Franchesca Jefferson

University of California Riverside School of Business, A. Gary Anderson Graduate School of Management (AGSM)

“I am a powerful woman and leader. I aspire to create and motivate. Always.”

Hometown: Corona, California

Fun Fact About Yourself: I am a first-degree black belt in tae kwon do.

Undergraduate School and Major: University of California, San Diego, Human Biology

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Troy J. Andreasen, M.D., Social Media Manager

What word best describes the UC Riverside MBA students and alumni you’ve met so far? Talented. There are so many fellow MBA students from diverse backgrounds with diverse experiences. During my first year as an MBA student, I have befriended and worked with classmates from more than 10 countries. We feed off one another and create such meaningful and impactful dialogue. This type of interaction is important to me because the business world is all about teamwork and collaboration. By fostering relationships with fellow MBA students from all walks of life, I am creating meaningful connections that are personal, professional, and diverse. Their insights and experiences are incredible, and these are the reasons I believe our MBA cohort is talented.

Aside from classmates, what was the key part of UC Riverside’s MBA programming that led you to choose this business school and why was it so important to you? I chose UCR’s A. Gary Anderson Graduate School of Management because of its proximity to job opportunities in Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, and San Bernardino counties. Additionally, the school was honored among the “2021 Top 100 Best Graduate Business Schools” by U.S. News & World Report.

What course, club or activity have you enjoyed the most so far at UC Riverside? I’ve really enjoyed working with the Graduate Student Ambassadors program, and I am vice chief ambassador and lead the marketing committee. This experience augments my professional and leadership skills as I design marketing strategies, oversee all communications, and create promotional materials to bolster the program’s online presence. Collaborating with my team and producing materials that fit within our brand guidelines and executing promptly helps me grow within the world of marketing.

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: The biggest accomplishment in my career was expanding my network of medical professionals via social media management, which included creating and producing my own videography and photographic content.

Describe your biggest accomplishment as an MBA student so far? My biggest accomplishment as an MBA student has been my leadership as vice chief ambassador for the Graduate Student Ambassadors program. I help current and prospective graduate business students excel during their time at UCR. I lead the ambassador’s marketing committee, providing outreach and resources that help students navigate the bridges between the personal, academic, and professional worlds.

What led you to pursue an MBA at this point and what do you hope to do after graduation? I am pursuing an MBA to combine my passion for both filmmaking and marketing. I studied film and worked as a social media manager, and I am combining these two strengths into a career that is both fulfilling and secure. I’m passionate about filmmaking and marketing because both fields allow me a creative outlet in the way that I plan, produce, and present promotional materials. The artistic freedom and conveyance of messages that capture the essence of people, stories, and brands are what drives me. After graduation, I hope to work in the entertainment industry as a talent or casting agent, or in talent acquisition. I’m excited about the perpetual change in the entertainment industry, and it encompasses many forms of media that require innovative marketing methods. I am looking forward to creating new ways to market and promote future clients and projects.

What advice would you give to help potential applicants gain admission into UC Riverside’s MBA program? My advice is to really showcase your personal brand. It is what makes you unique—it encompasses your strengths, skills, personality, experiences, and desire to succeed. My personal brand embodies constant learning, growth, and reflection. I enjoy acquiring knowledge and applying it to various aspects of my life to yield positive transformation and self-empowerment. I would also advise prospective applicants to thoroughly research their areas of interest to target which programs and/or concentrations they aim to pursue.

DON’T MISS: MEET THE UC RIVERSIDE SCHOOL OF BUSINESS MBA CLASS OF 2023