ALL POSTS BY: Clark Bosslet
Owen Reading List Series: Brian McCann
The first in our series of professor reading lists comes from Brian McCann, who handles our core strategy class and our corporate strategy elective. We asked him to suggest some books and blogs for current and prospective students, and this is the list he came up with. (Editor’s note: The list Professor McCann provided was rather exhaustive, so I pared it down to only the non-fiction books and blogs. However, I’m sure Professor McCann would want you to know his interests are broader and more eclectic than what is represented below.)
Books:
Wikipedia’s Effective SOPA Protest
As most internet traffickers have undoubtedly discovered by now, Wikipedia has blacked out its website today to protest the proposed SOPA legislation, which, the site argues, “could fatally damage the free and open Internet.” If you clicked the link on 1/18, you noticed that the site wisely decided to leave the SOPA page accessible to cast a sort of spotlight on the issue.
Social media sites like Facebook and Twitter are littered with comments bemoaning life without Wikipedia, with most commenters expressing something to the effect of, “I’d never realized how many times a day I reference Wikipedia…” I definitely missed having access to the site throughout the day, especially when I was listening to Heems’ hyper-referential mixtape, Nehru Jackets, and trying to sort through his litany of cultural name drops.
Without Wikipedia, I, like the site, was left in the dark.
For this stroke of genius, I offer a hearty kudos to Jimmy Wales and his team. While the explicit cause of the blackout was to protest the legislation, they have certainly achieved an implicit goal as well.
That is, they reminded all of us that life without Wikipedia sucks.
Visiting Owen
If you’re viewing this webpage right now, there’s a better than zero chance you came across it while researching Owen as a potential landing spot for your graduate education. While we like to think of this site as a nice little resource, nestled away in the hinterlands of the Internet, we understand our inherent limitations. When we’re not combing through the finer points of Excel or interviewing local beer brewers, we try to shed some light on student life. We like to cover our day-to-day routines both in the halls of Owen and in the greater Nashville area to supplement the marketing resources officially provided by the school. In essence, we want you to get a feel for the place.
But let’s be honest. If you’re thinking about attending a business school in near future, more than likely that entails leaving your current place of employment, foregoing that potential income in addition to taking on some degree of debt, and uprooting to a new city (and in some cases, dragging loved ones along with you). It is one of the most serious commitments you’ll ever make, and while we try to be informative, it can never be enough. To get a sense of Owen, you really need to visit.
Owen Remembers Martin Luther King Jr.
Today the Owen School of Management, as well as every other institution in America, is celebrating the life of Martin Luther King Jr. His iconic “I Have a Dream” speech was delivered on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial on August 28, 1963 and is amazingly nearing its 50th anniversary.
Last week, Owen welcomed Mr. Roderick Gillum, a former VP at General Motors and a member of the committee that helped erect the Martin Luther King National Memorial in Washington DC, to share his thoughts on the legacy of Dr. King. Mr. Gillum was actually in attendance for an earlier iteration of Dr. King’s “I Have a Dream” speech in his hometown of Detroit. Before going, his mother impressed upon him and his siblings the importance of the man and the message they were about to hear. Dr. King’s strong and determined opening remarks left an indelible impression on the young Mr. Gillum, who opened his address to us by stating that we are all products of our background, which creates the platform of our beliefs and ultimately shapes our core values. He recalled that his main takeaway from Dr. King’s speech was that this nation had to want more and do more in order to become more.
Upcoming Prospective Student Chats
Deciding on a business school is tough. There are a lot of beautifully curated and polished marketing materials making a lot of claims that are impossible to truly verify. So when it comes to doing your due diligence as a prospective student, once you’ve made your short list of schools, the best thing to do is visit campuses and speak directly to the current stakeholders, the students and faculty.
Of course, that’s easier said than done, especially around the holidays. Student chats offer a solid second option by allowing you to speak directly with current students in a candid manner.
Wondering what the current job market is really like for MBAs? We can tell you.
What sort of independent study opportunities exist at Vanderbilt? What does Nashville offer in terms of arts and entertainment? Where do students typically live and how much is rent?
We’ve got you covered.
We are offering two opportunities this week chat online with our admissions team and current students to learn more about the Vanderbilt MBA and the Owen community, and Owen Bloggers encourages you to join in!
“Diversity at Owen” Chat
Wednesday, November 16 – 12:00-1:00 pm central