A Typical Weekend
A typical weekend for students in the Executive MBA Program in the Smeal College of Business is outlined.
A Typical Weekend
Classes meet on Fridays and Saturdays every other weekend. Lunches and dinners may feature Executive Seminar speakers on a variety of business and non-business topics. Friday mornings and evenings are reserved for study group activities and occasional special events, such as family night or alumni networking receptions.
Friday Afternoon
1:00 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.
Drop your car off for valet parking and check in at the ACE Center. You reconnect with classmates, catch up on assignments, receive materials and class work from the Smeal Executive MBA support staff. Get prepared for your first class starting at 1:30 p.m. sharp.
1:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Global Perspectives: Professor Fariborz Ghadar leads the class in a discussion on global business issues. Professor Ghadar's experience with companies such as Aramco, AT&T, BASF, Compaq, Eastman Chemical, Ericsson, Lucent Technologies, and UBS makes him ideally suited to discuss global corporate strategy and implementation. Recently named one of the "Top 10 Coaches for Strategy," Professor Ghadar brings an unmatched global perspective to the program.
3:45 p.m. - 5:45 p.m.
Marketing Strategy: Learn from two of the leading experts in the world. Professor Gary Lilien who coined the term "marketing engineering" joins with Professor Ralph Oliva to provide an incomparable introduction to marketing strategy. From branding to segmentation to marketing communications, you will have an opportunity to draw on decades of experience in solving marketing problems.
Friday Evening
6:00 p.m.
Unwind after class with some quiet time. Or take advantage of the many amenities at the ACE Center by enjoying a quick game of racketball, taking a swim in the indoor pool, or working out in the gym.
7:00 p.m.
Dinner: Meet for an informal dinner in the dining room.
8:00 p.m.
Evening Activities: Take advantage of the exceptional variety of work spaces and recreational activities at the ACE Center to network with your fellow students, to meet with your study groups, and to delve into the next day's case studies. Once work is complete, unwind with fellow students and faculty over a glass of wine or a drink in the recreation room at the ACE Center.
Saturday Morning
7:00 - 8:00 a.m.
Breakfast. Get ready for the second day of classes. Meet with your study group, discuss last minute points for a presentation, network with faculty or students, or quietly review the material for that day.
8:00 - 10:00 a.m.
New Product Development: Professor Tony Warren has decades of experience in developing and commercializing new products. With a Ph.D. in physics and 20 years of venture capital experience, Tony understands both the technical problems and the management problems of developing new products and services. His insights will allow you to appreciate the promise and the peril of new product development.
10:15 a.m. - 12:15 p.m.
Marketing Strategy: Join Professor Gary Lilien and Professor Ralph Oliva again for "brandscape" presentations. Brandscape, a comprehensive analysis of a major brand, is your opportunity to apply what you learned in in class to your firm's brand. Engage in a dynamic discussion, review & critique presentations, (including your own) discuss & debate current issues you are facing at work and learn from your classmates.
Lunch. Engage in discussion, casework, and faculty networking in the dining room.
Saturday Afternoon
1:00 - 3:00 p.m.
Ethical Leadership: Confront actual ethical dilemmas in the workplace with Professor Linda Trevino leading the class discussion. Professor Trevino is widely published on the management of ethical conduct in organizations, and author of the important book, Managing Business Ethics: Straight Talk About How to Do it Right.
3:15 - 5:15 p.m.
Communications: Class is led by the renowned communications team of Professors Andy Gustafson and Nancy Mahon. Andy and Nancy have 35 years of combined experience in helping executives communicate more effectively. You might work on a case presentation, be asked to communicate a "crisis" to your team, or deliver an impromptu talk on an assigned topic. No matter what, you will be learning how to be a more effective and persuasive speaker and writer from the professors who, according to the Princeton Review rankings, deliver the best MBA communications course in the nation.
5:15 p.m.
Check out and head for home. You stay connected to the program through the custom Web site, which enables you to manage all aspects of the program in one convenient place, including:
- Class schedules
- Assignments
- Case readings
- Course materials
- Administrative support
