M.B.A. Reconnect Weekend Highlights Thinking Like a Startup

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Christiane Brocky, recipient of the M.B.A. Distinguished Alumni Award.

The Graduate School of Business of the Sam M. Walton College of Business at the University of Arkansas recently hosted its second M.B.A. Alumni Reconnect event.

At the event April 17 and 18, Walton College Dean Eli Jones and the Walton Master of Business Administration program recognized the first recipient of the Walton M.B.A. Distinguished Alumni Award, Christiane Brocky, an executive with Con-Agra Foods. Christian Hofer, an associate professor in the Department of Supply Chain Management, was named M.B.A. Teacher of the Year.

M.B.A. Alumni Reconnect provides alumni with the opportunity to network with fellow students and a chance to learn from campus and corporate leaders. This year's theme was Thinking Like a Start-Up. The program incorporated entrepreneurship and innovative ways of thinking about business for startups and non-startups alike. 

The keynote speech was delivered by M.B.A. alumni board member Laura Phillips, senior vice president for Omni-Channel Assortments, Walmart Stores Inc. Her talk focused on staying relevant and determining areas of need to win in today's business market. 

There also was a "think like a startup" panel with founders /CEOs of local companies. The panel was moderated by Jeff Amerine.

M.B.A. Alumni Advisory Board chairman Bill Akins, senior vice president for Business Innovation for Rockfish, presented this year's corporate spotlight session, Breaking the Fourth Wall in the Age of Context. Board member Angelo Welihindha, head of hardware sales at Google Inc., moderated a panel on career management. Board members were recognized during the event for their service to the college and for strategic planning on the alumni reconnect event. 

Speakers and panelists also included vice presidents from Unilever and Sam's Club and Claudia Mobley, director of the Center for Retailing Excellence at Walton College. 

Walton College faculty also donated their time. "The Walton M.B.A. faculty is committed to providing lifelong learning opportunities for our alumni," said Vikas Anand, Walton M.B.A. director. Faculty sessions allowed participants to stay up to date with current topics in the field, and included Big Data Trends with professor David Douglas, and Sustainability as an Entrepreneurial (and Intrapreneurial) Driver with professor Jon Johnson.  

The event kicked off with a reception at University House on Friday evening, April 17. The next M.B.A. Alumni Reconnect event will be in the fall of 2016.