Leaders in the Memphis business community have been telling us that while our students graduate with a solid set of academic skills, they would benefit from more interpersonal and communications skills that are necessary for achieving sweeping success in the business world.  In response, we have identified “the four C’s”: Confidence, Communication Skills (both spoken and written,) Creativity, and Emotional Control.  Extensions to these include an ethical understanding of business and such practical matters as interviewing skills.  We are determined to develop our students into graduates who can confidently make convincing presentations to corporate executives.  Graduates who can successfully sell new ideas to their companies and products to their customers.  Graduates who can create and grow new and successful companies.  Graduates who can take the University of Memphis motto: Dreamers, Thinkers, Doers, and earn the respect of their business world colleagues while advancing their organizations and themselves.

We intend to introduce the four C’s into our programs with the help of an “Action Board of Executives” consisting of role models from the Memphis business community.  We anticipate that this group’s planning meetings will be virtual, utilizing the latest in cyberspace technologies.  However, for student coaching, on-site participation from these business people will be required.  This coaching can range, for example, from visiting classes and critiquing presentations to coaching students on office etiquette and interviewing skills in specially offered seminars.  It will give our students and key Memphis business people a unique opportunity to get to know each other which is clearly a solid win-win proposition.