The Latest
Meet Our 2026 Commencement Student Speakers
Graduates reflect on growth, challenge and what's next
Three members of the Class of 2026 will take the stage at Commencement to share their inspirations, experiences, and journeys with their fellow graduates, families and friends. We asked them about their student experience and what's next.
From Burnout to Breakthrough: Rebuild Your Career and Confidence with an MBA
Turning exhaustion into alignment and professional growth
Feeling stuck or exhausted in your career? UC Davis Associate Director of Admissions and alumna Leticia Garay shows how an MBA can restore energy, clarity, and belonging—turning burnout into alignment while building confidence, community, and a life you love.
From Self-Doubt to CEO: My MBA Changed My Life as a Leader
What the UC Davis MBA taught me about trust, confidence and executive accountability
“The decision to pursue an MBA was not about changing careers. It was about strengthening my ability to lead,” says alumna Ashlee Cervantes Thomas, CEO of a leading security company. “It changed my life as a leader.”
My Journey to Become an AI Product Marketing Leader
Practical product marketing workflows
Double Aggie alumna Elle Grossenbacher, a tech product marketing leader, returned to her alma mater to lead an exclusive AI webinar for fellow graduates and students, walking them through a mock product launch using AI tools.
Alumni Video Spotlight: Caleb Cavazos MBA 15
Digital Marketing Manager at Foley Family Wines & Spirits
Full-Time MBA alum Caleb Cavazos MBA 15 and digital marketing manager at Foley Family Wines & Spirits, shares how rubbing elbows with Napa’s leaders taught him that collaboration drives the industry’s future.
Alumni Video Spotlight: Howard Lo MBA 00
Vice President of Sales and Marketing at DataON
At the GSM Alumni Reunion, Howard Lo MBA 00, vice president of sales and marketing at DataON, shares how 25 years of networking, leadership and community building have shaped his professional journey.
Meet Our 2025 Commencement Student Speakers
Graduates reflect on growth, challenge and what comes next
Three graduates from the UC Davis Graduate School of Management will take the stage this Commencement Day to share their inspirations, experiences, and journeys with their fellow graduates, families, and friends.
Stephanie Zarate Named Alumni Association's 2025 Rising Star
Sacramento-based media finance executive rises through the ranks
MBA alumna Stephanie Zarate, chief accounting officer and treasurer for McClatchy Media, is the recipient of the Graduate School of Management's Alumni Association 2025 Rising Star Award, recognizing her rapid rise as a financial executive at the 168-year-old media conglomerate.
My MBA Journey Empowering Rural Healthcare Access
Recognized with GSM Alumni Association's Outstanding Service Award
The GSM Alumni Association's Outstanding Service Awardee Kristy Bird MaKieve blogs about putting her MBA skills to work revolutionizing rural healthcare access and education in Northern California.
Stepping Up at Metro EDGE’s Emerge Summit Shaped My Path as a First-Gen MBA Alumna
Leading conversations on motherhood, mental health and mentoring
From bookworm to keynote speaker, recent graduate Leticia V. Garay reveals how the Metro EDGE: Emerge Summit shaped her journey as a first-generation MBA alumna. As a third-time speaker at the annual event, she reflects on overcoming fears, embracing growth, and finding her voice in leadership.
Alumni Video Spotlight: Meg Lee MBA 22
Finance Manager at E. & J. Gallo Winery
Alum Meg Lee shares how skills from her Sacramento Part-Time MBA propel her wine industry career and offers insights on Gen-Z, the changing workforce, and the rise of non-alcoholic consumption.
Meet Our 2024 Commencement Student Speakers
Six new GSM grads share why they chose UC Davis
Graduates from each of the six degree programs at the UC Davis Graduate School of Management will take the stage this Commencement Day to share their inspirations, experiences, and journeys with their fellow graduates, families, and friends.