Serving as Real-World Business Consultants Takes NBDC Graduate Assistants Beyond the Classroom

Omaha – Serving as graduate assistants (GAs) at the Nebraska Business Development Center (NBDC) at the University of Nebraska at Omaha College of Business Administration provides a unique opportunity for graduate students to apply classroom work to actual business client issues, obtaining experiences that can impact their careers for years to come.

“Our GAs spend a year or more with us acting as business consultants for real clients,” says NBDC Executive Director Dan Curran. “When they sit down and help a prospective small business owner or entrepreneur write a business plan, it gives them knowledge and confidence well beyond what is gained in a single capstone course. They have to understand the client’s goals, utilize research to set or change the direction, and build a relationship between NBDC and the business owner that will continue long after they open their doors.”

Graduate assistantships are based on academic and professional excellence. Recipients come from around the world to receive tuition remission, a monthly salary and subsidized health insurance to work 20 hours a week while completing their coursework.

NBDC routinely employs from nine to 11 GAs each academic year, depending on program needs, with most also working through the summer. They are hired in a staggered fashion because of different graduate dates. GAs work for NBDC from one to three years until they receive their graduate degree, and many have gone on to take permanent staff positions after graduation.

Ghaith Al Saifi came from his home in Oman to UNO to earn his Bachelor of Business Administration, concentrating in supply chain management and data analysis, specifically because of the strong reputation of the College of Business Administration (CBA), which is home to NBDC’s Omaha offices.

Currently studying for his master’s degree in data science, Al Saifi works as a GA for NBDC’s APEX Accelerator program. APEX Accelerator consultants navigate the resources and processes that help potential government contractors have the best chance at success.

“Being a data scientist, I conduct a lot of market research while occasionally working directly with clients,” he says. “It’s helped me come to a better understanding of how to work with clients. Each one is different and often it requires different people skills. I’ve gained confidence from that, and from the people around me, motivating me and encouraging me.”

Samiat Ajao came to Omaha from Lagos, Nigeria, to pursue a Master of Business Administration (MBA). It was her first time traveling outside of Nigeria, which is where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Economics and Development Studies from Kwara State University.

“It was immediate culture shock,” she recalls. “Lagos is a very busy city. Omaha is a progressive city that also gives me a sense of calmness. You don’t have to rush about, 24 hours a day. I love it.”

Ajao says her eventual goal is to establish her own supply and logistics company. At NBDC, she serves as a GA and a Network Navigator for SourceLink Nebraska, a statewide program that connects entrepreneurs and business owners to resources that help start, scale or accelerate businesses. NBDC is the host for the program.

She says the work “has provided very enriching insight and helped strengthen my communication skills. I used to be introverted. Now, I am able to connect with people and have more fulfilling conversations. That will help me later in life, too. If I am going to establish my own company, I have to be able to lead.”

Ola Babalola came to Omaha from Ibadan-Nigeria and is earning his MBA with a concentration in business technology. As a GA, he works directly with clients as a consultant in the Small Business Development Center program.

Babalola says he has learned a lot about Omaha since coming here. “The only thing I knew about Omaha was Warren Buffett,” he says, chuckling.

He says being a graduate assistant at NBDC is rewarding “because I get to help Nebraska businesses become better.” Like Ajao, Babalola says the experience has helped him sharpen his communication skills and deal directly with clients. “I used to say I was an introverted introvert,” he says. “Now, I am able to tell clients what they should hear, not just what they want to hear.”

The three students identified several qualities that they say are helpful to being a graduate assistant. Among them are being a good listener, being willing to learn, having an entrepreneurial mindset, and having strong organizational skills.

“You need to be dedicated and have a passion for helping small businesses,” Ajao says. “If you have a passion to help them succeed, you will also succeed.”

Al Saifi adds that a dedication to NBDC and its programs is also important. “I believe in the mission and values, and what NBDC is trying to accomplish,” he says. “When clients express their gratitude for our work, it further fuels my passion for what we do.”

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