Category — Business Education

As the world’s largest corporation, Wal-Mart is famous for the influence they have over their vendors. And if you’re going to work for a Wal-Mart supplier, you need skills. Solid understanding of the retail business and cutting edge data analysis skills are required. And who better to school you? Smiley himself.

High Tech Retail Requires Special Skills

Wal-Mart suppliers use sophisticated software programs to access to sales data online in real time. Suppliers need account reps who can make constant decisions about the information they receive. Under-performing sellers must be replaced with new items based on the numbers.

Basic category management skills for Wal-Mart suppliers include the ability to work with software programs like RetailLink and ProSpace as well as the analytical skills to use the date received. Students use technology to optimize allocation of products, identify inventory problems, design displays, and instantly see the effects of changes.

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Managing the bottom line increasingly means meeting the demand for environmentally and socially beneficial business practices. Tomorrow’s leaders face the constant challenge of creating a balancing between business objectives with environmental and social goals. Save the world and make money while you’re at it.

Business schools are stepping up to the challenge with new curriculum on everything from self-regulation to sustainable distribution methods. While some companies must maneuver regulations to reduce environmental impact, others can use concern over the environment as an opportunity to increase revenues and/or cut costs.

It’s Not All Environmental
In the past, non-profit organizations and governments addressed unmet human needs. However, business is increasingly called upon to cooperate in finding more effective, efficient, and sustainable solutions. These changing roles are redefining business education.

Even financial markets are changing as interest in social investing grows. Concerns over globalization and climate change are challenging ideas that social and environmental concerns are always subordinate to financial goals.

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Interested in business school? Looking for a school that will further your career? Not sure where to start or apply? Want to go to one of the premier top business schools in the world? Here’s a sampling of 10 of the best business schools around, both public and private, from around the United States.

Harvard Business School — Harvard University | Cambridge, Mass.
Choose from an MBA along with PhD programs in areas such as Accounting and Management, Health Policy Management, Marketing, Organizational Behavior, Technology and Operations Management and more. Learn more at http://www.hbs.edu.

Wharton School — University of Pennsylvania | Philadelphia, Penn.
Choose from a standard MBA or an Executive MBA. Wharton also offers an MBA/MA program in Global Business with advanced language training. Learn more at http://mba.wharton.upenn.edu/mba.

Chicago Graduate School of Business — University of Chicago | Chicago, Ill.
Choose from a full-time MBA, night and weekend MBA, or an Executive MBA. Chicago Graduate School of Business also offers a PhD program along with executive education and the Summer Business Scholars Program. Learn more at http://www.chicagogsb.edu.

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For business students, there was a lot more to see at the Super Bowl than football.The Super Bowl is a marketing bonanza, and billions of dollars are made as a result of this annual major sporting event.

More than 140 million Americans watched the big game, and that figure is about the same every year no matter who the combatants are on the field. That translates into 40 percent of all households. Add to that more than 750 news outlets, giving the championship game tons of free publicity. So if you tie a business or product into Super Sunday, you can get quite a ride.

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A lot of companies offering internships are actually recruiting for full time positions. They get to try out potential employees before taking on the expensive commitment of hiring and training. Even if you don’t think you want to continue with the company, treat your internship as an extended interview. Making a good impression can open valuable doors elsewhere. Internships give you access to professionals in your field. With that comes the opportunity to create relationships with potential contacts, mentors, and references.

Blend In
Just because you’re an intern doesn’t mean you have to act like one. Although co-workers may joke around and act like they’ll cut you some slack, that doesn’t mean they’re not also taking in your every move. Blend into the corporate culture by following standards for dress and decorum. Balance your socially appropriate snark with positive attitude and actions. Find out if there are different expectations for working with clients vs. working in the office. Work the same hours as your entry-level equals - show up on time and stay after to get the job done.

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