At Michigan Ross, international programs allow students the opportunity to immerse themselves in new cultures, tackle business challenges from a global perspective, and have once-in-a-lifetime experiences with their classmates while building lifelong connections around the world. 

On the 10th season premiere of Business Beyond Usual, our full time MBA students speak to why they went global. They discuss various programs: student-led treks through MTREK, international Multidisciplinary Action Projects (MAP), and study abroad through the MBA Global Semester Exchange Program. They dive into the day-to-day life of time abroad, talking about the challenges — from language barriers to unfamiliar corporate culture — and reminiscing on the highlights of their travels.

The students come away from their experiences with more empathy, compassion, and confidence, not to mention new friends and a deeper understanding of global business. 

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Want to get in touch? Send us a message at [email protected]. 

• Hosts: Aishwarya Raja and Oghoghosa Igbineweka
• Guests: Diane Jen, Abha Bhanu, Breezy Adams, Dominique Gill, and Janel Weatherly
• Executive Producers: Sylvia Percovich, Aishwarya Raja, Oghoghosa Igbineweka, and Jasmin Lopez
• Studio Producers: Jonah Brockman and Mads Henke

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On the Season 9 finale of the Business Beyond Usual podcast, next year’s BBU hosts, Jasmin Lopez, Aishwarya Raja, Oghoghosa Igbineweka, and Sylvia Percovich, join this season’s hosts, Vashisht Sai, Aishwarya Dhume, and Mark O’Connell, to pass the torch and prepare for graduation. In the first part of the episode, our graduating hosts share their excitement for post-grad life and reflect on their time at Michigan Ross, discussing their favorite moments and biggest challenges.

In the second part of the episode, our incoming hosts gear up to become MBA 2s. They express their enthusiasm for settling in at Ross, strengthening friendships, being more present, and contributing to the Ross community.

Thank you, Vashisht, Aishwarya, and Mark, for an incredible ninth season of BBU! Go Blue!

Want to get in touch? Send us a message at [email protected]. 

• Hosts: Jasmin Lopez, Aishwarya Raja, Oghoghosa Igbineweka, Sylvia Percovich
• Guests: Vashisht Sai, Aishwarya Dhume, Mark O’Connell
• Executive Producers: Mark O'Connell, Aishwarya Dhume, Vashisht Sai, and JT Godfrey
• Audio Engineer: Jonah Brockman
• Editorial Production: Mads Henke 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this episode of the Business Beyond Usual podcast, hosts Aishwarya Dhume and Vashisht Sai sit down with Dave Brandon, former CEO and current Executive Chairman of Domino’s.  Dave takes us through his long and varied career, from attending U-M as a student athlete and aspiring teacher to working in executive leadership roles across industries. He discusses his approach to taking two different companies public, as well as the challenges he faced throughout his career. The conversation is a masterclass in creative problem-solving and how leaders persevere.

Want to get in touch? Send us a message at [email protected]. 

• Hosts: Aishwarya Dhume and Vashisht Sai
• Guest: Dave Brandon
• Executive Producers: Mark O'Connell, Aishwarya Dhume, Vashisht Sai, and JT Godfrey
• Audio Engineer: Jonah Brockman
• Editorial Production: Mads Henke

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this episode of the Business Beyond Usual podcast, hosts Aishwarya Dhume and Jasmin Lopez sit down with Ross Full-Time MBA students Vashisht Sai, Yashvi Patel, and Vraj Mehta to discuss how they financed their MBAs. The guests shed light on their individual journeys and share tips on de-mystifying student loans, campus jobs, internships, and scholarships. They touch on the role that expenses play in the recruitment process and their experiences in budgeting. One important tip? Buy the Michigan football pass!

Want to get in touch? Send us a message at [email protected]. 

• Hosts: Aishwarya Dhume and Jasmin Lopez
• Guests: Vashisht Sai, Yashvi Patel, Vraj Mehta
• Executive Producers: Mark O'Connell, Aishwarya Dhume, Vashisht Sai, and JT Godfrey
• Audio Engineer: Jonah Brockman
• Editorial Production: Mads Henke 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this episode of the Business Beyond Usual podcast, hosts Aishwarya Dhume and Vashishta Sai sit down with Megan Anda, Managing Director of the Office of Action Based Learning, Professor M.S. Krishnan, and Will Pan, MBA ’25, to discuss the Multi-disciplinary Action Project, or MAP, at Ross. 

Topics covered include MAP’s history, how it has changed over the past 30 years, how the 100+ projects are sourced each year, the role of MAP faculty, and the student experience. We learn how this foundational part of the Michigan Ross education serves as a window to the ever-evolving business world and how it prepares students for their internships while imparting skills that will be used for their whole careers. 

Want to get in touch? Send us a message at [email protected]. 

• Host: Aishwarya Dhume and Vashishta Sai
• Guests: Megan Anda, M.S. Krishnan, and Will Pan 
• Executive Producers: Mark O'Connell, Aishwarya Dhume, Vashishta Sai, and JT Godfrey
• Audio Engineer: Jonah Brockman
• Editorial Production: Mads Henke 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Just in time for Valentine’s Day, host Aishwarya Raja sits down with guests Andrew Johnson, JT Godfrey, Chiara Lucchesi, and Javier Balam to discuss the experience of being a partner at Ross.

With full calendars and a welcoming environment, partners of Ross MBAs aren’t just plus ones; they become members of the community themselves with a myriad of involvement opportunities. In this episode, the four partners discuss making the move to Ann Arbor and all of the opportunities and hidden gems the city has to offer, from proximity to the arts and sports teams to the best spots for sushi and burgers. 

The guests also share how they’ve gotten involved at Ross, including events through the Partners Club, becoming members of student clubs and affiliate groups, and employment opportunities with U-M. They conclude the conversation by discussing the challenges of supporting a partner through MBA recruitment and leave listeners with a few pieces of advice. 

Want to get in touch? Send us a message at [email protected]. 

• Host and Episode Producer: Aishwarya Raja 
• Guests: Andrew Johnson, JT Godfrey, Chiara Lucchesi, Javier Balam
• Executive Producers: Mark O'Connell, Aishwarya Dhume, Vashishta Sai, and JT Godfrey
• Audio Engineer: Jonah Brockman
• Editorial Production: Mads Henke

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this episode of the Business Beyond Usual podcast, hosts Aishwarya Dhume and Mark O’Connell sit down with Grant Potts, Macey Guthery, and Rachel Schulingkamp from The Bus – the unofficial business school tailgate committee dedicated to stirring up school spirit, Brian Vu from Risky Business – Michigan Ross’s MBA student led band, and Tyler Ringler from Michigan Business Social Association (MBSA) – the organization behind Winter Formal, Disorientation, and Thursdays at Skeeps, to discuss each of the uniquely Ross groups with which they are involved.

The panel focuses on how these groups form community and deep friendships while marveling at the fun they bring to the Michigan Ross experience. They touch on balancing extracurriculars with the workload of an MBA and the qualities they each look for in selecting new members. They promise you don’t have to be an extrovert to enjoy the countless events each group offers.  

Want to get in touch? Send us a message at [email protected].  

• Hosts: Aishwarya Dhume and Mark O’Connell
• Guests: Grant Potts, Macey Guthery, Brian Vu, Rachel Schulingkamp, Tyler Ringler
• Executive Producers: Mark O'Connell, Aishwarya Dhume, Vashishta Sai, and JT Godfrey
• Audio Engineer: Jonah Brockman
• Editorial Production: Mads Henke 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this episode of the Business Beyond Usual podcast, guest hosts Arthur Bochner and Radhika Muthukrishnan sit down with three fellow Executive MBA students to discuss their journeys to Michigan Ross and their experiences in the program so far. 

The group explores ways they have applied the program’s action-based learning approach directly to their workplaces, how they manage to balance an EMBA program with their careers and personal lives, and the supportive culture they found in the Los Angeles and Ann Arbor cohorts. In the discussion, we learn about the options and tools EMBA programs provide to seasoned executives while allowing the flexibility executives need to balance academic and professional success. 

To learn more about the hosts, participants, and resources discussed in this episode, check out a full-length article for this episode at https://michiganross.umich.edu/news/podcasts/business-beyond-usual. 

• Host: Arthur Bochner and Radhika Muthukrishnan
• Guests: Kevin Kubota, Vanessa Archambault, and Jerry Wang
• Executive Producers: Mark O’Connell, Aishwarya Dhume, Vashisht Sai, and JT Godfrey
• Audio Engineer: Jonah Brockman
• Editorial Production: Mads Henke 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this episode of the Business Beyond Usual podcast, hosts Aishwarya Dhume and Vashishta Sai sit down with four Full-Time MBA students to discuss their recruitment journeys. 

The panel explores the differences in recruiting processes for the marketing, consulting, technology, and investment banking fields. They discuss preparing for case interviews, the coffee chat system, and the biggest challenges of recruitment – time management, prioritization, and self-care. We learn about the importance of trusting the process over focusing on a certain outcome, having a backup plan, and leaning on your community through the whole recruiting season. 

• Hosts: Aishwarya Dhume and Vashishta Sai
• Guests: Deb Sarkar, Ziyi Liu, Janaki Balachander, Yuan Zhang
• Executive Producers: Mark O'Connell, Aishwarya Dhume, Vashishta Sai, and JT Godfrey
• Audio Engineer: Jonah Brockman
• Editorial Production: Mads Henke

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On the premiere episode of season nine of the Business Beyond Usual podcast, we sit down with the Full-Time MBA Council. The group shares their favorite memories from their first year at the Ross School of Business and what they’re most looking forward to experiencing as second-year MBAs. 

The panel also explores the role of the FTMBA Council and its goals for this year. We learn about the MBA Council’s three main pillars: cross-collaboration, diversity, equity, and inclusion, and prioritizing well-being. Our guests share their commitment to supporting those who have made real sacrifices to pursue MBAs and emphasize how important it is to lean on each other. Being supported by others gives us the power to pay it forward. 

• Host: Mark O’Connell
• Guests: Alex Maxwell, Drew Maloney, Diya Rambhatla, and Vraj Mehta
• Executive Producers: Mark O'Connell, Aishwarya Dhume, Vashishta Sai, and JT Godfrey
• Audio Engineer: Jonah Brockman
• Editorial Production: Mads Henke 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.