Skip to main content

Crystal Ivey Pivoted Careers with a Georgia MBA


By Crystal Ivey, MBA '14

I graduated with my bachelor’s in marketing and finance in 2009 at the onset of the recession. Entry-level marketing positions were practically non-existent, so my first job out of school was as a case manager with the Georgia Department of Family and Children Services (DFCS). But I didn’t give up on my dream of brand management.

Fast forward a few years, I decided to try again to break into the business world in brand management – this time using an MBA as my launch pad. This was also very special for me, because, as a first generation college student, an MBA was always one of my goals. I chose the University of Georgia’s MBA program for lots of reasons, but the most important factor for me was to not go into a lot of debt achieving this goal. I wanted a highly ranked program – one that would create opportunities - but not a huge financial burden. I found all that and more at Georgia.

The MBA Career Management Center (CMC) connected me with MBA alumni in brand management roles who could not have been more helpful and supportive. I’ll never forget the alum who helped me prep for my Procter & Gamble interview or the professor who gave me the coaching and confidence to go after my dream. Dr. Gooner helped me see my previous work experience in a whole new light, so that I could pivot into brand management by pulling through the transferable skills from DFCS that would be relevant to brand management. It transformed my resume.

Several years later, as much as I enjoyed working for P&G, I wanted to move back to Atlanta to be closer to my family. The Coca-Cola Company was my target and the CMC and Dr. Gooner were still there for me. They helped me get my resume in top shape in order to begin reaching out to Coke. I started as Associate Brand Manager on Coca-Cola Freestyle in 2016 and was promoted to Brand Manager on Diet Coke in 2019.

If someone were to ask me for advice on choosing an MBA program, I’d tell them to think about their long-term goals and what program will enable them to best fulfill them. Also know that in the short-term, it’s two years of your life, so be sure to enjoy the journey. The MBA experience is just as important as the opportunity that comes after it. I made lifelong friends in the Georgia MBA program, lived in one of the best college towns ever, had great professors, and felt I could bring my whole self to the experience. Be genuine, work hard, and have fun. In the words of another great brand, just do it. It’s worth it!

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular Posts

Meet the MBA: 1st Year Vishakha Tiwari

A native of Northern India, Vishakha Tiwari has worked for KPMG in Bangalore, India, and as a Business Analyst for Accenture. She has worked for various causes such as education, gender equality and with different NGOs. Tiwari is now pursuing her MBA, concentrating in Strategy with additional focus areas in Analytics. Tell us about your hometown and what you were doing before the MBA program. I am from Patna, one of the oldest towns in the northern region of India. Patna is known for its hospitality, exceptionally decadent cuisines and its contributions to the Indian Independence movement. Before the MBA, I was working full-time as a Management Consultant with KPMG in Bangalore, India. I have worked on several client service transformation, revenue diversification, project management and claims analytics projects. I have also worked with Accenture as a Business Analyst between 2016 and 2019. My undergraduate major was Electronics and Electrical Engineering. Outside of work, I w...
Post a Comment
Read More »

The Bike is the Answer: Charlie Mustard and Jittery Joe’s Coffee

Like many other schools during this pandemic, the University of Georgia has been closed since mid-March, and students and staff are working remotely. In lieu of in-person meetings and events, MBA Admissions staff launched a podcast, Dawgs on Top, to bring the program to a larger audience. In Season One: The Rona Files, we covered Georgia football, provided highlights of the first annual Graduate Women’s Business Association Summit, and heard more about the student veterans experience, the March trip to South Africa, and our Non-Profit Board Fellows Program. In Season Two: Town & Gown, we focused on the Athens community and interviewed local business leaders. One of those interviews was with Charlie Mustad, owner and Head Roaster of Jittery Joe’s Coffee. Jittery Joe's Coffee opened in 1994 on Washington St. near the 40 Watt Club and was open 24 hours a day to serve everyone: students, townies, and artists. Since then, it has grown into a roaster on Barber Street and 14 loca...
Post a Comment
Read More »