This week, Texas MS Programs is catching up with Danny Farrington, a 2017 alumni of our Master of Science in Marketing Program. Alumni spotlights give insight into where our graduates go after they finish #MasteringMcCombs and we hear some advice to current students on how to leverage their degrees!
Danny Farrington
PMG Advertising Agency
Data Innovation Coordinator
What was your journey to the MS in Marketing degree?
I completed a BSA in Chemistry from UT in 2016 and went straight in the MSM program afterwards. Near the end of my undergraduate career, I realized I didn’t want to pursue a PhD in chemistry and wasn’t interested in pharmacy or med school. So I acknowledged the things I enjoyed: working with numbers, being creative, and psychology. After hearing about the MSM program in one of my business foundation classes, I realized it was the perfect combination of all three of those traits and I immediately applied.
What is the most valuable skill or lesson you learned while in your MS program (either inside or outside of the classroom)?
Understanding how to work with data that is specifically useful for marketing.
What are some highlights of your career since graduating from your MS program?
I have used the coding and digital marketing knowledge I learned during the program to help set up automated reporting on dynamic promotions to determine which ad copy performs well and which ones don’t.
Who was your favorite MS Professor or what was your favorite MS Course?
Professor Ty Henderson
What are the biggest challenges you have faced since completing your MS degree?
As I’ve transitioned from chemistry into a more tech focused discipline, I’ve had to do some catch-up on computer terms and knowledge that a computer science major might have learned. But, I’ve enjoyed the challenge.
What should future graduates be considering as they begin their careers?
I noticed that as the program went on and my classmates and I started to narrow our focus on what we wanted to pursue after graduation, two main interest categories formed: those who wanted to be in a more analytical role working hands on with data and those who wanted to be in a more strategic role but understand the data and how it can be valuable. I feel like the program prepares you well for each category, and as you decided where your interests lie, reach out and speak with professors and industry professionals to see if that category/direction is truly what you want. I know I changed my interests a lot during the program but after talking with professors and people in the industry I realized what I really liked and am currently extremely happy with the job I have. The program is short and its never too early to start exploring your options.
We love hearing from our graduates on how they are doing, so if you are a #TXMS grad and would like to share your Alumni story, please contact us at cayce.canipe@mccombs.utexas.edu. To learn more about any of our Texas MS Programs, browse our Admissions Blog and link to our main pages.