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Rutgers School of Business – Camden

Re-Envisioning the Business Leader Development Program

The Business Leader Development Program (BLDP), a signature program at Rutgers School of Business–Camden (RSBC), is designed to prepare high-achieving business students to lead their organizations as socially responsible professionals. Over time, numerous aspects of the program that were unique to the BLDP upon inception, such as corporate visits, mentorship, guest speakers, case competitions, and skills training, have been extended to all RSBC students. The time is, therefore, right for RSBC to re-envision the program and identify new ways to develop those students who are ready to expand their boundaries and leadership capacity.

Over this past academic year, Dr. Yuliya Strizhakova, Director of BLDP and Associate Professor of Marketing, collaborated with BLDP students, alumni, and corporate partners to assess and develop a new vision for the program. In partnership with the Honors College at Rutgers-Camden, RBSC is looking to enhance the leadership and professional aspects of the program. Supported by five faculty members representing different functions at RSBC, Dr. Strizhakova has been redesigning the program to:

  • Better prepare our students to be transformative future leaders.
  • Realign the program goals to incorporate shifts in business skills and capabilities.
  • Develop impactful experiential learning opportunities that develop strong analytical skills while enhancing the cohort experience.

Even as our BLDP program is being re-envisioned, the current BLDP students have continued to positively impact our campus and community. This past winter, they organized a toy drive for the Total Experience Foundation, a community fund in South New Jersey that provides families facing financial insecurity with much needed food, supplies, and other necessities. BLDP students collected over $1,000 worth of toys that helped brighten the holiday season for many local children. They participated in and placed high in several case competitions, including Global Marketing Management Association Case competition and the L’Oréal Brandstorm competition. Importantly, BLDP students continue to serve as peer mentors and lead student organizations at Rutgers–Camden.

Through executive shadow visits at partner organizations, such as Seer Interactive, Bancroft, Alloy Silverstein, and Merck, BLDP students experienced first-hand the integration of various business functions to support smooth organizational operations. They also engaged with South New Jersey business professionals at our semi-annual Business Outlook event, which Rutgers–Camden hosts in partnership with the Chamber of Commerce Southern New Jersey. And, as always, our annual BLDP alumni get-together tradition at Victor’s facilitated a valuable networking event.

The business community consistently appreciates the professionalism, engagement, and critical thinking mindset of our BLDP students. Dr. Strizhakova is confident that with the re-envisioning of the BLDP, our business partners, “will see even more positive changes that these new business leaders will bring to their organizations and communities.”

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BLDP Executive Shadowing Application v2

This form is set to automatically delete an entry 180 days after it has been submitted.

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Student Information

Major(s)*
Minor(s)

Shadowing

Preferred Work Environment
Preferred Area of Work*

Signatures

If I am chosen and matched with an executive, I will follow through and prepare a one-page report giving honest feedback about the experience. The written summary is due by the start of the next semester. By typing my name in the box to the right I am offering my digital signature in lieu of my handwritten signature.

After the shadowing event, I will write a personal thank you letter to the executive and copy Dr. Kaufman-Scarborough and Ms. Bridget Britton for their records. By typing my name in the box to the right I am offering my digital signature in lieu of my handwritten signature.

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

After notified of a match, students are responsible for providing personal information to the matched executive (e.g., current resume and cover letter with information on career ambitions). The information on this application is for internal use only, for us to match you as well as possible with and executive from among our alumni database.

BLDP Application

The Spring 2023 Application is now open! 

Priority will be given to applications received by November 18. Applications are accepted until all seats are filled. Space is limited, so apply early!

The seminar application process is our gateway for entry into the program. Upon acceptance into BLDP, students will be emailed their acceptance letter plus a special permission number allowing registration for the BLDP seminar.

Requirements

Seminar applications are solicited each semester and require the following:

  1. Completed application form (at the bottom of this page),
  2. For students with GPA 3.0 – 3.49, two (2) letters of recommendation (one academic; one other)

Rutgers-Camden students are invited to apply to apply for enrollment in the BLDP seminar. All applicants are expected to meet both of the following selection criteria:  (1) have sophomore standing or above and (2) have an overall GPA of 3.0 or above. First-semester transfer students will be evaluated based on their GPA earned at Rutgers. Students who fail to meet these admission criteria may still be allowed to apply for (and possibly enroll in) the BLDP seminar, but they will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.

The director balances evaluations to make final decisions on people accepted for the seminar (up to a maximum of 15-20 each semester).

Students who are admitted to the BDLP are required to adopt the BLDP Code of Conduct. A signed contract is required from each student.

Students may count activities toward “leadership units” that were initiated prior to taking a seminar, as long as those activities occured primarily during their enrollment in their academic program.

Application for Admission to BLDP Seminar

Applications for the BLDP Seminar will be ongoing until class is filled.

BLDP Program Application

This form is set to automatically delete an entry 180 days after it has been submitted.

  • * Indicates a required field.

  • Contact Information

  • Academic Information

  • Please enter a number from 0 to 500.
  • Transfer students only.
  • Employment Information

  • List relevant employment history

  • EmployerPositionDates of Employment 
  • School Leadership Information

  • Provide evidence of leadership initiative while enrolled in school by listing all school-based organizations and activities in which you have held a leadership role while a student.

  • OrganizationRoleDates 
  • Community Leadership Information

  • Provide a list of community or volunteer activities in which you engaged in a leadership role.

  • OrganizationRoleDates of Activity 
  • Statement

  • In your own words (100-350), discuss the reasons why your application should be considered for the Business Leader Development Program, including what you hope to gain from the program and what you can contribute.

  • Additional Submission Instructions

  • If you need to submit two reference letters, please email them to ldrshp@camden.rutgers.edu. Ideally, you should receive one letter from an academic source (e.g., a former or current instructor), and one from a business source (e.g., a former employer - even if for a part-time or volunteer position).

    Please only submit one application. If you experience any technical problems or need to submit the application again, please contact ldrshp@camden.rutgers.edu.

    Thank you.

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.