March 10, 2003

Adding Value Subject of Illinois MBA Alumni Event

More than 150 alumni and current students from the Illinois MBA Program gathered at UBS Tower in Chicago on March 6 for a panel presentation on adding value to a company. Subtitled "How to make yourself indispensable to a company," the presentation offered advice and strategies about adding personal value to an organization, particularly in stressful financial situations.

Dean Avijit Ghosh (with microphone in photo left) welcomed the attendees before turning the session over to moderator Larry DeBrock, professor of economics (far left), and the four panelists. A discussion followed the panelists' presentations.

Associate Dean of the Illinois MBA Program Mary Miller (center in photo left) introduced the panelists. They were (l to r at table) Val Gatson, second vice president of human resources at Northern Trust Company; Lisa Whitmore, human resources director for Jones Lang LaSalle; Mike Albert, senior manager at Deloitte & Touche; and Lisa Koblinki, senior manager in litigation advisory services at Ernst & Young.

Presenters offered their observations and suggestions about how to add value to an organization. In addition to their current job responsibilities, the panelists have worked in marketing, recruiting, audit management, workforce diversity and equal opportunity, and software systems implementation. They drew on their diverse employment experiences to offer tips about making yourself indispensable to your company by adding value, including:

• teamwork -- know you are a part of team and expect to contribute
• punctuality, dedication
• initiate an interest in learning -- the more you know, the more valuable you are to your employer
• familiarize yourself with the company
• work hard
• look for ways to improve your work environment and provide timely and relevant suggestions
• own up to mistakes and follow-up with a correction process

A reception preceeded the presentation. Attendees were all entered in an entry for a door prize -- a basketball signed by Bill Self, coach of the Fighting Illini men's basketball team. The winner of the door prize was Patrick Ripley (Fin '01) Ernst & Young, shown in the photo at right with Nate Hobaugh, '85 MBA, president of the MBA Alumni Association Board.

Below, Daniel Poulos (l) and Paul Kakkanathu welcomed attendees.

The event was co-sponsored by the Illinois MBA Alumni Association, CBA Alumni Association, and Business Career Services.