Introducing the Chairwomen for the 2012 Texas MBA Women's Forum
Purva Upasak, MBA 2013
Hello! Welcome to the Texas MBA Women’s Forum, and thanks for considering McCombs. You won’t be disappointed, and I'm saying that from experience.
I'm a second-year student at the McCombs School of Business at The University of Texas at Austin. I grew up in Indore, India, where I lived for the first two decades of my life. After my undergraduate degree from the Devi Ahilya University, I moved to the United States to get my master's degree. Right after, I worked with Cisco in the gorgeous California as a software engineer, working with their voice technology group. I followed this up with a teaching stint in India for a year and moved back to the United State to marry my amazing husband before I moved to Austin for my MBA. After my MBA, I want to work in the high-tech industry, combining my business skills and my technology experience.
McCombs has given me the opportunity to learn, lead and collaborate. I am involved with the Jon Brumley Texas Venture Labs, Graduate Business Technology Group, and McCombs Admission Committee, among other things. I love hiking, photography, dancing, painting, and nothing excites me like a good book. I look forward to seeing all of you in Austin. Hook ‘em!
Shelby Chin, MBA 2014
Welcome to the Women’s Forum! I’m so glad you're interested in McCombs and can join us for an action-packed weekend.
I grew up in Los Angeles – yes, the actual city – and most recently called San Francisco and the Bay Area home. Right out of undergrad I worked for an international shipping company in a rotational development program. This adventure had me living in New Jersey, Atlanta and Oakland. I then switched careers and most recently worked for the University of California in Student Services and HR. Post MBA I want to stay in higher education admin and bring some of those business-savvy skills into a less structured environment.
At McCombs I’m involved with Net Impact, the MBA Soccer Club, the Graduate Business Adventure Team and the McCombs Admissions Committee. Outside of school you can find me running around the lake or baking some delicious cookies. I look forward to meeting you!
Travel
If you are selected to attend the Texas MBA Women’s Forum, below is some helpful information for planning your trip to Austin. Be on the look-out for more details coming soon.
Dates
Mark your calendars for 8:30 a.m. - 9:00 p.m. on Friday, November 2 and 8:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, November 3.
Optional Thursday
If you'll be here on Thursday, November 1 to attend Optional Events (class visit/tour/lunch with students, etc.), please plan on arriving in Austin in the morning on Thursday to check into the hotel and be on-time for your optional activities. We'll send instructions and schedules for Thursday’s events in the coming weeks.
Maps
Here is a Google Map with Texas MBA Women’s Forum event location information for your reference.
Hotel Accommodations
AT&T Executive Education & Conference Center Hotel
1900 University Avenue Austin, TX 78705
The hotel is located directly on campus and is about a five-minute walk from the McCombs School of Business, where the Forum events will be held. More information about the hotel can be found at www.meetattexas.com.
(Covered nights: check-in Thursday, November 1 and check-out Saturday, November 3).
Transportation
The University of Texas campus is located approximately 12 miles (20 - 30 minutes) from the Austin Bergstrom International Airport. Taxis are readily available at the airport and will cost about $25 to get from the airport to the UT campus. Taxis are also available at the AT&T Center for transportation back to the airport. Travel and transportation expenses are not covered.
Driving
Transportation during the Forum events (dinner off-campus, etc.) will be provided for you. In case you’d like your own vehicle, there are several rental car companies at the Austin airport.
Parking
If you drive to campus and are staying at the AT&T Hotel, we recommend parking in the AT&T Conference Center Garage, which is located directly underneath the hotel. Overnight guests of the hotel may obtain a parking card at the front desk for garage parking at $14 per night. Valet parking is $14 per visit or $21 overnight, plus tax.
If you're driving to campus but not staying at the AT&T Center, you can also park in the Brazos Garage, which is located at the corner of Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard and Brazos. Day parking (3 - 16 hours) at Brazos Garage costs $12. Overnight parking is $18.
Map and Directions from Brazos Garage to McCombs
Cancellation
If you can no longer attend the Women’s Forum, please let us know as soon as possible so we can offer your spot to another applicant.
Contact
Purva Upasak - Women’s Forum Co-Chair, MBA Class of 2013, Purva.Upasak@mba13.mccombs.utexas.edu
Shelby Chin - Women’s Forum Co-Chair, MBA Class of 2014, Shelby.chin@mba14.mccombs.utexas.edu