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.