Last Friday DMEC headed on a Company Trek to Apple, with a group of 50 very excited Haas students. Only days after announcing the revolutionary iPad, we were in the heart of where this product was created!

First, we heard from Apple University, a program in which MBA grads write cases based on events in Apple’s past. This group will interview those involved with the business decision to put iTunes on Windows to create a case. Then, this case will be taught to leaders throughout the company to help them become better Apple leaders. Very interesting! And even better for us, they’re hiring!

Then we had the chance to hear from the VP of Finance. We were lucky enough that he had awhile to spend talking to us. First, he walked us through the amazing growth that Apple has had in the last decade, from growth of the Mac, to the iPod, to the iPhone, and hopefully the iPad! He also shared with us with some of the features that have made Apple successful, including risk-taking and focusing on few products. And he also quoted Steve Jobs in saying that, “Software is our competitive advantage.”

Finally, we had the chance to hear from a Product Marketing Manager who has focused on Safari and iPhone OS. It was very interesting to hear about the expansive role of the Product Marketing Manager at Apple, a role in which someone may have to work on the technical details of a product with engineers one part of the day and give quotes to newspapers about the latest Apple product the other part of the day. What a fascinating job!

After walking around the Apple campus, we had the chance to go to the Apple Store on site, where we received the employee discount! We then headed back to Haas, many of us hoping that we would be able to spend our summers right back here in Cupertino!

A big thank you to Brian Ellis, DMEC’s outgoing VP of Careers for organizing, as well as to Apple for hosting us!

Haas visits Apple!