Blog Archives

Are business Courses actually useful?

3/27/2022

Here at Ohio State, business students studying at Fisher College of Business can all bond over the shared experience that is business core classes. All OSU business students must take these classes in order to become a well-rounded professional in the corporate world. This week, I asked UBWA members Morgan Sousa, Adriana Mendoza Vargas, and Katarina Ifantis what is one impactful business class you’ve taken and how has it prepared you for the business world? Whether you’re a first-year trying to plan next year’s schedule or a junior trying to get through these last five weeks, their insightful responses should provide some inspiration.

Morgan Sousa is a second-year finance major. This is her first year in UBWA. One of her favorite UBWA memories was going on the thrifting trip at the beginning of the year. “I met many awesome people then and immediately felt welcomed into UBWA,” says Morgan. Two classes that helped prepare Morgan for her future career in finance were Introduction to Accounting I and II (ACCTMIS 2200 and 2300). Taking accounting provided Morgan with relevant skills and information for the business world. As Morgan states, “Accounting became a subject I enjoy and it opened up more paths of interest for me after college.” Even if you’re not a finance or accounting major, Introduction to Accounting can help you develop analytic skills and give you a greater understanding of the financial reporting all businesses must do.
Similarly, Business Skills and Environment (BUSMHR 2292) is an impactful course for students across specializations. Adriana Mendoza Vargas is a second-year logistics major with a minor in Spanish for business. She has been a member of UBWA since her freshman year. One thing Adriana enjoys about UBWA is the opportunity to connect with and support her fellow women in business. Her favorite UBWA memory was painting tote bags and getting to meet new people at the recent cozy meeting.

Adriana would say BUSMHR 2292 was her most impactful class because of its real-world application. Knowing that the work she did in class would prepare her for the future, made the class more enjoyable. In addition the ongoing group work and discussion-based nature of the class, “forced me to come out of my shell a bit more and force myself to talk in class and with people outside of class”, says Adriana. Impactful classes go beyond transferring information into boosting student confidence and preparing them for the future.
Katarina Ifantis is a second-year finance major. She joined UBWA at the beginning of this year. One of her favorite UBWA experiences was preparing for the career fair during Business Boot Camp. As Katarina states, “It was one of the first times I really experienced the association as a community of supportive women that want to help each other above anything else.” Katarina also found BUSMHR 2292 to be one the most impactful business classes that she’s taken. One reason for this is that BUSMHR 2292 helped her to become more confident. According to Katarina, “I learned so much about the value of my voice in the work environment and how to use it to the best of my abilities.” In a business world where women’s voices too often go unheard, learning how to speak up is a game changer.

While we may feel far away from our future goals, rest assured that the work you do today is helping you prepare for tomorrow. Don’t forget to appreciate all the ways you’ve learned and grown this year, whether you’ve become a better communicator or finally figured out the difference between assets and liabilities. Though business classes may be difficult, they’re hopefully preparing us for a future we might not yet realize.

Allie Caldwell

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Developing a global mindset

3/20/2022

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The desire to travel, see the world, and experience new cultures is a very common dream and aspiration among people throughout the globe. Instead of feeling content with staying in one place, there is a yearning for more. I would know, because I am one of these people that have this extreme wanderlust. A dream I have had since I was young was to visit a foreign country and experience the different lifestyles of people unlike me. Once I found out I had the chance to visit Italy for a short trip during the summer, I knew I had to jump on it. Through the Fisher Global Immersion Program, I will be visiting Italy for 8 days in May. During these 8 days, our group will be visiting multiple large companies throughout Italy to learn about their inner workings. While my excitement is running rampant, I, of course, also have a healthy amount of nervousness. How do I adjust to the new culture? What are the differences in etiquette between Italian companies versus American ones? Will there be a language barrier? And overall, how do I develop a global mindset?

Before going to Italy, I have to answer the question of how to adjust to the new culture gracefully. Since our group will be representing Ohio State as we visit these companies, I knew I should have a better understanding of a global mindset. To gain more knowledge on the subject, I reached out to Beth Blue, the founder of UBWA and a 2003 alumni of OSU. Beth has an extensive and impressive career in business, and more specifically, finance. Beth began her career at Procter & Gamble in Cincinnati, where she spent 8 years in 5 different positions. Two of those years were spent in Minneapolis, where she explains that she was “first bitten by the relocation bug”. After leaving Procter & Gamble, Beth next worked for Cardinal Health in 6 different roles in 9 years. For 3 of those years, Beth worked as an expat in Zurich, Switzerland. She is now the Finance Director of Global Consumer Payments at Amazon as of 2021 and is currently living in Seattle, Washington.

The decision to work abroad is significant and is often met with apprehension. When I asked Beth if she had planned to become an expat or whether it was spontaneous, she answered that it was a mix of both. Being so spontaneous can be intimidating, but Beth explained that “...the most exciting opportunities in life are unexpected, so while I generally know what I want (goals, values, etc.) I don’t plan every step”.

Another aspect to consider is the culture shock of living and working in an entirely new place; it can be difficult to adjust. Beth explained that one way she was able to adjust was to live in an area that was made up of around 25% of other expats. This helped her surround herself with people who she could relate to. Beth added, “ We also took a culture class, which was very helpful. A teacher came to our apartment and helped us understand Swiss culture (and those rules) and how it differs from American culture”. One of Beth’s last suggestions was to read books about how different cultures work professionally. One that she suggested was “The Culture Map: Decoding How People Think, Lead, and Get Things Done Across Cultures”.

Aside from the general differences in cultures between countries, there are also differences in company cultures. Although Beth was still working for an American company while she was in Switzerland, there were differences that she noted. She stated that, “one general difference between working in Europe and the US is that time was taken at the beginning of each meeting to formally greet one another, shake hands, kiss cheeks, and celebrate that we were together before getting to the formal agenda”. This is an example of being able to adjust from the “get-to-the-point” American way of business compared to the way many other countries first build relationships. In addition to the differences in professionalism, one also must adjust to working in such a diverse team. Beth suggested “We need to respect the individuality that each and every person brings to a team, as a diverse team simply delivers better results”.

My last question for Beth, and one of the most important, was what her main piece of advice for developing a global mindset was. The overarching theme that Beth encouraged was simply to embrace each experience and to learn from it. Beth stated “With every role you take, you will learn a new aspect of business, and with every team you are a part of, you will need to flex to a new organizational culture”. Beth recommends accommodating international colleagues, such as thinking about the time differences and remembering non-American holidays. Welcome diversity and new experiences.

Beth left me with a quote from Eleanor Roosevelt that I would like to share:

“The purpose of life is to live it, to taste experience to the utmost, to reach out eagerly and without fear for newer and richer experience.”

Lea Dunn

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5 Tips for a Great Cover Letter

3/13/2022

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For many of us, now is the season of applying for summer internships or our first job after graduation. Applying for these positions can be stressful, especially if you have never applied for a professional internship before and don’t feel you have a lot to put on your resumé. On top of that, many jobs require you to submit a cover letter with the application. When I was first applying to internships my sophomore year, I had no idea how to even start writing a cover letter. Now I have written quite a few and I want to share with you all some tips on writing a really great, professional cover letter. I asked fellow UBWA junior, Lauren Zeck, to share some advice as well.I have compiled all of this into 5 tips for a great cover letter.

Tip #1: Start Strong
Lauren’s first word of advice is to “write a good hook that catches their attention and sets you apart from the beginning.” Recruiters have to read through an entire stack of cover letters, so having a first sentence that stands out will make them want to keep reading. Lauren also suggests that your “first sentence mentions how excited or interested you are in the position.” The company you apply to wants you to be excited about working for them. Don’t tell them that you are applying simply for the experience or because you think you have to have an internship. Even if you aren’t entirely convinced this job will be a good fit for you, find at least one reason you might like it. For example, you can talk about how you enjoy the company’s values or mission statement. Or if the position is somehow related to your hobbies, mention that. I am a film studies minor and have written a few cover letters for marketing jobs in the entertainment industry, so my first sentences usually tell the recruiters that I am extremely passionate about the industry and am excited to learn more about it.

Tip #2: Relate back to your experience
For the body of your cover letter, it is important that you show the recruiters why you would be a good choice. Lauren explains that you should “be specific about what past experiences you’ve had that you could apply to this specific role.” Let them know that you are capable and that you have some knowledge of the kind of work you will be doing. This is where you can cite some of your past jobs/internships if you have had any. If you haven’t, don’t worry. You can talk about student organizations you are involved with or community service opportunities you have had. Think of this as the evidence backing your claim in an essay.

Tip #3: Show your personality
Let’s be honest: Resumés are boring. They are a great, concise way to show all of your achievements, but they are just words thrown onto paper. Your successes and work experience are not the only things recruiters want to know about you. They care a lot about what your personality is like and how you view yourself. Therefore, as Lauren advises, “don’t focus too much on using professional ‘business-y’ language.” The cover letter should be a way to showcase how friendly and approachable you are. Definitely keep the cover letter serious and avoid using slang words, but don’t be afraid to add some personality to it.

Tip #4: Stray away from the Resumé
As we all know, a resumé should be one page of your most recent and impressive achievements. The recruiters have already read your resumé, so tell them some things they don’t know about you yet in your cover letter. You can go into detail about your favorite work experiences, talk about other opportunities that didn’t fit on the one-page resumé, or show how you translate your professional skills into other parts of life. Lauren also adds that “it is important to relate your experiences to the company.” It is helpful to look at things from the company’s point of view and consider what they will find most interesting about you that they don’t already know from your resumé.

Tip #5: Keep it simple
Recruiters don’t want to read a book about your life. You should highlight the most important things that you think they should know about you. Make sure to keep the whole letter one page or less. Lauren’s tip for ending the letter is to “thank the hiring manager for the opportunity to apply, and finish off with a final statement of why you would be a great addition to their company.” This is a great way to end your cover letter, as it shows both respect and gives them an incentive to hire you.

Hopefully, these 5 tips will help you feel more confident about your cover letters. If you have any questions about this topic or want to talk to me more about writing a cover letter, you can reach out to me at Litzler.7@osu.edu. Also, thank you to Lauren Zeck for sharing some great advice that helped me write this post.

Erin Litzler

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