November 20th New York Times Magazine Over the last couple of weeks the news seems to be dominated by articles focused on the dearth of women leaders in business.  The cover story of the November 20 th New York Times Magazine highlighted the gender imbalance of women executives and filmmakers in Hollywood.   A December 1 st article discussed the paradox of how the high end fashion industry is dominated by male executives despite the fact women make 85% of their high end purchases.  On December 7 th CNN reported Japan slashing its target for women in senior positions as a way to boost its economy.  “Even with monetary incentives, companies appear to be reluctant to support women”.  Japan may use new legislation to mandate large companies as well as their government to set numerical targets for hiring and promoting women.  How is this still possible as we approach 2016?  In 2014 women represented 45% of the S & P 500 work...

Credit Score – How does it work? By Audrey Washington –  Manhattanville School of Business  2004 Founder/ CEO – Washington Consulting Group Signature Program – Workplace Financial Fitness® www.workplacefinancialfitness.com Credit Score - How does it work? Most students will think about their credit at some point during their academic life.  Whether it’s to obtain a student loan or if you find yourself with reduced income as you focus on completing your degree and are juggling your finances to stay on track.  Your credit score is a major part of the credit process and for many students, Credit Score is a mystery.  Most of you have heard of it but don’t really know how it works and more importantly, how it impacts you.  In the early years of loans and credit, people used letters to identify a person’s credit worthiness – A, B, C, and D.   In 1989, F air I saac CO mpany introduced the credit score model – called FICO score...

The Center for Career Development (CCD) at Manhattanville College offers a variety of resources, tools and services geared specifically towards School of Business students and alumni to meet the needs of future and current professionals. Our services are available to all undergraduate and graduate students in the School of Business, as well as MSB alumni with lifetime access to all of our resources. Make an individual appointment to meet with a Career Counselor who can guide you through your job search, help you prepare for the interview process through one-on-one mock interviews, review your resume and cover letter, and point out appropriate job search resources, tools and strategies to maximize your opportunities.  The CCD offers two dedicated Career Counselors who meet with School of Business students and alumni, Allyson Kapadia and Christine Podber.  Students and alumni can schedule appointments with either Allyson or Christin...

Business lessons from Shark Tank The advertisements that run during the prime time episodes of Shark Tank always surprise me.  The ads seem to target the very affluent (fancy cars) and the elderly or infirm (prescription medications).  But what about the young adults who I know are avid Shark Tank fans?  Marketers tell me that these are valued customers, so what are the ad folks at ABC or CNBC (where Shark Tank reruns play in heavy rotation) thinking? College, graduate, and high-school students and other 20-somethings are watching Shark Tank .  They watch to see what nascent and developing companies get funding.  They watch to see new product ideas.  They watch for the high-tension drama of negotiations:  How much of a company does the entrepreneur have to give up to strike a deal?  Will he or won’t she take the offer?  They yell their advice at TV, computer, and mobile phone screens!  They probably tweet as well. Maybe,...

What's the secret to motivating your teams and employees?    This may be the single most important question for management. A highly motivated team is indicative about a manager’s style.   More money?  More perks?  The answer may surprise you… Last week’s Wall Street Journal article: It Pays to Give Thanks in the Office  shared the powerful yet simple answer:  Gratitude! A simple “thank you for the reports…” or “great job on the presentation…” can make people feel appreciated.  It has been shown to provide motivation and increased work productivity.  Plus, it makes people feel good.  Remember to take some time every now and then to thank the people you work with for their contributions.   I would love to hear your thoughts on Larry Page, the Chief Executive of Google’s declaration: “Appreciation is the best motivation.” Laura Persky Director of Graduate Programs, School of Business     ...