the bond. Investors, knowing that the country was in financial disarray, still decided to purchase these bonds under the assumption that if Puerto Rico defaulted, the U.S. Government would ensure that the investors got their money back. The authors refer to this “implicit guarantee” as the ‘Treasury Put.’

So how does one uncover the reason why investors would make such a financial decision? This is where Shaina Henderson (B.S. in Finance, 2016) and Ryan Chiu (B.S. in Biology and Political Science, 2017) came in.

“This project needed a lot of work in terms of carefully reading and analyzing documents, so I placed an advertisement for a student to do an independent study,” Professor Chirinko recounts.

Through this ad, he was able to enlist the help of Shaina initially and later Ryan to collect data about bonds issued by Puerto Rico.

“It’s a lot of hard work, finding an initial set of information about the bonds and digging in and reading what is called the official statements.” Shaina and Ryan had to delve deep into the specifics of official statements defining the bonds issued by Puerto Rico to uncover the required data, then put these data in “machine-readable form” so that they could be analyzed with the aid of a computer.

What did their research uncover? As Professor Chirinko noted, investors seemed to assume that if Puerto Rico defaulted, they would expect the U.S. government to bail them out – the ‘Treasury Put.’ To test the validity of this assumption, they used a unique event, the city of Detroit’s bankruptcy, as a “treatment.”

Ultimately, the government decided not to bailout Detroit. “In July 2013, the city of Detroit went bankrupt. Detroit is not as big as Puerto Rico, but it’s big. They had about $20 billion in debt and other liabilities (such as pension obligations).” Many believed, given the government bailout of New York City in 1975 and many subsequent bailouts, that Detroit would be bailed out as well.  

“The answer, which was a surprise to people, was no. The Obama Administration gave no bailout to the city of Detroit. Matter of fact, some senators introduced legislation in Congress specifically saying that they were not going to bailout cities and states – they wanted to say on the record that they were not in the bailout business.”

Shaina and Ryan collected data on bond prices after the bailout denial of Detroit, which showed that their hypothesis was correct: the implicit guarantee disappeared and the prices of bonds fell dramatically as a result.

Professor Chirinko was highly pleased by the level of research Shaina and Ryan conducted to produce the data necessary for this paper. Shaina was able to use this research for her Finance independent study and Ryan used it for his honors thesis. Working as a research assistant like Shaina and Ryan gives students the opportunity to do hands-on, collaborative research with their own professors, which is great to include on a resume or cover letter.

As is usual for an academic research paper, the preliminary work is presented to other scholars for comments. Revisions follow, and the new version of the paper presented again. In this case, the initial presentation was at a seminar in the UIC Business Finance Department, followed by presentations at the University of Chicago, the Einaudi Institute in Rome, and a conference with a group of French financial economists. The final version of the paper will be presented at the Brookings Institution in Washington in July, and then submitted for publication in an academic journal. 

Professor Chirinko recently announced that he has extended his sabbatical through June. Luckily, it won’t be all work for him this summer. He was able to steal away for a few days to Western Sicily to experience the fabulous opera house in Palermo, the best Greek ruins in the world in Agrigento, and indescribably good pasta and gelato throughout the island!

UIC Business caught up with Finance majors Nicolas Robledo ’20 and Edgar Avalos ’20 to discuss their experience at Goldman Sachs Undergraduate Camp and how they will leverage their learnings in their careers.

What is the Goldman Sachs undergraduate camp? What did it consist of?

Edgar: It is a three day series of networking opportunities in Dallas, Texas connecting students from all over the country with Goldman Sachs employees. We had the opportunity to attend a series of presentations given by Goldman Sachs employees ranging from professional presence, how to network, how to navigate through the Goldman Sachs application, and other topics. Additionally, other presentations invited us to reflect about the company’s social services and volunteer opportunities and the impact they make. Lastly, they discussed life in Dallas, how it’s growing, and how it would be a good place to start our professional careers.

Nicolas: It was pretty much an overview of the company, the area, and the steps that we need to take to get an internship back home – and also what it would actually be like to work in various positions at Goldman. 

Edgar: We did have some fun too! We took a VIP tour of AT&T Stadium, where the Dallas Cowboys play. That was pretty cool.

How did you find out about this opportunity?

Nicolas: A friend at IIT, who just graduated and was really active on his campus in finance opportunities, met up with me one day and suggested that I apply.

Did you participate in any competitive activities during the program? If so, what did these activities consist of?

Nicolas: Yes, this activity was called the “Goldman Sachs Challenge.” We were organized in about ten or so tables and given about four different tasks. The first one consisted of a riddle and, for the second one, we had to use Excel to pull data from a pre-prepared list. From there, we made strategy recommendations and basically pitched a stock to a professional lender that was paired up at each table. So we crafted a pitch and decided which company our table would want to invest in and why. Then we tailored our pitch and narrative into a 90-second delivery. It was pretty intense and fun at the same time.

Edgar: The idea was to work as a team and approach different areas of a business. So when you look at Excel, for example, if you have someone at your table who wasn’t into IT or technology savvy, another person could help. The exercise combined traditional stock financials, problem-solving, consulting and operations. Overall, the challenge was to work as a team to see how we work together and try to highlight how in a company, or in any business, to be successful, you have to identify where the strengths and weaknesses lie.

That’s so interesting – the onboarding for the Liautaud Graduate School of Business at UIC also included a similar challenge where we were organized in the various groups and had to pitch a business idea. That’s really awesome, I’m glad you all had that experience.

So what would you say was the most valuable thing you took away or the most impactful thing that you learned?

Edgar: The first thing that came to my mind was how fast recruiting is moving. Students often look for internships after junior year but many of the participants were freshmen and sophomores. Despite your age, if you have good qualities and can put in the work, you can land an internship.

Nicolas: Overall, if you work hard and seek opportunities out rather than waiting for them to come to you, then it is possible to achieve success.

Well said. Now that you see what it’s like to work at Goldman Sachs, would you say this experience impacted the direction of your career?  

Nicolas: It definitely made me want to work there more than before. I originally thought they were mostly limited to investment banking and financial activities, but the company is more than that. They had us speak to professionals from different divisions and learn how the firm operates. When employees want to grow their skills in another area, they can move around to a different position. It seems like a fun place to work where you’re always learning something new. That definitely appealed to me.

Edgar: To be honest, I knew for sure that my place on Earth was something related to business or finance, but I wasn’t sure of what that looked like. After this experience, I realized that I like operations a lot. Operations supports all of the different areas of a business. You have to have a little knowledge of all the areas and how they operate and then you’d have to work with different tools in order to forecast risk and help other divisions make decisions.

Nicolas: To add on to my last comment, while I was there, I got a deeper look at what Goldman does in helping small businesses and investing in communities. If anything, it made me want to work with them more. They do have specific programs that cater to that, and I thought that was great.

I’m glad you all had some great takeaways from the program and it encouraged you. Any last thoughts?

Edgar: My last thing is to encourage readers, you should know all these opportunities come when you’re looking for them. Nick talked about how he heard about this program through word-of-mouth. If he didn’t make that connection with that kind of friend or if he did not apply on time, he would’ve missed out. In my case, it was Bridget, the coach of the Business Career Center, who told students to take advantage of these things and build those relationships. She also stressed the power of networking saying, “It is important who you know but more importantly, that those key connections are thinking about you. When the time comes to apply for a job, we want your name to be top of mind.” So it’s about making those relationships and connections where you know the person who can help you is thinking about you.

Nicolas: A key quote that they shared was, “you must seize the opportunity of a lifetime for a lifetime of opportunity.” I really want to reiterate that UIC Business students are only getting stronger. The future is bright for us as a school and as individuals.

Ranked third on the Forbes: Best American Employers list, Google is one of the most recognized companies on the planet. While most know the company as a high-powered Internet search engine, many are unaware of its philanthropic arm, Google.org. Many people could only dream of working with the tech powerhouse that is Google, but graduate student Sarah Siderius, who is working toward completing her MBA in the spring of 2019, had the unique experience of working as a contractor for Google.org. Sarah believes the educational foundation laid through her undergraduate and graduate education at UIC prepared her for this fortuitous opportunity.

“I absolutely adored my undergraduate experience at UIC Business and believe it has shaped me positively in many ways, which is why I came back for my graduate work.”

Sarah, who earned her Bachelor’s degree in Marketing in 2014, was involved in a number of student activities as an undergraduate. One of her favorite experiences was joining Delta Xi Phi multicultural sorority, where she had the opportunity to collaborate with young women from various backgrounds. She was also a member of the UIC Choir, which brings together students from various disciplines. Now, as a graduate student in the MBA program, Sarah has landed a prestigious role with Google as a contractor. She recounts how she made it happen.

“I wasn’t actively looking for a new role, but I always try to keep my resume and LinkedIn profile up to date in case an opportunity comes along.” Through LinkedIn, she was approached by a recruiter from California looking for talent. Just two months after speaking with the recruiter, she heard some exciting news.

“She called me back and told me that they were interested in interviewing me. After three phone interviews, I ended up getting the offer from them for this role. As a part of my previous role, I helped my employer establish their philanthropic program. Having this experience on my resume caught this recruiter’s eye, which ultimately led to this amazing opportunity.”

Due to company policy, Sarah cannot detail all of the aspects of her role at Google, but did specify that she is working for the Google.org team. The project she’s working on is called the Google.org Impact Challenge, which supports nonprofits in select cities, such as Pittsburgh and Oklahoma City, according to Sarah. Per the Google.org website, “Since 2005, Google.org has worked to extend the reach of nonprofit innovators and connect them with a unique blend of support that includes funding, tools, and volunteers from around Google.” Sarah enjoyed the fact that she was not only able to work for such an amazing company, but that she was able to give back through her work. The most recent project she worked on, the Google.org Impact Challenge Illinois, is now awarding $1 million in grants to Illinois nonprofits who are creating economic opportunity in the state.

As someone who has had the opportunity to work in the tech space, Sarah has gained a better understanding of how these companies operate. “A lot of companies like to hire on a project basis as opposed to a full-time basis. There are sort of two upsides to that: it benefits the employer because they get to hire the perfect talent for their projects, and it gives people like me the opportunity to work on projects that I might not have otherwise have the opportunity to work on.”

When asked what she loves most about Google, Sarah did not have a shortage of great things to say. “Google is a really amazing company that attracts some of the best and brightest in the industry. I learned so much from working with so many passionate and talented people who really believe in the work they’re doing.”

Sarah’s experiences as an undergraduate and graduate student at UIC made her feel confident that she could succeed in the business world, just like she did at Google. We asked Sarah what advice she has for students looking to pursue opportunities in the marketing field. “When I was an undergrad, I’d work with students, small businesses and nonprofits to develop their marketing plans. If you want to be successful in marketing, just go out there and start doing it. That’s the best thing you can possibly do. Those projects were what got me my first marketing job because my company saw that with limited skills and resources, I was willing to get in there and start working. So the best thing I can say is just go out there and do it.”

Tyler Benavides, Laura Nicolescu, Gladstone Hukporti, Samantha Payne, Kimberly Lazzara

On August 28, I stood outside of Professor Lan Nguyen Chaplin’s classroom with eight other Consumer Behavior (MTG 461) alumni, awaiting to deliver the student-led first day of class presentation. The buzz of excitement was apparent in all of us. Professor Chaplin handpicks former students to deliver this special presentation every year. This presentation is specifically tailored for new Consumer Behavior students, to show them the best way to approach the course and to give them advice on how to succeed. Weeks of preparation went into the two sections’ presentations, with both groups organizing their schedules to meet up to practice several times before the important day. We were practicing everything we learned from the class, and we knew if we showcased what Professor Chaplin had taught us, the students would realize that they could master these key presentation skills as well. It was our responsibility to share with the current students what to take out of this class, and how it was more than just a class, it was a professional development experience.

“Timeliness is key,” stated presenter Samantha Payne, “if we are going to set an example for these new students, we’ve got to do it right.”

Professor Chaplin stresses two critical factors as indicators of professionalism. One factor is being punctual, the other factor is professional attire. We arrived twenty minutes early and not a single tennis shoe was in sight amidst our dress shoes, heels, slacks, and blazers. We were ready to show the new Consumer Behavior students what they were in for.

The first group of presenters, Gladstone Hukporti (Marketing ‘18), Kim Lazzara (Marketing ‘19), Laura Nicolescu (Marketing ‘18), Samantha Payne (Marketing ‘18), and I walked into the class and the room fell silent. Professor Chaplin gave us the floor and stepped out of the room. “This is to ensure that students can be candid with each other about my course,” explained Professor Chaplin. Each presenter moved into his or her strategic position and the PowerPoint slides were displayed. It was time to begin; all eyes were on us.

Nicolescu opened the presentation using inspirational insight with a little dash of fear, “This will be one of the hardest classes you will ever take, if not the hardest. This is not a course where you can find the answers online. But this is a course that once you get to the end of it, you feel like you can take on any challenge that life throws at you.” The tone was set for the rest of the presentation. Topics such as professionalism, group work, the midterm, and presentations were discussed.

“Professor Chaplin’s class made me want to be more professional in every way. I was not the same person at the end of the class compared to the beginning of it,” said Hukporti during his slide. That was the key takeaway for the presentation: you are not the same person from beginning to end. You learn skills that transcend just college life; you learn skills for the business world.

The lessons and advice were the same for the second group of presenters: Karolina Godlewski (Marketing ‘19), Dovile Guzauskaite (Marketing ‘19), Stefano Quaranta (Marketing ‘19), and Allan Rodriguez (Marketing ‘18). Wise words came from Rodriguez as he stated, “Leave your ego at the door. Be humble with your team. Arrogance and thinking you know it all will only hinder your growth in this course,” which was reiterated by presenters several times in both presentations. Students were surprised to hear how succeeding in this course was much different from other courses. It is not just studying that’s required, it’s opening your mind and building your soft skills in business. Their attention never fleeted from the presenters.

“Choose your teammates wisely. Your team’s work is a large factor for your grade, so find the hard workers and the go getters. Make new friends and bond closely so you all can succeed,” cautioned Guzauskaite. Group work and presentations are the core of Consumer Behavior, and it’s where students learn the most about working with each other and about themselves. Strong friendships are made every semester in this course, as team work can be fun when the team is bonding and dedicated.

After these presentations were given, the current students had the opportunity to ask the presenters any questions that came to mind. After a few seconds of silence as classmates turned to look at one another, wondering whose hand would be the first to go up, the first student voiced his question, “What is the most valuable lesson that we’re supposed to get out of this class?”

I had the perfect answer, saying, “It is different for every student. If you make your new best friend in this class, you’ll think it is building relationships. If you think you’ve grown a lot in this class, you’ll think it is self-improvement. Every experience is unique for each individual.”

Lazzara chimed in, “She’s right. In my personal experience, I found that I got out of my comfort zone a lot. I never knew that presenting could become one of my strongest skills, so much so, that I’d be giving this presentation in front of you guys today. I really loved seeing my confidence grow like that.”

Another student somewhat reluctantly raised her hand, asking, “What if we don’t do well in this course even after all that you’ve shared with us. How does that reflect on our teams and ourselves?” Slow nods of agreement came from the surrounding students and their eyes landed back on us.

“You do the best that you can do, that’s a part of getting to know yourself. As for your team, just talk to them. If you need to drop the course, explain that to them, if not, then still help your team do the best they can do through the end. One individual’s grade in a team doesn’t reflect on the whole team,” said Quaranta.

“Keep in mind, this class is about so much more than just grades. I have grown so much academically, professionally, and personally because of Professor Chaplin and this class,” Godlewski commented, “It is not about Professor Chaplin changing you, it is about you changing yourself. She just gives you the tools and guidance to do so, I hope you give yourself a chance to grow too.”

The presenters wrapped up their Q&As and all the students in both classes gave a round of applause. Students’ opinions were heartwarming to hear, expressing their honesty and excitement about what was to come.

Alicia Bowers, a current student in the course, shared her thoughts on the presentation saying, “At first, the presentation given by the former students was intimidating. I had no prior knowledge about the course, so hearing about their experience was helpful. During the presentation, they did not sugar coat or downplay the difficulty of this course, however, they did express how beneficial the course was to their professional growth and it showed.” Bowers also expressed how she was inspired through our presentations to do her best in the course, saying, “They were extremely comfortable in front of the class; they displayed professional presentation skills that I know I would gain upon the completion of the Consumer Behavior course. I was impressed with their professional conduct and their willingness to be challenged in Professor Chaplin's class. Ultimately, they catalyzed my excitement for the course and inspired me to embrace the challenge.”

Each presenter was smiling hard after the presentation, as this was just as exciting for us too. Each kind word was rewarding, and as more and more students came up to us after the class, we knew that we had accomplished our goal. Lending past experiences and advice to help current students is something we would gladly do as much as we can. It is always a good feeling to help others. We sincerely hope the students do their best and we can’t wait to see all that they are capable of!

Allan Rodriguez, Karolina Godlewski, Dovile Guzauskaite, Stefano Quaranta

Matt Gorniak’s career is a testament to the new American dream. At 17, Matt immigrated to the United States with no network or connections and is now the Co-Founder and Chief Revenue Officer of G2 Crowd, one of Chicago’s fastest growing tech companies. After earning his MBA (’02) from UIC, Matt sought a career filled with self-starters like himself, leading him to the technology industry. “I was looking for a high-growth opportunity where I could compete on a level playing field.”

Matt’s experience as an immigrant served as inspiration for his company, G2 Crowd. Matt and his co-founders wanted to create a fair space for business technologies to compete. They saw that the status quo was limiting potential buyers in their ability to get the correct technology solution for their business needs. “Technology decisions are super important in business today, and every business has slightly different use cases, resources, and capabilities. Similarly, every technology is going to solve a business need slightly differently, so there’s no such thing as one right tool - just the tool that’s right for you.”

Matt and his team knew they wanted to incorporate reviews from real people. Reviews are critical for B2C (consumer) and B2B (business) customers alike. Forbes (2017) reports that “92% of web users now read reviews and 40% make a decision based on as few as one to three opinions.” Matt and his team understood that reviews were changing the relationship between businesses and buyers by providing accountability, trust and context that helps the decision making process. He cited companies such as Glassdoor, Yelp, Trip Advisor as successful examples of how transparency via reviews helps both businesses and consumers.

With over 400,000 independent and authenticated user reviews read by more than 1.5 million buyers each month, G2 Crowd has seen explosive growth in recent years. On Inc. Magazine’s 2018 list of the 5,000 fastest-growing companies G2 Crowd was distinguished as the fastest growing software company in Chicago, and the 20th fastest-growing software company overall.  Matt attributes the company’s success to two key factors: culture and vision. In Matt’s own words: “We like to refer to our culture as an ‘entrepreneurial family.’ It’s a hard thing to articulate, but it captures a seemingly counterintuitive cultural duality and our entrepreneurial spirit. At G2 Crowd, we expect a lot from ourselves and each other, and we hold each other accountable not only to our performance goals, but to our personal values that prioritize authenticity and compassion. When we started G2 Crowd, we started with a 10x vision and set some big goals that we’re constantly re-examining and pushing to the next level.”

Matt’s experience as an MBA student at UIC Business helped prepare him for his career as an entrepreneur. “UIC had everything I was looking for, and provided not only skills and knowledge but the mindset and the confidence I needed to be successful as an entrepreneur.”

Matt offered a few words of advice for UIC Business students and alumni who are budding entrepreneurs: choose your industry before you choose your job, work with those who bring out the best in you, invest in your craft, and lastly, “Think outside the box. You don’t have to take the first job you are offered or the job your parents think you should take. So many people don’t take the time to understand what drives them, what they’re good at, and how that might align with a potential career. Take the time to be introspective.”

The “Doing Business in Europe” program offered to UIC Business graduate students is a fantastic opportunity to learn about international business while immersed in a different cultural environment. This four-week course, taught at the ESC Normandy School of Business, offers students the opportunity to visit local businesses and study major aspects of European business culture. Students that take part in this program can earn up to six credit hours toward their MBA.

The UIC Business MBA program offers students multiple opportunities to gain first hand international business experience in both Europe and South America. This past summer, graduate student and MBA candidate Pete Wongtitirote decided to spread his wings and enroll in the "Doing Business in Europe" Program.  He spent most of his time in France, but had plenty of chances to explore some neighboring countries as well. We caught up with Pete to hear more about his European adventure:

How was your class experience? What courses did you take?

The classes were fun and were able to cover the foundations of each course on a condensed schedule. The courses I took were:

• Doing Business in Europe
• Intercultural Management in Supply Chain Management
• Entrepreneurship
• Digital Marketing in the Luxury Industry

What countries/cities did you visit during your time abroad?
During my summer school in Normandy, I had the chance to explore other cities in Europe. The program was designed to have long weekends, which meant I would have enough time to visit countries nearby. The first weekend I stayed in Paris, about 2.5 hours from Caen to Paris by train. The second weekend I traveled to Berlin, Germany. This was my first time visiting Germany, I stayed there for 3 nights. During my time in Berlin, I visited attractions such as Brandenburg Gate, Berlin Wall, Memorial to the Holocaust memorials, etc.

The third weekend I traveled to Italy, Milan and Rome. It was quite an experience, I went to Rome because an old friend that I hadn't seen in 8 years was there. It was very nice to see him again.  

Which of these was your favorite? Why?

Paris was my favorite because of its charm. The city is very beautiful. Plus,  there are tons of activities to do in Paris. From dining to shopping. It is literally a big melting pot of everything.

I was fortunate enough to be in Paris during Bastille day and World Cup 2018 Final. This is an experience that you don’t get everyday.

What was the highlight of your trip?

The highlight of my trip was probably all of the excursion trips that the school took me on.

One of my favorites was our trip to Le Mont-Saint-Michel. It's an island commune in Normandy, France. The cool thing about this island is that it is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Thank you to Pete for sharing his experience! Check out some more amazing pictures from his time overseas down below. Interested in traveling abroad through one of our exchange programs? Be on the lookout in our newsletters for our Exchange Program Information Sessions, or contact Scott Schneider.

Carley Mostar, MBA ’19, cares about her community and it shows. This summer, Carley was selected as a finalist in the Ford College Community Challenge (Ford C3) for two proposed neighborhood improvement initiatives. The challenge invites students worldwide to partner with organizations to design projects that address critical needs of their community. Carley first heard about Ford C3 through her involvement in the UIC Business chapter ofNet Impact, a nonprofit membership organization for students and professionals interested in using business skills in support of various social and environmental causes.

After doing more research, Carley learned that Ford C3 awards funding of $25,000 to college and university students who design and develop solutions to improve their neighborhoods. As someone who was already an involved East Garfield Park resident, she saw Ford C3 as an opportunity to obtain the funding necessary to push existing initiatives in her community forward.

Once Carley decided that she would pursue Ford C3 funding, she went to work. She had two projects in mind that she considered submitting: one for an East Garfield Park community café and another for a shared, community green space called “Info Park.” For the East Garfield Park community café, she was already in talks with her local block club president, Tracelli Rockford, and other residents to develop the concept. “The café idea actually started because Mrs. Rockford had been trying to find a space and wanted to bring resources together,” Carley explains. Carley, Mrs. Rockford, her alderman, and a local clergyman agreed that there was a need for a community café space that could house block club meetings, trainings, and other local events. Carley appreciated that everyone involved was on the same page. “It felt like everyone knew that this [space] is needed. We’re approaching it from different angles, but the project was just really organic in that way. Even if this project does not get selected, I think we all still have the intention to make this happen some other way.”

In comparison, her other project, “Info Park” was more of a collaboration between Carley, her fellow residents, and the UIC School of Architecture. The Info Park would be conceptualized by community members and designed by UIC Design students. Similar to the East Garfield Park community café, Carley already had a plan in mind. “I live on the block where the Info Park would be, where there are a few empty lots. The idea is to turn one of the lots into a member-use space for the community to use as our own public or private space.” The Chicago Tribune reports that there are nearly 2,500 vacant lots in the city, most of them within south- and west-side neighborhoods, such as East Garfield Park (2018). Transforming the empty lot into the proposed “Info Park” would provide residents with a beautiful space to convene and unwind. Regardless of which project was selected, Carley’s mission was to ensure that the community received the maximum benefit. “It’s very important to me when doing this kind of work to make sure that the people who the work is for have their voices centered in the outcome of the project.”

Yet, with most projects come a few challenges. Carley found the process of submitting both projects difficult, but her drive and determination gave her the strength to power through. “I ultimately submitted both projects because I really loved them both and I never in a million years thought that both projects would make it to the top 20. Getting the videos together was a lot of work. The first phase was all writing – budgets, timeliness, and proposals. That was a little bit of a scramble, but getting both of those together was worth it to me because they’re both really great ideas.” She also credits entrepreneurship professor and Net Impact program advisor Maija Renko as a source of encouragement as well. When Carley was unsure of whether or not to submit both projects, it was Professor Renko who urged her to take a leap of faith and submit both.

Congratulations are in order for Carley: in July she was informed that her “Info Park” project secured the $25,000 funding from Ford C3, along with nine other winning projects. Since receiving the funding, the project has officially launched – she and her collaborators in the neighborhood and in the School of Architecture have started with community engagement workshops and have even started researching fabricators and vendors to work with in preparation for construction, slated to start in early spring of 2019. Carley’s work is an inspiration to business students as she shows that #UICMeansBusiness not only within the college, but within our communities.

UIC Business Scholar and senior year Accounting and IDS double major, Patrick Klimek is a young professional who is making a difference. His summer experience as a 2018 Deloitte Tax intern afforded him an opportunity to give back to young students in need. It all started with Patrick securing an internship with Deloitte, one of the "Big Four" accounting organizations and the largest professional services network in the world. Patrick discussed how he landed his internship: “As a Business Scholar, we always hear about different career opportunities. Through the program, I was paired with a mentor from EY. Through him, I learned a bit more about the different opportunities within public accounting. I got the chance to meet the Deloitte team and attended their Envision Conference, which led to an internship offer.”

Patrick’s chance to give back came about through Deloitte’s annual “Impact Day,” a celebration of the company’s year-round commitment to local communities. Patrick and a fellow intern, Meredith, were volunteering at a local elementary school and noticed the poor conditions of the books in the library. “A lot of them were older books that we remember reading that we still had at home. We thought, ‘most of our professional colleagues probably have some of these old books that they aren’t using and so we can do something good with them.’”

Meredith realized that the conditions of the books presented an opportunity to help, and Patrick agreed. They went to Deloitte upper management to pitch an idea for a company-wide book drive. Deloitte gave them the greenlight and supported them every step of the way. A Deloitte employee connected them with Open Books, a nonprofit bookstore in Pilsen, less than a mile away from the UIC campus. Patrick and Meredith then set up book drop-off stations across the Deloitte offices in Chicago where employees could donate new or gently used books, CDs, and other media to be donated to their collection of free books for youth in the community.

The book drive was a huge success that lead to a total of 720 donations from Deloitte employees. Patrick was very pleased to see the results of the drive and the impact it had. “Every contribution was able to be used in some way,” Patrick explained. All items were either donated to children and families or resold to support Open Books, which provides free literacy experiences to local readers every year through their various resources, such as their literacy programs and book grants, where they donate engaging, appropriate and high-quality books.

Patrick shared his advice for students who are looking for an internship and want to get involved in giving back. “I think the best thing for students to do is reach out to older students and young alumni. They recently went through the recruiting process and they can give good tips. In terms of getting involved and making a difference, I think it’s really easy to do. If you see something that you are passionate about, do it. People are always going to be willing to help out. The big thing is just raising your hand and saying what you’re interested in doing.”

The book drive has made a positive impact on the company and communities in need. Patrick has recently accepted a full-time opportunity with Deloitte and is considering attending graduate school soon. He also hopes to continue the book drive with summer interns in the coming years.  

UIC finals week is fast approaching (as if you needed a reminder)!

If you ask a college student what are some of their busiest moments as a scholar, many will say “finals week.” Millions of students across the country are preparing for their upcoming final exams, projects, and presentations. While finals time is a student’s opportunity to step up and demonstrate the wealth of knowledge they’ve attained over the semester, it can also lead to high levels of stress. According to NBC News, four in ten students claim they endure stress frequently. Nearly one in five say they feel it all or most of the time. These numbers are certainly exacerbated during the high-pressure finals week.

Though finals season can be a stressful time, it doesn’t have to be. A few UIC Business professors share their words of wisdom and encouragement to help students combat stress, stay focused, and set themselves up for success during finals week. Take a look at what they have to say...

For the finals, the most important factor is NOT to be stressed. To get to this point, plan early, stay organized and try to complete your exam prep or projects with 2-3 days buffer. This helps a lot. Wish you all the best for the finals.

– Assistant Professor Sajna Ibrahim, Marketing

My advice is: Study to understand, not to memorize. Don't run on coffee. Stay hydrated. Sleep well. Cut out sugar from your diet. Laugh with family and friends to stay sane. Message to Team Chaplin: GSD!

– Associate Professor Lan Nyugen Chaplin, Marketing

Worry is not preparation. If you can calm any negative self-talk and just focus on using your study time well, you will perform better. Take care of yourself mentally and physically through the gamut of finals. All-nighters are highly overrated.

– Senior Lecturer Michael Popowits, Accounting and Professional Development

UIC Business wishes everyone the best of luck during finals. We know that you are going to do exceptionally well because #UICMeansBusiness. 

Team Chaplin is a name business professors and students have heard throughout the last few years. The team is led by Professor Lan Nguyen Chaplin, who was selected by Poets & Quants (the most read news website on business programs with 100 million visitors) as one of the Top 50 Undergraduate Business Professors.

Professor Chaplin selects students to join the high-performing team, as well as who can come back next semester. Her selection criteria includes professionalism, resiliency, strong work ethic, self-motivation, creativity, kindness, and most importantly, having GRIT! Students can make straight A’s, but if they are unkind along their way to achievement and unreceptive to criticism, she will not invite them. She has high expectations, but fosters a family-like environment to provide the support for students to dare to challenge themselves. With the semester winding down, Professor Chaplin will be onboarding new students soon.

Professor Chaplin has been building a strong and compassionate team. In an effort to test the skills of the students, Team Chaplin has rebranded into “QuanTâm by Team Chaplin,” and it is time to reintroduce the team.

QuanTâm began as Team Chaplin five years ago. Professor Chaplin built this team out of several students that came to her office hours to seek career advice. The team was informal and unstructured, with its main purpose focused on professional development. As the semesters passed and new groups of students made their way in and out of her classroom, she expanded the team. Structure was built and the students she now handpicked for the team vocalized what they wanted this group to be, what they wanted to learn, and what they wanted to accomplish. Professional development workshops took on a formal setting and became mandatory. Topics like transitioning from the classroom to the boardroom, women in business, and personal branding were discussed in depth. Community service projects were introduced. The Fall semesters became dedicated to partnering with Cradles to Crayons, a nonprofit in Chicago that helps low-income and homeless children throughout the city. The Spring semesters led the students to the doors of businesses across Chicago, asking for donations of food and personal care items for the creation of care packages for the homeless people. It was in Spring 2018 that Professor Chaplin wanted Team Chaplin to rebrand to bring her students to the fore. She trusted her team to develop a new brand and logo. After all, the team is comprised of marketing students.

The team changed its name to represent one of its core values. “Quan Tâm,” in Vietnamese (the roots of Professor Chaplin), means to do something with heart and to pay attention to small details. Pronounced like “Quantum,” the team is also high energy. This name, QuanTâm, is the perfect name for the team, and creates a powerful brand to build and authentically represent who the team is. That goes for their civic engagement and for the bonds they have built with each other and with Professor Chaplin.

With these values and practices, QuanTâm has sought out to make the lives of the homeless and poor a little easier, and as a consequence, many team members have found something bright within themselves from helping others. The leader of QuanTâm, Laura Nicolescu (Marketing ‘18), describes what the team means to her, “Joining this team made me hit the reset button on my life, allowing me to become the person I was meant to be.”

Even alumni of the team still benefit from what they learned as an active member of what was then Team Chaplin. QuanTâm is designed by Professor Chaplin to teach “real world” skills and values that are used in the workplace. Some of these skills are organically learned as the team goes through the service missions, and others are imparted from Professor Chaplin during professional development workshops. Sierra Saulsberry (Marketing ‘18) shares, “Being a part of Team Chaplin helped me gain the confidence to walk into meetings knowing that I belong, and what I have to say matters.”

“My main takeaway was the overarching importance of teamwork. I learned how to work with a team effectively in order to exceed expectations and expected results. Communicating and being transparent with team members was a key to success then and it is like that now in my career,” states Alan Gomez (Marketing ‘18).

QuanTâm is granted a lot of freedom to experiment with new ideas. Failure is a frightening reality, especially when it comes to being on a team with such high standards, one where continued membership is not guaranteed simply based on tenure. On this team, members are expected to dare to challenge themselves, to fix their mistakes, and not to repeat the same mistakes in the future. Professor Chaplin also takes the time to share her mistakes so the team can learn alongside her. This shapes everyone to embrace the reality of imperfection, and to grow from it.

This team sounds quite complicated in its expectations and goals, but this is only the surface for every team member’s day-to-day life. Every member juggles multiple projects and work outside of QuanTâm, further reinforcing the skills of time management and having a strong work ethic. Several students work 35 hours per week while holding leadership positions on this team and other organizations, some have internships and long commutes, and some have an overloaded course schedule along with a combination of anything mentioned previously! All members have demonstrated to Professor Chaplin that they can manage their work and the team’s work in a manner that inspires everyone.

The team’s impact on its community is on the rise. The number of Professor Chaplin’s current students that are intrigued by QuanTâm has increased. Resumes are emailed to her, students reach out to the QuanTâm social media, or find team members around campus to express their interest in joining. Ultimately, QuanTâm has solidified its place here at UIC; there is no doubt about that. There are many ideas about what will come next for QuanTâm floating around between current team members, alumni, and Professor Chaplin herself. Robert Grilli (Marketing ‘17) shares, “The team not only physically, but mentally prepared me for the future, specifically by opening up a new perspective of life that I had not realized before. I want everyone to feel this way, so I would love to see the team become more of a staple at UIC than it already is, and maybe one day, QuanTâm can help others not just in Chicago, but around the world.” Allan Rodriguez (Marketing ’18) says, “I want QuanTâm to become a household name that people on campus admire.”

It looks like QuanTâm’s reputation is on the up and up. The team, including graduates from 2015, enthusiastically continues with its civic engagement, and there is a new wave of QuanTâm members to be inducted in just a few weeks. The team continues to grow but Professor Chaplin, a branding researcher, is cautious-- “We’re a young brand. We can grow very quickly, but I’m not in a hurry. I want to preserve the integrity of our brand. For now, I’ll increase the number of members by having a larger alumni base, rather than onboarding a large number of new members. I’ll also trust the team to increase our social media presence to allow members to have ownership over our growing brand.”

So, keep your eyes open for QuanTâm on campus, in your community and on social media . . . this is a team to watch!