November/December 2007
Dean's Message:
This summer when I assumed the role of dean of the Johnson School, I committed to keep you updated on our activities and progress. I will be using this periodic column in Sage Connection as part of that effort. Please also look for my "From the Dean" column in Cornell Enterprise magazine, which will be in your mailboxes in mid-December.
I would like to focus this note on the current status of recruiting and admissions, both for new students in our residential programs (two-year MBA and our one-year or Accelerated MBA) and on career planning for the resident Class of 2008. [more]
New print campaign in WSJ
Distinguished Speakers series
O'Hara on market turmoil
Hunt outlines keys to success at BGBA Symposium, announces scholarship
Faculty honors
Johnson School Places Third in Women in Business Case Challenge at USC's Marshall School of Business
Professors Thomas, Kadiyali, and Simon find consumers misjudge prices
The Net Impact Business as Unusual survey ranks the Johnson School #1 in two categories
Featured Alumni
News Highlights
Events
New print campaign in WSJ
You may have seen one of two new ads in the Eastern Regional print edition of The Wall Street Journal, which debuted in the November 13 issue. This is a companion campaign that will run along with the current flight of WSJ ads for our executive programs, which started in early October, and which is limited to the regional edition. This series is intended to build greater awareness that we offer four MBA programs through Cornell, including the Palisades-based EMBA program and the Cornell-Queen's EMBA. It should also enhance the school's media visibility in cities where we will host a variety of upcoming events. The ad series includes 17 insertions in the news (A) section of The Wall Street Journal interspersed with the EMBA flight over the next few months.
Distinguished Speakers series
Irene B. Rosenfeld '75, MS '77, Ph. '80, chairman and CEO of Kraft Foods Inc., and Jeff Immelt, CEO of General Electric, rounded out the Johnson School's Distinguished Speaker Series for fall 2007. Rosenfeld, the 21st Annual Durland lecturer, spoke Oct. 18 on the "Anatomy of a Turnaround: Returning Kraft to Reliable Growth." Immelt's talk, "What Awaits You Next," was broadcast online to MBA programs across the country. The Johnson School Distinguished Speaker Series highlights the business world's most forward-thinking executives, top innovators, and knowledge-creating academic researchers.
O'Hara on market turmoil
Maureen O'Hara, Robert W. Purcell Professor of Management and professor of finance, addressed a small group of alumni Oct. 4 on the turmoil in the markets. The event was hosted at Lehman Brothers in New York City and introduced by Robert Redmond, MBA '80, vice chairman at Lehman Brothers. Nell Cady Kruse, MBA '85, managing director at Credit Suisse, also spoke. The presentation, "New Risks and Old Certainties: Thoughts on Trading and Investing," is available on the Lehman Brothers Web site through Dec. 30 at http://www.lehman.com/webcasts/US/006009/rnh.htm You must use Real Media Player to access it.
Hunt outlines keys to success at BGBA Symposium, announces scholarship
Rodney P. Hunt, president and CEO of RS Information Systems, Inc., described the principles that have been key to his success throughout his career and personal life when he spoke at the seventh annual Black Graduate Business Association (BGBA) Symposium on Oct. 20, "Look at yourself in the mirror and ask yourself what are the five things you want to do today," he said. Then think about what you wanted yesterday and what you want for tomorrow."
Hunt said he owes much of his success to principles he calls the five Fs -- Focus, Family, Friendship, Fundamentals, and Fortitude; the five As -- Achievement, Attitude, Ascension, Affiliation, and Association; and the five Cs -- Confidence, Capability, Community, Consistency, and Control. These principles gave Hunt the strength he needed to accomplish his goals and guided him through hardship to success, especially after the unexpected loss of his wife in 1993.
At the end of the luncheon, Hunt announced that the Robert P. Hunt Family Foundation would be donating $25,000 per year for the next five years to be used as scholarships to Johnson School students who have demonstrated success despite economic hardship. Hunt encouraged the audience to "use the assets given to you to be successful, at any time in your life."
Faculty honors
Srinagesh Gavirneni and Sandra E. Spataro were named Clifford H. Whitcomb Faculty Fellows for a one-year term commencing on November 1, 2007. Clifford H. Whitcomb '43, MBA '48, retired president of Prudential Property and Casualty Insurance Company and life-time member of the Cornell University Council, established the fellowship in 1993 to provide income to support the work of the recipients.
Johnson School Places Third in Women in Business Case Challenge at USC's Marshall School of Business
Professors Thomas, Kadiyali, and Simon find consumers misjudge prices
The Net Impact Business as Unusual survey ranks the Johnson School #1 in two categories: "Found a job that utilizes their values and business skills," and "Helpfulness of fellow students in finding jobs." The school ranked in the top 10 in a total of 15 out of 20 categories. View the survey
As the Paris-based director of Cohen Brown Management Group, provider of performance consulting and multimedia behavioral process training for the financial services industry, Linda Latsko Lockhart, MBA '85, spends most of her time seeking out bank CEOs and executives who are hands-on change agents looking to implement a process for real behavioral change - something she describes as "the most difficult business strategy any organization will ever undertake. . . . Lockhart is also the founder of Global Give Back Girls, an organization devoted to supporting impoverished girls in Kenya [more]
News Highlights
Getting a Running Start at B-School
Shahnaz Shushtari, MBA '08, talks about her experiences as a first year MBA student at the Johnson School and offers advice on how to navigate the first semester at a business school in this BusinessWeek article.
Spinoff Embarq outshines parent
USA Today - Sept. 11, 2007
Shares of Embarq, run by Chairman and CEO Daniel Hesse, MBA '77, have increased 36 percent since being spun off from Sprint after the Nextel merger closed.
Innovators and Entrepreneurs
Cornell Engineering Magazine - Spring 2007
The Business of Science and Technology Initiative brings together Johnson School and Engineering students to help companies build the link between engineering and entrepreneurs.
Getting A Smart Start
Black Enterprise Magazine - Sept. 19, 2007
Marsha Anderson, MBA '05 credits her success to Management Leadership for Tomorrow, a nonprofit organization based in New York City that aims to increase the number of minorities in business school
A 'Mistake' Leads to Business School
BusinessWeek.com - October 8, 2007
Bailey Stoler, MBA '09 recounts her decision to come to the Johnson School at the turning point of her career.
Scary Column on Consumption Task
Rushlimbaugh.com - Oct. 8, 2007
Rush Limbaugh discusses Professor Robert Frank's Why Not Shift the Burden to Big Spenders? article in the New York Times.
See more news highlights.
Events
December 9, 2007 - Rochester - Johnson Club of Rochester Annual Holiday Party
December 10, 2007 - Rochester - Luncheon with Lynne Allen
January 8, 2008 - Los Angeles - Johnson Club of LA: 4th Annual Predictions Dinner
January 17, 2008 - New York City - Johnson Club of NYC: The Business of Asset Management
For more upcoming events, check out the Alumni Events Calendar.
