What career do you plan to pursue upon completing the MBA and why? How will the Pegasus School help you achieve this goal?
September 29, 2008 | 1 Comment
I am pursuing an MBA degree in order to transition from a career in Internal Audit to a career in Risk Management. Upon graduation from college, I will pursue a career in a global bank as risk manager with focus on credit, market, interest and counter-party risk management. My immediate experience as a risk manager in a global financial institution would be crucial to my goal of ascending to top management echelon and eventually owning a risk management and consulting firm.
Though, Internal Audit as a discipline has elements of Risk Management, it is backward looking and dwells too much on the analysis of historical data. While this practice has its place within the overall control framework in any large corporation, it has limited capabilities to predict the future and question management’s risky business decisions.
There is no gainsaying the fact that the lack of robust risk management infrastructures is the main culprit for the recent spate of collapse and near collapse of venerable Wall Street institutions and other global banks. Consequently, one of the solutions to averting meltdowns of financial institutions in the future is the development of capabilities to question the risk-return dynamics of management business decisions on a real-time basis using both quantitative and qualitative methods. The future belongs to individuals who posses the skill sets to develop & implement the necessary risk management infrastructures (both human resources & technological infrastructures) for their organizations.
I think I run the risk of sounding proud by saying that there is nobody better placed for this future strategic role than me. With over 6 years experience in audit and external financial reporting including stints at two global accounting firms and the largest secondary mortgage financial institution in the world, three professional accounting certifications (Certified Public Accountant, Certified Management Accountant, Associate Chartered Accountant), the ability to exercise professional skepticism and a questioning mind in the execution of my work, I believe that I have the requisite credential and experience to become a successful risk manager.
However, I have limited exposure to complex financial transactions such as derivatives and credit default swaps to name just a few. Therefore, an MBA with a concentration in Finance will provide the platform to switch career from audit to risk management. The Pegasus School of Business is my top choice due to its reality-based education that creatively integrates leading-edge research and practice and will provide the required bridge between my previous work experiences and my future career goals. Likewise, I will benefit from the intense, collaborative and performance learning approach of the Pegasus MBA program. I plan to take classes such as Advanced Corporate Finance and the Entrepreneurship Lab and learn leverage buyouts and real options. I plan to take Professor John Doe’s Management Practicum and also effectively utilize the resources at the McLean Center for Investment Research because there is no substitute for hands-on experience.
In return, I will bring my passion for business and in-depth knowledge of accounting and ethical issues confronting Fortune 500 companies to the class of 2020. Given my diverse educational and cultural background, I will enrich the Pegasus experience of my classmates, bring stronger international focus to the classrooms and participate in the Adam Smith Finance Club. This will go a long way in sharpening my leadership skills.
With the skill sets and valuable knowledge gained by taking multi-disciplinary courses that are available only through exceptional MBA programs, such as The Pegasus MBA program, and knowledge of emerging markets gained from my previous work experience, I am confident that I will realize my career goals in risk management.
NOTA BENE: This is a draft and designed to help you with your MBA applications. In future I plan to further refine the essays I have published on this website (working with my friend - Saint James - a prolific writer) and publish a book of MBA essays. Dear friends, till we meet again please do what you love and love what you do.
9th International Couture Collections Show (DC Fashionweek 2008)
September 22, 2008 | 1 Comment
WASHINGTON DC – Embassy of France – September 21, 2008 - The 9th International Couture Collections Show (also known as the DC Fashion week) took place today the La Maison Francaise to a sold out crowd.
The fashion show featured exhibition by an international collection of designers. Designers on the catwalk include Corjor International (United States), Bararzul Enkhtaivan (Mongolia), Bayartsetseg Enkhtuya (Mongolia), Lola Babayeva (Uzbekistan), Tony Joshua Sanna (Sardinia, Italy), Barbara Leber (Hungary), Darrell Cortez (United States), Renee France Designs (United States), Thomas Lavonne (United States), New Couture (United States), Vanda Tique (Mozambique), Kuralai Nurkadilova (Kazakhstan) and Akkenje Devyatko (Kazakhstan). It is worthy to note that no other fashion show in the world can boast of such an international ensemble of designers from all over the globe.
ABOUT DC FASHION WEEK:
A partnership of independent fashion designers, producers and models, DCFASHIONWEEK was created to increase economic development in the area of fashion design, clothing merchandising and modeling, and to enhance the visibility of the nation’s capital as a center of international fashion. DCFASHIONWEEK is a community based not-for-profit corporation. You can learn more about the organization at www.dcfashionweek.org .
Black Herald is proud to bring you pictures from the event. All pictures by our photographer Tony Awoga.
To navigate through the image gallery, click on the first image and double click to move to the next image. The images are still been uploaded, please come back to see more pictures.
ICAN U.S.A District Society Inauguration.
September 21, 2008 | 1 Comment
LAUREL, MARYLAND - September 21, 2008 - The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) U.S.A District Society was formally inaugurated yesterday by Chief Richard Uchechukwu Uche, Ph.D., FCA – the president of ICAN.
Nigerian accountants from all over the world attended the banquet, which doubled as the 1st formal conferment of Fellowship & Associate Status to Certified Public Accountants from the United States. By virtue of their new status, these newly minted Associates and Fellows are now licensed to practice accounting in Nigeria. In total, 9 Fellows and 23 Associates were inducted yesterday.
In his key note address, the chairman of the occasion, Chief Richard Uche, Ph.D., FCA implore the members of the district society to act with probity, sense of responsibility and not mortgage their conscience or compromise their professional ideals of accountability, integrity and honesty for pecuniary or non-pecuniary gains no matter the circumstances.
The names of the officers of ICAN USA District Society and the members of the board of trustees were also announced at the occasion and these officers will be responsible for the day-to-day management of the organization. Mr. Adepate, ICAN Registrar/CEO moderated the occasion.
ABOUT THE INSTITUTE OF CHARTERED ACCOUNTANTS OF NIGERIA.
The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria was formed 39 years ago by a group of professionally qualified accountants from Britain under the name “The Association of Accountants in Nigeria”. This association was eventually absorbed by ICAN when it was created by an act of parliament No. 15 of 1965. The institute has over 25,000 members and 250,000 registered students.
The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) is the only professional accountancy body in Nigeria and its qualification, which allows its members to call themselves Chartered Accountants, is recognized around the world, as a prestigious business qualification.
ICAN members all over the world are known to add values to their organization. The Institute has reciprocal privileges with many regional and international professional accountancy associations. It is an active member of ABWA (Association of Accountancy Bodies in West Africa) and IFAC (International Federation of Accountants). For more information about the institute, check out their website at www.ican-ngr.org .
Black Herald is proud to bring you beautiful images from the banquet.
To navigate through the image gallery, click on the first image and double click to move to the next image. The images are still been uploaded, please come back to see more pictures.
Miss Democratic Republic of Congo - USA (October 18, 2008)
September 1, 2008 | 1 Comment
The Miss Democratic Republic of Congo - USA beauty pageant will take place on the 18th of October, 2008 to promote the beautiful culture, tradition and history of the Congolese people.
The pageant which is scheduled to take place at the National Airport Holiday Inn in Arlington VA is billed to feature Congolese musicians, comedians, fashion designers and dancers. Click below to view the event’s flyers.
