With classes a few weeks away, USC Marshall’s newest Full-Time MBA (FTMBA) cohort gathered on campus for the first day of their orientation. Welcoming them were faculty and alumni who shared insights and guidance to the Class of 2027.

Alumni panelists representing industries such as consulting, entertainment, investment banking, gaming, and more highlighted the breadth of career resources on campus, how to leverage skills for new industries, and the value of the Trojan Network. The discussions supplemented the weeklong orientation that introduced students to their new classmates, faculty, and home.

The “Career Pivot Panel” highlighted alumni who used the MBA program to pivot into a new career path, including Nicholas Bassi MBA ’21, Vic Bekarian MBA ’18, and Jivan Gandhi MBA ’23. The panelists expressed how the versatility of the MBA program equipped them to explore different avenues and choose a new professional trajectory.

“The MBA experience is geared at curiosity that should lead to storytelling that should lead to outcome,” Gandhi said. “Structuring it that way helps you take advantage of all the opportunities that are put in front of you.”

Bassi, a senior associate at Ducera partners, pivoted from metallurgy and mining to investment banking. Although the industries weren’t intuitively connected, he worked with faculty members like Scott Abrams, academic director for the full-time MBA program, and second-year MBA students to craft a narrative around his transition and highlight his most transferable skills, like modeling and attention to detail.

“Leveraging the people that just went through recruiting is the best for helping craft your narrative,” Bassi explained. “Anything you’ve done in the past can somehow relate to the new job. You just have to figure out how to spin it.”

When Bekarian first entered the MBA program, he was an aerospace engineer hoping to pivot to consulting. As Bekarian says, he did one better. Today, the video game aficionado works as a senior product manager at Riot Games, leading development on a yet unannounced title. Bekarian admits he never expected to be where he is, but he owes his successful pivot to the guidance of the Marshall career center and the support of the USC community at large.

“I got introduced to a lot of alumni who changed my mind, who got me onto a path that was actually better for me — something that I knew I was much more passionate about,” Bekarian said.

Referencing Bassi’s and Gandhi’s stories, he encouraged the Class of 2027 to aim high. Whatever path they take, there is a Trojan within that field who can help open a door and lend a hand.

“We’re up here as living examples of what is possible,” Bekarian said. “What’s on paper can only be so inspiring [compared to] a person that you actually talk to. Leverage the fact that USC’s most powerful asset and resource is our people.”

The Trojan Family Alumni panel highlighted the power of the Marshall community. The returning Trojans included Tyler Hormel MBA ’23, senior consultant in mergers & acquisitions at Deloitte; Parin Patel MBA ’19, global GTM strategy lead at Amazon Web Services; Samantha Simon MBA ’24, senior product solutions manager at Disney; and Will Thompson MBA ’23, investment banking and private equity analyst at American Discovery Capital.

The panelists, all recent graduates of the full-time MBA program, showcased the variety of professions within the cohort. Despite their different backgrounds, however, they all shared at least one experience: the unbridled support from the Trojan Network.

“The faster you can tap into [the Trojan Network], I highly encourage it,” Simon said. “It is such a special community of folks who are so open to talking and connecting.”

The other panelists echoed Simon’s words, recalling the countless coffee chats, interviews, and mentor sessions they enjoyed with Trojan alumni. Thompson, for his part, urged the cohort to take advantage of the resources on campus as well. Whether it be with a club, a class, career services, or a new connection, now is the time to experiment.

“The end goal is to sharpen your skillset and enter the workforce, guns blazing, and be a force to be reckoned with. So don’t be afraid to step out of your comfort zone,” Thompson said.

As beneficiaries of the Trojan Network, the panel reflected the “pay it forward” philosophy of the Trojan Network.

“We wouldn't be here if we didn’t want to help all of you out,” Hormel said. “We had a great experience here at USC. We were helped along the way by many, many different people, and we want to pass that forward.”

During his orientation remarks, Dean Geoffrey Garrett emphasized Marshall’s leadership role in an uncertain future, one fogged by new technology like AI. Whether it be hard skills like business acumen and data analysis or soft skills like collaboration and communication, Garrett said that the Trojan Network would prepare the Class of 2027 for whatever was to come.

“Why is an MBA program a great investment right now? It’s because it’s going to help you do both sides,” Garrett said. “If you want to become a super user in advanced technology and AI, this is a great place to do it. But above all, Marshall, like all of USC, is about the Trojan Family.”