After working on the Shopping Actions team at Google, Cagney Spears (Simon, ‘21) decided to gain further experience in marketing strategy. By focusing on gaining analytical and technical skills and picking up a Marketing Strategy internship, Spears has positioned herself well to make the transition. During this interview, Spears spoke about her experience in her first year at Simon, and her advice to prospective MBA students.
MBASchooled: What did you do prior to business school, and why did you choose to come to business school?
Prior to business school, I worked for Google on the Shopping Actions team. I managed accounts for a number of merchants on the platform in the NYC area. Prior to that, I worked as a general manager in the retail space for Sephora, Macy’s, and Saks OFF 5TH. Probably about five years post-undergrad I knew I wanted to go back to school to get my MBA, but wasn’t sure what I wanted to do. After beginning my role at Google it became more clear that I wanted to pivot into a marketing strategy role and needed to gain more analytical and technical skills that would make the transition possible. Simon was the perfect place for me as it’s known for being “unabashedly analytical,” so I knew I would gain the skills I needed as well as be a part of an amazingly diverse and collaborative community.
MBASchooled: The first semester of business school can be an exciting but challenging time. How did you navigate these challenges early on, and what resources, programs, etc at Simon were helpful in your transition?
That may be an understatement! The first semester is definitely humbling but so exciting. The Consortium community both from my class and the 2020 class was the biggest resource throughout my first semester. From group study sessions to social gatherings that allowed us to blow off steam from the Economics final, it was imperative that we supported each other as well as held each other accountable throughout the entire first year.
MBASchooled: During your first year, was your favorite experience, and why?
Hands down my favorite experience during the first year was our Graduate Business Council Holidaze 90s themed party. It was the weekend before finals and winter break and was a time for us to let loose and just have a good time as a Simon community. It was so fun seeing all my classmates have a good time in arguably the best genre and decades of music.
MBASchooled: What did you want to do when you came to business school and what did you end up recruiting for? If it was different what changed?
When I began recruiting, I wanted to go into an internal strategy role which I didn’t end up recruiting for mainly. I only recruited for two marketing roles with specific companies and ended up taking the internship offer with PepsiCo in a brand marketing role.
During Management Leaders of Tomorrow’s, Career Transition and Leadership Seminar, I sat in on the PepsiCo marketing session and was intrigued by the projects they spoke about and how strategy focused they were. I was lucky enough to get an interview and land the internship offer. I accepted the offer because I wanted to give myself the opportunity to explore a different industry while still working on a strategy focused project.
MBASchooled: Knowing what you know now, what else would you have done prior to business school to prepare for the first semester?
Great question, honestly the only thing I would have done was brush up on my excel skills in terms of using it to break down and dissect data. I didn’t have in-depth experience working in excel prior to school so while I was learning more advanced skills in class, I was also teaching myself some of the basics, which was a challenge. It’s a tool you will use a lot in your internship so coming into school with as much knowledge as possible will save you a lot of time, which is precious in b-school.
MBASchooled: Given the shift to a virtual MBA Experience as a result of COVID-19, what was the last part of your year like? How did you and your classmates try to maintain the experience?
The last seven-week of the spring semester was very different. COVID hit right in the middle of our spring break so most of my classmates were traveling. Once the semester started, it was about trying to stay as connected as possible but also get used to learning and engaging virtually.
Our Student Life Director, Nate Kadar made sure we continued our social engagements albeit virtually but it was imperative that through the uncertainty of what this pandemic brought, we were certain that we were still a Simon community. It was a different experience but I feel like the connection with my classmates was maintained and strengthened.
MBASchooled: How did you adjust to the virtual academic experience? What worked for you, and what was challenging?
The biggest adjustment for me was being back home with family. I came down to Atlanta for a wedding and it wasn’t comfortable getting on a plane back to Rochester so I stayed with my mom here. It was challenging because I didn’t have a dedicated workspace and just trying to stay motivated outside of the school setting was a struggle.
My professors were also adjusting so there was a lot of empathy going both ways. Overall, it was a challenge but it’s a challenge every student at every program was experiencing at the same time as me, so it was great to have communities such as MLT and the Consortium to lean on during that time.
MBASchooled: What advice do you have for how incoming MBA students should prepare before going to business school especially considering the uncertainty right now?
Outside of being academically prepared, the biggest thing you can do is come into the experience with an open mind and a clear plan on what you want to get out of the two years academically and professionally.
The entire two years is like drinking from a fire hose so you have to know what your end goal is outside of landing a great job. You want to be able to go back to that list and check off what you have accomplished, it will keep you on track as well as hold you accountable as you progress through the program. In these uncertain times, a clear plan is going to be that much more important. The MBA is unique as it allows for career advancement even in unprecedented time but you have to be strategic in the companies and industries you choose to recruit with. It may not be about landing your dream role but more about landing the right role on the path to your dream role.