Alumni You Should REALLY Know
Michael James Madigan - AXP1
Mike Rosen
Issue date: 4/1/04 Section: GSB News
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1. What was your area of concentration at the GSB?
I was in the Asian executive MBA program, so I did not get a concentration. I took whatever classes the administration deemed necessary for my personal development.
2. What do you do now?
I am a cog in the wheel at Mori Development Company in Tokyo, Japan. We are an international real estate company, most recently having developed Roppongi Hills in Tokyo.
3. Any advice on someone to get a job like yours?
If you're not from Japan, you really should learn Japanese. It's much easier if you are not doing a career switch. Specifically for working at Mori Development Company, it helps if you start as Mr. Mori's English teacher.
4. What are your career aspirations?
Find a way to stay in Mr. Mori's good graces so that he won't kick me out of the country. So long as I have the time and money to visit Heartland every Friday night, life is good. It kicks ass out here, you should try it.
5. What makes you an alumni REALLY worth knowing?
I've only had one alum from the US program look me up. I didn't know what to do so I invited him to join me for a few drinks after work. I bought him a dozen beers and perhaps a round or two of absinthe if memory serves. Things got so fuzzy by 3am that I really don't know for sure.
6. That all?
I also hooked him up with a couple headhunters. But I think it was the rounds of beer that made me worthwhile.
7. And?
I introduced him to a dozen or so local ladies at Heartland. That he didn't choose to score is his own personal problem.
8. How has the GSB prepared you for success in your career?
If you can learn calculus in 2 weeks time and then argue math with the top finance professors in the world, anything career-wise comes easy.
9. Why is it important to you to remain connected with the GSB?
I get a lot of mileage out of namedropping the University when I deal with my clients at Lehman Brothers. It also helped me do something just a little bit bigger than hang out as an English teacher. Go figure.
I was in the Asian executive MBA program, so I did not get a concentration. I took whatever classes the administration deemed necessary for my personal development.
2. What do you do now?
I am a cog in the wheel at Mori Development Company in Tokyo, Japan. We are an international real estate company, most recently having developed Roppongi Hills in Tokyo.
3. Any advice on someone to get a job like yours?
If you're not from Japan, you really should learn Japanese. It's much easier if you are not doing a career switch. Specifically for working at Mori Development Company, it helps if you start as Mr. Mori's English teacher.
4. What are your career aspirations?
Find a way to stay in Mr. Mori's good graces so that he won't kick me out of the country. So long as I have the time and money to visit Heartland every Friday night, life is good. It kicks ass out here, you should try it.
5. What makes you an alumni REALLY worth knowing?
I've only had one alum from the US program look me up. I didn't know what to do so I invited him to join me for a few drinks after work. I bought him a dozen beers and perhaps a round or two of absinthe if memory serves. Things got so fuzzy by 3am that I really don't know for sure.
6. That all?
I also hooked him up with a couple headhunters. But I think it was the rounds of beer that made me worthwhile.
7. And?
I introduced him to a dozen or so local ladies at Heartland. That he didn't choose to score is his own personal problem.
8. How has the GSB prepared you for success in your career?
If you can learn calculus in 2 weeks time and then argue math with the top finance professors in the world, anything career-wise comes easy.
9. Why is it important to you to remain connected with the GSB?
I get a lot of mileage out of namedropping the University when I deal with my clients at Lehman Brothers. It also helped me do something just a little bit bigger than hang out as an English teacher. Go figure.