2018 preMBA Networking Festival

Poets&Quants’ preMBA Networking Festival

May 10th & 11th, 2018 is now closed.

If you’d like more information, send inquiries to Ingrid Shults.

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2018 Leading Partners
2018 Sponsors and Presenters

Are you starting your MBA next fall? Join us in NYC!

Poets&Quants’  3rd Annual preMBA Networking Festival is coming to NYC again in May. After two successful years of hosting this multi-industry trek, we’re providing this unique opportunity exclusively to recently admitted MBA students from leading business schools. If you are starting your MBA program in the fall of 2018 and are looking to forge important connections, become more savvy about your MBA career options, and get a head start on making sure your MBA degree has an immediate payoff, do not miss Poets&Quants’ preMBA Networking Festival!

Key benefits of attending this event.

Early access. Attendees of Poets&Quants’ preMBA Networking Festival are the first in their cohort to meet and network with executives and recruiters from the world’s largest MBA employers. This is an opportunity to, not only learn how to, but to make real connections with recruiters before they reach campus in the fall.

Expand your personal network. The preMBA Networking Festival isn’t just about meeting executives and recruiters. It’s about connecting with your peers and weaving together contacts and friendships with new admits from all over the world, some of whom may be attending your program in the fall! Regardless of where you’ve come from, you’ll meet someone with similar obstacles and experiences along the MBA journey: transitioning from career to MBA, military to MBA, or the challenges and opportunities unique to being a woman or underrepresented minority or international student pursing an MBA.

Engage your networking muscles. This isn’t about asking for a job. This event is about making real connections. To do that over a short interaction, you’ll have to learn how to network like a pro. Before the event even begins, accepted attendees will receive a guide covering more than just networking essentials and will attend a live webinar with tips on how to get the most out of the event. Beginning Thursday night, attendees will be practicing and refining their personal elevator pitch and will have the opportunity to try it out on executives and partners over both festival days.

Registration Details

Open registration began on December 1st, 2017. Only 300 applicants will be accepted to attend the festival. Interested candidates are encouraged to stay up-to-date on registration details and deadlines.

Prospective attendees must submit a current resume and a round one or two acceptance letter as part of the application process. Although early registrations may be processed without an acceptance letter, event attendance is contingent upon providing the letter by the deadline.

Cost to Attend: $249.  Early Registration is now closed.

The cost of registration includes all festivities including the opening night reception, presenters, panel discussion, full day of on-site sessions with sponsors (includes five sessions and lunch) and closing networking event.

Questions about the event? Email our event coordinator Ingrid Shults. Interested in sponsoring the 2018 Poets&Quants’ preMBA Networking Festival? Contact our publisher Sat Sharma. Read about the preMBA Networking festival from the perspective of a 2017 attendee HERE.

Summary of the Event (2018)

May 10th – Welcome kick-off held at NYU’s Stern School of Business. What’s it like to work in consulting, finance, tech, and CPG/industrial? How should you prepare for your MBA career in each industry? Attendees heard executives from leading MBA employers, Amazon, J.P. Morgan, McKinsey & Company, and L’Oréal in the pre-festival panel discussion. Entertainment and a laugh provided by comedian and Tuck grad Paul Ollinger.

May 11th – Festival Day in New York City! Attendees visited their choice of 16 companies in their New York executive offices over four major MBA career tracks: consulting, finance, technology, and CPG/industrial. Sessions gave participants a feel for the companies, their cultures and people in their choice of four one-hour sessions and one, two-hour lunch session.

 

Highlights From 2018 Festival Day – Amazon brought attendees for a tour of the Manhattan Prime Now Fulfillment Center after bringing the group into a conference room with their lead recruiter and fellow Amazonians.  Attendees of this session got an early peek at what Amazon looks for in their MBA internship program. CommonBond hosted a panel, moderated by John Byrne, with recruiters from Comcast CNC Universal, PepsiCo, Microsoft, and Colgate-Palmolive. McKinsey & Company hosted a two-hour luncheon with attendees, featuring top partners and presentations. ABInBev hosted an informal presentation and networking session on the rooftop of their offices in Manhattan.  J.P. Morgan executives gave a candid assessment of their work and expectations before joining the lavish closing reception in their Park Ave. offices.

 

The Cocktail Round-Up Not To Miss –Festival Day ended with a closing reception sponsored by J.P. Morgan in their midtown offices. Dozens of J.P. Morgan executives, recruiters and other premier sponsors gathered over appetizers and cocktails and networked with attendees.

Festival Recap