2016 MBAs To Watch: Christie Clark Rasmussen, Brigham Young (Marriott)

Christie Clarke Rasmussen BYU

Christie Clark Rasmussen

 

Brigham Young University, Marriott School of Management

Age: 26

Hometown: San Antonio, TX

Undergraduate School and Degree: Brigham Young University, BA in Communications, emphasis in Advertising; double major with a BFA in Acting

Where did you work before enrolling in business school? Penna Powers (advertising agency); Account Manager

Where did you intern during the summer of 2015? ConAgra Foods; Omaha, NE

Where will you be working after graduation? PepsiCo, Associate Marketing Manager

Community Work and Leadership Roles in Business School:

President of MBA Marketing Association (2015-2016)

VP of Social Media for BYU Analytics (2015-2016)

Teaching Assistant for Marketing Management (2015-2016)

Student Career Advisor (2015-2016)

Social Media Manager for MBA Program (2015-2016)

Hawes Scholar (2016, one among ten selected)

Marriott School of Management Merit Scholarship (2014-2015)

Lewis M Jones Management Scholarship (2015-2106)

  1. Doyle & Beth Robinson Scholarship (2015-2016)

Member of MBA Tech Society (2014-2016)

Member of Women in Management (2014-2016)

Which academic or extracurricular achievement are you most proud of during business school? My proudest academic achievement was participating in the Sawtooth Analytics Case Competition in 2015. Our team competed in an internal round against six other teams and we took second in the finals. The case competition included conducting and analyzing conjoint analysis, which stretched me beyond what I thought was my capacity. I was captivated by the world of analytics and learned a great deal through the process. Our team worked incredibly hard on the presentation and, even though we did not nab first place, we were proud of our work and how much we had developed our analytical skills over the six weeks of the competition.

What achievement are you most proud of in your professional career? My proudest professional achievement was when I managed a statewide advertising campaign for the Utah Department of Health to increase the level of Tdap vaccinations across the state. At the time (late fall of 2012), the amount of whooping cough cases across the state were near epidemic levels and the state was anxious to find a way to increase the number of adult vaccinations. I led much of the campaign planning and coordinated creative execution for elements including TV, radio PSAs, website development, print media, and grassroots events. After the integrated campaign ran, the regional director for Walgreen’s pharmacies approached the Department of Health saying he had reported the highest level of Tdap vaccinations in the nation and credited our campaign for that success.

Who is your favorite professor? This is a hard one to call, but my favorite professor is Mike Bond. He teaches the brand management courses in the BYU MBA program and brings a wealth of experience from his industry background. More than his qualifications, however, Mike genuinely cares about his students and adapts his classes to accommodate subjects we are interested in covering (that we might not otherwise touch on). His sincerity and determination to further the MBA Marketing Association make him an incomparable professor.

Favorite MBA Courses? Brand Management (I and II). These courses prepared me for my internship with ConAgra and helped me better understand how to systematically approach a problem.

Why did you choose this business school? First of all, BYU has an incredible alumni network that I was enthused to learn about and put into use. Second of all, the BYU MBA program is competitive with some of the top business schools in the nation. Being able to have that caliber of education at a fraction of the cost was incredibly enticing and impossible to turn down.

What did you enjoy most about business school? I have most enjoyed the connections I’ve been able to make in business school. I have expanded my network with hundreds of incredibly qualified and hard-working individuals. Most of all, I’ve made friendships that I will treasure long past graduation.

What is the biggest lesson you gained from business school? The biggest lesson I gained is that not all questions need to have a definitive answer. The quintessential MBA answer is, “It depends,” but answers truly do depend on innumerable factors. Rather than rushing to find an easy answer, it pays to think through a problem and better understand the cause, context, and contingencies of the problem.

What was the most surprising thing about business school? The most surprising thing about business school was discovering my own capability. There were countless times when I felt inadequate and doubted I would be able to perform to the level I had set for myself. However, the classes stretched me and helped me realize that I have capacity to perform beyond what I thought was possible.

What was the hardest part of business school? The hardest part of business school was prioritization. I hate saying no and I had to realize that, at some point, I needed to pare down my commitments so I could devote more time and effort to the activities that mattered most. Some of the potential commitments I needed to turn down were fantastic opportunities, but I ultimately could not do everything and I needed to preserve my time with my family as well (at the risk of serious neglect otherwise).

What’s your best advice to an applicant to your school? Stop comparing yourself to others. This is hard advice for me to follow, but as I have learned to appreciate others’ strengths (and recognize that they do not diminish my own strengths). Since then, I have been a better teammate, classmate, and friend. Rather than focusing on what you lack, recognize where you excel and find out how you can leverage it to become a more robust leader and candidate.

I knew I wanted to go to business school when…I stopped seeing ready opportunities for advancement within my career. I recognized a ceiling for my job and realized I needed more education in order to take the leap into a more dynamic career.”

If I hadn’t gone to business school, I would be…dissatisfied in a career with not enough strategic ownership for my taste. I loved advertising, but I wanted to be the one to ultimately call the shots.”

Which executive or entrepreneur do you most admire? I most admire Jeff Bezos. Although I do not agree with all of his personnel decisions, I deeply respect his vision for the future and how he constantly thinks beyond the current problem to what problems he could solve beyond what is at hand. Bezos’ commitment to the customer is also admirable as he guides his business off of what will best serve the one who ultimately pays.

What are your long-term professional goals? I have loved my experience with consumer packaged goods so far and hope to continue thriving in the industry. Long term, I want to be the CMO for one of the Fortune 500 CPG companies.

Who would you most want to thank for your success? My husband Chad has been my rock and unwavering support throughout the past two years. He keeps me grounded when I overexert myself and reminds me that relationships are what make life worth living.

Fun fact about yourself: Performed as Juliet in Romeo and Juliet

Favorite book: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

Favorite movie: Singin’ in the Rain

Favorite musical performer: Sara Bareilles

Favorite television show: The Good Wife

Favorite vacation spot: San Francisco

Hobbies? Baking, reading, acting

What made Christie such an invaluable addition to the class of 2016?

“Christie makes the world a better place just by walking through it! She is diligent, contentious, exceptionally capable, and, most importantly, she is kind. She quietly makes everyone around her more organized and more motivated to accomplish great things. In addition to exemplary classroom performance, Christie has served as MBAMA President, an MBA Sherpa, and as a remarkable and impactful teaching assistant. She exemplifies the kind of servant leader who makes a tremendous difference and makes the world a better place for all she works with.  We will miss here and know with full confidence that she will similarly make a difference in her career and in the world. She embodies the best of what makes the Marriott School exceptional.”

Glenn Christensen

Associate Professor of Marketing

Brigham Young University, Marriott School of Management

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