Kellstadt Alumni Offer Guidance in New Podcast Series

Kellstadt Alumni Offer Guidance in New Podcast Series

By Meghrie Babikian

If you had asked me at the start of the year what my vision was for this year, I definitely would not have predicted the current state we are living in. When the university announced earlier this spring that it would move all courses and services online due to COVID-19 social distancing, I was nervous that we wouldn’t receive all the perks of being a DePaul student when we shifted to a virtual format. One of the reasons I chose DePaul’s Kellstadt Graduate School of Business is its connections to a large alumni network. I knew that as a Kellstadt student, I’d have access to many resources and alumni to help me along the way in achieving my goals.

Meghrie Babikian

After a full quarter of remote learning, I can happily say DePaul and the Kellstadt Career Management Center have continued delivering these resources through a virtual graduate experience. From networking events on Zoom and weekly webinars curated specifically in regards to the current state of the world, to bi-weekly open-forum discussions with our career and academic advisors, Kellstadt has truly made the transition seamless.

I especially enjoyed how Kellstadt involved its alumni network to help guide us on how to navigate these difficult circumstances we are facing. One way they did this was by creating a Kellstadt Alumni Podcast Series.

The podcast features alumni from the Kellstadt Graduate School of Business. In 10 to 20-minute episodes, a guest shares their experiences through the pandemic, how their professional lives have changed and what kind of advice they have for those of us who are entering the job search in this challenging time. Some of the other topics discussed are guided by the following questions:

  • How has your company pivoted?
  • Are you overseeing anyone? If so, how have you experienced the shift form managing a team on-site to managing remotely?
  • Are you currently trying to fill any roles? How have you approached hiring and onboarding team members remotely?

My biggest takeaways from the podcast have been insightful and reassuring. Hearing alumni tell their stories reminded me that I’m not alone surveying the professional landscape in such a challenging time, and that it’s OK to seek guidance and ask for help. Here are some additional insights I gained from the Kellstadt Alumni Podcast Series:

  • Sometimes you have to be in the wrong place at the right time until you are in the right place and the right time. What does this mean? It can’t hurt to put yourself out there, ask questions and continue to build your network. Even if those efforts don’t immediately lead to a positive outcome, you are putting in the work necessary to land you in the right place in the future.
  • No matter the circumstance, put deep care, effort and hard work into everything you do. Just because things are virtual/remote and “far away”, doesn’t mean that our efforts should feel far away and removed, too. Now more than ever, the world is watching to see how we handle our time and energy through this experience. Whether it be applying to jobs, connecting with people over the phone/online, or taking a certification or LinkedIn Learning course – our efforts should be just as present and we must stay just as invested, with a clear vision of our goals in mind.

The Kellstadt Alumni Podcast Series is available to Kellstadt students on the CMC D2L webpage. New episodes will drop this coming fall.

Meghrie Babikian graduated from the University of California Irvine with a Bachelor of Music degree, and holds a Master of Music degree with an emphasis in piano performance, from Roosevelt University. She is currently pursuing an MBA at DePaul and is co-founder and co-president of Kellstadt’s Women in Business student organization.

Reflections From a Kellstadt Grad at the 2020 Online Commencement Ceremony

Reflections From a Kellstadt Grad at the 2020 Online Commencement Ceremony

This past Saturday, June 13, was a bittersweet day for DePaul graduates and their families and the entire university community, who celebrated the graduating Class of 2020 via online commencement ceremonies. A first in DePaul’s history due to unprecedented circumstances brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Kellstadt Graduate School of Business online ceremony flowed much in the same way an in-person commencement would have, with remarks from DePaul President A. Gabriel Esteban, PhD; Interim Provost Salma Ghanem, Driehaus College of Business Dean Misty Johanson and a student commencement speaker.

Sharing words of encouragement and advice as Kellstadt’s student commencement speaker this year was Richard Dingraudo, a graduate of the Master of Science in Finance program.

“This is surely not how any of us envisioned today’s events unfolding,” he said to the camera, addressing his classmates. “While we are not all under the same roof, that does not lessen the overwhelming joy you should feel, as you, along with several thousand others, are recognized for all your hard work and accomplishments.”

As he reflected on his time at Kellstadt, Dingraudo shared how helpful it is to have a clear understanding of what is expected of us, whether that’s at the start of a class when a syllabus is provided, or in a job as you work toward a promotion. “Expectation is a great place to start,” he said. “But that’s nothing compared to what we’re capable of.

“Our capacity is this ever-moving bar that jumps just a little further and seemingly just out of reach, every time we cross the finish line of what is expected of us. At which point that finish line becomes a base line, one that we use to reset our goals and consider what we’ll accomplish next.”

Dingraudo went on to ask two things of his peers:

Take some time to inspect what you expect of yourself. Equipped with a Kellstadt degree, what new expectations will you set for yourself? He encouraged the Class of 2020 to revisit their self-imposed expectations on a regular basis in order to avoid complacency and to continue discovering what they’re capable of.

Pay it forward by being a member of somebody else’s team. From his parents who inspired in him a strong work ethic, to his professors who continued to be a source of wisdom and support even when classes went online in the spring, Dingraudo asked everyone to reflect on who supported them on their journey through graduate school and to acknowledge and thank them for being there. Then to pay it forward by being a supporter and advocate on someone else’s journey.

“Always remember the Vincentian values instilled in us at DePaul,” he said. “How they humble us to recognize that the opportunities afforded to us today are a gift.”

Watch Dingraudo’s full speech on Kellstadt’s 2020 online commencement ceremony webpage. His speech begins at 16:45 of the video.

Sweet “New” Home Chicago! Kellstadt Students Love to Explore their New City

Sweet “New” Home Chicago! Kellstadt Students Love to Explore their New City

Sweet “New” Home Chicago! Kellstadt Students Love to Explore their New City

 

The “City of Broad Shoulders,” the “Windy City”–whatever you call Chicago, DePaul is lucky to call it home. Sampling the famous pizza, cheering on one of our six professional sports teams, or visiting one of our many world-class museums are all options for the Kellstadt student with a few hours of downtime. But Chicago’s benefits aren’t just limited to leisure activities.

One of the largest cities in the world, Chicago affords DePaul one of the most robust networking communities of any university. Simply being in Chicago puts Kellstadt students at an advantage with an extensive alumni community, financial district and a plethora of companies within walking distance. Kellstadt students can make use of this prime location with resources like the ASK (Alumni Sharing Knowledge) network, an online community to connect them to mentors. DePaul students also have the chance to be involved in the cutting edge of the entrepreneurship community through resources offered through The Coleman Center for Entrepreneurship, including access to tech incubators like 1871. Whether you’re looking to secure a job with an established company or get in on the ground floor of a start-up, the opportunities are unlimited in Chicago.

Chicago is a city that offers more to do and see than most other cities. From comedians to athletes, foodies to nature buffs, there’s something here for everyone. No matter where your interests lie, you will be able to find your place and create your community. With its central location in the heart of Chicago, and endless entertainment and extensive networking opportunities, it’s tough to pass up on a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to study at DePaul.

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Contributors: Paul Rosenfeld and Nathan Farmer, students in the Kellstadt MBA program.


Inside Kellstadt: Stories by and from the DePaul Graduate Business Community