News from SAMM
August 23, 2012 in Clubs and Societies, Professional Enhancement
event review
SAMM Event Review: The Art of Networking
May 23, 2012 in Clubs and Societies
SAMM Event Review: The Art of Networking
Did you know that Networking accounts for about 87% of business in the market place? At such a high figure, it is highly essential that every student be equipped with the necessary skills that will carry them through the course of their employment and career. As a wrap up of the semester, the Students’ Association of Management and Marketing (SAMM) organised a networking event for students to learn all about networking and then put it into practice.
Dressed up in preppy business attire on the evening of 17 May, a group of over 40 students presented their tickets at the door and excitedly found their seats in the lecture theatre. One by one, professionals from the industry including Talent2, Deloitte, Forethought Research, Australian Human Resource Institute, AT Kearney, Venuemob, Australian Marketing Institute and the Faculty of Business and Economics streamed into the lecture theatre and also found their seats among students. To kick off the event, our President and founder, Sigourney Young, introduced SAMM to our guests and the speaker of the day, Sacha Koffman, Program Director, Talent2.
Sacha touched on two main points, namely to know the market and know yourself. Acquiring information about the market requires seeking for answers to questions such as what industries are out there, what they are doing, who is someone in my network I know there and how can to make contact with them. Knowing yourself requires soul searching into the impression you would like to leave and remembered and other qualities of yourself. He summed up networking as an ongoing and integral part of everyday activity and homework is needed before approaching your target.
Soon after the talk, both students and professionals made their way up to the student lounge to put networking into practice over refreshments. Equipped with an introduction to networking and a shiny glass of wine or beverage, conversations sprang up all over the room and it was not long before everyone who stepped in was engaged in some form of social interaction. The night ended with the announcement of the winner of our semester prize – one lucky SAMM member who attended all of our events this semester walked away earning the unique chance to job-shadow with Brooke Young, the Director of Marketing and Commercial Engagement at the University of Melbourne. Another prize was also given away for the winner of the raffle for the evening. Congratulations to both winners!
SAMM would like to thank everyone who attended and made this event a great success. We would also like to thank our speaker, Sacha Koffman and all industry professionals who took up time to give valuable insights to our members and the Department of Management and Marketing for their ongoing support.
Look out for us next semester for more exciting events on Management & Marketing!
If you could like to find out more about SAMM, become a member or get involved as a speaker or sponsor please visit us at www.unimelbsamm.com or email contact@unimelbsamm.com or Facebook www.facebook.com/unimelbsamm
Student Review: The Leadership Breakfast with James Hird
May 21, 2012 in Academic Enrichment, Opportunities: Enrich, Experience and Enhance, Professional Enhancement
On the morning of Wednesday 3 May, the Faculty of Business and Economics Copland and Chancellor’s Scholars and leaders of faculty student clubs were treated to a Leadership Breakfast, with footy idol James Hird the guest speaker. As we sat at our places, fruit, toast, and juices of all kinds were served – a welcome distraction where on James’ table nervous upward glances in his direction were proliferating. Perfectly at ease James quickly engaged us with his good-humoured conversation, his infectious geniality soon spreading across the table.
Some minutes afterwards, he stood to begin his address, briefly prefacing proceedings with his intention to rely on us, the audience, for the direction of the morning. What followed was a powerful and highly interactive discussion of values and ideas that underlie the concept of leadership . Intermittently, James would ask students around the room how they perceived the notion of leadership, not only providing a cross-section of our varied definitions, but simultaneously revealing our guest speaker’s remarkable memory for names!
The flavour of the morning was diversification – and not the kind that forms an important part of the risk-averse investor’s balance sheet, but rather diversification in the formation of a successful management team. James spoke about the selection of his assistant coaching staff at Essendon, informed by the desire to achieve a diverse and well-rounded leadership group. He discussed the way in which he selected individuals who complemented each other, for example, ensuring that hard-line assistant coach Bomber Thompson was balanced with others on the coaching staff who deliver more of a nurturing role, helping to maintain buoyant sentiment at the club.
He then arrived at what he described as the essence of leadership – understanding what motivates the people you lead. This was a rule he found equally applicable in all disciplines, putting it into practice broadly among young less experienced players at the Essendon Football Club, and among budding statisticians in his highly successful sports marketing firm “Gemba”.
Above all, James emphasised the importance of setting and projecting a clear set of values, to which your organisation must adhere. The formation of a principled culture is the ultimate responsibility of the leader, he told us, and is a non-negotiable imperative to a firm’s long-term success.
It was all over too soon and James had to rush off to another commitment before our applause could be converted to bashful professions of admiration. The lucky ones had a quick photo taken with him, while the rest of us were left to consider the sound advice of a great man. It was an inspiring occasion enjoyed by all – our sincere gratitude goes to former Dean, Professor Margaret Abernethy for her proposal of James as a speaker and to all those involved in its organisation. Certainly a morning to remember!
By Walter Myer, BCom student and Chancellor’s Scholar
Event Review: The BECCentre Career Mentoring Program Launch
May 16, 2012 in Professional Enhancement, Uncategorized
On 19 April 2012, the Business & Economics Career Centre (BECC) celebrated together with 270 guests the tenth year anniversary of the Career Mentoring Program and the launch of the 2012 Program. The lively function was held at the Basement Lecture Theatre and foyer areas at the Spot Building, providing all program participants with a warm welcome in our beautiful home.
The program was officially launched by Professor Paul Kofman, who talked about the importance mentors can play in guiding career decisions. Guest speaker and mentor, Barbara Hapgood then shared some memories about the early beginnings of the program and experiences of being a mentor. The Faculty’s Career Mentoring Program started in 2003 with ten mentors and mentees and has since experienced continuous growth. In 2012, over 180 graduate and undergraduate students from the Faculty were matched with 150 industry mentors, many of whom are alumni of the Faculty or others returning to the program for up to a seventh consecutive year.
Following the official opening address, mentors and mentees used the remainder of the evening to formulate their plans and structuring their contact.
Images from the Launch Function can be viewed on BECC’s Flickr .