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Business Beyond Usual

Episode 901 — Full-Time MBA Council

Season 9, Ep. 1

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 


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  • 4. Episode 904 — Culture & Fun at Ross

    52:12||Season 9, Ep. 4
    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 BBUPodcast@umich.edu.  Hosts: Aishwarya Dhume and Mark O’ConnellGuests: Grant Potts, Macey Guthery, Brian Vu, Rachel Schulingkamp, Tyler RinglerExecutive Producers: Mark O'Connell, Aishwarya Dhume, Vashishta Sai, and JT GodfreyAudio Engineer: Jonah BrockmanEditorial Production: Mads Henke 
  • 3. Episode 903 – Executive MBA Takeover

    47:59||Season 9, Ep. 3
    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 MuthukrishnanGuests: Kevin Kubota, Vanessa Archambault, and Jerry WangExecutive Producers: Mark O’Connell, Aishwarya Dhume, Vashisht Sai, and JT GodfreyAudio Engineer: Jonah BrockmanEditorial Production: Mads Henke 
  • 2. Episode 902 — Student Recruiting Advice: Consulting, Tech, Investment Banking, and Marketing

    01:09:05||Season 9, Ep. 2
    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 SaiGuests: Deb Sarkar, Ziyi Liu, Janaki Balachander, Yuan ZhangExecutive Producers: Mark O'Connell, Aishwarya Dhume, Vashishta Sai, and JT GodfreyAudio Engineer: Jonah BrockmanEditorial Production: Mads Henke
  • 10. Episode 810 — Graduation, Farewells, and Welcome to the Class of 2025

    53:05||Season 8, Ep. 10
    On this episode of the Business Beyond Usual podcast, this year's full-time MBA executive producers welcome the incoming group of student hosts. The MBA ’24 producers — John Brown, David Amorim, and Arpit Sharma — explore their advice for second-year MBAs, their favorite Ann Arbor memories, and the key lessons they learned from their time at Michigan Ross. The incoming MBA ’25 producers — Mark O’Connell, Aishwarya Dhume, and Vashisht Sai — share how they stayed motivated during their first year of the Full-Time MBA Program, their goals for next year’s season of Business Beyond Usual, and what their plans are for the summer. To learn more about the hosts, participants, and resources discussed in this episode, check out a full-length article at https://michiganross.umich.edu/news/podcasts/business-beyond-usual. Host: John Brown, David Amorim, Arpit SharmaGuests: Mark O’Connell, Aishwarya Dhume, and Vashisht SaiExecutive Producers: John Brown, David Amorim, Arpit Sharma, and JT GodfreyAudio Engineer: Jonah Brockman
  • 9. Episode 809 — Voices of Ross Part 3

    01:01:15||Season 8, Ep. 9
    On this episode of the Business Beyond Usual podcast, members of the Asian, Asian American, and First at Ross communities discuss their journeys to Ross, making community on campus, and how their identities shape their experiences as Full-Time MBAs. The group explores their initial struggles of joining a new learning community, what an ideal supportive community looks like, and how they balance community building with the full-time schedule. 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: Arpit Sharma and Aishwarya Dhume Guests: Ryan Moon, Sneha Kannan, and Sean-Michael Steele Executive Producers: John Brown, David Amorim, Arpit Sharma, and JT GodfreyAudio Engineer: Jonah Brockman
  • 8. Episode 808 — Academic Core Professor Spotlight

    01:13:10||Season 8, Ep. 8
    On this episode of the Business Beyond Usual podcast, four academic core professors discuss their courses, research, and academic passions. The group explores how the academic core supports Full-Time MBA students to receive a robust and rigorous business education in the program's first year. In the discussion, the professors share what motivates them to teach in the Full-Time MBA Program and how Michigan Ross differentiates itself from other business schools through the academic core curriculum. 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: John Brown and David AmorimGuests: Professors Felipe Csaszar, Samantha Keppler, Lindy Greer, and John BranchExecutive Producers: John Brown, David Amorim, Arpit Sharma, and JT GodfreyAudio Engineer: Jonah Brockman
  • 7. Episode 807 — Voices of Ross P2

    56:13||Season 8, Ep. 7
    On this episode of the Business Beyond Usual podcast, Full-Time MBA students who presented at VetX and Story Lab return to continue the discussion about their experiences at these storytelling events. The group explores their journeys to Michigan Ross and how the moments of adversity they shared in their stories shaped their experience as prospective and current students. 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: Arpit SharmaGuests: Christian Beckler, Brysan Porterfield, and Mark O’ConnellExecutive Producers: John Brown, David Amorim, Arpit Sharma, and JT GodfreyAudio Engineer: Jonah Brockman
  • 6. Episode 806 — Voices of Ross P1

    01:06:16||Season 8, Ep. 6
    On this episode of the Business Beyond Usual podcast, Full-Time MBA students who presented at VetX, OutX, and Story Lab review their experiences at these storytelling events. The group shares their stories and how their time at Michigan Ross has been influenced by their identities and backgrounds. Most importantly, they discuss what it means to build community and find self-fulfillment at Ross. 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: Arpit SharmaGuests: Christian Beckler, Brysan Porterfield, Mark O’Connell, and Nick RojasExecutive Producers: John Brown, David Amorim, Arpit Sharma, and JT GodfreyAudio Engineer: Jonah Brockman