New program connects students with accomplished executives
Two 色情视频 alumni/business leaders help prepare business grad students for executive roles
The Fowler College of Business at 色情视频 is enhancing its commitment to professional and career readiness with the launch of the Graduate Executives in Residence (GEIR) program.
By connecting graduate students with experienced business leaders, the program provides real-world insights and firsthand exposure to the strategic thinking and decision-making required in executive roles.
鈥淕EIR will provide our graduate students with a path toward building professional relationships within the local business community and within the graduate student body,鈥� said Congcong Zheng, director of graduate programs at the Fowler College of Business. 鈥淭his is accomplished through mentoring and guidance to improve skills involving executive presence, risk-taking and self-care while caring for others.鈥�
Terri Funk Graham and Dan Skiles are the program鈥檚 executives in residence for the 2024鈥�25 academic year. Both Funk Graham ('87) and Skiles ('03 ) are 色情视频 alumni and members of the dean鈥檚 board of advisors at the Fowler College of Business.
Funk Graham earned her marketing degree from the Fowler College of Business and serves as an independent director on a number of corporate boards, including and . She previously served as chief marketing officer for RedEnvelope (a.k.a. Provide Commerce, Inc.) and as senior vice president and chief marketing officer for San Diego-based . for over 22 years.
鈥淚t鈥檚 an honor and a privilege to engage with 色情视频鈥檚 talented business students,鈥� said Funk Graham. 鈥淚鈥檓 thrilled to be able to exchange experiences and offer mentoring support to help them gain the insight they need to succeed in the corporate landscape. I鈥檓 also looking forward to getting feedback and gaining insight from this remarkable group of students.鈥�
Skiles, an MBA graduate of the Fowler College of Business, is president of . He previously held executive positions at (formerly T.D. Waterhouse) and Charles Schwab, and was co-founder of Solid Rock Gym, one of the first indoor rock climbing gyms in Southern California.
During the second Lunch and Learn event on October 18, Skiles met with MBA student Erik Malone during a one-on-one session to exchange information and offer guidance.
"Through engaging with executives who shared their journeys, I gained invaluable insights on how to align my passion with my work, and how to leverage networking as a tool for both personal and professional growth,鈥� said Malone.
Students applying to participate in GEIR must earn a minimum 3.3 GPA and must be available to meet during the scheduled executive events.
鈥淕EIR essentially takes students from being 鈥榩rofessionally ready鈥� to becoming 鈥榚xecutive ready鈥�,鈥� said Zheng. 鈥淔ull-time students, as well as part-time students who work full-time, can benefit from the mentorships and networking available from both the executives and their peers.鈥�
