Category: Student Spotlight

Student Spotlight: Monica Hebner, #TXMS Marketing Class of 2023

by emilyschatzle

Undergraduate Institution: UT Austin

Undergraduate Major: Government

Tell us about yourself: Hey, y’all! My name is Monica Hebner and I am super excited to be a part of the MSM program. I went to UT for undergrad and could not quite leave the 40 Acres just yet. All throughout undergrad, and now in the MSM program, I am on the women’s cross country/track and field team where I specialize in distance events. I am a regular at Town Lake Trail, so if you’re ever out there in the morning we probably have crossed paths 🙂

What is your proudest accomplishment? I think I have two. First, getting to run at UT with my twin sister. There is nothing like lining up with a longhorn on your chest and competing for the University of Texas next to your best friend. Second, getting into the MSM program. I went through undergrad pretty uncertain as to what I wanted to do post-college. When learning about the MSM program and all the learning it would provide me, I felt like I had found my home. I remember opening the acceptance email while traveling for a track meet and it felt like I had just won the race!

What drew you to apply to the MSM program? The combination of the academic rigor, the professors, and the network in MSM is unmatched. There is no program quite like the MSM program where you get true analytical and quantitative coursework in addition to more traditional marketing coursework. I knew I wanted to strengthen those skills prior to entering the workforce and there is no better place to do it.

What are you most looking forward to this year? I am really looking forward to all the learning that is still left, the connections I will make, and the network I will have at the end.

Interested in learning more about the MSM program? Reach out to us at TexasMSM@mccombs.utexas.edu or connect with us here.

Student Spotlight: Wesley House, #TXMS Finance Class of 2023

by emilyschatzle

photo of Wesley Undergraduate Institution: Sewanee: The University of The South

Undergraduate Major: Geology

Tell us about yourself: Hello everyone! My name is Wesley House and I am currently in the MSF program at UT. I recently graduated from Sewanee: The University of The South where I played baseball and majored in geology. In my free time I love to golf, fly-fish, grill out, and hunt.

What is your proudest accomplishment? My proudest accomplishment is being named to the SAA All-Conference team for baseball this last spring, following my senior season. Receiving this honor was a great way to complete a big chapter of my life.

What drew you to apply to the MSF program? After working as a geologist for two summers at a privately held E&P company in Houston, I found the business development and financial side of the industry more interesting. With a degree in geology, I now have a good understanding of the technical side of the industry but would like to become more well-rounded in my knowledge of the business. While deciding on what to pursue following undergrad, it became clear to me that the MSF program at McCombs would be a great fit for what I was looking for.

What are you most looking forward to this year? I am most looking forward to meeting people from a vast variety of background and interests, both students and prospective employers. I’m looking forward to making the most of all the resources that this program has to offer and I can’t wait to see where everyone in our class ends up.

Interested in learning more about the MSF program? Reach out to us at TexasMSF@mccombs.utexas.edu or connect with us here.

Student Spotlight: Nihit Parikh, #TXMS Marketing Class of 2022

by emilyschatzle

photo of Nihit ParikhUndergraduate University: Pandit Deendayal Petroleum University – India

Undergraduate Major: B.Tech. – Computer Engineering

About Nihit: I am a reader, writer and podcaster. In my free time, I listen to Indian classical music, write poems or network with people from various fields and podcast: “Not A Podcast with Nihit Parikh.”

Proudest Accomplishments: 1) I presented my research paper on Social Review at Applied Research International Conference on World Economic and Social Review at Oxford University in the United Kingdom in 2019. 2) I ranked 2nd at National Level Creative Writing Bar Shree Competition in 2013.

Why did you choose the MSM Program? Having a family background in business, I have been fascinated by marketing since an early age. At my undergraduate level, I gained knowledge of Machine Learning, Natural Language Processing, and Economics. I think Data & Marketing go hand-in-hand and the world can benefit from brands informed about what their consumers want. I love storytelling & networking to its core. This unique combination of qualitative & quantitative skillsets this program has to offer inspired me to apply.

What are you most looking forward to this year? Diving deep into statistics, data analytics, and core concepts of marketing is something that I’m very much looking forward to. I am looking forward to taking courses such as product & brand management and digital marketing for the first time. I want to create personal and professional value with this program and give new dimensions to the experiences I’ve had back home. I am also excited about the idea of global learning, networking, and the cultural experience that my time in Austin has to offer. This spring term, I’m looking forward to working with Google and Tinuiti for my capstone project.

Student Spotlight: Rathi Kannan, #TXMS IT & Management

by emilyschatzle

Photo of MSITM student Rathi KannanUndergraduate University: University of Madras

Undergraduate Major: Electrical and Electronics Engineering

About Rathi: I was born in India and spent most of my life in Chennai and later in the Bay Area working in tech for banking and retail companies. I have been a life-long math aficionado, and continued to be a part-time math instructor until I joined UT. I moved to Austin at the start of the summer semester and it has been quite an exciting change. Growing up in Chennai, I was always in the middle of different music seasons and I get a similar vibe here in Austin!

Proudest Accomplishment: It has been my lifelong desire to do Master’s in a world-renowned school. Work and family commitment took most of my time away and when COVID hit, I got time to reprioritize. I was proud to receive scholarship for an MBA program at a UC school but felt even prouder when the UT Austin admit came along. It has really been a dream come true for me. Experiencing the learning process through highly skilled faculty and through my fellow go-getter classmates is such a rewarding experience – I am so proud to be a Longhorn!

Why did you choose the MSITM Program? I started off by teaching myself Python, R, and ML (machine learning) through several online forums. I wasn’t totally convinced that by merely posting my certifications on online forums I was making progress. I was looking for a brand tagged against my resume and a more hands-on learning, so I decided to take my learning process several leaps ahead and started looking at MS programs and also some STEM-focused MBA programs. The MSITM course curriculum felt like it would open up a plethora of opportunities and introduce me to several emerging technologies which were beyond my comfort zone. Given that I have work experience in tech, I wanted to stay close to tech and also be ready for leadership roles. I felt that MSITM offered this mix with a significantly more technical composition which was exactly what I was looking for.

What have you enjoyed during your time in the program? I have absolutely enjoyed the action during the last couple of semesters. There’s more doing than talking. I appreciate that there is repeated reinforcement of technical concepts from different perspectives across various courses. Non-technical courses are oriented towards solving business problems. The playing field is not level for sure, some students know more than others but I see that as an advantage and have enjoyed learning different technical approaches and absorbing different lines of thought while doing group projects and assignments.

Student Spotlight: Dara Rubio, #TXMS Marketing

by emilyschatzle

photo of Dara RubioUndergraduate University: Instituto Tecnologico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey

Undergraduate Major: Industrial Design

About Dara: I am an industrial designer from Mexico, with experience working on marketing, UX/UI design, brand and product development and graphic design areas. I am passionate about creating solutions, jewelry design, dance, sharing significant moments with the ones I love and work for causes with social impact. Also, being with my gorgeous Blue Heeler dog and being involved in outdoor activities are things that I really enjoy to do.

Proudest Accomplishment: My proudest accomplishment is being where I am now. A woman whom through her personal and professional perspectives has learned that one of the most important things in life is to keep moving forward and learning from experiences no matter what. Nevertheless, there are a few things that I would never change in my life such as my participation in different social projects since I was young and my accomplishments within my dancing career.

Why did you choose the MSM program? Being a UT Austin MSM student is one of the most significant steps I have made in my professional career. From the beginning of my path towards my acceptance in the University of Texas at Austin I knew that the MSM program would help me build my professional career towards working within an NGO, Non Profit Organization, or Social Project within a business company. I was convinced that along with the creative background I would also be developing a skillset based on best practices supported by analytical work-frame within the Marketing field.

What have you enjoyed during your time in the program? Being an MSM program graduate student at the University of Texas at Austin and during a global pandemic is not easy; as students, we must be mentalized that is an intensive program but also that we have a handful of learning tools, mentors, and connection opportunities to make everything smoother. To mention only one thing that I have enjoyed during my tenure in this program is hard because there are too many.

I still have the privilege of being part of a unique and talented group of people, professors and coaches that are willing to share their expertise, and through teamwork that helps achieving individual and collective goals. Personally, I have been guided and supported by our MSM program Coordinator Andrea Gonzalez, our MS Career Coach Gina Chen, professors such as Karen Starns, Shannon Provost, Chris Kroeger, Sandy Leeds, and all the professors who have been there available to mentor me.
I am surrounded by wonderful students who have become friends. We are working in multicultural and multidisciplinary teams, that make us learn from each other, we are building good moments together, but also good memories.
Finally, but not less important, I am also privileged of witnessing how this program helps us understand a whole new perspective of what marketing is, a whole area across quantitative, qualitative, and human aspects.

Student Spotlight: Cole Trevor-Wilson, #TXMS IT & Management

by emilyschatzle

headshot of Cole Trevor-WilsonUndergraduate University: University of Texas at Austin

Undergraduate Major: Management Information Systems

About Cole: I am from San Antonio, Texas. I interned as a technology consultant for Protiviti, was a technology product intern for Camp Gladiator, and worked for the MS Programs Office as a technician-analyst. I am playing in my final season for the UT men’s soccer team this year. For fun, I like to explore restaurants around Austin, paddleboard, and play disc golf with friends.

Proudest Accomplishment: My proudest accomplishment was playing college soccer at UT Dallas before I transferred to UT Austin. My family sacrificed a lot of me to be able to travel and play across the US, so it was an accomplishment that was a long time in the making and I am glad I had the opportunity to experience it.

Why did you choose the MSITM program? I felt like there was more for me to learn after I completed my undergrad coursework, and the MSITM program at UT was the most logical option for me since I could apply as a Bridge student. I also wanted the opportunity to increase my value to companies as I came out of college.

What are you most looking forward to this year? I am looking forward to creating lasting relationships with my MSITM peers, learning more about emerging technologies, and gaining experience in a applying these technologies to real-world business applications. I am also looking forward to expanding my knowledge in cybersecurity.

Student Spotlight: Marielle Pecson, #TXMS Marketing

by emilyschatzle

headshot of MarielleUndergraduate Institution: University of Central Florida

Undergraduate Major: BSBA in Marketing with a minor in International Business

About Marielle: Photography has always been a passion of mine ever since I was a young child, and I decided to take the jump to start my own freelance photography business during my undergraduate degree. Three years later, and I still get that spark of excitement every time I capture the perfect moment for my clients. I caught the travel bug when I was very young, and I have had the opportunity to travel to over 27 countries, with my next stop hopefully being Japan one day. Born in Hawaii and raised in Florida, I’m usually found near the water and exploring the different springs and beaches the area has to offer. But now that Austin is my new home, I’m on the search for the perfect spot for birria tacos!

Proudest Accomplishment: Honestly, my proudest academic accomplishment was actually getting accepted into the MSM program here at McCombs. UT Austin has been a dream school of mine ever since I was a Freshman in high school, and getting to that point of opening the acceptance letter was truly a full circle moment for me. My undergraduate experience had not been easy, and the application process most definitely pushed me to my limits. Yet when I realized I got accepted into one of the top MSM programs in the entire country, it was the wake up call I needed to realize that hard work really does pay off. If there is one thing that this process has taught me yet, it’s that you should never underestimate the power you have as long as you try your best!

Why did you choose the MSM Program? The MSM program is one that has been crafted by some of the most knowledgeable and experienced figures in the marketing industry, and it shows. I knew that the MSM program at UT Austin was the perfect fit for me with its world renowned faculty and staff, exceptional networking opportunities, and a city that has continued to be a leader in both growth and innovation. Not only does this program provide you the tools and resources to succeed, but you are surrounded by likeminded individuals who are willing to put in the real work. This community will push you out of your comfort zone so that you are able to take advantage of the opportunities in front of you. Even though it is just the first semester, I am so excited to see how my cohort and I will grow and learn together through this journey.

What are you most looking forward to this year? I am very excited to dive deeper into the marketing curriculum this upcoming Fall and Spring as the MSM program offers courses that I would have never had the opportunity to take in my undergraduate degree. Classes like Data Analytics and Design Thinking are very intriguing to me and I’m looking forward to becoming more articulate in the language of digital marketing.

 

Student Spotlight: Mahika Bansal, #TXMS Business Analytics

by emilyschatzle

Headshot of Mahika Bansal, MSBA studentUndergraduate Institution: IIT Roorkee

Undergraduate Major: BTech

About Mahika: I had been working as a business analyst and have come to UT Austin to pursue MSBA. I’m from India and a complete foodie! Love to dance and discuss Marvel theories. I’ve been dreaming to get my pic clicked in front of UT Tower for the past 2 years.

Proudest Accomplishment: Getting into two of the most esteemed colleges: IIT Roorkee in India and UT Austin and playing basketball at state level.

Why did you choose the MSBA Program? Having 3 years of prior experience in business analytics, I felt it was the right time to go for a Masters in the field to update myself. The program offers in-depth learning in such a well structured manner, along with practical applications to real world use cases. Meeting new people in such a diverse class, learning about new cultures and traditions is another factor that motivated me.

What are you most looking forward to this year? 1. Learning new things every day. 2. Meeting new people and learning about their culture. 3. Making friends. 4. Austin, food, and live music!

 

Student Spotlight: Ella Akl, #TXMS IT & Management

by emilyschatzle


Photo of Ella

Undergraduate University: George Mason University

Undergraduate Major: Information Technology

About Ella: I am a DC-native with a passion for technology and a love for helping others. I pride myself on being driven and adaptable, which are two qualities I strongly believe attributed to my being where I am today. I obtained my Bachelor’s degree in IT and now I am here, in the MSITM program, where I get the chance to learn all of the latest technologies hands-on and how those can be leveraged in business operations! Having witnessed the rapid growth and widespread adoption of technology, I became intrigued by the endless possibilities on how it could change the world and knew I wanted to be a part of that exciting movement. One day I envision myself helping businesses achieve their goals by being client-focused and technically apt in designing necessary solutions to their business challenges. In my free time, you can find me doing water activities, hiking, photography, or spending time with friends and family. I love new experiences, meeting new people, and always looking for ways to maximize my social circle. I have a very optimistic viewpoint and thrive on laughter and finding life’s joys, no matter how small.

Proudest Accomplishment: My proudest accomplishment has been my move to Austin, TX to start my journey in the MSITM program. Prior to my move, I had never lived away from my parents and the comfort of “home,” so I thought this change was a great way to push myself out of my comfort zone. While I was excited for something new, there were many hurdles along the way, such as moving amidst the pandemic, never having been to Texas before, and not knowing a soul in Austin. Knowing that getting my Master’s degree from the McCombs School of Business was something I undoubtedly wanted and worked hard for, I was willing to take that leap of faith and tackle those uncertainties and fears. After living in Austin for the last few months, I have surprised myself every step of the way with my adaptability and I can proudly say that my journey here so far has been the best time of my life!

Why did you choose the MSITM Program? Coming from a technical background, I knew I wanted to find a graduate program that would provide exposure to the business side of technology. I searched long and hard for a school that offered such a curriculum which eventually led me to find MSITM. This program is a perfect blend of technical coursework combined with a strong business core, both of which are needed to successfully solve pain points. The tech-nerd in me is exhilarated by the program’s cutting-edge curriculum which focuses on emerging technologies taught by some of the most brilliant professors in the industry. Simply put, the quality of education that you receive at McCombs is unmatched. My decision to choose the MSITM program was the easiest decision I have ever made!

What are you most looking forward to this year? Being in the MSITM program is like being a kid in a candy store – there is so much to be excited about every day. I am looking forward to learning from amazing professors, building my network through career events, and developing unforgettable bonds with my cohort. Most importantly, I am excited for the personal and professional growth that comes from being in a rigorous program, such as MSITM.

Student Spotlight: Leo Liu, MS Marketing

by emilyschatzle

Photo of Leo Liu, MS Marketing Class of 2021Program: MS Marketing

Undergraduate University and Major: UT Austin ’20, Radio-Television-Film, Economics, & Mathematics

About Leo: I’m a creative, passionate, and motivated film enthusiast, combined with a data aficionado. I’m currently mixing up my passion for creative production with my love of data analytics, and applying them to practice. In my free time, you can find me at the movies, running, hiking, or traveling.

Proudest Accomplishment: I’d love to talk about this in numbers! 1, 2, & 3 are magic numbers for me. I’ve earned 3 Bachelor’s degrees and 2 certificates at 1 university with 2 internships in 3 years! UT’s been really teaching me how to push myself out of my comfort zone and to be a master of time management.

Why did you choose the MSM program? MSM is a perfect fusion of developing creative skills and quantitative reasoning abilities. Here I can find brilliant peers and world class professors to enrich my perspectives. It also offers an unmatched opportunity to build a solid foundation for my future career plans.

What are you most looking forward to this year? The first semester was incredible! I’ve enjoyed new friendships with my amazing peers and the wonderful learning experience provided by MSM faculty. A special shout-out to MS staff who did a fantastic job during this special time. They’ve always been there for me! As for the spring, I’m excited about the capstone project the most, and can’t wait to see what I can accomplish together with my teammates!