When airlines do silly things

United Breaks Guitars: A clever 3-part video series released on YouTube, created by a Canadian musician in response to an airline failing to respond to breaking a guitar.

We discussed this case in the context of the effect of social media on a brand - in this case, United took a hit and was publically shamed for its poor response.

Today I was reading the Huffington Post and came across this headline:

OWNER OF A KITTEN THAT DIED ON A DELTA FLIGHT OFFERED $50, PLUS AIRFARE

Will airlines never learn? United breaks a guitar and is subjected to public scathing. Did Delta really think they would escape with an impersonal 'sorry' and FIFTY BUCKS?

Schulich & Rotman, UNITE

I often get asked which business school has the better marketing department. Having never taken a single class from a Schulich professor, this is a tricky question to answer. I generally respond by recommending that potential students attend a guest lecture and decide for themselves. I am clearly biased, having enjoyed every marketing class that I attend.

I was surprised a few weeks ago to find that one of the new faces in my Integrated Marketing Communications lecture, isn't a Rotman student. Nor is she a student in another University of Toronto faculty... She is an MBA student at Schulich (York University). Apparently, Schulich students are able to attend a lecture at another university for credit. A mini-exchange. I was surprised that Schulich didn't cover similar course material - advertising is a central part of marketing after all.

I don't judge. It is lovely to expand on my network. Particularly as Rotman/Schulich are rarely on the same team. Our last 'networking' event was a hockey game where Rotman won 5-3 (hurray). The time before was at MBA Games, where Schulich had the upper hand.

In class we are all equal. Who says business schools cannot get along?

I am an assistant again...

Not officially, but I am now doing the same work I did 5 years ago on my first day as a media assistant. Requesting media kits, putting together costing sheets and getting copies of magazines sent to review. It's good to know that leaving a senior position to do my MBA has resulted in... junior level work?

Independent study strikes again!

I have enjoyed the experience for the most part, but I miss having a team to work with. A few, short weeks ago, before understanding the scope of the project, I agreed to be a team of 1 as my friends wanted to work in their regular group of 3. Oh how I have come to regret this decision! The majority of the work has been interesting and I have learned as much as I could have hoped, but week after week I noticed that my dear friends in their group of 3 was able to accomplish 3 times as much work as me - time constraints and all.

Thankfully, my media kit requests have all been sent with some prompt replies. I can't help but note that advertising is always the same - it's hard getting my questions answered, but when the client asks jump, I always ask 'how high' and then try to jump a wee bit higher. Oh how I have missed this media planning game!

I can't wait until school starts again so that I can continue with my lofty dreams and aspirations. When working on an ISU, I find that my goals are still FAR out of reach... in fact, I may have moved back a step. Sigh!