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Knowing Your Goal is His Business

Some majors and degree programs have clear and specific paths; others, like business, offer an incredibly wide range of opportunities. Associate Professor Dr. Mark Meehan makes it his business to help students find their purpose.

One-on-one advising, mentoring, and connecting: These are some of the ways Dr. Meehan helps students determine, then reach their goals.

Crafting a Course for Individual Goals

鈥淲hat is it that you want to do? I mean, where do you really think you want to go?鈥�

Dr. Meehan says asking that two-part question鈥攁nd getting an authentic answer鈥攊s key to 鈥渢errific advising.鈥� Finding a more specific goal within the broad field of business can direct a student鈥檚 choice of elective classes and internships.

An example of this approach would be how Dr. Meehan guided a freshman who knew her vision was to be in business but also likes equine science.

鈥淪he grew up with horses and wants to work with horses for the rest of her life. So we sat down and created a program,鈥� he explains. Online equine science courses from another institution and intentional internships would supplement the finance, accounting, and strategic management knowledge gained through the business degree.

“This personalized path was possible because we know her, because we believe in what she wants to do. And we鈥檙e willing to come alongside students and see it happen,鈥� says Dr. Meehan.

Another student鈥攁 drummer with a creative, artistic side鈥攃ouldn鈥檛 quite figure out what majoring in business could do for him. Throughout many meetings, they discovered the student鈥檚 passion was in craft beer. Dr. Meehan helped him find a craft beer seminar to attend to gain industry knowledge; and they spent three months making calls and visiting craft breweries until they found the right internship. That student is now nearing graduation, and Dr. Meehan says he鈥檚 able to pursue opportunities in an industry he loves.

鈥淭hat鈥檚 Riv. That鈥檚 because we got to know him,鈥� explains Dr. Meehan. 鈥淲e found his passion. We connected him to it.鈥�

Interning 鈥� More Than Once

Gaining real-world experience in a professional setting is essential for skill-building, but an internship also helps students better understand their likes and dislikes, strengths and weaknesses. All of this can inform career goals.

鈥淭he internship program is an exciting thing at Rivier,鈥� says Dr. Meehan. 鈥淥ur business students have opportunities for three internships over three years.鈥�

The planning for the internship, though, begins during freshman year. Dr. Meehan explains that in his business communication course, students explore thought-provoking questions such as 鈥淲hat is happiness?鈥� and 鈥淲hat is work?鈥� They also interview others about their careers.

鈥淚t鈥檚 from that context that they begin looking for internships. They write cover letters, they create resumes, and they get prepared,鈥� he explains.

When a student is ready to pursue their first internship, Dr. Meehan says faculty advisors might ask, 鈥淲ho are you now?鈥� or 鈥淎re you a big company person, or a small company person?鈥� Not knowing the answers to those questions is OK. That鈥檚 why Riv offers multiple internship opportunities. Dr. Meehan finds value in what he calls 鈥渃omparative internships,鈥� in which students take a similar role at two very different companies.

鈥淭he really fun part is then sitting down, talking with them, and having them compare the two,鈥� he explains. He鈥檒l ask questions like, 鈥淒o you love the chaos of a small startup? Or do you need the order of a corporate environment?鈥� or 鈥淲here did you see yourself come alive? Where did you find yourself feeling bored or unchallenged?鈥�

Comparing these two experiences, Dr. Meehan says, allows students to be more intentional about choosing their final, senior internship.

Building Businesses that Benefit the Community

Dr. Meehan鈥檚 work impacts students individually, but it also reaches beyond campus. His popular entrepreneurship course takes students into the real world. Students, divided into teams, are charged with creating a 鈥渄ouble-bottom line鈥� organization: a business that is both financially sound and contributes directly to the community in a positive way.

鈥淚t鈥檚 not enough to just have a profitable business. It鈥檚 a profitable business that impacts people鈥檚 lives,鈥� he says. 鈥淲e see students do it every year, and it鈥檚 absolutely remarkable.鈥�

The course ends with a live pitch contest, in which students have five minutes to share their concept with a panel of local business leaders. The winning team receives a startup package of cash, office space, and advising services valued at $20,000 to move their business idea forward.

The close-knit community of Rivier allows for this personal academic and career guidance.

鈥淲e know who you are when you walk in the classroom. We know your dreams, we know your hopes, we know your vision,鈥� says Dr. Meehan. 鈥淎nd we create a program that really works for you to realize that dream,鈥� he says.

Learn how Rivier鈥檚 B.S. in Business Management program can help you reach your goals.