Excellence at Excella

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          “Initiative, Flexibility, and Passion,” these are the three qualities that come to mind when Margaret Archer, Manager at the local Extension Center for Virginia based Excella Consulting, considers the top qualities of ideal student team-members. The attributes are fitting. Mrs. Archer and her team have made good use of initiative, flexibility, and passion on their quick rise from just an idea into a full-fledged, project completing entity – all in only a year. I was fortunate enough to acquire a front row view as our resident Quality Guild members, Dr. Bailey and Mrs. Kylie Goodell, conducted a meeting with one of Quest’s newest potential corporate sponsors.

          As I watched and listened to Mrs. Archer and Joe, her in-house software developer, I felt an emergence of the “shining eyes” affect coined in a popular TED talk by composer Benjamin Zander*. They each spoke with spellbinding conviction when sharing the tale of their transformation in the past year: their struggles, their successes, and their collaborations with UMD faculty and students. To steal a phrase from Tony Robbins, it is clear that the Extension Center is nestled in a “positive upwards spiral.” Day by day, they are drawing closer towards their objective of providing more software and consulting services to their Washington D.C. clients.

          In the midst of this dash to the forefront, the Excella Extension Center team remains focused on building relationships with University staff and alumni and providing student team-members with one of their most valuable assets: their keen insight on the process of software development and consulting. As Dr. Bailey quipped, “coding is a contact sport!” With Joe as their coach, student team members are engaged in a learning intensive process for iterative, test-driven software development.

          It was a pleasure to see up close one of the results of scoping and the actions that the Quality Guild takes on our behalf to create mutually beneficial corporate relationships. Oh, and to paraphrase, here’s nugget of advice from Mrs. Archer herself, “Business majors…take tech courses.”

*You can view the “shining eyes” TED talk here

BMGT498K: A Course In Consulting

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Following the QUEST Senior Conference many students rejoice in the accumulation of all their hard work and the completion of their project. However, some also wish to themselves that they could do it all again; retake 490H. This year that is no longer a faraway dream but a real possibility. To prepare for the increased number of projects needed after the introduction of the two-cohorts a year model, QUEST decided to offer the Capstone course again.

This Spring, QUEST will be offering a new elective BMGT498K taught by David Ashley and Dr. Nicole Coomber. Additionally, Eric Hamel be will acting as the Teaching Fellow for the course. 498K will be similar to 490 in that students will work on multidisciplinary teams to solve problems for corporate sponsors. This will allow Seniors who are not yet done with QUEST to do another project and it will allow Juniors, members of cohort 20, to get exposure to what they can expect for next year. Involving students from both Q19 and Q20 will provide a wonderful opportunity for inter-cohort learning and collaboration.

Because of the smaller size of the class, this course will offer some additional opportunities. According to Dr. Bailey, this class will include a number of site visits to locations such as the Verizon Center, Accenture, and Excella Consulting. This will provide students with an opportunity to learn more about consulting while sharpening skills related to presentations and professionalism.

Some potential companies students can expect to work with through signing up for this course are ATK, BD, Lockheed Martin, and Spectrum Foods.

This course will be offered Tuesdays from 5:00 to 7:40. Students are strongly encouraged to register now and take advantage of this amazing opportunity.

Scoping: An Investigative Report

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        “Scoping” (BMGT438D) is one of QUEST’s most sought after courses.  Otherwise known as Developing Business Relationships and Scoping the Consulting Project, in the course students “craft a well-written, clear, and technically precise project scope” for QUEST’s Consulting and Innovation Practicum course (BMGT490). The project scope includes a project summary, list of primary project objectives, list of proposed project benefits, and overview of primary project deliverables.

        “Scoping is important [because] you have a firsthand impact on QUEST’s future,” says Scoping Teaching Assistant Max Cooper.  In addition to completing a project scope for a future senior capstone project, students also develop valuable communication skills.  These communication skills are highlighted when students meet with potential corporate sponsors to pitch them the benefits of QUEST.  “Students get to practice presentation skills through ‘selling’ QUEST to interested potential clients,” according to Cooper.  Scoping members act as the face of QUEST for these corporate partners; it is their responsibility to create a positive experience for these companies so that the both the partnership and the senior consulting project go on without incident.

       Almost equally as valuable as the communication skills they develop, students also cultivate their network during Scoping, frequently interacting with QUEST alumni and potential business partners.  These relationships become more and more valuable as current QUEST students begin to search for internships and jobs.  For students, a robust network of professional individuals is vital in the often confusing and competitive job/internship search.

        On October 18th the Scoping visited W.L. Gore and Associates to assess its viability of a senior consulting project.  In addition to Gore, students have also gone on site visits to McCormick, Toyota, Johnson and Johnson, Under Armour, Black and Decker, and Unilever.  “Students get to meet alumni from cohorts 1 through 20 on site visits,” says to Cooper.

After visiting Gore, scoping students were encouraged to apply for internships there.  Cooper says, “Gore told us to apply for internships, they wanted us.”  This experience is not dissimilar to other site visits in the past; almost all companies that QUEST deals want students to apply for internships and/or jobs after they graduate in part because of the communication and networking skills that are developed during Scoping.

Scoping is one of the most dynamic QUEST classes offered.  Students learn professional communication skills, network with employees at some of the world’s most innovative companies, and scope potential capstone projects.  Whether you’re a student, alumni, or corporate sponsor getting involved with Scoping is a no brainer!

QUEST2China Visits Under Armour

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Students Visit Under Armour

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           This upcoming winter, QUEST students will return to China once again to explore the world’s second largest economy and investigate how manufacturing, consulting, and design firms apply systems thinking and maintain product quality in their daily operations. During this trip, students and faculty will visit a diverse set of companies in Hong Kong and Guangzhou to learn about the cultural nuances of working in China.  This year students began their journey before they even departed the country. To start off this year’s QUEST2China trip, students had the opportunity to visit Under Armour headquarters in Baltimore and meet with Dee Dee Tsamoutalis (Q7), Director of Sourcing and Development.

          Dee Dee has spent much of her time over the last several years living in China and was able to share with QUEST students her experiences working in other countries.  Students learned about the design process in creating some of Under Armour’s innovative products. Dee Dee also elaborated on many of the manufacturing considerations when creating some of these products, which for many of the students including myself was not something we realized went into designing a product[JW1] . The visit concluded with a stop in the Under Armour store. Under Armour’s generosity was much appreciated by the QUEST community. The company visit left students even more eager and excited to begin the study abroad program and explore China!

 

The Mentors Program– A Testimonial

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April of 2012 I received an email from Aditya Yerramilli (Q14), mentioning a QUEST Mentors Program that I remotely remembered signing up for. A gung ho sophomore ready to break into the professional arena, I responded immediately. The exchange that would follow has lasted for over a year now, and developed into an awesome mentorship.

Whether speaking through email, phone, text, or, most preferably, in person, Aditya and myself have been able to maintain a relationship despite departures from the continent and the chaos of scholastic and professional life. Aditya, a professional in PwC’s Forensic Services practice, has shared more than a few insights that I’ve come to highly value. And myself, well I like to think that I’ve helped Aditya stay hip as his time as an undergrad slips farther away.

However, the purpose of this article is not to tell you about my awesome mentor and myself. Rather, the goal is to inform you about the awesome Mentors Program. So I asked Aditya a few questions about the program, and his answers are below.

1)What have you enjoyed most about the Mentors Program?

Being able to stay connected with smith and helping quest students in an advisory capacity. I also enjoy getting to know our current student body.

2)What is QAB’s vision for the Mentors Program?

We want an increasing number of students to leverage the alumni network in their career and personal development. We also want to encourage alumni to stay connected with QUEST and believe mentoring the younger generation is a form of giving back to the program.

3)What would you like QUEST students to get out of the program?

A better perspective on the industries or job function that they want to pursue after graduation. They can learn more about interview prep, daily responsibilities, or the latest industry trends. Learning outside the classroom is just as an effective method of gaining information. Also maintaining a mentoring relationship will allow them to practice some of the skills needed in the workplace (networking, professional communication, goal setting, etc)

4)What would you like QUEST alumni to get out of the program?

We want alumni to stay connected with QUEST. By serving as a mentor we want them to reflect on their professional and personal progression and share some of the lessons learned. We want alumni to have an easy way to give back to Smith, and perhaps find potential candidates for future careers.

So there you have it. Make sure to get involved and take the survey (MentorSurvey Link) by 11/8/13.

The CHESSLab

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First, the entrance to the Quest Lab was embellished with pink foam hearts no doubt a bashful sign of affection for our lovely students and faculty. Then, there was a period where our abode was graced with the name of a 1985 hip hop group (stop me if you’ve heard their hit single Can I kick it?). Now, we’re in the age of the Chess-Lab. Aditya Sridhar (Q19), with a single surreptitious move, welcomed the latest craze that’s swept our Quest community. By introducing a simple wooden chess set to the lab, he’s punctuated the relaxed study and lounging atmosphere with brief bouts of competition.

I was propositioned as soon as I walked in.

“DJ, how about a game?” There’s a pause as we size each other up. I take a look at the impromptu score board that is now as much a focal point as the board in his hands. Mark’s record is impressive. “Looks like you’re pretty good, Mark,” I say. He offers a ready smile, “I get better with every game” – a quality riposte. It’s a common trend among Quest students, they are modest in words and instead choose to display their bravado on the battlefield. I watch later as Cohort 20 students Pavan Rangachar and Nicole Blahut wage war. The vibe is intense, yet amiable. It’s clear that they’re both enjoying themselves: Pavan caps each move with a smile.

A chat with Cohort 20 junior Yoni reveals that he once had his chess experience on his college resume. “It was my very first leadership position, the Chess club.” For more than a week this simple game has started friendly rivalries, spurred animated chats over strategy, and drawn together many in an already close knit community. It’s amazing how so many members from a group as diverse a Quest can share such a unique interest. All we need now is some prize money.

 

Written by,

Daniel-Jason Minzie

Philosopher

Q20

Reflections on Alumni Dinner

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It is often said that success is determined not by what you know, but instead who you know. Cliche perhaps, but the truth remains that networking is a critical part of success at any level. Connections you make with other students, professors, or employers today can play a crucial role in future endeavors. These networks can introduce you to helpful mentors, new career paths, and of course job offers. It is for this reason that QSO organized an alumni event at Ledo’s Pizza on October 10th.

Though the event encountered some light rainfall, the weather could not dampen the mood of those inside. Upon arrival at Ledo’s the event was already rife with discussion. Steadily, as students and alumni filled in, the noise produced by these conversations escalated, and we were asked to take our seats. Kenny Lopez (Q20), of QSO, thanked everyone for attending (with Carly Rae Jepson’s Call Me Maybe playing softly in the background), and with that the event was officially underway.

Immediately the noise level escalated back up to a roar. There were a number of alumni in attendance, who where more that willing to talk about some of their experiences in the QUEST program or share an anecdote about Dr. Bailey’s bowties. As a recent entrant into the QUEST program, it was a great opportunity to meet members from different cohorts and hear their stories. I learned about my peers’ study abroad experiences, summer work in consulting firms, and even opinions about Miley Cyrus’ twerktastic performance at the VMAs. Dinner soon became an afterthought, because of the great conversations I was a having, I had almost completely ignored my food (except for that crab dip which is always a must). Great discussions are often hard to come by, but at the dinner it seemed whomever I talked to had a great story to tell.

As the noise subsided and students and alumnus began to leave, I looked around and couldn’t help but wonder what the next three years would be like; and if the alumni dinner was any indication, these three years are going to be a ton of fun.

 

Alumni Corner- Homecoming Game and Tailgate (Saturday, October 26th)

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  • Tailgate begins three hours before kickoff. Location is directly in front of Comcast front stairs in lot PP*. Tailgate is open to friends and family and will include corn hole, t-shirt giveaways, a box pool, burgers, hot dogs, and soft drinks (feel free to bring other beverages).
  • Kickoff time is TBA. Tickets are in section 19. For each $30 donation to QUEST, receive one game ticket ($55 value).
  • To RSVP for the tailgate or request tickets or a parking permit, please clickhere.

 

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