David Pyke's Blog

Terra Saltzman-Baker and Kara Weller, USD MBA Career Services, and the many thank-you cards from students

What do employers look for when hiring business students? I explored this question with the Board of Advisors of the School of Business last week. We had a very active discussion about “Key Competencies of Business Undergraduates and MBAs.”  I have a lot to share from this conversation, but for now let’s divide their insights into three main categories: competencies developed within courses, across …Read Full Article

Al Carey, CEO of PepsiCo Americas Beverages, presenting to USD students

In his visit to USD this week, Al Carey, CEO of PepsiCo Americas Beverages, gave students a look into the future of the beverage industry. On the thirst-quenching horizon: LRB (keep reading), sustainability and an advertising revolution.

With sales declining for cola drinks, the Liquid Refreshment Beverage category is the beverage tsunami of the future. LRB includes such products (owned by PepsiCo) as Mountain Dew and Kickstart; Gatorade – this …Read Full Article

I think a lot about risk management, and especially integrated risk management, or put another way, the ways that risk management decisions in one functional area of a company impact other areas.  For instance, if supply chain managers make a decision regarding a global supplier, what effect does that have on the Treasury department, which is responsible for hedging currencies, or the Marketing department, which manages the brand?

So, here is a recent article from the New York Times online.

These excerpts …Read Full Article

Sheena Iyengar, author of The Art of Choice

I am writing this post on the plane from Chicago to Houston, leaving the annual AACSB International Conference and Meeting (ICAM) and heading to meet with some great alumni in Texas.  In addition to stimulating conversations with other deans and directors of business schools, we were energized and challenged by some excellent panels and speakers.

One amazing speaker was Sheena Iyengar, the author of The Art of Choice, a 2010 book about choices …Read Full Article

Prospective MBA students experience USD at MBA Insights

I had fun last Saturday morning with an energetic group of prospective MBA students.  Some have committed to USD for the fall, others are trying to decide which program to attend, while others are just beginning their investigation into the MBA world.  I love talking about our program, faculty and students.  In the context of our mission statement, I shared some of the amazing things we are doing.

“We develop socially responsible business …Read Full Article