Member Profiles

Lanre Kalejaiye

Please describe your educational and professional career path prior to your MBA at DePaul.

I started as a Chemistry Premed Major for three years and later switched to Finance. Graduated with a Finance degree from Illinois State University with a concentration on Insurance & Risk Management. Upon graduation, I took on a position as a personal lines underwriter with Allied Insurance (owned by Nationwide Insurance) and after a year took on another position as a commercial underwriter responsible for $10M in agency premium for a part of the state of IL. After 1.5 years of being a commercial underwriter, I took on a consultant role to train and engage our commercial Lines agents in the states of OH, VA, MD and DE and six months later was promoted to a sales manager role in the state of IL where I was responsible for ¼ of the state (18 counties and approximately $33M in written premium). After 1.5 years, I decided it was in my best interest to finish my MBA, so I left the sales role and took on a position as a Senior Product Consultant with Allstate Insurance.

How has your DePaul experience aided you at your current position?

In my current position, I am responsible for monitoring the performance trends (Profit, Growth, Retention, Loss Ratios) for four states, and for assisting state managers with reversing or continuing particular trends. My MBA at DePaul, especially with the courses I plan to take, will allow me to have focus on my analytical skills while also developing the networking and people skills needed to engage the agents and sales forces within my states to continue to grow and do so profitably.

What courses have you found to be the most valuable to you in your work?

The MBA courses that I have taken so far have been invaluable, and ranged from the Economics courses down to the Human Resource courses, but most especially the analytical courses like GSB 420/ECO 509 and FIN 523.

Can you provide an example where networking within the DePaul community paid off?

As a result of my networking within the DePaul community, I was able to strengthen the membership of an African Diaspora Investment Club that I had founded in mid 2007 with 2 additional MBA students at DePaul.

What advice do you have for other current MBA DePaul students?

I would argue that it is important for all MBA students not to take their classes for granted. While there may be courses that are not relevant to their current positions or their future career paths, students should pay close and particular attention to ALL courses because of the invaluable experience that comes from not only the professors, but also the ranging career paths of the other MBA students. Also, it is imperative that MBA students Network, because I firmly believe that while it is important to know how to do something, knowing someone who has done it better and continues to do it is much greater.

Ron Vodicka

Each month, the Kellstadt MBA Association will feature a member on our Web site. Previous member profiles may be found on the Get Connected menu.

This month we are featuring Ron Vodicka, MBA Class of 2000, and founding president of the Kellstadt MBA Association. Ron will be a special guest at the Kellstadt MBA 10th Anniversary Celebration to be held on Friday, February 22, at the Union League Club. More information about the Celebration may be found on the home page of the KMBAA Web site.

1. Please describe your educational and professional career path prior to DePaul.

I earned my undergraduate B.A. in Economics from the University of Michigan in 1987. I worked one year in the insurance industry, which I quickly realized was not for me. I graduated from DePaul in June 2000 with a concentration in International Business & Marketing. My interest in financial markets led me to start my career with a currency options trading firm. I worked there five years, ultimately becoming a trader. I then bought into a for-profit trading Limited Partnership and did that for three years. I transitioned into a sales role at a bank working with corporate clients on managing their currency and interest rate risk. I did this both at the Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi and now for ABN Amro.

2. How well did your DePaul experience prepare you for your current position?

Very well. The International Business degree program gave me a solid, comprehensive background on international matters. Equally important, it forced me to think globally. The one week trip to the Czech Republic was phenomenal. I still refer to that trip often. Additionally, my experience starting the Kellstadt MBA Association was phenomenal for the following reasons:

a. I made great contacts and was on a first name basis with Dean Kraftof the College of Commerce. Thus, I had wonderful recommendations.

b. My efforts confirmed how important being involved is as part of an education. As a result of my efforts and contacts, I became exposed to all sorts of DePaul opportunities and issues. Anyone who goes to a school and only gets the book education is missing out on 50% of the purpose.

c. The Kellstadt MBA Association was essentially a startup organization so taking it from an idea to writing a constitution for it to changing Administrations attitudes to recruiting members to trying to ensure survival was a great experience

3. What courses have proved to be the most valuable to you in your work?

The class trip to the Czech Republic, nearly all my International Business classes, Capstone and all of my Kellstadt MBA Association efforts.

4. Can you provide an example where networking within the DePaul Community paid off?

I was asked to become a Board member of the new DePaul Business & Technology Alumni group in 2001. This was a great experience and it exposed me to a whole new world of DePaul.

5. What advice would you give to current DePaul MBA students?

Be involved, make contacts, maximize the classes you take and maximize the educational experience. Grades are somewhat important, but it is what you learn and take-away that matters most.

Ron Vodicka, VP, Foreign Exchange & Derivatives, ABN AMRO Bank

ron.vodicka@abnamro.comThis e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

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If you have any questions or comments, please contact Kim Anderson, VP of Membership: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Roxana Vergara

Each month, the Kellstadt MBA Association will feature a member on our Web site. Previous member profiles may be found on the Get Connected menu. This month we are featuring Roxana Vergara, MBA Class of 1997, who is a Marketing, Communications & Project Management Consultant and Kellstadt Alumnus.

1. Please describe your educational and professional career path prior to DePaul.

I started my career in advertising after completing my undergraduate studies in Business Administration with a concentration in Marketing at the College of St. Francis in Joliet. I progressed from a coordinator to an account manager. Two years prior to starting at Kellstadt, I entered into a business partnership to launch a boutique marketing/advertising practice. At this time, I realized that I needed to learn more in order to be an effective business manager.

2. How well did your DePaul experience prepare you for your current position?

The Kellstadt experience definitely provided the management tools that I need and use on the job. In terms of preparedness, it is difficult to comment how well because ultimately it is my responsibility to use what I have learned to the best of my ability. Currently, as a project management consultant in Marketing, I would like to think that I am drawing on all of my experiences to do the very best that I can for each of my clients regardless of the assignment. My projects range in scope so I have to be ready for anything. I could be working with country managers one day and then with finance or technology teams the next day. I have to be able to competently discuss all aspects of my project and to see it through completion per the clients’ expectations.

3. What courses have proved to be the most valuable to you in your work?

The economics courses are probably the most valuable to me. On several occasions, I have been in discussions with clients or teams where I am analyzing decisions by applying the basic economic principles (who knew); particularly when it concerns market trends and resource allocation. It is really important to understand how market factors may impact your business. For example, consumer behavior has been impacted by emerging technologies and the internet. As marketers, we are seeing tremendous shifts in spending from print to web. You have to understand the implications of these changes on your business so you can respond appropriately and effectively.

4. Can you provide an example where networking within the DePaul community paid off?

I kept in frequent contact with one of my professors after graduation and he referred me for a project several years ago. The project remains to date as one of my more memorable professional experiences because it was a challenge in every possible way. I realized that if I had not made the effort to maintain the relationship, he may not have thought to refer me. Additionally, I appreciated his faith in my abilities to successfully complete the assignment. I was able to return the favor by connecting one of his former students with a contact of mine at a telecommunications manufacturer where they secured a position.

5. What advice would you give to current DePaul MBA students?

We are only as good as the people we choose to surround ourselves with – choose wisely and be sure to treat people with the same kindness and respect you would expect in return.

Roxana Vergara roxanavergara@gmail.comThis e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Learn more about your fellow Kellstadt students and alumni by joining our exclusive group on Linked In

If you have any questions or comments, please contact Kim Anderson, VP of Membership: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Rajesh Gopinathapai

Each month, the Kellstadt MBA Association will feature a member on our Web site. Previous member profiles may be found on the Get Connected menu. This month we are featuring Rajesh Gopinathapai who is a Vice President, ABN Amro and a Kellstadt Alumnus.

1. Please describe your educational and professional career path prior to DePaul.

First of all, thank you for giving me an opportunity to share my experiences and to be the KMBAA member of the month.

Education: I did my primary and secondary education in a village called Purakkad in south Indian state of Kerala. I did my engineering from the College of Engineering, Trivandrum, India during the period 1988-1992.

Professional: After graduation, I moved to Bangalore to work for Wipro Systems, a leading outsourcer in India. Several years later, Wipro Systems relocated me to New York City to work as a consultant to JP Morgan. In the years following, I worked for Indosoft Inc, ABN Amro, EDS and the Chicago Board of Trade. At present, I am a Vice President at ABN Amro Chicago, mentoring information technology to specialists and supporting a large foreign exchange and money market operations.

2. How well did your DePaul experience prepare you for your current position?

DePaul prepared me to be a highly ethical professional with integrity. The emphasis on ethics, I believe, is the best personal value I gained from DePaul. The confidence and the ability to think outside the box helps me a great deal at my current position. The real life experiences brought to the class by various professors and students are the best part of the DePaul MBA.

3. What courses have proved to be the most valuable to you in your work?

It is difficult to say which course helped me the most as each course helped me in its own way. I work in a highly demanding environment were stress levels are very high. Managing ethical and organizational behavior (MGT500) helped me cope with stress. Corporate Finance (FIN555) helped me understand the business better. In the Operations Management class (MGT502), I learned why it is important not to improve the efficiency by building inventory. The class assignment based on the novel "The Goal" was truly an eye opener. Capstone class (GSB599) helped me pull it all together. Strategic Valuation (GSB641) is a class that I highly recommend to those who are interested in valuation of stocks.

4. Can you provide an example where networking within the DePaul community paid off?

There are many instances in which I benefitted from networking. One instance that comes to my mind is a valuation I did recently. I was able to find out what is embedded in the market expectations. A friend in my network, who happened to be working for a competitor of the company I was valuing, provided me with some information that led me to a different opinion about the stock. In this case, I benefitted from the stock price movement.

5. What advice would you give to current DePaul MBA students?

While networking is very important, being ethical is the key to sustained success. We have seen highly skilled and successful leaders sink their ships, due to unethical behavior. While being ethical does not guarantee success, being unethical does guarantee failure. Wise use of networking will help you achieve your goals in career and life.

Rajesh Gopinathapai
312-992-2762

Learn more about your fellow Kellstadt students and alumni by joining our exclusive group on Linked In

If you have any questions or comments, please contact Kim Anderson, VP of Membership: membership@kellstadtmba

Brian Klein

Each month, the Kellstadt MBA Association will feature a member on our

web site. Previous member profiles may be found on the Get Connected menu. This month we are featuring Brian Klein who is a Regional Director of Marketing, Hyatt Hotels Corporation and a Kellstadt Alumnus.
brian_klein_depaul_mba_student_profile

Brian Klein, Regional Director of Marketing, Hyatt Hotels Corporation,

1. Please describe your educational and professional career path prior to DePaul.

EDUCATION
Saint Louis University 96-00

PROFESSIONAL
After graduation I moved to New York City to work for Foote Cone and Belding (one of the top 10 global ad agencies) as an Account Executive on the Samsung Electronics Global Account. I worked there for two years and than got engaged and moved to Chicago. In Chicago I worked for approximately three years total at two large ad agencies Cramer Krasselt (on the Hyatt account) and J. Walter Thompson (on the Nabisco Cracker account).
While at J. Walter Thompson an old client of mine at Hyatt called and offered me a position to come and work on the Hyatt Resort brand team. For the past three years I have been the Marketing Manager for Hyatt Resorts. I was responsible for 17 resorts in the US and Caribbean develop and execute their local marketing and advertising plans.
This past May I was promoted to Director of Marketing for all West Coast Hyatt Hotels. I now have 25 hotels that I help guide from a strategic level.

2. How well did your DePaul experience prepare you for your current position?

My DePaul MBA helped me to become a better business man from an analytical perspective. The Financial and Accounting classes helped me to learn how to analyze cost and how promotions and advertising programs affected the bottom line. Before I always just went with my gut and hoped it worked. Now I have the numbers to back up my decisions.

3. What courses have proved to be the most valuable to you in your work?

Negotiation Skills. This class was the best I took hands down...and the one class where I made my tuition money back. After taking this class, I was able to negotiate a promotion, a handsome raise, a deal on a new car, while also selling my condo. The value of the tactics and techniques taught are immeasurable. Managerial Accounting. Professor Chomiak is one of the best at DePaul. He made a subject I hated (sorry accounting majors) fun and easy to learn. Just learning how to interpret and use some of the financial statements internally has helped to provide dividends in how I judge marketing from a cost perspective. GSB-599 Capstone Class. This class brought it all together so you could see how everything you learned over the past two years was related and affected each other.

4. Can you provide an example where networking within the DePaul community paid off?

Honestly, the MBA Socials helped me to get free beers...and I was in a group with a guy that worked for Potbelly and bought me lunch every day. I already had a job I loved, so I didn't network as much as I should have. But one of the best things you can take away from your MBA are the teachings from other MBA students. You never know when you will need to call them up for a potential job. Oh yeah...if anyone knows of any brand management jobs...give me a call.

5. What advice would you give to current DePaul MBA students?

Make sure you remember that the key to success is to always listen to what associates and people on the front lines have to say. It's important for everyone to get involved. Some of your best ideas and means for improvement will come from secretaries, clerks and bellmen. Also....Life goes by pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it. Ferris Bueller

Brian Klein
Hyatt Hotels Corporation
Regional Director of Marketing
71 South Wacker
Chicago, IL 60606
p - 312.780.5693
f - 312.780.5289
c - 312.480.6620
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Learn more about your fellow Kellstadt students and alumni by joining our exclusive Linked In group.
Every month we will highlight a featured member of the DePaul MBA Association. For more information contact Kim Anderson, VP of Membership: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

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