Harvard Business School ‘Lingo’ To Learn

HBS Blog: “Chances are if you come to visit us on campus (or chat with a student or alum) you’ll hear a lot of HBS terms and acronyms being thrown around. So what do they all mean? Here’s a quick guide to some key HBS lingo.

ALDRICH: Aldrich Hall is where all first year classes take place. Aldrich Hall was opened in 1953 (and later updated in 2004), and the horseshoe-shaped classroom layouts were specifically designed to facilitate case method learning.

BAKER: Baker Library is equipped to assist MBA students with the breadth of their curriculum at HBS. Work with Baker staff to create target lists of companies, order HBS cases, research your paper or project topics, and prepare for courses.

CASE METHOD: Pioneered by HBS faculty and one of the highlights of the HBS experience, the case method is a profound educational innovation that presents the greatest challenges confronting leading companies, nonprofits, and government organizations—complete with the constraints and incomplete information found in real business issues—and places the student in the role of the decision maker. Students will read 500 cases during their two years at HBS.

COLD CALL: At the beginning of each class the professor cold calls a student to open up the case. Students never know which day or class they will be cold-called in! This has become such a cornerstone of the HBS experience that there is now a Cold Call Podcast.

For the entire list from the HBS blog, click here,

DON’T MISS: MEET HARVARD BUSINESS SCHOOL’S MBA CLASS OF 2025

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For CFOs, the MBA Trumps the CPA

The CFO: “MBAs have firmly established dominance over CPAs in the CFO suite.

As of August 2024, 51.42% of CFOs in Fortune 500 and S&P 500 companies hold MBA degrees, compared to just 37.63% with CPA credentials, according to a report from Crist|Kolder.

This widening gap between MBA and CPA holders among CFOs represents a change in the financial leadership landscape. The trend towards MBA-credentialed CFOs has been building over the past decade. In 2017, the gap was much narrower, with 45.80% of CFOs holding MBAs and 35.10% holding CPAs. The divergence has accelerated in recent years, reflecting the expanding purview of the CFO role.

However, the shift doesn’t spell doom for CPAs aspiring to the top finance job. While MBAs are becoming more prevalent, 13.04% of CFOs hold both MBA and CPA credentials, suggesting that a combination of broad business knowledge and deep financial expertise remains valuable.”

To read the full article, click here,

DON’T MISS: 6 CONSIDERATIONS FOR MBA CANDIDATES PURSUING A FINANCE CAREER

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University of Kansas School of Business Celebrates 100th Anniversary

Lawrence, Kansas: “The start of the 2024-25 academic year marks 100 years since the School of Business was established at the University of Kansas.

To commemorate its centennial, the school will host events and activities for its students, faculty, staff, alumni and friends throughout the coming school year.

The school also has created a dedicated webpage that features a celebratory video, a timeline of milestones from the past 100 years, information about the school’s beginnings and a form to collect stories and memories.”

To read the full article, click here.

DON’T MISS: UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS SCHOOL OF BUSINESS’ $50 MILLION DONATION JOINS 40 ALL-TIME LARGEST PHILANTHROPIC GIFTS TO B-SCHOOLS