This fall, Marshall’s Full-Time MBA (FTMBA) program launched its inaugural Marshall MBA Career Launchpad on August 26–30, a weeklong program designed to prepare participants for the next phase in their professional journeys. Through workshops, panels, classes, and networking opportunities, students got a headstart on a job search process that typically begins later in their academic journey.
“You’re the first group to experience our new Career Launchpad,which is a direct response to the experiences and the requests of prior students,” Marshall Dean Geoff Garrett said to students.
Vice Dean for MBA Programs Leigh Tost referred to how quickly the Career Launchpad came together since it had been requested (just under a year) as a sign of its importance to student success.
“The resources have always been here,” Tost said. “What this week is really about is putting all the resources together for you and focusing on your interests.”
No resource was more highlighted than the Trojan Network, specifically the vast Marshall and Leventhal alumni association, which recently surpassed the 100,000 members milestone. The strength of the Trojan Network was emphasized by the FTMBA alumni panel speakers who offered advice and guidance to the Class of 2026.
“Everybody in this room is so lucky because you are [all] part of the Trojan Family,” said Hailey Waller, MBA ’22. “I believe that it is one of the strongest networks on earth.”
Other members of the panel echoed the sentiment and advised candidates to use the Trojan Network to explore different avenues of interest. They also underlined the importance of a flexible mindset throughout the Launchpad week and beyond.
“Even if you come in and you know exactly what you want, the more people you talk to and the more classes you take, [that mindset] will eventually evolve and shift,” said Max Schurz, MBA ’23. “It’s always good to have a North Star and a focus but always be prepared for those shifts and let them happen as a means of getting to the best possible place.”
The Career Launchpad offered students four professional tracks taught by Marshall professors and industry experts: Entertainment and Sports (Scott Abrams, Arianna Uhalde), Consulting (Christian Busch), Finance (Marina Mesin Zagar), and Product Management, Entrepreneurship, and Technology (Gordon Ho, Dan Wadhwani).
Each path provided students with insights from industry experts. Ranging from professional advice to personal career trajectories to recruitment strategies, the panels and seminars enabled candidates to take the next step in their chosen fields, while reiterating the value of Marshall connections.
The Career Launchpad featured noteworthy guests, such as Deloitte CEO and USC alum Joe Ucuzoglu and representatives from companies such as Goldman Sachs, Mattel, Apple, Disney, as well as numerous Trojan alumni.
“Marshall alumni were a critical part of the week-long programs, sharing valuable insights about their industry and their personal journey into these career paths,” said Gohar Palanjian, senior associate director of graduate alumni initiatives.
In Entertainment and Sports, candidates learned about current trends in the dynamic industry, including the advent of virtual reality, artificial intelligence, and other technological advancement.
In the Business Models and Revenue Streams panel, Jonathan Nash, MBA ’08 shared the significance of Marshall connections in a career that’s taken him to Apple, Roku, and 20th Century Fox.
