Professor Ian Dunham
Assignment: Interview and Expert
Identify an expert (e.g., business professional or academic) from an industry sector that you may be interested in working in. This should be someone that you do not already know and from a company that you do not or have not worked for. A good way to search may be to use LinkedIn, searching company websites, or other means of personal networking. Searching for SFSU alumni on LinkedIn may prove to be a fruitful strategy. Think of this a great reason to get to know someone who you may not otherwise have a reason to reach out to! This may be an excellent opportunity to build a meaningful, lasting connection.
Once you have identified your expert, reach out to them (email, LinkedIn message, cold call, etc.) and ask if they would be willing to schedule a meeting to answer a few short interview questions as part of your MBA class assignment. You may conduct the interview in-person (preferable) or via Zoom or other digital means.
Think carefully about what questions you want to ask your interviewee beforehand. Below is a list of questions to get you started. However, you may wish to get creative and add questions that you feel are relevant.
1. How many companies have you worked for in your post-college career?
2. What was the process that led you to be hired at your current company?
3. What is one economic, societal, or policy shift that has shaped your industry or company in some way in the past (positive or negative)?
4. What sources of information/news do you refer to in order to better understand trends in your industry?
5. What is one economic, societal, or policy shift that is on your personal radar as potentially having a great impact (positive or negative) on your industry or company?
6. Can you please share one potential action that your company has taken, or potential action that your see on the horizon, to promote environmental sustainability?
7. What is one piece of advice to MBA students studying environmental sustainability?
Answer the following questions and submit your saved document via Canvas.
1. Provide a link to this person (e.g., LinkedIn, company website, or other social media).
2. Did you meet them in person or through other means?
3. Provide an overview of the questions that you asked and their answers.
4. Was there anything about your interviewee’s responses that informed or surprised you?
