Skip to main content
EDIT

MBA Alumni Share Insights on Navigating Career Pivots in Consulting, Entertainment, and Video Games

MBA Alumni Share Insights on Navigating Career Pivots in Consulting, Entertainment, and Video Games

USC Marshall MBA alumni joined the FTMBA Class of 2028 orientation to share how the Marshall experience and Trojan connections helped them make bold pivot careers after graduation.

by: Alexander Bernard
08.21.26
Hannah Foley speaking at the MBA Career Panel

Hannah Foley MBA '25 speaks at the MBA Career Pivot Panel.

[USC Photo / Brian Morri]

Stay Informed + Stay Connected

MARSHALL MONTHLY BRINGS YOU ESSENTIAL NEWS AND EVENTS FROM FACULTY, STUDENTS, AND ALUMNI.
SIGN UP

USC Marshall’s Full-Time MBA (FTMBA) program not only boosted Trojans’ careers but set them on a completely new professional trajectory.

As part of the FTMBA Class of 2028’s orientation, five alumni returned to campus on July 30 for a panel on navigating career pivots. Throughout the discussion, the graduates described how Marshall and the Trojan Family set them up for success in their new fields.

Christopher Kim MBA ’25 entered USC Marshall as a management consultant, advising companies in architecture and design-related fields, but he always had a passion for video games. For two years, he carefully tailored his graduate school experience to support these goals, choosing relevant electives and even becoming president of the Marshall Interactive Gaming Association. After graduation, he was able to pivot and now develops games as associate product manager at Mattel Digital Studios.

Kim recommended taking advantage of Marshall’s Career Services, choosing the classes that will support their new professional ambitions, and joining Marshall clubs that will deepen their experience and expand their network.

“I really tried to tailor my experience at Marshall,” Kim recalled. “It was taking electives that aligned with not just gaming, but also entertainment. I was really interested in getting the full spectrum of the entertainment industry and understanding what perspectives [I need] to be fully successful in my role.”

When Darartu Mohamed MBA ’22 first came to Marshall, she was working in the insurance industry. For Mohamed, there was no better place than USC Marshall to transition into the entertainment industry, not just because of its physical proximity to Hollywood, but because of the immense role the Trojan Family plays in the field.

“What drew me to USC, especially Marshall, was the Trojan Network,” Mohamed explained. “I knew that I’d be able to pivot from this very different industry into working with creators … I knew that I needed people to advocate for me, and I heard such great things about the Trojan Network and how they advocate for fellow Trojans.”

Today, Mohamed is a manager at Range Media Partners, a talent management, production, and brand strategy firm.

Hannah Foley MBA ’25 had to make a last-minute pivot. Following graduation, she planned to start a full-time position at a well-known consulting firm. But just one week before commencement, the firm informed her they’d be pushing back her start date by almost a year.

I think you should have high expectations of yourself because you are at an excellent university with excellent connections and you’re in a city where there’s a ton of opportunities.

— Hannah Foley MBA ’25

Senior Associate, Private Equity Strategy at KPMG

Foley immediately dove into her network of Trojans. She reached out to Career Services’ MBA consulting track lead, as well as a Trojan alumna she’d met during internship recruiting. In a matter of weeks, Foley secured a new full-time offer and became senior associate of private equity strategy at KPMG, where she still works today.

On the topic of supporting fellow Trojans, Foley urged the Class of 2028 to pay it forward.

“You should invest in the Trojan Network now, but then I would encourage you to remember this idea of reaching back,” Foley said. “When you’re on the other side, think about the people who helped you and help the next people who reach out to you, whether it’s with advice or coffee.”

Though they may have taken different routes to their new careers, all five panelists agreed on one point: The Class of 2028 is right where they need to be.

“I think you should have high expectations of yourself because you are at an excellent university with excellent connections and you’re in a city where there’s a ton of opportunities,” Foley said.

RELATED