Home: Student Success Stories
Tara Perkins MBA 00
Making Dreams Come True at the Intersection of Investments, Trust, Integrity
Briefly, describe your career path. What opportunities and decisions led to your present position as a senior vice president at Northern Trust?
In the summer of 1999, I began my MBA internship in the Corporate Services Group of Intel, where I valued Intel’s domestic real estate portfolio. Prior to that, I worked in personal finance and was curious to try corporate finance. While in corporate finance, I realized that I deeply missed serving a tangible client, an individual client.
Brian Gage MPAc 15 Finds Renewal at UC Davis
Perseverance Propels Him Toward Long-held Career Dream
The word “no” doesn’t resonate with Brian Gage MPAc 15. In high school, he dreamed of graduating from UC Davis.
As an undergraduate biochemistry major at Davis, he enrolled in pre-pharmacy while working at his family’s initially flourishing restaurant in Folsom. Gage’s dad, a computer engineer, bought the restaurant between jobs, investing his life savings into it. But he had no restaurant experience.
Aaron Carpenter MBA 98
Scales New Career Heights
You recently left a key position at The North Face to embark on a new adventure as chief customer officer at HubNami. What opportunities and decisions have determined your career?
My career has been a great adventure! As an undergraduate at UC Davis studying Russian I was exposed to another culture while studying abroad, and I got hooked on the idea of international business. After graduation I worked a couple years in Russia and D.C. in freight forwarding and international development—which ultimately resulted in my return to campus for my MBA.
Claire Kurmel MBA 04
A Focus on Financial Security
Describe your career path, from Barclay’s to BlackRock to your current position as managing director, North America channel marketing at State Street Global Advisors.
Looking back over the last 10 years, my career path appears to be linear. I accepted a digital marketing role at Barclays Global Investors in 2005, and now I am in a marketing leadership role for one of the world’s largest investment management firms. There were many ups and downs during that time. For example, the global financial crisis ushered in a new era of regulatory scrutiny and self-reflection.
Jesse Boulton MBA 16
Technology Investment Banking Associate Director, UBS
Student Leadership and Experience
- UC Davis MBA Ambassador
- Member: Finance Club, Food and Wine Club, Associated Students of Management
- GSM Team Leader: National Investment Banking Case Competition
- CFA Institute Investment Research Challenge
Previous Degree
- B.S., Secondary Education and History
Jessica Agee MPAc 13
Easily Leaps from MPAc to PwC
by Joanna Corman
While she was earning her bachelor’s degree in agricultural and resource economics from UC Davis, Jessica Agee took a long, hard look at the recovering economy to help guide her future.
She wanted to use her economics background in a career that would weather job market fluctuations. Becoming a certified public accountant fit the bill.
Chris Darbyshire MBA 15
Customer Sales Analyst, Intel
Student Leadership and Experience
- UC Davis MBA Ambassador
- Member, Associated Students of Management
- Member, Davis Student Veterans Organization
Previous Degree
B.A., Radio and Television, San Francisco State University
Emily Smith MBA 14
Community Marketing Manager, nuun & co
Student Leadership and Experience
- Co-President, Challenge 4 Charity
- Director of Finance, Marketing Association
- UC Davis MBA Ambassador
Previous Degree
B.A. History, University of Washington
Previous Work Experience
- Property Coordinator, Marriott International
- Front Office Supervisor, Marriott International
Q: What do you value most about your experience in the UC Davis MBA program?
Tyler Dibble MBA 14
Operations & Workforce Management Director, LendingClub
San Francisco, Calif.
Previous Position
Operations & Workforce Management Sr. Manager LendingClub | San Francisco, Calif.
Previous Degree
BS, Exercise Biology | University of California, Davis
I’ve found true community here that allows me to thrive as a student and a father. Davis has so much to offer that we always have a great time. I wouldn’t do it any other way.
Aditya Murari MBA 11
Senior Manager, Customer Engagement & Growth Marketing, Box
Previous Position
- Senior Product Marketing Manager, Customer Experience,
Cisco - Management Consulting Manager, Customer Strategy & Operations, PwC
- Senior Consultant, Marketing and Customer Strategy, Ernst & Young US LLP | San Francisco, Calif.
Previous Degree
BE, Information Science and Engineering; BMS, College of Engineering | Bangalore, India
The UC Davis MBA program is forward looking and extremely relevant to today’s business trends and challenges.
Richard Andrews JD/MBA 15
Associate, Latham & Watkins LLP
Student Leadership and Experience
- UC Davis MBA Ambassador
- Judicial Extern, California Office of Administrative Hearings
- ESL Teacher, Wuchang Experimental Primary School
Previous Degree
B.A., Economics, UC Berkeley
Vanessa Errecarte MBA 14
Founder/CEO, Erreco Strategies, LLC
Student Leadership and Experience
- UC Davis MBA Ambassador
- Member of Associated Students of Management
Previous Degree
M.A. Communication, University of the Pacific
B.A. Communication Studies, UC Davis (Minors in Music and Organizational Sociology)
Jason Bell MBA 00
Senior Vice President & Senior Investment Strategist, Wells Fargo Private Bank
Fast Facts
- Wells Fargo Global Equity Strategy team member
- CFA Society of Sacramento Past President
- CFA Institute volunteer leader
- Co-founder and writer, Sacramento Business Review
- Past team leader, Placer County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue
- Giving back: hosts UC Davis MBA students to Shadow Days at Wells Fargo; participates
Benjamin Fineberg MBA 05
Chief Financial Officer, TCHO Ventures Inc.
Berkeley, Calif.
The UC Davis MBA experience positioned me for success as the senior director of financial planning and analysis at Method, where we make premium healthy home and personal care products. The Graduate School of Management’s community and diversity of views opened me up to the idea that with good branding, innovation and a dedicated team, a company can change the world for the better while maximizing returns to investors.
Previous Position
VP Finance, 479 Degrees
Finance Manager, The Clorox Co., Oakland, Calif.
Chris Welsh MBA 05
Director of Sales, Snowflake Computing
San Francisco, Calif.
I gained the skills and knowledge to translate the fundamental leadership talents I developed in the military to the business world.
Elena Chavez Carey MBA 10
Managerial Consultant, Quality and Operations Support, The Permanente Medical Group Inc.
Oakland, Calif.
Working on a consulting project for Kaiser Permanente, the nation’s largest nonprofit health system, gave our team a crash course in healthcare economics, played out in the middle of the national healthcare debate. Now I help oversee quality and operations support at The Permanente Medical Group, Kaiser’s affiliated physician-owned for-profit partnership in Northern California.
Wayne Leighty MBA 10
Business Development Manager, Shell Oil Co.
San Francisco, Calif.
The leadership, collaboration and communications skills I learned in the UC Davis MBA program are critical to my success at Shell. My ability to build and motivate effective teams, understand our structure and strategy, and map power and influence in our stakeholder communities fuel my career.
Hilary Hoeber MBA 04
Design Strategist, Independent Consultant
San Francisco, Calif.
My UC Davis MBA experience was a life-shaping moment in a well-timed career pivot. The combination of excellent professors and an experienced, diverse student body was invaluable. The School’s focus on developing a holistic approach to fostering individual professional growth while deepening business acumen is unique.
Previous Position
Sr. Strategist, UberEATs, San Francisco, Calif.
Business Strategist, Scient, San Francisco, Calif., and London, U.K.
John Barnickel MBA 93
Vice President, Pacific Region, Medtronic Inc.
San Francisco, Calif.
Previous Degrees
B.S., Finance, California State University, Hayward
My career allows me to strike a rare balance between making money and making meaning. At Medtronic, I am accountable for $200+ million in revenue and 160 sales, service and management colleagues. My UC Davis MBA gave me a global perspective and opportunities to collaborate, tap synergies and improve project outcomes. I use the lessons for effective teamwork every day.