Kevin Odenwald
Tuesday, December 06, 2011
Self Development
The Real Business Experience benefitted me more than most classes I will ever take throughout my college career. Even though I had strong communication and writing skills along with a strong work ethic going into the course, RBE improved my skills and tested my work ethic throughout the entire course. I was given an extreme amount of situations to hone my talents or learn something new in all the various assignments given, which I would not have had the opportunity to do in most other courses.
One of the main areas that I improved in was creating and executing presentations. With all the presentations assigned for the class – which seemed to average once a week – I learned to be efficient and decisive when making a presentation, to choose what information is the most important to present, and to present with other people. Another aspect that I know I need to work on because the RBE class showed me is my delegation skills. I took much of the work load upon myself for various reasons, and delegating some of that work to other team mates would have made the experience less stressful and more fun. I like the Butler Business slogan of “Real Life. Real Business” and for the RBE class I would add “Real Improvement.”
Course Content
Reality Check – This book not only was interesting, it was extremely informative about many aspects in the business world. From customer relations to PowerPoint presentations to innovation, Guy Kawasaki gives incredible insight that every person, whether younger or experienced, may use in his/her career.
The Entrepreneur’s Survival Guide – This book was informative and right to the point when discussing various topics; however, it was not an interesting read but was very dry.
Case Studies – These assignments offered situations and perspectives from the real worth that allowed for the class to make decisions with the research already done. The case studies provided a type of learning that blends the “classroom” learning style with the “experiential” learning style because they included a real experience in the research for the class to read and analyze.
Business Plan – The business plan allowed the students to get a first hand, first-time feel of running a business. The teams had to brainstorm about many different areas of a business, relate the ideas together, prove the teams’ ideas would work, and use Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint to present those ideas to the mentors and fellow students. In doing all of that, the team created a business and wrote a business plan along with learning key concepts that the course was designed to teach.
Professional/Career
Real Business Experience improved and taught me skills that I will use throughout my professional career in the business world or most other industries for that matter. This whole experience effected me strongly enough and holds enough importance in my life that I am using it on my resume. It covers a great number of areas of learning in a way that most colleges fail to use and stands out to future employers.
The class does so well with helping a student learn the appropriate skills is due to the professionalism of the course. During class the discussions seem more like business meetings instead of a classroom where a professor lectures to a group of students. The agenda for the day is shown and usually updates from the different areas of the class (the different teams) are presented. The whole experience is one to be reflected upon and applied to one’s career.
Lauren Lucas, '12
Monday, November 07, 2011
Real Life, Real Business to me is the integration of my class work and internships. Through my two internships, I have been able to apply my knowledge from the classroom to real projects that benefit a company. To me it cannot get more real than that.
Bronwyn Polachowski, '12
Thursday, November 03, 2011
I am a career changer who is currently under-employed. When I started pursuing MBA programs my biggest concern was that I did not want to sit in what would feel like a glorified-undergrad program that taught a lot of theory which would be useless outside the classroom. The Butler MBA is everything I wanted out of an MBA program because it embodies Real Life, Real Business. Every class equips me with tools that I can use to advance my career the next day. Even theories are taught in applicable ways that benefit students immediately. The Real Life, Real Business approach has already helped advance my career much quicker than expected and I am confidant that it will continue to do so.
Ginger Lippert, '04
Wednesday, November 02, 2011
As an alumna, current MBA student, and employee of the Butler Business Accelerator, I feel fortunate to see examples of Real Life, Real Business every day. During the day, I work with other Accelerator professionals, faculty, and students to help mid-market, Indiana businesses with marketing strategy and implementation. During the evenings, I go to class and experience case studies, simulations, and guest speakers from local companies that assist with my professional development. These Real Life, Real Business opportunities differentiate Butler's College of Business from others I have seen. Each day presents new business challenges, and Butler's curriculum has provided me with the resources that I need to find the right solutions.
Lauren Jones '12
Tuesday, November 01, 2011
“Real Life. Real Business.” is the connection between classroom learning and on-the-job skills application. I have completed my two for-credit internships, at Johnson & Johnson and Eli Lilly & Company, and I have also spent two semesters working with the Butler Business Accelerator. The dynamic pairing of coursework and relevant job experience facilitated by the College of Business builds sound moral character, marketable proficiencies, deeper and broader thinking in the classroom, and the confidence necessary to succeed in business today.
Ed Friel
Tuesday, November 01, 2011
One of the best learning experiences in RBE comes when "the wheels fall off"....when something goes wrong in the business. An order is cancelled; a team member fails to do his/her share....a supplier fails to follow through. When students come to me with a dejected look and tell me of unexpected problems, I smile inside and tell them, "good..... Now you have to find a solution".
That's what happens everyday in the business world, and students need to learn how to be creative and solve problems. That's where the RBE experience excels!
Julie Schrader '01, MBA '08
Tuesday, November 01, 2011
I am a two time graduate of the Butler University College of Business and couldn't be more proud of my education. During my MBA courses, I was exposed to real business cases and leaders in the local area, and have been able to apply what I learned in the classroom to my role at the university. I truly enjoyed learning from a highly skilled faculty and appreciated the flexibility, mentoring, and access to real business problems and connections!
Bill Rieber
Tuesday, November 01, 2011
The most interesting aspect my economics courses is the application of analytical tools to understanding world events, whether it's considering the value of the U.S. dollar versus the euro or Chinese yuan, or whether landlords or students bear the larger burden of property taxes in college towns. Further, we discuss how business profit-maximization relates to efficiency and fairness associated with economic activity. The tools allow students to do their own thinking not only in the course but also as they progress in their academic, professional and personal lives.
Michael Kedzie
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
Real Life, Real Business means being part of something greater than myself. Besides the two required internships, the COB allows me to become a global student, with a chance to study abroad in Madrid for a semester!
Skeets James
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
We are fortunate to have a “reality” college here in Indy, one that is customer-focused, including on the immediate customer, the student, as well as the ultimate customer—organizations that employ them. I offer my perspective as the ultimate customer as I have used interns and hired Butler grads on several occasions and have had the opportunity to compare them to those from other institutions. There is a noticeable difference in terms of maturity, business knowledge and functional expertise. Butler students are heads above. Congrats to those who work to generate this talent pool for business. I suggest that the tag line Real Life, Real Business is missing another “reality”—Real Superstars.
Jon Barada
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
"Real Life, Real Business" is a compelling, differentiated mission that resonates with alumni, donors, and the corporate community.
Krystal Dawson (c/o '04)
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
Real Life, Real Business is the valuable, realistic view points and preparation that my CBA faculty provided me with. They were always approachable and helpful, during and outside of Undergrad. The real-world applications that they taught me continue to carry me through my career in Market Research and for that, I am eternally grateful to them, especially Dr. Skinner, Professor Williams, and Professor Recht. THANK YOU again!!
Marv Recht
Monday, August 22, 2011
Each of us in the College of Business has a responsibility to prepare our students for their professional careers. Our relationship with our students doesn't end with their graduation. I, for example, provide the students in my Career Planning & Development class with my "lifetime guarantee" and am always pleased when years later I'll get an email with the subject "Lifetime Guarantee" and have a career-related question or comment.
Chris Potts
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
To me, "Real Life, Real Business" means more than just putting into practice that which you are taught. It also means getting engaged in the sometimes messy, sometimes challenging, but often rewarding moments of teamwork and working with others, both in AND outside the classroom, to study and propose solutions for REAL business issues and challenges.
Kathleen Hood, SND
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Real Life, Real Business is about the tremendous opportunity I have to serve in my role as the Budget Director of the Butler University College of Business, and to interact with students as they formulate and present an original business plan, and then start up and operate that business.
Stephanie Judge
Thursday, June 23, 2011
To me: real life, real business is loving what I do every day--spreading the word about the College of Business!