Reporter Volume 25, No.28 Commencement Extra

By BETHANY GLADKOWSKI
Reporter Staff
Students who realize the world has become a global community can make
themselves more marketable, says Michael Smith, graduating senior and
student director of the Northeast Region of AIESEC, an international
student-run organization that takes its name from an acronym that no
longer applies.
	AIESEC is best known for helping its members find traineeships
abroad as well as become professionals in the world-wide business
community through local and national training conferences. The
organization welcomes all majors, because according to Smith, everyone
can benefit by developing business skills. "It doesn't matter what
field you get into. The more you're aware of and understand the
business world, the better off you'll be," Smith says.
	As a business administration and psychology double major,
Smith was first propelled into the UB chapter of AIESEC after he
completed his junior year studying finance at the business school of
City University in London, England. "When I came back, I was looking
for something in the international arena where I could meet people
from other countries." AIESEC seemed to be the answer.
	Becoming a member in the Fall of 1992, Smith rose through
AISEC's governing ranks in a very short time: by January, 1993, he
became the human resources director. In August of that year he became
the president of the UB chapter; four months later he was elected to
the post of student director of the northeast region.
	Smith says that working in AIESEC has opened opportunities for
him as well as giving him leadership training. "In AIESEC, we look at
it as if we're going to be the future leaders. I look at the nation as
a whole and internationally. I am the chair of various conferences we
have locally, and certainly the leader in the region that people look
to for help and advice.
	"Being in charge of an organization or committee where you're
free to develop your own goals, you find out along the way that some
things work and some things don't. With every level I went up to, I
gained a different perspective on things."
	One of the organization's primary goals is to form long-term
relationships with area businesses that will sponsor traineeships on a
regular basis. Smith says that AIESEC has a reputation for
professionalism, and often its members "far surpass the sponsor's
expectations." In creating these business ties, Smith has gained
valuable sales experience which he feels will also benefit him
personally: he says he can count on some of these contacts to offer
him a job after he graduates. 
	As human resources director, Smith accomplished a successful
recruitment drive as one of his first tasks. His efforts helped AIESEC
gain 20 new members, up from the previous year's membership of about
eight members. He is also responsible for coordinating the regional
and sub-regional MEC (Member Education Cycle) conferences which train
members in such skills as how to run effective meetings, delegate
responsibility, and implement goals. He also handled foreign interns
from the traineeship program. Smith says that the organization helps
the interns ease into their new surroundings by planning activities,
helping them find lodging, and getting them acclimated to U.S.
culture. 
	One of the most difficult things Smith faced as regional
director was selecting the current national staff, usually recent
graduates, who work full-time at the organization's headquarters in
New York City. 
	Aside from his activities within AIESEC, Smith was also a
member of the UB crew team from its first season in 1989. Smith says
that the team had an unusual bond in building a rowing team from
scratch. But he says despite their inexperience, they did well the
first season. He was a rower for two seasons and now helps coach the
women's crew team. The team trains year-round, but spring is the main
racing seasonQmeaning an extra 12 to 15 hours added to his schedule. 
	Smith's term as regional director will end next January. He
plans to work full time for a year and then complete a traineeship
abroad through AIESEC. He is also a recipient of the J. Scott Fleming
Merit Award, given by the University Student Alumni Board to students
who enhance student life on campus.