An MBA Orientation and So Much More

Many MBA programs offer orientations designed to acclimate students to the curriculum and provide time to get to know faculty members and classmates prior to the start of the semester. The Gabelli School of Business takes this initiation period — known as “Gabelli Launch” — to a whole new level, helping incoming full-time MBA students, over a four- to five-week period, to build the skills and establish the relationships that will ensure their success. Through meticulous planning by Alex Markle, PhD, associate professor and director of the full-time MBA, and Linda Agnew, the program’s administrative manager, students are immersed in a truly thought-provoking journey. From building quantitative skills to developing executive presence, gaining an understanding of design thinking to learning how to draft a résumé, they are empowered to achieve.

For international students such as Animesh Jain and Saraswati Iyer, both full-time MBA students from India, Gabelli Launch was especially helpful in acclimating them to new surroundings, facilitating their ability to bond with classmates, and providing an invaluable global perspective.

Jain, who had previously worked for DDB Worldwide, found the experience — particularly his time in NYC — to be culturally eye-opening and a great opportunity to share different viewpoints with his diverse classmates. “There are people from nearly every continent in this program,” he explained. “I have become friends with students from China, Brazil, Peru, Japan, and Italy, and have had the chance to hear their ideas and insights, while gaining a deeper understanding of their cultures. What could be more helpful in a business environment that is based on a global point of view?” It is this type of sharing and team building that provides the opportunity for students to cultivate the connections and develop the camaraderie that will make their time in the MBA program all the more meaningful and enriching.

The London trip deepened our understanding of the critical role ESG plays in business by providing actual examples of companies working to ensure that the environmental, social, and governance aspects of business are being addressed.”

Iyer, who had worked in corporate marketing in India, including spearheading end-to-end marketing, brand management, corporate marketing, and corporate communication functions, loved the time she spent in New York City at the beginning of the Gabelli Launch program, but also gushed about the week she and the full-time MBA cohort spent in London just prior to the beginning of classes back in New York. “The London trip really solidified the relationships we had established during the beginning of the program,” she asserted. “It also deepened our understanding of the critical role ESG plays in business by providing actual examples of companies working to ensure that the environmental, social, and governance aspects of business are being addressed.”

While in London, both Jain and Iyer visited several organizations including Bloomberg, Datamaran, the ISSB Value Reporting Foundation, and Chartered Accountants to learn about ESG best practices. In addition, they were assigned a business challenge to solve for a specific company from an ESG perspective. Key takeaways from both students indicated that, while companies are beginning to embrace ESG, there is still a long way to go before it ultimately becomes part of every aspect of day-to-day operations.

As they progress through the semester along with their classmates, this cohort of MBA students will be able to draw upon the plethora of Gabelli Launch experiences they gained during this truly unique orientation period.