subject: Enterprising and Pioneering Spirit : MBA Programs In California [print this page] Enterprising and Pioneering Spirit : MBA Programs In California
"If you think the life sciences, technological innovation and green technology, so much that happens in this state and region.""Perhaps he is a PhD student who has an idea wonderful technology, but they do not know how to take the next step and they are the MBA student who recognizes the great idea and these work together on it."In the greenTogether with a growing concern for social and environmental issues, such as interdisciplinary cooperation has shaped a number of innovative approaches to problems like water scarcity and poverty.A famous example is Kiva.org, a website started by a Stanford MBA graduate of authorized users to make no-interest loans directly to small businesses in the developing world. The site has generated $ 70 million in small loans, which has helped thousands of small businesses in over 40 countries.A similar thing happens in Berkeley in the field of clean technologies. "Groups of postgraduate students - including students MBA Haas School of Business - to work at the Lawrence Berkeley Lab are looking for as many clean energy technologies can be commercialized."One of the problems in the lab that you have all these researchers who work on things and do not have sufficient resources to assess laboratory, there is enough money in it," said Naveen Sikka, a second year MBA students Haas."It's a great symbiosis, and a great success. People wonder, how will you prepare to become the next generation of energy leaders? It is the perfect example here. ""Probably not realize the importance of geography as much as I do now," he said, pointing to the maelstrom of research facilities, state authorities, startups and venture capital firms in the region.Close to all this action is crucial to exploiting industry networks that are crucial to landing a job after business school. While many MBA students find funding and employment counseling through traditional channels of recruitment, Sikka said that "it does not work like that" in the new sectors such as clean technologies."We need to build relationships," says Sikka. "You meet people and feel comfortable with you before you can do things with them. This is more difficult if you accept the Bay Area.""In five or ten years, can it be otherwise, because it becomes more dispersed, and firms will not be afraid to go to Wharton to hire people for summer," he said. "But for now, no way."Finally, the famous California weather - the kind of sun that inspired the song "California Dreamin '" (and about a thousand others)."Sometimes it can be negative," Ross says with a smile."
