CIBRE Conversations for a New Michigan Economy
Focus: Career Opportunities and Transformation
How do you make a career change or start a new career? Have all of your assumptions changed? What options and resources are available in support of making a career transformation?
The Center for Integrated Business Research and Education (CIBRE) in the School of Business Administration at Oakland University hosted several informal discussions in the summer of 2009. These conversations brought the SBA Dean Mohan Tanniru; CIBRE affiliates and other professionals together to engage in a conversation to gather information, seek commonalities among those exploring alternative careers, and develop strategies that will help people start a journey to a fruitful career in a new Michigan economy.
One strategy that surfaced most prominently in the Summer 2009 discussions was to find ways to work with the displaced white collar workers and small business entrepreneurs, as they seek to transform their careers, become globally competitive and/or diversify their capabilities. In fact, several actions have already been undertaken or will be initiated this fall to implement this strategy. For example:
- CIBRE has applied for some grant funding in support of energy conservation and audit by having CIBRE affiliates work with small manufacturing firms
- CIBRE held a forum between an OEM, a supplier and some tool/die manufacturers to facilitate constructive dialogue on regional competitiveness and a follow-up forum is planned
- Business students will be working with some small manufacturing firms as they look to address diversification of their capabilities as well as improve their current operations
- CIBRE participated in some legislative hearings to bring attention to the importance of bringing talented white collar workforce and small business entrepreneurs to address some of the key regional challenge. View related article
Given the success over the summer 2009 Conversations, the CIBRE at SBA continued these informal conversations once a month on Saturdays from September 2009 through April 2010. By participating in these conversations, individuals were able to:
- Network with other people who are transforming their careers
- Find out about current or emerging opportunities in the new economy
- Provide feedback about how current resources are supporting your transformation or what you would like to assist you in developing and meeting your career goals
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