Looking Back on MMS
After almost four years at Duke I can confidently say that my Markets & Management classes have been the most applicable to not only finding a job but also building a skill set that can be useful as I enter the working world in the coming year.
My experiences with MMS classes at Duke has been extremely hands on and group oriented. Through my Marketing Management (MMS 220) course sophomore year, I was provided with the opportunity to present an original marketing strategy to local agency McKinney. The months long project forced me to dive into a new product acquisition and find out how it may best fit within the existing company structure of one of McKinney’s clients. Only one year into my time at Duke I was lucky enough to take my knowledge and present it in front of a panel of active McKinney employees. This project provided me with not only presentation skills but also a deep understanding of the marketing world and the skills it takes to eloquently and successfully project a unique idea.
During my Junior and Senior years, my real world experiences continued. Through my Data Analytics for Business Course, Professor Keister has provided me with the opportunity to explore real world data sets and understand how consumer information can help drive business decisions. This work is furthered by guest speakers such as financier, David Topper, who walk our class through the important considerations when finding a career. This course, Professor Keister, and our guest speakers force us to consider those though questions we may shy away from. I have been pushed to consider careers outside of my comfort zone, and furthermore to consider the steps I need to take to attain these goals.
George Grody has similarly armed me with a set of skills that I can take with me as I navigate this confusing entry into the “real world.” In my MMS 450 Capstone course I work in a team to manage each and every decision for a simulated, million-dollar company. Our decisions range from production, to research, to marketing, to finance. Although my interests lie in marketing, I have been pushed to understand each and every corner of the business. This adaptability is something I imagine will be very important as I one day may need to work cross functionally in a company. Grody compliments the simulation by leading discussions on business ethics in the US and abroad. He shares experiences from his time at Proctor & Gamble and passes along his wisdoms to the class. He forces us to consider business ethics in a way we may never have before.
The MMS program is unique because it has enabled me to paint a picture of myself in the real world in a way that other courses have not. My teachers care about providing me with the tools I may need to navigate any number of careers in my future. My courses are not about memorization; they are about experiences. This is something I can only say about my MMS courses at Duke.
