Put yourself in as many opportunities as possible to improve your leadership and teamwork skills. You have to be able to work with others and show that you can drive results, a skill that will bring success to your career in a variety of fields.
Accomplishments:
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In my first job at Eaton, I managed 44 suppliers and $36 million in material spend and contributed to over $1 million of cost out and avoidance
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In my second job at Lowe’s, I executed over $2 million savings in handling, freight and flow changes on a $2.8 billion business
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Most recently at Kurt Salmon, we advised a more than $3 billion specialty retailer on Enterprise Benchmarking and Cost transformation. I developed a business case and program to drive $60 million annual cost reduction. We are currently advising the same client in implementation and tracking toward more than $100 million savings estimates.
Why did you decide to apply and enroll at the Moore School for your education?
I always knew I wanted to attend business school but didn’t know what major. It just happened that South Carolina was close to home, and the Moore School had a broad offering of majors I could choose from.
What were the expectations you had in pursuing your degree? In what areas did the Moore School meet or exceed those expectations?
Moore School exceeded my expectations in every manner in terms of the learning experience and career opportunities. What I quickly learned was that the quality of teachers made the learning experience so great at all levels. My introductory business classes were just as important to my development as my 400 level classes. I found my initial internships at Sodexo through the Office of Career Management's jobs database and found my first job at Eaton’s Supply Chain Leadership Program through the close relationship Eaton has with the Moore School. Potential employers took me seriously at career fairs and job interviews; one of the main drivers of that was the reputation that the Moore School has built on behalf of all their students.
Can you tell us about a time during your Moore School education, maybe something that you have learned in class or a discussion with a professor, that has helped you during your life and career?
The Global Supply Chain & Operations Management Greenbelt Capstone Project at Cummins Turbo Technologies (CTT) provided my first experience in consulting. Professor Ahire and Professor Malhotra were our project sponsors, and they showed me the importance of what it means to be a trusted adviser to a client and managing a project team. We developed a supply chain risk assessment tool that analyzed and reduced risk in CTT’s global casting supply chain. It is one of many examples where I was given the opportunity to apply what I learned in class to real-world experiences.
What insights would you like to share with today's Moore School students? If you had to pick an experience from your life to explain the value of your education, what would that be?
Put yourself in as many opportunities as possible to improve your leadership and teamwork skills. You have to be able to work with others and show that you can drive results, a skill that will bring success to your career in a variety of fields. Take advantage of extracurricular activities, team-based projects and work internships to hone these skills. Get internship experiences that allow you to be a leader and solve problems.
What are the aspects of your job that you find most satisfying and challenging?
The most satisfying part of my job is advising and creating real change within some of the best clients in a dynamic retail industry: 30 of the world’s top 50 retailers — and all of the top five. Our clients face an unprecedented combination of technological advancements, competitive shifts and changing consumer behavior, so there’s always a new problem that needs to be solved. The most challenging part of the job is that because we are small and entrepreneurial at heart — as consultants, we are expected to make an immediate impact and become experts quickly. We are given a high level of responsibility that entails engaging with project partners and client executives from week one.
Perseverance and positive attitude keep you growing and learning. That has stuck with me and helped me frame my mindset when it comes to stretching my goals personally and professionally.
Accomplishments:
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Met and married the love of my life
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Transitioned from the oil industry to the entertainment industry in 2012
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Was promoted from HR manager to HR director in 2014 at NBCUniversal, where I work for a great company with a great team
Why did you decide to apply and enroll at the Moore School for your education?
I decided to apply and enroll at the Moore School in the Master of Human Resources program because of how well the school partners with companies to ensure that the curriculum is relevant and aligns to current and future needs, resulting in employment success across a variety of industries within reputable businesses. Being a psychology major, I always knew I wanted to pursue and advanced degree in human resources, and the school’s global business focus stood out to me. After visiting the program and campus, I felt confident that I would receive the multifaceted type of education I was looking for to fast-track my career after graduation.
What were the expectations you had in pursuing your degree? In what areas did the Moore School meet or exceed those expectations?
In pursing my MHR degree, I wanted to build subject matter expertise on how to partner with businesses from a human resources capacity and be able to put it into practice. I understood psychology and human resources, but I needed to learn how to better align those competencies to drive business results. I also wanted to surround myself with an environment where I could learn from diverse perspectives and take advantage of opportunities to collaborate. The Moore School gave me that opportunity and helped me build my network so that I could select and participate in a variety of different experiences. The Moore School really exceeded my expectations when it came to the Office of Career Management. They set the foundation for me to learn about myself and my career aspirations and provided the structure that enabled me to build my own network through informational outreach, career fairs and interviews. I met so many inspirational people while at the Moore School.
Can you tell us about a time during your Moore School education, maybe something that you have learned in class or a discussion with a professor, that has helped you during your life and career?
Going into my second year of the MHR program, I was very fortunate to continue my studies abroad at ESCP Europe in Paris, France. In my conversations with the Office of Career Management and Moore School administration, I was encouraged and supported to try something new and carve a path for MHR students who want to study abroad. They helped me weigh opportunities and learn that one decision is not necessarily “better” than another; rather, it is all about development when it comes to venturing into a new experience and making the most of it. Perseverance and positive attitude keeps you growing and learning. That has stuck with me and helped me frame my mindset when it comes to stretching my goals personally and professionally.
What insights would you like to share with today's Moore School students? If you had to pick an experience from your life to explain the value of your education, what would that be?
I would encourage today’s Moore School students to take advantage of all the school has to offer. Do not sit back. Be proactive. Treat your internship interviews like they are job interviews post-graduation. Learn from everyone all the time. Know what you want and figure out what it will take to get there. Put actions in place to make it happen. In 2012, I decided to accept an HR manager position at NBCUniversal and set roots in Los Angeles. My education and experiences at the Moore School played a huge role in giving me the continued confidence to try new things and make myself uncomfortable to ensure that I am constantly developing. My education has taught me that I am in the driver’s seat of my career and to go for it.
What are the aspects of your job that you find most satisfying and challenging?
My job involves partnering with the technology organization at NBCUniversal from an HR perspective to achieve business goals through technology enablement and innovation. Technology is evolving and changing every day.Matching the pace of technical talent and carrying out a people strategy to enable the business keeps me on my toes by constantly reframing my thought process to focus on strategy. The dynamics of technology for every industry create both a satisfying and challenging environment to be a part of where you must constantly develop and innovate in your craft.
I have to thank the Darla Moore School of Business for providing me with the skills and education to impress my future employers, and most importantly for putting my name on the map where it did not appear before.
Accomplishments:
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I was recognized as a top performer at Infosys, where I exceeded my sales targets each fiscal half year for two years straight.
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I accepted a new position as an account executive at Nearshore Systems, which has allowed me to move back to South Carolina and be closer to family.
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This should be my No. 1 accomplishment. I recently proposed to my fiancée whom I met at the Moore School. We will be happily married in October 2016.
Why did you decide to apply and enroll at the Moore School for your education?
Growing up in South Carolina, I have always had respect for the Moore School and the reputation that precedes it. I have been particularly impressed by the International MBA program, which consistently ranks as one of the top programs in the nation. When I graduated from the College of Charleston in 2010 with a B.S. in Business Administration, I did not give much thought to going after a master’s degree. However, after two years passed and I found myself working in the same analyst-level position without much room for advancement, I decided it was time to make a change. I set my sights on the Moore School. After a few months of nail-biting anticipation, I was very excited to receive my acceptance letter in the mail. I knew that my life was about to change for the better, but I could not have imagined in how many ways!
What were the expectations you had in pursuing your degree? In what areas did the Moore School meet or exceed those expectations?
I admit that I had high expectations for this program. After all, I had made the decision to devote two years of my life to furthering my education in the hopes that it would have a big payoff at the end. By no stroke of luck, my expectations were met, and then some! After graduating from the International MBA program, I landed a high-level job with a respected international consulting company. And recently, I transitioned to a position with an exciting startup company that allows me to work from home in Greenville, South Carolina. I have to thank the Moore School for providing me with the skills and education to impress my future employers, and most importantly for putting my name on the map where it did not appear before.
Can you tell us about a time during your Moore School education, maybe something that you have learned in class, or a discussion with a professor that has helped you during your life and career?
Since graduating, I have been fortunate to work with two companies from very diverse cultural backgrounds. From my position as a business development executive at Infosys, a global IT Outsourcing corporation headquartered in India, to my position as an account executive with Nearshore Systems, a U.S. Software Engineering company with offices in Argentina, I have been exposed to a diverse range of business cultures. Fortunately, my education at the Moore School’s International MBA program has prepared me to perform well in an international business setting, and I have been very effective in communicating and making decisions in this environment. I owe my success largely in part to the globally-themed curriculum of the International MBA program including classes such as Global Strategic Management (DMSB 711) and International Management (DMSB 714), which have provided great contexts for doing business across international borders. In today’s increasingly global business world, being able to adapt to and learn from different cultures has become a necessity for success.
What insights would you like to share with today's Moore School students? If you had to pick an experience from your life to explain the value of your education, what would that be?
My biggest insight would be to take advantage of all the resources available to you while enrolled in the Moore School. The career services team is there for you, so don’t hesitate to meet with them early and often. Also, don’t forget to network with your professors inside and outside of the classroom — you would be surprised by how many people they know! The ultimate goal of this program is to land you a great job, so remember to keep that in mind and make time in your schedule to attend MBA conferences, career fairs, etc. They are worth it! And never forget that you are valuable and you have what these companies are looking for. So learn from the setbacks, but don’t ever let them slow you down. Speaking of the interviews, I would like to share one specific experience that was significant to me. That experience is when I got my first job offer. After several months of missed opportunities, I remember thinking that I needed to make a change. I thought, if I could study hard and knock the socks off of a test, why can’t I do the same thing with an interview? So I sat down and studied for two days and came into that interview room with a wealth of information. I had gained knowledge of the company’s industry and their specific business challenges, and I had connected those challenges to the relevant strategies that I had learned in the MBA program. And unlike my previous interviews, I didn’t spend all of my time focusing on my past experiences. Instead, I focused on things that I would like to do in the future. I could tell immediately that this was a different kind of conversation, and for the first time I realized that these corporate executives were actually learning something from me! Once I connected those dots, I began to approach the interviews in a different way, and I started to see much greater rates of success.
What are the aspects of your job that you find most satisfying and challenging?
In my current job, I am a member of a four-person executive team made up of the two company owners in San Francisco and the two account executives including myself working from home in Greenville, South Carolina, and Dallas, Texas. As you can imagine, the members of the executive team are all required to wear a lot of hats, and that is exciting and challenging at the same time! What I find most satisfying about my current job is that I am trusted with the responsibility to develop and implement high-level business strategies that will have immediate and lasting impacts on the organization. I will soon be able to see the results of my sales and marketing strategies firsthand, and I am very excited to know that my decisions will directly influence the success of this company. I couldn’t ask for a more challenging yet rewarding position for me to grow as a business professional, and I am very thankful to the Moore School for kick-starting my career.
Communication skills and working on a team are keys to success within my roles at Credit Suisse. I learned to be an effective leader through the project management opportunities in the Moore School curriculum.
Accomplishments:
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Leader of an ongoing Six Sigma Greenbelt Project at Credit Suisse
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Completed analyst rotations in Prime Services, Fixed Income and Risk Management
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Recognized as a top performer in my analyst class during year-end performance ratings
Why did you decide to apply and enroll at the Moore School for your education?
I was interested in pursuing a degree in international business and saw the Moore School IB program at the top of the rankings. I fell in love with the campus and the city of Columbia during my college visit and knew it was the place I wanted to be. USC had the strong academics and great student life experience I was looking for.
What were the expectations you had in pursuing your degree? In what areas did the Moore School meet or exceed those expectations?
I had been eager to begin my international business coursework and learn from the diverse group of professors that the university had assembled. The professors were engaging and offered comprehensive case studies that highlighted many of the business issues and topics that I’m dealing with in my profession. The Moore School also gave me a globalized perspective on business by allowing me to minor in Russian and study abroad in St. Petersburg, Russia, during the spring semester of my junior year.
Can you tell us about a time during your Moore School education, maybe something that you have learned in class or a discussion with a professor, that has helped you during your life and career?
Group projects incorporated within the finance and international business curriculum were a great help when it came to transitioning into the financial services industry. Communication skills and working on a team are keys to success within my roles at Credit Suisse. I learned to be an effective leader through the project management opportunities in the Moore School curriculum.
What insights would you like to share with today's Moore School students? If you had to pick an experience from your life to explain the value of your education, what would that be?
I would encourage Moore School students to identify their areas of interest and to start as soon as possible to secure relevant internships and experience. Job opportunities are as competitive as ever and many high-achieving students have begun to showcase relevant experience on their resumes as early as their freshman and sophomore years. This makes it increasingly important for Moore School students to gain corporate experience early on so that their resumes stand out when applying to junior year internships and entry-level jobs.
What are the aspects of your job that you find most satisfying and challenging?
I’m part of an Analyst Rotational Program which has given me exposure to many areas of the bank. The program is challenging since analysts face a steep learning curve at the onset of each rotation, but it's rewarding since we’re forced to adapt new roles and develop many marketable skills in the process.
Through the Office of Career Management, our class was offered an endless amount of opportunities to connect with top companies of all industries and sizes in order to pursue internship and full-time positions.
Accomplishments:
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Being promoted to my next role with Pepsi as a senior HR generalist
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Helped roll out a new delivery system at Columbia Pepsi Beverages Company, which has exponentially improved our employee engagement, retention and safety rates
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Initiated a brand new Campus Committee for PBC of the Carolinas, which helps better attract, engage and develop campus talent
Why did you decide to apply and enroll at the Moore School for your education?
I worked for four years after graduating from undergrad. I was able to realize from my experiences that my passions would be best suited for a career in human resources. When making a decision on which school to attend, I was determined to find an institution that was reputable for their business programs in general and offered career assistance to students upon graduation. It was also important to me that it have a respected and experienced faculty and staff along with an excellent track record of job placement and success of students after graduation. The MHR program at the Moore School offered an excellent group of staff and faculty that possess diverse and impressive experiences and backgrounds and that are genuinely committed to the support of the students’ growth and career goals. The classes, course work and activities offered by the program were designed to meet the needs and current state of the field and to best prepare us for the roles that we would soon be entering. Additionally, the job placement rate and career success of past students was incredibly impressive and gave me the utmost confidence in the program.
What were the expectations you had in pursuing your degree? In what areas did the Moore School meet or exceed those expectations?
My expectations were that the courses and additional opportunities would effectively prepare me for the field and that I would have opportunities to network and interview with top companies. I am proud to say that the school and program far exceeded these expectations. The MHR courses were challenging personally, educationally and professionally and pushed me to think strategically in order to be successful. The course work was developed and tailored to the current state and needs of the field, and there were unlimited opportunities outside of the actual classes to listen to speakers from the HR profession and participate in additional developmental activities. Additionally, the classes and program as a whole allowed me to build strong relationships with my classmates and professors that will have a lasting impact on my life. The Office of Career Management provided us with opportunities to perfect our resume and interviewing techniques in order to best prepare us for the connections that we made throughout the program. Beyond the classroom experiences and career opportunities, the program offered other ways to get involved and develop professionally through the clubs offered. The clubs we had the opportunity to get involved with were Society for Human Resource Management, a professional organization, and Master of Human Resources Association, a networking and social organization. These two clubs allowed the opportunity for students to take on leadership roles, develop through professional and networking opportunities, and become more involved with the program and school.
Can you tell us about a time during your Moore School education, maybe something that you have learned in class or a discussion with a professor, that has helped you during your life and career?
There are countless situations and conversations from my time at the Moore School that I will look back on and will have an amazing impact on my personal and professional future. Some of the experiences that stand out to me the most are from me having the ability to be a graduate assistant for the Office of Career Management. While working for them, I had the opportunity to advise students on a daily basis on improving their resume and interviewing techniques. This allowed me to meet many students from various backgrounds and all walks of life and gave me the opportunity to learn about their experiences and career aspirations. Assisting students in this capacity also helped me to further develop my ability to adapt to and work with various personalities and improve my mentoring abilities. The experiences I gained while working with these individuals have been extremely rewarding and have had an incredible impact on my life and will continue to do so as I move forward in my career.
What insights would you like to share with today's Moore School students? If you had to pick an experience from your life to explain the value of your education, what would that be?
The insight I would offer to today’s and future Moore School students is to take advantage of every opportunity that is offered to you during your time there. Outside of classes, there will be many services and opportunities offered to you such as career fair workshops, resume reviews and professional speakers. As busy as you may feel sometimes with the mandatory obligations, the extra activities are worth taking advantage of. There will not be many times in life after school that you will have so many free services, networking opportunities and developmental activities offered to you on such a frequent basis. For this reason, utilize them now, and allow yourself to learn and grow as much as possible in this phase of your life.
What are the aspects of your job that you find most satisfying and challenging?
The most challenging aspect of my role is balancing the many different priorities that come along with being an HR generalist. Every day is fast paced and I am constantly jumping from one initiative to the next. However, it is also very satisfying that I get to be involved with such a variety of people, from frontline employees to leaders. The generalist role allows the opportunity to work on an endless array of projects that provide the best learning experiences I could ask for.
Accomplishments:
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Moved to Atlanta
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Started consulting position with ScottMadden
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Assigned my first consulting project
Why did you decide to apply and enroll at the Moore School for your education?
After living in Washington, D.C., and working for an international nonprofit, I was seeking an MBA program that truly "talked the talk and walked the walk" when it came to an international experience. Something more than just a two- or three-week trip during a break between terms. I was drawn to the idea of spending three to four months abroad studying a second language, immersing myself in that country’s business culture and then applying that knowledge during my internship experience. I also think that the Moore School offered a great economic value, both in terms of the overall cost and the experiences during the course of the program.
What were the expectations you had in pursuing your degree? In what areas did the Moore School meet or exceed those expectations?
I expected the program to provide a comprehensive education in business coming from an international framework. The courses were challenging and made me think in ways that I was not accustomed to coming from the nonprofit world. I decided to go to an MBA program because I wanted to learn about best practices using real-world examples and situations that came directly from practitioners, which the Moore School focused on providing to its students.
Can you tell us about a time during your Moore School education, maybe something that you have learned in class or a discussion with a professor, that has helped you during your life and career?
The hands-on learning aspects of the Moore School curriculum prepared me for my job in management consulting. We were afforded the opportunity to take on consulting projects as part of a class and we were expected to return a product of the same caliber as professional consultants would for their clients. The client interaction and fast pace of those class-based consulting projects has helped me in my current role at ScottMadden.
What insights would you like to share with today's Moore School students? If you had to pick an experience from your life to explain the value of your education, what would that be?
I would encourage students to take advantage of the consulting projects that are available to them, even if it means taking on more work in addition to the basic course load. The consulting projects that I participated in were invaluable, both in terms of client interaction and interaction with the faculty and professional staff.
What are the aspects of your job that you find most satisfying and challenging?
I joined my current project at its mid-point and was challenged to get caught up to speed in a very fast period of time so that I could add value to the team. While it has been one of the most challenging aspects of my work thus far, it has also been incredibly satisfying for the client and my team to turn to me for subject matter insights.
Thanks to the knowledge gained at the Moore School along with my work experiences, I have learned that accomplishing your biggest challenges will often lead to the most rewarding experiences.
Accomplishments:
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In my first job with Nestle, I was the fastest to complete the Leadership Development Program in organization history.
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In my second role with Nestle, I led a bottom 10 percent performing group to become a top 10 percent performing group by our KPI metrics in a year.
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Most recently, I was able to join the first group of Lidl US employees to lead our expansion into the U.S. market while gaining international experience in multiple locations abroad.
Why did you decide to apply and enroll at the Moore School for your education?
Choosing a school was easy for me. The Darla Moore School of Business is known for developing wonderful business leaders. I knew that I wanted to focus on finance, marketing and management in order to build a well-rounded business acumen. The Moore School provided me with fantastic development opportunities and easy access to professors with expertise in their respective fields.
What were the expectations you had in pursuing your degree? In what areas did the Moore School meet or exceed those expectations?
The Moore School allowed me a chance to learn from accomplished business professionals and organizations and gave me access to job opportunities and relevant learning experiences. My expectations were exceeded in all of these areas. Specifically, the career fair exceeded my expectations by providing opportunities to meet with a variety of potential employers. I was also very pleased with the multiple theoretical and practical learning settings that were applicable to real-life work experiences that I continue to use today.
Can you tell us about a time during your Moore School education, maybe something that you have learned in class or a discussion with a professor, that has helped you during your life and career?
Two of my former professors, Pat Hanly and Jason Wolfe, have been wonderful professional mentors to me, and they have both greatly influenced my career. They taught me a lot of valuable leadership and management principles that have shaped my leadership style that I carry throughout my professional life. They always went above and beyond to help their students, and I am grateful that I can still reach out to them whenever I have questions or need advice.
What insights would you like to share with today's Moore School students? If you had to pick an experience from your life to explain the value of your education, what would that be?
I would definitely encourage them to utilize their professors and the resources provided by the Career Center and to take on leadership roles in group projects and in student organizations on campus. I would offer these insights from experience knowing that they will be beneficial when leading teams, individuals and organizations in the future.
What are the aspects of your job that you find most satisfying and challenging?
Since graduating in May of 2013, I have faced many challenging situations in my professional life. One of the most satisfying is having the opportunity to live and work abroad. Each day at work, I am given the opportunity to lead and inspire individuals to work toward a common goal. Thanks to the knowledge gained at the Moore School along with my work experiences, I have learned that accomplishing your biggest challenges will often lead to the most rewarding experiences.
The network you build during these years will probably be just as important as the skills you learn. I’m lucky that there is a sizable alumni network in New York City, and a lot of my friends here also happen to be Gamecocks.
Accomplishments:
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Graduated from GE’s Financial Management Program
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Traveled from London to Beijing by train
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Promoted to director at NBCUniversal
Why did you decide to apply and enroll at the Moore School for your education?
Like many people, the Moore School initially caught my eye because of its No. 1 ranking in international business. I scheduled a campus tour, and that’s when I fell in love with the campus, the university as whole and the city of Columbia. I spoke with some ambassadors from the Moore School and heard about their great experiences. My tour of USC is what cemented the university as my first pick. It was so influential that I became an ambassador myself as a student to help others make the same decision.
What were the expectations you had in pursuing your degree? In what areas did the Moore School meet or exceed those expectations?
Beyond a solid business education, I wanted meaningful international experience and to build a beneficial professional network. During my time at the Moore School, I interned for a German manufacturer in China and was able to see firsthand how a multinational corporation manages its supply chain and operations in China. Following that internship, I completed an intensive Mandarin Chinese language program at Beijing University. Furthermore, the Moore School allowed me opportunities to attend business-minded conferences in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, New York and Los Angeles. These conferences not only expanded my network outside the Moore School, but they also allowed me to engage my various interests including business in Asia and economic development.
Can you tell us about a time during your Moore School education, maybe something that you have learned in class or a discussion with a professor, that has helped you during your life and career?
There are so many experiences at the Moore School that stick with me. Andy Spicer’s Globalization and Business course was among my favorites. The debate format of his class was not only engaging, but also taught me that most problems you’ll face in the business world are complex and there is no textbook answer. On the technical side, Mariah Lynch was an extraordinary accounting professor. As part of the GE Financial Management Program, I had to take accounting courses and tests. Although I was not an accounting major, I surprised myself and performed as well as others who were. Finally, the skills I learned from the Office of Career Management cannot be understated. The business etiquette dinners, resume workshops, and networking and branding presentations honed skills that are crucial in the business world.
What insights would you like to share with today's Moore School students? If you had to pick an experience from your life to explain the value of your education, what would that be?
I would tell students to get the most out of their time at the Moore School. Study abroad, get involved and get to know your professors and peers. The network you build during these years will probably be just as important as the skills you learn. I’m lucky that there is a sizable alumni network in New York City, and a lot of my friends here also happen to be Gamecocks.
What are the aspects of your job that you find most satisfying and challenging?
My job involves forecasting and creating strategy for advertising sales on all company-owned NBC and Telemundo stations. The broadcast television business is extremely unique and advertising inventory disappears as soon as a program airs. The challenges in my job include finding good comps for new and future programming as well as understanding all of our local markets to predict how many dollars are in the market and what rates advertisers are willing to pay.