From the interim dean
>
Forward motion >
Goizueta rankings >
Inquiring minds >
Knowledge@Emory >
Futuristic dealings >
Expanding options >
Extending outreach >
Core values in action >
Cohesive unit >
Customer focus>
Ready for prime time >
Lassie lovers >
The new accounting >
Kudos >
Exploring offshoring >
Marching into leadership >
Alumni news
>
Class notes >
Alumni aid undergraduate conference
>
Class gift bonanza >
Ties that bind: Deloitte >
Ravi Nayak '00BBA >
Hope Eyre '99MBA >
Rob Maruster '01EvMBA >
New directions for alumni
board >
Increased aid >
Magazine start-up >
Emory alum remembered >
Meeting people >
Rising to the challenge in
Mali >
About the time the dogwoods bloom, approximately fifty
Goizueta Business School students are receiving a full-fledged introduction
to the Goizueta core value “rigor.”
As participants in the school’s annual Goizueta Marketing Strategy
Competition (GMSC), the students not only carry a full course load, they
spend the semester creating a marketing solution to a real-world client
paying $20,000 for the privilege.
The pressure doesn’t stop there. “You’re representing yourself,
your team, your school. You don’t want to let anyone down,”
says Brooks Fischer ’05MBA, president
of this year’s GMSC and a participant in the 2004 competition.
Even with nine years of military service under his belt, Andrew
Schmickle ’06MBA knows there’s still a great lesson
to be learned from the rigorous nature of the GMSC. “Every day you’re
nudged a little bit outside where you’d like to be,” observes
Schmickle. “It’s not just about offense and defense. It’s
about sustainability, long-term strategic thinking,” he adds.
 |
RIGOR teaches excellence. Goizueta students seek academic and personal development challenges that place us outside of our comfort zone. High expectations and stretching goals are the standard that we have chosen for each other and ourselves. Extreme professional hurdles separate talent from the masses and Goizueta students will excel because of our rigorous preparation. |
GMSC Leadership committee member Corey
Provine ’05MBA told this year’s participants that
they would boost their skill set in ways they can’t foresee. “For
three months every day—every week—you’re doing something
new,” said Provine. “It develops not only strengths, but it
also points out weaknesses.”
For Dolly Devgan ’05MBA, the
sacrifices of the GMSC began before she signed up. Devgan wanted to take
on a major role with Welcome Weekend and participate in GMSC. She knew
she couldn’t do both and do well at either, so she took a lesser
role with Welcome Weekend. “It’s one of the lessons of business
school: how to balance it all. Knowing when you can take on more and still
be an effective part of the team,” notes Devgan, also a leadership
committee member.
More than one student noted that creating an effective team is one of
the more rigorous aspects of the competition. “There were definitely
moments when some people weren’t getting along,” says Brandon
Smith ’05MBA, also a committee member. “It takes
effort and rigor to make that team cohesive.”
One of this year’s competitors, Suzanne
Chacko ’06MBA, has a deeper respect and appreciation for
this Goizueta core value. “It’s the undercurrent and foundation
of what you’re doing here,” Chacko explaines. “To an extent,
it’s about hardship. It’s blunt. It’s in your face. It’s
about all those things you have to do behind the scene to provide a quality
product.”
—Allison Shirreffs