To say USC’s Marshall School of Business is on a roll would be an understatement. In fact, Marshall may have snatched the torch as this year’s “it” school. Just look at the MBA rankings. In U.S. News, Marshall cracked the Top 20, after ranking 31st just two years ago. At the same time, it rose eight spots in Bloomberg Businessweek and 25 more with The Economist.
Alas, rankings are lagging indicators. To truly appreciate Marshall’s momentum, start with the here-and-now. Take this spring’s graduating class. In newly released data, the school reports average base pay for the Class of 2018 rose $4,500, with average signing bonus increasing by another $4,500. This news comes in the wake of a banner 2017 Class, whose $172,627 in total compensation outpaced programs like UCLA Anderson, Duke Fuqua, and Yale SOM. Better yet, 96% of 2018 grads landed jobs within three months of graduation, putting Marshall among the top MBA programs for job placement.
SUCCESS STARTS WITH RECRUITING
What’s Marshall special sauce with employers? Mark Brostoff, assistant dean and director of the graduate career services, credits this success to front end admissions – concentrating on the applicants with the right talents and intangibles to become Marshall material.
Mark Brostoff, assistant dean and director of MBA career services at USC’s Marshall School of Business. Courtesy photo
“Our admissions team has selected a student body with a wide variety of diverse backgrounds, not only in terms of years of work experiences, but in life experiences, as well,” Brostoff says in a statement to P&Q. “The core values of the Marshall MBA – Transformative Courage, Collaborative Ambition, Impactful Service and Unwavering Integrity – are the foundation of what empowers our students to connect with the marketplace as well as the Trojan Network….thereby opening the doors to consider a wider variety of opportunities beyond SoCal, including the rising demand for talent in the evolving tech ecosystem.”
Make no mistake: Marshall is working overtime to deliver talent. In the process, it made headlines as the first Top 20 full-time MBA program to reach gender parity. In the 2020 Class, 52% of the students are women. Call it a major leap forward, considering most major business schools remain stubbornly stuck in the 40%-44% range. At Marshall itself, women had traditionally accounted for less than a third of each class. By sheer size, Marshall women now possess the type of influence, not to mention support systems and networking opportunities, that their predecessors could only imagine.
WOMEN ACCOUNT FOR 52% OF THE CLASS
It was a team effort top-to-bottom, says Anne Ziemniak, assistant dean and director, of the full-time MBA program. To make it happen, students, alumni, staff, and faculty banded together. The result, Ziemniak believes, will enrich the entire class. “The benefits of gender parity,” she tells P&Q, “include greater diversity in perspectives within the classroom and on teams, more creative problem solving and decision making, significant progress in establishing an inclusive, truth seeking community, and greater options for career engagement and development.”
The Class of 2020 won’t be the only ones to benefit, adds Brostoff. “As we go to market with internship opportunities and full-time jobs, employers are going to be very happy that we have a 50-50 split in the class,” he noted in a 2018 interview with P&Q. “They want more women in their pipelines. The resumes requested most often in the last couple of years are of female candidates.”
According to Ziemniak, the Class of 2020 was derived from the “highest quality applicant pool in Marshall’s history.” It’d be hard to argue the point. This year’s class posted a 705 median GMAT – a watershed for the school. Just three years ago, that number was 673. Over the same period, cumulative undergraduate GPAs have surged from 3.3 to 3.5. Demographically, the class also sets the bar for the highest proportion of underrepresented minorities at 21%. At the same time, the school weathered this year’s steep decline in international students. The incoming class boasts a 30% share of international students, just a point down from a year earlier. That wasn’t the only trend that Marshall upended during the 2017-2018 cycle: The school was only one of two Top 20 programs to actually increase the number of applications it received.
NEW CURRICULUM AWAITS THE INCOMING CLASS
The class isn’t historic just by the numbers. This fall, the class will be the first to brave Marshall’s revised core curriculum. Ziemniak tells P&Q that the core is based on three guiding principles: “to develop and solidify analytical thinking skills, to enable greater self-awareness, and to give students more gestation time to understand and grapple with course material.” She adds that, under the new programming, first-years devote more time to accounting and communication. It also fosters greater “synergy” between corporate finance, data analytics, and marketing. In addition, the core now closes with a new course called Structured Analysis for Unstructured Problems, which Ziemniak says pulls everything together so students can practice what they learn against complex business issues.
“Marshall is committed to preparing students with knowledge and skills needed to succeed in the current and future business environment, to be able to build and work in high-performing teams, and to develop personal strengths including personal integrity and a sense of purpose,” she adds. “The revised core curriculum seeks to prepare students in these ways.”
USC’s Anne Ziemniak
That’s the 30,000 foot view. What about the Class of 2020 itself? Tina Cook, an actress who transitioned into the non-profit sector, describes her classmates as “fascinating.” “There are people from all walks of life with very unique backgrounds,” she says. “From a cryptocurrency pro to a former jazz singer to a prosecutor – I didn’t expect such a wide variety of experiences. It keeps discussions rich and lively!”
“221 MOTIVATED BUSINESS PROFESSIONALS”
Stephen Manney, a sports anchor and reporter, applies a different term. He calls his peers “accomplished.” In his words, the class is a collection of “221 motivated business professionals, each bringing a unique experience and perspective that will help us expand our individual networks, thrive outside our comfort zones, and gain a more holistic understanding of the global business landscape.”
Another word? How about “collaborative?” That’s the word that first comes to mind for Alex Peiffer, a U.S. Air Force veteran and marketer who is open to everything and anything in business school. Thus far, he has been struck by how much students look out for each other. “It is truly amazing to experience how much time and effort classmates and second years are willing to dedicate to helping each other while expecting nothing in return,” he shares.
Then again, it’s not just the supportive culture that surprised the incoming class, but also how quickly bonds formed at orientation. “Fast forward to one-and-a-half weeks into our program and we are laughing, learning, struggling and growing together,” observes Alexandra Pinckney, a digital media entrepreneur from Philadelphia. “We’re celebrating weddings, internship offers and have already planned a big family-style trip to Vegas for an unforgettable triple milestone birthday celebration.”
JOURNALIST’S FIRST INTERVIEW: JOHN McCAIN
It is also a class that comes from all walks of life: consulting, entertainment, finance, teaching, and the arts. Rafael Liou de Oliveira is the class Lawrence Olivier – a professional actor when the work day ends. Guess that would make Tina Cox into the class’ Courtney Cox, with the former playing Dora the Explorer in Dora’s Pirate Adventure. Speaking of celebrity, just ask Stephen Manney about his baptism by fire.
“My first ever TV interview was with Senator John McCain. I was a college intern, who was very nervous to be on camera, especially with a former Presidential candidate!”
Craving Mexican? Chances are, the class will turn to Gaby Omenn, a Teach for America and Google vet who makes award-winning guacamole. Think you have an identity crisis? Just try being Sophia Lin: “I’m Taiwanese but don’t speak Taiwanese, and a Canadian who has never lived in Canada.” If you’re looking for the class do-it-yourselfer, you’ll want to meet up with Justin Gordon.
USC Marshall students in the courtyard.
“Immediately after watching The Social Network for the first time, I turned to my best friend, asked if he wanted to build a website, and spent the next few months learning HTML and CSS to build a site from scratch. Within six months we created our first website with no prior coding experience.”
HOW TO DRAW 900 PEOPLE…WITH NO BUDGET
This can-do spirit might also explain why Gordon built a nationwide training firm from scratch. He wasn’t alone in notching some impressive accomplishments. Stephen Manney, for one, rejuvenated his station’s fledgling high school football TV special. With viewers bailing and advertisers howling, he charted an unconventional path: fewer stars and more benchwarmers, fans, and cheerleaders. The result? The ratings jumped and the show still runs today.
Think that’s impressive? Take a page from Jessica Hong’s guerrilla marketing handbook. She managed to organize a 900 attendee conference (with another 4000 interview viewers) with a budget of $0. She wasn’t alone in creating something from nothing. Two years ago, Alexandra Pinckney founded RootsxWings Digital, a platform that celebrates African teenage girls and brings their experience to life.
“Being able to create a vehicle for girls across the African Diaspora to see themselves and build a community through original written and video content means I get to be at the frontline of the change that I want to see,” she explains. “RootsxWings, for me, is more than a business venture; it is my legacy and statement to the world that WE ALL have a unique story that deserves to be shared and acknowledged.”
TROJAN NETWORK? TRY TROJAN FAMILY
So what drew the Class of 2020 to University Park? Well, Marshall is far more than a football school that’s sunny year-round. Instead, it is the home of the famed “Trojan Network,” an alumni base – 88,000 members strong – that truly looks out for students. No ordinary network, the alumni is almost fanatical about opening doors and looking out for Trojan MBAs who follow. In fact, “Trojan Network” might be a misnomer, says Tina Cook. She uses “Trojan Family” instead – and it was a dynamic she noticed early on in her selection process.
“I couldn’t help but notice that in every interaction with current students, alumni, faculty, and staff, there was a real sense of pride and belonging to the family that is the Marshall School of Business,” she observes. “B-school is meant to be rigorous and challenging, but having a support system of peers who genuinely want to see you succeed helps give you the extra boost on the days when it’s hard to tap into that energy on your own.”
Go to next page for 12 in-depth profiles of incoming USC Marshall MBA students.
Students at the USC Marshall full-time MBA orientation Monday, July 23 at Town & Gown. (Photo/William Vasta)
The network offers more than that. For Alexandra Jaeggi, a high school teacher looking to move into biotech, the Trojan Family was the potential differentiator in being able to change industry and function. That value applies equally to Justin Gordon, who also views his MBA network as a source of funding and talent for future ventures.
“As an emerging entrepreneur, the lifelong network was something I desired because it would help me find people to build companies with, mentors to learn from, potential investors, and opportunities to discover new ideas and perspectives from different people. To me, the network you develop in an MBA program is the most valuable component of the entire experience.”
A PASSION YOU CAN’T FAKE
What sets the network apart? For one, the alumni is seemingly always available to help, bringing a “What can I do” mindset to the table according to Ziemniak. For Jayson Gasper, an M&A manager at Deloitte Consulting and 2013 Marshall alum, that meant countless hours talking with alumni to help him crystallize exactly where he wanted to go and what he needed to do to be successful. What impressed Gasper most, however, was how respectful the alumni were.
“I found that, especially when I would talk to a USC alum versus someone outside the Trojan family, there was extra responsiveness and longer conversations,” he explains in in a 2018 interview with P&Q. “I sensed a difference in the amount of thoughtfulness and connection that they strove to make. From a networking perspective, I saw a big help from alumni in a number of companies in a number of roles.”
USC’s Marshall School of Business
This “above and beyond” tradition has carried on for the Class of 2020, says Stephen Manney. “I remember reaching out to a student ambassador at Marshall,” he recalls. “I got a response so quickly, I thought it was a bounce-back email! I spoke to that ambassador the next day, and she referred me to another student, who referred me to another. Each member of the Marshall community was so passionate about their professional environment that I felt myself falling in love with the program and knew where I belonged.”
ALUMNI ENGAGEMENT STEMS FROM BEING WELCOMED TO GET INVOLVED
Strange thing is, the Trojan Family doesn’t stop at the USC doorstep. Instead, students often follow the alumni’s lead when it comes to MBAs as a whole, says Darlene Zephyrine, a 2018 Best & Brightest MBA who joined Live Nation Entertainment after graduation.
“It is true that Trojans will go out of their way to support another Trojan in personal and professional need,” she concedes. “However, I quickly noticed during many external networking events that Marshall students also willingly and happily open ourselves up to other MBA programs. Many of our student-led organizations host cross-program networking events because we understand that we will eventually all leave the Marshall walls to work alongside other MBAs.”
What drives the Trojan Family to mobilize so quickly? For one, says Ziemniak, alumni have a voice – ownership, even – in the program after they graduate. They are treated like who they are: experts and professionals. The school channels their talent, seeking out their advice, inviting them to present, and involving them in recruiting. “Students see that our alumni is engaged and they themselves pick up on the cue that it is important to be engaged once you graduate as well,” she tells P&Q in a 2018 interview.
A FEEDER TO THE ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY
Alumni engagement is also a carryover from their MBA days, where students are a major part of decision-making. That sets a tone and an expectation for students to pay-it-forward as alumni. It was a message that Jayson Gaspers picked up on quickly nearly a decade ago.
“The minute you step on campus for orientation, they’re talking about the Trojan family,” he stresses. “They bring in the marching band for our MBA orientation week. Throughout the experience, they keep reiterating the strength of the Trojan Network. More importantly, you make connections with alumni during recruiting and get mentoring. By the time you graduate – at least for myself – I felt that I really saw and felt what the Trojan Network was. More important, I felt the responsibility to carry that forward since I benefitted from it so much.”
Such alumni support is particularly invaluable in a field like entertainment and media. With Hollywood beckoning just a half hour away, the field attracted nearly 10% of the 2018 class. However, the industry is also notoriously referral-based, Ziemniak notes, often relying on just-in-time hiring that often isn’t advertised. Such cases illustrate just how valuable it is to have the Trojan Family in a student’s corner.
USC’s Marshall School of Business is the first major U.S. school to reach gender parity in its full-time MBA program
“A lot of the time, it is our young alumni who are a lot closer to the process – and more familiar with the anxiety that comes with searching for a job at graduation,” Ziemniak adds. “They will reach out to their networks and put our students in contact with the right people. There are many jobs that have come out of there. Our alumni have helped our students get jobs with Hulu, NBC, Dreamworks, eBay – a whole host of folks in LA.”
In fact, Marshall’s deep ties to the entertainment industry is one of the unique wrinkles to the program. Notably, E2, sponsored by the school’s Business of Entertainment Association (BEA), is Marshall’s largest student organized conference. For Stephen Manney, who hopes to someday produce pay-per-view events, such resources were hard to pass up.
A CHAMPION IN CHARITY
“The entertainment event brings in top industry professionals and dives into the future of media and entertainment, helping young professionals such as myself learn to navigate the industry’s volatile landscape. Last year’s keynote speaker was Ted Sarandos, the chief content officer for Netflix. Representatives from Warner Bros., Lionsgate, and Roku also made the trip last March.”
The Trojan Family and the entertainment niche aren’t the only factors that help define the Marshall mystique. Many class members are looking forward to Challenge for Charity, popularly known as C4C. Here, Marshall MBAs face off against peers at programs like UCLA Anderson and Washington Foster for the coveted Golden Briefcase – with the winner selected on fundraising prowess and volunteer hours. Over the past decade, Marshall has earned eight briefcases, generating over $25 million dollars to charities over that period.
“C4C provides Marshall with excellent opportunities to give back to the community throughout the year,” says Alexandra Jaeggi. Specifically, I am excited to work with Junior Achievement for the “JA in a Day” event to teach elementary and middle school children about business.”
A PRIME CONNECTION
Another defining feature of Marshall is PRIME, a mandatory global business module capped by a 10 day trip overseas. A hands-on and team-based exercise, students partner with firms on projects and present their findings to senior leadership. For many, it is great preparation for their internship, with 2018 first-years traveling to business hubs like Tokyo, Shanghai, and Lima.
“I love traveling, so I am looking forward to starting our PRIME project,” says Rafael Liou de Oliveira. “It will be a great opportunity to not only bring some business concepts to life but also have fun with my new friends.”
Adlai Wertman of USC’s Marshall School of Business. Courtesy photo
Indeed, PRIME is considered by many alumni to be Marshall’s signature experience. In fact, Ziemniak considers it to be a binding experience that brings generations of Marshall alumni together. “When alumni come back for recruiting events or on campus, PRIME is something they can talk about with students,” she points out. “They always want to know, ‘Where did you go on PRIME?’ Immediately, they have that connection and shared experience. Alumni still look back fondly on that experience.”
NEXT STEP: GETTING A BUILDING NAMED AFTER YOU
PRIME may be a highlight, but if you pressed Ziemniak on the most underrated part of the Marshall MBA, she would quickly point to the faculty, which includes stars like Adlai Wertman and Nathan Fast.
“The dedication of USC Marshall faculty to student learning and success is remarkable,” she asserts. “Faculty work diligently with students to make sure they understand challenging concepts and spend countless hours behind the scenes to develop course content and pedagogical models that address emerging trends in business, and challenge students to sharpen the deep, critical thinking skills they will need as leaders in business.”
What’s ahead for the Class of 2020? Perhaps Stephen Manney best expresses the class spirit when he talks about his long-term goal: Leading an entertainment firm that unites disparate audiences in a culture based on “collaboration and mutual respect.”
“I’ll admit, it is a lofty goal for only five years down the line, but it worked for Trojan alum Frank Fertitta,” he says. “If he can put the UFC on the map and have a building named for him, I think I can too.”
What led these professionals to enter business schools? Which programs did they also consider? What strategies did they use to choose their MBA program? What was the major event that defined them? Find the answers to these questions and many more in the in-depth profiles of these incoming MBA candidates.
| Student | Hometown | Alma Mater | Previous Employer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tina Cook | Los Angeles, CA | Northern Kentucky University | Chrysalis |
| Sharon Dsouza | Bengaluru, India | PES Institute of Technology | GE Transportation |
| Justin Gordon | Milwaukee, WI | University of Wisconsin-La Crosse | JT Clark Co. LLC |
| Rob Granados | Watsonville, CA | Harvard College | KIPP Houston Public Schools |
| Jessica Hong | Philadelphia, PA | Bryn Mawr College | Redeemer Presbyterian Church |
| Alexandra (Alli) Jaeggi | San Diego, CA | University of California – San Diego | San Marino Unified School District |
| Sophia Lin | Taipei, Taiwan | National Taiwan University | Lin Trading Company |
| Rafael Liou de Oliveira | Salvador, Brazil | Universidade Católica do Salvador | Ogilvy & Mather |
| Stephen Manney | Novi, MI | Loyola University | WFFF/WVNY-TV |
| Gaby Omenn | Miami, FL | Princeton University | |
| Alex Peiffer | Port Clinton, OH | Ohio State University | Capital One |
| Alexandra Pinckney | Philadelphia, PA | New York University | Hirtle Callaghan & Co. |
Tina Cook
University of Southern California, Marshall School of Business
“I am an emerging marketing professional committed to equity, diversity, and inclusion.”
Hometown: Los Angeles, CA
Fun Fact About Yourself: I played Dora the Explorer in Dora’s Pirate Adventure, Live!
Undergraduate School and Major: Northern Kentucky University; Bachelor of Fine Arts, Theatre Arts Performance
Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Chrysalis (Nonprofit organization in Southern California), Volunteer & Program Director
Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: At my most recent employer (Chrysalis), I spent nearly four years building and leading the volunteer program that provides a large percentage of client services at the organization. Through a series of promotions, I moved through the ranks from a supporting role to director and am proud of the caliber of volunteer training, engagement, and programming that emerged during my tenure.
What quality best describes the MBA classmates you’ve met so far and why? Fascinating. At Marshall, there are people from all walks of life with very unique backgrounds. From a cryptocurrency pro to a former jazz singer to a prosecutor – I didn’t expect such a wide variety of experiences. It keeps discussions rich and lively!
Aside from your classmates, what was the key factor that led you to choose this program for your full-time MBA and why was it so important to you? The sense of family. The Trojan network is a unique thing at USC. More specifically, I couldn’t help but notice that in every interaction with current students, alumni, faculty, and staff, there was a real sense of pride and belonging to the family that is the Marshall School of Business. B-school is meant to be rigorous and challenging but having a support system of peers who genuinely want to see you succeed helps give you the extra boost on the days when it’s hard to tap into that energy on your own.
What club or activity are you looking most forward to in business school? I’m most looking forward to informational interviews and networking events with professionals who are working in marketing. I am a function-switcher, so I’m eager to learn from as many folks as I can about what life is really like as a marketer.
What led you to pursue an MBA at this point in your career? Throughout my career I have had the opportunity to explore many different interests. When I stopped to really think about what energizes me the most, I realized it was storytelling. I want to leverage my storytelling abilities as a marketer in the private sector. In order to do so successfully I knew I needed the quantitative and analytical skills that an MBA program would provide. Additionally, I’m fascinated by competitive strategy and I’m looking forward to leaving b-school with real frameworks and applicable skills that will allow me to pivot and accelerate in my career.
How did you decide if an MBA was worth the investment? An investment in yourself is always worth it. For me, it’s as simple as that. I believe in myself and know that to get where I want to go this is an important step.
What other MBA programs did you apply to? UCLA Anderson, UCI Merage
How did you determine your fit at various schools? Besides the usual suspects like rankings and articles from Poets & Quants, I visited each school I applied to and spent time on campus with students. I visited classes and attended diversity events. Culture fit was of upmost importance to me, and that’s challenging to measure in stats and rankings. It’s really a feeling and when you know, you know. At Marshall I found that fit.
What was your defining moment and how did it shape who you are? One of my defining moments occurred on Friday, September 26th, 2014. I had just started working at Chrysalis and the team was visiting a correctional facility to gain deeper insight into the population we served. As we walked through the facility that day, we encountered a group of female inmates in a support group session finding courage and strength in their commonalities. We observed a classroom of male inmates practicing computer skills. We met a teacher who comes to the facility weekly to teach courses for inmates working towards their GED.
That day, a fundamental view I held was challenged and it altered the trajectory of my life. People make mistakes, that’s true. But we are also all a product of our socio-economic circumstances, and we don’t all receive the same opportunities and privileges. If we are to progress as a society, and strive for true equity, we must first accept this truth.
What do you plan to do after you graduate? Brand Management
Where do you see yourself in five years? In five years, I see myself as a Senior Brand Manager at a tech company that cares about doing good in the world, where I get to think creatively and work with inspiring peers each day.
Sharon Dsouza
University of Southern California, Marshall School of Business
“An inventor, engineer, and aspiring leader in technology who loves cooking, dancing, and the outdoors!”
Hometown: Bengaluru, India
Fun Fact About Yourself: I love organizing. Think Monica Geller! (F.R.I.E.N.D.S reference)
Undergraduate School and Major: PES Institute of Technology, Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering – Electronics
Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Quality Assurance Engineer at GE Transportation
Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: My patent in the tech domain just got granted 5 months ago!
What quality best describes the MBA classmates you’ve met so far and why? Family. Because we’re the Trojan Family – made up of kind yet fierce leaders. *hearts and hugs*
Aside from your classmates, what was the key factor that led you to choose this program for your full-time MBA and why was it so important to you? Exposure to the Tech industry and culture at School.
What club or activity are you looking most forward to in business school? High Tech Association, Challenge 4 Charity, & Marshall Eatz! Too excited to pick one.
What led you to pursue an MBA at this point in your career? An MBA has been part of my career plan since high school. Guidance from mentors, an eagerness to leverage my talents, and a desire to transition into Technology Leadership has brought me thus far and will take me further.
How did you decide if an MBA was worth the investment? Because I believed my potential was worth investing in and so did my family when I expressed my desire to pursue an MBA. Also, I really hoped for scholarships!
What other MBA programs did you apply to? Full-time MBA Programs at Stanford, Berkeley, UCLA Anderson, Kellogg, Tepper, and Stern.
How did you determine your fit at various schools? I set priorities and refined what I wanted in terms of a career path. For instance, Los Angeles ranked #1 on my list of cities I’d move to. Technology-oriented companies are of interest to me. Talking to alumni gave me the most information. Since I started my application process late, I had very little time for extensive research. USC Marshall had a great response rate when it came to my questions. That spoke well of USC’s culture.
What was your defining moment and how did it shape who you are? I once was nominated to work with the General Manager at my previous workplace to contribute towards organizational culture development. The work I did has had a lasting impact on leaders at the company and my view of work culture. The opportunity made me believe in my skills as a people leader.
What do you plan to do after you graduate? Grow my career in technology. My aim as an MBA graduate is to work with and contribute to the Technology industry and be a part of its booming growth and outreach.
Where do you see yourself in five years? As a global tech company executive empowering workforce and making decisions towards expanding the reach of technology beyond developed countries.
Justin Gordon
University of Southern California, Marshall School of Business
“Charismatic, driven, social, and curious entrepreneur dedicated to making an impact.”
Hometown: Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Fun Fact About Yourself: Immediately after watching The Social Network for the first time, I turned to my best friend, asked if he wanted to build a website, and spent the next few months learning HTML and CSS to build a site from scratch. Within 6 months we created our first website with no prior coding experience.
Undergraduate School and Major: University of Wisconsin-La Crosse with a major in Exercise and Sport Science
Most Recent Employer and Job Title: JT Clark Co. LLC, VP of Operations
Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: Growing Just Go Fitness from one client I worked with during a summer to training clients around the country while reaching thousands of people online each month has been the biggest accomplishment in my career so far.
Building my company took a tremendous amount of time and energy, but it opened doors for me and helped me develop an entrepreneurial skill set that I’ll continue to use to make a difference in the lives of other people.
What quality best describes the MBA classmates you’ve met so far and why? The MBA classmates I’ve met so far at USC can best be described as collaborative. Repeatedly I’ve experienced or heard of my classmates trying to help each other – whether that be suggesting a friend to reach out to for an informational interview or simply offering to help in the understanding of a particular concept we’ve learned about in class. This has happened daily and it’s a cultural norm throughout the program.
Aside from your classmates, what was the key factor that led you to choose this program for your full-time MBA and why was it so important to you? Building a lifelong network was my number one reason for getting an MBA and at USC it became clear early in the application process that their network is one of the best. As I considered USC during the application process I was able to reach out to alumni as well as students in the program and they were incredibly receptive, which ultimately influenced my decision to join the program.
As an emerging entrepreneur, the lifelong network was something I desired because it would help me find people to build companies with, mentors to learn from, potential investors, and opportunities to discover new ideas and perspectives from different people. To me, the network you develop in an MBA program is the most valuable component of the entire experience.
What club or activity are you looking most forward to in business school? The Entrepreneur and Venture Management Association is the club I’m most excited to join because of the opportunities to develop relationships with others interested in entrepreneurship while learning from successful entrepreneurs who have built a variety of companies.
What led you to pursue an MBA at this point in your career? Opting to pursue an MBA at this point in my career stems from a desire to make a bigger impact.
While I picked up new skills and grew tremendously while at JT Clark Co. and through building Just Go Fitness, I recognized my shortcomings – particularly my lack of experience leading professional teams – and knew an MBA would give me a great opportunity to learn and grow in this regard.
How did you decide if an MBA was worth the investment? As an introspective person who journals almost every day, I thought of myself at the end of my life looking back and wondering if I’d regret not doing an MBA. When evaluating the worth of an MBA and whether it warranted the high cost, it became obvious to me that I had to get an MBA or I’d regret it the rest of my life.
What other MBA programs did you apply to? The other MBA programs I applied to were Stanford, University of Washington, UCLA, Berkeley, Harvard, NYU, Cornell, Northwestern, University of Chicago, Yale, Michigan, and Duke.
How did you determine your fit at various schools? Knowing that I wanted to go into entrepreneurship after the MBA, I evaluated schools through that lens to determine my fit. I wanted a collaborative environment with a great entrepreneurial ecosystem that would be accepting of my non-traditional background.
I also evaluated schools based on their location – particularly their proximity to known entrepreneurial hubs – and did extensive research online to learn about the support each school provided for aspiring entrepreneurs. Furthermore, I had conversations with students at different schools to get a feel for the entrepreneurial culture.
What was your defining moment and how did it shape who you are? My defining moment was the death of Shaun Wild, a friend and mentor of mine who was an amazing person, incredible role model, and impacted the lives of so many people in the 24 years he had on this earth.
Shaun was someone I admired and respected greatly. In 2012 after finding out he was stabbed to death at a bar near Chicago, I dove into deep introspection about my life and how I wanted to live it. The event became a driving force for me, helping me develop a desire to make an impact through the work I do.
What do you plan to do after you graduate? After graduating I plan on building my next company with a passionate group of people driven by a similar life mission.
Where do you see yourself in five years? In five years I see myself living in Los Angeles running a company that makes a difference in the lives of other people.
Rob Granados
University of Southern California, Marshall School of Business
“First-generation, Mexican-American professional passionate about helping individuals and organizations achieve ambitious goals.”
Hometown: Watsonville, CA
Fun Fact About Yourself: I collect sneakers! In 2009 I camped out for four days to secure a pair of Kanye West’s first signature shoe, the Air Yeezy.
Undergraduate School and Major: Harvard College – Sociology
Most Recent Employer and Job Title: KIPP Houston Public Schools – Pre-kindergarten teacher
Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: The biggest accomplishment in my career so far has been impacting 200 students and families over the course of my teaching career, initially through Teach For America – Houston and then at the Knowledge is Power Program (KIPP). Teaching pre-kindergarten for the entirety of my career, I met students at the onset of their academic careers and set them on trajectories of high achievement. I leveraged the fact that I shared my students’ experience – being a first-generation student from a low-income community – to anticipate and find solutions to the nuanced challenges they faced while still pushing them to reach their full potential. An added benefit to teaching pre-kindergarten was the degree of interaction I had with my students’ parents. I guided them to not simply hope their children attained a college education, but to set it as the expectation.
What quality best describes the MBA classmates you’ve met so far and why? The quality that best describes my MBA classmates is genuine. In all my interactions with fellow Trojans, they have authentically engaged in conversations and sought to gain perspective from each other. My classmates recognize their strengths as well as opportunities for growth. Seeing the diversity of thought and experiences among my classmates come together during our first term has being quite exciting.
Aside from your classmates, what was the key factor that led you to choose this program for your full-time MBA and why was it so important to you? I came to Marshall to become a member of the Trojan Family. It was important for me to join warm, collaborative community and have access to an effective, engaged alumni network. The more I spoke to students and alumni, it became clear that the Marshall’s student community and alumni network had the qualities I was looking for. Trojans truly look out for each other and share success.
What club or activity are you looking most forward to in business school?
I am most looking forward to joining the Marshall Consulting and Strategy Club. The club has a track record of preparing career switchers for consulting recruiting via a structured curriculum. I will trust the process to achieve my post-MBA goals.
What led you to pursue an MBA at this point in your career? I elected to pursue and MBA because I wanted to enhance my leadership skillset, learn how to solve unstructured problems, and expand my network so that I can one day make an impact on a grand scale. The MBA experience will provide insight into frameworks that are successful across all industries and expose me to global perspectives that I have not yet had access to.
How did you decide if an MBA was worth the investment? When deciding to pursue the MBA, I simply could not think of a scenario where investing in myself would not yield a positive outcome.
What other MBA programs did you apply to?
UC Berkeley – Haas School of Business
UCLA – Anderson School of Management
Duke – Fuqua School of Business
Northwestern – Kellogg School of Management
Dartmouth – Tuck School of Business
How did you determine your fit at various schools? Prior to applying to business school, I participated in a year-long pre-MBA program – Management Leadership for Tomorrow (MLT) – that guided me through the process. I was able to attend seminars to gain exposure to partner schools conducted school research to narrow my list of target schools. I knew that I wanted to attend a program where collaboration was engrained in the student culture. I visited all of the schools I applied to, either through diversity weekends or class visit programs, to better gain a sense of the student culture. I used these visits to build relationships with students and gain insight into the recruiting trends at each school. It was a long process, but I would do it all over again!
What was your defining moment and how did it shape who you are? My defining moment was attending my oldest brother’s college graduation. He graduated from Marshall’s undergraduate program in 1997. At the time, I was only in third grade and seeing him graduate solidified that someone coming from my circumstances could graduate from college. That, coupled with the understanding of the sacrifices my parents made to be in this country, motivated me throughout the rest of my educational career. I always put forth my best effort to honor my family. The passion for educational attainment was so instilled in me that it led me to the teaching profession.
What do you plan to do after you graduate? After I graduate, I plan to enter human capital consulting.
Where do you see yourself in five years? In five years I see myself as a manager in a consulting firm’s human capital practice.
Jessica Hong
University of Southern California, Marshall School of Business
“Friends have called me honest, serious, funny, adventurous, and bold. I value people and relationships.”
Hometown: Philadelphia, PA
Fun Fact About Yourself: I am a die-hard Eagles fan, long before they were any good. I teared when they won Super Bowl LII.
Undergraduate School and Major: Bryn Mawr College, Psychology
Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Redeemer Presbyterian Church (New York, NY), Community Group Director
Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: I had the privilege of organizing and implementing a sold-out, 900+ attendee conference (with 4,000 livestream viewers) at my former nonprofit organization. Since the event had a budget of $0, strategizing was initially a challenge; I was able to build a coalition among colleagues to volunteer their time to help in implementing my vision for the conference. The conference eventually paid for itself through ticket sales, and the teamwork and collaboration that led to the realization of this conference made it one of the most exciting projects I worked on.
What quality best describes the MBA classmates you’ve met so far and why? My classmates are incredibly personal and kind. Their eager willingness to engage in conversation with others from diverse backgrounds and collaborate together has been pretty amazing.
Aside from your classmates, what was the key factor that led you to choose this program for your full-time MBA and why was it so important to you? I spoke with six alumni, each introducing me to the next one. All of them spoke effusively about the strength of USC Marshall’s program. The willingness of alumni to take time out of their schedules to answer my questions made a lasting impact. The familial bond that USC forms between their students and alumni was the key factor in deciding to attend Marshall.
What club or activity are you looking most forward to in business school? I am looking forward to being part of the Leadership & Organization club, Data Analytics club and Consulting & Strategy club.
What led you to pursue an MBA at this point in your career? While working at a large nonprofit organization, I was on the executive team for the Upper East Side location in Manhattan. On this team, my favorite part was strategizing, collaborating, and implementing our vision. I realized, however, that nonprofits often lack the fundamentals of business, and I became convinced that financial literacy is necessary in many industries and branches (even faith-based nonprofits).
How did you decide if an MBA was worth the investment? In some ways I thought I was too late to start my MBA being in my early thirties. But as I paused to think about my career timeline and goals, I realized it wasn’t too late, and a two-year investment in school would provide me invaluable tools for many sectors.
What other MBA programs did you apply to?Temple University and Vanderbilt University
How did you determine your fit at various schools? I researched collaborative programs as well as global programs. Temple fit the global aspect, while Vanderbilt fit the collaborative. USC met both my priorities of being collaborative and developing global leaders.
What was your defining moment and how did it shape who you are? Rather than a defining moment, I had a defining season. Two-and-a-half years ago, my mother was diagnosed with Stage IV Lung Cancer (without a history of smoking) and it came as a shock to our entire family. My mother, who ran my father’s medical practice, was unable to continue in her role and unfortunately, my father moved to Seoul to work for a hospital there to provide for her. Unexpectedly, I became the primary caregiver for my mother. During this season, I became in charge of my parent’s finances without much experience myself and realized how important it is to have financial knowledge. Seeing my father’s courage to transition in his sixties to another country and a new position – and also receiving my mother’s endless encouragement to pursue my dream of getting an MBA – I moved to Los Angeles last year after she passed to study for my GMAT and apply to schools. Today, I have the privilege of being part of USC Marshall’s 2020 class.
What do you plan to do after you graduate? I look forward to gaining more skills and experience in the private sector. I have experience in collaborating on teams to create structures, programs and culture to align key stakeholders to an organization’s goals. My goal is to apply my community development background coupled with my training in business fundamentals to transition into human capital consulting.
Where do you see yourself in five years? I believe the success of an organization is driven by thoughtful strategy and accomplished through a healthy organization. If given the opportunity, I see myself in an executive role creating an environment in which employees can not only flourish, but also recognize and understand how their role is integral to accomplishing the organization’s vision.
Alexandra (Alli) Jaeggi
University of Southern California, Marshall School of Business
“A driven and passionate individual who enjoys laughing and spending time outdoors.”
Hometown: San Diego, CA
Fun Fact About Yourself: Tennis is an integral part of who I am. I began playing when I was about four years old, went to weekend lessons growing up, attended tennis summer camps, played competitively in high school, and continue playing recreationally now. My dream is to attend all of the Grand Slam tournaments at some point in my life.
Undergraduate School and Major: University of California – San Diego: B.A. Visual Arts (2013), M.Ed. Education – Teaching & Learning (2015)
Most Recent Employer and Job Title: San Marino Unified School District, High School English Teacher
Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: My biggest accomplishment in education was earning the opportunity to demonstrate best practices for technology in the classroom by designing and implementing an immersive professional development presentation. As a new educator, it was exciting to add value to a group of seasoned teachers by sharing my passion for technology. Many teachers reached out to me for additional coaching or assistance with classroom implementation after the PD, which made the experience even more memorable.
What quality best describes the MBA classmates you’ve met so far and why? Supportive. Everyone comes from such varied and unique backgrounds, yet they all embrace the Trojan family mentality and help one another willingly.
Aside from your classmates, what was the key factor that led you to choose this program for your full-time MBA and why was it so important to you? USC Marshall’s network was a large factor in my decision. As a career-switcher, I wanted a school that fostered a community of individuals invested in assisting one another. It was essential for me to feel that I could count on staff, professors, and alumni to help facilitate the process of developing and reaching my personal goals. When I attended the USC Marshall Women’s Forum and Admitted Students Weekend, it was clear that the network is extensive. I reached out to current students, faculty, staff, and alumni after both of those events. Everyone was willing to take time out of their day to speak with me and help further develop my personal vision. Leveraging the network as I transition into a new industry and function is essential to my success and I look forward to paying it forward with other Trojans in the future.
What club or activity are you looking most forward to in business school? I am looking forward to working with Challenge for Charity. C4C provides Marshall with excellent opportunities to give back to the community throughout the year. Specifically, I am excited to work with Junior Achievement for the “JA in a Day” event to teach elementary and middle school children about business. One of the things I miss the most after leaving teaching is interacting with students, so this is a great opportunity for me to continue doing that in a completely new way!
What led you to pursue an MBA at this point in your career? My passion for technology and human health led me to research how I could turn my interests into a viable career. After reflecting on my background and skills from education, I knew that pursuing an MBA was the best way to pivot into a new role successfully. Dedicating two years to developing an understanding of relevant business concepts, enhancing my leadership skills, and building a professional network will create a foundation for reaching my goals.
How did you decide if an MBA was worth the investment? Reaching out to students and alumni, doing online research, and attending USC events helped make my decision. I spoke with many people through all of these channels and discovered that it was possible for people who wanted to switch careers to do so with an MBA. I heard many stories similar to my own during my admissions process that convinced me that all the time and effort I was putting in was worth it and that I could realize my goals at Marshall.
What other MBA programs did you apply to? UCI-Paul Merage, UCSD-Rady, and UCLA-Anderson
How did you determine your fit at various schools? – While considering different schools, I focused on some core items: online branding, community support, course rigor, and career center resources. Online branding helped me get a general sense of each school, which helped narrow my scope. In determining community support, going to class visits and events were most helpful. It was usually easy to get a sense of the culture by attending on-campus activities. I determined course rigor by looking at class descriptions and example syllabi. I wanted courses that would consistently challenge me and build foundational knowledge. I knew as a career-switcher, the career centers would be key for me. I looked for ones that explicitly demonstrated competency with career-switchers going into my target industry when deciding on personal fit.
What was your defining moment and how did it shape who you are? While teaching in San Diego, I designed an interdisciplinary curriculum with an amazing team of English and Science teachers. During this process, I created a unit focused on the connection between animal agriculture and detrimental environmental issues that negatively impact human health. Mentoring my students through this learning process invigorated my passion to guide them in creating viable solutions to real world issues that could improve their lives. My experience with these students formed the foundation for my desire to work on complex, unstructured problems with a team of diverse individuals invested in delivering products that improve human health.
What do you plan to do after you graduate? After graduating, my plan is to pivot into the biotech industry. Ultimately, my goal is to work in product management with a focus on marketing. I am passionate about working cross-functionally with different teams to meet unified goals.
Where do you see yourself in five years? In five years, I see myself as a member of a successful team at a biotech firm in San Diego. I’ll also have a work-life balance that allows time for personal interests and my family.
Sophia Lin
University of Southern California, Marshall School of Business
“A trilingual business professional with a multiple ethnic background and a growth mindset.”
Hometown: Taipei, Taiwan
Fun Fact About Yourself: I’m Taiwanese but don’t speak Taiwanese, and a Canadian who has never lived in Canada.
Undergraduate School and Major: National Taiwan University, BBA, International Business
Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Lin Trading Company Limited (Family business), Operations Manager
Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: As the product manager of Polaroid instant photography products, I drove a 294% year-on-year growth in revenue in Q1, 2017.
What quality best describes the MBA classmates you’ve met so far and why? Collaborative. Although everyone has different backgrounds and experiences, I found my classmates extremely collaborative starting from day one. We are all more than happy to share our strengths and weaknesses with one another, hoping that we can achieve the best results as a team by leveraging our personal strengths and experiences.
What club or activity are you looking most forward to in business school? The C4C events! USC has won the First Place Prize 8 times in the past nine years by fundraising and contributing volunteer hours. I can’t wait to be a part of this series of charity activities and help keep the Golden Briefcase at USC.
What led you to pursue an MBA at this point in your career? After working for my family business for more than one year and gaining experience in leading a team, I think it is great timing for me to go back to business school and learn the soft and hard skills to become a better decision maker in the future.
How did you decide if an MBA was worth the investment? Once I realized that pursuing an MBA is the most effective and efficient way to achieve my goal, I believe it is worth the investment as long as I utilize the resources given to me and work hard!
What other MBA programs did you apply to? HKUST Full-time MBA, CEIBS Full-time MBA, Boston College Full-time MBA, UCLA Full-time MBA, NYU Full-time MBA
How did you determine your fit at various schools? For me, the two most important factors are “location” and “alumni network”. Location is so important in that it pretty much determines the lifestyle for the next two years. USC has a huge and close-knit alumni network in not only the States but also Asia. Therefore, it is a network that I can still utilize and contribute to even if I go back to Asia.
To learn about top business schools’ culture and how they differentiate from one another, I browsed program websites, attended info sessions and coffee chats, reached out to current students and alumni, and of course, read articles on Poets & Quants!
What was your defining moment and how did it shape who you are? It was the time I competed in a national consecutive interpretation contest that I wasn’t fully prepared for. I can still recall the overwhelming fear of failure and the urge to quit. However, instead of breaking down and admitting defeat, I managed to pull myself together and smoothly completed the competition. This incident has been remarkable as the sense of accomplishment completely outweighed the fear of doing things that make me uncomfortable, and also reminds me to constantly step out of my comfort zone to pursue personal growth.
What do you plan to do after you graduate? I am interested in strategic planning positions and product management in the tech industry. But I am keeping my options open to see if the MBA will guide me to an unexpected path.
Where do you see yourself in five years? Probably working in a tech company’s branch in Asia, making influential strategic decisions based on data, and leading a great team of global talents.
Rafael Liou de Oliveira
University of Southern California, Marshall School of Business
“An emerging entertainment business professional who is always improving himself and supporting people.”
Hometown: Salvador, Brazil
Fun Fact About Yourself: I am also a professional actor!
Undergraduate School and Major: Universidade Católica do Salvador – Social Communications with concentration in Advertising
Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Ogilvy & Mather – Strategic Planning Manager
Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: Making the IBM brand more relevant in Brazil through advertising and innovative brand experience platforms such as ‘The Voice of Art,’ an artificial intelligence application that enabled museum visitors to literally talk to art pieces.
What quality best describes the MBA classmates you’ve met so far and why? I am amazed by everyone’s generosity. The first weeks are insanely busy and overwhelming, but my classmates are always sharing their knowledge, skills and expertise with the group. I feel like they genuinely want to contribute to each other’s success.
Aside from your classmates, what was the key factor that led you to choose this program for your full-time MBA and why was it so important to you? I knew that I wanted to live in California due to my career goals and lifestyle. But what really drew my attention to USC Marshall was the students. Every person I talked to during my application process was so kind, helpful and passionate about the Trojan family that I started to feel like I was already a part of it. All top programs will teach you marketing, strategy, finance and so on, but only a few can offer a powerful, supportive, lifelong network.
What club or activity are you looking most forward to in business school? I love traveling, so I am looking forward to starting our PRIME project. It will be a great opportunity to not only bring some business concepts to life but also have fun with my new friends. I am also excited to join Marshall Pride and help foster more equal, diverse and inclusive academic and work environments.
What led you to pursue an MBA at this point in your career? I have worked in the Advertising industry my whole life. Despite loving it, I was missing some important business foundations to take my career to the next level and make it sustainable. An MBA will also allow me to switch industries, something I have been considering for a while. And, at the age of 32, I felt it was the perfect timing to stop working for two years and focus on such an intensive program.
How did you decide if an MBA was worth the investment? I started looking at my career progression and how much time and effort it would take to get me where I wanted to go. A full-time MBA will speed things up and put me in front of people I would never have met by myself – not to mention the valuable network it will create. It is definitely a huge investment in many layers, but I think it will pay off in the long-run.
What other MBA programs did you apply to? Anderson, Haas, Stern and Ross.
How did you determine your fit at various schools? Location was one of the most important factors for me – if you want to be in the entertainment industry, you must come to Los Angeles or New York. It narrowed my initial pool of programs a lot. Then I started to look for schools that have a more collaborative culture rather than a super competitive or cutthroat one. But it all came down to how I felt when I talked to students and alumni – they are a school’s best (or worst) sellers. I did a lot of online research, but there is nothing like doing info sessions and visiting schools.
What was your defining moment and how did it shape who you are? My defining moment was when I left my hometown to live in Sao Paulo, one of the most competitive advertising markets in the world. For the first time I was by myself, having to look for a job out of my ‘bubble’— with no contacts nor references. It was a great opportunity to grow both as a person and a professional, acquire new skills and gain responsibilities. Big changes take big risks, that’s what I learned!
What do you plan to do after you graduate? I plan to seize all the great opportunities I will cultivate over the next two years. Hopefully I will be working for an entertainment company using my strategy, creative, analytical and communication skills to help it grow. I would also love to counsel prospective and current MBA students in their journeys. This is why I created an Instagram account called @mymbalife, a profile that covers my experience as an international student at USC Marshall. I am already talking to some followers that want to know more about getting an MBA abroad, and I hope to help many others through this initiative.
Where do you see yourself in five years? I see myself as a skillful leader in the Entertainment industry, with a well-developed network, maybe serving as a professor to share my experience with even more people, now on a different setting. Let’s see what happens!
Stephen Manney
University of Southern California, Marshall School of Business
“An engaging storyteller with a passion for sports, entertainment, and bringing people together.”
Hometown: Novi, MI
Fun Fact About Yourself: My first ever TV interview was with Senator John McCain. I was a college intern, who was very nervous to be on camera, especially with a former Presidential candidate!
Undergraduate School and Major: Loyola University Chicago; BS – Psychology, BA – Communication
Most Recent Employer and Job Title: WFFF/WVNY-TV (Fox and ABC television in Burlington, VT,) sports anchor/reporter
Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: In July of 2016, I was tasked with creating a strategy for my television station’s weekly high school football special. The program was responsible for generating a large sum of advertising revenue, yet viewership had steadily declined after the previous sports director vacated the role in 2014.
I conducted market research to target specific areas for improvement. Viewers reported that they wanted to see more of their friends and family, and less of the star quarterback. In response, we introduced weekly elements showcasing fans, cheerleaders, and lesser-known players. It was a hit! As viewership ratings returned, pressure from advertisers curtailed, and the program continues to succeed today.
What quality best describes the MBA classmates you’ve met so far and why? Accomplished. I remember the first students I met at orientation. The first was a top-performing management consultant, the next had travelled overseas to start a business in Singapore, and the third was a comedian and cable television producer!
The Marshall class of 2020 is made up of 221 motivated business professionals, each bringing a unique experience and perspective that will help us expand our individual networks, thrive outside our comfort zones, and gain a more holistic understanding of the global business landscape.
Aside from your classmates, what was the key factor that led you to choose this program for your full-time MBA and why was it so important to you? USC Marshall is the best program in the country for careers in the media and entertainment industry and there isn’t much of a debate to be had about it. 13% of the most recent graduating class went that route, dwarfing the margins of any other school.
When I was searching for fit in other programs, I asked students, faculty and alumni if I would be able to leverage the program’s network into management role in television. Some replied with “maybe,” others said “probably,” but had reservations. At Marshall, the answer was a definitive “YES!” I couldn’t be happier with my decision to come to USC and join the expansive Trojan Network.
What club or activity are you looking most forward to in business school? I can’t wait to experience E2, the largest student-organized conference at USC. The entertainment event brings in top industry professionals and dives into the future of media and entertainment, helping young professionals such as myself learn to navigate the industry’s volatile landscape. Last year’s keynote speaker was Ted Sarandos, the chief content officer for Netflix. Representatives from Warner Bros., Lionsgate, and Roku also made the trip last March. I can’t wait to meet and network with such high-quality professionals.
What led you to pursue an MBA at this point in your career? The industry of television media is changing in a big way. Viewers have shorter attention spans and are far less likely to sit down and watch the thirty minutes of news than they were ten or even five years ago. As a local broadcaster, this is bad news. Television stations across the country are cutting down paychecks and rolling back resources.
Rather than go down with a proverbial sinking ship, I identified this industry shift as an opportunity for growth and development. I didn’t want to simply work on payroll, I wanted to be on the forefront of innovation. However, I realized that to better position myself, I need to expand my network (USC’s isn’t too shabby) and gain experience in key business disciplines. Marshall can help me to achieve these goals.
How did you decide if an MBA was worth the investment? An MBA is a major investment and pursuing one isn’t a decision I took lightly. I realized the investment was worthwhile when I gained an understanding of my goals and the most direct path to achieve them. I knew that I had potential to succeed in executive positions but lacked the experience to advance. With a Marshall MBA, I know that I’ll make up my investment soon after I graduate and see excellent returns from my career progression.
What other MBA programs did you apply to?NYU Stern, UCLA Anderson, UVA Darden, ASU W.P. Carey, and UNC Kenan-Flagler
How did you determine your fit at various schools? I knew that I wanted to work under the umbrella of the sports, media, and entertainment industries and not every MBA program sends its graduates into those spaces. For me, it was important to consider employment data and uncover which programs had relationships with the companies that I saw myself at.
Beyond that, it simply came down to what felt right. I remember reaching out to a student ambassador at Marshall. I got a response so quickly, I thought it was a bounce-back email! I spoke to that ambassador the next day, and she referred me to another student, who referred me to another. Each member of the Marshall community was so passionate about their professional environment that I felt myself falling in love with the program and knew where I belonged.
What was your defining moment and how did it shape who you are? Near the end of my on-air television career, I was offered a contract by my employer which would remove the “interim” tag from my title of sports director, and officially recognize me as the department lead. The contract included a substantial pay bump as well as a multi-year commitment. It was a contract that I had yearned for over the previous several years, but before signing the dotted line, I needed to engage in some serious introspection.
Was this a role I wanted to hold on a long-term basis? Was the industry landscape trending in a positive direction? Upon realizing that the answer to each of these questions was an unequivocal “no,” I made one of the hardest decisions in my life. I passed on the promotion, bet on myself, and embarked on a journey to become an innovator in the media and entertainment industry.
What do you plan to do after you graduate?
If this were an application essay, I might communicate an answer that articulates a clear, direct career path. The truth is, I’m still exploring all the options that Marshall has to offer. While I don’t know the exact position I will hold in the summer of 2020, I do know that it will check the following boxes:
- It will be within the sports, media and entertainment industries.
- It will innovate cutting-edge practices and technologies.
- It will encourage me to think creatively to solve complex problems with a diverse team.
- It will require me to persuade others through oral communication.
- It will include an international component that can broaden my cultural intelligence.
The function could be in marketing, strategy, or consulting, and over the next several months, I am eager to explore the many clubs at USC Marshall to discover a path leading towards growth and fulfilment.
Where do you see yourself in five years? While I have enjoyed most days in the media industry, I most anticipated the shows that went above-and-beyond our typical production. For this reason, I look forward to working in a role specializing in marketing and producing pay-per-view level events.
My dream is to work as an executive for an entertainment firm that puts on spectacles unifying diverse audiences all over the globe. I envision productions so captivating that disparate groups that are able to establish a line of communication leading to collaboration and a mutual respect. I have a strong interest in combat sports, but see similar opportunities in concerts, eSports, and Broadway-style shows.
I’ll admit, it is a lofty goal for only five years down the line, but it worked for Trojan alum Frank Fertitta. If he can put the UFC on the map and have a building named for him, I think I can too.
Gaby Omenn
University of Southern California, Marshall School of Business
“My best days are spent learning, laughing, solving puzzles, and making memories with loved ones.”
Hometown: Miami, FL
Fun Fact About Yourself: I make award-winning guacamole.
Undergraduate School and Major: Princeton University, Religion; Boston University, Master’s in Education
Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Google, Program Manager
Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: By and large, the most pivotal experience in my career so far was my classroom during my time at Teach For America. My second year, I taught 20 bright 5thth and 6th graders in my sheltered English immersion classroom. These students hailed from all parts of the globe and had varying levels of educational attainment up to that my point. It was my job to make sure they reached (and exceeded) the learning goals we set at the start of the year. By the end of the year, we had done just that and the reflections I gained from that time I still apply today:
- Setting a goal together early is incredibly important. You’ll refer back to that north star at many points during a project, productivity push, etc.
- Building trust is incredibly important to achieving goals. Language barriers and cultural differences should not get in the way of that.
- Laughter is universal.
What quality best describes the MBA classmates you’ve met so far and why? Invested. All of my classmates that I’ve met so far are invested in the program, their careers and building relationships with each other. It’s extremely heartening to see that we’re all here for the right reasons.
Aside from your classmates, what was the key factor that led you to choose this program for your full-time MBA and why was it so important to you? USC’s alumni network was a massive draw for me. As I explain later, I knew I wanted to be in Los Angeles after graduation for a number of reasons, and I thought of no better way to ingratiate myself in the LA community than by joining USC’s ranks. Trojans–and in particular, Marshall Trojans– take care of each other and maintain strong relationships well beyond their two years in the classroom.
What club or activity are you looking most forward to in business school? I’m really invested in closing the opportunity gap for minorities and other underrepresented groups. As such, I’m excited to play a big role in GWiB (Graduate Women in Business) and the Latino Business Association.
What led you to pursue an MBA at this point in your career? So far in my career, I’ve had the privilege of working at two very prominent organizations within their industries – Google and Teach For America. Knowing the impact large companies have in positively impacting their surrounding community and seeing first-hand what some of the highest needs are in underserved communities here in the U.S., I feel incredibly passionate about eventually leading the corporate philanthropy wing of a company. To do so, I need to bolster my strategic and quantitative skillset and build my network with key individuals in that space. Business school is a natural place to start.
How did you decide if an MBA was worth the investment? Once I zeroed in on the career path I wanted to chart, I looked at the leaders in philanthropy and reviewed their credentials. They all had MBAs. I then did some searches on roles I’d love to snag after graduating. They all strongly preferred or required an MBA degree. This sealed the deal for me.
What other MBA programs did you apply to? Stanford GSB, Berkeley Haas, UW Foster, UCLA Anderson
How did you determine your fit at various schools? I knew I wanted to stay on the west coast (and ideally, move back to LA) both from a career and cultural perspective for me and my family. Throughout the recruitment and admissions process, I paid close attention to the career opportunities offered and communication styles at each of the schools. Going to business school eleven years out was a big risk for me, and I wanted to make sure the investment I was making was met with equal investment from the business school itself. I settled on USC because I was impressed by how high touch its admission team was, its commitment to elevate women’s voices in the program, and the strong alumni network I’d soon be joining.
What was your defining moment and how did it shape who you are? My senior year of college, dead set on joining Teach For America, I completed the lengthy application and interview process, and was rejected. I was devastated. I knew I would be a great teacher, but I realized I just wasn’t a competitive applicant. Still, I cared deeply about TFA’s mission, so I applied to join their Human Assets team as an assistant. Over the next two years, I was faced with my rejection daily, working with peers who had taught before joining the organization’s staff. I worked hard to not let that shake my confidence. During this time, I read Mindset by Carol Dweck, a book that has shaped how I present myself professionally and armed me with the tools to transform my mindset.
I reapplied to TFA and joined the inaugural Boston cohort. Here, I led my ESL students, who were years behind their peers, to achieve significant academic gains. I saw parallels between their histories and mine and I strove each day to show how early failures can inform future success rather than predict future failure. I’ve applied that lesson to every role I’ve assumed since. My growth mindset is a core reason why I’ve excelled at TFA and Google, taking on additional responsibility with each promotion.
That early rejection has been more empowering than some of the successes I’ve earned since — it serves as a reminder to learn from missteps, let go, and move on. I’m thankful that lesson came so early in my career.
What do you plan to do after you graduate? I’ve got a few paths I’m toying with: I’m looking for a program officer position at a leading foundation; a manager position in strategic philanthropy at a large LA-based company; or a consultant role at an entertainment or nonprofit consulting firm.
Where do you see yourself in five years? In five years, I am in a senior role at a community foundation or a corporation’s social responsibility wing whose goal is to make educational opportunity more attainable for underrepresented groups — particularly women and immigrant families — so that they can more readily step into positions of influence and reach their fullest potential.
Alex Peiffer
University of Southern California, Marshall School of Business
“Impact-oriented marketing professional and US Air Force enlisted veteran passionate about travel, aviation, and rugby.”
Hometown: Port Clinton, OH
Fun Fact About Yourself: I earned my pilot’s license during my time in undergrad. I haven’t flown in recent years, but I’d love to get back in the cockpit someday.
Undergraduate School and Major: The Ohio State University, Marketing and Finance
Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Capital One – Principal Associate, Card Marketing
Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: Early in my career as a marketer in Unilever’s Food Solutions division, the organization underwent significant restructuring, which left me solely responsible for marketing activity in multiple key retail channels. Shortly after this development, I crafted a strategy to implement a national channel activation, utilizing multiple unique touchpoints including an innovative SMS component. The campaign helped drive a significant category sales lift and captured triple the amount of CRM data compared to previous benchmarks. Through the guidance of my brand marketing and sales counterparts, I learned an incredible amount about team leadership, strategy, and influence during this time.
What quality best describes the MBA classmates you’ve met so far and why? In a word: collaborative. Considering your class as a family may seem like an unrealistic concept, but at Marshall, the Trojan Family is real. It is truly amazing to experience how much time and effort classmates and second years are willing to dedicate to helping each other while expecting nothing in return.
Aside from your classmates, what was the key factor that led you to choose this program for your full-time MBA and why was it so important to you? It’s very difficult to choose just one, because it was a combination of two main factors that led me to choose USC Marshall. Unsurprisingly, one is the strength of the Trojan network. I’m confident, however, that this will be well-explored in other classmates’ profiles, so I want to instead highlight the robust culture of veteran involvement and support at Marshall.
Although our relatively small program size results in a modest total number of veterans, the resources and camaraderie at Marshall are second to none. We’re very fortunate to have the Schoen Family Scholarship program, which provides financial backing for veterans over and above standard VA and Yellow Ribbon benefits. The Marshall Military Veterans Club helps create an environment for veterans to thrive at Marshall and was incredibly helpful to me during the admissions process. Veterans are also represented in Marshall’s administration – the Assistant Dean and Director of Graduate Career Services, Mark Brostoff, is a Navy Veteran. As a result, the career services team is also well-versed in helping veterans transition to successful careers in the private sector.
What club or activity are you looking most forward to in business school? I’m looking forward to PRIME, which is an international business trip all first year Marshall students take before starting our summer internships. Students select destinations among business hubs in Asia and South America, then travel to complete consulting projects on real issues for businesses in those markets. Since I’m fascinated by global business and I love to travel, it’s a perfect part of the program for me.
What led you to pursue an MBA at this point in your career? Professionally, I wanted to sharpen skills that are necessary for managerial success: leadership, communication, strategy, analysis, and so on. I was also ready to explore careers in industries more aligned with my passions and interests. Personally, I felt that I was ready for new experiences and new connections.
How did you decide if an MBA was worth the investment? My decision to invest in a full-time MBA program was based on many factors, and not all of them were purely rational. Sure, I expect to get a financial return, but I believe most of the value of a full-time program comes from the experiences, connections, and memories I’ll make along the way.
What other MBA programs did you apply to? London Business School, Northwestern Kellogg, Chicago Booth
How did you determine your fit at various schools? Fit within a program starts with knowing yourself. I took a lot of time to reflect on what I wanted out of a program, both professionally and personally. From there, I did significant amounts of online research through school websites, rankings, and blogs to determine if a school’s academics, employment report, and reputation fit with what I was looking to achieve. This provided a shortlist, but from there, it was vital for me to visit the schools and get a feel for culture. Observing and talking with students, faculty, and staff was the best way for me to determine whether or not I felt at home.
What was your defining moment and how did it shape who you are? In 2011, I climbed aboard a US Air Force C-17 transport plane to fly to Ramstein AB, Germany for annual training. This was my first international experience outside of North America. Although our free time to see the country was limited, the experience was still transformational. Experiencing a new culture in an unfamiliar land was exhilarating. This trip was the genesis of my passion for travel and unique cultural experiences. It has since shaped my goals in many ways, including my pursuit of an MBA.
What do you plan to do after you graduate? I hope to leverage my passion for travel and aviation by pursuing a marketing or business development career in the airline industry. However, I want my time at Marshall to be a period of discovery, so I am open to exploring different industries and functions.
Where do you see yourself in five years? In five years, I envision myself in a leadership role, through which I can make a significant business impact on an organization in an industry I’m passionate about.
Alexandra Pinckney
University of Southern California, Marshall School of Business
“I am an unapologetic life lover using faith & creativity to change the world.”
Hometown: Philadelphia, PA
Fun Fact About Yourself: I lived in Cuba during the embargo.
Undergraduate School and Major: New York University – Sociology/Pre-med concentration
Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Hirtle Callaghan & Co., Executive Assistant to the CEO
Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: Having the courage and faith to stand tall in my purpose has been the most rewarding moment of my career so far. Two years ago, I founded RootsxWings Digital, a digital media company to celebrate the diversity of teen girls of the African diaspora and integrate their ideas and values into mainstream culture.
As a little Black girl obsessed with biomedical sciences, ancient Egypt, fine arts, and ballet, I was unable to reconcile who I understood myself to be with the monolithic image that society painted. I simply did not see people who looked like me highlighted in society and media. Not because there weren’t others like me, but because our true narratives weren’t told. While we have made some strides in representation within the media and entertainment industry, we are still hitting milestones that show we have a ways to go.
Being able to create a vehicle for girls across the African Diaspora to see themselves and build a community through original written and video content means I get to be at the frontline of the change that I want to see. RootsxWings, for me, is more than a business venture; it is my legacy and statement to the world that WE ALL have a unique story that deserves to be shared and acknowledged.
What quality best describes the MBA classmates you’ve met so far and why? Family. I moved to Los Angeles from Philadelphia a little over a month ago, leaving my close friends and family on the east coast. While I eagerly welcome new experiences, my friends and family are my heartbeat, so this transition did not come without challenges and adjustments to my new home. That quickly changed when I arrived on campus for orientation and ran into the new buddies I made during Admit Weekend and my Consortium crew. Fast forward to one-and-a-half weeks into our program and we are laughing, learning, struggling and growing together. We’re celebrating weddings, internship offers and have already planned a big family-style trip to Vegas for an unforgettable triple milestone birthday celebration.
Aside from your classmates, what was the key factor that led you to choose this program for your full-time MBA and why was it so important to you? I chose Marshall because of its highly regarded Trojan Network. As an entrepreneur, social capital will for sure be one of my largest assets. It was important to me that I came to a school where I could tap into a diverse knowledge pool from my peers and predecessors as I advance in my personal and professional development. Additionally, the extensive SC network would provide me with continuous learning opportunities as a mentor and mentee.
What club or activity are you looking most forward to in business school? Each year the USC Black Alumni Association ceremoniously welcomes Black graduate students across the university with a pinning ceremony as a symbolic passing of the torch and act that exclaims, “We see you and are here with and for you.” As a first-generation Black female graduate student and east coast transplant, I am excited to be rooted in another aspect of the Trojan family that will support and reaffirm me as I navigate unknown territory.
What led you to pursue an MBA at this point in your career? Over the last six years I developed efficient processes and strategic solutions for CEOs of investment management firms. I gained significant exposure to complex business leadership and organizational strategy and enjoyed using my social science and analytical background to strategically manage the executive office. After a few years, however, I felt like I had lost sight of my social commitment.
Hoping to reconnect, I joined iMentor as a college prep mentor where we used an online platform to supplement our traditional meetings. My time with them reinvigorated my passion for innovation and advocacy for overlooked populations. I began contemplating ways I might be able to use tech to scale mentorship and advocacy and created RootsxWings Digital to leverage digital media and social networks to build supportive communities and curate authentic narratives for young women of color.
Today, I am working to build my brand and grow a digital media business that in a few tomorrows will become a global mass media company. I am pursuing an MBA to complement my knowledge with the technical, quantitative toolset that will help me synthesize my ideas into measurable, easily integrated solutions and serve as an effective, global leader.
How did you decide if an MBA was worth the investment? I’ve always viewed education as an invaluable asset with infinitesimal growth. When I decided that an MBA was the next best step for me, I honestly did not question value of the investment. How I would pay for it and support myself while in school were my biggest questions? I did an analysis of the skills that I currently have, my passions that drive me, and what I would need to attain my goal of becoming a global digital media entrepreneur. Could I do it without school? Sure. Would it take me twice or three times as long to get there? Absolutely.
There are so many intangibles that come with an MBA, school for that matter. Things like a heightened awareness, tolerance, curiosity, and empathy from consistently engaging with people from different sociocultural and economic backgrounds: they’re the true value add. An MBA is like a fast track to a broadened perspective of yourself and others. That’s the gold mine for me.
What other MBA programs did you apply to? NYU Stern, Columbia Business School, UCLA Anderson, McDonough, Goizueta, Chicago Booth
What was your defining moment and how did it shape who you are? Growing up in a predominantly white, Jewish neighborhood with very little ethnic diversity, I developed significant identity issues as they related to my race and skin color. My brother and I counted for two of five black children in our entire elementary school. Our parents both came from lower economic backgrounds and worked really hard to provide us with a stable environment and excellent education. We lived a really comfortable suburban life, but the tradeoff was the diversity. To offset this, our parents enrolled us in extracurricular activities throughout the city. By about second grade, I didn’t feel like I belonged anywhere. At school, my friends constantly pointed out how different my hair looked, felt and smelled. At dance class, my friends said I “talked white” and dressed weird. It wasn’t long before I told my parents that I wish I weren’t black and being white would be easier. Imagine having that conversation with your 8 year old!
The next six years, I remained unsure of who I was supposed to be. At 14, I was accepted into a summer biomedical science training program for underrepresented minorities. While we all had being science nerds in common, we were so different. We came from private schools, boarding schools, public schools. Some of us grew up in the projects. Others grew up in affluent and middle class neighborhoods. We spoke multiple languages and our families hailed from a variety of countries. We broke the image that society portrayed. That summer, none of that mattered. For the first time, I could see my place in the world and realized that it was anywhere I could be uniquely me.
What do you plan to do after you graduate? After business school, I will focus on my transition from Founder of RootsxWings Digital to CEO. My two foremost goals will be pushing the product forward into the product-market fit phase and crystallizing operations. I will additionally continue developing relationships to acquire more original content and form partnerships with similarly missioned brands.
Where do you see yourself in five years? In five years, I see myself running RootsxWings as a fully established brand in the marketplace. I would like to begin strategizing the transition into a global mass media company with global relationships and satellite offices to keep the pulse on the needs of our audience. I will also be leading an effort to transport the RootsxWings community from a digital landscape to the physical through a confluence of events and programming. My most critical vision for that time is that I will employ my knowledge and network to redefine the digital media-tech pipeline through a global education program that will train young women of color in tech, writing and media.
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