The rigors of the course help prepare students for their spring break trip to California. "They are confident in their knowledge and they will be able to maximize their time with executives," said Gallaugher. "One employer said that my students ask better questions than Harvard Business graduate students."
Elizabeth Dean, CSOM '09, agrees. "You have to be an expert on the companies because we are representing BC, and you should let companies know that you are really dedicated and not wasting their time," she said. Dean attended the TechTrek last year and is currently in the process of obtaining an internship at Apple.
Although TechTrek is not a recruiting program, Andrus, Dean, and Gallaugher recognize the tremendous opportunity for internships and potential job offers at these top-name firms.
"It is not supposed to be a recruiting trip, but a lot of internship opportunities come out of it," Andrus said. "Because of the connection between BC and the companies, I will be able to get an internship for this summer. It builds a stronger connection of BC to the Silicon Valley."
TechTrek is also the product of the efforts of BC alumni who support the program. "More firms now want to participate in the program than we can schedule," Gallaugher said.
Justin Tease, graduate teaching assistant for this year's undergraduate class and CGSOM '09, said their alumni contacts were enthusiastic supporters of the University. "There are alumni who wear BC shirts to the meetings," Tease said. In fact, Tease said, during several sessions students met with former TechTrek participants now working at firms they first visited as part of the program, Tease said.
Each of the 19 sessions with executives offer students a different insight into the business world. In the past, students have learned firsthand how the chief marketing officer at Cisco crafted her firm's branding campaign, how venture capitalists select which entrepreneurs to invest in, and how therapies are discovered and brought to market at biotech giant Genentech.
2008 Woodie Awards
