By Liz Callahan, class of 2016

I’m writing this blog post having just finished the Fullbridge program in Boston. I’m sitting on a park bench on Federal Street, surrounded by huge banks and office buildings. I have just presented a recommendation to a fake Board of Trustees from Patagonia about the financial, strategical, and operational benefits and drawbacks of partnering with Nike. I would never have imagined doing this a month ago, but somehow with help from my group and my coaches, I did it.

The final week of the Fullbridge program was devoted to a cumulative group project drawing upon everything presented earlier in the program. We spent the first four days going over case studies, creating financial statements, a brand concept, and strategical projections for a scenario given to us by our coaches. In this scenario, each team became the “product development team” of Patagonia. Patagonia had decided to create a hiking boot that would track steps, distance, and elevation. The question we were presented with was if it would be best for the company to develop their own technologically enhanced hiking boot or license the technology from Nike. Our coaches became our bosses and we were left to find our own way to convince the Board of Trustees in our Friday presentation.

By the time Friday came around, my group and I had been through a lot together. There is no correct answer to the question we were given, and each step of the process affected our understanding of the problem and how we should have answered it.

Our presentations, along with another Fullbridge group’s from Mount Holyoke were held in a conference center in downtown Boston. We all had to give a 30 second introduction about ourselves in front of the entire group of students, coaches, and experts who had come to be the “Board of Trustees” from Patagonia. We split up into smaller conference rooms to present our recommendations and answer questions as if we were Patagonia’s product development team. Afterwards, the whole group got back together for a question and answer session with our experts. They gave us advice on choosing careers, networking, and succeeding in interviews. It was all valuable advice and it was interesting to hear about these common topics from such a different perspective.

But my favorite part of the day was during lunch, when we got a chance to hear more personal stories from our panel of experts. They all told stories of how they got from college to their current career and many of them were not what I expected. They told us that career paths are not linear, and that it’s much easier to look back and connect your experiences than it is to try to connect them as they happen. These people were so accomplished and successful in their fields that it was hard to imagine them any other way. They’ve started companies, worked at McKinsey, won Emmys, run non-profit educational programs, and run publishing firms. But after hearing their stories during lunch, they spent their twenties doing seemingly unrelated things. One coach was a tango dancer in Argentina, another a rock-climber living in a tent, another an Outward Bound instructor, a ship captain and a stand up comedian. Each one emphasized the importance of having great people skills, understanding group dynamics, and having the ability to make well-informed decisions. These are skills that can be learned anywhere. From what our experts said, they’re best learned outside of the office.

It was a great experience to listen to how people find value in uncommon experiences. Each one of them had a different idea of how to gain these intangible skills but they all agree on their importance. They encouraged us to make mistakes, to “fail fast and fail small”, to take breaks, and ask for help. It was a great experience and I’m glad to have had the opportunity to be a part of it. The advice and the skills I’ve gained will continue to be important as I move on to new things and new challenges. It’s been quite the month, and quite the experience.

By Kelsey Duarte, class of 2015

After completing the Fullbridge Program I realized I learned much more from the program than I thought I was going to. Majoring in economics while minoring in accounting and math I have developed a solid background on basic finance skills, however the program gives you experience in more than just financial analysis which was news to me. The first couple of days were very finance and financial statement intensive which was very redundant for me because I have been taking accounting classes that had taught these concepts for the past three years but with the start of the second week the program started to look up!

As one of the “fearless” participants of the section I was asked to lead the group in the career option activity which analyzed us as people through an online quiz and through what our peers had learned about us since the first day. Although the suggested career options for me were generally in line with the job options I had always considered, my peers’ confidence in me that I could succeed in all the jobs listed and their excitement in the activity as a whole was very fulfilling and made me more confident in my professional life than I have ever been before. The last days of the program were the best and most fulfilling by far though.

Our last project for the program was a team project in which we had to put into action all the concepts we had learned from the first day on. We had to generate an innovation for Starbucks in China based on background information given to us. Once we developed an innovation we then had to create a projected financial analysis proving our innovation would be successful and develop a strategy and PowerPoint to present to the board of Starbucks our proposed innovation.

My group developed a business model to emphasize the group oriented behavior of the Chinese Starbucks market. We developed a teapot product that can be purchased by a group of customers and shared amongst friends, families, or colleagues in addition to the start of the creation of a more collaborative atmosphere with bigger tables and less individual chairs and single person tables. Greg (Hamilton) and I were in the same group and we developed the projected financial statements and realized just how much goes into making a projected income statement when developing a new product. The next step after our presentation was complete was to actually give the presentation to our coaches and actual employers who were invited to come speak to us and give us insight to the workforce and feedback on our presentations. These presentations were beneficial because we were able to give a presentation with meaning and get useful feedback from someone who could potentially be our boss.

The best part about the final day however was the period of time during lunch in which we were able to mingle and interact with the various employers and truly get to know them and ask them anything. It was a chance to network while asking any questions about jobs and internships that we could have possibly thought of with various types of employers available to us such as a management consultant, an equity trader, an abc news correspondent, etc.

After all is said and done though I have to say that the best takeaway of this program was the self-confidence I gained in myself and my abilities. I am a much stronger presenter now because I’m aware of my strengths and weaknesses and have the ability to use that to my advantage. I’m also much more optimistic about my future even though I’m still not positive about what I want to do. In addition, I learned that living in the city is not bad, I actually had a lot of fun exploring the city with my peers. Not to mention I made a few new friends from mainly Saint Mike’s! All of us Saint Mike’s students were able to spend time together and we all became pretty good friends and I can’t wait to get to spend more time with them in the fall!

By August Koch, class of 2015

So, Ladies and gentlemen, this weekend marks the halfway point of my Fullbridge experience. All the blog posts up until this point have been from students taking the two-week Internship Edge Program. One other Saint Mike’s-ian and myself are working our way through Fullbridge’s trademark “XBA in Business Fundamentals”. Up until this point we have covered all the same material as the other program, and from here will delve further into financial analysis and research tools. We will also work more with the “soft skills” of business, which the coaches stress are even more important.
Rather than focusing on the elements of the program that have been covered thus far by the previous bloggers, this post will focus on the differences and mainly the amazing cultural experience the program has been.
The XBA program is intended to combine the most important points of undergraduate and MBA business and finance into a highly concentrated and structured package. My class is made of roughly 25 students, almost exclusively from Ivy League or NESCAC schools. We are supervised and guided by our two coaches, Nevin (UTA, Harvard Law, McKinsey, and a total bro) and Nabil (W&M, MIT Sloan etc.) who are available for guidance or just to chat throughout the busy days. I do not feel out of my league at all though, and one of the biggest takeaways so far is bolstered self-confidence. More often than not I am the one being asked for help by my peers and have never felt outclassed in a discussion or debate.
More on the program later; now New York City! The greatest city on earth, or certainly in the US. Having grown up in New Jersey I will stalwartly defend this point to just about anyone. City shenanigans from highschool and up until now have been largely confined to mid-town and some of the upper and lower neighborhoods, so the Financial district and Brooklyn living have been a new and wonderful experience. Living in Brooklyn Heights is about as good as it gets, right next to the bridge and numerous parks. Notable residents include(ed) Paul Giamatti, Sarah Jessica Parker, Paul Bettany, MCA from the Beastie Boys, Walt Whitman, and the list goes on.
I have always wanted to live in the city and this experience has only solidified this goal further. I am almost disappointed in how easy my commute is; two stops on the 2 train hardly generates notable commute stories. Most days I walk back home across the Brooklyn Bridge from Fullbridge’s location a couple blocks up from Wall Street. Life so far has been amazing! My roomy, Mike, is a junior at Princeton and we get along famously (perhaps an exaggeration). Happy hour with fellow Fullbridge-ites, cooking in the communal kitchen, going to the gym next door and exploring the neighborhoods occupy much of the free time during the week. My first weekend could have been a boy-meets-city movie. Exclusive rooftop parties at night and Rockaway beach during the day. My only regret was not figuring out the trains to get out to the Belmont Stakes.
The program up until this point has taught me some excellent things that will be invaluable to my career. Also, it teaches some practical things that everyone should know but are strangely not covered anywhere in the US education system. I feel like I could now confidently nail an interview for any number of companies. It is amazing how much has been covered and ingrained in just two weeks. This program is definitely not for everyone, but the rewards are quite something. Thanks for reading!

By Ashley Scully, Class of 2016

So far I have completed my first week of the two-week Fullbridge Program: Internship Edge. The program runs from 9-6 everyday (with Sundays off), with an hour lunch break from 1-2. There are 17 students also completing the same program. The majority of the time is spent on personal laptops completing ‘pods’ which consist of videos, readings, and learning check questions. Throughout the day there are also ‘deliverables’ which are assignments that are turned in for grading. Some of these deliverables are completed individually, and some are completed as a team. So far our deliverables have ranged to recording ourselves presenting to writing concise memos and emails. My team consists of three other students from different universities, who are all very outspoken and enjoyable to work with!

At the present I am very pleased with how the program is turning out. I am chemistry major with mathematics and physics minors, and I have never taken any business, finance or accounting courses. Thus it is safe to say that my knowledge surrounding these subjects was at a minimum prior to entering the program. In just a few short days, however, I have learned about many different business essential skills, ranging from personal finance to writing income statements, balance sheets, and cash flows. It is amazing how much knowledge can be crammed into a day if the students are willing to put in the work to master the topics!

Along with learning about a wide variety of business topics, I have also been able to fine-tune many of my interpersonal skills, including giving presentations as well as being an integral member of a team. We have already given a few short presentations on which we received valuable constructive criticism. I am looking forward to improving on my presentation skills in the next few days in preparation for our final presentation in a week!

One of my favorite activities from the program thus far was the field trip we took to speak with employees at TED (who produce Ted Talks) and the Daily Muse on June 3^rd. We got to tour the TED office, which I am pleased to inform you is equipped with a theater filled with couches where the employees hold their meetings and occasionally even film Ted Talks! We spoke with the programs producer, Chloe Shasha, who provided insight into the process for choosing speakers as well as advice on how to land your dream internship.

Following our time at TED we got to talk with Erin Greenawald, editor at the Daily Muse, which is a career destination offering exciting job opportunities, expert advice, and a sneak peek behind the scenes of exciting career paths. Erin answered questions regarding the do’s and don’ts of interviewing as well as advice on how to be passionate about your work.

Although the program does take up the majority of my days, I have also been having a fun time in New York City! I have successfully mastered the subway and have eaten out at delicious restaurants, taken advantage of the great shopping, and visited historic places, including the 9/11 memorial. Overall, the program has been a great experience thus far, and I am looking forward to what next week has to offer!

By Celsey Lumbra, Class of 2016

Our first week with the Fullbridge program has come to a close. Well, I guess we can’t really call it a full “week,” but we have made it to the weekend, folks! The verdict? The Fullbridge program will be an incredibly helpful experience. I have learned so much in just the first few days. I am already looking forward to what the next week and a half has in store for us.

The first day of the program was on Thursday, May 29^th. We were expected to arrive by 8:30AM. Each day, with the exception of the first (which began 30 minutes early) runs from 9:00am to 6:00pm, with an hour break for lunch. The program itself is held in a place called the Downtown Conference Center, a building affiliated with Pace University located on William Street—one subway stop after Wall Street. Speaking of subways, I had never ridden one before. Public transportation in New York City is certainly an aspect of this experience I won’t forget. Getting accustomed to the subway system has taken a fair amount of attentiveness and patience. Attentiveness, well, for actually figuring out the correct route to your destination. And patience, well, let’s just say there is never a shortage of people on the subway. You can get pretty close to some people you’ve never met before. Real close.

On the first day, we were greeted by three coordinators: Caroline Kim, Liz Walker, and Ariel. I am unsure of Ariel’s last name at the moment, but he is just a Fullbridge program assistant. Caroline and Liz, we would soon find out, were going to be our main coaches. Both program coaches introduced themselves and made us feel very welcome. Caroline received her undergrad degree at Yale University in Economics and later went to business school at Harvard. She now works on a start-up with her husband in addition to being a Fullbridge coach. Liz received a degree in Environmental Engineering at MIT for her undergrad, and is now about to wrap up her Ph.D. at Harvard. Talk about credibility! Both coaches are extremely nice and helpful. They have already offered great advice on finding what you’re passionate about and taking up new opportunities.

We were immediately split into four teams. All the Saint Michael’s students were placed on different teams, with the exception of Team 2, consisting of both Greg Hamilton and Kelsey Duarte. Each team has 4-5 students. I am with Maggie from California, Anthony from Georgia, and Katherine from Maine. We have gotten to know each other pretty well, and it’s only been a few days! I am looking forward to working with them even more as the program continues.

Our very first task to complete was The Marshmallow Challenge. We were to build the tallest structure possible using just 20 sticks of spaghetti, one yard of masking tape, and one yard of string. The structure also had to contain a marshmallow, which was to be placed at the very top of the structure. Oh, and we were given just 18 minutes to do so. Only one team out of four built a standing structure. Team 3—Bri Healy’s team—was the champion with a structure of about 17.5 inches. Well done, Bri! The other three teams? When they placed the marshmallow at the top of their structure in the remaining minute or so, the structure came tumbling down along with any hope of winning the competition. After the activity, we discussed what worked well and what didn’t work well in terms of meshing with each of our team members and completing the task itself. The activity was a fun and insightful way to kick off the day’s content.

Now, speaking of the content, each day is split into two units. Each unit covers a different topic and may consist of individual and/or team tasks. Units we have covered so far include Self-Awareness and Communication, Presentation Fundamentals, Effective Teamwork, Excel, and Personal Finance. Each unit is completed online and consists of videos, readings, articles, tutorials, questions, and “deliverables,” which are assignments due at the end of each unit. In Self-Awareness and Communication, we learned how to communicate effectively by using something called a “Top Down” approach—a method of getting one’s point across in a clear and concise manner. The “Top Down” approach includes starting with the main overarching idea, and then moving into the smaller details. In Presentation Fundamentals, we learned about using PowerPoint to create an audience-friendly presentation. We also learned about an approach called “Beyond Bullet Points,” which showed us how to build a PowerPoint using tactics other than just the common bullet point approach. This unit also incorporated “effective oral communication/presentations” as well. We were required to produce a PowerPoint with our team and an individual video via our webcams. In the unit on Effective Teamwork, we first took the Myers-Briggs test to learn more about our own tendencies and personalities. Later, we brainstormed how we could best use these results to operate in a team atmosphere. In addition to taking the test, we also simulated an activity in which we were stranded on an island together. We were given a list of ten tasks to do, and had to prioritize which tasks were to be done first (e.g. retrieve water, retrieve food, make a long-term plan for survival, build a shelter, etc.). This was especially hard, because we all had different opinions on which task should be completed first. In the Excel unit, we learned both basic and intermediate skills for Microsoft Excel. This unit was especially helpful for me, because I was not completely confident in my abilities to work with Excel beforehand. I learned things about Excel that I never even knew existed! Finally, the unit in Personal Finance was also extremely helpful for me. Talking with other SMC students also revealed that they thought this unit was useful as well. We learned about all the normal stuff: building a personal budget, credit cards, debit cards, different types of accounts, the need to save, etc. However, what was especially helpful was learning about mortgages and the pros/cons to buying vs. renting a place to live. Although these are things I won’t need in the immediate future, I learned things that I never had been exposed to before. The hard-coded Excel documents they provided are ones that I will save forever. There are documents for building a personal budget, calculating net worth, as well as predicting equity on a house. The documents are very well put-together, and are definitely things I will put to use in the future.

Lastly, there has certainly not been a shortage of exploring NYC either. This weekend, many of us took advantage of our down time to tour the city. Many of us hit up Brooklyn Bridge, the 9/11 memorial, Times Square, Central Park, and the Empire State Building. Some of us even attended a New York Yankees game on Sunday as well. Unfortunately, the Yankees lost 7-2 in a tough match-up against the Minnesota Twins.

Over all, the program has been a great success! I have learned so much already, and we have only been in class for two and a half days! I cannot express how much I am looking forward to what this week has in store.