Vedika Shetty MSBA 26
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Profile

Vedika Shetty MSBA 26

I chose UC Davis MSBA to augment my management consulting background with data science & analytics. The program is fast-paced and intentional, setting a solid foundation to adapt to the ever-changing AI landscape. Being in San Francisco serves as the ultimate catalyst, providing direct access to industry leaders through guest lectures and mentorship.

Student Leadership and Experience

  • AI Product Lead at NewCo Advisory (MSBA Practicum Project)
  • Graduate Student Analyst (MSBA) and Reader for four courses in UC Davis GSM
  • P&G Emerging Leader, 2020 (awarded during MBA at IIM Calcutta)
  • President, Language
Priyanka Nayyar MSBA 26
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Profile

Priyanka Nayyar MSBA 26

UC Davis felt right. The STEM-designated MSBA offered the analytical depth I needed to pivot from pharma and product into data, without losing the business focus. The San Francisco campus sealed it. Being close to companies shaping AI and life sciences, alongside a collaborative cohort, faculty and real-world practicum, made this the place to build.

Student Leadership and Experience

  • Data science / machine learning
  • Program management 
  • Product management and marketing
  • AI / generative AI

Previous Education

  • MBA, Singapore Management University

Previous Work Experience

  • Digital Marketing Manager (Scrum
Shruthi Khurana MSBA 26
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Profile

Shruthi Khurana MSBA 26

Honestly, UC Davis chose me, and I’m glad it did. The MSBA program’s mix of technical rigor, applied analytics and Bay Area access helped me pivot from banking into data and AI. What stands out most is the collaborative, supportive cohort. People share opportunities and show up for each other, making this experience both impactful and real.

Student Leadership and Experience

  • Project Manager, Lagunitas MSBA Practicum Project
  • Treasurer, Annual Cultural Fest
  • Team Member, Alumni Relations Society 

Previous Education

  • MBA, Marketing & Operations, Xavier School of Management (XLRI)
  • BE, Computer Science, SGS
Andi Casner MPAc 25
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Profile

Andi Casner MPAc 25

I chose UC Davis because I started my accounting journey here during my undergraduate studies. It only felt right to finish that journey at the Graduate School of Management!

Current Position

  • PwC Audit Associate

Previous Work Experience

  • AATC Writing Tutor, UC Davis
  • Graduate School of Management Teaching Assistant, UC Davis

Previous Education

  • Bachelor's in economics and minor in Accounting, UC Davis

Fun Facts

  • I was a cheerleader for 13 years, including at UC Davis. 
  • In my free time, I enjoy spending time with friends and family. 
  • One of my favorite things to do in new places is to try local coffee shops.
Tim Keller MBA 08
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Profile

Tim Keller MBA 08

I chose UC Davis because, as a winemaker, I wanted a business school with faculty focused specifically on the wine industry.

Current Position

  • Executive Director, Inventopia / Managing Partner, Gunrock Venture Studio

Previous Work Experience

  • CEO, VinPerfect

Previous Education

  • Viticulture & Enology, UC Davis

Fun Facts

  • Living in Davis, I have logged more than 6,000 miles on a one-wheeled skateboard.
  • I enjoy learning new technical disciplines and am self-taught in CAD, CNC machining and industrial automation.
  • I am also a housing activist, co-founding PlanDavis to help the city expand affordable housing.
Brett Smith MBA 24
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Profile

Brett Smith MBA 24

UC Davis is a prestigious university with a top-notch Online MBA program.

Current Position

  • Regional Vice President, Hinge Health

Previous Work Experience

  • Regional Vice President, Sales, Oshi Health
  • Regional Vice Presdient, Sales, Teladoc Health
  • Associate Benefits Consultant, Health and Pension Consulting, Segal
  • Market Director, Sales, Vision Service Plan

Previous Education

  • Bachelor's in business administration, Cal Poly SLO

Fun Facts

  • I train martial arts as a hobby including Muay Thai and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.
  • I recently relocated from Northern California to Boise, Idaho.
  • I have two kids.
Farah Shartaz MBA 22
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Profile

Farah Shartaz MBA 22

Choosing UC Davis was one of the best decisions of my life. As a marketer passionate about food and CPG, I gained real-world exposure, strategic thinking and the confidence to lead, growing both professionally and personally.

Current Position

  • Associate Brand Manager, Laura Chenel | Marin French Cheese

Previous Work Experience

  • Marketing Specialist, Dreyer's Grand Ice Cream
  • Marketing Product Coordinator, California Closets Inc.
  • Marketing Specialist, Safeway

Previous Education

  • BBA (Bachelor of Business Administration), University of Dhaka, Bangladesh

Fun Facts

  • I love traveling and have visited 14 countries
Ahmad Karim Katta MM 25
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Profile

Ahmad Karim Katta MM 25

I chose UC Davis for its vibrant student community and the opportunity to join an inaugural cohort on a world-class campus. Beyond academics, I explored diverse clubs, trained at the Equestrian Center, and leveraged its proximity to the Bay Area and Silicon Valley.

Current Position

  • Program Officer & Project Manager, Avicenna-Studienwerk

Previous Work Experience

  • Product Manager & Senior Art Director, SailyGroup AG VC
  • Art Director, Serviceplan Group Middle East

Previous Education

  • Bachelor of Engineering, Hochschule Düsseldorf (HSD) University of Applied Sciences

Fun Facts

  • I speak three languages fluently
Elle Grossenbacher MBA 17
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Profile

Elle Grossenbacher MBA 17

Working full time during a career turning point, I needed a flexible, high-quality MBA. UC Davis offered a top-ranked part-time program with the same curriculum, courses and experiences, plus a capstone, Leadership Fellowship and the Big Bang! competition.

Current Position

  • Founder and Host, Product Marketing Adventures Podcast

Previous Work Experience

  • Product Marketing Leader, Cisco
  • Principal Product Marketing Manager, Twilio
  • Market Strategy Consultant, Gartner

Previous Education

  • MBA, UC Davis
  • B.A. in psychology, UC Davis
  • B.A. in design, UC Davis

Fun Facts

  • I went skydiving when I was 16-years-old. 
  • I'm a
Sierra Muns MM 26
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Profile

Sierra Muns MM 26

I chose UC Davis because it offered the rare opportunity to grow academically while continuing to compete at a high level in gymnastics.

Previous Education

  • B.S. in youth and family sciences, West Virginia University

Fun Fact

  • I moved across the country from New Jersey to California to pursue both competitive gymnastics and my master’s at UC Davis.
  • I’m already thinking about how I can combine my love for gymnastics with business to create something of my own one day.
  • I chose UC Davis because it let me do both: push myself academically and continue competing in the sport I love.
Griffin Mitchell MPAc 18
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Profile

Griffin Mitchell MPAc 18

The UC Davis MPAc program was introduced to me by Bob Yetman and Will Snyder. My first impressions were impactful. The professionalism of the faculty extended throughout the program. The facilities were state-of-the-art, and the curriculum was taught by experienced professionals who were also excellent educators.

Current Position

  • Vice President, Azur Associates

Previous Work Experience

  • Senior Associate, PwC (Assurance, Asset Management and Private Client Services, Wine)
  • Senior Consultant, Deloitte (Technology, Media and Telecommunications)
  • Investment Banking Associate, Skyway Capital Markets

Previous

Harcharan Kaur MBA 26
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Profile

Harcharan Kaur MBA 26

I chose the UC Davis Graduate School of Management for its academic rigor, real-world learning and collaborative culture. The Bay Area network and flexible format allow me to grow professionally while continuing my full-time marketing career.

Student Leadership and Experience

  • Director of Marketing, UC Davis Graduate School of Management Bay Area Student Association

Previous Education

  • B.S.in molecular, cell, and developmental biology, UC Santa Cruz

Work Experience

  • Lifecycle Marketing Manager, Hero Bread

Fun Fact

  • I love traveling, and my daughter started young—she logged 30+ flights before her first
Katja Gagen MBA 22
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Profile

Katja Gagen MBA 22

I chose the UC Davis MBA for its STEM designation, innovation-driven curriculum, IMPACT learning model and collaborative culture.

Current Position

  • Head of Communications at Bloom Energy

Previous Work Experience

  • Principal and Head of Marketing at Technology Crossover Ventures
  • Head of External Communications at Brex
  • VP Marketing at General Catalyst
  • VP Marketing at Warburg Pincus
  • Senior Manager, Executive Communications at Cisco

Previous Education

  • M.A. in political science, international relations, languages, Johannes-Gutenberg University, Germany
  • B.A. in business management, Berlin University of Applied
Mark Soliman
Mark Soliman
Profile

Mark Soliman

UC Davis Undergraduate

I chose UC Davis for its computational math program and the chance to be surrounded by nature. It's hard to beat studying applied math in a place where you can step outside and immediately feel removed from the noise.

Since arriving, I've had the opportunity to work on AI policy research with the Center for Analytics and Technology in Society at the Graduate School of Management, which has let me apply computational tools to real-world problems in ways I didn't initially expect. That combination of strong academics and meaningful research opportunities has made Davis the right fit.

Student

Stephanie Martinez MBA 26
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Profile

Stephanie Martinez MBA 26

I chose UC Davis because it was time to grow into the leader I want to become. The Sacramento Part-Time MBA’s hybrid format let me continue my philanthropy work while building new skills and a compassionate, driven network.

Student Leadership and Experience

  • MBA International Study Trip (IST) to Santiago, Chile

Previous Education

  • B.A. in global studies, Sonoma State University 

Previous Work Experience

  • Program Manager, Peter E. Haas Jr. Family Fund

Fun Facts

  •  I'm an alumni and advocate of Summer Search, which empowers high school students from low-income communities to overcome systemic inequities
Insights into Incentive Architecture in Marketing
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Blog

Insights into Incentive Architecture in Marketing

New UC Davis research shows technologies like AI are reshaping relationships

Marketing is ultimately about creating value, which requires managing relationships across customers, channel partners, agencies, and platforms. Yet behind every successful interorganizational relationship lies something less visible but far more powerful: incentives.

Thomas Mirabella MM 25
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Profile

Thomas Mirabella MM 25

UC Davis offered the unique balance I was looking for: a respected graduate business program in California and the ability to finish my Division-1 football career at the same time.

Current Position

  • Secondary Capital Markets Analyst, City National Bank, a subsidiary of the Royal Bank of Canada (RBC)

Previous Work Experience

  • Five-year NCAA Division-1 Student-Athlete, Football

Previous Education

  • Bachelor of Science in business administration finance concentration, San Diego State University

Fun Facts

  • I’m a big car enthusiast who loves following new model releases, detailing and working on my own car.
  • I
Maikhou Thao MBA 26
Maikhou Thao
Profile

Maikhou Thao MBA 26

I chose UC Davis’ Full-Time MBA to strengthen leadership, honor my Hmong-American identity, and build skills, networks and culturally responsive business practices to drive inclusive, community-centered change for future leaders.

Work Experience

  • Director of Movement Building Initiatives, Everyday Impact Consulting

Previous Education

  • Bachelor of Arts in sociology, CSU, Chico

Fun Facts

  • I love taking nature photos. 
  • I have watched the full "Friends" show over 50 times.  
  • I played the flute for seven years as a kid and listen to music daily.
Emmanuel Durojaiye MM 26
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Profile

Emmanuel Durojaiye MM 26

I first experienced UC Davis through SIEML, where meeting faculty, seeing real classrooms and learning how management skills accelerate technical careers clarified my path into project management leadership.

Student Leadership and Experience

  • Co-founder and Creative Director, "MSU CREATIVES" student-led digital media team
  • Coordinator, SIEML

Work Experience

  • Quality Engineer, The Boeing Company
  • Tax Technology Intern, RSM 
  • Human Centered Design Thinking Research Intern, Johns Hopkins University
  • Athletics Creative Director, Morgan State University

Previous Education

  • Bachelor of Science in industrial systems
Natalie Webster MBA 26
Natalie Webster
Profile

Natalie Webster MBA 26

I chose UC Davis for its collaborative culture. The program strengthened my business and leadership skills, helping me scale community-focused work and grow into a more thoughtful, intentional leader committed to healthcare impact.

Student Leadership and Experience

  • Director of Programming, Health Care Council

Work Experience

  • Disability Health Equity Graduate Intern, California Department of Public Health
  • Assistant Clinical Research Coordinator, UC Davis Health

Previous Education

  • Bachelor of Science in psychology with biological emphasis, UC Davis

Fun Facts

  • I’ve traveled to 28 countries and love