The executive program is designed to give Loyola business students the opportunity to interact with real professionals in the business world. Thus giving them great advice and experience for their future. 

http://www.business.loyno.edu/purpose.html

 was great to meet new people in my group and discuss our ideas as business majors. Also the experience of interacting with my mentor was very valuable in helping build my career as a business student. I feel more confident to engage in the career thats ahead of me. My expectations went as planned. I got everything I had hoped to get out of the program and I'm pleased of the way it went. The advice I can give to future participants in the program is too go along with it and try to get the most out of it as possible. It is important to ask as many questions as possible and to participate in all aspects of it. Its a great chance to clear up any concerns you have and to enhance your business view. 

Next semester I hope we can engage in more active things as a group and get started doing work instead of talking about it. I expect to take what we have learned and use it to achieve our goals or the goals of the community. I recommend for future participants to read Business Week and stay in touch with the world around them. We live in a global economy where every aspect of the people around the world affects every one of us. 

Wolves on the Prowl

On Saturday morning on November 8th the entire freshman class of business students woke up bright and early to participate in some community service. There were also other people not affiliated with the business program but wanted to help out. We all met up around 8 a.m. to get organized and get some snacks. We then were divided into groups and sent away to different destinations to carry out our work. My group was sent away in buses and we headed to a small park where there was some cleaning to be done. When we got there it wasn't much of a sight but I expected much worse. The park was located in a rundown neighborhood that bordered the New Orleans prison. While we were at the park we started off ripping weeds off a fence that divided the houses from the park. This did not take very long so we proceeded to painting the benches black and this unusual pole that needed to be painted as well. After we had completed these tasks we sat down ate some snacks and gazed at a better sight than what we had arrived to. There was an angry rottweiler that continuously barked and seemed to want to attack us throughout the work but it didn't really seem to bother anyone. After that park we went back to the bus and made our way to another park. It wasn't until we arrived at our fourth that we found some other work to be done. Before we found this one we had gone to two that were almost spotless which was very surprising. The last park we did find though was in Holy Grove and it was a huge field with basketball courts. The park wasn't as dirty as I expected but there was still trash that needed to be picked up. We worked on this park for about an hour because it was rather large and then we headed back on the bus. From there we headed back to Loyola and waited for the barbeque to begin which was very good and had a live band. Overall I enjoyed the project even know I wish we could have done more. We overestimated the work we would have to do but it gave us the confidence to complete it diligently. 

Im not to sure what the organization we worked for was called because we were never given that information but they were all very courteous and you could tell they appreciated our help. One other social service organization that interest me is a non-profit organization called "Sweet Home New Orleans". Their mission is "to perpetuate New Orleans culture by providing direct services to the individuals and institutions that will carry them forward". They help people with case management, housing assistance, advocacy, renewing the music, financial assistance, and performance subsidies. "Sweet Home New Orleans" try to help the people of new orleans in order to enrich the culture in any way that is possible. 

A link to their website is http://www.sweethomeneworleans.org/?page_id=22    

Personal Finance and Credit

The talk given to us on personal finance and credit was a lecture that every young person should here. In fact a lecture of this nature should be introduced at a younger age like beginning of high school or younger, the typical an individual starts making their own money. I have had a bank account my whole life and have added money to it every now and then, only taking small amounts out at limited times. I did this just because I wanted to save money but from this lecture I learned that I have very low credit. I wasn't to sure what credit was all about but now I have learned that it is extremely important for your financial future. I learned that it is always important to spend what you have and not what you wish you had. If you owe money it is important to pay it all as soon as possible to maintain a better record. I'm not too worried about my future because I have started in the right direction without even knowing it. Now that I know the importance of credit I have even more incentive to be mindful of my expenditures. 

A valuable website for young people to control their credit is http://www.youngmoney.com/money_management

My Vision and Values

My vision is not really clear to me yet. I always thought I should study business but I'm not exactly sure what I intend to do with it. I hope to see myself as a successful person one day and I would like my evolvement in becoming successful happen as quickly as possible. I see myself working for an international company but no idea what it will be involved in. Writing a vision statement is greatly beneficial for planning your future. It helps you to see where your at dealing with your dreams and ambitions. Without a clear vision of where you are heading it would be difficult to plan your success. My main challenge in writing my vision statement is not knowing the future for sure. Also by me saying I want to become this or that I feel in some small way I am limiting my capabilities or dreams. I do believe it is a good way to enhance your development as a business student but I just don't know what will happen.

I believe values are very essential to working or operating your own business. I was labeled as the humanitarian set because of my desire to be successful and to make others around me successful and happy. I am not a selfish person but I do enjoy things for myself. As much as its great to be having fun, its much more fun when people are having fun with you. My two favorite values are strength and people. It is necessary to have strength to overcome any obstacle. Also I believe in people, people are what we are and we must respect them and understand them to reach our full potentials. I try to show my strength in the things I do every day by having patience with the obstacles and trying to do the best I can do. I am courteous to everyone I meet, I love to know people's stories and this exemplifies my value in people. 

I found that hospitals generally have the same idea as me when it comes to values. One hospital in particular is Sibley Memorial Hospital in D.C. Its vision is " to provide quality health services and facilities for the community, to promote wellness, to relieve suffering, and to restore health as swiftly, safely, and humanely as it can be done, consistent with the best service we can give at the highest value for all concerned". This statement exemplifies my values in strength and people. To work in an environment such as this would be demanding but comfortable and enjoyable. 

My Mentor Frank Cestero

A mentor is someone that everyone needs. Whether its your parents or a good friend a mentor is there for advice and guidance in your life. I learned from the program that having a mentor is great for seeing what your life can become. Working with someone who is engaged in the work you are interested in gives you the chance of a lifetime. 

My mentor is a great guy named Frank Cestero, he has a good sense of the business world and gives some good good advice. He grew up in Palm Beach but coming from Puerto Rico he rocks a little latin heat. He got his International Business degree at Auburn University where he became and avid Tigers fan. After working a few jobs he returned to school at Loyola University New Orleans and received his MBA. He now works as the Financial Controller for one of the biggest construction companies in the Gulf Coast Region, Walton Construction. So far he seems like a fun guy that is interested in helping us all out. He taught us that the key to business is connections and what you do with them. I'm looking forward to more great advice and guidance. 

I'm glad I'm able to participate in this Executive Mentor Program, I really think it will be beneficial to my education in Business. I expect to learn from the experienced and gain knowledge that others can't. I expect that this program will set me up with opportunities that others only dream of. This program is great for bringing a class to the real world instead of just on paper. I think a program like this can make anyone successful by placing them with successful people. Of course most of the successfulness will come from my own ambition but I believe with a head start like this I can achieve anything.