Alumni

Collaborative Leadership: Insights from Tai Doong, Chief Marketing Activist at Torani
podcast graphic with Guest Tai Doong
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Collaborative Leadership: Insights from Tai Doong, Chief Marketing Activist at Torani

netWORKed Podcast: Episode 2

Host Chris Marshall asks alum Tai Doong MBA 97, the chief marketing activist at Italian soda flavor company Torani, about the biggest challenges in marketing, including implementing AI, data-driven personalization and the social impact as a B-corp. Listen and follow.

What to Know Before You Enroll in a Master's Degree with Arpita Mangal
Arpita Mangal wearing a graduation cap and gown
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What to Know Before You Enroll in a Master's Degree with Arpita Mangal

UC Davis MSBA alumna interviewed on TechGuide podcast

Tune in as MSBA alumna Arpita Mangal shares the importance of hands-on experience, the benefits of the UC Davis MSBA program, the power of networking in San Francisco, her innovative projects in the healthcare sector, career advice and more.

Class of 2023: What’s Next for You?
What's Next? Class of 2023 video thumbnail
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Class of 2023: What’s Next for You?

Our largest class ever is ready to change the world

View videos of our newest alumni from the Class of 2023 who share where they are heading next in their careers and future pursuits.

“What Does it Mean to be a Collaborative Leader?”
At the retreat, Kevin Leung (left) meets up with Dr. Bennet Omalu (right), who emphasized that the most successful leaders are the ones who live out authenticity and fight for the truth to be known.
Blog

“What Does it Mean to be a Collaborative Leader?”

Culminating retreat in Monterey brings MBAs and top executives together

Bay Area MBA Kevin Leung recaps our three-day Advanced Collaborative Leadership Program retreat in Monterey, Calif., where students learned from top executives and presented their legacy statements.

Work Where You Want to Live: My Move to Western Wyoming
Williams family posing in front of their business sign
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Work Where You Want to Live: My Move to Western Wyoming

How my UC Davis MBA helped shape my career and life

MBA alumnus Grant Williams shares the big risks he and his family took to follow their dreams to move to rural Wyoming, putting what he learned into play to launch and operate The Block, a growing meat processing plant.

Jayce Smalley Earns National Football Foundation Scholar-Athlete Honor
Jayce Smalley NFF Award 2023
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Jayce Smalley Earns National Football Foundation Scholar-Athlete Honor

MBA grad and MPAc student recognized for performance, academic achievement and leadership

A leader in the classroom and on the field, UC Davis football student-athlete Jayce Smalley, a MBA alumnus and MPAc student, was named a 2022 National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame Scholar-Athlete by the Sacramento Valley Chapter.

MBA Graduate Michael Hurlston Named CAAA Outstanding Alumnus
Michael Hurlston
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MBA Graduate Michael Hurlston Named CAAA Outstanding Alumnus

UC Davis alumni award winners to be celebrated at 50th anniversary Gala

The Cal Aggie Alumni Association this spring will recognize three-time UC Davis alum Michael Hurlston 88, MBA 90, MS 91 with the 2023 Outstanding Alumnus Award. Hurlston is the CEO of Synaptics, a leader in the Internet of Things market.

Moo-ved into Action: Bridging Small Farmers and Big Food Companies
Kate Capurso
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Moo-ved into Action: Bridging Small Farmers and Big Food Companies

My MBA journey leading to the sustainability team at Blue Diamond Growers

Full-Time MBA alumna Kate Capurso reflects on how her MBA journey, including the Food & Ag Industry Immersions experience, led to the sustainability team at Blue Diamond Growers.

Nobody Leads Alone
Don't Lead Alone book cover
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Nobody Leads Alone

What co-writing a book on leadership taught me about leadership

Alumnus Daniel Student MBA 20 gives a behind-the-scenes look into co-authoring with fellow GSM alumnus Cleveland Justis their book Nobody Leads Alone which publishes Feb. 27, 2023.

Daniel Student MBA 20
Profile

Daniel Student MBA 20

Senior Consultant, Potrero Group

Why did you choose UC Davis?

I chose UC Davis because one of the student hosts said "nobody is from Davis" (which is, of course, a small exaggeration). It felt like a full-time MBA program where people would come from around the world and want to join together and form a community. And that was absolutely my experience. I was in a moment in life where I wanted to explore and find a new career, so having that supportive environment was crucial.

Previous Work Experience

  • Co-authored Don’t Lead Alone: Think Like a System Act Like a Network, and Lead Like a Movement, published by Fast Company
Sonic Prabhudesai Named Alumni Association's 2023 Rising Star
Sonic Prabhudesai and Dean H. Rao Unnava
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Sonic Prabhudesai Named Alumni Association's 2023 Rising Star

Marketing and analytics strategist at Meta wins award for early career and volunteerism impact

A member of the inaugural Masters of Science in Business Analytics class, Prabhudesai recognized for his early career success and volunteerism.

Aaron Carpenter Recognized with Alumni Association's 2023 Distinguished Achievement Award
Dean H. Rao Unnava and Aaron Carpenter
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Aaron Carpenter Recognized with Alumni Association's 2023 Distinguished Achievement Award

Global marketing expert honored for his leadership, work ethic and impact

Two-time UC Davis alumnus Aaron Carpenter MBA 98 has built multi-billion-dollar brands for companies such as Levi Strauss and The North Face. Today, he is founder and CEO of ACV Consulting, which specializes in supporting global lifestyle brands and startup ventures.

MSBA Alums: Advice on Paying Off Student Loans
graduation cap and money
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MSBA Alums: Advice on Paying Off Student Loans

UC Davis MSBA consistently ranks in the top 10 for “Value for Money”

More than half of all graduate students take out loans to fund their education—and face repaying that debt. Alice Shen interviewed three MSBA alumni about their experiences.

MSBA Alumnus at Google: “Prioritize Your Time”
MSBA students including Siva Naga Yashas Bhaskara Venkata and . Siva Arulkumar
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MSBA Alumnus at Google: “Prioritize Your Time”

UC Davis MSBA offers opportunities to learn, have fun, expand your thinking

MSBA alum Naga “Yashas” Bhaskara Venkata, now at Apple, asked fellow alum Siva Arulkumar, now at Google, about his student experience and advice for prospective students.

Jayce Smalley Named to Poets&Quants' 2022 MBAs to Watch
Jacye-Smalley MBA 22 for P&Q
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Jayce Smalley Named to Poets&Quants' 2022 MBAs to Watch

After playing Division I football for UCLA, recent Full-Time MBA alum Jayce Smalley transferred to UC Davis to compete on the field and earn his MBA. Smalley was recently recognized among Poets&Quants' MBAs to Watch: Class of 2022.

Over the EDGE: Reinventing Myself by Stepping Out of My Comfort Zone
New MBA student Esther Muriithi on her first day of grad school
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Over the EDGE: Reinventing Myself by Stepping Out of My Comfort Zone

Lessons learned in networking as an extroverted introvert and UC Davis MBA student

Esther Muriithi shares her experience juggling being a Sacramento MBA student, nurse and parent, and how she’s spreading her wings to become a better networking professional.

MPAc Alumna Brianna Dean-Sysum Readies to Join EY
2022 MPAc graduate Brianna Dean-Sysum in front of Gallagher Hall
Blog

MPAc Alumna Brianna Dean-Sysum Readies to Join EY

2022 Master of Professional Accountancy grad shares her path to Big 4 firm

Recent MPAc alumna Brianna Dean-Sysum shares the value of UC Davis’ accounting program and her tips and advice for prospective students.