The Last Mentor Feild Trip :(

On Thursday, March 26, 2009, my mentors, Leslie Monson and Erin Berning, invited us to Erin's house in Lakeview. We did not visit any businesses during this mentor meeting. Since we did not visit any businesses we did not observe the employees or the operations and learn how they made money. We also did not meet any new leaders at that mentor meeting. At our mentor meeting we did learn new things we can take into the workplace. We cooked dinner and dessert and we had to COMMUNICATE. All the mentorees had different backgrounds in cooking. We really had to communicate and work together to make the meal a success. We had a leader, Sasha, to help us in anyway we needed.

After we made dinner and dessert, we sat around a big table and talked about everything. We talked about business and our future jobs. We also talked about getting internships. After we talked, we voted on the "Best Communicator". We all voted for Alex who was very organized and helpful. Even though she never cooked before, she was great!

We did not get any advice from a CEO or manager, but we did get advice from Leslie and Erin. They told us that we should have use our strong communication skills when working with a group. They also told us that we should start doing internships now.

Lislie Monson and Erin Berning were the best mentors ever! they are awesome role models for us to look up to. I will definately keep in touch with them and someday use them for networking.

P.S. Erin's house was adorable. She should definately go into interior design.

Mardi Gras

The mentoring program at Loyola has really helped me learn new things about the business world. I have learned many things about business communications from my mentors. One thing I have learned from my mentors is that it takes a person 3-5 times to remember something. It could be anything from a person's name to details of a business plan. Another thing I have learned is that marketing is a key way to communicate with a business's target market. Through marketing you are able to depict to your target market what your company is about.

I always knew I wanted to have a job doing something with marketing. Through the mentor program, I have found out that marketing is what I was made to do! I also have a deep love for fashion and if I put the both together I find my perfect job! I would absolutely love to do marketing with Saks Fifth Avenue in New Orleans. It really would be my dream job and I feel I would do my job very well. Also I am able to stay home and help rebuild NOLA!

I am from New Orleans, born and raised, so I have been to my fair share of Mardi Gras parades. I love Mardi Gras. This Mardi Gras I would love to experience the parades like I always have and I want to have a good time! I would like to avoid obnoxious drunk people and harmful activity like shootings ( I don't think anyone wants to be present during a shooting).

Mardi Gras is important to New Orleans because it is a big part of the culture and the identity. New Orleans is a city based around traditions and its rich culture. New Orleans would be very different without Mardi Gras. Mardi Gras is also a big tourist event which helps our city make money and rebuild. Mardi Gras season is not just a time to get highly intoxicated but also a time to appreciate everything the city is made of and everything the locals love and value.

Networking Night

On Thursday, January 15, 2008, Loyola business freshman paticipated in a networking night with business professionals of the New Orleans area, most being mentors. Over the course of the night, each freshman had to network with five professionals and collect their business cards. The five business people I networked with were Lee F. Pitre, Mason G. Couvillon, H. Jude Boudreaux, David M. Jacobs, and Meaghan Ryan Bonavita. Lee F. Pitre is the President and Cheif Executive Officer for TechComm Associates, Inc. Mason G. Couvillon is the President of Dardis Couvillon & Associates. H. Jude Boudreaux is the Director of Financial Planning of Bellingrath Wealth Management. David M. Jacobs is the Project Manager for Unisys Inc. Meaghan Ryan Bonavita is a Sales Associate for Carlisle Collection.

I was very anxious to meet the business people that surrounded me in the room. I was nervious also that I was going to say the wrong thing or do the wrong action. I do know that I gave great handshakes and that was confirmed by Mr. Boudreaux when he told me that I gave a great handshake! That made me very proud that I received a complement from someone that I think so highly of.

I know I did do some things wrong during the networking night also. I feel that I should have approached the businessmen and women by myself. I feel that next time I am at a networking night I should roam around the room and talk to people I am meeting as an individual. This will help and provide me with a better one-on-one conversation with the professional.

The business person I would most like to emulate is Leslie Monson, my executive mentor. She is the Advertising Manager at Harrah's New Orleans. She has a sparkling personality and she is so easy to talk to about anything. She is also very smart and very successful in the feild of business that she is involved in.

I also found a networking site that I found to be very helpful. It explains the Ten Tips for Business Networking.

My Experience with the Executive Mentor Program

The Executive Mentoring Program is a great asset if you attend the College of Business at Loyola University New Orleans. The Executive Mentoring Program's objectives are stated below.

Introduce different types of jobs/careers available to business students

Discuss a variety of topics, including time management, personal finance,
goal setting, communication skills, and job market realities.

Provide networking opportunities in the New Orleans business community so that the students can find excellent internships, summer jobs, and post-graduation
employment

Take the students on field trips to local businesses (Hubig's Pies, Berning Productions, Canal Place, etc.)

I have to say, one of the best experiences I had with the Executive Mentoring Program is when we went on a field trip to Berning Productions and Berning Marketing. I valued this experience because it really showed me how a job can be after college. This experience made me realize how much i will enjoy my job in the marketing feild.

My expectations going into the Executive Mentor Program were very high! The Excutive Mentor Program has definately, without a doubt, met and went beyong my expectations. The Executive Mentor Program is one of the best parts of the College of Business.

For all my peers at universities other than Loyola University New Orleans, I would try to establish a relationship with a business man or women in the community that is willing to offer time to business students. This relationship will open many doors throughout college and after you leave. The relationship may lead to many job opportunities. The mentor you choose will also be able to help you throughout college with resumes and internships.

I am so excited about next semester! I will be taking more business classes. My core curriculum classes do not interest me at all but my business classes are very intriguing! Next semester we pick up the Executive Mentor Program again. I love the program so I am also very excited about doing things with my mentors again. The Executive Mentor Program is fun and, at the same time, very informational.

If anyone would like to follow business current event throughout the break, I would recommend visiting this site. It is called iBlog Business. It is a directory of many business' blogs. The blogs are very interesting an informative.

Well I hope everyone that is following my blog has a great break and Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Wolves on the Prowl

On Saturday November 8th, students at Loyola University New Orleans came together for a day of service in the community. There were many activities the students could choose ranging from painting to potting plants with senior citizens. I decided to pot plants with the seniors at the Uptown Shepard Center. I absolutely love to spend time with seniors. They have the GREATEST stories and they are so appreciative. We started out the day at Loyola. We signed in and we split up into groups based on what activity we wanted to do. The activity I wanted to do was put together by a LUCAP (Loyola University Community Action Program) sub-group called S.M.I.L.E., which stands for Students Moving Into the Lives of the Elderly. We then took buses to the locations of our service. When I arrived at Uptown Shepard Center, I knew it was going to be a great day! We walked in and were greeted by the sweetest seniors! They were so excited that we came to spend time with them. We then set up all the pots and flowers at the tables. We helped the seniors make beautiful flower arrangements and shared many laughs with them. After we finished the arrangements, we played BINGO. Everyone had a great time playing BINGO. Lastly, we shared stories and refreshments with the seniors. I feel that they had a great time and loved our company!

LUCAP is an awesome organization to become a part of! LUCAP, as stated above, stands for Loyola University Community Action Program. They have thirteen active programs to get involved with that range from rebuilding to advocacy. LUCAP's mission is very inspiring and is stated below.

Composed of and directed by student volunteers, the Loyola University Community
Action Program (LUCAP) is a campus organization having three primary goals,
the first being to provide and direct volunteers in service-oriented
activity within the community and the university, the second being to inform
and promote involvement in the area of social justice, and the third being
to aid in the volunteers' social and spiritual growth through their involvement in service and care-giving activities.

When i was searching for another service opportunity I stumbled upon a site that I found very intriguing. The organization is called Replant New Orleans. Their mission is stated below.

It is the mission of Replant New Orleans to provide trees and shrubs, healthy
soil, and education outreach services to the residents of New Orleans at no
cost. We seek to help New Orleanians create a lush, healthy, and vibrant urban
forest canopy, emphasizing equitable distribution of resources and grassroots
community involvement.

I feel that Replant New Orleans can really make a difference in the lives of New Orleanians by providing lush landscaping in our community.

Good Credit BAD Credit

On Thursday, October 2nd the business students had another meeting with the executive mentors. This meeting was about CREDIT! This was a much needed meeting for us. We really need to know how to manage credit cards and our money early. During the meeting we discussed what is GOOD credit and what is BAD credit. We also discussed how much easier and cheaper life is when you have GOOD credit. We learned with BAD credit all interest rates are substantially higher than those interest rates of those with GOOD credit. A helpful hint I learned: DO NOT SPEND MORE MONEY THAN WHAT YOU MAKE. I think that is an easy principle to grasp. My personal mentors discussed their experience with not knowing the rules of credit while they were in college. I also found an informative site that has tips for students about credit and money management. I think this meeting was very informative, fun, and most of all, HELPFUL!

CareerBeam Values and Vision

Walt Disney once said,

“All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to
pursue them.”

I feel that this is what makes me want to pursue my dreams. My vision for my ideal future is in ten years I would like to be the Marketing Director of a large corporation in the fashion or beauty industry. I want to be the Marketing Director of Saks Fifth Ave. or Sephora. I want to be able to start a family also. I am going to be able to travel the world, but I will also have time for my family. I will attend New York Fashion Week and see what is new for the next season. At the same time, I will be a great mother and wife.

There are many benefits of writing a vision statement. First, you can really see what you want to do in the future when you put it in words. Secondly, when you write a vision statement you can put your greatest idea of the ideal future in words without any limitations. I think everyone should have a goal written down in a vision statement so you can always look at where you are going and what you are aiming for.

I have known what I wanted my career to be since I was a child. I was always interested in fashion, makeup, and the newest, hottest things. I also was curious about how things become popular through marketing. For me, who knows exactly what I want my career to be, writing a vision statement was difficult. Writing a vision statement is difficult because sometimes it is hard to put in words exactly what you want to do. For other people, it may be difficult because they do not know where they want to be in ten years.
When I took the CareerBeam values assessment, my results said I was a pursuer. It stated that “The Pursuer” is motivated by an environment that values truth and knowledge above all else. The values that are most important to me are honesty, knowledge, learning, and appearance. I feel these values are important because without them it is harder to become a successful business person. I feel like I display my values everyday by being prepared to listen and learn, to always be a truthful person, and always present myself in a respectful manner.

I feel that Saks Incorporated has similar values to my own. The values of Saks Incorporated are:
Quality: Do things right.
Integrity: Do the right things.
Service: Be responsive to other's needs and goals.
Teamwork: Work is a team process. Success is a team result.
Responsibility: One can be counted on to deliver. Period.
Winning: Consistent, winning results are a requirement.

To work for Saks Incorporated would be a dream come true. I have always wanted to work for Saks Fifth Ave. which is owned by Saks Incorporated. To work with a company with strong values is a way to stand for something you believe in.