Volume 3: Spring/Summer Edition
Quantitatively Speaking

Up until this point, we haven't really done a Quant issue. It is definitely time, considering quant is the fundamental core of business, the beating heart of the MBA curriculum.

The last "sign", if you will, that we needed to do an issue dedicated to numbers was this intriguing article I read in Businessweek-
"Math will Rock Your World."
Maybe the title was a bit trite, but the content was quite intellectual and ultimately discussed pros and cons of the mathematical modeling of humanity. Hmmm... who would've thought that Neal Goldman's polytope would become the mathematical conduit to convert text.

In our spring/summer issue, Jonathan discusses China's financial market (Lujiazui is the self-proclaimed Wall Street of China), Baratunde argues the heavy reliance on consumer spending to drive America's economy, and Tim reminds companies to refrain from negating functionality in favor of marketing hype to drive sales. The denominator of these articles? Math.

I also perused this article "Mad Money: Stocks with a Schtick" about Jim Cramer's new mission of using his quantitative talent to help the masses. He confided that making the rich richer wasn't fulfilling for him and now wants to help "the regular people":

“What I'm doing now is a higher mission than what I was doing before. I'm trying to help people understand the market -- and it's something that I'm gifted at, because I'm a liberal arts guy. I'm not an economist.” - Jim Cramer

After reading that article, a humorous retort by the esteemed Jack Welch at a conference comes to mind- "Investment banking isn't a career... it's cash and carry". Perhaps. But it looks like Cramer found a way to finesse it.

So, let's wrap up this issue with our interview with Keith Clinkscales. I met Keith a few years ago at a Harvard conference. We had a quick discussion about Bo Kemp and Nelson Boyce in the elevator. I sent him words of encouragement during the challenges of Vanguarde Media, he did the same when we were getting MBADiversity off the ground three years ago. He has been a source of inspiration for so many upwardly mobile young professionals- the right amount of charisma, intellect, and heart. His fortitude has now garnered him Senior VP with ESPN Publishing and sparked the theme for our upcoming symposium.

We hope you enjoy this edition of The NetWork magazine, and we look forward to seeing you this summer.

Warmest,
K.D.

The 2nd Annual MBADiversity Symposium & Social: "Fortitude: Triumph in the Face of Adversity" will be held in downtown Chicago from August 4-6, 2006. Mark your calendars... this will be an unforgettable weekend. Interested speakers and sponsors should contact the Symposium Planning Team for more information.

Appropos Acknowledgements
~thank you. whether it be for your volunteerism, financial support, or encouragement~

Keith Clinkscales
Princess Clark Consulting
Dr. Debra L. Banks
Jonathan Gregg
Kevin Ferrell
Kareem Rogers
Hashim and Akil Bello- Bell Curves
Manhattan GMAT
Jessica Fee-Greater Talent Network, Inc.
Nick Soman
Tashina Etter
Kingston Wu
Nathan Froe
Chris McLeod
Catalina Cuellar
Ronald Funderburk
Matt Desmond
Gerard Edwards
Melissa Tremblay
Amanda Tolleson
Kellogg School of Management
The Wharton School at University of Pennsylvania
Chicago GSB
Tim Nekritz
Baratunde Thurston
Amy at Tazo Tea

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