News and Spotlights
Fall 2010
IB Alumni Spotlight: Christine M. Shepherd (BBA ’05)
Since completing the Terry IB major in 2005, Christine Shepherd has continued her educational and cultural studies, as well as working in diverse roles and destinations. As detailed in a recent article in Terry magazine, Shepherd is currently a candidate for graduate dual degrees from Hautes Etudes Commerciales (HEC) and Tufts, studying business administration and international relations. In a relatively short amount of time, Shepherd has traveled and gained breadth and depth of experience. As she puts it, ”if you take one unorthodox step, it encourages the next.“
Her training in French language as an undergrad at UGA was strengthened by a stint as a nanny in Paris before starting classes at the HEC campus there. It was during this time that Shepherd began to write as an MBA journalist for Business Week. Her writing not only reflected the international perspective she was gaining in the classroom with a mostly international student body there, but also its affects on her own development and goals. Her understanding of the political and economic confluence of human societies was stretched by experiences such as a visit to Moscow for a Nuclear Security Culture conference, a summer in Haiti as an outsourcing consultant, and helping to start an NGO with a mission to support education of Liberia’s youth.
Now back in the States for the final leg of the joint degree program, this time at Tufts in Boston, Shepherd is settling back into student mode, and keeping up her BusinessWeek blog.
In Their Words: Undergraduate Perspective after Summer Abroad
I had the privilege of studying abroad with two UGA programs this summer. My perspective on the business world and my life will never be the same after these incredible experiences.
First, I went to Eastern Europe during Maymester through the Terry Travels program to study International Finance and Shared Service Centers. We were briefed over a week’s time in Athens about key differences between doing business in the U.S. and Europe. Then for three weeks we traveled to Budapest/Hungary, Krakow/Poland and Prague/Czech Republic. We toured a variety of enterprises, financial and government institutions, and learned about a range of topics, including outsourcing, currency exchange, crisis in the EU, economic recovery measures, entrepreneurial opportunities, operation efficiencies, technologies, brands, markets, you name it! I particularly enjoyed visiting and touring manufacturing facilities like Can Pack, Skoda, and the Krusovice Brewing Company. But I also enjoyed hearing how IBM Finance is gaining from the use shared services while giving to the hosting country by hiring skilled locals, and how they select cities abroad to locate offices based on resources such as workforce, tax incentives, etc.
The business and academic experience was remarkable, but the cultural experiences were beyond amazing. I had never before traveled outside of the States, then in one summer I had the opportunity to visit ten different countries! The world outside of Georgia and those that actively influence global economics have inspired me. I have a new appreciation for what the rest of the world has to offer in terms of a wellspring of history, business and culture. Europe is one condensed area of immense historical heritage. Being able to see firsthand the Eastern and Western sides in a comprehensive and yet condensed manner has been one of the best experiences of my college career, if not my entire life.
UGA gave me this opportunity to learn outside of the classroom through a scholastically and culturally interactive program that has prompted serious individual growth. I am forever changed from this experience.
-Max Gutierrez, Real Estate & Finance double-major
Real World Experience: IB Alumni Speak to the IB Society
This semester the IB Society has hosted two IB alums, Lyle Gore and Scott Borders, for speaking engagements. Lyle Gore, a manager from Atlantix Global, kicked off the semester by sharing his unique international business experiences to a standing-room-only crowd of students. After the meeting, Gore joined several members for dinner at the Globe, furthering discussions about international business and personal growth. Mr. Gore recruits UGA students by participating in these events and by in the UGA Career Fair.
Scott Borders, Head of Border to Bill Governance, North America at Orange Business Services, was our second featured speaker of the semester. Joined by his brother, an HR manager for General Electric, the two provided contrasting perspectives on working in an ever-changing global environment, and finding jobs! Students remained well after the meeting adjourned, to talk further about job opportunities and their experiences. Mr. Borders is active in helping IBS members find job opportunities, even beyond his company, by sharing his professional network and providing interview advice.
When IB alumni come to campus to speak to students, they make a remarkable impact and add great value to IBS. If you are interested in helping, please contact IB co-major advisor Marisa Ulrich.
A big Thank You from the International Business Society to the speakers this fall representing: Atlantix Global, KPMG, Ernst & Young, the Coca-Cola Company, Orange Telecom and GE.
Terry Undergrad Prepares for Semester in Hong Kong
Temitayo Ige is no stranger to international studies. Originally from Nigeria, Ige has been living in the US for the last four years and studying at UGA in the Management Information Systems major. He is keen on experiencing a new culture on another continent and different ideas about information management. To prepare, Ige has relied on UGA’s network of international students and students who have previously studied abroad in Hong Kong. Similarly to when he prepared to come to the US to study, he has sought the advice of professors and researched the customs, living conditions, food, and language as a way to manage misconceptions. He believes ”Hong Kong is a country with the next best thing in terms of technology, and I want to be a part of the movement.“ Ige will embark for City University Hong Kong in early spring.
Results of Selig Center’s Multicultural Economy Study
The Selig Center, known for its annual “Georgia Economic Outlook” forecast and luncheon (see “Events” below), has released its annual minority buying power report. “These groups in particular are experiencing growth in buying power that greatly exceeds that of the general population,” says Jeff Humphries, Director of the center. The report defines buying power as disposable income or money that is available for spending after taxes. The percentage gains in buying power during the past decade have varied considerably by race and ethnicity: 108 percent for Hispanics; 98 percent for Asians; 69 percent for Native Americans; and 60 percent for African Americans. The study projects minority markets will continue to grow much faster than the majority market, where buying power increased by 49 percent during the past decade. “The Hispanic market alone, at $1 trillion, is larger than the entire economies of all but 14 countries in the world—smaller than the GDP of Canada but larger than the GDP of Indonesia.” Humphreys describes the report as a valuable planning tool for judging start-up or expansion opportunities and for tailoring advertising, products and media to individual market segments.
For more information, an Executive Summary, and/or a copy of the report, contact the Selig Center for Economic Growth or visit the program website.
What's New with You?
If you would like to share a major accomplishment or accolade with your fellow IB or Terry alums, please send us a note. We're always interested in what notable enterprises are engaging our alums both here and around the globe.
