{"id":152615,"date":"2025-10-15T08:21:00","date_gmt":"2025-10-15T13:21:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.thelocalvoice.net\/oxford\/?p=152615"},"modified":"2025-10-14T19:28:30","modified_gmt":"2025-10-15T00:28:30","slug":"students-strengthen-problem-solving-skills-at-business-workshop","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thelocalvoice.net\/oxford\/students-strengthen-problem-solving-skills-at-business-workshop\/","title":{"rendered":"Students Strengthen Problem-Solving Skills at Business Workshop"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Business Success attendees learn to use communication, critical thinking<\/em><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

By Maggie Ring<\/em><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The University of Mississippi School of Business Administration<\/strong> is helping students hone their critical thinking, problem solving, and communication skills through a new workshop series launched this fall.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The school developed the Business Success program in consultation with business leaders across the country. The goal is to help business students address skill gaps and become more competitive in the job market.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“The program should set our students apart from the competition and provide additional certification that our students are ‘business ready,'” said Ken Cyree<\/strong>, dean of the School of Business Administration<\/a>. “We greatly appreciate our alumni and business partners in helping us tailor the program and teach the courses so our students will maximize their chances for success.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The first workshop, on September 23, drew some 30 students and focused on critical thinking. Bill Fry<\/strong>, an Ole Miss<\/a> alumnus and managing director of American Securities Capital<\/strong>, led the session and used examples from his journey to define critical thinking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“The Business Success meeting on critical thinking really challenged me to think more intentionally about how I approach problems both inside and outside the classroom,” said Sophia Honnald<\/strong>, a junior marketing major from Rumson, New Jersey, who is minoring in entrepreneurship. “It was engaging to hear different perspectives from peers and faculty on how critical thinking plays such a major role in business decision-making.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The program began with an idea from Ole Miss graduates and retired businessmen Bill Andrews<\/strong> and Jeff Rogers<\/strong>, both Oxford residents. The two former Business Advisory Board members pitched the idea to Cyree to help\u00a0students complete their skill sets and begin networking while still in school.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“The students’ opportunity to learn, interact, and connect with industry leaders is a unique and valuable part of Business Success,” Rogers said. “Relationships matter, and the students have the opportunity to establish special relationships to guide them in their career.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Andrews and Rogers interviewed 20 industry leaders about areas where students could differentiate themselves from their competition in the job market and to brainstorm workshop programming ideas. They developed four test modules and offered them to students last spring, earning positive feedback from both students and industry leaders.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Cyree approved the program for eight modules in the 2025-26 academic year. These modules cover topics including communication skills, business etiquette and critical thinking. Students who attend six of the eight modules earn a certificate of acknowledgement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The second Business Success module took place October 14 in the Jackson Avenue Center. This workshop focused on building communication skills and was be led by Sparky Reardon<\/strong>, former UM dean of students.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The program continues through the spring:<\/p>\n\n\n\n