So, Now That You’re An MBA

By Ian Comandao - May 15th, 2011 Category: CCMBA 2010D| Graduation

I posed a challenge to myself at the start of this program: Change yourself, or get drunk trying. Suffice to say, I got to change myself and get drunk on the way.

The last few months have been, indeed, life changing to say the least. 6 countries, 18 months, and 325 pints later, I would like to think that we’re all beter professional, able to meet all work responsibilities eye to eye, and better persons, capable of having a proper work-life balance. Or at least, have the capacity to understand that we might be overworking. Or playing too much.

London, Dubai, Delhi, Shanghai (oh yeah!), St Petersburg, and Durham. A thousand stories each, and with diplomas in hand, it’s all officially over.

Mind you, I’m writing this at 5 in the morning and I’m abso-feking-lutely smashed.

In any event, the big question now is, now that my cohort and I have earned our MBA degrees from one of the top schools in the world, what next?

I can’t really elaborate too much on this at the moment, as I might digress and turn on Punisher Mode, but at the very least, Dean Blair was able to leave a few good words for us.

Take care of each other. Be courageous. And be weird.

Will have to write something more coherent later.

Congratulations, everyone, and to all a good night. Morning.

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The Completely Unofficial Duke Fuqua MBA Cross Continent Guide to Shanghai

By Ian Comandao - May 19th, 2010 Category: CCMBA 2010D| Residency 4: Shanghai

Complete, unedited and unabridged, this DMF Guide will help you – current CCMBA student, Fuqua applicant (or erstwhile tourist) – make the most out of your Shanghai Residency.

Click here to download the Completely Unofficial Cross Continent MBA –
DMF Guide to the Shanghai Residency

Inside you will find everything you need to know about Shanghai, including:

  • The best way to get from Pudong Airport to Shanghai City
  • How to get around Shanghai like a local
  • Places to go – and not those tourist traps either – to get yourself sorted for the CCL Culture Dash
  • The insane amount of things to do in wonderful city, like legal drunk driving!
  • Where to get a suit made
  • Top restaurant and other dining options, and of course
  • An in-depth guide to Shanghai’s Nightlife and Bar Scene

What to do in Shanghai?

Make your own Shanghai itinerary! The options are nigh unlimited!

Perhaps the only 2 things of note that’s not been included here is the new Duke Campus in Kunshan – 20 minutes away from Shanghai – and a how-to on the 2010 World Expo. Aside from that, however, this guide has proven itself handy for the Class of 2010, and is sure to be the preferred companion for other Leaders of Consequence… or at least those who know how to have fun while leading!

The Duke Cross Continent program is about being “Embedded and Connected” and there’s no better way than to dive in to Shanghai, head first!

Less touristy than Lonely Planet! More useful than Frommers!

Download your copy now, while it’s free, because I’m too laid back to even think of charging for this info!
DMF Guide to the Shanghai Residency

 

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Shanghai, Day 7: Chivas Regal captures China market

By Randy Zwitch - May 2nd, 2010 Category: CCMBA 2010D| Residency 4: Shanghai

PM:  Do you drink scotch?

(class erupts in laughter)

RZ:  Yes.

With that one question, Dr. Moreton broke the ice faster than any guest speaker we’ve had prior.  That said, I’m not sure if I should be proud or offended at my classmates reaction to me being the recipient of that question…

PM:  How much is this bottle of Chivas Regal worth to you?

RZ:  Right now, with an afternoon’s worth of classes to go?  Not a whole lot!

Chivas Regal Strategy

Dr. Patrick Moreton from the Washington-Fudan EMBA program explains how Chivas Regal captured the Chinese market

In trying to illustrate the perception of the Chivas Regal brand in the U.S., Dr. Moreton couldn’t have picked a better person in the class than me.  While I’m not a single-malt purist, other than running through the ‘colors’ of Johnny Walker I’ve never really spent that many glasses exploring the world of blended scotch whiskeys.  Nor do I know anyone (as far as I know, at least) that prefers Chivas as their drink of choice.

According to Wikipedia, Chivas Regal was the drink of Frank Sinatra and the rest of the Rat Pack; however, to this 30-something American male, that association doesn’t mean a whole lot.  More broadly, Chivas Regal isn’t spoken about in the U.S. in the same circles as single-malts like Macallan or The Glenlivet, or even Johnny Walker Black Label in the blended scotch whiskey segment.  And yet, in China, Chivas Regal is second only to Remy Martin cognac in the premium spirits segment.  How can this be?

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