Each week we collect all the MBA news that’s fit to print to give you a quick overview of the latest trending topics from top schools around the world.
Here’s your quick MBA News You Need digest for the week of March 22, 2018.
UNC and Duke Unite to Sponsor Residencies for Entrepreneurship Thought Leaders
The University of North Carolina and Duke have always been fierce rivals. But when it comes to supporting students, the schools are on the same page. Most recently, the schools came together to sponsor residencies for four thought leaders in entrepreneurship.
“We are committed to staying on the cutting edge of what’s happening in pedagogy, research, and theory in entrepreneurship,” said Ted Zoller, director of the UNC Kenan-Flagler Center for Entrepreneurial Studies. Together with Kip Frey, interim director of the Duke Innovation and Entrepreneurship Initiative, he is helping lead the new initiative.
“As one of the best programs in entrepreneurship with our ‘Learn, Launch, Lead’ model, we will benefit from having thought leaders of this character on campus and learn from them as we make our curriculum and programs distinctive in a global manner,” Zoller continued.
The residencies are supported by a grant from the Keohane Distinguished Visiting Professorship. Among the four experts in residence who will come to the two campuses are Tom Byers, faculty director of the Stanford Technology Ventures Program, and Bill Aulet, Bill Aulet, managing director of the Martin Trust Center for MIT Entrepreneurship. For more on these and other experts in residence, check out the UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School blog.
Former Fed Chair Janet Yellen Speaks at Wharton
Could the Fed and financial regulators have foreseen and stopped the 2008 financial crisis? Former Fed Chair Janet Yellen believes it was their responsibility, and they dropped the ball big time. Yellen spoke about this and more during a Wharton lecture series interview this week—her first public appearance outside of Washington since stepping down last month. The talk was a unique opportunity for Wharton students, faculty, and alumni to hear from one of the most prominent experts on the central bank’s path to normalization.
During her interview, Yellen spoke about everything from Alan Greenspan’s responsibility for the financial crisis to what has happened since 2008 to strengthen and protect the financial system. To find out what Yellen had to say about cryptocurrencies, “elevated” asset prices, and her path to the top of the Federal Reserve, visit Knowledge@Wharton.
Yale SOM Introduces Two New Scholarships for African MBA Students
Emerging African leaders now have two new scholarships available to help them pursue their full-time MBA at Yale SOM. The Yale-Africa Impact Scholarships will provide between $70,000 and $140,000 over two years (half tuition) to merit-based candidates. These candidates must return to Africa within two years of graduation and make a two-year contribution to the economic growth and development of the continent.
Only admitted African students to Yale SOM’s full-time MBA program will be considered for the scholarship. No additional application is necessary, and the scholarships will be awarded based on each applicant’s competitiveness. “We’re excited to strengthen our ties with the continent of Africa,” said Acting Dean Anjani Jain. Learn more about this expanded opportunity for emerging African leaders at Yale News.
Olin MBA Students Learn Business from Shakespeare
What can business students learn from Shakespeare’s Hamlet and King John? During the second annual “Shakespeare at Olin” festival, Washington University’s Olin Business School MBA students will learn about taking a values-based, data-driven approach to business leadership. According to Olin Dean Mark Taylor, Shakespeare’s literature is filled with lessons that translate to the realm of business. “Henry V’s Agincourt speech is truly inspirational,” Taylor said. “Literature helps you reflect on organizational behavior and business behavior.”
In addition to learning, MBA students will also spend the day watching jugglers, magicians, and musicians perform along with performances by community players of Shakespeare’s greatest works. To learn more about the event that includes a special announcement about a new initiative at the Olin Business School, take a look at the Olin Blog.
HBS MBA Students Mentor WNBA Players in Business
Off the court, many WNBA players can have a difficult time transitioning to a post-basketball career particularly when it comes to careers in business. To make this transition as seamless as possible, the NBA’s Player Development department teamed up with Harvard Business School (HBS) and other top universities to offer business education opportunities to athletes.
At HBS, that program connected WNBA players such as Kayla Alexander (Indiana Fever) Alana Beard (Los Angeles Sparks), and Tina Charles (New York Liberty) with MBA student mentors for a semester-long crash-course in business.
“I think the purpose of the program is to build our business acumen,” explained Beard. “But at the same time, I think it has made all of us athletes step outside of our comfort zone. I couldn’t have asked for a better or more unique way to learn. This program has been a blast.” (WNBA.com)
