Summer 2011

The idea had always glowed—however faintly—in the back of Steve Oldham’s mind. He jokes about it now, saying that just like every other missionary who returns from Brazil, he came home with dreams of starting his own Brazilian steakhouse.

It may sound like the concept for the next reality TV hit: give twenty-five undergrads nearly $1 million and turn them loose. But this is no TV show; this is a typical day in one Marriott School classroom.

Their remarks are as varied as their backgrounds, but the speakers share one thing: a desire to inspire the next generation of business leaders. Whether working in health care or in headphones, the NAC lecturers gave nearly 250 students a broader understanding of the business world’s day-to-day tasks. Enjoy the following excerpts from the lecture series’ inaugural semester.

Your credit score is a three-digit number with a large impact. Here’s how to keep your number looking smart and how to understand what goes into calculating your score.

There are bird watchers, and there are whale watchers, but I’m a genius watcher. I am fascinated by the intelligence of others. I notice it, study it, and have learned to identify a variety of aptitudes—even without my binoculars. 

It may be time to reset your browser’s toolbar. With nearly 300 million sites on the web (and counting), finding the best resources online can be a little paralyzing—that’s why we’re here. You might not be plugged into the following cool and innovative sites, but you should be.