Get to know Rylie

Program: Full-time MBA and Master of Management, Marketing Analytics (MMA) 
Start date: Fall 2024 
Graduation date: Spring 2026 
Current location: Dallas, Texas 

Life before Jenkins

Work experience: 2 years
Industry(ies): Fashion Retail 
Role: Engagement & Loyalty Coordinator 
Field: Consumer Engagement and Insights
Undergraduate education: NC State University, B.A. Biological Science, Business Minor

Career Goals

Although Rylie earned her undergraduate degree in biology, her professional interests had begun to shift toward marketing well before graduation. “Every role and internship I held during college was connected to marketing,” she said. “Before my senior year, I realized how much I enjoyed the field and wanted to study it more deeply than my business minor allowed.” That interest led her to apply to NC State’s 2+2 program, which offers conditional acceptance into the MBA program after completing two years of full-time work experience.

By the time she began the MBA, Rylie knew she wanted to strengthen her foundation in business strategy, consumer behavior and marketing leadership. After her first semester, she added the Master of Management, Marketing Analytics (MMA) after seeing how valuable data could be in making smarter, more consumer-centered marketing decisions. “I saw the MMA as an opportunity to become a more well-rounded marketer who could pair creativity and strategy with analytical rigor,” she said.

Why Jenkins? 

NC State has been part of Rylie’s life for the past 10 years. She originally committed to play softball for the university when she was 16, and although she medically retired from the team during her freshman year, she remained deeply involved in the campus community throughout undergrad. “That same sense of community is what brought me back to NC State,” Rylie said. “I can honestly say it has been even better than I remembered.”

“My cohort is full of incredibly intelligent, capable and kind individuals. I have made lifelong friends through this program.”

For Rylie, the Jenkins experience has been defined by the people around her. “My cohort is full of incredibly intelligent, capable and kind individuals,” she said. “I have made lifelong friends through this program.”

Daily Life

As a full-time dual master’s student and graduate assistant, Rylie’s weeks were full but rewarding. She typically dedicated 30 to 40 hours per week to school, including in-person classes, individual coursework, group projects and client meetings. She also served as a graduate assistant for Stefanie Robinson, supporting course sections and research efforts while managing the on-campus Consumer Behavior Lab.

“I spent about 10 to 15 hours per week managing the lab, grading papers and supporting research,” she said. Her MBA career search was also a regular part of her weekly routine, including meetings with career coaches, interview preparation, job search strategy and networking.

What made it great

For Rylie, the best part of Jenkins was the people. “We are fortunate to learn from faculty and staff who are leaders in their respective fields,” she said. She is especially grateful for the opportunity to learn from Rishika Rishika and Donnie Hale, two analytics professors who had a meaningful impact on her experience.

The career services team also stood out as a major highlight. “Under Annie Murray’s leadership, the team brings an incredible depth of experience and support,” Rylie said. “The one-on-one access to career coaching is something I have found to be very special.” She also credits her cohort with shaping her experience, adding, “I feel so privileged to have learned and grown alongside such incredible professionals.”

Career impact 

Rylie has accepted a role with AT&T’s Marketing Excellence Program, a two-year rotational leadership development program within the company’s Marketing and Growth Organization. Her first rotation will focus on brand strategy. As she enters this next chapter, Rylie is looking forward to applying the strategic, analytical and consumer-focused skills she built at Jenkins.

“This program opened my eyes to all of the possibilities available through an MBA.”

Final thoughts

For Rylie, Jenkins opened the door to career paths, professional networks and opportunities she had not fully considered before. “This program opened my eyes to all of the possibilities available through an MBA,” she said.

One of the most meaningful experiences was attending an MBA conference, where she built her network, connected with employers and explored new career paths. “I would highly recommend that anyone considering Jenkins take advantage of opportunities like this,” Rylie said. “They can be incredibly meaningful and, in my case, even led to a full-time job opportunity.”

Get in touch

Connect with Rylie via LinkedIn.

Learn more

To learn more about the Jenkins MBA program, including tuition, curriculum, career opportunities and more, please submit the form below. 

This post was originally published in Jenkins MBA News.