Otago MBA News http://www.otagomba.com/ http://www.otagomba.com/content/otagomba/templates/grey default/images/logo.png http://www.otagomba.com/ Hal Weston (MBA 1) and Manish Sawadkar (MBA 34) represent the oldest and youngest Otago MBA graduates and capture the changing face of the Otago MBA over its impressive 35 years. Manish, who hails from Vashai, Navi Mumbai, was recruited as part of Otago MBA’s Six Continent Selection Strate Hal Weston (MBA 1) and Manish Sawadkar (MBA 34) represent the oldest and youngest Otago MBA graduates and capture the changing face of the Otago MBA over its impressive 35 years. Manish, who hails from Vashai, Navi Mumbai, was recruited as part of Otago MBA’s Six Continent Selection Strategy, which aims to reinforce the programme’s global perspective. The Otago MBA is New Zealand’s leading full-time campus based MBA.Hal, who came from a background in broadcasting and television, was in the first intake of the Otago MBA students. Hal graduated in 1981. Manish now works as an ICT Technical Consultant for Objective Corporation in Wellington.Hal and Manish met recently during last year’s Otago MBA Alumni road-show held in Wellington, Auckland and Dunedin. The road-show entitled World Future, NZ Future, MBA Future featured Otago MBA alumna Wendy McGuinness as keynote speaker. http://www.otagomba.com/otago_mba_blog/article/271 Sat, 18 Feb 2012 22:33:00 +1300 MBA graduates may find things are looking up on the job front in 2012.According to the Graduate Management Admissions Council (GMAC), 74 percent of businesses plan to hire MBAs this year. That is up from 58 percent in 2011.The finding forms part of GMAC's 2011 Year-End Poll of Employers whic MBA graduates may find things are looking up on the job front in 2012.According to the Graduate Management Admissions Council (GMAC), 74 percent of businesses plan to hire MBAs this year. That is up from 58 percent in 2011.The finding forms part of GMAC's 2011 Year-End Poll of Employers which surveys companies who have previously hired graduates or are associated with graduate management programmes.The poll also asked to share thoughts about hiring international talent. Respondents often cited barriers such as visas and costs, and language or cultural difficulties.However, companies that were willing to hire internationally, particularly in Europe, associated the wide raning skills, language, mobility and flexibility of international candidates.GMAC is the owner of the Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT) exam. The GMAT is an important part of the admissions process for more than 5200 graduate management programmes around the world.All Otago MBA applicants must sit the GMAT to gain a place on the full-time programme.Source: GMAC 2011 Year-End Poll of Employers (pdf)  http://www.otagomba.com/otago_mba_blog/article/270 Tue, 17 Jan 2012 10:43:00 +1300 The Otago MBA team competing in the John Molson MBA International Case Competition, in Montreal, came second out of 36 participating schools from 12 different countries.The 2012 team was led and coached by MBA faculty member and former director David Band."As they announced the three finalists, The Otago MBA team competing in the John Molson MBA International Case Competition, in Montreal, came second out of 36 participating schools from 12 different countries.The 2012 team was led and coached by MBA faculty member and former director David Band."As they announced the three finalists, the whole crowd was shouting 'Otago, Otago, Otago'," he said.The John Molson competition is a non-profit event organised by a team of four MBA students from the John Molson School of Business. The competition is open to top business schools around the world and is recognised as the largest competition of its kind.Otago has a solid record of achievement at the competition. MBA teams won the competition in 1992, 1993 and 1994.Otago came second in 1996 and this year and was third in 2000.Source: Otago Daily Times (11/01/11)The Otago MBA team (from left) Hamza Almakky, Jonny Mirkin, Dr Band (coach), Christopher Wahl and Richard Turton. http://www.otagomba.com/otago_mba_blog/article/269 Wed, 11 Jan 2012 10:06:00 +1300 The Otago MBA team competing in the John Molson MBA International Case Competition in Montreal has won five from five cases and lead their division, securing their place in today's final."As they announced the three finalists, the whole crowd was shouting 'Otag The Otago MBA team competing in the John Molson MBA International Case Competition in Montreal has won five from five cases and lead their division, securing their place in today's final."As they announced the three finalists, the whole crowd was shouting 'Otago! Otago! Otago!" says team coach, David Band.Otago's total point tally of 176 is second only to the University of Laval, who are on 187.The team have posted regular updates on their progress through the competition on the Otago MBA Facebook Page."Thanks everyone for the words of support and encouragement, they have been well received and helped us fight the fatigue and long hours. Fingers crossed for the final!" says team member Jonny Mirkin. http://www.otagomba.com/otago_mba_blog/article/268 Mon, 09 Jan 2012 10:18:00 +1300 For services to business, Otago MBA Alumnus, Uluomatootua (Ulu) Saulaulu Aiono was made an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit (ONZM).Ulu Aiono was the first student of Samoan descent to complete the Otago MBA when he graduated in 1986."[the Otago MBA] proved to me the necessity For services to business, Otago MBA Alumnus, Uluomatootua (Ulu) Saulaulu Aiono was made an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit (ONZM).Ulu Aiono was the first student of Samoan descent to complete the Otago MBA when he graduated in 1986."[the Otago MBA] proved to me the necessity of thinking independently and helped me to find the appropriate tools for my mindset" says Ulu, reflecting on his Otago MBA experience.Today Ulu is a millionaire, having founded successful software company Cogita in 1983.Born in Samoa's capital, Apia, his parents and siblings travelled to New Zealand in 1960 in search of opportunity and set up home in Epsom.That's where the entrepreneur in him was born, Aiono said."We lived opposite Alexandra Park racecourse. At the time, my brother and I would've been 6 and 7 years old."They had trotting club races on Saturday nights sometimes and so early on Sunday morning we would get up at 5 o'clock, jump the gates and collect all the Coca-Cola and Fanta bottles we could find."Late after church on Sunday, we'd go to the dairy and then sell them. My brother and I lived like princes because of that."Ulu's company is an international high-technology enterprise which specialises in resource planning software for blue-chip manufacturing and distribution companies. It is the world's top selling agent for Epicor software, based in the US, and has annual sales in the tens of millions.There are offices throughout Australia and the company also owns software assets in the United States.Ulu, who thinks of himself as a Samoan Kiwi, told the Otago MBA, "I Love New Zealand because it is one of the few places where immigrants may be acknowledged at this level.""New Zealand must encourage immigration and retention of people with the skills we need by creating love and loyalty for New Zealand and it's future. This would allow entrepreneurship, a strong source of new jobs, to flourish in our small country just as it does in Israel, Silicon Valley and the like. What a different country we would live in."Source of some content: nzherald.co.nz http://www.otagomba.com/otago_mba_blog/article/267 Wed, 04 Jan 2012 11:17:00 +1300 Graduation marks the completion of studies and is the time successful Otago MBA students can celebrate their achievement with family, friends and the Otago MBA community. It also marks student's admission to the full and permanent membership of the Otago MBA Alumni.In our 17 December graduat Graduation marks the completion of studies and is the time successful Otago MBA students can celebrate their achievement with family, friends and the Otago MBA community. It also marks student's admission to the full and permanent membership of the Otago MBA Alumni.In our 17 December graduation the following people recieved their Otago MBA:Ali Baigy (MBA 34)David Anthony Ellacott (MBA 34)Raghavan Pitchumani	(MBA 34)Grant William Taylor (DipBusAdmin)Elizabeth Foss Colvin	Tyson (DipBusAdmin)Xiaochen Cindy	Wang (MBA 34).The final University of Otago graduation for 2011 took place at Dunedin's Regent Theatre on Saturday 17 December. 
CONGRATULATIONS FROM ALL OTAGO MBA ALUMNI, STAFF AND STUDENTS. http://www.otagomba.com/otago_mba_blog/article/266 Wed, 21 Dec 2011 13:38:00 +1300 Otago MBA has been ranked 27th in the Rising Stars 2011 international MBA ranking produced by FindyourMBA.com. "An MBA is an investment which, especially in these times of financial uncertainty, needs to be both affordable in the short term and able to maintain it's ac Otago MBA has been ranked 27th in the Rising Stars 2011 international MBA ranking produced by FindyourMBA.com. "An MBA is an investment which, especially in these times of financial uncertainty, needs to be both affordable in the short term and able to maintain it's academic value in the future," according to today's statement by FindyourMBA.com.Rising Stars' ranking is based on noteworthy improvements, current demographic data and the future plans of participating programmes. Findyourmba.com aims to critique business schools from a students’ perspective. Therefore, emphasis in placed on improvements which enhance the student experience.The ranking consist of the top thirty business schools which made significant steps in recent years.The Top 30 MBA Rising Stars 2011:  1. IE Business School2. Grenoble Graduate School of Business3. Peking University, Guanghua School of Management4. University of Massachusetts Darthmouth, Charlton College of Business5. Cass Business School6. WHU - Otto Beisheim School of Management7. University of South Florida, St. Petersburg, College of Business8. University of Cincinnati, Carl H. Lindner College of Business9. Millsaps College, Else School of Management10. The University of Texas at Dallas, Naveen Jindal School of Management11. Warsaw University of Technology Business School12. HHL – Leipzig Graduate School of Management13. The Euro*MBA14. The Lisbon MBA15. Portland State University16. University of Arkansas, Walton College17. The University of Tennessee, Martin18. University of South Dakota, Beacom School of Business19. University of Rochester, Simon Graduate School of Business20. Corvinus University of Budapest, School of Management21. Texas Christian University, Neeley School of Business22. Othman Yeop Abdullah Graduate School of Business23. EGP - University of Porto Business School24. IPAG Business School25. The Cyprus Institute of Marketing, Cyprus Business School26. Eastern Mediterranean University, Faculty of Business and Economics27. Otago MBA, University of Otago School of Business28. Universita de Pisa, BusinessSchool29. Arcadia University30. Maastricht University, School of Business and EconomicsFindyourmba.com http://www.otagomba.com/otago_mba_blog/article/265 Thu, 15 Dec 2011 13:46:00 +1300 Otago MBA Alum, Steve Silvey enjoys making a difference. Mr Silvey, who started work this week as chief executive of Dunedin's Upstart Business Incubator, is excited about his new role.Upstart has been helping high-growth companies get started since 2004, by providing incubation and angel in Otago MBA Alum, Steve Silvey enjoys making a difference. Mr Silvey, who started work this week as chief executive of Dunedin's Upstart Business Incubator, is excited about his new role.Upstart has been helping high-growth companies get started since 2004, by providing incubation and angel investment services.A non-profit entity owned by the Dunedin City Council, University of Otago and Otago Polytechnic, it is one of only seven New Zealand Trade and Enterprise-sponsored incubators in New Zealand.Upstart was all about taking smart people with smart ideas and helping them turn those ideas into successful and growing businesses, Mr Silvey said.Upstart's role was to speed up the growth of the venture, while simultaneously reducing the risk, he said.Being involved with growth businesses was nothing new to Mr Silvey. During his tenure as chief executive of Dunedin-based privately owned toilet tissue manufacturer Cottonsoft, the business grew three-fold.Cottonsoft was sold to Indonesian conglomerate Asia Pulp and Paper - the world's fifth-largest pulp and paper supplier - in a multimillion-dollar deal in 2007. Being involved with the company was a great experience, he said.Originally from the United Kingdom, where he was latterly working for a large government agency, Mr Silvey moved to New Zealand 11 years ago. He completed an MBA at the University of Otago before joining Cottonsoft. That was followed by a stint working for printer Wickliffe.Most recently, he worked in real estate for few months before the opportunity to join Upstart came along.Dunedin was a great place for entrepreneurs to get started. The university and polytechnic were important sources of intellectual capital, resource, and expertise, there was an active investment community willing to get behind great ideas and it was relatively inexpensive to have a high quality of life.Mr Silvey is also a director of natural health company Artemis, which is locally operated and produces organic herbal teas and natural remedies.He and his family loved living in Dunedin, which he described as "just a really enjoyable place to be".Upstart Incubation Trust chairman Geoff Thomas said Mr Silvey brought a wealth of experience to the role. He would ensure Upstart "practices what it preaches" by being run as a successful business in its own right.SOURCE: Otago Daily Times. Article by Sally Rae. http://www.otagomba.com/otago_mba_blog/article/263 Wed, 30 Nov 2011 10:30:00 +1300 In January 2012 a team from the Otago MBA will once again compete in
the John Molson MBA International Case Competition.

In the 1990’s the Otago MBA was consistently judged a top three winner of the prestigious competition over a number of years. 

 In January 2012 a team from the Otago MBA will once again compete in
the John Molson MBA International Case Competition.

In the 1990’s the Otago MBA was consistently judged a top three winner of the prestigious competition over a number of years. 

The 2012 team will be lead and coached by respected MBA faculty
member and former Director, David Band. The team, which was selected by David,
consists of Richard Turton, Hamza Almakky, Jonny Mirkin and Chris Wahl, all of
whom are members of MBA 35 and have just completed Phase One of the course.The team is meeting whenever possible to practice analysing various international business case-studies set by Mr. Band ahead of competing in the event in Montreal, Canada.This year's entry in the competition was aided by the award of a travel bursary from the competition's governing Board.  The John Molson Competition is a non-profit event organised by a team of four MBA students from the John Molson School of Business. The competition is open to top business schools around the world, and is recognised as the largest competition of its kind.Otago MBA’s earlier track record at John Molson1992 – Winner1993 – Winner1994 – Winner1996 – Second Place1999 – Third Place2000 – Third Place2001 - Richard Outcault Spirit Award http://www.otagomba.com/otago_mba_blog/article/260 Fri, 25 Nov 2011 16:57:00 +1300 Team Otago: Maneesh Vulavala, Beale Stainton, Angus BeattieHuntsman: Peter Barron, Manish Bali, Sam FangAlthough they didn't make it as far as they would have liked, the teams achievements were nonetheless, an admirable result in return for a tremendous amount of work while carrying on with Team Otago: Maneesh Vulavala, Beale Stainton, Angus BeattieHuntsman: Peter Barron, Manish Bali, Sam FangAlthough they didn't make it as far as they would have liked, the teams achievements were nonetheless, an admirable result in return for a tremendous amount of work while carrying on with the demands of the course. Well done.More information including final resultsTeam Huntsman and Team Otago were the names of the two groups of Otago MBA Students who entered Cerebration, the international business plan and case competition organised by NUS, and progressed to round II. They were among just 36 of 434 teams get this far. Unfortunately however, this was the end of the road for both teams with neither being named in the top 6 progressing to the semi-final in Singapore. The two Otago MBA teams are: http://www.otagomba.com/otago_mba_blog/article/258 Tue, 18 Oct 2011 15:17:00 +1300