momentum
VSB Students Learn How to “Be Googley” This fall, members of the Villanova Entrepreneurial Society visited the offices of Google and LinkedIn for a firsthand look at non-traditional offices that demonstrate an entrepreneurial approach to conducting business. Students first visited Google’s unconventional working spaces, where they got a taste of the company’s corporate culture and innovative environment. On the office’s enormous fourth floor, which spans an entire city block, they saw large game rooms and sleep pods, where employees can take naps, and were enamored with the employees who used scooters to get around the office. The building also features a large Lego carousel, several secret rooms with couches hidden behind bookcases, and a lifelike rainforest cafe. Andrew Lee ’13 VSB described the
A group of students in the Villanova Entrepreneurial Society spent a day in New York at the Google and LinkedIn offices.
trip to Google as “more of a culture shock than an office visit. Everything about the firm was atypical and so awesome.” While
and hiring talented workers is the keystone to Google’s success
at Google, students learned about internships and career oppor-
and growth.”
tunities from Vic Alonzo, University Programs Coordinator, and
Students next headed to the Empire State Building to
were exposed to the far-reaching impact of Google’s business
visit LinkedIn’s offices and have lunch with Joel Petino ’93
in today’s world. Alonzo also highlighted five items that make
VSB, East Regional Sales Manager, and Brian D’Ambrosio ’02
working at Google unique: challenging work; innovation; a fun
VSB, Enterprise Account Executive. The group toured the
environment; autonomy and empowerment; and inspiring and
office, received an overview of LinkedIn’s business model, and
talented people.
learned about its rapid growth in the tech industry. Petino and
“Having been accustomed to the traditional corporate environment of New York firms and Wall Street, visiting Google turned
D’Ambrosio also spoke to the students about their own personal journeys from the Main Line to Manhattan.
my perception of office culture upside down,” said Jack Chong
Leaving Manhattan, students had a greater perspective of
’14 VSB. “Rarely can you walk into a company and observe moti-
the kinds of career options that are available in non-traditional
vated and productive workers wearing sweatpants. At the end of
offices and innovative corporate cultures of young entrepre-
the day, their revolutionary culture of empowering, challenging,
neurial companies.
VSB Retains AACSB Accreditation AACSB International
a rigorous internal review
endeavored to continue
(The Association to Advance
every five years, at which the
our momentum through
Collegiate Schools of
program must demonstrate
many changes,” said Kevin
Business) has renewed
its continued commitment to
D. Clark, PhD, Interim Dean.
VSB’s business accredita-
AACSB’s 21 quality standards
“The review team was very
tion. AACSB International is
relating to faculty qualifica-
impressed with the dedi-
the longest-serving global
tion, strategic management
cation our faculty have to
accrediting body for busi-
of resources, interactions
high quality teaching, the
ness schools that offer
of faculty and students, as
superb level of service our
bachelors, masters, and
well as a commitment to
staff provides to students,
doctorate degrees in busi-
continuous improvement
the creativity and agility
ness and accounting.
and achievement of learning
displayed in our approach
goals in degree programs.
to curricular innovation, and
Only 649 schools of
hallmark of excellence in
the passion and resilience
business, or less than five
management education. To
“VSB has been an
percent worldwide, have
maintain accreditation, busi-
exceedingly busy place
demonstrated through time
earned this distinguished
ness programs must undergo
and, together, we have
by our community.”
4 villanova business | summer 2012
