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Tuesday, November 24, 2009

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MBA Insider - A Day in the Life - B-School Journals & Rankings - Business Week Online

It's not always easy to know what each type of post-MBA job entails until you're in the thick of an internship or the daily grind. For an on-the-ground look at work as a sell-side analyst, entrepreneur, finance consultant, or strategist in Corporate America – and to help you decide what appeals to you – BusinessWeek Online invited a cross section of recent MBAs to describe in detail a typical day at work. Keep checking back to read about the myriad of jobs available to MBAs.

Consulting with the Government A Wake Forest graduate describes a typical day as an associate in the government sector of the Booz Allen consulting firm Full Version
Addressing the World's Water Needs Working in GE's water and wastewater treatment industry puts this Cornell MBA in the center of a global growth industry Full Version
A Shaving Startup: The Bald Facts What does an MBA—and a head-shaver—do with a degree? How about starting a men's product business Full Version
All In the Family This Babson graduate used his entrepreneurship degree to revamp his family business. Here's a typical day Full Version
Finding Markets for Steel A Rotterdam MBA describes her workday at the London offices of multinational steel company ArcelorMittal Full Version
MBA Hears Disney Voices This Penn State business and law school grad gets a running start at the entertainment company. Here's a typical day Full Version
A Springboard to a Career in Finance After leaving a law career, this Oxford graduate makes London home and dives into investment banking. How he did it, and how he spends a typical day Full Version
Building a Career Change After more than 25 years in the business, this interior designer went back to school for an MBA. Here's a look at a typical day in her new job Full Version
From MBA to Monster This Boston U. grad joined the online careers company's MBA development program. Here's a typical day Full Version
Hitting the High Notes How this Wisconsin grad's specialized MBA from the Bolz Center helped him bring a competitive edge to a nonprofit performing arts organization Full Version
Sailing Past B-School A Darden grad takes on a new challenge from the Navy Full Version
From Harvard to Beauty Startups How threading, an ancient hair removal technique, is going mainstream with an MBA graduate's chain of salons Full Version
Helping Businesspeople Stay in Business Self-starting Columbia alum Elena Bajic identified a problem—the inflexibility of corporate life—and founded a company to help solve it Full Version
A London Posting with Sony In describing a typical day at his Sony mobile content division, this RSM Erasmus alum emphasizes working across media, businesses, and borders Full Version
Managing Indigenous Assets Southeast Alaska alum Vic Scarano weighs in on his responsibilities as CFO of an Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act corporation Full Version
Facilitating Technology Transfer An MBA in science and technology helped this Queen's graduate realize she wanted to champion the business side of scientific research Full Version
Building Business the Organic Way Armed with an MBA and a wealth of corporate experience, this IE alum prepares to launch a good-for-you fast food business Full Version
A Post-MBA Recipe for Success A Florida International graduate follows her heart and starts her own cupcake business. It's a labor of love Full Version
'Unlocking Value' at Microsoft After getting a Kellogg MBA, this nontechie became a software product manager in Redmond. Here's a typical day Full Version
Marketing Green Power A Rotman MBA describes a typical day as business development manager for a green electricity startup in Toronto Full Version
Working in Harmony A former opera singer turned banking consultant finds that life on the job has lots of similarities to being onstage. Here's a typical day in her life Full Version
Always on the Go at Big Blue Every day is packed with meetings and demos for this Bentley grad who works in software product development at IBM Full Version
Ma Bell Meets Hollywood An Illinois MBA talks about his work at AT&T's Entertainment Services division, which wrangles content for television, PCs, and mobile devices Full Version
A Manager Mom's Very Busy Day This Boston MBA's typical day involves meetings, planning for presentations, and keeping an eye on the day-care pickup schedule Full Version
Going for the Sweet Spot This ESSEC grad's Parisian chocolate company focuses on doing good as well as tasting good Full Version
Making Her Business Sparkle This Babson MBA is using her entrepreneurial training to help develop her jewelry company Full Version
Taking the People Track This Boston College MBA switched her focus from technology to HR strategy. Here's a typical busy day Full Version
Ringtones and More in Kabul Running a tech business in Afghanistan presents unusual problems—and keeps this entrepreneur might busy Full Version
Life Before Yahoo! Stanford MBA Mike Folgner co-founded a video-editing and -sharing site a year ago, and sold it to Yahoo! last month. Here's a day in the life—preacquisition Full Version
An Aptitude for Numbers This grad with an M.S. in quantitative finance from Michigan describes a typical day as an associate in the New York office of UBS investment bank Full Version
A New Brand of Coffee Achiever: Brian Smith This Kelley grad works at a joint venture of Pepsi and Starbucks. His job: Developing new ready-to-drink products. Here's a typical day Full Version
Managing a Brand: Concept to Product This Georgetown MBA talks about a typical day as a Unilever brand manager and how important it is to be passionate about your work Full Version
Marketing Victoria's Secret Working for the world-famous lingerie retailer wasn't on the radar screen when this MBA was attending Indiana's Kelley School Full Version
Stress and Satisfaction at a Texas Spa Pedicures are just part of the product line at a spa opened by this McCombs MBA. Here's a sample of a day in her work life Full Version
Entrepreneurship Is a Good Fit Babson MBA Romney Evans describes a typical day at his startup Web site where customers each can select jeans based on their own measurements Full Version
Going the Distance for AIDS Services As CFO for AIDS Project Los Angeles, Sona Chandwani is involved in financial planning for the National AIDS Marathon Training Program Full Version
An International Focus This Thunderbird grad works at a Seattle nonprofit aimed at providing income-generating opportunities for the Third World poor Full Version
Long Days in M&A A KeyBanc associate kisses his baby daughter good-bye, then spends 15 hours on the job. But he knew what he was getting into—and likes it Full Version
Taking Nothing for Granted "I'll always remember the day I decided to give up a consulting job offer in New York City to restart my own firm. Looking back, it seems like a crazy thing to do." Full Version
Time Management It's hectic being the marketing and communications chief for a luxury watchmaker—and there are just so many hours in a day Full Version
Nurturing Newborn Firms This Purdue MBA works at a not-for-profit helping early-stage companies with high growth potential Full Version
Planning for Disaster This Ivey MBA says his job as a business continuity analyst at an investment firm is a good way to learn how a company works from end to end Full Version
Taking Risks to Save the Earth This Stanford MBA found her niche at the "intersection between entrepreneurship and the environment" Full Version
A Hobby Becomes a Business This Maryland MBA turned a jewelry-making hobby into a startup business. Her MBA experience helps her see the big picture Full Version
Taking on a Startup "The most enjoyable part of my job is that it isn't really a job. It's an opportunity to create a business out of an idea," says this Lally MBA Full Version
Growing a Solution to Hunger The founder of an organization devoted to helping poor farm families in Kenya talks about a typical day in the field Full Version
Managing Customer Service This Texas A&M MBA is getting an expansive view of AT&T's operations through the company's Leadership Development Program Full Version
The Sporting Life “The sports management industry is extremely difficult to enter. There is no shortage of people—especially men—who would like to spend all day working with professional athletes” Full Version
Providing "Insight" to Clients At Oracle Consulting, this Notre Dame MBA works on a strategic program that helps clients focus their business goals and strategies Full Version
A Long Day on the Homefront This part-time MBA student is on the go from 5 a.m. to midnight helping savvy investors make the most of real estate deals Full Version
Pushing the Right Buttons Knocking on Hollywood's door and letting the creative juices flow to keep Microsoft's Xbox game console on top is all part of the job Full Version
Two Wheel Drive at Specialized In the cycling industry, this Canadian marketing manager has come to realize, "If you don't understand the passion, you're out of touch" Full Version
On the Ball at Bain & Co. As a consultant, this Indian Institute of Management MBA has all the research, analysis, and client presentations she can handle Full Version
Love My Business -- Cross My Heart This Columbia B-school grad used her own experience and love of design as the basis for starting her own lingerie company Full Version
This Software Startup is Right on Track Founding a software company in the Bay Area is like pushing a train, says this CEO. It's heavy at first, but momentum starts to carry you Full Version
A Ship-Shape Startup McCombs MBA Mickey Millsap stayed in Austin to start an online shipping clearinghouse. Here's a typical day for this entrepreneur Full Version
Days of Wine and Business Running a wine advising and consulting business gives this MBA the freedom to learn all she can about her chosen field Full Version
Games Aren't Just Child's Play Building a small company to publish and market original board games is a painstaking business. Here's how one MBA-entrepreneur spends his day Full Version
Where the Startup Spirit Leads Him The CEO of branded-products vendor Spirit Shop finds that running a business comes with a lot of work -- and even more satisfaction Full Version
Always on the Run at Accenture Despite PowerPoints, printer jams, and morning wake-up calls, working in the London office of a global consulting firm is a pretty "cool" deal Full Version
On Further Investigation After completing a Labor Dept. rotational program for recent MBAs, this U. of Denver grad works as an investigator for OSHA Full Version
The Recipe for Success This entrepreneur is learning the restaurant business from the ground up as he seeks to expand his fast-service Indian takeout business Full Version
Peaks and Valleys An international MBA finds his work-life balance with a global corporation in the shadow of the French Alps Full Version
Making Tough Calls at Motorola Negotiating with software suppliers requires business and technical knowledge. An MBA provides the background needed to size up new vendors Full Version
Greetings from Cleveland An MBA led this former card shop employee to an executive position with American Greetings, working to come up with cards that will please Wal-Mart shoppers Full Version
A Corner-Office View at Philips A manager in charge of advising on acquisitions and divestments needs a working knowledge of all areas of business. That's where an MBA proves essential Full Version
One Sweet Gig The daily grind for this MBA includes meetings, factory visits, and plenty of coffee -- which goes well with his company's product, chocolate truffles Full Version
A Helping Hand Up from Poverty For this Thunderbird MBA, daily work entails tapping the resources of financial markets to provide microloans for the world's poorest citizens Full Version
It's Getting Easier Being Green Starting a business that respects the environment and still turns a profit is quite a challenge -- one I've learned to meet Full Version
Selling Marketers on MSN To promote the new opportunities at Microsoft’s Internet portal, this Boston U. MBA must speak the language of VoIP, RFID, and RSS Full Version
Working Across the Organization Wisconsin grad Kevin Weadick enjoys the fact that his job at Grainger allows him to "interact with virtually every functional area of business" Full Version
Every Detail Is Important "As a new company in a new space, we need to exceed client expectations," says Ivey MBA Mark Healy Full Version
Living an Entrepreneur's Dream An SMU MBA finds that running a business that spans continents makes for long but fascinating days Full Version
Blending Beauty and Business For Saïd EMBA student Max Rutten, daily studies alternate with running his gallery, which sells decorative paintings and antique grand pianos Full Version
An MBA's Starring Role in Moviemaking Filmmaker Li-Anne Huang likens producing an indie movie to running a small company and reveals the B-school know-how she relies on Full Version
New Horizons at Clear!Blue Todd Smith found starting a small marketing-communications outfit tough, but now the CEO finds that every day offers fresh possibilities Full Version
Kelly Damron, Sole Practitioner She explains how her MBA/MSIM led to her to start her one-person business-planning outfit, which she runs while raising twin baby girls Full Version
Defining My Own Role With a newly created position, Intel's Ron Javor has the freedom -- and responsibility -- to determine the best ways to get the job done Full Version
The Winning Formula A day is full of shifting gears when you're helping build a new Formula One racing team Full Version
Bringing Up the "Little One" It's a varied day for a Babson grad at his startup company, P'kolino, which is developing children's play products Full Version
Giving Out Money Is Hard Work A program officer at a foundation finds his MBA useful in developing fund strategies and identifying prospective grantees Full Version
Bringing "Can-Do" to Government At the Labor Dept., Karen Rigby is helping Uncle Sam adopt a business-oriented approach Full Version
Keeping An Eye on the Data Financial reporting is the main responsibility for this MBA at a D.C.-based asset-management firm Full Version
Today's Forecast: Busy, Busy, Busy For James Brune, a regional director at Weathernews, the daily forecast calls for travel, meetings, and planning new products Full Version
No Time to Smell the Flowers For this Babson MBA, an online bouquet business requires HTML proficiency, floral-arranging skills, and an added sprig of marketing Full Version
Concierge with an MBA Shopping for a client, cultivating contacts, teaching a class, recording radio ads -- it's a wonder I find time, somehow, to stock up on groceries Full Version
Building the Bid-ness at eBay Developing new products and marketing initiatives at the online auction site taps the technical and business skills of this Boston U. MS-MBA Full Version
Stage-Managing the Theater of Sales "Typical" doesn't apply to any part of a career in advertising, says this New York City-based account exec who minored in musicals Full Version
His Sights Are on Video Telephony At SightSpeed, CEO Brad Treat's day is filled with developing marketing opportunities, watching the "burn rate," and talking tech Full Version
Nanotech's Multidisciplinary Challenge Pearl Chin, with a Cornell MBA and PhD in materials science, talks about her job helping startups build a business in this burgeoning sector Full Version
On the Human-Rights Watch at BP This MBA is helping the British energy giant address this delicate and complex topic in the countries where it operates Full Version
Minding Ps & Queues in London As a GlaxoSmithKline brand manager, my daily mantra is "product, price, place, promotion" -- and a fifth P, too: Prioritizing Full Version
Sleeping on the Job It's all part of an average workday for Arshad Chowdhury, Carnegie Mellon B-school grad and co-founder of MetroNaps Full Version
Crafting a Company from Bottom Up Spark Craft Studios takes the "club" concept to a new category, led by two recent MBAs who call this "the third year" of B-school Full Version
Driving Business in Beijing For an MBA working in engine distribution, the day includes a sunrise conference call, listening to experts, and meals at his desk Full Version
Running on Diesel A day of work at Bosch Corp. in Stuttgart requires German-language skills, good salesmanship, and three cups of coffee Full Version
Turning Dumplings Into Gold Stern MBA Kenny Lao describes a typical long day working to streamline operations at his successful New York eatery Full Version
Dawn to Way-Past-Dusk in Dubai Setting up a new Mideast office, recruiting new hires, and 6 a.m. phone conferences all figure in this MBA's 14-hour schedule Full Version
The Sporting Life For Frank Excel Marley III, a day of prize fights, celebs, and tough contract negotiations is par for the course Full Version
A Consultant's Entrepreneurial Approach IT strategist Lisa Breytspraak describes her day and discusses how an MBA has helped her develop the company she's working in Full Version
Marketing Moves at the Mouse House That's the area career switcher Wenny Tung shifted into at the Disneyland Resort. She reveals how her B-school classes came in handy Full Version
Heeding the Call of Duty Regi Jacob discusses how his passion for distraction and an MBA led him to his dream job at video-game maker Activision Full Version
A Progressive Business Model Hayden Hamilton, a graduate of Oxford's Saïd Business School, discusses his startup, ProgressiveRx, which offers low-cost prescription drugs Full Version
Luxury Vacations Can Be Hard Work Sebastian Cardarelli gives us a look at an average day selling memberships in Exclusive Resorts, which he joined after obtaining his MBA Full Version
Grooming L'Occitane's Financial Performance Sam Duffy on her role as finance director at the French luxury cosmetics outfit's British unit and how her MBA informs her decision-making Full Version
The Big Picture at Samsung Cordula Oertel on her job as a global strategist with the Korean giant and how she laid the groundwork in B-school for winning the post Full Version
The Hard Truth About "Soft" Courses Branding and marketing are vital to establishing a skin-care line, a B-schooler discovers Full Version
Pumped Up at Enbridge Moin Kazi relates how his choice of MBA courses helped him to win a risk analyst job at the gas utility and what a typical day is like Full Version
A Balancing Act at Intel Bernie Kim wanted a challenging mix of work and life after getting his MBA. Here's how he found it in operations finance Full Version
A League of His Own Dave Kaval fulfilled a lifelong dream when he and a friend co-founded an independent baseball league. Here's a glimpse of one busy day Full Version
Reel Life at Cannes A 19-hour day and lots of practical savvy helped build my business at the fabled film festival. My B-school education didn't hurt, either Full Version
Building a Foundation for the Future Through her company's MBA leadership-development program, Dana Kyles will fill several jobs over five years before settling down Full Version
A Job with Room to Grow Working for a small consulting firm gives Kelsey Leigh Kitsch more opportunities to think outside the box Full Version
Swapping Boots for Barclays Former British Army officer Rob Dornton-Duff used his MBA to score a job at an investment bank, helping multinationals manage their debt Full Version
In the Big Leagues Now Keith Law's MBA, combined with his baseball knowledge, helped him to win a dynamic job with the Toronto Blue Jays Full Version
A CEO Earns His Wings As CEO of America West, W. Douglas Parker knows what it takes to make it to the top: "Take risks in exchange for more responsibility" Full Version
Striving for "A-Ha!" Insights David Garrison helps both clients companies and his employer to innovate and prosper in his role at a management-consulting firm Full Version
The Many Ways of Measuring a Bank Scott Anderson tracks analysts' opinions about Capital One, and does research and analysis aimed at creating new business Full Version
Double-Checking the Books At Deloitte & Touche, Megan Hess specializes in providing financial advice in litigations and fraud investigations Full Version
A Doctor Who Treats Hospitals An MD and now an MBA, GE Healthcare consultant George Mathew helps hospitals improve their bottom lines Full Version
Committed to a Cause Aiding the less fortunate is the reward for Anita Schavemaker, who helps run a Dutch nonprofit after nearly 20 years in business Full Version
A Startup Finds an Opening B.A. Maze's big idea is a product that helps older people grip hard-to-open bottles, as CEO Robert Mazur explains Full Version
Thriving in a Software Startup David Chang says his MBA gives him a roadmap for helping an online-billing firm prosper Full Version
Learning the Ropes in Retailing From Stanford to Toys 'R' Us was quite a jump, but Sucharita Mulpuru was surprised by how well B-school prepared her for it Full Version
Managing a Global Startup from Home For Darren Palmer Amundson, building a virtual U.S.-Indian tech enterprise has been hard -- but highly rewarding -- work Full Version
Getting Off the Ground in Germany As founder of a sales-and-marketing unit for a U.S. medical company, Paul Krell has to keep expenses in check while building healthy sales Full Version
A Consultant with a Purpose Vince Cavasin works with a tiny firm, but he finds it "beautiful" because of the passion he brings to it Full Version
Making Dollars from Paper Lauren Winer Marrus draws on the skills and contacts she gained in B-school to help her build a successful stationery business Full Version
Brainstorming at Big Blue As a software strategist, Rajesh Krishnan "focuses on identifying the right technologies," ones that customers really want Full Version
Drawing the Plans at Accenture In her role as strategy manager, Alexa Michl devises finance plans for clients, then finds ways to put their goals into action Full Version
A Passage to Iraq As a USAID program manager, Bryan Kunitake went from B-school to helping restore electricity and potable water to a war-torn land Full Version