California Miramar University, School of Business and Management, enjoys celebrating successful women who start their own businesses. Whitney Stern was inspired to become a jewelry designer while living in South America, skillfully learning to weave metals and mold organic materials through the craftsmanship of indigenous women. Whitney Stern Jewelry Design works with design teams and artisans all across Asia and Latin America and promotes authentic and transparent business practices while giving back to world communities.
Whitney Stern’s contemporary and symbolic jewelry collections offer a soft, airy feel worn by beautiful women for everyday use. Her pieces are versatile, glamorous and edgy, celebrating all women and their potential. WS jewelry is made from ethically sourced metals and the finest quality materials.
Whitney’s vision is to create meaningful, globally minded, and unique products that help empower women to dream big and spread their light. CMU invites you to meet the designer in person December 8 at Nordstrom Fashion Valley and celebrate women in business!
Fine Jewelry Trunk Show
Saturday December 8, 2012
Fashion Valley, California
6997 Friars Road
San Diego, CA 92108
(619) 295-4441
Fine Jewelry Floor, 11-6 PM
Businesses do not operate internally. What happens in its external environment plays a large role in how a business both offers its products/services and plans for future growth. Some of the main external factors include:
Competition – How others companies in a business’ niche compete with its products/services.
Economic – How do the current economic conditions (i.e. the recent U.S. recession) play a role in a business’ strategy?
Social – How are the demographics of your niche changing, and what impact might this have on your business? How are behaviors and sentiments towards your niche evolving, and how will that change your strategy?
Political – How do changes in government policy, including new laws and regulations, impact how you operate?
Technological – How does evolving technology change your means of production? How do technological modes of marketing your product (i.e. social media) change your operations?
A business’ external environment is complex and constantly evolving. But paying attention to these factors and monitoring them on a regular basis is vital for future growth. If you don’t pick up on what’s happening around you and how it’s impacting you, both positively and negative, how will you react to market changes and be able to beat your competition in the long-term?
This video clips comes from one of our online MBAcourses on strategic management from a highly qualified and nationally renowned professional in business sustainability. Ms. Petro is an Adjunct Professor with us at California Miramar University, a 2010 Outstanding Professor of the Year award recipient, and one of the reasons why our on-campus, Our online MBA programs and Hybrid MBA programs have just been recognized by the San Diego Business Journal as one of the Top 10 in San Diego County for the second year in a row!
Transcript of the Lesson
The firm’s external environment is comprised of the following components: the remote environment, the industry environment and the operating environment. That’s really the underpinnings of this entire chapter. Let’s talk about that remote environment. Again, here’s what it looks like: you have an organization impacted by three: remote, industry and operating. We’re going to start with that larger box – the remote environment – before we move inside.
When we’re coming up with opportunities and threats for an organization, because we’ve just talked about strengths and weaknesses, we’re going to be talking about economic factors. What is happening out there in the economic environment? Didn’t many organizations get caught on their strategy, not being able to implement it effectively during this last U.S. recession?
Then we’ve got social factors. Are you taking into consideration how the demographics of your country is changing, and what the impact could be on the products and services that you provide?
Political factors. There are some organizations, such as Biotech, that are impacted far more by politics and regulation than, let’s say, a service industry such as consulting.
Then you’ve got technology factors. Knowing what we know about the proliferation of technology and the desire for less technological obsolescence, what is that impact on how you deliver what you’re delivering? For instance, if you are a training organization and you’ve got demographics that say the next generation is coming up going, ”I don’t want to receive information that way;” you need to deliver it in a different way. It’s the technology factor that would come into play as well.
The value of an MBA cannot be overstated in today’s economy. According to The National Association of Colleges and Employers, the average first-year MBA graduate made between $50,000/year and $75,000/year right out of school. And that number rose to $90,000 for those in the workforce for a few years.
As a military serviceman or woman or a military spouse, there are a lot of reasons – including daily service and/or family responsibilities – that make getting an MBA seem impossible. However, with the prevalence of online MBA programs like the one we offer here at California Miramar University, those excuses are disappearing. In our world today, an online business degree doesn’t carry a negative stigma, especially when you’re talking about accredited online MBA programs like the one here at CalMU.
Some of the reasons why online MBA programs make sense for military personnel and military spouses:
Take Classes Wherever, Whenever– Ideal for a life on the go and a life full of responsibilities, you can earn an online business degree by taking classes on your schedule, not ours.
Maintain Responsibilities – You can still manage home and family responsibilities while studying to get MBA degree. You make it fit your busy life instead of sacrificing time with the kids or your spouse.
Cut Down Expenses – Gone are expenses such as gas, food, parking and school attire that are necessary when traveling to a college. There aren’t many extra expenses involved with sitting down at your computer.
Affordable Tuition – Thanks to programs such as Army College Tuition Assistance Program, the Montgomery GI Bill, the Department of Defense (DoD) Military Spouse Career Advancement Accounts and National Guard Tuition Assistance, there are ways out there to fit each and every member of the military and their family. Here at CalMU, we offer Military Tuition Assistance educational benefits for our servicemen and women.
Instead of putting off your education another year for the same old reasons (time, responsibilities, money), realize that there are opportunities available to earn your online business degree through online MBA programs like the ones we offer. Take a look at the admissions policies, academic standards and much more at our website.
“There are some who’ve forgotten why we have a military. It’s not to promote war; it’s to be prepared for peace,” said President Ronald Reagan. Keeping this great notion in mind, we at California Miramar University have identified San Diego’s own USO San Diego for this week’s CalMU Small Business Spotlight Award.
They are dedicated to improving the life of US Armed Forces personnel and their families, having done so since 1941. They provide a sense of comfort in unfamiliar places to all Active Duty Military servicemen and women and their families. USO San Diego focuses on ensuring American Military men and women feel at home in San Diego and provide them with a sense of psychological and emotional security and stability. They are a non-profit organization with no government funding, but still do everything in their power to make our national heroes feel truly at home. With over 250 volunteers that help this great cause, they’ve been able totouch the lives of about 150,000 patrons every year.
They have 2 centers in San Diego: one is downtown and the other is their Neil Ash Airport Center. Their Downtown Center is the community chest, which accepts tax deductible donations. It is also the ticket distribution point that offers tickets to local sporting events, the theatre and other entertainment shows. The Neil Ash Airport Center, on the other hand, is the host location for new recruits and deploying units, and is the place where the homecoming takes place for Military men and women whose family was not able to greet them at the airport.
According to the USO, attendance at their Downtown Center is up by about 20%, owing much to economic constraints. About 300 people eat free dinners every Tuesdays. And aside from providing tickets to local events, they also facilitate the United Through Reading program, which enables deployed Military parents to be video-recorded and read stories aloud to their children, key in helping Military families with the separation of service. They hold special events for Easter, Mothers Day and Father’s Day, and host Halloween carnivals and Christmas gifts by Santa, just to name a few.
USO San Diego is a truly remarkable organization and is one of the reasons support for our troops is so important. They work to make life and separation easier for those who dedicate their lives to our country. We at California Miramar University are inspired by and very grateful to our troops, which is why we are VA Approved to offer GI Bill educational benefits, accept Military Tuition Assistance and offer a 50% Tuition discount to Military spouses. Our online MBA programs and Hybrid MBA programs are perfect for Military families, as they’re both reputed and ensure that you can complete your MBA degree from wherever you are in the world.
USO San Diego – thank you for being such a positive and helpful force in the Military support community!
This week we at California Miramar University have chosen San Diego’s own Cali Bamboo for our Small Business Spotlight Award. Not only have they created a unique and successful business that has skyrocketed in the past 4 years; they also endeavor to make a true difference in the future of our planet.
Cali Bamboo manufactures green building materials for residential and commercial projects made primarily from bamboo, one of the most sustainable, renewable and strongest materials. With its aesthetically pleasing and chic bamboo-based designs, they have captured a segment of the construction and remodeling markets because most people turn to wood for their homes and offices. However, because of bamboo’s durability and how it can turn the simplest of buildings into modern, ultra cool works of art, Cali Bamboo has been very successful in evoking a sense of imagination and creativity in people when designing their homes.
The company is the brainchild of two friends – Jeff Goldberg and Tanner Haigwood. They started in 2004 with one vision and one delivery van, and they grew much faster than expected. From fencing they moved on to flooring, plywood, paneling and composite decking. Evidence of their tremendous growth is their listing for the third consecutive year in Inc.com’s 500 fastest growing private companies, and has also been named one of the fastest growing companies in San Diego by the San Diego Business Journal.
Their business operations don’t just stop at revolutionizing homes and offices and protecting the environment; they are also into social welfare. They have joined the 1% For The Planet movement, donating 1% of their sales to myriad environmental organizations around the world. They have also helped raise $50,000 for theSurfrider Foundation, dedicated to protecting our oceans; they’ve donated bamboo plywood to build art displays for a Costa Mesa group home and to build skateboard ramps for the Boys and Girls Club in Anaheim; and they’ve donated materials to the Jimmie Johnson Foundation and a Habitat for Humanity construction project in El Cajon, to name a few. Seriously? How are they THIS amazing?
Cali Bamboo’s Jeff Goldberg was named the Most Admired CEO by the SDBJ, and both founders won the Ernst & Young Entrepreneurs of the Year Award in 2009. According to Inc.com,the company has seen 149% growth in the last 3 years. Its 2010 revenues stand at $11.3 million, compared to $4.5 million in 2007. They have a hard working and socially conscious team of 25 employees to help make the world a greener and better place to live.
Thank you Cali Bamboo for being such a great role model for students in our online MBA programs and Hybrid MBA programs. We wish you nothing but continued success, and are very proud to give you our CalMU Small Business Spotlight Award.
This week’s MBA Mondays video showcases our mission here at California Miramar University: to provide affordable, personalized and high quality education aimed to take business theories and concepts and apply them to the real world. Our talented and highly qualified faculty are experts in their fields and have the business experience necessary to help set our students on the path to true business success.
We were ranked as one of the Top 10 MBA programs in San Diego County by the San Diego Business Journal, and are especially known for our reputed online MBA programs and Hybrid MBA programs. We also offer a revolutionary Doctor of Business Administration program, as well as other Masters and Bachelors courses, that are all geared to help our students succeed in their careers.
In addition, as our campus is adjacent to the Marine Corps Air Station Miramar in San Diego, and with our gratitude and respect for our Military servicemen and women and veterans, we are proud to be VA Approved and offer GI Bill benefits. And to support Military families, we also offer a 50% discount on tuition for Military spouses.
At the end of the day, where else can you get a reputed traditional or online business degree for as little as $11,505? Yes… you read that right. And that’s what it’s all about, because we believe that college education should be accessible to all!
Transcript of the Lesson
[Jeanie Foster, Direct of Admission]
Welcome to California Miramar University. If you’re looking to increase your earning power, gain new skills and advance your career without breaking the bank,come on in to CMU and see what degree programs we have to offer.
[Ilana Herring, Director of Marketing]
CMU believes the university should revolve around you – the student; not the other way around. CMU is geared for working adults who want to earn their Masters in Business Administration on their own schedule. You can do your work at your own pace and we are open year-round.
At CMU you never have to wait for a new class to get started. CMU provides personalized service. Here you are not just a number, our professors and faculty know each student by name and we care about your success.
[Bonnie Engel, CMU MBA Student]
I love the freedom and the flexibility of being able to go online 24/7.
[Jonathon Smith, M.D., CMU MBA Student]
After retiring from one career and beginning another one, I find that here at CMU I get all the tools I need to be successful in my new career.
[Dr. Dominic Mwenja, President]
Our nationally accredited associate bachelors and masters degree programs offer curriculum that is vigorous and challenges our students to combine their theories they learn in the classroom with real life business experiences.
The faculty at the California Miramar University brings real life business and consorting experiences to the classroom, which enriches the learning experience for all our students both online and those in the hybrid program. We at California Miramar University believe that college education should be accessible to everyone and that is why our nationally accredited degree programs are among the most affordable in the country.
[Holly Taft, CMU MBA Student]
Let’s face it. Things are really hard now with the economy, and that’s why I chose CMU. It was just too affordable to just pass out.
[Jeanie Foster, Direct of Admission]
Thank you for spending time with California Miramar University. I invite you to visit our website or call our admissions department to find out more about our affordable, quality, year-round education.
This week’s MBA Mondays blog focuses on one of our new California Miramar University Extension Programs, which is offered in the same format as our online MBA programs. In this video, revered Internet marketing specialist Dan Hollings, whom we are thrilled to be working with, discusses the importance of text messaging in marketing, and what businesses should focus on in their overall campaigns.
Often forgot about and overshadowed by social media marketing, text message campaigns can be very effective because you can reach a larger audience seeing as you don’t need an Internet connection to receive a text message. Whether an MBA student or graduate or have a Masters in Leadership degree, this is important for the future of business operations because it really shines light on the broader landscape in marketing campaigns.
Transcript of the Lesson
We’re going to actually do a little Text Message Magic; I love this part. I’m going to reveal to you four SMS formulas. By the way, if you don’t know what SMS is, that stands for Simple Messaging System. Okay? That’s it; it’s just a Simple Messaging System.
Alright, text message… here’s the deal. You probably saw these slides earlier; I used some of them in my introductory webinar. But this is the reason you want to go for text messaging as the low hanging fruit. Beware of the pizzazz: the iPhone, the iPad, the Android, all these mobile applications. They’re sexy; they’re cool; people are talking about them, especially in the media; but they’re really a small percentage of the market. They’re a couple of fleas on the elephant. It’s not where the money is. In fact I just read an article saying that Google has now made over a billion dollars on mobile. Okay? They’ve joined the eBay club and the Amazon club, and I’m sure there’s a bunch of others, but I guess they felt they needed to do a press release to let everybody know they’ve done a billion on mobile as well.
But the interesting part was that, I think it was around ten to fifteen percent – I could be wrong, but it was a small percentage – was on mobile apps and stuff; the rest of it was on mobile ads, mobile ads. That’s really where the bulk of their money is coming from. Okay?
So, this application part is a small part when you look at the whole landscape. The lowest hanging fruit is text messaging because everybody can get a text message. They don’t have to have web access or be in a Wi-Fi area ,or have, you know, an AT&T plan or nothing for Internet.
There are many benefits of pursuing a Hybrid MBA degree, but many people are still unclear on what exactly Hybrid means. So, to simplify things a bit, it’s basically a blend of our on-campus and online MBA programs, giving you the best of both worlds. The video says it all, but this online business degree is perfect for busy business people and individuals who want to complete MBA coursework on their own schedule but still want the in-class interaction of traditional MBA programs.
Check out the video, let us know what you think about Hybrid MBA programs and please feel free to contact us at any time for more information.
Transcript of the Video
Hi there! I’m going to tell you about the Hybrid MBA here at California Miramar University. A Hybrid MBA blends the best of both worlds. The program meets just one night a week and the rest is online. In your class meeting one night a week, you get everything that an MBA should be: time with your professor, lectures, networking with your colleagues and a chance to throw ideas, bounce ideas around to form that community that you really want to get in an MBA program.
But we know you’re busy working professionals, so the other half of the Hybrid MBA is all online. In the online forums, you can exchange ideas, share ideas that you’ve learned about in class, things happening in the real world – also have the convenience of accessing your class 24/7 online from any phone, any computer, anywhere you access the internet.
The Hybrid MBA blends the best of both worlds. Give me just one night a week and the rest is online. So give us a call, check it out; we’d love to have you learn more about the Hybrid MBA here at California Miramar University.
A couple years ago Megan Ahn, President of accounting and financial professional search firm Accountants Direct, spoke here at California Miramar University. She was a wonderful guest speaker who discussed myriad interview tips, how to hire the most qualified and talented professionals and what constitutes the most professional resumes, among many others.
We were thrilled to have her speak at CalMU so we decided to go back and re-release a couple of valuable interview tips that all business people should learn, especially students of traditional, Hybrid and online MBA programs.
What is the best thing to do on an interview?
Be patient and LISTEN. Before speaking about your credentials and why you will be valuable to their business, listen to what THEY need and what THEY are looking for. Then you can tailor your credentials and work experiences to fit their goals and show them that you are truly the ideal candidate for the position.
Transcript of Interview Tip
Don’t talk;I’m not kidding. Listen. The more that you can listen and learn about the company and what they need to have accomplished, the more successful your interview is going to be. If you listen and you find out what they need to have accomplished, then you can share your experience that is valuable for them to hear about.
What is the best thing NOT to do in an interview?
Sometimes the best things to do are the things you should avoid doing altogether. While being punctual is vital for everyday of your professional career, there is a big difference between arriving early and arriving on time.
Transcript of Interview Tip
This is my favorite tip to give people about interviewing. Everybody tells you that you should show up early. Mine favorite tip is what you should never do on an interview: is show up early! Arrive early outside, wait in your car, listen to your favorite song on the radio, and then go into your interview at the appointed time. Just be on time.
Here’s Part 3 of our 3 part Strategic Management series, which focuses on the Three Circles Analysis. Last week was all about SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats). This analysis takes a different business and strategically approach, though.
In the Three Circles Analysis, which fundamentally centers around what your target market (customers and prospects) want, what you have and what your competitors have. It’s all about getting down to what separates you from the competition, you’re ‘unique value proposition’. Once you analyze what resources are present and what ones are available and look at that through the customer lens, you can determine what your next move should be.
The course is taught by Sherri Petro, M.B.A. Ms. Petro is the President of VPI Strategies, a San Diego based marketing consulting firm, where she focuses on research, strategy and communications. Her mission is to assist organizations in becoming more sustainable by breaking down barriers, creating understanding and making connections. Ms. Petro is a nationally renowned expert on generational motivation and its impacts in the workplace. Ms. Petro is an Adjunct Professor at California Miramar University and a 2010 Outstanding Professor of the Year award recipient.
Transcript of the Lesson
There’s also the Three Circles Analysis. And this is comparing the customer’s needs to what you have to offer and comparing it to competitive offerings. Simply, it’s what they need, we have and the other guys have.
It’s a matching model. You can see where you have points of difference, where you have things in common, and where the points of difference are for your competitors to keep into consideration when you develop that strategy.
Another internal analysis technique is a resource-based view. It’s all about what makes us unique. When you hear about organizations talking,“what is our unique selling proposition?” – something we use in marketing more than anything. It’s a method of analyzing and identifying the strategic advantages that we have based on tangibles and intangibles. The premise is that there’s a bundle of resources that each organization has and we need to take it apart and understand how the customer views it.
There’s three basic resources. The stuff you see on the balance sheet, tangible assets. The intangibles, one of the most, the intangible that is getting the most play right now is about brand management, another is company reputation – the morale of the company, the technical knowledge – the things that aren’t necessarily on the balance sheet but hold a lot of value. So the other of the three basic resources is organizational capabilities- what are the skills of the organization?Tangibles, intangibles, organizational capabilities.
That’s great, but what actually makes a resource valuable? There’s four guidelines. Is it critical? Is it scarce? Does it help you contribute to profitability? And is it durable? Or in our world we’re starting to say sustainable. Is your resource critical to fulfilling the customer’s needs? Is it scarce or can someone come in and swoop it away? Does it contribute to profitability? Does it contribute to sustainability?
Let’s talk about scarcity for a minute. What does it mean? Is it in short supply? Somebody might be able to substitute or imitate it? But there are a few ways that you can create something that cannot be imitated. It’s called isolating mechanisms. Physically unique resources.“Path-dependent” resources. This is where another firm would have to take a lot of things in to try to make it happen. Then you got casual ambiguity – it’s like the competitor going,“I can’t figure out what’s in this mystery box”. Perhaps we’re talking about the Coca-Cola secret formula there. Then you got economic deterrent – it’s just going to cost too much money to go into that market.
