Hello Kelleygues!
Happy 2012! I cannot believe that we are already well into the second year of the decade, I remember when the year 2000 was coming (does this denote my age??) and the whole world was preparing for a catastrophe with computers turning to the beginning of the 20th century and some people believing it was the end of the world. This year is a bit similar, the end of the Mayan calendar is coming this December and, of course many people are trying to profit out of this event.
Hollywood is making movies, people are writing books, the Mexican tourism association is expecting circa 50 million visitors to the Mayan ruins and I am sure many people are doing many things as they may think the end is coming....
If you ask me, this is purely a marketing campaign in order to scare people and make money out of it.... See when we humans are afraid of changes or afraid of whatever, this fear creates anxiety and anxiety makes us do things we do not necessarily want, and fear also has some type of control over us......and companies know this!
Anyway, the point of this is that the business world is very complex and companies will, sometimes, do things to try to make a profit. As a Kelley student you must remember that ethics are utterly important- we have seen the massive impact of the many unethical behaviours with the mortgage industry and the massive impact it has had in most of the world. Thus, always be aware of your actions as you enter the corporate world and don't let the bottom line drive what you do.
A good read is "Profit with Honor."
On a business trip in Hawaii at the moment, cant think of a better place! More updates soon. All the best on the new semester!
Jaime
I have not been posting blogs for quite a bit now.....my life has been a bit of a rollercoaster over the last two years and I will tell you all about it- but for now here's a snipet of whats going on at the moment....I've been working for the same company since I graduated Kelley in mid-2007. Some of my friends are on their 3rd or 4th company, but I have been fortunate enough to have significant changes (both geographically and workwise) over the last few years.
I've been back in Indianapolis since January of this year, after spending nearly three years overseas working on different assignments with the company. And now, I have taken a job in our London office working for our capital assett JV and looking after the Americas. - perfect combination for me as I will get to live in London, but will travel back and forth to the US and Latin America.
More to come in the next few weeks.....
Hello Kelleygues!
It has been two years since I graduated and the learning has not stopped. I have been working for the same company since I graduated many of my friends have changed jobs since, but I have really enjoy the challenges and multiple development opportunities I have been given here. After being in the US for my first year, an opportunity arose and I am now based out of England. This was a terrific move as I now deal with our customers in Africa and I am a frequent visitor to the continent. Before Africa, I was dealing with customers in the Asian markets and had to travel there as well. It has been challenging to learn and negotiate with customers from all over the world, but bottom line is that we all have one thing in mind and that is to make a profitable deal. So, remember that no matter who you are dealing and where you are, its always about the bottom line- thinking about this out loud relationships matter as well, so definitely increase your network, especially if doing business abroad.
The other fantastic thing about being based in the UK is that I get to travel to continental Europe constantly- my passport is running out of empty pages! I will post some pictures here soon, but you can always check my facebook profile, I have lots of pictures there. I'm going back to Indy in a few weeks and I can't wait. Will be visiting family and friends, and it will be good to relax for a few days. Keep it up friends and remember that you can do anything you want if you set your mind to it!
Jaime
Kelleygues!
Life has
been extremely busy! Work is absolutely crazy, as I am sure school is
for most of you, specially this time of the year with finals and such.
The economic situation has made it really difficult for many companies
to achieve their targets, many of them have revised their "promise" to
the markets and hope for the governments to intervene to provide some
stability in this turmoil time.
Now that
the elections are out of the way, I think things will get better and
people will commence to regain confidence in the market. This will not
avoid the global economy entering recession, but it should help a bit.
For my part, we are trying to finalize several contracts with different
airlines before the end of the year. This is a challenge, positive and
negative. Its not the best time for airlines to go airplane shopping,
nor it is the time when airlines are willing to sign long term
contracts as most of them are either shrinking or parking aircraft.
It is a
good challenge for all of us in the aerospace industry as we have to
challenge ourselves to think in different ways of approaching the
airlines and we have to think of them as partners, because after all we
are in this together, without them we would not be here and vice versa.
Anyway,
let's help the economy a bit by going shopping this Christmas. I am
going home in a few weeks and can't wait to get to Indy, see the new
airport, shop and relax from the intense but exciting world of business.
Jaime
Hello All,
How is the new semester going?! This is probably the best time of the year at IUPUI, there is so much going on and the weather is still great! I recently transferred to England from the US with my company and I now look after the Asia Pacific customers. This week I am in Bangkok negotiating a contract with a local airline for their engines on a few new Airbus widebody jets.
In my previous roles I had to negotiate a few contractual items and sell the ideas to the customers, but never had I negotiated a full contract. My expectations were daylong sessions and a lot of heated discussions. We have had long discussions, some heated but at the end of the day we are humans and there is always the midpoint where both parties concede and are happy with the results. I am greatly enjoying the opportunities that my company has provided me as I always wanted to become involved in the International Business world, and this is part of my everyday job.
Bangkok is amazing, this cosmopolitan city offers world class International Business experience as well with an amazing local and welcoming scene for all. There are so many ex-pats here and most business people in this city come from all over the world. I have started to think about going back to school when I return to the US next year and obtain my Master's degree. If you are a recent graduate or are thinking about getting one, I would highly suggest it. It makes a big difference and there is no better place to discuss your real world learning.
All the best,
Jaime
Hello!
It is almost time for all of you to go back to school, start school for the first time or enjoy your first semester as a new graduate! Whatever it is make sure you make the best out of it. I recently moved to England, working for Rolls-Royce has really allowed me to continually challenge myself and explore a business world that is truly global. In my US role and was charged with the commercial aspects of the customer relationship for those customers in Asia, Europe and some in the Americas (like American Eagle, etc) and it was in the regional airline market. In my current role, I am charged with the commercial aspect of the business for the South East Asian region for the big engines (for Boeing 777, 747, Airbus A380, etc). It is a very challenging environment because these airlines need our product to perform with no mistakes- thousands of lives depend on us and as the airline industry suffers from increased oil prices they can not really afford any other inconveniences.
On another note, I usually try to provide some type of business advice every time I blog. Now, however, I would like to give you a personal advice. Life goes by way too fast, it is easy to put things that we enjoy off because of other goals/objectives. However, it is wise to find a balance that will allow you to do the things you really enjoy while working towards achieving your goals. It varies from person to person how to get there, but for me consistency and discipline have been a great help.
Good luck on your return to school.
Jaime
Kelley!
What's up? It has been a few weeks since my last post and time has gone by fast! I am sitting in the plane on my way back to Indy, and thinking about what interesting things I can write about. The aerospace industry has been shaky, busy and extremely challenging lately. The economy has slowed down a bit and most companies are feeling the impact (especially the aerospace industry). We are paying higher prices for things that we had taken for granted- the world is finally catching up with the US!
As more and more countries travel further in their journey to become industrialized nations, resources that were once plentiful for a few Western nations must now be shared with other countries. There is high commodity demand and not enough supplies. Our generation will face increasing challenges in the global market, but I think Kelley does well in preparing us for these challenges. Now and going forward, we will have to work together with others from around the world to find solutions that will result in win-win situations for everyone.
In two weeks I will be moving to England for an assignment within the company's overseas operations. I am very excited as I will not only be working overseas, but will be working with our Asia Pacific customers. International Business has always been a passion of mine- I truly enjoy working with people from diverse background. If this is something that interests you, I would highly recommend looking for a company that would give you the opportunity to work overseas for a period of time- there are many of those in the Indianapolis area- and of course if you are mobile, you have plenty of choices around the country. Further, as companies become more aware of globalization, they have specialized development programs for college grads with high potential. These programs provide years of experience in just two or three years!
Well Kelleygues, I promise to keep you updated on my European and Asian adventures. Until then all the best and enjoy the summer.
Jaime
Balancing Life and Work
I remember when I was in school that there was not really a need to balance life and work. I did work, went to school but also had time for family and friends, it all seemed to have its own time and place. Now, however, I find balancing life between work and friends/family somewhat hard to achieve. Work is pretty demanding, and I really enjoy doing what I do, which makes it difficult to stop doing it. However, there are other things in life that I enjoy doing too: spend time with friends, family, exercise, travel, etc.
As a young professional, I feel that every day is a test, one more day that I get to learn, challenge and act accordingly. One of the things that have helped me have a better balance though, is to re-prioritize everything. Simple questions like, what do I want to accomplish today? and the not so easy questions like where do I see my self in 5, 10, 15 years? Answering these, or at least having an idea of where you would like to be will be key in balancing your life and allowing you to accomplish the things you want in order to be where you want to be in the future.
Another thing that helps is being flexible. As we mature and go through some situations in life, we re-prioritize, or rather we are forced to do so. So, it is best to be flexible in terms of long term planning, but it is also good to be pro-active.
For now, do your best in school and perhaps start thinking about what would you like to do/work on when you graduate. Good luck in finals.
Jaime
What's up Kelley!!!
How is the semester going? I never thought I would say this, but I actually miss having classes. Being in school provides for an excellent opportunity for learning and it is a constant mind challenge. Nevertheless, work provides the same. There have been many changes in my work place, for starters, I am not moving to DC...I got a terrific opportunity with the company in Indianapolis and decided to take the promotion. It will provide me with very challenging and professional growth experiences that are extremely important as I continue to build the foundations of my future within the business world.
I have been traveling often through out the last month and have seen many different parts of the business (we manufacture jet engines). Experienced first hand our overhaul operations in Canada and our sales and marketing operations in DC. All are critical to the business! So, word of advice...learn as much as you can from different business functions so that you can understand your company as a whole and be a better, more efficient employee. It will serve you in the long run as you try to move from one place to the next...remember that knowledge is transferable and companies put a lot of value on previous experiences.
I will be in Indianapolis a few more months (until June) and then I am off to the UK, for more training and more learning of different business operations. However, I have continued to enjoy our city! Indianapolis might be small but it has so much to offer! Same goes for the state...couple of weekends ago I went with some friends skiing to Perfect North slopes, pretty fun (if you are a pro and like skiing out west this might not be that much fun for you).
Best to all of you who are finishing up this semester. A very exciting and challenging world is waiting for you. See you in the real world soon.
Jaime
Kelleygues!!!
How does it feel to be almost done (for you graduating in December)? You must be both overwhelmed and excited!! I remember those days, it will all be over soon, so enjoy your last days. I can not believe winter is already here, I like it for a month, so we'll see how much snow we get this year.
Work is great! I am on my second rotation now, doing mainly financial evaluations among many other great things. I am leaving Indianapolis in a couple of months; part of the program is to be transferred to different sites within the company and my first attachment outside of Indy is Washington, DC. I am very excited!
Since graduating, I've had more time to play around and have discovered many interesting things about Indianapolis. Last Friday, there was a culinary event through the Alliance Francaise, very interesting and of course surrounded by the French culture (got to learn as much as you can about other cultures to succeed in the global arena).
Well...keep it up the last few weeks and I'll post something else soon...(BTW, if you want to hear about something specific of the real world, let me know and I'll blog something related to it!
Jaime
Hi Kelleygues,
So I have been back in England for almost two weeks now; I was in Spain before and I really loved it. I am falling in love with the European cities and countries I have visited, however life is not as it is in the US (as one can expect). In the US, business is more straightforward and things happen faster; efficiency and productivity are considerable more visible in the US and it is hard to work in an environment that is not as responsive to market changes (EU). Nonetheless, it has been a great learning experience and I look forward to the challenges and learning that is to come.
I have started to look at my next educational challenge. Most likely I will go back to school next year to get my MBA. Because my line of work is so commercial oriented (legal with a mix of marketing, sales and finance) I am considering an MBA that will allow me to learn more about multiple business functions. Today more than ever, it is important for businesses to have people that are flexible enough and with the appropriate knowledge to move from one business function to the next.
So how is Indianapolis? I really miss Indy, it is one of those great cities that are rare to find. I really miss it and I hope to be back there soon.
All the best,
Jaime
It seems like every time I write is to tell something about work...life does not become all about work once you graduate, only if you let it. However, it is important to learn as much as you can during the first few months (or even year) on the job in order to maximize your performance. And to be honest, you are learning a lot during your first real job- not only about how to do your job but also about company politics, communication, etc. All these things are necessary in order to do a great job...
Changing topics a little, I miss school so much that I decided to go back, kind of. I eventually want to get my MBA and one of the things that we need to get into grad school is the GMAT. Therefore, I enrolled in one of those classes that prepare you for the test-- the good thing about it is that once you take the test, the score is good for five years! Not sure when I'll go back, but at least I'll have five years once I take the test.
Now that summer is almost over, I have been going over my "To-Do" summer list, it seems like us humans have goals for every season. One of my goals for this summer was going white water rafting, but I never got to do it. It seems like I got busy with some other stuff, literally stuff that I could have put off for a few days in order to go rafting. But hey, summer is not over yet, so I might be spontaneous and go next weekend! Any ideas where to?
Keep it simple,
Jaime
The last couple of weeks have been rather exciting. It seems, however, that write the same every time...but everything is exciting! There is so much to do in Indianapolis and I am learning so much at work that is hard not to write about it.
I went to the Brickyard 400 last week. That was totally new for me and I had a great time. The race lasted like four hours! But the ambiance was awesome! It is hard to compare it to the Indy 500 or the Formula 1 because the crowds are totally different- it was like going to the state fair!
There is never a dull moment at work- the program that I am in allows me to learn so much! My rotations are four months or so. Therefore, I have to learn as much as I can possibly can from the business function I am at and accomplish goals in that time frame. Now, I am working with the commercial team and we deal with contracts, business evaluations, and the customer. It is extremely exciting and pretty challenging. One day we can be doing something and the next another thing completely different.
If you are thinking about what to do when you graduate, I would highly reccomend joining a rotation program that can give you exposure to multiple business functions (finance, marketing, etc). It is like doing an MBA program, and when you are doine you will be that much more marketable.
Anyone of the readers in a similar program? If so, can you share your experiences?
Keep it simple,
Jaime
My best friend got married this weekend! It was an amazing wedding, and I am so glad he married who he did; they are perfect for each other. I made so many good friends at the Kelley School, the type of friends that you keep for life.
Work is great...busier than usual, but since day one I have been busy, so no problems there. I keep learning a lot and still meeting tons of people. A little word of advice, try to learn from everyone as much as you can, you can even learn from the administrators and believe me, they are really helpful. The worst thing one can do is show up in the office believing that one knows everything- that shows arrogance and little humbleness.
It feels like summer is coming to an end, the weather feels cooler and it is starting to get dark earlier. Every summer I have so many plans, but for one reason or another I do not get to do all of them. That is one of the things about life, we have so many lists of things to do before we die, but how many of those do we actually do? Personally, I wish I could balance better my work and personal life. But again, I guess that is part of the learning curve of life. If you have any suggestions, please share!
Keep it simple,
Jaime
It has been a crazy few weeks!!! Work is amazing, yet busy! I am learning so much about the company and the global economy. People would not think that there are so many global opportunities right here in Indianapolis. This city is like a hidden treasure; we have all the commodities and amenities of a big city, yet we do not have to deal with the crime, traffic and other things that big cities, because of its nature have.
Kelley gave me a great introduction to global business, and I am really putting in practice what I've studied. For all of you that are getting ready to start I-Core, be sure to learn as much as you can. Especially the presentation and case studies that you will be working on. You will be doing the same stuff in the real world!!
On another note, one of my best friends is getting married next week- I am excited about the wedding. Moreover, last weekend we had his bachelor party and we had a blast. So what have you been doing over the summer? What is the most exciting thing you've done this summer?
Keep it simple,
Jaime
Hello Everyone!
Life has been amazing for the last few weeks. I took a few weeks off from work right after graduation and just went back yesterday. On my break, I did not do much other than resting and enjoying the nice weather before going back to work on a full time basis (probably until I retire). I went to Colorado too for a few days; I really love that state. There is so much that you can do outside, not too mention the amazing scenery all around.
Work is nothing less than amazing. I joined a world class company on a leadership development program. Every four months or so I have different rotations. So I will be exposed to many teams and parts of the company that will give me a greater understanding of all the functions of the corporation. All my team members are great, and my manager is amazing. I am really looking forward to spending the next couple of years working with this company.
What about all of you? What plans do you have after graduation? If you like the corporate world, I would highly suggest that you look into a development program. It is a great way to get exposure and lift your career very early in the game.
Hope all is well with your summer and I'll keep you posted on how life is as a Kelley grad.
It has been a few weeks since I last blogged. It has been crazy around here! So what has happened?
I graduated! Finally graduated after four years in school! Graduation was great! It all started the day prior to Mother's day. I had a graduation party and had around 70 people that came to celebrate with me. Family, friends, co-workers, my whole life friends met at this event. It was a great time. Then graduation came the next day. It felt great to walk through the Kelley ceremony to receive my diploma (although the "real" diploma won't be ready until July or August). The IUPUI commencement was longer- nonetheless it was once in a lifetime experience. I am glad I attended both events (Thanks everyone who worked hard to put those together!).
Some friends and family members came and stayed here in Indy for a few days so I was busy showing them around. Indianapolis is a great city. My family comes from the big metropolitan areas of the world, but they were really impressed with Indianapolis. It is truly a world class city-- it is just hidden from the world!
I took a break from work and I resume on a full time basis in two weeks. It has been somewhat odd not to have anything to worry about (work and school wise). Nonetheless, I am sure I will get busy as soon as I get back to work. I am pretty excited to start my new job; it is a leadership program so I will be rotating in different sites through out North America and over at our UK home office. I am sure I will learn much and will serve me well as I develop on my position at the company.
So needless to say, I have not been busy as I usually am. It has been a challenge to learn to enjoy my free time but I am learning fast. This week I am going to Colorado for some more free time fun. I will tell you all about it when I come back.
Keep it simple,
Jaime
Well!
It has been an interesting few weeks. Everything has been going too fast, as usual. I had my last undergraduate class yesterday! It just hit me. The last four years of my life have really been an adventure. It has been great, challenging and exciting. I am sad that everything is coming to an end, but life goes on. My last final is next Friday, May 4th at 6 p.m. (I know, last day and time possible!). After my last final, I will probably go Salsa dancing with a few friends, or do whatever but I am celebrating! I wanted to send a bigger e-mail but finals and projects are still keeping me busy. I will make another post soon, once all this madness is over. Good luck with finals!
Keep it very simple this time,
Jaime
WOW...Three weeks to go. Honestly, Spring semester always goes faster than fall, not sure why but it does. I was in Wisconsin and Minnesota this past week. The American Democracy Project regional conference was held at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls campus. They have a great campus center, very much like the new Campus Center we will have in a few months.
The conference was great and we got to present about IUPUI's Democracy Plaza. It is truly a unique project that allows all of us to be more aware of current events and at the same time allows us to express our opinion on the same topics on a safe way. On the last day of the conference, they had an award for the most innovative and most sustainable projects. Democracy Plaza won the Most Innovative award!
I must say that through out my four years at IU I have had many opportunities to attend national and regional conferences, case competitions and many other important events. These all have helped me develop personally and professionally. I encourage all of you to take advantage of these opportunities when they become available to you, they are invaluable.
My final race to the end starts tomorrow. I have one exam and then another one on Tuesday. Good luck to all of you and I'll try to write something in between all these madness.
Keep it simple,
Jaime
Four weeks to the end!
We have entered the last few weeks of the semester. It is officially April and I am sure most of us are freaking out about the end. Paper, projects, and finals are comming. Not to mention graduation stuff, work and life seems to get in the way...lol. Nonetheless, I am sure we are used to this end-semester rush and we'll get through just fine, after all we are Kelley Students!
Last Friday we had the Top 100 Dinner at the Marriot downtown. At least 600 people were attended the event and it was a great time. I was very excited to see that 16 Kelley students made it to the Top 100 list, further 3 of them were on the Top 10! This really speaks highly of the quality of peers that we have here at Kelley. The MC was pretty funny, too-- he had a doll with him ( kind of different :)). Nevertheless, the doll was one of those that can "speak"-- it said "You can do anything you want" or something along those lines. That is so true, all of us are capable of doing anything, and only oneself can limit that. Through out my stay at IU, I have learned that lesson.
Looking back at elementary school or highschool, I remember limiting myself to many things because I thought people wouldn't like this, or that. But really, these people that we worry so much sometimes go on with their lives and do not really care that much about us. So do not limit yourself, go out play and reach your potential.
Good luck with midterms, finals and anything else that you might have going on. Until next time,
Jaime
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