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Working for the Weekend
Episode 803 — The Classroom Experience
On this episode of the Working for the Weekend podcast, hosts Peter Woodman, WMBA ’25, and Seth Atkinson, WMBA ’25, talk to Professors John Branch and Aneel Karnani about their teaching approaches.
Topics covered include the necessary balance of theoretical and experiential learning, the importance of teaching in an engaging way, and making education active rather than passive experience. The two professors also discuss how they keep up to date with the field of business education and share some of their favorite resources. Including:
- The Economist
- “The Perfectionists: How Precision Engineers Created the Modern World” by Simon Winchester
- “Thinking, Fast and Slow” by Daniel Kahneman
- “The Box: How the Shipping Container Made the World Smaller and the World Economy Bigger” by Marc Levinson
- “Chip War: The Fight for the World’s Most Critical Technology” by Chris Miller
We learn about the importance of using all pedagogical techniques at your disposal as a professor to create a “forum where education can take place” and about the joys of teaching curious students who will go out into the world ready to make difficult, well-informed choices in the field of business.
- Hosts: Peter Woodman and Seth Atkinson
- Guests: Professors John Branch and Aneel Karnani
- Executive Producers: Prasanth Muralidharan and JT Godfrey
- Audio Engineer: Jonah Brockman
- Editorial Production: Mads Henke
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2. Weekend MBA vs. Online MBA - S9 E02
56:27||Season 9, Ep. 2On this episode of the Working for the Weekend podcast, our hosts, Meghna Jain and Pruthvi Kuppam, sit down with a panel of Part-Time MBA students to discuss the Ross School of Business Weekend MBA and Online MBA Programs.The episode covers the two programs’ compatibility with different lifestyles. It offers ways of building meaningful connections with Michigan’s highly engaged faculty, student ambassadors, and peers, and sheds a light on the factors that set Ross apart: from its focus on action-based learning through Multidisciplinary Action Projects and the Sanger Leadership Crisis Challenge, to the diverse student body, the culture of collaboration, and the large alumni network.The students leave our listeners with some key pieces of advice: know your goals, know yourself, and put everything in your calendar. Want to get in touch? Send us a message at weekendpod@umich.edu.Hosts: Meghna Jain and Pruthvi KuppamGuests: Ashley O’Brien, Devinaa Mangal, and Prudhvi KallamExecutive Producers: Amey Parab and Jacob HoodStudio Producers: Jonah Brockman and Mads Henke
1. Clubs and Community - S9 E01
32:59||Season 9, Ep. 1On this episode of Working for the Weekend, hosts Jasmohan Bawa and Jonathan Young discuss their experiences with joining clubs and finding community at Ross. They speak to how clubs bring Weekend MBA, Full-Time MBA, and Online MBA students together, as well as bridge the gap between first and second years. They touch on clubs that have been particularly important to them, such as the Armed Forces Association (AFA), Entrepreneurship and Venture Capital Club, Tennis Club at Ross, and the Indian Subcontinent Business Association (ISBA). At the 13 minute mark, Katie Manzione, Director of Social Events for Social Committee, joins the pod to discuss the club’s purpose and to highlight the events they throw, from the recent family friendly picnic to the upcoming formal. At the 21 minute mark, Rachel Philips joins to share her experience as a member of the Ross MoMBAs, an affinity group supporting parents, expectant parents, and caregivers. A complete list of student clubs and organizations at Michigan Ross can be found here:https://michiganross.umich.edu/our-community/students/clubs-organizations/browse-allWant to get in touch? Send us a message at weekendpod@umich.edu.Hosts: Jasmohan Bawa and Jonathan YoungGuests: Katie Manzione and Rachel PhillipsExecutive Producers: Amey Parab and Jacob HoodStudio Producers: Jonah Brockman and Mads Henke
9. Episode 809 — Travel Experiences
46:41||Season 8, Ep. 9On this episode of the Working for the Weekend podcast, host Seth Atkinson is joined by fellow graduating Michigan Ross WMBA students, Tim Noh, Yale Loucks, Nikhil Sakpal, Kayla Edem, and Prasanth Muralidharan to discuss domestic and international travel opportunities for Online and Weekend MBA students. They discuss a variety of programs, including the MBA Global Semester Exchange Program, the Chile Residency, the C-Trek, Multidisciplinary Action Projects (MAP), and the International Investment Fund (IIF). They discuss the expenses of different travel options: from transportation to the opportunity cost of missing work. They wrap the conversation with study abroad tips and leave the listener thinking about the unique opportunity of getting to travel under the umbrella of fulfilling a Ross education. Want to get in touch? Send us a message at weekendpod@umich.edu.Host: Seth AtkinsonGuests: Tim Noh, Yale Loucks, Nikhil Sakpal, Kayla Edem, and Prasanth MuralidharanExecutive Producers: Prasanth Muralidharan and JT GodfreyAudio Engineer: Jonah BrockmanEditorial Production: Mads Henke
8. Episode 808 — Entrepreneurship
35:27||Season 8, Ep. 8On this episode of the Working for the Weekend podcast, hosts Amey Parab and Meghna Jain sit down with fellow WMBA students and seasoned entrepreneurs Adam Burau, co-founder of Conduit Capital, and Sean Carroll, co-founder of EnBiologics. They discuss their journeys, from the origin of their businesses through the challenges they’ve faced along the way. Burau and Carroll stress the importance of mentorship and finding customers early by cultivating a positive personal brand and reputation. They speak to how a Ross education has expanded their competence through finance and business classes in conjunction with the resources at the Zell Lurie Institute (ZLI), the hub for entrepreneurship and innovation at Michigan Ross. They speak to the challenges of balancing running a business while being a student. They leave listeners with the advice to never stop learning, networking, connecting, and further understanding their customers. Want to get in touch? Send us a message at weekendpod@umich.edu.Hosts: Amey Parab and Meghna JainGuests: Adam Burau and Sean CarrollExecutive Producers: Prasanth Muralidharan and JT GodfreyAudio Engineer: Jonah BrockmanEditorial Production: Mads Henke
7. Episode 807 — Leaders in Action, Alumni ROI
25:40||Season 8, Ep. 7On this episode of the Working for the Weekend podcast, hosts and current Michigan Ross Weekend MBA students Sophia Huq and Ramya Vetukuri sit down with two recent Michigan Ross alumni, Atrayee Paul, WMBA ’23, and Sneha Edupuganti WMBA, ’22 to discuss how the Weekend MBA shaped their post-Ross lives and careers. The guests speak to their career journeys, the hands-on nature of the WMBA program, the Ross alumni network, pivotal moments in their education, and key career skills such as prioritization and quantifying impact. They wrap the conversation by leaving listeners with the best career advice they’ve ever received. Want to get in touch? Send us a message at weekendpod@umich.edu.Hosts: Sophia Huq and Ramya Vetukuri Guests: Atrayee Paul and Sneha EdupugantiExecutive Producers: Prasanth Muralidharan and JT GodfreyAudio Engineer: Jonah BrockmanEditorial Production: Mads Henke
6. Episode 806 — MAP
40:59||Season 8, Ep. 6On this episode of the Working for the Weekend podcast, host Pete Woodman sits down with Megan Anda and David Walter to discuss the Multidisciplinary Action Project or MAP at Ross. First, Megan Anda, Managing Director of the Office of Action-Based Learning at Ross, answers questions about MAP. Topics covered include project sourcing, the critical skills MAP cultivates in students, the support and resources Ross provides through the program, travel opportunities, and a couple of favorite MAP success stories. Then, Dave Walter, WMBA ’25 talks to Pete about the MAP project they completed together, which turned into David’s current professional role as Director of Commercial Development at reCap Carbon. Dave sheds light on being a participant-turned-supervisor in MAP, and some of the challenges faced in each role.Want to get in touch? Send us a message at weekendpod@umich.edu.Host: Pete WoodmanGuests: Megan Anda and Dave WalterExecutive Producers: Prasanth Muralidharan and JT GodfreyAudio Engineer: Jonah BrockmanEditorial Production: Mads Henke
5. Episode 805 — Connecting as a Cohort
30:08||Season 8, Ep. 5On this episode of the Working for the Weekend podcast, hosts Jacob Hood and Amey Parab sit down with Weekend MBA students Cameron Cramer and Tristin Rojeck to discuss connecting socially with their cohorts at Michigan Ross. Cramer and Rojeck share the wide variety of Ross-sponsored events that facilitate getting to know their fellow WMBA students, from golf outings to the upcoming Winter Formal, as well as the unofficial happy hours happening at the local bars after class. They give insight into the ways mingling is built into the WMBA program itself, highlighting the small groups each student is assigned to every semester, Multidisciplinary Action Projects, and the ten-minute breaks during class. To close the conversation, the guests look forward to leveraging these connections in their future careers, confident that the abundance of driven leaders they’ve met at Ross will become valuable and supportive professional relationships.Want to get in touch? Send us a message at weekendpod@umich.edu.Hosts: Jacob Hood and Amey ParabGuests: Cameron Cramer and Tristin RojeckExecutive Producers: Prasanth Muralidharan and JT GodfreyAudio Engineer: Jonah BrockmanEditorial Production: Mads Henke
4. Episode 804 — Part-Time MBA Admissions Process
26:19||Season 8, Ep. 4On this episode of the Working for the Weekend podcast, hosts and Weekend-MBA students Sam Levine and Sophie Huq sit down with Sarah McIntosh, Director of Admissions for Part-Time MBA Programs at the Ross School of Business, and Aleena Tan, Admissions Officer, to discuss the process of applying to the Ross Part-Time MBA programs. McIntosh and Tan give insight into what makes a good essay, address the application’s new action-based learning question, and shed light on the free Qualitative Readiness Course that applicants can take to prepare them for the program. They stress the importance of doing research to discover why Michigan Ross is a good fit for you. To close the conversation, McIntosh and Tan explore Michigan Ross’ holistic approach to assessing each application in which no one part of the student profile is more important than any other.Want to get in touch? Send us a message at weekendpod@umich.edu.Hosts: Sam Levine and Sophie HuqGuests: Sarah McIntosh and Aleena TanExecutive Producers: Prasanth Muralidharan and JT GodfreyAudio Engineer: Jonah BrockmanEditorial Production: Mads Henke