Earning a Walton MBA gives access to an extensive network of business contacts. When COVID-19 first shook the world and social distancing became the new norm, the program adapted quickly, offering hybrid classes and socially distanced face-to-face classes for those who wanted to attend in person.
What was not clear was how these restrictions would change the program’s ability to build networks for students.
But COVID-19 and the surrounding restrictions have created new opportunities to enrich students’ networks via online collaboration. Through Walton MBA Conversations, a webinar series hosted via Zoom, the program has been able to connect small groups of students with industry experts. These hour-long informal discussions, held after work hours or during lunch breaks, give students the chance to ask questions and drive the dialogue while gaining insights into key topics that are affecting business now. These digitally-driven conversations strip away geographical or logistical limitations that hosting an in-person event poses and allows students to connect with renowned speakers from across the country.
Walton MBA Conversations is different from other networking events in the program due to the limited number of spaces open to participants. “We really try to limit the number of people at these events,” Dr. Vikas Anand, director of the MBA programs, said. “We want to facilitate in-depth engagement among participants and provide quality interactions for our students.”
The range of speakers includes researchers and professors, CEOs, consultants and physicians. Topics have varied from “Building a Fintech Startup” by Andrew Endicott, “Leading Change in the FBI” by David Schlendorf, “COVID’s Impact on Consumer Spending and Decision Making” by Jessica Hendrix, “Data Analytics, Metrics and Reporting in Digital Medicine” by Dr. Kevin Sexton and Dr. Joseph Sanford and “Nonviolence Principles in Modern Business,” by Tom Eddington.
Upcoming conversations include “Diversity and Inclusion- The Past, Present and Future” on Dec. 1 with Bob Nash.
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