Master’s in Marketing: Xingjian (Jesse) Ren, John Hopkins (Carey)

Student Name: Xingjian (Jesse) Ren

Graduate Business School: Johns Hopkins Carey Business School 

Describe Yourself In 15 Words: Minimalist and lifetime learner, out-of-the-box thinker, military trained, marketing technologist and consultant. 

Master’s Graduation Class: 2020

Undergraduate School and Major: Shenyang Normal University, China, Marketing. Fort Hays State University, KS (dual-degree program), International Business and Economics.

Current Employer and Job Title: Channel Bakers, Associate Advertising Specialist.

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: Landing a full-time job during a pandemic in the marketing and advertising industry.

Describe your biggest accomplishment as a graduate student: My biggest accomplishment was the consulting case study I worked on with a friend for months at Hopkins. This experience led me to my very first contracting job as a marketing consultant upon graduation. 

What was the key factor that led you to choose this business school and why was it so important to you? I have a passion for marketing and consulting. Being able to work with and learn from students and professionals from a world class business school in the United States has always been my goal.

What led you to choose a Master’s in Marketing over an MBA? To me, the MBA was for professionals seeking to develop managerial leadership, entrepreneurial skills, and those who are ready to take the next step in their career. Specialized master’s programs, on the other hand, are more qualitative, systematic, and are designed to hone the skills and knowledge for a specific subject, such as marketing. Plus, marketing is my passion. 

What has been your favorite course and how has it helped you in your career? Branding and Marketing Communications taught by professor Sylvia Long-Tolbert. Combining the concepts I acquired from this class and another class of hers, Consumer Behavior, helped me tackle the technical questions on consumer journey and behavior during the interview for my current job.

What role did your school play in helping you to land your first job out of the program? A significant role. The amount of help and support from Tracy Cater and Krasi Shapkarova from our school’s Career Development Office is beyond generous, and I am forever grateful for what I’ve learned from them.

How did your classmates enhance the value of your business school experience? My classmates helped to spark ideas on how to approach business problems. They also helped to learn how to construct plans and create systems to ensure high performing collaborations.

Who was your favorite faculty member and how did this person enrich your learning? Haiyang Yang taught Marketing Strategy. He helped inspire me to think out of the box. Plus, the strategies and concepts learned in class are transferable to the real world.

What is your best advice to an applicant hoping to get into your school’s graduate Master’s program? Explore resources from the school. Get connected and involved by leveraging platforms like LinkedIn and the school’s directory to connect with current students, professors, and alumni. Finally, don’t compare yourself with others. Instead of seeing your future classmates as competitors, instead try building connections with them, learn from their perspectives, and listen to their stories. You’ll  be surprised by how much you can learn from them.

What was your best memory from your Master’s program? On Friday nights, I would go swing dancing at a dance club in Baltimore with my dancing partner Lana, whom I met in the program. We enjoyed the occasional live band as well as the great vibe. My relationship with Lana as friends and as classmates gradually progressed during our time as Hopkins.  She is now my girlfriend and life partner.  

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