The Carlson MBAConnecting Women to Business

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A place for youWhile preparing you for a lifetimeof rewarding experiences, theCarlson School MBA offers youan experience of a lifetimeBusinesses throughout the world recognizethe quality and leadership of the CarlsonSchool of Management. As a result, youtake the credibility of the Carlson SchoolMBA with you, no matter what you do orwhere you go.

An MBA degree opens new doors andkeeps you marketable throughout your life.It allows you to explore the diverse aspectsof business and to take advantage of anendless supply of career opportunities that are unique in the business world. Itprepares you to run a company, lead withinan organization, or start your own business.

In particular, the Carlson School offers its MBA candidates a place thatthoughtfully considers their needs—a placewhere you can expand your professionaland personal network, build a career for a lifetime, and enjoy the rigors of a

world-class MBA program in a supportiveand stimulating learning environment.When you pursue a Carlson School MBA, you’ll find:

> Access to one of the nation’s mostthriving business communities and to thebusiness leaders—both women and men—who drive that success

> Unparalleled experiential learningopportunities—in funds management,venture capital, consulting, and brandmanagement—with the Carlson SchoolEnterprises, among the largest portfoliosof student-led businesses in the nation

> World-class faculty who are invested inMBA students’ success

> Diversity in activities and experiences,including a wide range of internationallearning opportunities

> Significant financial support and careerservices that assist students in meetingtheir career goals

> The vast resources of the University ofMinnesota, one of the nation’s topresearch universities

> A series of programs targeted at womenin support of the unique challenges thatwomen face in today’s business world

In total, the Carlson School MBA is thetransforming experience that can propelyou to new places.

LINH LY Class of 2005

In 2004, the Carlson School sent the largest delegation of all participating schools to the National Association of WomenMBAs* national conference held at the Darden School of Business of the University of Virginia. Second-year student Linh Ly(CENTER) organized the Carlson School contingent, as well as other Carlson School chapter events back at the school. “Thereis a real sense of community in the program among fellow students and faculty and with business leaders and alumni,” saysLy. She not only gained the skills to advance her career, but also a network of friends and associates. “I loved the CarlsonSchool experience—the students, the classes, the faculty, the opportunities,” she says. “I definitely picked the right school.”

TATUM REZIN Class of 2005

Second-year Carlson MBA student Tatum Rezin (LEFT) truly benefited from the dedication of an elite group of the nation’smost powerful female business leaders known as the Committee of 200 (C200). Pictured with Jo Marie Dancik (RIGHT), C200treasurer and regional managing partner, Ernst and Young, Rezin was awarded a $25,000 scholarship during C200’s annualeducational outreach seminar hosted by the Carlson School. Rezin then attended its national convention, where she learnedmore about “using your strengths as a woman to be strong in business.” She landed an associate marketing managerposition at ConAgra and highly recommends the Carlson MBA to women. “In terms of networking, no school does better.”

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A network for lifeIncrease your possibilities onestudent, faculty member, andbusiness leader at a timeWhether contained in a database orRolodex, the contacts that a businessleader makes are invaluable. They may leadyou to new opportunities. They may lendtheir expertise. They may assist you andyour career in many other ways.

The Carlson School MBA recognizes theimportance of making connections andincorporates activities and opportunities to widen your network. The program’soverall class size is smaller than most top

programs. As aresult, you will knowyour fellow students,and our faculty will know you.

The CarlsonSchool has launchedseveral initiatives to

demonstrate its commitment to the successof women in business.

Through mentoring circles, small groupsof female graduate students discuss topics,share experiences, and support each other’sdevelopment of career plans. In its one-on-one mentoring program, MBA students are

paired with Carlson School alumni, boardmembers, and Twin Cities executives whoare also some of the biggest names inbusiness.

In addition, the school has launched anannual women’s leadership conference andoffers career networking lunches and theInside the Boardroom series, which alsobring powerful leaders to campus.

At the Carlson School, you will find along tradition of support for one of themost active chapters of the NationalAssociation of Women MBAs*. In 2000,the school was honored with hosting theorganization’s national conference. Andeach year, the Carlson School chaptercomplements the national conference witha slate of speakers and social events. Athome, chapter members also serve asmentors to high school girls, introducingthem to the possibility of business careersand encouraging them to attend college.

The Carlson School community makes iteasy to connect with colleagues, faculty,alumni, and business leaders. And it’s notalways business, either. MBA students alsohave fun. Along the way, you’ll build anetwork that lasts a lifetime.

*Known as Graduate Women in Business (GWIB) in 2004

The Carlson School has anetwork of 46,000alumni—from all 50 states and 70 countriesthroughout the world.

ANN CADWALLADER Class of 2006

With two sons, Brayden, 7, and Kyle, 5, Ann Cadwallader knows the importance of balance. Nine years ago, this StanfordUniversity undergrad started her own part-time business, a counseling program for high school students. She selected theCarlson MBA as the place to add depth to her entrepreneurial focus. Cadwallader has honed her time management skills asshe juggles her many responsibilities. “When I’m at school, I focus on school,” she says. Between classes, she studies;after her last class, she meets with her group. The juggling act is worth it, she says. “I am giving myself quite anadvantage. In the business world, an MBA will always help me.”

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Healthy and diverse in business,Minnesota also ranks highly as a great place to live and raise a familyWhen a list of the best states for womenappears, Minnesota is often near the top.It’s easy to see why.

An impressive array of Fortune 500companies calls Minnesota home. Only sixother states are home to more Fortune 500companies. Minnesota has been named“Best Place to Start and Grow a Company”by Inc. magazine and ranked as one of thetop five states for business vitality by theCorporation for Enterprise Development.

There’s even better news for women.Minnesota companies also consistently

make the list of best companies forworking women. The state ranked seventhin ladieshomejournal.com’s “Best Cities forWomen” and was named the second beststate to raise children, according to theKids Count report.

A community with much to offer, theTwin Cities made the list of “Top 10 Citiesto Live in the U.S.” by CityRating.com andtopped the list for quality of life in theUnited Way of America’s State of CaringIndex.

Business and life—the Twin Citiessuccessfully combines both. The CarlsonSchool also values a balanced perspectiveby supporting students as they pursue theirprofessional dreams.

A balanced perspective

In good companyFORTUNE 500 COMPANIES IN MINNESOTA

Fortune, 2004TargetUnitedHealth GroupBest BuySupervalu3MU.S. BancorpGeneral MillsCHSSt. Paul Traveler’sMedtronicLand O’LakesHormel FoodsEcolabSt. Jude MedicalPolaris IndustriesH.B. FullerDonaldson

100 BEST COMPANIES TO WORK

IN MINNESOTA

Fortune, 2004General MillsMayo ClinicMedtronic

100 BEST COMPANIES FOR WORKING

MOTHERS IN MINNESOTA

Working Mothers, 2003Carlson CompaniesGeneral MillsTarget CorporationThomson West

PERTEET McSWEEN Class of 2005

Perteet McSween managed a merchandising force of 50 for toy manufacturer LEGO in Chicago. She wanted to advance hercareer options in brand management with an MBA and was impressed by the quality of Carlson School’s program. TheCarlson School was impressed with her, too, offering her a scholarship. “I knew I wanted to come here, but the scholarshipmade the decision easier.” McSween is making the most of her experience, participating in on-campus organizations andthe Elite Eight Case Competition and traveling to India for a two-week course on outsourcing and off shoring. “This is theexperience of a lifetime. What I am learning will be applied to many different aspects of my life.”

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A worthy investmentFinancial assistance from theCarlson School helps ease the costsof an MBA education andincrease the financial rewards of earning oneFinancial considerations naturally play animportant role in your decisions about thedegree and the school that you choose. Inweighing the financial returns of pursuing a

Carlson SchoolMBA, the scale tipsheavily in your favor.

The annualscholarship budgetat the CarlsonSchool exceeds $2million and includes

financial support designated for top femaletalent. For example, the Roberta PetrickFoundation funds a $12,000 fellowship fora female candidate with high academicability.

The Carlson School also offers a fullarray of other fellowships and scholarshipsfor MBA students, as well as graduateassistantships. MBA students may apply forloans and work-study funds through the

University of Minnesota or through otherloan programs. The Carlson School workswith you to explore all options for financialassistance.

While financial assistance makes earningan MBA feasible today, the value andrewards accrue for a lifetime. Considerthis:

> The typical MBA graduate enjoys a salaryleap of $20,000 from her last positionbefore earning an MBA to her firstposition after completing the degree.

> Many students say that they can recoverthe costs of their education within twoyears of graduation. (Even with nofinancial assistance, graduates can breakeven in less than five years of re-enteringthe workplace.)

> Standardized calculations indicate afinancial return of at least 25 to 30percent over 10 years.

In the end, the numbers work very muchto your advantage.

The Carlson School’s Full-Time MBA programhas an annual scholarshipbudget exceeding $2 million.

MAGGIE KNOKE Class of 2002

Alum Maggie Knoke (RIGHT) shaped the next steps of her career with the assistance of the Graduate Business Career Center.“I took advantage of everything that they had to offer,” says Knoke, who parlayed an internship with Fortune 500 leaderTarget into a full-time position as a senior financial analyst. Knoke also valued the time spent with her MBA mentor, SusanEngel (LEFT), chair and CEO of Department 56, a relationship she maintains today. Her Carlson MBA opened doors andallows her to make the most of future opportunities. Her support of the MBA as an option for women is unequivocal: “AnMBA only strengthens you for whatever you want to do in your career.”

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A career focusThe Carlson School invests inyour success by preparing you for a careerNo doubt about it, the Carlson Schoolsupports you from the time you enter theprogram to well after you leave theprogram.

You work hard to earn your MBA, andthe Carlson School works hard to help you achieve your goals. U.S News & WorldReport placed the Carlson School third inemployment offers. In 2004, 93 percent ofall students garnered offers within threemonths of graduation.

An important first step involvesconstructing your own leadershipdevelopment plan. The plan focuses onbuilding your strengths in leadership,strategic abilities, global thinking,relationship-building, presentation and influence skills, cross-functionalmanagement skills, and the ability to enact change.

With plan in hand, the Carlson SchoolGraduate Business Career Center can focusits considerable resources on your needs.

You can take advantage of mockinterviews, resume critiques, job searchworkshops, and national job fairs. Thecenter brings corporate recruiters tocampus for interviews for internships andpermanent positions. And with the center’sonline recruiting system, you can track andmanage progress in your career search.

Your career connections also extend farand wide—not only does the centeremphasize developing relationships withcompanies throughout the world but it alsoconnects you to the school’s internationalnetwork of more than 46,000 alumni.Many alumni volunteer their time to assistthe school and its students.

The MBA degree can take you in manydirections. You may choose to exploreoptions or prepare yourself for a specificniche in the business world. Whatever thecourse of your career path, the CarlsonSchool helps you cultivate the skills youneed to succeed in the environment of yourchoice.

You can learn more about the CarlsonSchool and how we can help you realizeyour goals, by visiting our website, atcarlsonmba.umn.edu, or by calling us, at 800-926-9431, to schedule an interview or class visit.

Full-Time MBA ProgramCarlson School of ManagementUniversity of Minnesota

321 Nineteenth Avenue South, Suite 2-210Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455-0438612-625-5555, 800-926-9431fax 612-626-7785www.carlsonmba.umn.edu

© 2005 by the Regents of the University of Minnesota. All rights reserved.

The University of Minnesota is an equal opportunity educator and employer.