Career Switcher

What I’ve Learned Transitioning from Music to Marketing
Molly Scott
Blog

What I’ve Learned Transitioning from Music to Marketing

My 180-degree career pivot: the trifecta of difficulty—location, function and industry

If you’re like Molly Scott and are using an MBA to do an Olympic-worthy 180-degree career pivot, hitting the trifecta of difficulty—location, function and industry—then you need to read this blog.

When Life Threw Me a Curveball, the UC Davis MBA Adapted with Me
Mara Tzizik-Swanson
Blog

When Life Threw Me a Curveball, the UC Davis MBA Adapted with Me

A cross-country move was just a bump in the road toward earning my MBA

If I’ve learned anything about myself over the years, it's that I never know where I am going to end up. I just know I’m lucky to have found an MBA program that is as adaptable as I am.

Discovering a New Path: From Engineering to Strategy
Olivia Thomas_UC Davis
Blog

Discovering a New Path: From Engineering to Strategy

How a UC Davis MBA enabled my career pivot

After graduating with a degree in chemical engineering and getting a job at an oil refinery in California, I realized that a business role could present interesting problems and challenges much like an engineering role could.

Finding Purpose: Pursing an MBA after U.S. Military Service
Group shot of MBA student Zach Hunter and the 325th Weapons Squadron USAF B-2 Weapons School (2).jpg
Blog

Finding Purpose: Pursing an MBA after U.S. Military Service

‘The veteran network is incredibly strong’

Former Air Force Operations Intelligence Analyst Zach Hunter shares his journey to UC Davis and his call for other veterans to follow in his footsteps.

Collaboration is the Heartbeat of MPAc Program
Jaspreet Bola MPAc 21 graduation
Blog

Collaboration is the Heartbeat of MPAc Program

Learn to become a great team player

MPAc alumna Jaspreet Bola switched from pre-med to accounting, discovering the power of collaboration in our community.

Recognizing My Roots: Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month
Benigno Salazar MBA 99 celebrating Hispanic Heritage month
Blog

Recognizing My Roots: Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month

MBA alum Benigno Salazar experienced the transformative power of education

After immigrating to the U.S. at age 7, Benigno Salazar has built a career across industries with hard work and influence from his father, and weathering three corporate layoffs.           

How the MSBA Program Provided a Career Boost
Jessica Padolina and family take a photo at Aggie Grad Walk
Blog

How the MSBA Program Provided a Career Boost

Adding tools to my skillset helped me succeed.

Never underestimate the power of your network. Alumna Jessica Padolina, now at BlackRock, says every interview opportunity I earned was because of my network—whether thanks to the MSBA program or from a coworker from a previous job.

Tips to Strengthen your M.S. in Business Analytics Application
Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco
Blog

Tips to Strengthen your M.S. in Business Analytics Application

“Now is the best time to think about, and define your analytics narrative.”

Are you ready to jump-start your business analytics career? MSBA Executive Director Amy Russell shares tips and advice to help you strengthen your application. 

Meet Our New MSBA Graduate Student Analysts
San Francisco Skyline at Night
Blog

Meet Our New MSBA Graduate Student Analysts

Jessica Padolina, Zhe Wang and Dhwani Mehta connect their cohort

Soft skills, SQL and machine learning—find out what attracted our three new Graduate Student Analysts to the MSBA program.

Advice and Network Paved My Way to New Finance Career
Jesse Rodriguez MBA 19 at Upwelling Capital Group
Blog

Advice and Network Paved My Way to New Finance Career

My transition to private equity at Upwelling Capital Group.

Double-Aggie Jesse Rodriguez BA 13, MBA 19 shares how he built a strong network among faculty and alumni to launch a rewarding new finance career.

MBA Career-Switcher Striving to Live Zero-Waste Life
Jill Holloway MBA 18 at the Oakland MudLab Café and Store
Blog

MBA Career-Switcher Striving to Live Zero-Waste Life

An email changed my professional life

Bay Area Part-Time MBA graduate Jill Holloway explains why she left her seven-year career at Chevron last year to become a co-owner of MudLab Café and Store.

Seeking Asylum: Fleeing a War-torn Country and Immigrating to the U.S.
Immigrating to America graphic for Ali Khaleel Ali MBA 23
Blog

Seeking Asylum: Fleeing a War-torn Country and Immigrating to the U.S.

My journey to the UC Davis Bay Area Part-Time MBA

Ali Khaleed Ali shares his journey from Iraq to the U.S., working many jobs, attending Stanford University and now about to graduate from the Bay Area MBA program.

Actuary to Analytics: My Road to UC Davis
Lizzy Yi MSBA 21 takes a photo with the famous 'Charging Bull' on Wall Street
Blog

Actuary to Analytics: My Road to UC Davis

Adapting to the rise of the data-driven economy

With her actuarial career in the rear-view mirror, MSBA student Lizzy Yi set a course toward one of today’s hottest fields.

Embrace Change—Luck is Where Preparation Meets Opportunity
Brent Jackson MBA 20 in the operating room
Blog

Embrace Change—Luck is Where Preparation Meets Opportunity

“I was on the crispy end of the burnout spectrum, but I welcomed the unknown.”

From physician to hospital administrator, Dr. Brent Jackson (M.D., M.S.,) MBA 20 earned his UC Davis MBA at age 55—a prescription for further success.

Table for Two: Why I Switched Careers
group of women posing at GSM table
Blog

Table for Two: Why I Switched Careers

My jump from financial services sales to marketer for OpenTable

I often describe my career path as a jungle gym, rather than a corporate ladder.

When I applied to the UC Davis Bay Area MBA program, I was in the midst of a career change. I yearned to be a marketer in the restaurant industry, which I loved, but I

The Deal We Didn't See Coming
handshake - header image
Blog

The Deal We Didn't See Coming

Relationships matter, career lessons from two GSM alumni

Is it too late to restart your career in your 50s? Should you coast into retirement, or play “Start Me Up” by the Rolling Stones and get ready for a new adventure?

That’s the decision Dard Hunter MBA 04 and I faced recently, and it all started with

Career-Switcher: MBA Student Meghan Laffin
Blog

Career-Switcher: MBA Student Meghan Laffin

Part-Time MBA student Megan Laffin made the jump from the high-pressure CBS newsroom to her new business of buying, training and selling horses.

Megan Laffin quickly moved up the ranks to associate producer at CBS News, handling the high-pressure