MIT Sloan School of Management Podcast

After over two decades in front of the classroom, Sloan Distinguished Professor of Management JoAnne Yates is spending some time in the dean's office. Long known for her research on organizational communications -- particularly how it is impacted by technology -- Deputy Dean Yates is taking advantage of her opportunity to champion another issue close to her heart: diversity. Believing that diversity has real educational value, Yates has made advancing gender equity a priority. Through this work, Yates hopes to provide role models for women in b-school and expose all students to a wide range of points of view.

Making the move from a career in the military to management school starts with one critical step: leaving the military. That decision is more complex than a civilian might think, particularly given the intense commitment and teamwork that bonds soldiers so strongly. As they get ready to embark on the next phase of their lives and careers, Veterans Club members Ryan Gilchrist and Victor Mroczkowski talk about transitioning from fatigues to business suits and compare the leadership philosophies of the military and MIT Sloan.

Organizers of the 2nd Annual MIT Sloan Sales Conference discuss this unique event and their efforts to set up an alliance among sales clubs at business schools. The conference, April 25 in Cambridge, features panel sessions on leading sales topics, a hands-on workshop to share proven sales strategies, and keynote speeches from Gregory Schofield, EVP of Global Sales for Novartis, and Andy Mattes, SVP of Enterprise Sales for Hewlett-Packard.

Accountability is a source of power, and activism is an obligation, according to MIT Sloan alumnus Bruce Gordon, SF '88, former president and CEO of the NAACP and longtime telecom executive. In an inspiring talk before MIT Sloan students as part of the Dean's Innovative Leader Series, Gordon said the disparity in society between those who have and those who don't is growing every day. Calling the executive suite an under-utilized source of power for social change, he urged MIT Sloan students to go out and make a difference. "Think about your individual capacity to effect change in this country, if not the world," he said.

Set clear expectations on the home front and with your classmates -- and keep an open mind. Those are Sierra Towers' rules for successfully combining motherhood and her management education. She was initially drawn to MIT Sloan by the energy and collaboration she found here, but was also reassured by the insights of other student moms and the resources available for families. Sierra takes time out of her very busy schedule to talk to us about owning a restaurant, her extensive knowledge of beer, and doing her homework with her kids.

Jenny Kwan spent her down time in January going from the E and I Trek in California to an independent research project in China that explored clean energy entrepreneurship. She'll be back in China in March as part of the inaugural ChinaLab and hopes to end up there for good upon graduation. For this driven New Zealander, her goal of successfully marrying her interests in energy, entrepreneurship, and China is very close to being realized.

Anjuli Gupta doesn't believe in just doing something good in the world; for her, it's about doing the most good that she can. Passionate about natural resources, Anjuli hopes to focus on energy finance after graduation. Having worked on environmental policy for non-profit, grassroots organizations, she sees finance as a major driver toward positive change. In order accomplish her goals, Anjuli believes that she needs to know how to run a team -- and how to design an organization that is effective. She came to MIT Sloan to learn all that and more. Anjuli spoke with correspondents Scott Rolph and Michelle Choate about what she gained from the first-semester core, the rollercoaster ride of internship interviews, and spring break in Costa Rica.

Widely considered the nation's leading expert on aviation safety, Arnie Barnett uses his background in applied math to help conquer his own fear of flying. He calms himself -- and sometimes even fellow passengers -- during turbulence by recalling statistics on crash probability. A firm believer that math should be accessible to his students and can be applied to almost any problem, Arnie's passion for math is infectious. In this podcast, Arnie talks about his ideas for a new approach to the Electoral College and his constant vigilance against skewed statistics.

Samantha Joseph is very comfortable leaping into the unknown. And for this skydiving instructor with a liberal arts background, business school is just that. Samantha gives her thoughts on the value of her untraditional background, her love of travel, and transitioning from parachutes to business suits.

What are the secrets to Galen Li's success? Optimism and persistence for starters. After being placed on the wait list for MIT Sloan -- the only school he applied to -- he turned a time of doubt to his advantage. He sought advice for improving his application and received valuable insight from both admissions' staffers and current students. In the end, Galen's openness and tenacity allowed him to take leave of his job at Expedia and seek his fortune on our campus in Cambridge.

The 2nd Annual MIT Sloan Sports Business Conference, Feb. 9, showcased the increasingly important role analytics is playing in the world of professional sports. Conference organizers -- and Class of 2008 MBAs -- Chris Johnson, Jarrod Boland, Abigail Phelps, and Ken Weinstein highlight insights from the blue-chip panelists and how executives are using numbers to manage their teams' operations both on and off the field.

Elizabeth Prior knows how to manage stress and insecurity. As a resident of New Orleans, she endured Hurricane Katrina and its aftermath, spending months moving around the country, living in hotels and with relatives. Upon returning home, she got married and helped her husband finish up med school. Then there was the small matter of her applying to business school. Now in her second year at MIT Sloan, things are relatively calm for Elizabeth as she sets her sites on a career that makes a positive social impact.

While in the process of applying to business school, he and a partner got a business up and running. Figuring that it was the perfect time to deepen his marketing and strategy skills, Matt Weiss left the business in the care of his partner and fully immersed himself in the entrepreneurial culture of MIT Sloan. While earning his MBA, Matt also kept time as the drummer for the student band, The Rolling Sloanes. And he timed his wedding to occur one week after graduation, giving the newlyweds plenty of time for a summer honeymoon in Australia. Prior to his graduation and his nuptials, Matt talked with correspondents Scott Rolph and Michelle Choate about bridging the gap between marketing and technology, his fondness for the marketing club, and the special camaraderie that exists between Sloanies.

Alan White has spent much of his life traveling the world, but he's far from world-weary. As the dean responsible for MIT Sloan's international activities, Alan has been forging relationships and establishing international initiatives for decades, chief among them the MIT-China Management Education Project. In this podcast, Alan talks about the School's philosophy on respect and relationships, the incredible changes he's seen in China since his first visit almost three decades ago, and what new places and projects are on the horizon.

MBA student Amy McDonald talks about her MIT Sloan experience, what it's like to attend business school with her husband, and her goal for a career in the fashion industry.