Executive Mentor Program Fall 08!

What is the objective of the Executive Mentor Program for College of Business Freshmen at Loyola University New Orleans?

The objective to the Executive Mentor program is to give the CoB freshmen students a real-like experiences in the business world. We had this program so that we can learn the basic of business from a professional view. This program gives us a great opportunity to meet with successful business people. It teaches us how to network with other people and to go behind-the-scene of a developed business. It is a great program for freshmens. More information can be seen at the Loyola website.

What experiences resulted in the most value for you and why?

I had a great time doing this program. Every meeting was a great experiences for me. The meeting I valued the most was the one that took place at Ole College Inn. This was the climax for this semester program. Everyone got to know about each other and was comfortable going to this dinner. We got to know the mentors and an insight of their career. I was amazed at the things they do and they places they traveled to. It was a very interesting and delicious dinner.

Did your expectations of the program change after your semester long experience with your mentor?

At first, I thought this program was strictly business and nothing but lectures and powerpoints. But this changed very quicky once the first meeting was over. I realized immediately that this will be a fun and exciting program that includes free dinner and meeting successful business people. That is exactly what I got this program this semester. Free delicous meals and insight of the business world.

What advise would you give your peers at other universities in seeking an executive mentor?

There is not any particular advice that can be given. A good executive mentor should be intellectual of the business world and also be fun at the same time. They should have a common ground with the students to hold the students attention. They should give the students good advice and a great experiences with this program.

What do you most look forward to next semester both in the Executive Mentor Program and at Loyola University New Orleans?

In the spring semester, I am looking forward to have a great experiences just like this semester. I am excited to learn more about the business world and maybe a few more dinners. Haha. But most importantly, I looking forward to my business classes. I will be taking my first Accounting class. I am excited to learn more about accounting. I know that it will be a great class and that I will learn a lot from it.

Which websites to you recommend to the readers of your blog who want to stay connected with business current events during the winter break?

A good website to look over the winter break is businessweek.com. This website gives all the new and updated news about the Wall street, the stocks, and even the newest technolgy. It is a great website to obtain more occurances from the business world. So read up and get ready for the Spring semester!

Wolves on the Prowl 2008!!

It is the time of the year for the exciting event, Wolves on the Prowl! This is a national community service directed by the student organization, LUCAP. It was November 8, 2008 on a nice Saturday morning. I wake up bright and early to be in time for this community service. Everybody met in the Peace Quad and sign up for their desired community service. And also, we all got a free t-shirt! I choose the Cubs in the Den. Our task was to coordinate games for the Good Shepherd school. It was really fun and exciting although it did wore me out. We first divided into four different teams. We were the Red Badgers! We played a series of games, tournament style. The first game was the "Team race." The task of the game was for the team to cuff arms to arms in a circle and complete the race. The rule of the game was we can't break the circle. Unfortunately, we got in third place. The next game was called "Break the Egg" or I should say don't break the egg. We had to walk forward and back with a egg on our spoon. The object of the game is do not let the egg break. Then we took a twenty minute break. We ate fruits and punch and took all the kids into the St. Charles Room for some music. The kids sang and dance until it was time for the next game. The next game was called "Capture the Flags." Like the title stated, the object was to capture and collect the most flags from your opponent and bring it to your base. There was so many kids running around, one would not know where to start! The next game will get you dizzy. It is call "Dizzy Race." In this game, we had the kids put their head on a bat and spin around five times. Then they had to walk or run back to the starting point. The kids was going in all kind of direction! Last but not least, we had a friendly game of tug-o-war. Our group consisted of 2nd-3rd graders and our opponent had mostly 1st graders but they still won! I forgot to mention, they had a little help from one of the Loyola students. In the end, the Red Badgers came in second place. We lost by one point! It was fun though. And I am pretty sure the kids had fun. After, it was time to clean up and get ready for the after party.

Unfortunately, I was unable to attend the after party because I had to go work. :[

I found and recently joined a local organization that does a lot of community service. It is a Vietnamese group that help out our community in many ways. Its main target is the youth. This organization's mission is "to reach out to the larger community to create a voice and organize to address the needs in the local community." This organization tutors and train youth to be a leader and for them to have a higher education. This organization is called Vayla (Vietnamese American Young Leaders Association)

A Night at Ye Olde College Inn!!

On the 23rd of October, we had our third mentor meeting. This meeting was a very special one. I have been eagerly waiting for this meeting because we had the choice to go to any place. On this exciting night, we was brought to a local family restaurant on South Carrollton Avenue called Ye Olde College Inn. This was quite an unusual but interesting place. I have passed this street many times but have never noticed this restaurant. This was a average size restaurant but with a old English environment. It is a comforting and nice place. The food was very tasty. I had a Carrollton Tchoup, which consisted of a large porkchop covered in a deliclious sause with a large side of sausage and duck jambalyla. This was a very satisfying meal and I would like to thank Joe and Meg Bonavita.

During the dinner, everyone started talking and started to learn more about each other, but I was most interested with Joe Bonavita stories. I learned that he has a very exciting job. He has traveled to Paris, Austria, London and many other places that one can imagine. It was very exciting and inspiring to hear these stories because it is my dream to travel around the world. The fact that it is for business makes it even better.

At the end of the night, I came home full and happy. I also came home with a little snack from my leftover.

Credit Dot Com!

What information was discussed during the presentation and executive mentor group dialogue with respect to personal finance and credit?

This couldn't be a better time to talk about one's credit during this financial crisis. This week, the CoB had a special guest speaker from Regions bank. He came and informs us about the Do's and Don't of credit use. The information was very helpful! One's credit report can haunt one everywhere. For example, credit reports can be used to determine whether or not you will get your next loan or even your next job. Having a good credit report is significant in one's future. It can make one's financial life so much easier. Here are some of the things I learned :

Good Credit Report:
- Get Loans
- Lower interest rate
- A complete car
- Own a House
- Become a Bank Officer

Bad Credit Report:
- Loans Declined
- Outrageous interest rate
- Half a car
- Rent a House
- Becoming a Roadkill Collector

...and lastly, a good credit report can prevent you from being the next Matt Foley!!

Overall, this presentation was a good idea for us (college freshmen). We are at a stage in our life that most of us are just starting to get credit cards and using it freely. If one wasn't satisfied with this presentation, then here is a site that can help prevent financial problems. >>>Need Help?<<<

CareerBeam Values and Vision

What is your vision of your ideal future?

My ideal future includes a beautiful wife and kids in addition to a great career. First, I see myself finishing college with a degree in Accounting with an guarantee job in a successful company. Then I would want to get my or a M.B.A. or a CPA( Certified Public Accountant). Secondly, I will get marry and start a family of my own. I would like to provide them with a nice, big house and the necessity they need. Then I want a balance between my work life and family life. I want to be able to come home as early as possible to spend time with my family. While doing so, I want to work my way up to be a Director of Accountants. That is the position I want to have. After I reached this accomplishment, I will retire at the age of 60 and travel around the world with my wife. We will grow old together and enjoy our life.

What are the benefits of writing a vision statement?

Writing down one's vision statement can be a useful thing. By writing the vision statement down, one can remember and follow it precisely. It also let others know whats the vision is. When working in a group or organization, it would be best to write it down and post it somewhere because it will let the employee know the organization's vision. A written vision statement will remind one of one's goals. This will prevent one from straying off one's vision.

What are the challenges of writing a vision statement?

There are many obstacles to writing a vision statement. The most common obstacles is having an undecided future. Many people are still undecided in what they want to do, but that is all right! One still have a lot of time to decide on what one wants to do. Another obstacles in writing a vision statement may be that one's vision can always change. Due to the changing situations, one's vision can change by the end of the day or even half way through the intended vision. There are many others things that change one's vision. It just depends on one's situation. These are some challenges of writing a vision statement.

Which of your values are most important to you?

Values are the most important aspect in one's road to success. One's value determine who they are and what businesses they want to work in. In saying so, don't let anyone interfere with your values. The most important values, I should say, are selfless and honesty. One who is selfless would be successful in a business. One can work well with the team and make decisions bases on the business instead of oneself. Greed and egocentric can ruin the business. One who is egocentric would make decisions for the good of oneself instead for the good of the business. Honesty goes very well with selfless. One who is honest will work well with the team. Being honest will prevent less problems within the team and business. A business without trust is a business with no future.

How do you express/display your values on a daily basis?

On a daily basis, I would help others even though there is nothing in it for me. It just feels good knowing that I can be a help to others. When there is a task to be done, I would finish it until the end and try to finish in time. I would rather get it done rather than let the workload pile up. I also have a problem with profanity. I don't say it often and I try my best not to. I don't like hearing it especially coming from a girl. It is just disgusting and messy hearing it. I am also a respectful person who shows respect to older adults. This can also be a big problem for me. It disgusts me when I see little teenagers who is rude to elder people or anybody who does not deserve it. I am very respectful to elders even though some may be very troublesome.

Organization's Visions/Values

I found an organization with similar visions and values like mines. This name of the organization is Great Lakes Industry, Inc. This is not the career I going for but their visions and vales are similar to mines.

Their visions is to be:

• "Consistently profitable"
• "Growing in targeted global markets"
• "A world-class manufacturer"
• "The place to work"

Their values are :

• "Honesty, fairness, and openness"
• "Respect"
• "Competition and Vision"
• "Responsibility and Accountability"

These are the values that I want to work in. An environment that is honest and respectful. In this kind of environment, the organization can grow as a family and reach their destination. This is an organization that is true to their values by putting it in in everything they do. With these kind of values, they will not lose sight of their vision.

A Glimpse of the Future:

Business:

-A business group that is respectable and family-like. ( I am on the far right)

Family:

and...most important of all, a beautiful woman that can be called my wife.

Executive Mentor Kick-Off. Woohoo!

What did you learn about the Executive Mentor Program?

First of all, I would like to say that I think the program is a great idea for new students of the college of business. There are so many things to learn from it and I have heard many great things. The thing that I am most excited about is the business meetings with special guests. This is a great way to meet business people whom can help me with future jobs or even with tips on starting a business. This is also a great way to be introduced to the real-life business world. There so many great things about this program. There is the dinner with the mentor, the community service, and best of all the free pizza at the end of the semester!

What did you learn about your Mentor?

On my first encounter with my mentors-yes my group has two, lucky us-we went into a little meeting room. First we introduced ourselves and the mentors introduced themselves. They are a married couple happily to be our mentors. The husband, Joe Bonavita, is a senior VP of Capital One Investment Banking group and the wife, Meaghan Ryan Bonavita, is a sales associate of Carlisle Collection, a New York clothing manufacturer. They seem like pretty fun mentors to have. They were open to new ideas of places to go. They asked us what did we wanted to go. On the third week, we were given the choices of going out to dinner or go back to their place and have a barbecue by the pool. I thought that was pretty cool. I just can't wait till week three! So far, they were nice to meet. Can't wait till get to know them and about their journey to success.

What outcomes do you expect from the Executive Mentor Program?

For this program, I am expecting but mostly hoping for a lot of things. First of all, I am very shy and not a very good communicator. I am hoping to change that. In addition, I expect to have a better sense of the business world. I hope I can learn about all the dangerous encounters and obstacles. Other than that, I am expecting to have a fun time and to have a greater interest in the business world.

Reflect on the value the Executive Mentor Program can add to your journey to being a successful person.

I think this program will be great help for me to become a successful person. This program will give me thing I need to decide if business is the right calling for me. This will give me a sample of the life of a business man. It is like going behind the stage of business. Hopefully I will like it and decide my future. Even if business is not the right thing for me, I will learn a lot about the business world which can also be useful in life. But so far, it has been great. So I will stick with it for now and hopefully until the end. This program will help me regardless of my major. Well, that is all for this week. Let's hope the following weeks will be as excited as this one! That's all folks! Tuned in for next week!