social media townhall Lifetime Membership South korea spotlight
The eastern regioner WINTER 2014
Career Connection Interviews with a NY Times Bestselling Author, Tony Award Winner, and a Management Consultant
Contents
Natalie Tran
3
An update from your Eastern Region Vice President, Natalie Tran.
Lifetime Membership 4 An article about the benefits of Lifetime Membership with National PBL Secretary, Beau Cobb!
Branding
8
Chapter and Personal Branding from Eastern Region Executive Board members.
Technology In Classrooms
9
An in depth article from John Shammas, Director of User Experience for Meddleit.com, on technology in classrooms.
South Korea Chapter 5
Career Connection
Interested to see what an overseas chapter in South Korea is accomplishing? Check out this section for more details.
Hear from accomplished business leaders: An NY Times Best Selling Author, Tony Award Winner, and Management Consultant. Also, hear from a business student who travels the world as part of NYU’s BPE program!
Financial Literacy
6
An extremely useful piece from the National Treasurer’s Council on financial literacy.
March of Dimes
7
Midyear initiatives for the March of Dimes with National Youth Council Member, Drew Marx!
The Board
10
15
The Eastern Region Executive Board
Editor’s Corner
16
#FBLAask and learn how to contribute to The Eastern Regioner today!
A Message From:
NATALIE TRAN
AN UPDATE ON PROGRAMS FROM YOUR EASTERN REGION VICE PRESIDENT
Dear Members and Advisers:
Unlike other regions, the Eastern
The Business Corner is a collection
As we approach the end of the first month of 2014, many of us are daunted by our
Region encompasses any international chapters, as you can read more about
of links to websites, interviews, and so much more all with a deeper
incomplete New Year’s Resolutions.
in our chapter spotlight of  the
business theme. While the
However, as I have learned from FBLA,
Yongsan International School of Seoul,
Document Library focuses on
improvement is not just a one-time
South Korea. In this issue, we also
chapter growth and development,
process; it is continuous and something
pulled from the other levels of FBLA-
the Business Corner page will be
each one of us should strive for, regardless PBL with a special piece with PBL National Secretary Beau Cobb and an of the the time of year. In the case of the
utilized to create a greater awareness to the current business
Eastern Region, each level, local, state,
interview with Professional Division
leaders and their practices. Like the
and national, has been persistently
Member and New York Times Best-
Document Library, submissions are
Seller Pat Hiban. You will also see the best it can be. With less than 5 months snippets of our inaugural social media town hall #FBLAask , an endeavor I until our 2014 National Leadership laboring towards making our organization
Conference, it is time to get over the hump am justly proud of the Eastern Region for taking on. and finish the year out strong. Participate
before, and continue to do so because it will always ring true. The mark of a leader is leaving the organization better than he or she
in National programs, utilize regional
initiatives, and feel free to establish your
projects from the Eastern Region is the
found it. I truly hope for the next
own ideas at whatever level you may be in
Document Library and the Business
Eastern Region VP, whomever it
order to put Excellence in Action.
Corner, both of which can be found on
may be, to surpass the
the Eastern Region Website. The
accomplishments of my term and to
Regioner, you will see the Eastern Excellence that makes our region so
Document Library contains resources to help foster the growth and
continue what works and to implement practices that will best
distinct.
development of members, local
serve the Eastern Region.
In this issue of The Eastern
Along with other innovative
more than welcome. I have said this many times
chapters, and state chapters.
Natalie Tran, a senior at River Hill High School in Clarksville, Maryland , is honored to serve as your Eastern Region Vice President. For Natalie, this is no ordinary high school club; this organization has allowed her to grow and develop into a true leader. A four-time local officer and two-time state officer, Natalie definitely has a passion for this organization. She wants to give back to the organization that has helped her so much along the way, and is excited to contribute to FBLA-PBL in any way she can. If you have any questions about FBLA, please feel free to contact Natalie.
Lifetime Membership PBL National Secretary, Beau Cobb on the benefits of Lifetime Membership. Not only has FBLA-PBL increased my knowledge of the American Enterprise, but also about myself. I see each chapter as a mini-business. And the great thing about FBLA-PBL is it's a business that cannot fail! Each chapter's mission is to bring business and education together. By taking a leadership role in the organization it is almost as if you are a staff member of your own business [depending on your position you may even be the CEO] One of the National FBLA-PBL goals is "Strengthen the confidence of students in themselves and their work." I am forever grateful to this association for giving me the ability to really develop my marketing and management abilities. By running local chapters like a business when I transitioned into the career world so many things came second hand.
I cannot stress enough for those out there who are apprehensive about increasing their involvement "it's ok to laugh at yourself, it's ok to trip, trust me we all do it, and FBLAPBL is a safe place where we can all grow no matter what the age is." It's funny due to the fact that once I returned to college I immediately knew that I wanted to sharpen and test out new marketing tactics in the "FBLAPBL Safe Place" [that's what I call it]. The members of our organization are so accepting to new and innovative ideas, and everybody wishes success for one another, don't forget though one of our goals is "develop competent aggressive business leadership," so we do have healthy competition. I have had the pleasure of developing, strategizing, and managing several FBLA-PBL officer campaigns, so when I began working in the political field in Denver, many things came as second nature.
Still to this day I am so happy and blessed for my FBLAPBL network. I know that in almost any metropolitan I can call a friend from FBLA-PBL whether it be from 10 years ago or just 4 weeks ago and I can find a familiar face. One thing that a lot do not grasp is this is so much more than a "club" or "an organization", it's a family of like minded people who are driven for success. That's the best kind of family in my opinion. I urge everyone to continue their journey in this association, because at year ten it's a pretty awesome world to see younger generations experiencing the same meta morphosis that you did. FBLA-PBL raised me to the man I am today, and I am so grateful. The confidence other members/advisers/ national staff instilled in me at a young age is priceless.
Beau began his FBLA-PBL career as an FBLA member in 2005 in Kentucky and has had the honor of serving on the local, state, and national level. In 2007, he began serving on the FBLA-PBL National Board as the FBLA National President’s Executive Assistant when he founded the National Membership Committee. Since 2005, he has lived in 6 different metropolitan areas in the U.S., and although his location has changed, his passion for the organization has continued to grow. In 2012, Beau served as the PBL National President’s Assistant as well as the TN PBL State President. One of his favorite FBLA-PBL memories is re-chartering the chapter at the University of Tennessee Knoxville.
chapter spotlight: South korea Tell us about some of the activities for your chapter. This year we are doing something that has never been done in Korea. We are having a business competition within the international schools here in Korea that has been approved by the Korean American Interscholastic Activities Conference. For this competition, we have organized a workshop that could be held within schools. In the workshop, we will be bringing guest speakers to talk about creating and managing Business plans.
What are some goals your chapter has this year? One goal is to encourage the members to engage in business with hands-on activities. After trying to expand this club to other schools in Korea, we were ultimately successful with three international institutions. Which takes us to our second goal. We are hoping for more international schools in Korea to be inspired through our club as a stepping-stone and make a club within their own school so that we can have a representing Korean Team to compete in the FBLA competitions in America.
What were some challenges your chapter has overcome? Challenges are inevitable no matter how well a chapter is managed and operated. Running a chapter is much like running a business, to a certain extent. You have employees, or club members, and you have to set guidelines, establish a mission statement, and deal with multiple personas. The main difference is people aren't receiving paychecks. In replacement, we have to provide incentives that will motivate our members. The main challenges BPC had to overcome involved youth and inexperience. My cofounders and I had no prior experience leading a team or operating a high school club for that matter. When we initiated the club, we treated every member like the next. We simply took members for granted. As long as the three of us were spearheading the club, we wouldn't have to worry about anything else. We overcame this mistake by maturing and realizing the importance of members and how members defined our club. We are nothing without our members. A group of members we had was a collective of individuals. Everyone responds differently to criticisms or compliments and works at varying paces. To treat these individuals as a single entity was our biggest mistake and a challenge we had to overcome.
Want to submit your chapter for the Chapter Spotlight? See The Editor’s Corner for more details!
FIXING FINANCIAL LITERACY Contributed by Jakob Gattinger, National Treasurer
requirements won’t place a large fiscal or staffing burden on schools. These classes teach invaluable life skills, like managing debt, saving for retirement (yes, that process starts now!) and basic investing.
Hello, members! My name is Jakob Gattinger, and I am this year’s FBLA National Treasurer. On behalf of the rest of the National Leadership Team, we hope you’ve had a great first half of the year, and look forward to continuing on with a strong start to 2014! As all of us approach college (underclassmen, I promise high school goes much faster than you think it will), the burden of paying for it weighs heavily on everyone’s mind. College is as expensive as it ever has been, and the increasing costs show no signs of slowing down. NSSE reports that a third of students believed that financial concerns interfered with their academic performance, largely as a result of an inability to afford the required materials. Saving from a young age, buying used books, attending less costly schools and applying for as much financial aid as possible can all help combat this situation; however, students today almost certainly still accrue. some amount of debt. Of course, a little preparation and guidance can go a long way in enhancing your ability to cope with costs of going to college and living alone for the first time. According to NSSE, finances are the secondlargest stressor for students after academics Americans giving themselves a C, D or F in terms of their financial literacy capabilities. Undoubtedly, this is not where we want middle-aged Americans to be.
– more than a third of students in the 2012 NSSE survey describe finances as “traumatic” or “very difficult” to handle. Educating students about the perils of financial mismanagement before they get to this point is critical. Until now, we have clearly failed to adequately educate people – recent studies have shown more than 40% of Americans giving themselves a C, D or F in terms of their financial literacy capabilities. Undoubtedly, this is not where we want middleaged Americans to be. Bringing financial literacy programs to all American high school students is not, by any means, impossible. The overwhelming majority of high schools have business departments, and many students already take personal finance courses, meaning that adding financial literacy
I encourage each and every one of you to contact your school administrators, local board of education members and legislators, informing them of the benefits of financial literacy education and about the perils of failing to do so. A little investment in financial literacy education now by leaders in education will go a long way to staving off future costs for older Americans. Remember, through your involvement in FBLA, you’re already one step ahead of the competition. With all of this in mind, the National Treasurer’s Council and I look forward to continuing our goal of promoting financial literacy across the board. Start studying for those competitive events and we look forward to seeing you in Nashville!
-Jakob Gattinger FBLA National Treasurer
March of Dimes Drew Marx, National Youth Council, Mid-Year Publicity Tactics
As your time this school year becomes limited, take a step back and think about why you joined FBLA, why you remain a member, and why this organization breeds successful leaders in your chapter and throughout the United States. Talk with your chapter members— new, experienced, and graduated— and look at the opportunities FBLA has afforded you. Your membership is unparalleled in that you have the opportunity to be different, to succeed in ways that other students at your schools have never considered. What you will soon learn if you have not already is that your success is ultimately measured by action, by deeds that create value beyond what you have received. In FBLA you have the potential to accomplish something beyond having a title on your resume. Your projects, your knowledge, and your passion for success have the potential to go beyond your classroom. You have the ability to change the lives of others while living yours to the fullest. The March of Dimes and FBLA have a partnership that only increases your ability to create value and make a difference in the lives of others. As you may have noticed already, experience is invaluable when it comes to successfully organizing a service event. Some chapters have advisers and officers with years of successful volunteering experience, while others may be trying for the first time.
If you have networked with other FBLA chapters in your area, connect them with and attend together. Visit marchforbabies.org to register your team and find out more!
While you may have heard “get in touch with your local office” before, I cannot stress how great of a resource March of Dimes staff members can be for your FBLA chapter. They will have updates on March of Dimes events in your area, information packets to help you and your members further understand the March of Dimes’ work, and will be able to help you with any event you may be planning. Reach out to them today! One of the most rewarding aspects of volunteering is working with others to achieve a common goal for an amazing cause. Every year, thousands of March of Dimes volunteers participate in March for Babies in various locations throughout the country. FBLA chapters, large or small, can attend these events and walk with others to promote the health of moms and babies everywhere.
FBLA members: you are a driven group of leaders that has consistently brought your talents to the March of Dimes. Let’s see what you can accomplish this spring! For more ideas, materials, and support, visit the March of Dimes Team Youth Web site at marchofdimesyouth.com. Join in on the conversation with youth volunteers from throughout the country on Facebook (facebook.com/ marchofdimesyouth) and Twitter (twitter.com/marchofdimesyouth). Contact us at teamyouth@marchofdimes.com with any questions! Have a great semester and thank you for supporting stronger, healthier babies!
550k Goal -Drew Marx March of Dimes, National Youth Council
BUILDING YOUR BRAND 5 Steps Beyond a Logo We have all been in a workshop or class and learned about the arrow in the FedEx logo or how the Golden Arches of McDonalds is the most well-known logo in the world. The thing is, these lessons are just the tip of the iceberg in a company’s attempt to brand. Even better is the fact that as FBLA members we can take the ideas businesses have used for decades and bring them to our own MAJOR ORGANIZATIONS…our FBLA chapters. These 5 steps will give you the start you need to make a name for your FBLA chapter. Be Passionate – Every day you need to wake up ready to network and connect people to your FBLA chapter. Your excitement will excite others and soon you’ll see your chapter and brand grow. Be Excellent – The members of your chapter want more then to just pay membership dues and never do anything as a member. I know these seem cliché but seriously they work! Really! Bring in local leaders and business people to speak and present workshops. Give members the opportunity to volunteer in the community. Go on trips to businesses and fun destinations to let members see the world outside of a textbook along with their fellow FBLA members. The more fun they have and the more they learn the better your chapter looks! Reward your members – They paid the dues, they even showed up to all your meetings. Your members are your best advertisements, if they are happy your chapter is happy!
If you have the funds give them free food or better yet free clothes (with an FBLA logo on there of course). If you’re on a tight budget show them a cool movie or have an in school basketball tournament. Rewarding your members for being great members is the best thing you can do to make your FBLA chapter THE club to join in your school. Let the Community know – As you start to complete the things listed above tell people about it! Start in your school. Students are the most obvious population to tell what you do in FBLA but to create a sustainable chapter brand you should let teachers and administrators know about how great your FBLA chapter is (they will be the ones who will tell future students to join your chapter). Then get out into the community. Let the local news outlets know about what the FBLA chapter at your school is doing. The more people who hear about all the great things you do the stronger your brand becomes. Treat your chapter like a business – To become the best and stay the best you need to always be thinking of new ideas and ways to make your member’s experience better. Your members are your customers, your classmates are your target market, FBLA is your company and YOU’RE THE CEO. Sounds like a good start for a Future Business Leader if you ask me! -Steven Blumberg, Eastern Region Treasurer
Technology In Classrooms with John Shammas, Director of User Experience at Meddleit.com
BYOD Policies Set the Stage for Next-Generation Classrooms Bringing technology into the classroom was, and continues to be a scary process for many U.S. schools. Although teachers have
already been using newfound means of teaching, granting students permission to use devices in class has been a growing concern.
But a larger and more encompassing goal of many U.S. schools is a BYOD implementation. A Bring-Your-OwnDevice policy allows all students, at the discretion of their teachers, to use any practical electronic device in the classroom—be it a laptop, tablet, or smartphone. This is a huge step from
the previous "electronic device ban" that largely marked the technological initiatives of the last decade. BYOD schools are changing how educators prepare lessons. Need to
work on a group project? Why not all open a document in Google Drive. Having trouble "seeing" that math problem? Have Wolfram Alpha generate a graph for you. A constant John Shammas is currently the Director of User Experience at Meddleit.com. He speaks all across New Jersey about new technological innovations and if you would like to hear him speak, send him an email at john@johnshammas.com.
Most schools have continued to upgrade their equipment, with many investing in bulk sets of tablet devices. These tablets can
be used in various classes for tracking up-to-date data, performing research, and generating sophisticated visuals. This portability eliminates the need for shared computer labs.
access to technology leads to more innovative teaching methods and an educational standard that meets the expectations of a twenty-first century student body.
85% of schools now allow students and faculty to use personal devices on their networks—an incredible feat for educational institutions. As this number
grows, students will see new patterns emerge, that shape a new and rewritten curriculum tailored to the devices in their pockets.
CAREER CONNECTION: BUSINESS LEADER “Nothing great comes without sacrifice” Pat Hiban has been a successful realtor for 25 years. Pat has sold more than $1 billion worth of residential real estate. In its best year, the Pat Hiban Group sold $207 million worth of residential real estate. By working hard and using all the ideas he has compiled in 6 steps to 7 figures, he quickly doubled his annual salary in his 2nd year in business, then tripled that by year 3. He presents to thousands of people every year, at a variety of professional conferences. Pat has also appeared on ABC and Fox News programs as an expert on real estate trends, and he has been profiled or quoted in dozens of articles in The Washington Post, The Baltimore Sun, Baltimore Magazine, and numerous real estate industry publications.
How did you get started in the Real Estate market? I graduated from Frostburg State University with a degree in Sociology. I wanted to be a probation officer. I found after applying that there was at least a year wait and no guarantees for that job. I didn’t want to be anything else besides that so I looked for a job where I could be my own boss and where I could earn a lot of money. (And also where there was a low barrier to entry) – I applied for several sales jobs with big names with AT&T and Xerox and didn’t make the cut. I went into Real Estate because it was easy to get into.
Can you tell us a little about the multiple businesses you are a part of? In 2008 when our Real Estate Bubble started to pop I began to vent to people I knew that I wanted to look for other things to do Non Real Estate Related. Since then I have acquired ownership in 6 new companies. (6 companies in 6 years!-just realized that) . Anyway, One is a payroll company, one is a green energy solutions company, one is a property management company, one buys apartment buildings, one sells a liquid mist that eradicates infectious diseases in hospitals and one is a separate Real Estate Company in Annapolis Maryland that is not connected to my team. I also wrote a book that is a business in itself so that makes 7.
What is the most rewarding part of your career? I love to get things done. I like to build things and add them to my list and build more things.
What led you to start investing in start-ups? I guess I got lucky in that my first one with Infiniti HR was a huge success. If it wasn’t successful I may have not done more. But as more opportunity arouse I pulled the trigger easier because I was so lucky with the first one.
What is one experience that you will never forget? I will never forget when I took the FBLA members on a field trip to my companies and they all had different opinions and thoughts about each company. I remember several of them saying it was the best field trip of their entire public school career.
Your book, “6 Steps to 7 Figures” sold over 10,000 copies in the first week alone; What led you to write it in the first place? I wanted to give back to a community that gave so much to me. For 15 years I was a sponge for ideas and when someone gave me one, I usually ran with it and made the most of it. After so much taking it was time to give.
What is one lesson you wish to share with Eastern Region FBLA? “Nothing great comes without sacrifice”. Especially in the beginning. When I first got out of college and into Real Estate Sales I worked like a madman. Then when I began to save money, I studied like a mad man on investments and Real Estate Rentals etc. etc. I made it a point to be a student of investments and that took a lot of time. I sacrificed time doing other more recreational things in my 20’s and 30’s so that I could forever get involved with things that would allow my money to work for me rather than me working for my money. I no longer make huge sacrifices as I have paid my dues.
CAREER CONNECTION: BUSINESS LEADER Carole Shorenstein’s passion is nurturing American playwrights and bringing their distinctive voices to our national stages. Of the many playwrights whose work Carole has cultivated, four of them have won their first Pulitzer Prize for plays she produced. For three of those playwrights, it was their first time on Broadway. In addition, Carole has garnered six Tony Awards, as a producer, for Best Play. Carole Shorenstein Hays is the President of SHN. She and partner Robert Nederlander have presented the Best of Broadway theater series, under the SHN umbrella, for over thirty years. They oversee San Francisco's premier theatres, the Curran, Orpheum and Golden Gate, each of which have undergone major renovations under their watch. Independent of SHN, Carole is a prolific Broadway producer. She is the only Broadway producer to win the Tony Award for Best Play twice for the same play—August Wilson's Pulitzer Prize winning Fences,as a revival starring Denzel Washington in 2010 and the original production in 1987 starring James Earl Jones.
Can you tell us a little about the company you work for? The name of my company is SHN. It is a combination of my last name Shorenstein Hays and my business partner’s last name, Nederlander. We have been in business for 32 years, owning and programming three Theatres in San Francisco: the SHN Curran, the SHN Orpheum and the SHN Golden Gate, with a combined seating capacity of over 6,000.
What is your position in SHN? I oversee the entire company and produce/ promote the productions in our houses. I strongly believe in Patron Service and making sure that, to the best of my abilities, all people who come to our theatre have a positive experience; and if they have a concern, it is immediately addressed. I am a big big believer that it is really valuable to take great care and attention to everyone who comes to our houses: Everyone! The artists have to feel comforted and welcomed and made to feel part of our SHN family and part of the larger San Francisco Community. I really lead by example by walking around a lot, listening to the phone service operators, making sure the working conditions of our team are harmonious and that problems are rapidly addressed and that all feel pleased and delighted to be working in the Arts, and interacting with great artists and the public. Selling tickets, quite simply put, is key! Engaging the youth, using social and digital media, and growing an organization to have a sense of joy, vibrancy and glee is our goal. This is achieved by having Great Shows and a Great Staff! My focus is to make sure we all are working together, without any personality or ego-driven issues. I assembled various teams and ask them to articulate what we did yesterday, what we want to do today and what anyone is stuck on. The goals are simple, so everyone is clear and feels included.I also believe that it is important to lead by example. I go around and do whatever task is called for at any given moment, nothing is too small or inconsequential. It is essential that everyone see and feel harmonious, without being overly exaggerated. Manners and empathy are the most important aspect of my management style and really is fully and quietly integrated into our Bottom Line. Everyone has an important role to play and everyone's observation and input is encouraged. We all spend a lot of time together, so it is important to meld personal and professional aspects. I Always walk around the office asking everyone "how ya doing? and hopefully when they say "just fine" I ask "why?" they answer "because we're selling tickets and our patrons and artists are happy!" That's really my job: to have a keen eye and cheer lead!
What is the most rewarding part of your career? The most rewarding part of my career is working on new projects with new writers, directors and actors and helping to shape and launch nascent careers. I have produced a lot of new American plays, by first time writers and directors on Broadway that have been immensely satisfying. FENCES (Pulitzer, Tony Award Best Play...and Best Revival...the only time ever a single producer has won for the same play); DOUBT (Pulitzer and Tony Award Best Play); PROOF (Antony award and Pulitzer), TAKE ME OUT (Tony Award Best Play), WAR HORSE (Tony Award Best Play), to name a few.
What is one experience that you will never forget? The most amazing experience was producing my very first play, August Wilson's FENCES. It had no advance sales, was a very hard sell, as it was the first Black Play on Broadway since Raisin in the Sun. I had to work closely with August to shape the script, which was a challenge, since he didn't trust me. I listened carefully to the audience and whenever they coughed or rustled their playbills, I made mental notes and began making subtle changes. Much to my surprise, it opened to glowing reviews and great audience reception. When it was announced "Best New Play" at the Tony Awards, I was seven months pregnant with our first child. I waddled on stage and said "I think I'm going to give birth right now." that was it, exit stage right!
What is one piece of advice you would give to someone aspiring to be in your spot? The one piece of advice I give myself and others is to not over think things and to always always be positive and to stay on the side of the ART! And my motto really is; “there is great nobility in breaking even, paying the bills is essential!” I believe firmly that theatre should be For Profit and that it is essential to "keep figuring it out". It is important to always see slightly over the horizon, but never get too far ahead of yourself. I is important to value everyone's contribution and not to ask anyone to do anything that you wouldn't. Also, to have a smart and engaged group.
CAREER CONNECTION: BUSINESS LEADER “It is extremely important to have a strong network and mentors” Janesha Dua studied Electrical Engineering at Caltech and graduated in 2011. She did her Master’s at Stanford University in Management Science and Engineering with a focus on Entrepreneurship, graduating in 2012. She has been working at Bain & Company, Inc. since the summer of 2012 in the New York office. At Bain, she has extensive experience in Retail, Private Equity, and Media & Telecom. In her free time, she enjoys reading books, doing yoga, and traveling. Can you tell us a little about the company you work for?
Interview by: Pulkita Dua, New Jersey FBLA
Bain & Co. is a top global management consulting firm. We have 50 offices across 32 countries. We help the world’s leaders solve their toughest challenges. We have also been ranked as the #1 firm to work for on Glassdoor’s 2014 Employees’ Choice Awards. In short, it’s a great company and I love working here!
Continued... It is very rewarding to work on tough client problems and bring about positive outcomes– strong, tangible results for the client that you read about in the newspapers as well. These are proud moments.
What is your position in said company? I am a second year Associate Consultant in the New York office What kind of work do you do in your present company? I work with clients from Fortune 500 companies, mid-sized companies, private equity firm, and non-profit organizations. I work on corporate and business unit strategy, growth strategy, organizational design, and mergers and acquisitions. I structure and perform analytics, conduct primary research, and determine most practical ways to drive long lasting results for our clients. In our teams, we also have a lot of fun and we always help each other with our projects.
What is the most rewarding part of your career? I work with extremely intelligent, nice, and humble people. I am excited to go into work every single day and absolutely love the team camaraderie and office culture.
What is one experience that you will never forget? On one of my projects with a large Fortune 500 company, we recommended that they bring about a fundamental change in the way they conducted business. It was a big challenge for us to get everyone in the company on-board about the importance of such a change. I helped organize a meeting with the company’s most senior executives. In the meeting, we were able to align the leadership about the urgency of implementing the recommended changes. We then successfully guided the client through the process of executing the recommended changes under a seemingly impossible tight time-frame.
What is one piece of advice you would give to someone aspiring to be in your spot? Focus on practicing case interviews so that you are able to solve problems in a structured manner.
Something you wish you knew before starting your career? It is extremely important to have a strong network and mentors.
CAREER CONNECTION: BUSINESS Student Priya Kamdar is a sophomore in the Business & Political Economy program at the New York University Stern School of Business. Formerly on the NJ FBLA State Community Service Committee and the Community Service VP of the UCVTS FBLA chapter, Priya credits her love for business to the amazing people she met during her time in the organization. She currently serves as the President for the London chapter of the Stern Political Economy Exchange and with international positions on the Undergraduate Stern Women in Business Club and NYU Admissions Ambassadors team. She has also done research within the Stern Economics department on class-action lawsuits against cartels and has previously had internships at a marketing & PR consultancy, and the Roosevelt Institute. A travel and culture aficionado, Priya loves to learn new things, especially if they have to do with innovative technology, European history, world politics, the intersection of the public and private sectors, and anything Middle East related. Where do you go for undergrad? I go to New York University’s Stern School of Business—in particular, I’m in the Business and Political Economy Program.
Union County Magnet High School. However, I got involved in FBLA my freshman year and fell completely in love with business as the years progressed. My dad has worked on Wall Street for most of my life so I was familiar with the field, but FBLA and the competitions I did really taught me about what business really is and sparked a passion in me for it. I knew I loved working with people and solving challenges, so business school seemed like a great fit. What is your favorite part about business school?
Priya speaking with Hilary Clinton. Can you tell the readers a little about the program you are in? The BPE program at Stern combines liberal arts with a top-notch traditional business and social impact education in a global way, with three semesters of study abroad incorporated in the program. Students spend freshman year in New York, sophomore year in London, junior fall in either Shanghai or Washington D.C., and return to NYC for their last year and a half. It’s an incredible program with a lot of flexibility built in so students can really explore their other interests and take advantage of co-curricular activities all over the world. It really encourages a global experience. What made you want to attend business school? I actually grew up wanting to be an aerospace engineer and went to a high school focused on engineering and architecture,
Within BPE, I get the opportunity to deeply explore the interconnectivities between business, politics, and economics while customizing parts of my education to include other interests of mine, like gender studies and the Middle East. I have been able to accumulate an incredible wealth of knowledge in so many different fields. If you asked, I could comfortably hold a conversation on things from portfolio diversification to the sociocultural implications of Great Britain’s colonial carve-up on the Middle East. I think knowledge is so empowering, and at Stern I’m surrounded by absolutely brilliant students who continuously encourage me to do my best and keep on learning. What is one experience that you will never forget? NYU sponsored 18 students, including myself, for a weekend trip to Edinburgh, Scotland this past semester to see Malala Yousafzai, the Pakistani woman’s education advocate, speak live at a global human rights conference. I was about 15 feet away from her and it was an absolutely surreal experience—her speech drew on what we all can do, public or private sector, to make women’s education a reality and how important it is that this half of the world’s populations gets educated.
Meet the board Executive Assistant, Mimi Hess, New Jersey Mimi has served on multiple state committees and has been recognized as a state gold member. Currently, she serves as the NJ FBLA State Historian and Publicity Committee Chair. Outside of FBLA, Mimi is a varsity basketball player, the treasurer of her senior class, and a volunteer at her local hospital.
Communications Director, Andrew Lopez, New Jersey Andrew is a two term state officer and currently serves as NJ FBLA’s Southern Region Vice President. In addition to serving on the EREB, he is the Executive Treasurer on the National Treasurer’s Council and his local chapter President. Outside of FBLA, Andrew is the President of National Honor Society, Intern for a Senate Campaign, and English Tutor to international PhD Candidates through Princeton University’s International Center (He is the youngest tutor to ever take part in the program).
Vice President’s Assistant, Steven Blumberg, Pennsylvania Steven also serves as the Eastern Region Treasurer, the First Vice President of Pennsylvania and chapter Co-Vice President. He is excited to give back to the organization that has done so much for him along the way. In addition to FBLA, Steven enjoys playing soccer and volunteering in his community.
Vice President’s Assistant, Regan Butler, New Hampshire Regan currently serves as her Local Chapter President, New Hampshire State President, and as a Vice President's Assistant on the Eastern Region Executive Board. In the past, she has been a Local Chapter Historian and a State Officer. Besides FBLA, she has been involved in crew, Girl Scouts, and the International Thespian Society.
Vice President’s Assistant, Sabrena Sabet, New York
Sabrena began FBLA in her freshman year and since then a spark of passion had developed resulting in her achieving the position of Chapter Reporter. This passion also helped further her FBLA career when she ran for the position of State Vice President for District 3S, and now nationally as a Eastern Region Board Member. Sabrena has competed at the state and national levels and has won awards such as the BAA.
The Editor’s Corner
Final Thought
Entrepreneurs are simply those who understand that there is little difference between obstacle and opportunity and are able to turn both to their advantage.
-Machiavelli
Eastern Region FBLA, I hope you enjoyed this edition of The Eastern Regioner. The Eastern Region Executive Board and I have been working extremely hard in order to make this year in FBLA, a successful one. You may have noticed some new, innovative sections.
This is all in effort to rebrand the Eastern Region and promote the idea of unity. I would really love to hear your feedback! If you have any questions or comments, feel free to email me at alopez@njfbla.org or contact me via social media. My twitter handle is @Andrewlopez96 and my Facebook name is “Andrew Lopez” In addition, if you or someone you know would like to be featured in this publication or if you have a new idea, please do not be afraid to reach out to a Board member. Keep putting Excellence Into Action. -Andrew Lopez
#FBLAask A few of the results from Eastern Region FBLA’s first Social Media Townhall!