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Microsoft VP Visits Bryan School
Top level business leaders from across North Carolina convened on Tuesday, October 24, for UNCG’s Corporate Expo. The exposition was designed to boost networking and discussions between executives from corporations, the University of North Carolina \ system and the UNCG community.
Headlining the event was Robert McDowell, vice president for information worker business value at Microsoft Corp. His address, “What Should Business and Higher Education Expect of Each Other?” set the stage for discussions about how UNCG and the business community can best partner for effective economic development.
After a successful expo, McDowell spent the afternoon and evening in the Bryan School. Dr. Prashant Palvia, director of the information systems PhD program, along with faculty and students, had the opportunity to spend some time with McDowell to discuss common interests. McDowell learned about ongoing research in global IT, e-commerce, healthcare IT, and privacy and security, and was impressed with the scope and applied nature of the work. Sherrie Cannoy, PhD student commented, “It was validating to hear from an industry expert that our research interests as PhD students are in line with what business and industry needs.”
McDowell also guest lectured in Professor Kevin Lowe’s Organizational Leadership class and made a special presentation to the MBA Association. In his comments, he talked about the challenges of working in a global company with 72,000 employees and the challenges of finding talented new hires. He stressed the core values of ethics and responsibility and encouraged students to learn how to think and communicate effectively as well as becoming proficient in their various technical areas. The day ended with a dinner hosted by Dean Jim Weeks to provide an opportunity for Triad executives to learn from McDowell’s experiences.
McDowell also enjoyed some networking time with students at the Schmooza Palooza, an annual event sponsored by Career Services to give students the opportunity to learn and practice networking skills. McDowell joked that in his role as a sales executive, he has been named “Vice President of Schmooze,” and encouraged all students to participate in these and other opportunities to become better prepared to compete effectively in the job market.