OUTSIDE THE Classroom BOX

Dietrich von Biedenfeld Heads Off Campus to Teach Life Lessons

By Laura Wagner

A better definition comes from legendary author Ken Blanchard: “No one of us is as smart as all of us,” according to Assistant Professor at the Marilyn Davies College of Business (MDCOB) Dietrich von Biedenfeld, J.D. He orchestrated three off-campus events last fall to help students make professional connections and apply classroom theory in the real world.

Making Individual Connections. Von Biedenfeld introduced International Business Law seniors to two visiting dignitaries at a local restaurant for an informal chat: Henry Chambers, Program Administrator of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at Tufts University’s Fletcher School, and Jeff Shokrian, CEO of 791 Purchasing Cooperative and a leader in the public procurement and economic development industry. The conversation dived deep into the nuances of creating a successful global procurement function.

Senior Seth Hackett appreciated graduate school advice from Chambers as well as the insider view from industry expert Shokrian. “Jeff has achieved and experienced a lot, so getting insight into how he made it to where he is today was eye-opening,” Hackett noted. “Thanks to Professor von Biedenfeld, I’ve made a connection to someone who has gone down the path I hope to follow.” a working enterprise that’s affected by supply chain issues,” said von Biedenfeld. “The students were able to see topics we’d discussed in class come to life.” They were also able to meet new business contacts in the process. “You never know which connections will result in internships or job opportunities,” von Biedenfeld noted.

Leading by Example. The third event in his networking tour was a supply chain conference hosted by Houston-based Daikin, an air-conditioning, filtration, refrigeration-transport, and oil-hydraulics company with more than 20,000 employees worldwide. As an invited guest on a panel of supply chain experts, von Biedenfeld spoke on the challenges faced by Daikin and others in the industry post-COVID and met a number of supply chain industry leaders. “My role in participating in the conference and networking with speakers and attendees is primarily to contribute to important industry conversations and elevate issues and solutions,” von Biedenfeld noted. “But a close second is to showcase our dynamic student body and lay the groundwork for connections that could potentially benefit our students.”

Daikin employee Jess Love (BBA ’21), commented, “Networking opens up opportunities to connect with world-class professionals, entrepreneurs, and businesses. With mentors such as Professor von Biedenfeld, networking has become seamless.” She added, “It’s also inspiring to have one of my professors be considered an expert on a panel in my industry. I know that UHD is great, but it’s nice when peers in your industry get to see just how great.”

Linking

Knowledge and Practice.

MBA students from von Biedenfeld’s class on Law, Contracts, and Ethics for the Supply Chain were provided an educational tour at Equal Parts Brewing. “The goal was to ground classroom theory in

“These students are the best advertisement for the value of a UHD degree,” von Biedenfeld said. “Through their hard work, they’re showing employers what UHD students bring to the table while they’re creating a path for other students to follow. It’s another facet of networking.”