Highlighting the Successes of MBA Student Resource Groups in the 23/24 Academic Year

The Importance of Student Organizations

Student resource groups are the lifeblood of Broad’s Full-Time and STEM MBA program. Resource groups connect students with prominent industry leaders, countless professional development opportunities and the ability to make a real impact during their time in East Lansing. Membership in MBA student resource groups also empowers students to connect with one another around networking and program development, professional foci, diversity, social interests and common experiences.

Broad’s MBA organizations bridge the gap between academic knowledge and professional application, allowing students to deeply engage with their interests. Wayne Hutchison, Managing Director of the MBA Program, emphasized this by stating, “One of the biggest reasons these clubs matter is [that] they provide students the chance to learn and engage in a different, practical way, from their colleagues in the same cohort, as well as the second year MBAs. Those opportunities to connect and share knowledge are invaluable to the student experience at Broad.”

Highlights from some outgoing Presidents of 23/24 MBA Student Resource Groups

Black MBA Association – Outgoing President: Amy Brothers

“The Broad Black MBA Association (BBMBAA) is designed to empower students intellectually and economically, while promoting healthy environments, and equipping students with tools and opportunities for success. There are a few great accomplishments that I’m most proud of as the leader of the BBMBAA. I am proud of the tenacity of the class of 2024 and 2025 who attended the National Black MBA Conference in Philadelphia. Ensuring that students who attended the conference were equipped with ample amounts information ahead of time to make smart decisions, was important to me as a leader. I was in the process of securing my own employment offer and was not obligated to attend the conference, however, it was my desire to not leave students fumbling their way through the process, but to be readily accessible for questions, resume reviews, and having coaching conversations if students were nervous and simply needed advice for the next interview opportunity. Understanding what your people need is important as a leader. I gladly offered my time, resources, and shared my experience with students as a fellow Spartan.

Next, I’m proud of our executive team. Bryce Chatman and Alyse Hines were great partners in shifting the weight of responsibility as we progressed throughout the year. I noted that we were all leaders, and I recognized the strength of leadership within our team.  Giving individuals the opportunity to lead and you sit in the passenger seat and offer guidance (as needed) is just as important in leadership as well. I was proud to see the team take on projects with multiple tasks and responsibilities while accomplishing our SRG objectives and goals. Finally, I’m proud of the mentorship opportunities and connecting with undergraduate organizations such as AAAS, NAHBS, and Black and Broad. Observing the curiosity and the engaged minds of our undergraduates at MSU was personally rewarding. We ventured to the Wright Museum in Detroit with AAAS, had mentorship conversation sessions with Black and Broad, and planned professional development events with NAHBS.  There is a strong need for mentorship.  Sometimes as we are growing professionally, we don’t know “the how” or what questions to ask. I valued the vulnerability and curiosity of our undergraduates as well as the wonderful exchange of learning from these bright and thriving leaders.

Overall, leading an SRG allowed me to have the opportunity to engage with a diverse group of individuals, develop intellectually, and practice and learn new skill sets. I’m excited to pass the torch of leadership to Arjanah Slaughter, our 2024-2025 BBMBAA President, who is an intelligent and agile trailblazer.”

The greatest gift you can give somebody is your own personal development. I used to say, “If you will take care of me, I will take care of you. Now I say, I will take care of me for you, if you will take care of you for me.” ― Jim Rohn

MBA Association: Outgoing President – Jordan George

“Serving as President of the MBA Association has been a tremendous privilege. It has been a great honor to work alongside the rest of the board to organize opportunities for our fellow MBA peers to come together, such as the annual Fall Ball, the tailgates before the home football games, and lunch followed by a tour of the Capitol Building. Helping provide ways for us all to get to know each other better outside the classroom as well as explore the greater Lansing area in the process has been a pleasure.”

Broad Consulting Club: Outgoing President – Aditya Bapat
“As the President of Broad Consulting Club (BCC), it has been an amazing ride leading this past year. We’ve been all about honing those problem-solving skills, not just for consulting but for all walks of business life. Steering the BCC has been a mix of challenges and joys. Figuring out what students really need and weaving that into our plans has been a collaborative adventure with a bunch of passionate folks. Together, we’ve tackled event planning, ramped up participation, and made sure everyone feels the club’s spirit. It’s been a truly enriching journey with the club. I’m incredibly grateful to everyone who has contributed to the club and enhanced the experience for all students.”

Accomplishments:
“One of our proudest achievements was the creation of the first-ever Casebook for Broad MBA, a resource that not only showcased our dedication to consulting but also served as a collaborative platform for students to engage in practical brainstorming sessions, all authored by MBA peers.
In addition, our commitment to peer mentorship shone through our Case Interview Practice initiative. By pairing second-year students with first-year counterparts as case buddies, we not only facilitated invaluable learning experiences but also built a supportive community within the club.
Moreover, our efforts extended beyond campus borders through our Networking Opportunities with alumni, where we organized skills workshops like the Python coding language introduction. This workshop not only broadened our members’ skill sets but also provided avenues for practical applications in various industries.
I’m immensely proud of what we’ve accomplished and the legacy we leave behind in shaping the future of consulting at Broad College.”

Women MBA Association: Outgoing president – Olivia English
“Because of the engaged members and dedicated board members, it has been a wonderful experience leading Broad Women MBA Association. We hosted a variety of events, ranging from negotiating and networking with EMBAs, a lunch and learn, and an end-of-year social.
I’m most proud of the BWMBAA board’s ability to operate at such a high level, the positive feedback received from both first and second year classes, and achieving an SRG wide goal: connecting with EMBAs.
It’s been an honor to lead this organization, and I know it’s in the best hands for the 2024-2025 academic year. Go Green!”

MBA HR Association – Outgoing President – Bryce Chatman
“I had an amazing experience being involved in the MBA Human Resource Association! HR is the backbone that supports of all business and we strived to achieve that same support for all MBA students. We were very proud to increase membership from last year, while also gaining more non HR concentration members as well. Our event with MBA HR Alumni Mike Maglio on helping prep students for interviews and job applications was a huge success as well. We were able to establish connections with Alumni such as Mike to the current MBA HR students and pass these connections on to the next E-Board. Lastly, we were able to do events aimed towards up-skilling and sharing knowledge with our class. An example of this would be the PowerPoint party we hosted in collaboration with the Entrepreneurship association, where we got a chance to help each other take our presentation skills to the next level.”

MBA Finance Association – Outgoing President – Mark Tamminga
“As an incoming student, the SRGs provided me with significant academic and professional support. As president of the MBA Finance Association, I was honored to have the chance to pay it forward by building on the foundation left by past leaders. I am immensely proud of my MBAFA team for expanding our academic support efforts for first-year students, hosting guest lecturers on new topics like mergers and acquisitions, and increasing club membership to the highest our program has seen in many years.”