The Art of Leadership
U.S. News & World Report ranked
the Fisher MBA program 22nd in the
nation.
The Graduate Programs
Computerworld ranked the Fisher
College 20th in their Top 25 Techno
MBA programs list.
The MBA orientation program, Super
September Start-Up, featured a twoday series of activities with a case presentation by Ford Motor Company
about its decision to purchase Jaguar
Motor Company. Students also participated in a day-long community
service project at a local middle
school, beautifying the school property and working with 6th, 7th, and
8th grade students on organizational
skills. Sponsored by a grant from the
Xerox Foundation, this project enables students to test their leadership
and teamwork abilities and develop a
sense of social responsibility and
community awareness.
Under the direction of Professor Jay
Barney, small student groups of Business Solution Teams (BST) spent 20
exciting weeks immersed in real management challenges. BST projects
have included evaluating the market
potential of a business software application, developing a marketing plan
for a transportation and logistics
firm, helping a company through an
acquisition, and streamlining operations of a retail firm.
The Art of Leadership
the Fisher College implemented its
revised MBA program. These curriculum revisions included a cross-disciplinary introduction during autumn
quarter, as well as the reorganization
of some classes into fewer weeks per
offering. The new core curriculum
also gave students the flexibility to
take electives prior to their summer
internship. Student evaluations were
very positive despite heavy workloads
both autumn and winter quarters.
The 1996-97 year was the fourth year
that Susan L. Josephs, associate dean
for Educational and Professional Diversity, coordinated a unique
mentoring program for women, minority, and international students
linking first-year MBA students with
corporate mentors from companies
such as Banc One, Huntington
Bancshares, Inc., Riverside Hospital,
Nationwide Insurance, and
CompuServe.
teamwork interaction creativity
During the 1996-97 academic year,
WENDY KWOK • The intensive course work at Fisher provided
Wendy Kwok
Class of 1997
MBA, Finance, International Business
Position:
Business Analyst, American Electric Power
Columbus, Ohio
me with the understanding of business theories, analytical
frameworks, and creative problem-solving approaches I’m
now using as a business analyst at American Electric Power.
Among the many skills acquired, I value teamwork and
leadership skills the most and truly believe these are critical
to career success in today’s corporate environment.
The MBA program provides tremendous resources
and opportunities to foster leadership qualities in its students. For example, students who participated in the
Emerging Markets Field Study program designed the course
structure and then arranged a two-week trip to Singapore
and Malaysia to visit companies in various industries. At
Fisher, students regularly participate in curriculum and program administration; and, overall, interaction between students, faculty, and corporate partners is strongly encouraged and facilitated.
My MBA experience was a wise investment of my
time—I believe my goals were accomplished many times over.
The Art of Leadership
Martin Tursky
Class of 1998
MBA, Finance
Position:
Intern, Bank One
Columbus, Ohio
determination persistence competition
Statistics
Average starting salary
$63,656
Number of companies
recruiting on campus
198
Percentage of class reporting
job offers at graduation
89%
Percentage of class reporting
job offers three months after
graduation
98%
Number of on-campus
interviews conducted
Number of resumes referred
to companies by request
Number of companies
recruiting on campus for
internships
Number of job opportunities
posted by correspondence
MARTIN TURSKY • To me, leadership is having persistence and
determination regardless of the obstacles that lie ahead. It is
1,065
setting an example and never asking more of an individual
than you are willing to give of yourself. My graduate expe-
12,816
rience at Fisher has prepared me in many ways for a future
role as a business leader. The MBA program has allowed
me to experience diversity and learn to adapt to it and learn
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3,227
from it.
The Bank One Fellowship I was awarded has provided me with a broader understanding of the banking industry and just how competitive it has become. Working on
A partial list of companies extending
offers to Fisher College MBAs
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Allied Signal
American
Electric Power
American Express
Andersen
Consulting
Bank One
Caterpillar
Logistics
Chase Manhattan
Bank
Coopers &
Lybrand, LLP
Eli Lilly
Ernst & Young,
LLP
Ford Motor
Company
Frito-Lay
General Electric
IBM
Kimberly-Clark
Nations Bank
Navistar
Pillsbury
PNC Bank
Price Waterhouse,
LLP
Procter & Gamble
Ross Products
SAP America
Sterling
Commerce
redesigning participant education and enrollment materials
for Bank One’s 401(k) program, I was able to directly participate in the bank’s corporate objective of being a premier
financial services provider. My internship reinforced the
teamwork skills and leadership abilities that I’ve developed
in the MBA program.
The Fisher College has challenged me in many ways
and has proven to me that through persistence and determination, anything can be accomplished. Leadership is a
learning process that never stops.
The Art of Leadership
JEFFREY RICE • Recruiters come to the Fisher College to find
Office of Career Services
students who are able to solve problems, build relation-
The number of student interviews
ships, and initiate new and creative ideas. They know that
with on-campus recruiters increased
effective leaders must be able to address both immediate
by 18% during the 1996-97 academic
and long-range strategic issues.
year—the fourth consecutive year of
Because of this emphasis on leadership, the interviewing process has changed over the past few years. Recruiters
expansion for the college’s on-campus
recruiting program.
make assessments based on behavioral evidence of innovation, teamwork accomplishments, and problem solving in
The Office of Career Services imple-
diverse environments. A student’s leadership involvement in
mented a “relationship management”
both curricular and extracurricular activities now shows as
program, selecting a number of re-
much if not more about his or her leadership potential than
cruiting companies for more focused
do grade point averages and test scores.
consultation and service. A follow-up
I believe the college has made significant strides in
offering our students a variety of opportunities for leader-
survey showed positive results from
this program.
ship development in and out of the classroom. Our students
work closely with professionals in their fields through the
Enhancements to technology services
college’s mentoring program, exchange ideas with corporate
included web access for employers to
leaders through the Executive Luncheon Speaker Series, at-
student resumes, direct links from the
tend a retreat with executives from the nation’s leading
Office of Career Services web page to
companies in the annual undergraduate Dean’s Leadership
employer web pages, and an employer
Conference, and participate in teamwork and community
video library allowing students to view
service activities throughout the MBA orientation.
company-produced videos on the Web
It’s not surprising to me that among the portfolio of
via Fisher College computer labs.
companies recruiting Fisher students, most seek leadership
potential from their recruits while embracing leadership as a
corporate identity.
innovation teamwork problem solving
Jeffrey Rice
Associate to the Dean for Career Services
Leadership Activities:
Chair, Midwest Association of Colleges and
Employers
Volunteer Coordinator, Columbus Wheelchair
Marathon
Salvation Army, Homeless Meal Delivery
Program
Gahanna Middle School, Strategic Planning
and Curriculum Development
Gahanna Youth League Sports, Summer
Baseball Coach
Forty-Plus of Columbus, Job Search
Consultant
Columbus Chamber of Commerce, Business
Development Consultant
Rickenbacker Port Authority, Business
Development Consultant
Ohio State National Merit Student
Recruitment, Panelist
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The Art of Leadership
Ranked seventh by the Gourman Report,
LAURA PARKS • I believe that having a passion for what one does
the Fisher Master’s in Labor and Human
is a prerequisite for leadership—and my passion has always
Resources (MLHR) program has been
been human resources. As a graduate assistant acting in the
rated among the top 10 of 84 graduate
role of academic adviser for the Office of Minority Student
labor and human resource programs in
Services, I am able to pursue my interests while applying some
the nation for the past five years.
of the concepts I am learning in the MLHR program. I find it
students with their academic and career goals. The position
ebrated its 20th anniversary. Alumni
also gives me an opportunity to serve as a mentor to the stu-
and human resource professionals
dent, which is another key element to leadership.
gathered to share their views on issues
Leaders serve as role models as well as giving back to
such as international human resources
their communities. Not only am I aware of these responsibil-
and employee compensation.
ities in my role as an academic adviser, but also in my role as
a mother. My 12-year-old son has been a key factor in inspir-
In 1996, human resources graduates
ing me to strive for success. In fact, I am sure that serving as a
formed the Human Resource Alumni
mentor to him has helped him achieve honor roll status (4.0).
Network to provide networking and
In fact, the two of us often study together!
professional development opportunities for human resources alumni.
Fisher’s MLHR program has enabled me to leverage my
interests in general business and human resources issues by providing me the necessary tools to assist me in my future endeav-
Last year, the MLHR Graduate Studies
ors. And, because I worked my way through my undergraduate
Committee, with the help of its advisory
education over the course of many years, I have been able to
board, concluded a major five-year re-
experience firsthand the growing importance of the corporate
view of the MLHR curriculum, which
human resources function to the health of an organization.
will be fully implemented in the fall of
As I prepare to graduate from the MLHR program, I
1998. The new program will further
feel the leadership skills I possess, my classroom experience,
develop students’ leadership and analyti-
and my advisory role have provided me with a solid founda-
cal skills while providing a strong theo-
tion for future success in my profession.
retical foundation and practical application in human resources.
Laura Parks
Class of 1998
Master’s in Labor and Human Resources
(MLHR)
Leadership Activities:
Graduate Assistantship, Academic Adviser,
Office of Minority Student Services
Vice President, Black MBA Association
Selected for the 1998 Emerging Markets
Field Study Program to China/Hong Kong
African American Student Leadership Award
for Personal Achievement
Service Award, Hispanic Business Student
Association
Summer ’97 Internship, General Electric,
Norcross, Ga.
Student Representative, National Networking Association—Industrial Relations
Council on GOALS
passion success role model
extremely gratifying to know I have assisted undergraduate
Last April, the MLHR program cel-
The Art of Leadership
Rohini Ahluwalia
Class of 1996
PhD, Marketing
Class of 1993
MA, Marketing
Position:
Assistant Professor, University of Kansas
Leadership Activities:
John A. Howard American Marketing
Association Doctoral Dissertation Award,
1997
Robert Bartels Doctoral Fellowship in
Marketing, 1994
William R. Davidson Doctoral Fellowship in
Marketing, 1995
American Marketing Association Doctoral
Consortium Fellow, 1994
Graduate Student Alumni Research Award,
The Ohio State University, 1994
Research Associate Award for Outstanding
Research Proposal, The Ohio State
University, 1991
ROHINI AHLUWALIA • While a doctoral student at Ohio State,
A 1996 Ohio Board of Regents study
I had the privilege of working with some excellent faculty
praised Fisher’s PhD program as be-
members who helped me develop the leadership skills that I
ing among the top programs in the
credit for my academic success. My adviser, Dr. Robert
nation for “superior quality,” extol-
Burnkrant, encouraged me to think independently and criti-
ling its faculty as “research-oriented
cally about my subject, ask meaningful questions, and con-
and productive,” and job placements
sider both the theoretical and practical implications of my
as “excellent.”
research. He also taught me that an academic leader must
be able to communicate her findings. Another mentor, Pro-
The Fisher College is one of approxi-
fessor H. Rao Unnava, taught me to look for the
mately 10 institutions in the country to
counterintuitive in my subject and to bring an element of
offer a PhD in international business.
elegance to research. In addition to his impact on me as a
researcher, I regard Dr. Unnava as a model teacher and
Nine of the 23 doctoral dissertation
emulate many of his methods in my own classes. To me,
award winners recently recognized by
both professors possess key qualities of academic leader-
the Council of Logistics Management
ship—a vision of where the field should be and the ability
were Fisher graduates.
to take it to new places through independent and creative
thinking.
The AMIS PhD program places twothirds of its graduates in faculty positions at top 40 business programs.
Approximately 12 hold distinguished
professorships at universities across
the country.
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The Art of Leadership
Jonathan Glover
Class of 1992
PhD, Accounting & MIS
Class of 1988
BSBA, Accounting & MIS
Position:
Associate Professor, Graduate School of
Industrial Administration,
Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh,
Pennsylvania
Leadership Activities:
Xerox Research Chair, 1995-96
Editorial Board Member, Review of
Accounting Studies, 1997-present
The LHR PhD program studies the
employment relationship and the design and impact of alternative managerial systems.
Of graduating PhD students, 97%
accept academic positions nationally
or internationally, while others select
careers in business. Recent academic
job placements include positions at
Case Western Reserve, the University
of Notre Dame, the University of
Arizona, Florida State University,
and others.
JONATHAN GLOVER • Academic leaders have the ability to see
the larger application of ideas. As an undergraduate student
in the honors program at Ohio State, I was drawn to the
field of accounting by faculty who viewed the discipline in
the context of the “big picture.” Later, in the accounting
doctoral program, I was inspired by faculty who were excited about their work, applied basic principles to larger
issues, and creatively connected ideas.
They also encouraged me to work with other Ohio
State academic departments, which broadened my views.
These experiences have guided me in my research and
teaching at Carnegie Mellon, where the academic culture is
interdisciplinary. In my research and teaching, I try to exemplify the vision and enthusiasm that I learned throughout my academic studies at Ohio State.
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