04/11/12

Exploring the Rubin Museum of Art

On a recent trip to the Rubin Museum of Art, Diana and I observed the Himalayan and Hindu artwork. Through a partnership with the Shelly and Donald Rubin Foundation established by Professor Stan Altman, Baruch Students and faculty receive a waived admission fee. Housing both classic and modern Tibetan art, the museum is a bit like a time machine taking you through centuries of evolving art work. From a recreation of a Hindu meditation room to vibrant abstract art, the Rubin Museum  is a great introduction into Tibetan culture.

This is the first of a series of posts as part of our exploration of Tibetan culture in New York City.

04/6/12

Navigating Change in the Accounting Profession and Business World with Karole Lloyd


At our 99th Mitsui Lunchtime Forum, we welcomed Karole F. Lloyd, the Vice Chair and Southeast Managing Partner at Ernst & Young. Ms Lloyd’s career has spanned across over three decades and has taken her across the country from Birmingham to Dallas, St. Louis, New York, and even to Toronto, Canada.

She offered students three tips for success:

1. Develop your intellectual curiosity.

2. Say “yes” often and “no” strategically.

3. Build your network.

Ms. Lloyd feels that accounting is an industry where people value and trust accountants and explained that it has readily adapted to the economic downturn by adapting new regulation standards.

“You are an asset,” she told students. She hailed the current generation as one that is more willing to leanr and embrace new technology and has a desire to make a difference.

Ms. Lloyd presented a video on the rapid impact new technology has had on the way interpersonal and business connections are formed which will be posted on the Weissman Center’s YouTube page.

 

04/4/12

Geoffrey Jones- Beauty Imagined: A History of the Global Beauty Industry

Yesterday, historian and Harvard Business School professor Geoffrey Jones was the guest speaker at the Weissman Center’s International Business Seminar Series discussing his book Beauty Imagined: A History of the Global Beauty Industry.

From Bowker’s Global Books in Print:

The global beauty business permeates our lives, influencing how we perceive ourselves and what it is to be beautiful. The brands and firms which have shaped this industry, such as Avon, Coty, Est e Lauder, L’Or al, and Shiseido, have imagined beauty for us.This book provides the first authoritative history of the global beauty industry from its emergence in the nineteenth century to the present day, exploring how today’s global giants grew. It shows how successive generations of entrepreneurs built brands which shaped perceptions of beauty, and the business organizations needed to market them. They democratized access to beauty products, once the privilege of elites, but they also defined the gender and ethnic borders of beauty, and itsassociation with a handful of cities, notably Paris and later New York. The result was a homogenization of beauty ideals throughout the world.Today globalization is changing the beauty industry again; its impact can be seen in a range of competing strategies. Global brands have swept into China, Russia, and India, but at the same time, these brands are having to respond to a far greater diversity of cultures and lifestyles as new markets are opened up worldwide.In the twenty first century, beauty is again being re-imagined anew.

03/30/12

Working Abroad in Hungary


By Emily Wong

I travelled to Budapest, Hungary through AIESEC Baruch in the summer of 2011 to teach kindergarten kids English.  This experience has been challenging and life-changing for me in so many ways.  Before going on this internship, I thought I knew everything about travelling before this internship, but I’ve learned a lot from it.  I was really nervous going to Budapest by myself, but the reception was so welcoming that I felt comfortable during the 7 weeks I stayed there.  Although it was a huge culture shock in the beginning, there were people from AIESEC there to help me settle down, translate, and to take me to local places.  I explored the city as much as I could and did many things that I would’ve never done in New York, like spelunking, cooking over an open fire, and meeting people from around the world.  Hungary is certainly a hidden gem in Eastern Europe and I’m certain I’ll be back there soon!

What year are you? What’s your major?

I’m currently a sophomore at Baruch College majoring in marketing.

 Why did you choose this destination?

Initially, I wanted to go somewhere in Western Europe or South America, but I decided to choose a place that was completely new as an experience.

 What were your primary responsibilities?

My responsibilities included planning and teaching English lessons/songs, help the other teachers dress and feed the kids when they needed help, and just interact with them as much as I could.

 What was most challenging about working in a foreign country or in that specific role? What did you enjoy most about working in a foreign country?

I think one of the most challenging aspects of my experience was the language barrier.  I was in a country that was fresh out of communism and with one of the most complicated languages there is.  My kids were very young (ages 2-6) and were very confused with the English songs and phrases at first.  One of the things I enjoyed the most about my internship was the chance to meet a lot of people from various countries around the world.  Because I went on an internship through AIESEC, members from this organization would constantly check up on how I was doing and take me out to visit local and tourist places around the city.

What were some of the cultural differences between the U.S. and Hungary?

One of the biggest cultural differences I noticed while in Hungary was the fact that everything wasn’t as fast paced as it is in New York.  In the city, it wasn’t crowded and people weren’t always rushing off to somewhere else.  Stores and restaurants would close around 6pm and 2pm on Sundays.  This was something that was really strange to me because I was used to having places open late or even 24 hours.  Another cultural difference I noticed was that people in that society were trusted easier than in ours.  For the train and bus tickets, passengers would board and once in a while, there would be a conductor that checks for the ticket.  It’s completely random and there is a fine if you are caught without a ticket.

What are some tips for students who are thinking of working abroad?

I think one of the most important tips you can get is to step outside of your comfort zone.  Go somewhere you’ve never been before.  Do something you’ve never done before.  Eat foods that you’ve never eaten before. My first week in Hungary was such a culture shock, that I wasted it staying at home after work and not exploring the city as I should have.  So take advantage of the opportunity that is offered to you!

03/27/12

PorColombia President on the VI Student/Professional Conference at Cornell University


Carlos Macias is a Baruch graduate in Journalism and History. Last year, Macias was elected president of the PorColombia National group. In an interview with him we discussed general aspects relevant to the VI Student/Professional Conference the organization will be holding at Cornell University next month.

What makes this year’s conference at Cornell so special?

This year marks the sixth installment of our annual signature event. This conference brings 14 speakers, 3 Panels, 6 workshops, the exclusive & avante-garde art exhibition of Edwin Gil “Quilting Differences: Blending Art & Social Media”, and of course, Colombian rumba.

How can people who do not have a Colombian background  benefit from attending this event or future conferences? What could be of interest to them?

This conference brings a wide view of how Colombia interacts in the hemisphere as a key economic player, it will show how we have used urban planning and architecture to address social inequality in Colombia and how these examples can be used elsewhere. Also, our 4 pillars: cultural, social, academic, philanthropic help us provide an experience where our members sharpen their entrepreneurial, networking and leadership skills. These are some of the reasons why in our national board we have people from other Latin American countries like Perú and Ecuador.

How does the topic(s) of this year’s conference relate to any international business/cultural issues?

This year’s topic “Construyendo País” is particularly relevant with international business and hemispheric culture. We navigate between two worlds. One, we are an integral part of the American society and we contribute to its progress. At the same time, we keep deep and constant connections with our homeland. This duality makes us very aware of the potential of our commercial relations in the Americas giving us a professional edge thanks to our cultural intelligence.

What is a good example of an impact created by a PC conference? Does it go beyond being an informational forum? What usually happens after the conference is over?

The conference serves several purposes: Strengthen our growing organization and networking, create a forum for thoughtful discussion and debate, and cement our foundations to keep attracting the best talent from universities across the U.S. and Canada. Once the conference is over, we use these connections to keep growing and create a sense of community. The event also shows potential recruiters, the quality of the people in PorColombia and generates many job opportunities. We have several stories of people getting jobs and internships thanks to our networking.


 

03/23/12

Baruch Student Wins 2011 IAA-Dentsu Competition Regional Award

Undergraduate students from around the world submitted their artwork for the third annual poster competition hosted by the International Advertising Association and influential Japanese advertising company, Dentsu, Inc. Centered around the theme of “Sustainability,” the competition offered participants a chance to be exhibited at the 2011 Cannes International Festival of Creativity, present their work at the United Nations, and a variety of cash prizes.

Baruch’s own Lily Chen captured the regional award for North America with her poster, “Don’t Trash the Earth.” The junior marketing major learned about the competition from an email sent by one of her professors.

” I applied mainly because I wanted to make a difference and help contribute to society, while showcasing my talent. It is a win-win solution,” she says.

She wanted to create a design that would appeal to lots of people, while still  making a strong statement about the environment.

“I wanted to convey the idea that littering is equivalent to throwing the earth away, hence the earth and paper falling into the garbage can. Once something is in the trash, it will be disposed and gone. I wanted to show it in a simple way where everyone would understand and perhaps, have an emotional appeal enlisted in it.”

Lily now has her eyes set on this year’s competition. Using her city as an inspiration, she travels around New York, jotting down ideas in hopes of winning the grand prize.