Check out the following idea starters, how to get started and examples.
Any number of experiences in the daily life of a Graziadio School student (or alumnus) is fodder for a blog post on Graziadio Voice.
You are encouraged to write about a business expertise or practice that excites you, your personal experience as a student, balancing school-work-life, launching a start-up, a rewarding class assignment, an opinion on a business issue in the news, or your personal/professional development.
The field is wide, as long as contributions are respectful, well reasoned, and not overtly political or defamatory. Always strive to leave your reader with tips or a lesson they can apply to their own circumstances and gleamed from your own experience.
Idea Starters
Comment on a Current Business Practice or Issue in the news (i.e., financial reform, Google vs. Apple, clean tech). Cite at least two (2) independent sources. Take a position, but present both sides fairly.
Write a Business Profile. Introduce readers to a service or product, new start-up venture, or business opportunity you are passionate about and which may be unfamiliar to classmates. Short articles on student, faculty and/or alumni owned businesses are especially welcomed. Avoid being too self-servicing.
Advice to New Students and Would-be Student. Now that you are back in school, what are 5-6 things that contributed to your decision? How might others successfully navigate the admissions process, class selection, deciding on a concentration, finding an internship or other decisions?
Write about a service experience or cause. Do you perform volunteer work? Passionate about a worthwhile charity or social cause? Educate the Graziadio community by describing the cause or your involvement, what it means to you personally and professional, and how others can get involved?
Interview a Professor. Write a short Question-and-Answer article giving insights on interests inside and outside the classroom, professional experience, and/or approach to teaching. Alternately, ask a professor his/her opinion on a business news topic, giving 3-5 main thoughts.
Interview an Industry Professional. In a short Q&A, ask someone in your industry of interest about experiences and career advice that might benefit aspiring students.
Interview a Classmate. Know a student with an aspiring personal story or interesting professional credentials? Write a short Q&A.
Attend a Career Event. Write at least five actionable take-aways from a lecture or program that would be benefit others.
Summarize a Class Speaker’s Presentation. Write at least 3-5 actionable things learned from a guest speaker in any class this term.
Attend An Alumni or Student Event. Focusing on the subject matter, write at least 3-5 actionable things learned and that would benefit anyone interested in the topic.
Attend a Dean Executive Leadership Series Lecture. Identify a common or recurring theme in the speaker’s presentation. Write at least 3-5 actionable things learned and that would benefit anyone interested in the topic.
Write how you applied something learned in class to a business situation you experience.
Write about an E2B project. Without divulging proprietary information, write how your team addressed an E2B client’s problem and what you learned from the experience.
Apply a Class Lecture to Real World Events. Write how a topic covered in a class (any class) relates directly to a current business news story and what lessons other students can learn and apply themselves.
Write a “How-to”. Draft step-by-step advice on a business practice or application in your field. Cite at least two additional useful resources.
List top articles. Choose a business topic and provide a list of at least 10 online sources (blogs, websites, reviews, news stories, etc.) you recommend for the best information. Include an opening paragraph; explain the business topic and why a reader would find your list useful.
Getting Started
- Review the School’s blog guidelines. All contributions must comply.
- Write. Find royalty-free images or videos that help tell the story.
- Upload. Complete the submission form.
4 Examples to Follow
http://bschool.pepperdine.edu/newsroom/index.php/2010/01/education-to-community/
How to Start Your Private Equity Career
http://bschool.pepperdine.edu/studentblog/index.php/2010/01/start-your-private-equity-career/
http://bschool.pepperdine.edu/studentblog/index.php/2009/08/10-things-for-a-greener-you/
8 Steps to Building Innovative Brand Strategy
http://bschool.pepperdine.edu/studentblog/index.php/2009/07/8-steps-to-building-innovative-brand-strategy/
