Mentor Meeting Trip

These past few months with our mentor, David Jacobs, have been both entertaining and a great learning experience. I looked forward to our mentor meetings because I enjoyed discussing his experiences of the business world. It gave me a first hand look at what exactly I would be experiencing in the field of business and whether I would choose to continue pursuing it. In our last mentor meeting, we and our mentors were assigned to visit their work businesses and interact with fellow executives in their offices. Our group however, was unable to attend this visit because of security issues in the corporation. I will admit that hearing this was a disappointment since I was looking forward to this experience. Instead, our mentor took us to a study room in Monroe Library where he showed us the uses of Microsoft Project and how it can be used for organization. I found this knowledge to be very interesting since I am currently pursuing a future career in Law, organization is very important. Project basically shows a step by step process on how you will complete work assignments or any other uses. He demonstrated an example on how we can plan out a date with specific details. It was very humorous and I look forward to possibly using this program in the future.

Mardi Mentor

After just recently meeting with my mentor, David Jacobs, I have learned much from him about business communication just by the way he communicates with us. It’s easy to see that he is a very successful person who knows his way around the business world. Personally, I am grateful to have been presented with such a great mentor who knows exactly what to do in bad situations whether he must be serious or merely having a good time. He also taught us how important it is too be able to communicate with your client. Jacobs stated when taking a client to a steak restaurant only to realize that he was a vegetarian. I found this humorous because as he told us before, you should always know every detail about your client whether it is a key person or not, communication is important and is only done successfully with more than one person.

I recall during the Networking event for the business students where I learned from several different executives about employment in accounting and finance. From the information gathered, I decided that I would probably be interested more in accounting because it allows you to work in multiple surroundings in business rather than finance that focuses on banks. Although I have not yet decided, I am still putting a lot of thought into what I am going to do with my life.

Mardi Gras is important to New Orleans because it gives the city its life. Aside from Bourbon Street, Mardi Gras brings both locals and tourist from all over the country to experience the fun that New Orleans has to offer. I myself have experienced New Orleans parades my entire life and still look forward to Mardi Gras to live it up some more. As usual, I mainly intend to avoid getting arrested or living it up a bit too much because then you will wake up in the morning and not realize where you are.

Networking Event

On January 15, 2009 I had the pleasure to meet several well-known business executives from Louisiana during our Networking meeting at Loyola University for the business communications students. Listed below are five executives I had the pleasure of meeting. Meredith M. Hartley, the Director of Public Affairs and External Relations at Loyola University of New Orleans. Before entering this position, Hartley operated a full-service marketing and public relations consulting company in Charleston, SC and the public relations manager for Spartanburg Regional Healthcare System in Spartanburg, SC. Next, Michelle K. Johnston, Ph.D. holder and Business Communication teacher at Loyola University of New Orleans, is an Associate Professor of Management and Director of the Executive Mentoring Program at Loyola. John J. Zoolinger IV is the Regional Manager for Regions Financial Corporation as well as Homebuilder Financer and Senior Vice-President for Regions. Brian A. Gueniot, a consultant for business, leadership, sales, and human resources consulting as well as the Director of Human Resources and Development at the Standard Companies, INC. Last but not least, my mentor David Jacobs, a project manager at Unisys Inc and an MBA in Finance from Loyola University of New Orleans.
One thing I accomplished well during this event is finally ensuring me on what major I will be pursuing along with how important a firm handshake can be. Something I could improve would be my direction toward people and how I present myself. Businessknowhow is a useful site for networking as well.