Make Connections Outside of Washington State

The Michael G. Foster School of Business MBA Road Shows and Treks allow you to make helpful career connections and explore career opportunities in other cities. Companies around the country are familiar with the Foster School of Business and its prestige, but rarely get the opportunity to have you, the students, come to them. Because the Foster School has an interest in advancing placement in major cities nationwide, we often support students' networking initiatives outside of Seattle, subsidizing travel and lodging expenses. Generally Road Show and Student-led Trek travel is reimbursed up to a $300 level. To learn more, contact Bryan Tomlinson (btom@u.washington.edu) or download a copy of the Reimbursement Guidelines. To be eligible for reimbursement, you must sign the Reimbursement Agreement before your trip.

Frequently Asked Questions

1.   Are there going to be UW Business School Alumni Receptions?

In addition to new regional alumni networking events planned each year in major metropolitan cities, the BCC coordinates informal get-togethers with recent MBA alumni on Road Shows. If you have questions about these formal receptions or informal get-togethers with alumni, please contact Bryan Tomlinson .

2.   What is a Road Show? 

Road Shows are aimed at furthering Foster MBA placement with top employers in major metropolitan areas outside Seattle. Through these visits, Foster MBA students and Foster staff seek to learn more about employer's recruiting plans and create a closer relationship with the Foster School. Typically, a group of between five and 20 current MBA students visit two to four companies each day to explore job opportunities for MBA graduates. The company visit agenda is usually comprised of a presentation given by company representatives (often including alumni) and an opportunity for extensive Q & A. Previous focus areas have included tech companies in Silicon Valley, investment banks in New York City, and retail headquarters in San Francisco. Road Shows often culminate in a networking reception planned in conjunction with UW Alumni Relations or independently by MBA Career Services.

Students must attend pre-Road Show meetings and complete all required research in order to attend and receive funding.

3.   What is a Student-led Trek?

Along with Road Shows, Student-led Treks provide another avenue aimed at notably increasing UW MBA placement with top employers in other major metropolitan areas not served by Road Shows.

The objective of a Student-led Trek will be to conduct several informational interviews and to network with key business people in that locale. This format is individualized to the needs of the student(s) who are participating.

Student-led Treks must be pre-approved. This allows your BCC coach to help develop your contact list and give you the company's recruiting history with UW.

4.   Am I eligible for funding?  

Unsponsored MBA students in the Evening, Full-time, and Global MBA programs are eligible for up to three $300 reimbursements per year for either Foster School of Business Road Shows, the NSHMBA, NBMBAA and International MBA/Master's career expos, or Student-Led Treks. Students must visit companies in geographies outside of Washington State in which they are actively and seriously pursuing relocation post-graduation. You MUST obtain prior written approval for the reimbursement from Bryan Tomlinson. Your request for approval must include the career-realted nature of your trip and the dates of the trip (for career fairs and conferences, an agenda will usually do). You will also be required to submit a brief report on your new connections and follow-up plan upon returning.

Travel reimbursements are for airfare, hotel, or mileage/gas expenses incurred solely by the individual student. No other travel expenses (such as food, group expenditures, ground transportation or other types of expenses) will be covered. For a complete explanation, download a copy of the Reimbursement Guidelines. To be eligible for reimbursement, you must sign the Reimbursement Agreement before your trip.