mba corporate residency - drs344540/fulltext.pdf · mba corporate residency profiles of success -...

MBA Corporate ResidencyProfiles of Success - 2009

Graduate School of Business AdministrationMBA Career Center312 Dodge HallBoston, Massachusetts 02115-5000

617-373-3003mbacareer.neu.edu

Letter from MBA Career Center Director

Corporate residency is a required, six-month experiential learning component of Northeastern University’s Full-time MBA program. Our corporate residency program offers students an opportunity to apply their classroom lessons while gaining valuable business experience in a real-world setting.

I encourage you to consider the benefits of recruiting our MBA students for residencies in your organization. Northeastern’s Corporate Residency Program presents an outstanding opportunity to obtain talented resources for your immediate projects while evaluating talent for future full-time hiring. Students accomplish a significant amount of work in their six-month assignments, resulting in substantial return on your training investment.

As a partner in Northeastern’s Corporate Residency Program, you will join other leading companies who return every year to recruit highly skilled MBA students for corporate residency assignments in finance, marketing, and supply chain management/operations.

The six-month residency format allows students to spend more time working than training, resulting in increased productivity. Our students make immediate and important contributions to employers in a variety of industries, as you will see from their profiles. They represent a motivated, cost-effective, and flexible resource to assist you in meeting your business goals.

To learn more, please contact me in the MBA Career Center. Our Career Center team will work closely with you to ensure that your recruiting experience at Northeastern University is both efficient and productive. I look forward to having an opportunity to work with you.

Best regards,

Lynne A. SarikasMBA Career Center [email protected]

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Employment Profile – MBA Corporate ResidencyClass of 2008

Industry

26% Financial Services16% Health Care/ Pharmaceuticals

22% Manufacturing

9% Other 15% Technology

12% Consumer Products

Function

49% Finance

Compensation for Corporate Residency

Mean $27/hourHigh $38/hour

1% BusinessDevelopment 17% Supply Chain

1% Human Resources

23% Marketing

9% Project Management

Employers – MBA Corporate Residency Class of 2008 (partial list)

Aptel ResearchBain & CompanyBayer HealthCareBlue Cross Blue Shield of MassachusettsBoston Homes Real EstateBoston VenturesThe Bulfinch Group, LLC CB Richard EllisEagle Investment Systems LLCEMC CorporationFederal ExpressFenway Community HealthGE AviationHamilton Sunstrand, a UTC CompanyHarvard Pilgrim Health CareHasbro, Inc.IBMiET SolutionsInstitutional Asset Manager (name withheld)J & D AssociatesLehman BrothersLiberty Mutual GroupMassachusetts Convention Center AuthorityModusLink Global Solutions, Inc.Ocean Spray Cranberries, Inc.Power Systems Integrity, Inc.Procter & Gamble, Gillette DivisionPyramis Global Advisors, a Fidelity Investments CompanyRaytheon CompanySandozState Street BankStaples, Inc.State Street CorporationSun Microsystems, Inc.VFA, Inc.W.R. Grace & Co.

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I worked as a Supply Chain and Logistics Integration Project Manager at Staples, Inc., where I was responsible for managing a variety of projects involving the integration of Corporate Express (CE) and Staples’ supply chain. The experience I gained during my corporate residency gave me first-hand insight into cross-functionality, corporate integrations and a sense of how the different functions within supply chain operate independently.

While I worked on many projects, a few stand out as having the biggest impact. First, I compiled fueling information from 70 CE locations for the Transportation Team to help consolidate terminal locations, leverage volume, and save on fueling and labor costs across the entire fleet. Additionally, I led an initiative with large leasing partners to design an electronic billing format that would eliminate 300+ paper invoices per month, speed processing, save paper, and reduce manual work. I also attended the weekly Supply Chain Integration Steering Committee meetings, which included all functional leads and vice presidents. Based on these meetings, I co-created a “Supply Chain Integration Roadmap” depicting each function’s timeline, dependencies, and synergy dollars for their integration projects. My department head used this tool to report on supply chain activities at top-level meetings.

My supervisors described me as a great team member, having a diligent work ethic, and bringing new ideas to current processes. I was complimented when team leads began to request my time. I brought a fresh pair of eyes and a creative perspective. I was given assignments which required me to work unsupervised, but I also asked for and received instruction as needed.

Moving forward, my goal is to work on sustainability initiatives in supply chain, and I know that the broad exposure to the supply chain world that I received in my residency has prepared me for that challenge.

Staples, Inc.Ramona BarberConcentration Supply Chain Management

Position Supply Chain & Logistics Integration Project Manager

Undergraduate InstitutionSan Diego State University

Undergraduate MajorFinance

I worked as the Global Accounting Corporate Resident at W.R. Grace & Co.’s Construction Product (GCP) division in Cambridge, MA. W.R. Grace is a global supplier of specialty construction materials and chemical additives. My main responsibilities as part of the accounting team were to ensure the accuracy and reliability of GCP’s financial statements, daily operations, and support for month-end, quarter-end, and year-end close processes.

One of my goals when accepting this position was to gain more exposure to a global company’s financial statements. My position allowed me to do more than that. Working side-by-side with highly experienced practitioners, I learned how to analyze the company’s financial statements and understand the information that was presented.

I was also responsible for handling and consolidating specific projects, including the Fixed Asset Record Accuracy project, for which I played a key role. This started as a fixed asset status survey for GCP offices, plants, and warehouses globally and was then followed with actual audits. The project required me to maintain contacts with financial controllers and plant managers from all over the world and taught me how a global company like W.R. Grace manages its assets. In addition, I was also exposed to the process of developing the correct procedures and guidelines for Fixed Assets handling as required by auditors and the U.S. GAAP.

Another challenging experience was the physical inventory audit, where I had the opportunity to visit one of the company’s plants in Chicago, IL. Working side-by-side with Price WaterhouseCoopers auditors as well as the plant manager, I learned how inventories were handled, audited, and controlled. For someone whose job was mostly behind the desk dealing with numbers on a computer screen all day, this particular experience was very challenging, but necessary to better understand the company.

After graduation, I intend to pursue a career in corporate finance, in which my MBA classes and past working experiences, including my time at W.R. Grace, will provide a strong foundation.

W.R. Grace & Co.Muhamad Emil AzharyConcentration Finance

Position Global Accounting

Undergraduate InstitutionSriwijaya University, Indonesia

Undergraduate MajorCivil Engineering

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I worked at Pyramis Global Advisors (PGA), a Fidelity Investments Company, providing analysis and support to Sales, Client Services, and Marketing groups. During my six months with the company, I developed and improved my understanding of the institutional sales and asset management business through providing line finance support and informational meetings with Fidelity Investments personnel.

I participated in many projects during my residency, such as multi-year financial planning and quarterly business review support, where I helped prepare a five year sales plan and quarterly business summaries for the distribution team. I also prepared an analysis of at risk assets, which was used in quarterly sales forecasting and multi-year sales and asset planning. Additionally, I teamed with Finance to develop a standardized monthly sales analysis versus plan for presentation to senior management and assisted with monthly Key Business Measures. With Finance and Marketing, I worked to refine marketing business metrics.

While working at PGA, I have gained better understanding of Institutional Sales and asset management business, discovered possible career avenues that my skill set would be suited for, and expanded my network of professional contacts.

I would like to work either in Client Services, Product Management or Distribution, in a client facing role. My corporate residency has shown that my interpersonal skills, work ethic and knowledge of the industry will make me successful in such capacity. I plan on further studying the industry and improving my understanding of the business. No matter where I end up, my prior skill set, combined with academic knowledge of the MBA program and practical knowledge of the residency will help me find a similar job elsewhere.

Pyramis Global Advisors, a Fidelity Investments CompanyElla Borochin Concentration Finance

Position Sales, Client Services and Marketing Corporate Resident

Undergraduate InstitutionAssumption College

Undergraduate MajorInternational Business/French

Eagle Investment Systems LLCJosh Berzok Concentration Marketing

Position Product Manager Assistant

Undergraduate InstitutionUniversity of Massachusetts at Amherst

Undergraduate MajorEnglish

During my corporate residency I worked as a Product Manager Assistant at Eagle Investment Systems LLC, a financial services software solution provider. At Eagle Investment Systems, I was responsible for assisting the Product Management team in the operations of the product management function. My position allowed me to gain experience that has helped me to better understand the software industry.

My key responsibilities included writing product case studies, industry articles, and other collateral materials. I also supported the writing and creation of presentation materials for product positioning, product updates, product roadmaps, look ahead notes, and other similar materials. During my time at Eagle Investment Systems, my tasks also included the management of product enhancement requests and the creation of a formalized win/loss analysis process.

My experiences at Eagle Investment Systems have helped me to better understand the financial services software industry. I have also learned a great deal about the processes involved in the development of a software solution.

My future career goals are to find a position in product management or brand management in which I can use the experience I have gained during my recent corporate residency. I believe that this experience, combined with my focus in marketing, will be advantageous for a career in either of these positions in the marketing field.

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I worked as a Process Leader at General Electric Company (GE) in Lynn, MA within the infrastructure division. This department designs, develops, assembles and delivers small and medium thrust jet engines for military and commercial applications. I was responsible for lean 5S process improvement, inventory consolidation, weekly corporate updates, and CRM management. The experience that I gained during my corporate residency has helped me to grow as a business leader, apply the skills I have learned while completing my MBA, and has set me up for a full-time position post-graduation.

My day-to-day responsibilities included managing a portfolio of a dozen projects running simultaneously, executing on plans, and delivering results. I reported on a weekly basis to the general manager of GE Aviation communicating process improvements. I acted as a liaison between cell leaders and management, as well as a mediator for our customer relationship management exercises. I was charged with reducing inventory and eliminated $50 thousand in packaging materials by working to get pack designs redone. I also removed over $2 million of part inventory, thus reducing our carrying costs by 30%.

Personally, I learned how to work with a union and non-unionized workforce. I also learned that that if you need something done, you are the best person to see it through to completion. I have also improved by abilities to delegate responsibility and ask for help.

My future plans include working within the supply chain management field. I would like to remain within GE, and am working on a full-time offer either within my current division or somewhere else within the company. My corporate residency has helped me grow as a business professional by teaching me skills that are not learned in the classroom but only gained through real-world experience.

GE AviationMatthew Christian Concentration Supply Chain Management

Position Process Leader

Undergraduate InstitutionBrandeis University

Undergraduate MajorPsychology/Sociology

I worked as a Finance Business Controls Analyst at IBM. My primary responsibility was to tackle various challenges facing the Management Self Assessment of Controls (MSAC) and Monthly Controls Reporting processes and provide recommendations by developing relevant reports with views to circumvent these issues.

I provided insight into the problems and risks of the controls posture (internal controls) of IT Delivery and how the MSAC assessment lined up against the Internal Audit results. I also created geography-specific performance scorecards and financial controls metrics that were directed to management.

During my residency, I was instrumental in the automation of various periodic reporting processes to reduce their cycle times considerably. For example, I automated and consolidated the Worldwide Detailed Monthly Scorecard and reduced the creation cycle time from seven hours to around two hours.

Throughout my corporate residency, I realized that being proactive and working hard is extremely important if one has to quickly understand the business, especially in a big company such as IBM. Also, the high volume of written communication I produced helped me a great deal to improve my business English. I learned to understand the importance of relationships and business contacts within the company and how useful they can be, especially for a person like me who is getting U.S. work experience for the first time.

I believe that my corporate residency with IBM will go a long way in shaping my post-MBA career. The important lessons that I learned from my work and the valuable advice from various experienced professionals in the company will assist me in my future. I am looking forward to a long-term career in the United States, and this corporate residency has given me an excellent head-start into the work culture.

IBMJitendra ChaudhariConcentration Finance

Position Finance Business Controls Analyst

Undergraduate InstitutionUniversity of Mumbai

Undergraduate MajorEngineering

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I worked in Human Resources at W.R. Grace & Co., a premier Specialty Chemicals and Materials Company located in Cambridge, MA. I was responsible for all on- and off-campus recruitment, managing the New Hire Orientations, building Grace’s presence on campus, and all other ongoing HR activities.

My key responsibilities covered six functional areas: staffing, on campus-recruitment, talent management, employee engagement, generalist activities and observations and learning. My greatest accomplishments in regards to staffing included my research and analysis on job posting sites, recruitment firms and alternative recruitment sources for cost savings purposes. I was also the owner of recruitment for various positions across all functions within the organization. This included pre-screening resumes, conducting phone screens and interviews, and leading roundtable feedback meetings with hiring managers and interview teams.

On campus, I was the sole coordinator of our Marketing Leadership Development Program recruiting and interview processes. My talent management focus centered on our HR review and goal alignment processes, where I assisted with identifying high potentials throughout the organization. I also worked on exit interview analysis and participated in a sales competency model for future sales recruitment initiatives.

The lessons I have learned while at Grace have been immeasurable. Personally, I accomplished my main goal of deciding that HR is the area that I would like to pursue a career in. Professionally, the experience I have gained and the confidence that I have built will become a foundation for the next steps that I take in starting my career. I have accepted an offer to remain at Grace part-time while I work towards graduation and to join Grace full-time at graduation.

W.R. Grace & Co.Victoria DaSilva Concentration Marketing

Position Human Resources

Undergraduate Institution Providence College

Undergraduate MajorBusiness Management

My corporate residency took me to London to work on the Transition Management Desk at State Street Bank. This experience provided me with the opportunity to learn about the various aspects of the world’s capital markets. The desk serves large institutional clients with their need to move money from one portfolio manager to another in the most efficient and cost effective manner possible. My main responsibility was to provide daily portfolio valuations to those clients who were in mid-transition. It was critical to provide them with the most accurate and up-to-date information as possible. This opportunity not only offered me an in-depth view of how the markets work, but also taught me the best way to communicate market information to clients.

I was also very involved in the initial transition of the various portfolios. This included informing the various parties of the timeline, as well as collecting any relevant information. I was then responsible for creating a cost estimate that would next be presented to the client prior to the actual transition. During the transition, it was also necessary to communicate with the various external and internal involved parties. It was here that I could add the most value with my prior experience working extensively with clients.

I learned a great deal from this experience including the valuable realization of how crucial key input information is. If we did not properly communicate what information we needed from the various parties involved, we would have lost valuable time and possibly even transitioned the wrong portfolio breakdown; thus, learning this process from the ground up was key to truly understanding it. These skills will help me in my future endeavours. What I learned and experienced at State Street will serve as the foundation for any career I am fortunate enough to pursue.

State Street BankCole Creighton Concentration Finance

Position Transition Management Analyst

Undergraduate InstitutionNortheastern University

Undergraduate MajorCriminal Justice

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I worked as an analyst for The Bulfinch Group, LLC, a financial advising firm, where I was responsible for assisting both the individual financial advisors as well as the group benefits department. My varied experiences have helped me determine my interests as well as discover avenues that I would not like to pursue.

My analyst duties included everything from helping advisors manage their clients more effectively, discovering new marketing avenues, and aggregating data and composing reports for clients. The experience that I gained during my corporate residency has helped me to think about processes in a bigger, more global picture as well as not neglecting key points. I have learned effective strategies in client negotiation, business and time management, delegation, and reporting.

My personal accomplishments included gaining a wealth of invaluable knowledge that came from real world experiences, rather than academia. On the value-added to my employer accomplishments, I played a key role in attracting new business prospects as well as adding multiple new clients to their portfolio. I created effective presentations, discovered new cost-saving opportunities for clients, and streamlined entire parts of their business. I was invigorated by the work, and my enthusiasm was recognized in the early stages of my employment. My employers recognized my potential and requested even more of my time; hence I chose to extend my corporate residency for another six months.

I have discovered an industry that I would like to stay in for the rest of my life. Healthcare is something that excites me, and I know that I can really make the difference that I yearn so deeply to make. My corporate residency has given me the chance to advocate for clients, help them really understand where their healthcare dollars are going, and understand what is driving their costs.

The Bulfinch Group, LLCErin GervaisConcentration Finance

Position Group Benefits Analyst/Financial Advisor Assistant

Undergraduate Institution Loyola University

Undergraduate MajorPsychology

I worked as a Financial Analyst at Raytheon Company in the Integrated Defense Systems (IDS) business area. Raytheon Company is a technology leader specializing in defense, homeland security, and other government markets throughout the world. In the Patriot Finance department, I was responsible for the closeout of Patriot Missile contracts.

Initially I was tasked with the project of creating a Missile Closeout Report, which allowed me to identify which contracts could be closed out and to look into those that were being held up by issues. I conducted a weekly Missile Closeout meeting with analysts and engineers to update closeout status and push for completion. With a similar effort being made in other areas of Patriot Programs, the Closeout Team was recognized with a Team Achievement Award for outstanding results.

Myself and fellow Northeastern residency student Machel Charles worked together on our Raytheon Six Sigma Project to develop a standardized process for closing out contracts and document procedures for putting together our closeouts reports. We also teamed with a software expert to implement a software tool designed to automate the closeout process. Upon completion of this project we became qualified Raytheon Six Sigma specialists and had the chance to present our project to the Patriot Finance CFO.

The knowledge I have gained in areas such as Earned Value, SAP, and Six Sigma can be applied to any role I take in the future. At Raytheon, I had the opportunity to not only attend classes on these topics, but also to apply them to the assignments that I was given. While every company is unique in the way that they conduct business, these are concepts and systems that are used by corporations worldwide.

The lessons I have learned during my corporate residency will allow me to advance quickly and reach my career goal of obtaining a management role. I have accepted a full-time position at Raytheon at graduation.

Raytheon CompanyPatrick Gallagher Concentration Finance

Position Financial Analyst

Undergraduate InstitutionUniversity of Massachusetts Amherst

Undergraduate MajorEconomics

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I worked within the Sourcing, Procurement and Subcontracts (SPS) organization at Raytheon Technical Services Company, LLC (RTSC) in Burlington, MA. I was responsible for a variety of projects including developing and managing several reports, leading a Six Sigma project, developing supplier profiles for the top 40 suppliers by spend, and other ad hoc assignments from management.

The high visibility Six Sigma project that I led, sponsored by the Director of SPS, aimed to develop a tool for certain supply chain staff members to use to more accurately bid supply chain labors or procurement efforts for future proposals. The team consisted of six core members, located in Massachusetts, California and Indiana. Within our six-month time frame we were able to launch a web based tool for supply chain staff to easily develop basis of estimates for new proposal efforts. The tool took historical labor and procurement data and based upon chosen criteria by the end-user, provided average labor hours and procurement data. This average, coupled with knowledge of the proposed work, allows the supply chain staff to more accurately bid work and come in under budget, upon award.

Another key project was identifying SPS’s top 40 suppliers and developing supplier profiles that provided key information regarding suppliers, including risk ratings, financials, key products, and supported company programs. These efforts were then utilized by the Manager of Strategic Subcontracts to develop supplier strategies for upcoming proposal efforts and give a better understanding of where spending could be leveraged with a supplier for future discounts.

I attended Northeastern primarily for the corporate residency, and my experience provided me with a variety of unique opportunities, including attending off-site management meetings. These meetings allowed me to gain a better understanding of the direction of the organization and see the organization from a management view. At RTSC, I was part of the team from day one, with key deliverables along the way. In July of 2009, I joined Raytheon as a member of their Supply Chain Leadership Development Program.

Raytheon CompanyCourtney Heath Concentration Supply Chain Management

Position Supply Chain Specialist, Subcontracts

Undergraduate InstitutionUniversity of New Hampshire

Undergraduate MajorEconomics and Political Science

For the past six months, I have worked as a Program Control Analyst within the Advanced Technologies program office at Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems. My three general responsibilities included: Program Control, Interdivisional Cost Transfer Management, and Financial Planning & Analysis.

For my role in Program Control, I was responsible for reviewing and reporting on the accumulated costs for cutting-edge R&D programs to Program Management and Engineering Leads. I was also responsible for setting up and configuring charge numbers to allow for the proper accounting of labor for internal baseline tracking. In addition to my role in Program Control, I managed all incoming and outgoing Inter-Organizational Transfers for my group, which authorizes a sister division to support a program. I also completed a Raytheon Six Sigma process improvement project on decreasing inconsistencies in setting up the transfers. Lastly, I supported the generation and review of key department databases that inform Department Managers of vital tracking information on the status of programs.

Some of my major accomplishments include identifying and transferring more than $200K in misallocated sales, implementing the Raytheon Six Sigma process improvement, and closing out five programs which helped reduce department backlog. In addition to these accomplishments, I was able to gain vital experience in the domain of corporate finance within a leading engineering company. Given that I have over four years of experience in the defense industry and an undergraduate degree in Mechanical Engineering, a role within finance helps round out my experiences and skill-set moving forward.

Not only has this role with Raytheon given me valuable experience supplementing my MBA education, but this rotation has allowed me to get my foot in the door with one of the world’s leading engineering and technology companies. I am currently working at Raytheon part-time through graduation and have accepted a full-time position at graduation.

Raytheon CompanySteven J. Goodman Concentration Corporate Finance

Position Program Control Analyst


Undergraduate MajorMechanical Engineering

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EMC Corporation Ryan James Concentration Marketing

Position Symmetrix Product Management Intern

Undergraduate InstitutionDickinson College

Undergraduate MajorHistory

I worked for the Symmetrix Product Management Team at EMC Corporation (EMC2). I was responsible for tracking, analyzing, and creating business cases for specialized customer requests and then creating the presentation for senior management. I represented my team on a Green Belt Six Sigma project designed to reduce the turn-around time for customer requests. I also created and executed internal surveys designed to help create a business case to change the ordering systems that the sales team uses. I learned about the technical aspects of data storage, and also greatly improved my quantitative and presentation skills each week by summarizing hundreds of lines of data into brief presentations.

My key responsibilities were tracking, analyzing, and creating business cases for specialized customer requests. The company will use the 2009 data and compare it to the 2008 data to look for like requests and add these similarities as new product requirements.

For the Green Belt Six Sigma Project we reviewed the internal custom customer requests process, with the goal of reducing the turn-around time on a sales order. Another responsibility I had was executing internal surveys to create a business case to change the ordering systems for the sales team. We maintained the logic behind the ordering process but changed the order of steps that one has to complete when ordering a data storage system, making the ordering process easier for the sales team.

I learned how relevant an MBA is to the business world. More specifically, I discovered how one concisely builds a business case, creates a presentation, and then presents the information to senior management. My future goal is to stay in product management within the high-tech industry.

For my MBA Corporate Residency, I worked on the Sales and Marketing team for the Turboshaft engine line at General Electric (GE) Aviation. I performed international market assessments in order to make recommendations for high growth Turboshaft engine sales opportunities and to support a new product introduction. This opportunity allowed me to build marketing and sales skills while I gained a knowledge base of the aviation business.

In my role at GE, I facilitated customer response strategies for a new engine proposal. Furthermore, I served as the department focal point to update GE Turboshaft web content, and I supported the GE38 engine animation video for customer use. I also performed additional market assessments, including a competitive analysis of the Turboshaft engine market, and calculated potential growth opportunities. In this role, my proudest achievement was presenting a sixty-slide sales assessment for Brazil, Russia, India, and China – also known as the BRIC countries.

In this experience, I improved upon leadership and team-building skills. Also, I was able to make recommendations and to hone my presentation skills throughout my exposure to management. Overall, I learned the role of marketing a B2B product in a technical company.

In the future, I wish to expand my skill set while enhancing my current strengths. I hope to gain experience that allows me to apply both my analytical and my creative skills; GE Aviation has furthered my interest to do so.

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GE AviationKathleen Jacobs Concentration Marketing

Position Turboshaft Sales & Marketing Corporate Resident

Undergraduate Institution Binghamton University, State University of New York

Undergraduate MajorMathematical Sciences

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I was part of the Global Consumer Promotions team at Hasbro, Inc., a leading toy and entertainment company with brands such as Playskool, My Little Pony, Transformers, GI Joe, Nerf and Monopoly. My primary responsibilities focused on the day-to-day development and execution of global promotional campaigns for the Preschool brands. I worked closely with Global Brand Leaders and their teams to develop promotional strategies designed to support marketing and sales objectives and regional initiatives. In the development of these campaigns, I collaborated with internal departments, as well as external agencies, to leverage synergies and develop integrated programs. Additionally, I facilitated daily internal communication with key brand stakeholders on the status of promotions and managed vendors and promotional agencies.

I was part of an MBA brand team tasked with analyzing a new consumer segment and developing a brand launch strategy. We conducted quantitative and qualitative market research to develop an in-depth consumer profile through secondary research, con-sumer interviews, retail visits, and expert interviews. We also performed competitive and segmentation analysis to determine the most effective brand positioning. Our final results were given as a presentation to senior management and will be utilized in future strategic planning. These recommendations included possible strategies, financial projections, marketing plans, and roll-out schedules.

From this experience, I was able gain exposure to many different aspects of consumer products marketing I had not encountered in my previous work experience. Working with the brand teams, I encountered many difference aspects of product development that had a direct impact on the development of our campaigns. Additionally, I learned the many different laws and regulations regarding marketing children’s products. Having primarily agency experience, it was very beneficial to gain client-side experience.

Hasbro, Inc. Caitlin Jordan

Concentration Marketing

Position Global Consumer Promotions

Undergraduate InstitutionSuffolk University

Undergraduate MajorMarketing

For my six-month corporate residency, I worked at Ocean Spray Cranberries with the Innovation & New Business Development team. I was responsible for analyzing product categories, providing actionable recommendations for new products, evaluating licensing proposals and assisting with advertising and packaging. My experiences at Ocean Spray were challenging, rewarding, and exciting. I strengthened my analytical and presentation skills, and leveraged my creativity and interpersonal strengths.

Over the duration of my internship, one of my biggest tasks was to assess the appeal of new categories for entry, and to identify each category’s consumers, top competitors and market trends. With the help of Nielsen Scanner & Panel data, archived company research and key personnel, I also made informed suggestions for innovation efforts and licensing strategies. One of my greatest accomplishments was learning how to synthesize extensive data and communicate its story with impact in presentations. I had the opportunity to present several of my assignments to my department’s Director, as well as a food show recap to the entire marketing department. A team member and I reported on flavor, packaging, and communication trends, and identified specific watch-outs for Ocean Spray. I am proud of my team contributions and the knowledge that my findings had implications for a global brand.

With the completion of my MBA and a continuing career on the horizon, I am especially reflective on my corporate residency’s impact. My direct manager became an influential mentor, and her feedback illuminated my strengths, areas for improvement, and career ambitions. While I seek a career that leverages my creative, teamwork, and project management strengths, I am also attuned to the analytical and business communication skills that I can continue to develop. I went into my internship curious for an inside look at CPG brand management, and I have come out of it with genuine appreciation for the field and clear knowledge of where I can best thrive.

Ocean Spray Cranberries, Inc.Sarah Jaxheimer


Position Assistant Marketing Manager, Innovation/New Business

Undergraduate InstitutionBoston University, School of Management

Undergraduate MajorBusiness

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I worked at Hamilton Sundstrand, a United Technologies Company, where I was responsible for global asset management and material demand analysis. It was my first step into non-engineering functions, including business and operation management. During the program, I not only learned new business and operation management experience but also became exposed to new corporate culture and the business model of Hamilton Sundstrand. Most of all, I established the new network matrix with coworkers, management, and fellow MBA interns from other schools. This experience will be beneficial to my operation and supply chain career path.

Even though I had some corporate experience in Korea, this US experience required me to understand new practice and culture, learn a management style and new tools, and expand my network through direct and indirect interaction and communication. Fortunately the transitioning process from old to new was relatively smooth and fast due to my familiarity with the industry.

I created a Strategy Report to identify the root cause of problems, to increase visibility of current asset management, and to establish accurate demand forecasting for optimizing the usage of available assets. I also worked with the management group to standardize current business procedures and improve the business model regarding tax and financial implications, asset optimization, and data management. This was very challenging because of a limited time window, complex organizational structure, and unfamiliar topics such as tax laws and other legal issues.

Besides the business-related core skill sets, I discovered that flexibility and a positive attitude are the most important workplace qualities. These attributes helped me to become part of the organization proactively and effectively.

Hamilton Sundstrand, a UTC Company Myung Chan Kim (Chan)

Concentration Supply Chain Management

Position Worldwide Repair/Global Asset Management

Undergraduate InstitutionBoston University

Undergraduate MajorMechanical (Aerospace) Engineering

IBMMaya Kamath

Concentration Finance


Undergraduate InstitutionMcMaster University

Undergraduate MajorElectrical Engineering and Management

I had the opportunity to work as a financial analyst at IBM. My main role was evaluating the cost and saving impacts of programs to optimize global resources through 2012. The experience I gained during my corporate residency was invaluable. I learned how to analyze data and present it to several levels of senior management. Having a worldwide position, I was able to communicate with employees globally and gain perspective on how a truly globally integrated company operates.

I spent my first few months coordinating information from various team members to prepare for monthly meetings, analyzing spend reports and learning the business. Once I had an understanding of my department, my responsibilities increased and involved creating various models.

One of my first models was to determine a method in allocating the $17M 2009 budget for a key resource initiative. This model was presented to each of the finance leads globally and approved. From this resource initiative, I also created a savings model to capture the benefits from the productivity gained, which was planned to be approximately $52M.

My last project before leaving my corporate residency was to create a planning model for tracking resources and analyze the possible savings through 2012. I had the opportunity to review this project with the IT Delivery Finance Vice President and run cases live to obtain a desired savings level of $1B.

The knowledge and confidence I gained from this residency will be invaluable as I start my career. Not only did I learn how to work will all levels of management, but I was also able to gain perspective on different management styles. As part of such a large company, I was exposed to so many different areas which allowed me to explore which area of corporate finance intrigued me the most.

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I worked as a Market Research Analyst at iET Solutions, an IT software company. I was primarily responsible for doing competitive research, creating and conducting a customer survey, and performing lead generation activities. The experience that I gained during my corporate residency has helped me to understand how a marketing department works in a small company and how to effectively market a product with a small budget.

During my time at iET Solutions, I had some key responsibilities and major accomplishments. My proudest accomplishment was creating a customer survey to gain insight on customers’ opinions on products and services. The results of the survey provided beneficial insight that will help in many areas, including dealing with current and future customers and planning for future software releases.

I also was in charge of many lead generation activities, which included organizing the company’s presence at local trade shows and vendor events, developing a direct mail piece for a slow-selling product to gain awareness and drive sales, and promoting web seminars through email blasts and follow-up emails.

I learned a lot from my experience at iET Solutions. Most of my work and research was focused on the Internet, and more specifically Web 2.0, which is where the trends are moving to in marketing. I conducted an online survey distributed through email, so I learned how to use online survey websites. I created a Facebook ‘fan page’ for my company, reaching a new audience base. Learning more about Web 2.0 and online marketing will help me in my future career. My future career plans are not very certain, but I learned that I enjoy working at a small company.

iET SolutionsAshley Lashgari


Position Market Research Analyst

Undergraduate InstitutionBryant University


During my six-month corporate residency, I worked as a marketing specialist on the female blades & razors New Products Development team at Procter & Gamble’s Gillette Division. My responsibilities included gathering research for domestic and international countries, coordinating meetings between the creative agency and the Venus team, giving feedback and recommendations on the creative presented by agency, and acting as a liaison between the marketing and IT departments for the website redesign.

While working at Gillette, I was primarily responsible for three main projects. My first project involved conducting business reviews on competitor’s brands and presenting my findings to the new product development team’s brand manager. My findings were used to help formulate the strategic direction of the Venus 2011 product launch. My second task was maintaining the new product development team’s multi-million dollar budget. This involved opening purchase orders, tracking invoices for vendors, and presenting quarterly budget updates to the department. My third major project was working with the associate marketing director and assistant brand manager on the redesign of the Global Venus website.

The research I gathered and analyzed has enhanced my quantitative skills and has helped me become a better-rounded marketing specialist. Another key accomplishment was the analysis I did of various competitors’ products. My findings and recommendations provided valuable input for the Venus 2011 product launch.

The experience that I gained has helped me to get a broader understanding of the different marketing career paths that I can pursue with my MBA degree. My corporate residency has given me an interest in pursuing a marketing career with a company that is digitally focused where I can help companies leverage digital technologies in a marketing role.

Procter & Gamble, Gillette DivisionRichard Kin


Position Marketing Specialist

Undergraduate InstitutionWilliam Paterson University


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GE AviationMatthew Lewandowski


Position Process Leader & Cell Leader

Undergraduate InstitutionUniversity of Massachusetts at Amherst

Undergraduate MajorOperations Management

I began my corporate residency as a Process Leader at General Electric Aviation. In this role, I was responsible for the implementation of lean process improvements throughout the Flight Support Center. As time progressed, I transitioned into the role of a Cell Leader, where my responsibilities included managing the Major Pack, Overpack, and Engine Upgrade Kit areas of the Pack Shop floor. Throughout the residency, I gained experience managing employees and implementing process improvements within a union work environment.

As part of my residency, I was responsible for managing a Kaizen project team, where we analyzed and implemented a redesigned picking and packing process for engine upgrade kits. The changes that were implemented resulted in a reduction in cycle time. In addition, while acting as a Cell Leader, I managed twenty four hourly employees in support of the Flight Support Center while shipping over $78 million of material throughout the last month of the quarter.

Throughout my corporate residency, I was able to improve my managerial skills by learning how to better motivate employees. I also gained a better understanding of how to facilitate cultural change throughout an organization while implementing new processes. By strengthening my managerial skills and increasing my understanding of the “pick, pack, and ship process” I am prepared to successfully advance my career as a supply chain professional.

I worked as a Financial Analyst at Raytheon Company on the Zumwalt Program, where I was responsible for analysis on the Dual Band Radar (DBR), Common Array Power System (CAPS), and Common Array Cooling System elements (CACS). The experience that I gained during my corporate residency has helped me to understand earned value in the defense industry.

I gained experience working with SAP while running various monthly and ad hoc reports. My job responsibilities also included working on customer deliverables, which are reporting requirements prepared monthly and presented to the Navy in the form of a tracking book. I learned cost/schedule performance using an earned value management system to determine if certain tasks were on track both in terms of cost and schedule. Raytheon also provided me with 70 hours of training.

My accomplishments during corporate residency included a team achievement award for successful implementation of the $540M CLIN swaps to close out contracts for DBR, CAPS, and CACS for the second and third quarters. I received Six Sigma Specialist certification upon completion my project to increase finance new hire efficiency.

My corporate residency gave me the opportunity to gain valuable experience working for a leader in the defense industry. I was able to learn advanced features of different software applications like SAP, MPM, and Excel. Besides the tangible skills that were developed, I learned how important the effectiveness of a team is and how it can improve with good management and proper dynamics.

My future career plans involve working within the defense industry in finance. The corporate residency with Raytheon has given me the experience and exposure to begin this career. I am pleased to have accepted a full-time offer at Raytheon upon graduation.

Raytheon CompanyTrevor Laverriere



Undergraduate InstitutionSaint Anselm College

Undergraduate MajorFinancial Economics, Public Policy

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As a Purchasing Assistant at Procter & Gamble (P&G) Gillette Divison, I worked as a financial analyst for internal operations as well as external suppliers. I helped balance budgets, set savings goals for the Delivery Systems spend pool, manage a tracking system to help coordinate buyers and managers on new and existing projects, coordinate shipping and manufacturing locations, optimize supply chains, and provide general financial assistance to the members of the Gillette purchasing team.

I spent the majority of my time managing and organizing the Delivery Systems’ project tracking system. This system helps the Associate Director understand the performance of his spend pool by buyer, commodity, region, product, Gillette division, and manager, as well as the overall size of the savings. By dedicating a majority of my time to this project, the Delivery Systems team was able to better understand their current financial situation, as well as identify opportunities with suppliers and products. I created a new way to collect the data, taking less time for the team to complete, as well as a method to keep the program on-going when my time at Gillette is complete.

One of the most valuable experiences I gained was exposure to working with people all over the globe. I learned the difficulties in understanding different expectations while trying to implement a program that brings standardization across all business units within a spend pool. By speaking with team members across Europe, Asia, and Latin America, I gained a better understanding of how a global company operates and the challenges that come with this kind of global exposure.

I will be staying on at P&G part time while I complete my MBA. Because the focus in my degree is split between finance and supply chain management, working in the purchasing department of a company like Gillette provides me with a learning experience that will be beneficial regardless of the industry I choose to pursue. Upon graduation, I will continue to practice the skills I have learned while working for Gillette and apply them to further develop myself and my career.

Procter & Gamble, Gillette DivisionNick Lunger

Concentration Finance with Supply Chain Certificate

Position Purchasing Assistant

Undergraduate InstitutionUniversity of New Hampshire


Hamilton Sundstrand, a UTC CompanyIris Xueqiong Liao


Position Global Asset Management

Undergraduate InstitutionGuangdong University of Foreign Studies, China

Undergraduate MajorForeign Trade & English

I worked as an MBA Supply Chain Corporate Resident at Hamilton Sundstrand, a major manufacturing company for aerospace systems and international space programs. During this six-month period, I focused on the financial aspects of global asset management. I was responsible for capital appropriation request process standardization and financial analysis of assets reallocation.

The projects I worked on focused on research and documentation of current processes, which dictate appropriate actions required to be taken when conducting asset re-allocation activity of the HS Worldwide Repair exchange pool inventory. I provided recommendations on capital appropriation request processes and closely worked with the financial department on clarifying and implementing financial policy standard.

I also conducted analysis on tax, financial, and operational performance implications associated with asset movement. I developed a simple Excel model to map out the costs and prices associated with domestic and international asset reallocation.

The experience of working at Hamilton Sundstrand has been invaluable and has greatly influenced my career direction. I have a better understanding of corporate culture in America, and I feel I have improved my communication and analytical skills in the new international working environment. I gained hands-on experience with inventory management and was able to connect with what I learned from my classes. For my future career development, I would like to work in a supply chain management role and gain expertise in this area.

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I worked in the Performance Group at an institutional asset management company. I performed many tasks that benefited the group, including finding and recording benchmarks on a daily, monthly and quarterly basis, reconciling discrepancies in performance, and assisting with the monthly rebalancing process. In addition, I worked on a project that automated indices and eliminated ineffective benchmarks.

One of my major accomplishments was the completion of an automation project. When I began my residency, I had over 500 benchmarks to update on a monthly basis, a process that took nine business days each month to finish. By contacting our vendors and working with our information systems (IS) team, I set up many automated feeds into our system, allowing the returns come straight from the vendors. The IS team was able to automate 120 benchmarks and close another 200 benchmarks due to inactivity. The combination of closing and automating benchmarks drastically reduced the necessary time and effort to update the benchmarks, as well as eliminating human error. Because of the improved efficiency, the future resident will now have more time to work on other projects and tasks that can benefit the performance group.

During my residency, the entire nation faced a crippling economic downturn. One of the key lessons I learned while at my residency was to not take work for granted, as my company was not immune to the effects of the recession. I learned to always keep working hard, and that learning never stops on the job.

When I first started my corporate residency, I was apprehensive; however, after six months I feel that continuing to work in a performance group will be an ideal situation for me. I have cherished my time there, and the lessons I have learned will assist me no matter what path I choose.

Institutional Asset Manager (name withheld)Timothy Pipa


Position Performance and Benchmark Team Corporate Resident

Undergraduate InstitutionStonehill College

Undergraduate MajorBusiness Administration

Institutional Asset Manager (name withheld)Andrew Pakulis


Position Investment Globalization Initiative

Undergraduate InstitutionQueen’s University, Canada

Undergraduate MajorCommerce

I worked on the Investment Globalization Initiative at an institutional asset manager, assisting in the development of the firm’s strategic and tactical efforts related to globalization of investment functions. My experience has helped me to develop my problem solving skills by working on many cross-functional projects across a broad array of departments and global offices.

I completed several projects dedicated to improving the mobility of employees, including guides on the overseas posting process and a technological mobility guide. These guides captured many lessons learned from the globalization effort and streamlined processes going forward. I also conducted an internal audit of the firm’s Business Continuity Plans to ensure each plan reflected the growing global presence of investors abroad. In addition, I created a handbook highlighting skills required for global managers to help develop their global management capabilities. I also worked on several projects to improve cross-geographic communication in the investment process.

One of the main lessons I learned from my experience was effective management in a global firm. While managing across time, distance, and culture presents challenges, I learned many skills on my corporate residency that will help me to overcome these challenges. I completed one project on the remote management skills global managers require, which provided me with the theory and tools to become a successful global manager. I also had numerous conference calls with global management and employees and witnessed successful remote management first hand.

I intend to work toward becoming a Business Manager at a global investment company. I also want to be involved in a global company, as travel is one of my passions. My experience has furthered this passion because I gained insight into the complexities of managing a global firm. My corporate residency resulted in a full-time position at graduation.

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Engineering

I worked as a Business Analyst in the Corporate Information Management (CIM) department at Harvard Pilgrim Health Care (HPHC), a leading health insurance firm. I was part of HPHC’s Enterprise Data Warehouse (EDW) Program Team working in the EDW analytical support group.

My primary responsibilities included providing analytical support in various projects, including requirements gathering and mapping across existing systems. I was able to build on and leverage my experience as a software engineer in a telecommunications services firm in India and further my understanding of how information technology can be used to streamline processes and create value for a firm.

My initial responsibility was to carry out user acceptance testing and quality assurance for projects involving critical business functions of HPHC. Both projects were running on a very tight completion timeline, requiring me to pick up the technological environment of the projects in a short span of time. This resulted in the timely completion of the user acceptance testing and quality assurance phases of these projects.

I also configured HPHC’s Healthcare Effectiveness Data and Information Set (HEDIS) application to inculcate Ambulatory, Frequency of Selected Procedure (FSP) and Pharmacy events to satisfy the National Committee for Quality Assurance’s HEDIS reporting requirements. I was quickly able to grasp the application’s architecture, and my efforts resulted in completion of this phase of the project in a timely manner. I also developed the Enterprise Data Warehouse (EDW) training manual to help train business users to better query the EDW.

Overall, my experience satisfied my goal of continuing to move up the value chain in the field of Information Technology and continue delivering value to clients, which in HPHC’s case are the various business functions within the company.

Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Anshul Puri


Position Business Analyst, Corporate Information Management

Undergraduate Institution Delhi University, India

Undergraduate Major

I worked as a Financial Analyst corporate resident at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts, an insurance provider, where I was responsible for information technology budget and expense management. The experience that I gained during my corporate residency has helped me to understand corporate budgeting processes and financial management.

My key responsibilities included managing the information technology operating budget planning and the portfolio of information technology projects. My key accomplishments include developing the skills assessment database system for the information technology division in collaboration with Deloitte Global Consulting, which enabled human resources to capture accurate skills data including over 1,000 skill metrics for the restructuring of the information technology organization.

I also had the opportunity to help streamline the reporting procedures for the monthly budget projections of the IT project portfolio of over 100 projects and approximately $100M annual budget through the establishment of a new business process in collaboration with over 30 project managers. I was given the responsibility of administrating the 2009 IT division operating budget planning and a 10% budget cut across the division, which entailed over 40 rigorous budget meetings with IT vice presidents and 20 meetings with the Chief Information Officer.

As a Financial Analyst at Blue Cross Blue Shield, I have strengthened my knowledge in both management training and quantitative skill development. This position enabled me to develop key skills that will prove valuable in my management career. My future plans include working in general management of financial resources and operations. Both my financial reporting skills and interpersonal skills improved substantially during this six-month experience.

Blue Cross Blue Shield of MassachusettsJacob PrewettConcentration Finance


Undergraduate InstitutionWashburn University

Undergraduate Major Computer Information Systems

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I worked as the fixed income product management corporate resident for an institutional asset manager. I was responsible for conducting competitive analysis, which assessed the company’s position within the fixed income market and helped determine ideal positioning. I was also responsible for compiling portfolio performance statistics for inclusion in client and consultant relations presentations. The experience that I gained during my corporate residency has helped me to better understand the asset management industry and to develop familiarity with how fixed income products are applied to meet institutional investors’ wide range of needs.

To perform competitive analysis, I maintained a database of potential mandates and conducted an ongoing analysis of this pipeline report to pinpoint product trends and guide marketing efforts. On a quarterly basis, I analyzed this data to highlight business activity by client type, region, and product. I also interfaced with Investment Directors and the Publishing and Creative Services group to facilitate creation of marketing material for High Yield and Credit Opportunities approaches.

Working in the fixed income department, I was given an opportunity to witness this unprecedented time in financial markets through the eyes of investment professionals. Understanding what led us to this once in a lifetime breakdown in financial markets has made me a more prudent investment professional.

Institutional Asset Manager (name withheld) Basema Safa


Position Fixed Income Product Management Corporate Residency

Undergraduate InstitutionWilliams College

Undergraduate MajorEconomics

Institutional Asset Manager (name withheld)Mehmood Saad Quedwai


Position Portfolio Specialist

Undergraduate InstitutionHamdard University (New Delhi)

Undergraduate Major Biotechnology & Genetic Engineering

I worked as a Portfolio Specialist corporate resident for a leading Boston-based institutional asset management firm, where I was primarily responsible for analyzing the performance of various asset classes, formulating investment theses, and working with the equity, fixed income, commodities, and asset allocation teams in leveraging the time of portfolio managers. The experience that I have gained during my corporate residency has helped me to build upon my understanding of various investment styles, approaches, and instruments used in this dynamic arena.

My responsibilities included analyzing sell-side research reports and drafting investment rationale for small, mid, and large cap stocks on behalf of portfolio managers and critically analyzing the company’s activities, position in a sector context, financials, forecasts, and equity valuation. In addition, I conducted performance and attribution analysis on a range of portfolios, and produced monthly client letters relating to trading and investment performance. I have helped in researching and presenting several historic events of 2007 and 2008, including the causes of the apparent volatility in commodities/futures market, the fall of major financial institutions, the unfolding of the global credit crisis, and the development of a potential U.S. covered bond market.

My corporate residency has exposed me to the rigors, risks, and rewards of working in the investment world. Working during times of unprecedented global financial crisis has been a priceless learning experience. I have been able to understand and relate textbook concepts in real-life and real-time as the crisis took shape.

I plan to build a career in investment management. I have realized that I am passionate about analyzing and valuing financial securities. Having lived and worked through a recession, I’m confident that the lessons I’ve learned at every step will help me to be better prepared in the future.

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I worked as a Financial Analyst at IBM. My main projects included the Opportunity to Order project (O2O) and assisting with the development of a five-year business case delivering $100M in pre-tax income annually by unlocking seller productivity. O2O project is a part of IBM’s transformation to become a worldwide leader as a Globally Integrated Enterprise. I gained valuable work experience in business transformation and developed strong leadership skills which will help me succeed in the area of corporate finance.

My key responsibilities were providing analytical support to high-level executives by analyzing the baseline data, pain-point mapping to business processes and recommending business solutions to drive efficiency and productivity. My major accomplishments include a contracting and credit check process improvements proposal yielding a benefit of $1M to an IBM business unit. I also assisted in the development of business proposal to transfer the pre-sales work to worldwide centers of excellence and consolidate the existing centers by analyzing the sales survey data and developed a playbook which serves as a reference guide for sellers when navigating through complex cross brand offerings. I learned and leveraged Six Sigma concepts while planning and working on my own transformation project and presented an executive summary on driving presales support in various industries. I was able to adapt to different leadership styles while working on multiple projects, which was appreciated and encouraged.

Apart from the technical knowledge, I learned how to bring change in large corporations such as IBM. I learned effective leadership styles from my observations and day-to-day interactions with high level executives. I also understood the significance of professional relationships in an organization, credibility, networking, work ethics and honesty. In the future, I would like to pursue roles in the areas of financial planning and consolidation and thereafter gain a senior position in the services or consulting business. As a first step in achieving these goals, I have accepted a full-time position with IBM upon graduation.

IBM Ankit Shah



Undergraduate InstitutionMumbai University

Undergraduate MajorEngineering

I worked in the Global Consumer Insights department at Hasbro Toys. Hasbro, Inc. is the nation’s second largest toy and game maker. I acquired hands-on market research experience while working on diverse quantitative and qualitative consumer research projects and supporting the secondary and syndicated information needs of Hasbro’s Toy Division.

I worked with the research team to provide actionable reporting of research results for clients via written reports, memos, and presentations. This led to instrumental changes in brand messaging, product advertisements, packaging specifications, and product line offerings.

Over the course of my six-month corporate residency, I worked on a variety of different research projects, producing three major deliverables. First, I spearheaded a project to present top-level findings of Hasbro’s consumers’ opinions of what it means to be “green” and “sustainable” in the global marketplace. Second, a group of MBA interns assumed the role of the internal “Tween Brands” team to determine if there was a brand opportunity among tween girls and present our findings to upper management within nine weeks. Finally, Hasbro launched an initiative to inform employees about Hasbro’s global market, covering cultural differences between the United States and each country; I was responsible for Germany.

Throughout my corporate residency experience, I used several skill sets that will help me in the business world and in my future career: creating actionable oral presentations that are client-friendly, working in large teams, meeting strict deadlines, and developing strong relationships with the clients and suppliers. In the future, I hope to stay in the market research field and work for a consumer products company.

Hasbro, Inc.Jennifer Sage


Position Global Consumer Insights MBA Corporate Resident

Undergraduate InstitutionUniversity of Vermont

Undergraduate MajorStatistics & Pure Mathematics

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Procter & Gamble, Gillette DivisionWallys Sosa Cepeda


Position Gillette Global Female MBA Coop

Undergraduate InstitutionBoston University School of Management

Undergraduate MajorBusiness Administration, Concentration in Marketing

I worked as a MBA corporate resident on the Gillette Female Marketing Team at The Procter & Gamble Company (P&G) in Boston. Procter & Gamble is a multinational consumer products company. During my six months there, I was responsible for various tasks, primarily management of the budget, acting as the single point of contact for the Regional Business Units, and supporting the launch of products. The experience that I gained during my corporate residency was invaluable and has helped to confirm my interest in brand management and my desire to work in a multinational, consumer goods company.

I was responsible for a broad array of tasks. I successfully responded to Regional Business requests from Assistant Brand Managers to Marketing Directors. I also analyzed advertising test results and provided recommendations to improve branding. I developed a PR tracker which included highlights of the latest female product. I developed a product guide listing all of the disposables sold and their features and worked with the Finance team to obtain financials of these products. I managed one of the two Marketing budgets and collaborated with Finance, Design and Marketing to ensure proper documentation.

Given my varied background in philanthropy and an advertising agency, this experience confirmed my transition onto the client side of marketing. I learned the elements of successful branding and how to read advertising test results. I also learned the importance of strong brand equity and identifying your prime prospects. I also worked on a strong team and learned that despite the size of a company, teamwork and collaboration is imperative for success.

My future plans involve brand management. I was fortunate enough to have worked in one of the top consumer products company, and the experience that I gained has helped me better understand what environment I will be moving into upon graduation.

Sun Microsystems, Inc.Nicholas F. Slipp


Position Market Development Intern, Communities and Business Applications

Undergraduate InstitutionUniversity of Massachusetts Amherst

Undergraduate MajorSport Management

During my corporate residency at Sun Microsystems, I worked in the market development group and assisted in facilitating the web infrastructure group’s organizational shift from a traditional segment management to community-focused model. The market development web infrastructure group is a part of software marketing and works to gain adoption of Sun technology and IP among Independent Software Vendors (ISVs). My actions central to the group shift involved the evaluation of comparable community models, content strategies, and social media tools. The challenge throughout was to create a functional community that is valuable, appropriate, and sustainable.

Specifically, I was tasked with leading various community centric marketing efforts. I took on the blogging responsibilities for the group and was asked to continually update the web infrastructure blog with fresh information about specific product launches, marketing offers, ISV success stories, and strategic initiatives, among other things. I also worked to analyze the usefulness of various social media tools and presented my findings to the web infrastructure market development team for implementation. At Sun, my greatest accomplishment came at the end of my official corporate residency, as I was asked to remain in a part time role to continue the community marketing efforts I had researched and implemented.

The experiences I gained during my corporate residency at Sun enabled me to develop a broad understanding of progressive social media and community marketing strategies and their role within the overall marketing communications mix. My experiences allowed me to discover how much I enjoy community marketing, which led me to decide to continue this type of work in the future, whether with a high tech company or a more traditional corporation.

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W. R. Grace & Co.Oxana Tepordei

Concentration Corporate Finance

Position New Business Development Corporate Resident

Undergraduate InstitutionAcademy of Economic Studies of Moldova, Moldova

Undergraduate MajorInternational Economic Relations

During my corporate residency in the New Business Development (M&As) department of W.R. Grace & Co., I was exposed to numerous tasks that involved project management, contract negotiation, high-level market analyses, target firms financial valuation, research presentations, and establishing and maintaining business relationships. These assignments helped me cultivate my communication, analytical, teamwork, and project leading skills.

Throughout my residency I worked on three major projects and several assignments to support various groups with ongoing projects. Two of my main assignments involved research and analyses to identify new market opportunities and make sound recommendations for the company. The third and most consuming project required the consolidation of M&A’s information and processes. Initially, I was assigned to develop a framework to organize the integration stage of acquisitions. However, due to the generated ideas and options, the array of my project was extended to the entire group of M&A processes. I identified a number of project management tool vendors and negotiated a services agreement with one of them. The application of this tool will help the department save an estimated 10% in costs due to increased information control and process efficiency.

My corporate residency with W.R. Grace helped me gain experience in working in a big organization and building relationships with people within the organization. I had the chance to work with company leaders proficient in inter-team communication and high-level management. New Business Development represents my major field of interest along with expanding my experience in Corporate Finance.

Ocean Spray Cranberries, Inc. Benjamin Steckel


Position Finance Intern

Undergraduate InstitutionBrandeis University

Undergraduate MajorEconomics & Philosophy

I worked as an intern in the Finance department supporting Operations at Ocean Spray Cranberries, Inc. I had varying responsibilities that led me to build financial models, ranging from asset depreciation forecasts to fruit reconciliation reports. My corporate residency has developed my problem solving skills and given me insight into a co-operative and the consumer packaged goods industry.

My responsibilities varied day to day. Some of my greatest accomplishments include: analyzing and contrasting corporate investment in assets over the past 20 years, constructing depreciation forecast models currently in use at all major plants companywide, and writing and presenting on utilizing the company’s system reporting capabilities to all plant controllers.

One of the main things this experience has taught me is to think objectively about how a business should operate. With that in mind, understanding the future and present of a company becomes much clearer. What I take away from my time at Ocean Spray is that problems can be solved with creativity, and that forming relationships with professional colleagues matters more than many people realize. My residency has led me to discover that being personable is a key factor in having a successful and fulfilling experience.

My plan for the future is to remain in a financial role, specifically in consulting, which is where I spent my time before joining the MBA program. My experience during my corporate residency at Ocean Spray has been useful because it is a consumer goods company that is often being analyzed in its environment. I believe this in-depth look into the company will prove to be invaluable in my future professional life.

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SandozVanessa Tortoledo

Concentration Finance/Global Supply Chain Certificate

Position Financial Analyst, Business Planning and Analysis

Undergraduate InstitutionUniversidad Metropolitana (Caracas – Venezuela)

Undergraduate MajorBusiness Administration

I worked in Sandoz, the generic drug company of Novartis, as a Financial Analyst in the Commercial Operations area of the Business Planning and Analysis department. My main responsibility was to build the forecast and month-end closing management decks of the Sales and Marketing department. I also assisted in the development of several analyses on top line to facilitate senior executives’ decision making process.

I was able to combine my previous experience in the planning area with new concepts gained from the generics industry. Also, due to the complexity and high competition inside the industry, I had the opportunity to sharpen my analytical skills and learn new tools that were critical to identify opportunities, trends or possible threats to the business.

My responsibilities included the development of the Sales and Marketing expenses estimate for the second half of FY 2008, FY 2009 budget, and the expenses tracking for month-end closing. I had the opportunity to implement new spot landing analyses on the company’s sales that are now being delivered on a monthly basis to the company’s CEO, CFO, and Sales & Marketing Vice President. I also developed a new presentation to help upper management identify how Sandoz is performing on top line and how it could increase its competitiveness in the market.

The key lesson from my corporate residency was discovering the realities of working in such a competitive industry. Not only did I have to learn a wide range of new concepts and practices, but I also had to learn how to identify the best way to analyze the business and provide top management with key information that would allow them make timely decisions with huge impact on the market.

Having finished my corporate residency, I would definitely like to build a career in the healthcare industry. With this experience I can say that I learned what the generic drug business is like in the US, and I will be able to apply this knowledge in a similar job within the industry.

Institutional Asset Manager (name withheld)Ketki Tipnis


Position Portfolio Specialist Corporate Residency

Undergraduate InstitutionPune University, India

Undergraduate MajorComputer Science

I worked as a Portfolio Specialist Corporate Resident with a well-respected Institutional Asset Management company in Boston. I was a part of the Portfolio Communications Group, which is mainly responsible for assisting the Relationship Managers and Portfolio Managers to generate product-specific content that can be used broadly within the firm. I worked closely with Portfolio Specialists to analyze and communicate fund performance and positioning across multiple equity products and asset classes. The experience I gained during my corporate residency has helped me to learn about different investment instruments in the industry and allowed me to hone my research and analytical skills.

My main responsibilities included writing monthly and quarterly investment commentary for portfolio performance for internal relationship management teams and institutional clients. I also helped in researching and compiling investment related content to help leverage the time of Portfolio, Relationship, and Product Managers. Along with other Portfolio Specialists, I created valuation models to analyze stocks. During the financial crisis which started in September 2008, I assisted in writing the market commentary that was communicated widely across the firm and to clients.

I developed an in-depth understanding of different investment strategies used across the firm, in addition to learning about stock picking and analysis. I also learned a great deal about team work, work ethics and professionalism from my peers. My future career goal is to become an Equity Research Analyst. I believe this experience has been valuable toward achieving this career objective as it has given me a solid foundation in understanding and analyzing stocks, investment approaches, and developing different valuation models.

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I worked in the Domestic Marketing Department at Ocean Spray Cranberries, where I was responsible for supporting the Foods team in designing and executing strategies and tactics for Craisins® and Ocean Spray Cranberry Sauce brands. The experience that I gained during my corporate residency has broadened my knowledge of consumer products, consumers, trade, distribution channels, commercialization, and manufacturing.

Being involved in real day-to-day tasks and projects of different kinds was a beneficial learning experience. My main responsibilities included performing consumption data and competitive analysis, which I translated into actionable insights and strategies and reported to senior managers using weekly and monthly reports. My accomplishments include: a post-season sauce category analysis that was used to establish goals and set strategies for the 2009 season; a snacking analysis that the Foods Marketing Team is currently leveraging for innovation platforms; the new Sauce Label commercialization in market for the 2009 holiday season; an online newsletter and collateral for Craisins®; and the design and execution of a cross-purchase IRC program, which is currently being leveraged and used by other product marketing departments.

From an endless list of positive experiences and learning during my corporate residency, the most important lesson I received is related to professional communication and relationships. In today’s working environment, no skill is more important to a leader than the ability to communicate properly and persuade others to achieve the desired objectives and organizational and personal success. I learned that the ability to develop and maintain strong and trusting relationships with co-workers and partners is central to a successful career. My corporate residency experience has improved my ability to communicate, persuade, and create trusting relationships, and I will continue to foster that ability to advance my career.

Ocean Spray Cranberries, Inc.Yolanda VilchezConcentration Marketing

Position Domestic Foods Marketing MBA Co-op

Undergraduate InstitutionUniversidad Simon Bolivar

Undergraduate MajorMechanical Engineer

Bayer HealthCareJennifer Yomoah


Position Consumer Promotion Assistant

Undergraduate InstitutionIthaca College

Undergraduate MajorTelevision and Radio: Advertising/Public Relations

As a Consumer Promotion Assistant at Bayer HealthCare, Consumer Care, I oversaw the execution of various promotional initiatives for the Bayer Aspirin brand. My experience at Bayer included interactions with many departments within the organization. I was able to gain a thorough understanding of the many elements involved in planning and implementing a strategically sound marketing plan.I am privileged to have worked in a mix of projects during my tenure at Bayer and have gained valuable insights into project management. My primary responsibility was to collaborate with the brand team to implement promotional events that complement other brand activities and strengthen the brand’s equity. Such projects included seeing marketing materials through from ideation to final delivery.

Relationship building and collaborative communication across various departments is crucial to being successful in the business world, a lesson that was confirmed through my work at Bayer. To execute many of my projects, I often served as an inter-mediary between my brand and partner agencies. Creating a promotional brochure meant communicating the brand’s vision to our creative agency, which would then present us with visual options. Delivery of this brochure meant close contact with the printers to ensure accurate and timely distribution. Internal interactions were equally important since materials I created necessitated approvals from various departments.

My experience at Bayer has solidified my interest in working in the healthcare industry, particularly with marketing consumer healthcare products. Being a Consumer Promotion Assistant allowed me to see the importance of consumer activation as well as the crucial role consumer promotions plays in the marketing mix. I plan to apply these marketing skills in my remaining courses and in my career post-MBA.

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I worked at Procter & Gamble (P&G), the world’s largest consumer products company. My role was assisting the Brand Manager on the Global Male Premium Systems team at Gillette. I was responsible for implementing packaging changes on over 180 SKUs and managing the global launch of new products. I was able to assist in every phase of a new product launch, from creating packaging copy to the development of television and print advertisements.

I organized and led the four-day annual Global Task Force meeting for 46 representatives from seven global regions in Portsmouth, NH. This meeting offered an opportunity to share and reapply knowledge and best practices among different countries. I was also the project leader for a task force to analyze the current management of digital assets. I helped the company understand user’s current frustrations (internal employees and external agencies), their needs, and how to make the process more streamlined.

Key personal lessons learned from this experience were the importance of networking and building strong interpersonal skills and relationships. I learned that the ability to effectively communicate with individuals at all levels within the business, with external agency partners, and with co-workers in different countries is critical to succeeding and excelling in a global business environment.

The experience that I gained during my corporate residency has helped me to develop my analytical skills and refine my eye for detail. By working on a number of projects from start to launch, I was able to understand the business and all of the factors that can affect a product launch. The most valuable lessons I learned were how to build strong equity and connect with consumers. As I continue to advance my career, the experiences, knowledge, and connections I made during my corporate residency will have a significant influence on my career path. My future career plans include an interest in marketing or brand management at a retail or consumer products company.

Procter & Gamble, Gillette Division Jessica YorraConcentration Marketing

Position MBA Marketing Intern



GE AviationSteven Zendel


Position Infrastructure Business/Operations Corporate Resident

Undergraduate InstitutionIndiana University Bloomington

Undergraduate MajorFinance

I worked as a Business/Operations Corporate Resident for General Electric (GE) Aviation, the world’s leading producer of large and small jet engines for commercial and military aircraft.

My primary responsibility consisted of running tri-daily productivity reports, which were sent to the business and cell leaders. I was also responsible for reviewing productivity data for quality and accuracy. I analyzed administrative decisions made by supervisors to reduce the occurrence of non-value added decisions tracked in business financials. My main accomplishment was the automation of the daily productivity reports using Visual Basic and Excel Macros, converting a 30-minute process into a five-minute, single button click process, allowing supervisors to track their respective productivity numbers in a real-time fashion and make more accurate decisions. I also contributed to reduction of non-value added supervisory decisions. When I started, there was an average of about 30 non-value added decisions a week, which was reduced to 10. The benefit to the company is that they can more accurately reflect the cost of production and get full credit for the parts that were worked on.

The personal lessons I learned from my corporate residency were to pay attention to the details, understand the fundamentals, and follow up with people when needed. I also discovered how the strength or weakness of the economy affects the overall success of a manufacturing business. My experience at GE has been valuable and beneficial to my career goals. I have become more adept at project management, which has enabled me to become better organized and complete tasks in a more timely and efficient manner. Although my title was Corporate Resident, my role was just as important as any other person in the plant.

My future plans entail a career in investments. Following the conclusion of the corporate residency at GE, I start a six-month corporate residency at an institutional asset manager.

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About MBA Corporate ResidencyTake Advantage of Our Talent Pool

Corporate Residency is a required, six-month, experiential learning component of Northeastern University’s Full-time MBA curriculum. Northeastern’s Corporate Residency Program present an outstanding opportunity to obtain talented resources for your immediate projects while evaluating talent for future full-time hiring. As a leader in experiential education, Northeastern University has developed a strong program that allows you to bring promising, productive MBA students into your

workplace with ease and efficiency.

Experience the Benefits

As a partner in Notheasern’s Corporate Residency Program, you will join other leading companies who return every year to recruit highly skiled MBA students for corporate residency assignments in finance, marketing, and supply chain managment/operations.

Here are just a few of the advantages of participating in Northeastern’s MBA Corpoate Residency Program:

• Skilled, temporary labor for near-term projects

• Revolving source of skilled labor for long-term business neesds

• Injection of fresh ideas, perspectives, and talent

• Professional assistance at a modest cost (salary only, no benefits)

• Recruitment and development of potential full-time employees

The six-month residency format allows students to spend more of their time working than training, resulting in increased productivity. Corporate Residency also gives you the opportunity to work actively with our MBA students to evaluate their fit within your organization as you assess your future hiring needs.

Advantages of MBA Corporate ResidencyFlexible and Reliable

Participating in our Corporate Residency Program provides you with access to skilled, motivated professionals for short, six-month assignments. Students work full-time for your organization during their corporate residency, which takes place from July through December.

Cost Effective

MBA students are paid a salary commensurate with their skill level, the demands of the position, and the local economy, but there are no benefit requirements, such as health care. Current salary ranges can be obtained from the MBA Career Center.

Easy to Manage

If you are interested in hiring students for a corporate residency, the steps toparticipate are very simple:

• E-mail your job description(s) to us at [email protected], and we will post your jobs on our MBA Career Center employment website.

• Interested students will submit their resumes online, and we will forward a resume bundle to you for review. You can also search our online database of resumes to pre-screen potential candidates.

• Let us know which students you want to interview and when, and we will set up a schedule for you. You can interview students on campus in one of our interview rooms, or students can come to your location to interview.

• You interview the students, select the student(s) you want to hire, and extend the offer. The MBA Career Center will notify those students not selected.

Your organization makes the hiring decisions and provides the student with training to perform the corporate residency position. As with any employee, you would meet with your corporate residency student to set goals, track performance, and complete an evaluation at the end of the work period.

For more information, please contact:

Lynne A. SarikasDirector, MBA Career [email protected]

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“Northeastern’s Corporate Residency Program gives students an opportunity to put into practice concepts learned from their MBA curriculum. Additionally, the program has enabled our company to prospect talent while giving candidates responsibility to assist or lead important projects relevant to strategic business objectives.”

Clive Pinto Human Resources Manager

W. R. Grace & Co.

“The students we have hired have brought energy, enthusiasm, and new perspectives to one of the major development programs in our company. We have been very successful in putting Northeastern’s talent to good use, while providing students with the kind of experiences they need to build their careers.”

Ralph Miller Director, Corporate Information Management

Harvard Pilgrim Health Care

“Northeastern’s Corporate Residency Program provides CypressTree with intelligent, highly motivated individuals who satisfy our entry-level analytical needs. The program also provides us with an invaluable preview of students’ ability to succeed in our environment, which helps us when making future hiring decisions. Many of our

top investment professionals have been selected through this process.”

Damien Mount Portfolio ManagerCypressTree Investment Management Company, Inc.

What Employers are Saying About Corporate Residency...

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