CONSULTING
As a newly-minted MBA pursuing a career in management or strategy consulting, you will typically begin as an associate, gathering data and performing analytical work. You need to be able to dissect financial statements, make sense of marketing scans, interpret internal financial reports and produce succinct and coherent reports. Courses that help you develop a clear thought process and logical analysis, including strategic thinking, structure and prioritization, and numerical agility are good foundations for consulting. Strong communication skills are also critical for success as a consultant. We recommend:

• MBA 222 Financial Information Analysis and/or
• MBA 223 Corporate Financial Reporting
• MBA 224A Managerial Accounting
• MBA 231 Corporate Finance
• MBA 237 Designing Financial Models That Work
• MBA 257 Managing Complex and Changing Organizations
• MBA 261 Marketing Research
• MBA 290T Future of Information Technology
• MBA 290T Building Business Value Through I.T. Innovation
• MBA 292N Social Sector Solutions
• MBA 295F Customer and Business Development in High Tech Enterprise
• MBA 296 New Business Development: Corporate Perspective

And, one or at most, two strategy courses:
• MBA 217 Strategy, Structure and Incentives
• MBA 277 Deals
• MBA 299B Global Strategy and Multinational Enterprise
• MBA 299E Competitive and Corporate Strategy
• MBA 299M Strategic Market Planning

INVESTMENT BANKING
Entering the field of Investment Banking typically means becoming an associate in a bank in a major financial center: New York, London, Frankfurt, Hong Kong or Tokyo. As an associate, you will be asked to perform valuations; structure financings and terms of various deals such as mergers, acquisitions, leveraged buy-outs, leases, initial public offerings and private placements; and provide a variety of financial consulting services. You need a strong background in finance and accounting, as well as negotiation and communication skills. We recommend:

• MBA 222 Financial Information Analysis
• MBA 231 Corporate Finance
• MBA 232 Financial Institutions and Markets
• MBA 233 Investments
• MBA 234 Advanced Corporate Finance
• MBA 236A Futures and Options Markets
• MBA 236C Global Financial Services
• MBA 236E Mergers and Acquisitions
• MBA 237 Financial Statement Modeling for Finance Careers
• MBA 237 Private Equity: Leveraged Buyouts
• MBA 252 Negotiations and Conflict Resolution
• MBA 296 New Business Development: Corporate Perspective

These electives also are likely to be helpful:
• MBA 211 Game Theory
• MBA 218A International Finance
• MBA 223 Corporate Financial Reporting
• MBA 224A Managerial Accounting
• MBA 227B Taxes and Firm Strategy
• MBA 234 Advanced Corporate Finance
• MBA 236F Behavioral Finance
• MBA 237 Risk Management
• MBA 277 International Busines
• MBA 277 Deals
• MBA 280 Real Estate and Urban Land Economics
• MBA 283 Real Estate Financing
• MBA 292T Social Investing
• MBA 295B Venture Capital and Private Equity

PRIVATE INDUSTRY FINANCE
This career path involves working in a company’s Treasury, Business Planning or Corporate Finance unit. You typically begin as an analyst working on projects that might include analyzing investment opportunities, evaluating acquisition targets or alternative financing sources, managing working capital or foreign exchange risk, and working with financial institutions to raise capital. We recommend:

• MBA 223 Corporate Financial Reporting
• MBA 224A Managerial Accounting
• MBA 231 Corporate Finance
• MBA 234 Advanced Corporate Finance
• MBA 237 Financial Statement Modeling for Finance Careers

These electives also are likely to be helpful:
• MBA 218A International Finance
• MBA 222 Financial Information Analysis
• MBA 227B Taxes and Firm Strategy
• MBA 232 Financial Institutions and Markets
• MBA 233 Investments
• MBA 237 Risk Management
• MBA 236A Futures and Options Markets
• MBA 236E Mergers and Acquisitions
• MBA 236F Behavioral Finance
• MBA 277 International Business
• MBA 277 Deals
• MBA 280 Real Estate and Urban Land Economics
• MBA 283 Real Estate Financing
• MBA 295D New Venture Finance
• MBA 297B Health Services Finance

PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT
Portfolio managers work for pension funds, mutual funds or even large corporations that manage their own liquid assets. In addition, plan managers within corporations or government organizations allocate funds to external fund managers and must be able to evaluate their performance. We recommend:

• MBA 222 Financial Information Analysis
• MBA 232 Financial Institutions and Markets
• MBA 233 Investments
• MBA 236D Portfolio Management
• MBA 237 Risk Management
• MBA 236A Futures and Options Markets
• MBA 236B Investment Strategies and Styles
• MBA 237 Financial Statement Modeling for Finance Careers

These electives also are likely to be helpful:
• MBA 218A International Finance
• MBA 231 Corporate Finance
• MBA 236F Behavioral Finance
• MBA 240 Risk Management Via Optimization and Simulation
• MBA 280 Real Estate and Urban Land Economics
• MBA 283 Real Estate Financing
• MBA 292T Social Investing

SALES AND TRADING
A career in Sales and Trading involves selling and/or trading securities, including stocks, bonds, derivatives and other complex securities. You need an understanding of the securities themselves, the markets in which they are traded, and the tools used to value them. In addition, you need sales and negotiation skills. We recommend:

• MBA 232 Financial Institutions and Markets
• MBA 233 Investments
• MBA 236A Futures and Options Markets
• MBA 236C Global Financial Services
• MBA 236D Portfolio Management
• MBA 236F Behavioral Finance
• MBA 240 Risk Management Via Optimization and Stimulation
• MBA 237 Financial Statement Modeling for Finance Careers

These electives also are likely to be helpful:
• MBA 218A International Finance
• MBA 231 Corporate Finance
• MBA 236B Investment Strategies and Styles
• MBA 252 Negotiations and Conflict Resolution
• MBA 266A Sales Force Management
• MBA 280 Real Estate and Urban Land Economics
• MBA 283 Real Estate Financing

VENTURE CAPITAL & PRIVATE EQUITY
A career in venture capital requires many of the same skills as a career in Investment Banking, but with the added requirement of familiarity with entrepreneurship and the needs of entrepreneurs. A career in private equity favors those with investment banking backgrounds, so similar skills are required. Additionally, private equity firms seek a solid understanding of transaction/ deals. We recommend:

• MBA 222 Financial Information Analysis
• MBA 231 Corporate Finance
• MBA 232 Financial Institutions and Markets
• MBA 234 Advanced Corporate Finance
• MBA 237 Financial Statement Modeling for Finance Careers
• MBA 237 Private Equity: Leveraged Buyouts
• MBA 252 Negotiations and Conflict Resolution
• MBA 290T Future of Information Technology
• MBA 295A Entrepreneurship
• MBA 295B Venture Capital and Private Equity
• MBA 296 New Business Development: Corporate Perspective

These electives also are likely to be helpful:
• MBA 211 Game Theory
• MBA 218A International Finance
• MBA 223 Corporate Financial Reporting
• MBA 224A Managerial Accounting
• MBA 227B Taxes and Firm Strategy
• MBA 233 Investments
• MBA 234 Advanced Corporate Finance
• MBA 237 Risk Management
• MBA 236A Futures and Options Markets
• MBA 236E Mergers and Acquisitions
• MBA 237 Behavioral Finance
• MBA 277 Deals
• MBA 280 Real Estate and Urban Land Economics
• MBA 283 Real Estate Financing

General managers often have cross-functional responsibility requiring the coordination and integration of areas such as sales, marketing, human resources, finance, and production. They oversee the individuals in charge of these various areas and coordinate their activities for the good of the company. General managers control how an organization operates. They develop corporate structures and policies, direct and coordinate employee activities, find and develop alliances with suitable business partners, raise money to grow their organizations, and make systematic changes as needed to keep their businesses profitable. Scope and depth of responsibility will depend on the size of the company or business unit being managed. The general manager coordinates each functional area’s activities with the organizations overall strategy and plans the business strategy for going forward. With this in mind it is helpful to have a broad understanding of the basic functions of an organization, we recommend:

•MBA 217 Competitive and Corporate Strategy
•MBA 224A Managerial Accounting
•MBA 231 Corporate Finance
•MBA 223 Corporate Financial Reporting
•MBA 251 HR Management
•MBA 266A Salesforce Management
•MBA 252 Negotiations
•MBA 267 or 268 Global Marketing Strategy
•MBA 257 Power and Politics in Organizations
•MBA 290N New Product Development

These electives also are likely to be helpful:
•MBA 211 Game Theory
•MBA 290I Managing Innovation and Change
•MBA 299 Global Strategy and Multinational Enterprise
•MBA 217 Strategy, Structure and Incentives

Top

HUMAN RESOURCES
Managers of Human Resources help their employers achieve competitive advantage through the effective management of their human resources. We recommend:

• MBA 217 Strategy, Structure and Incentives
• MBA 251 Human Resources Management
• MBA 252 Negotiations and Conflict Resolution
• MBA 254 Power and Politics in Organizations
• MBA 257 Global Management Skills
• MBA 275 Business Law; Managers and the Legal Environment

BUSINESS-TO-BUSINESS
While brand or product marketing focuses on the ultimate sale to the consumer, Business-to-Business marketing focuses on selling goods and services to other large organizations, typically firms. Customers tend to be more sophisticated and the amount of each sale is generally much greater. These differences are reflected in the list of recommended courses. We recommend:

• MBA 224A Managerial Accounting
• MBA 261 Marketing Research
• MBA 262 Brand Management and Strategy
• MBA 263 Info and Tech Based Marketing
• MBA 264 High Technology Marketing Management
• MBA 266A Sales Force Management
• MBA 269 Pricing
• MBA 299M Marketing Strategy

These electives also are likely to be helpful:
• MBA 247A Supply Chain Management
• MBA 247A Service Strategy
• MBA 260 Consumer Behavior
• MBA 265 Integrated Marketing Communications
• MBA 267 Creativity and Innovation in Marketing
• MBA 268A Global Marketing Strategy
• MBA 290M High-tech Product Design and Rapid Manufacturing
• MBA 290N Managing the New Product Development Process

HIGH-TECH MARKETING
While brand or product marketing focuses primarily on consumer goods, Marketing in High-Tech Industries focuses on career paths in technology-based industries, including computers, software, telecommunications, and biotechnology. These differences are reflected in the list of recommended courses. We recommend:

• MBA 224A Managerial Accounting
• MBA 261 Marketing Research
• MBA 262 Brand Management and Strategy
• MBA 264 High Technology Marketing Management
• MBA 266A Sales Force Management
• MBA 269 Pricing
• MBA 290N New Product Development Process
• MBA 299M Marketing Strategy

These electives also are likely to be helpful:
• MBA 248A Supply Chain Management
• MBA 260 Consumer Behavior
• MBA 263 Info and Tech Based Marketing
• MBA 265 Integrated Marketing Communications
• MBA 266A Sales Force Management
• MBA 267 Creativity and Innovation in Marketing
• MBA 267 Entertainment Marketing
• MBA 268A Global Marketing Strategy
• MBA 290B Biotechnology: Industry Perspectives
• MBA 290C Strategic Computing and Communications Technology
• MBA 290M High-tech Product Design and Rapid Manufacturing
• MBA 290T Business of Software
• MBA 290V Telecommunications
• MBA 290W Wireless Communications

PRODUCT OR BRAND MANAGEMENT
Many companies organize their products and services in units that operate almost as separate companies, allowing employees to act as general managers for a business unit or brand. This is true for all kinds of products and services including automobiles, food and household products, hotels, computer software and other high-tech goods and services. Other marketing opportunities are product management and leading a cross-functional team. A product or brand manager is usually responsible for all aspects of the business, including product development, advertising and promotion, sales and distribution, market research, pricing, and cost analysis. We recommend:

• MBA 224A Managerial Accounting
• MBA 260 Consumer Behavior
• MBA 261 Marketing Research
• MBA 262 Brand Management and Strategy
• MBA 266A Sales Force Management
• MBA 269 Pricing
• MBA 290N New Product Development Process
• MBA 299M Strategic Marketing Planning

These electives also are likely to be helpful:
• MBA 246A Service Strategy
• MBA 248A Supply Chain Management
• MBA 263 Info and Tech Based Marketing
• MBA 264 High Technology Marketing Management
• MBA 265 Integrated Marketing Communications
• MBA 266A Sales Force Management
• MBA 267 Creativity and Innovation in Marketing
• MBA 268A Global Marketing Strategy
• MBA 290M High-tech Product Design and Rapid Manufacturing

OPERATIONS
Managers of Operations must understand the flow of material, information and finance that connect a firm with its suppliers and customers. Careers in Operations require technical skills in manufacturing and supply chains, as well as human resources and finance. We recommend:

• MBA 217 Competitive and Corporate Strategy
• MBA 224A Managerial Accounting
• MBA 231 Corporate Finance
• MBA 246A Service Strategy
• MBA 248A Supply Chain Management
• MBA 251 Human Resources Management
• MBA 290N New Product Development Process
• MBA 290P Project Management Case Studies
• MBA 290T Building Business Value Through I.T. Innovation
• MBA 296 Knowledge Management

These electives also are likely to be helpful:
• MBA 211 Game Theory
• MBA 223 Corporate Financial Reporting
• MBA 243 Decisions, Games and Strategies
• MBA 240 Risk Management Via Optimization and Stimulation
• MBA 252 Negotiations and Conflict Resolution
• MBA 268A Global Marketing Strategy