MBA class learns from the pros

By Melanie Yeager, College of Business

It's not every day MBA students get to ask questions of high-ranking executives making business decisions for high-profile companies. But MBAs in marketing Professor Mike Hartline's Corporate Affairs class offered this past spring said not only did they ask questions, but they received precious insight into running multi-million-dollar corporations that will benefit them for years to come.

"This course should be mandatory for all MBA students. This was one of the classes I learned the most from, not only from the material and the instructor, but also from fellow students," said Jason Ramrattan, MBA 2009.

According to a course description, the class dealt with the under-appreciated side of marketing that does not deal directly with end users or buyers.

"In Corporate Affairs, we learned to look at controversial situations that businesses have or may face from many different angles, said Amanda Hartnett, MBA 2009. "We learned to evaluate these situations, layout some possible courses of action and effectively handle the crisis."

Ramrattan said the class addressed the idea that companies do not operate in a vacuum but instead must consider how the firm will affect society through every business function. "Ignorance to this regard can certainly lead to long term malignancies, including low stock price, bad image and corporate culture issues," he said.

Executives visiting with the class – some by videoconference – included Rich Bagger, senior vice president of public affairs and policy, Pfizer; Wendy Clark, senior vice president of integrated marketing communications, Coca-Cola; Doug Dunlap, president of Syn-Tech/FuelMaster, Inc.; Chuck Hardwick, senior vice president (retired) worldwide corporate affairs, Pfizer; Joe Kelly, president of GTO, Inc.; Abby London, attorney and lobbyist, Blank and Meenan law firm; Mike Pate, executive director, Knight Foundation; Bruce Redditt, executive vice president, Omnicom Group, Inc.; Bob Sasser, president and CEO, Dollar Tree Stores, Inc.; Bill Smith, president and CEO, Capital City Bank Group; and T.K. Wetherell, president, Florida State University.

Hartline also invited groups of students to join speakers for lunch for lunch, giving them the opportunity to talk further with executives.

MBA students said each speaker provided a crucial business lesson. "Mr. Hardwick showed the class how to answer difficult questions, as a public affairs representative, while maintaining the organization's best interest and satisfying the public interest," said Elliott Junco, MBA 2010. Another student, Stephen Gilliam, MBA 2009, said his interaction with Wetherell helped him gain "a much broader understanding of the competing interests and huge responsibility he has as president of the university."

Gilliam was struck by how his learning depended on his effort. "To get the most from the speakers and the presentations, it was necessary to read and think about the background material before class and to ask questions during class," he said.

MBA students said they realize they benefitted from a unique classroom experience.

"The course offers you the opportunity to meet people you probably would have never met otherwise, and gain real-life perspective on what we learn in the classroom," Hartnett said. "It is by far one of my favorite classes, and I will put what I learned to good use in my life and career."