We've Moved!

Just the blog - not the University! From now on, our blog will be hosted here: http://usdmsgl.wordpress.com/

After much research, we've found that Wordpress will allow us to converse better with you. After all, this is a conversation. Feel free to join us at our new blog location and comment on what you see!

We've also set up a student blog - written exclusively from the perspective of MSGL students and alums. Take a look at it here: http://msglstudents.wordpress.com/

If you're interested in contributing to either blog, please let us know!

Thanks,
The Management

MSGL and AcademyWomen

MSGL was a ‘Two Star Sponsor’ for AcademyWomen’s leadership summit which took place on Saturday 17 April in San Diego. AcademyWomen is a non-profit organization which serves largely, but not exclusively, women who have graduated from one of the military service academies. AcademyWomen provides a forum for women in leadership positions inside and outside of the military to share lessons learned and provide mutual support and networking. Gilda Reeves (MSGL Cohort 17 and member of the MSGL Advisory Council) was the primary organizer of the Summit; also attending from MSGL were Dina Frisella Zumwalt (cohort 18) and Cara Cerutti Holmes (cohort 48). Gilda and Dina are both Naval Academy graduates; Cara works in Defense Contracting, but has never been in the military.

I was the only male among about 70 intelligent and high-achieving women at the summit. I learned that these women struggle with many of the same work-life balance issues that men do, but with a distinctly different twist – especially when the discussion came to balancing the roles of executive, spouse, AND mother. I learned that military women, perhaps more than men, have difficulty explaining the demands of the military profession to partners who have no experience in the military. Some women expressed frustration that a feminine approach to leadership and problem solving is often unappreciated in the high-testosterone working world dominated by achievement oriented Alpha males. The similarities between the challenges faced by women leaders inside and outside the military were also discussed.

One of the keynote speakers, Col Shelly Smith USMC, noted how male leaders are frequently either unwilling or incompetent at holding women accountable for professionalism in the work place, in part due to rapidly evolving roles of women, but also in part due to a lack of moral courage to confront women’s issues.

A very well run and interesting conference and we were proud to be one of the sponsors. More on AcademyWomen at www.academywomen.org Bob Schoultz

MSGL DC Alumni Reunion

On Wed 21 April, a group of MSGL students and alums living and working in the DC area gathered for lunch at Clyde’s in downtown Washington DC. The group included Siddhartha (Buck) Herdegan (C42), now teaching leadership at the Naval Academy, Tom Donohue(C 20) now working at the State Department, Lacey Sladkey (C47) about to begin a new job in contracting, Chris Moore (C40) working for N8 on the Navy Staff in the Pentagon, Jeremy Edge (C50) working for Batelle, contracted to DHS, Chad Clever (C50) a consultant working for NBM technologies, and Damon Loveless (C45) working as a congressional fellow on Capitol Hill. Also joining us were Meghan Murphy, Brent Hall, Mark Pennington, and Chris Ward who were invited along by the others to learn more about the MSGL program as an option for their graduate education in the future.

We began by introducing ourselves to and getting to know each other, and I gave a brief update on some of the new developments in MSGL since some of the alums had graduated. We also had a great meal – Clyde’s is a top – notch Washington Restaurant, and MSGL was proud to pick up the check. Thanks to Lacey and Meghan for suggesting it! We concluded with a spirited discussion of the ethical issues associated with Google’s decision to go into China. I suspect that Meghan, Brent, Mark and Chris enjoyed watching our Alums jump on this ‘hot’ topic, and the eloquence and passion with which they expressed a variety of well-reasoned opinions, discussing, arguing and respectfully disagreeing. I, as usual, played the devil’s advocate, probing and challenging assumptions, throwing in alternative perspectives, but admitting that I have no answer either.

It was great seeing everyone again, facilitating new connections between MSGL alums, and perhaps even making some new friends for the program. I look forward to the next gathering of MSGL in DC – date TBD, but certainly within a year. Bob

Cohort 51 Orientation

We had a welcome reception for Cohort 51 on Tuesday 6 April, that was really exciting for us. First we have a great group of 24 new students, from many different and interesting walks of life and backgrounds. Secondly, the orientation itself was run for the first time by a diverse and impressive group of committed MSGL students and alums, led by Justine Caruso. These 'veteran' MSGL students welcomed the new cohort into the program with testimonials, advice, and insights. Sam Chung - our Assistant Director for on-line education helped students 'dial-in' their computers and introduced them to some of the tools we'll be using in the program. Five members of the new Cohort were unable to make it since they live as far away as Chicago, San Francisco, and Jacksonville, Florida. We have communicated with them separately to ensure that they get the information they need to get started, and they'll get to know their cohort mates on-line over the next month, and in class later in May. We send them information and good cheer through the internet - we just couldn't send the beer, wine, and sandwiches and noisy conversations!

Cohort 51 has students representing the cultures of Africa, Latin America, and Southeast Asia, active duty military and veterans representing the Navy, Marine Corps and Air Force. We have students who are active in the corporate world of San Diego, in California, and beyond. We have a couple of gray haired guys along with a hard charging and energetic group in their late twenties and early thirties. We’re excited about this new group and about how Justine and the nearly 15 veteran MSGL students welcomed the new students into our program and our family. A very short video clip at (play video) captures the feel of the orientation. Now it’s time to get to work – 5 weeks of on-line work slowly ramps up the studying and prepares these new graduate students for that intensive one week of class on campus at USD beginning on 17 May.

MSGL Cohort 47 Graduates

On Friday 26 March, 18 students from MSGL Cohort 47 walked across the stage in Mother Rosalie Hill auditorium to receive their MS in Global Leasdership degree from USD's School of Business Administration. That morning, as part of their final capstone project, they presented an analysis which included a strategic plan forward for Krystal Enterprises, a limousine manufacturing company which is dealing with challenges associated with having plants in two different countries. Cohort 47's presentation was one of the best we’ve seen yet.

Cohort 47 included 12 men and 6 women, 10 students who are still on active duty in the military, and 8 working in the private sector. They had 12 resident learners and 6 Distant Learners, and 3 students who grew up outside the US – 2 in Mexico and one in Ukraine. There was quite a bit of diversity in our military students, which included naval aviators, naval surface officers, a Navy Seal, 3 marines and an Air Force officer. Our private sector students represented Enterprise Media Networks, Northrop Grumman, L3 Communications, Strategic Insights consulting, an ‘international entrepreneur’ and a student between jobs who is also organizing our trip to the Global Leadership conference in China in June.

This cohort was very active in our overseas programs. Eleven of the 18 participated in our Global Strategy course in Buenos Aires in January, and of those eleven, five also participated in our International Comparative Leadership and Management course in Barcelona/Marrakesh last June.

Recent C47 graduate Justine Caruso has stepped forward to organize alumni and current student support for our Orientation program for Cohort 51, which begins classes on-line in April, and has their first week of class the week of 17 May.

Congratulations C47 – great spirit at the Graduation – you knocked it out of the park!

MSGL Application Deadline is April 1

We've gotten quite a few inquiries from interested students lately wondering about the application deadline, if there is room available, etc. As of today (March 11), we have a few seats remaining in the April cohort but they're going fast.

Interested students should already be talking with John Ruzicka (msgl@sandiego.edu) and should be putting the finishing touches on their application. For frequently asked questions, go here.

As always, we use a rolling admissions process. If you're thinking about the August cohort, we'd recommend that you submit soon as well - that group is already starting to take shape as well.

Finally, if you'd like to visit the campus, meet current students, and talk with us in person; the invitation is always open. We'll be happy to have you!

Venture Capitalist Lays It All Out

MSGL students recently enjoyed a visit by Ted Alexander, a partner with San Diego-based VC firm, Mission Ventures Capital. Ted gave a fascinating look at the basics of venture capitalism and how VC firms partner with start-up companies to build their profitability for mutual benefit.

Ted began by walking us through a hypothetical case in which an entrepreneur starts with $1M, progresses to build his company's value to $5M and negotiates with a VC firm to bring an additional $5M into the company. Ted explained that the VC would make certain demands in return for (now) 50% ownership of the company. Then he explained the likely steps in getting additional capital to build success upon success, to eventually create a $1B company - which would be a professional and financial success for all concerned. In conclusion, he quipped, "And I wish it always worked that smoothly."

According to Ted, about 1/3 of the companies with VC funding will ultimately fail. Another 1/3 are not failures, but not real winners either. The final third are very successful and are able to make enough money to recoup any investment lost with the other companies (and hopefully more).

Ted shared some thoughts about his own views on leadership, some of which he learned in the Navy, and subsequently applied in business. He strongly recommends the book, The Five Dysfunctions of a Team by Patrick Lencioni. He described his personal journey to find his dream job after graduating from Business school through networking, persistence, serendipity, and his ability to capitalize on opportunities that came his way. He has been in the VC business for 13 years now and clearly finds the work invigorating, though demanding.

He concluded his remarks with his personal method of keeping his life on track. He sets specific goals in the four main areas of his life: Personal, Professional, Physical, and Spiritual. He writes his goals down and posts them in a visible spot where he checks himself against them regularly and has others help hold him accountable.

Special thanks to Ted for sharing his personal story with us. The session was recorded and is available in streaming video for our distance learners and others upon request.

Ted Alexander is a Managing Partner of Mission Ventures III and has been with the firm since its founding. Prior to joining Mission Ventures, Ted worked closely with a successful Mission Ventures portfolio company investment, Sandpiper Networks.

Ted's investment focus has been predominantly in the areas of communications and infrastructure, and he is currently serving as Board Director for Carbon Micro Battery, MaxLinear, ID Analytics, Networks in Motion, Ortiva Wireless, Verimatrix, and LeisureLink.

Previously, Ted was a Platoon Commander in the US Navy SEALs and a Division Officer aboard a US Navy destroyer. Ted received an MBA from Duke University and a Bachelor of Science in Engineering from the United States Naval Academy.