Jamie Woodrum

The University of Florida, Warrington College of Business

“Devoted to leaving a positive impact on the world through hard work and kindness.”

Hometown: Darmstadt, Germany

Fun fact about yourself: I can ride a unicycle!

Undergraduate School and Degree: University of Florida – Bachelor of Science in Chemistry, minor in Plant Molecular and Cellular Biology

Where was the last place you worked before enrolling in business school? Humble Honee – Founder

Where did you intern during the summer of 2023? BASF – MBA Leadership Development Program (LDP) Intern in Florham Park, New Jersey

Where will you be working after graduation? BASF – MBA Leadership Development Program (LDP)

Community Work and Leadership Roles in Business School:

• President – UF MBA Association (2023-2024)
• Community Service Chair – UF MBA Association (2022-2023)
• Full-Tuition Scholarship Recipient
• 1st Place – Internal Case Competition (NextEra Energy)
• Best Q&A – Internal Case Competition (NextEra Energy)
• Best Presenter – Case Kickoff

Which academic or extracurricular achievement are you most proud of during business school? My proudest achievement during business school was being voted president of the UF MBA Association. I strive to create a tailored support system that fits every student’s needs, both personally and professionally. I have a passion for helping others and the MBA Association allowed me to facilitate connections outside of the classroom. Some of my favorite accomplishments in the role have included leading a 6-course interview training to prepare incoming students for recruiting events, promoting events such as our international potluck that are inclusive and fit the needs of our diverse student body, and streamlining our internal systems to maximize efficiency for future years.

What achievement are you most proud of in your professional career? After I graduated from UF with a bachelor’s degree in Chemistry at the height of COVID-19, I decided to pursue a business idea that always lingered in the back of my mind – Humble Honee, a bee-free alternative! I spent all summer formulating a recipe that perfectly replicated the sweet taste of bee honey that we all know and love. I had the final product sent to a university laboratory for safety testing and I obtained FDA approval. I sold my product online, and within two months of opening, Humble Honee was available in 11 brick-and-mortar stores across the United States. As a one-woman business, it was really special to be able to bring an idea to life and mold my vision into reality. I built the brand from the ground up and my product has been featured on more than six media outlets, including VegNews and VegWorld magazines.

Why did you choose this business school? As an undergrad Gator, I understood the value of a degree from the University of Florida, both in the quality of the education and the extent of the alumni network. As someone who was pivoting from a science background to business, I wanted to ensure that I was joining a program that would support me and help me find a career that would best be suited to my skill set. The Financial Times awarded UF with three consecutive #1 rankings for career services. This accolade gave me confidence that I would receive excellent assistance in conveying my value to future employees. So, when I was fortunate enough to receive a Full-Tuition scholarship, I knew that my return on investment would be well worth it.

Who was your favorite MBA professor? My favorite MBA professor was Dr. Middlebrooks, who taught Develop Leadership Skills. Not only is Dr. Middlebrooks an award-winning professor, but he is also the lead author of the textbook Discovering Leadership: Designing Your Success. Dr. Middlebrooks created a safe space for being vulnerable about our past experiences which allowed us to learn from one another. Leadership is not a one-size-fits-all model. Throughout the class, we were equipped with a toolset of innovative tactics that will ensure success in future leadership roles. Dr. Middlebrooks’ passion was evident throughout the course, and so was his appreciation for his students. So much so that he provided the class with sweet treats whenever someone was celebrating a birthday. I genuinely enjoyed my time in this class and walked away with knowledge of how to be a thought-provoking and impactful leader.

What was your favorite course as an MBA? My favorite course as an MBA was Building and Managing Brand Equity. We learned the value that a brand brings to an organization. My team conducted an in-depth investigation of a brand of our choice, Crest, and collected primary research from consumers which offered unique insights into the purchasing behaviors for products. We researched the history of the brand and Crest’s current strategies, which led us to come up with a recommendation for the brand moving forward. The project offered a first-hand look into the day-to-day work of a brand manager, which is useful for understanding the business decisions that are made behind the scenes of everyone’s favorite products.

Looking back over your MBA experience, what is the one thing you’d do differently and why? One thing I wish I had done more of is networking with students outside of the MBA. Through the MBA Association, I oversaw many events that were co-hosted with other programs including law, dentistry, and information systems and operations management (ISOM). In our careers, we will be working alongside professionals from various worlds of expertise. I enjoy connecting with other students about their studies and seeing how we might work alongside one another in our careers.

What is the biggest myth about your school? The biggest myth about the University of Florida is that most people are placed into jobs in the Southeast. From my experience with my cohort and those who came before me, that is not the case. We have graduates who obtain jobs at big-name companies across the country. I interned at BASF in New Jersey and had the opportunity to live right outside of New York City. Although Gainesville itself is small, the Gator network is expansive. I experienced this while I was in my small hometown in Germany and heard an enthusiastic “Go Gators!”

What did you love most about your business school’s town?  I love Gainesville’s nature scene. I live 10 minutes from Paynes Prairie, which features nearly 300 species of birds, massive alligators, and even wild horses and bison! Within an hour’s drive, I can snorkel through crystal clear springs with manatees, or kayak along Florida’s gulf coast.

What surprised you the most about business school? I remember nervously sitting at orientation and thinking “Wow, all of these people are SO impressive.” I was worried that I would not be able to keep up since I had a formal education in chemistry, not business. As the program began, I began to understand the importance of having diversity of thought in the workplace. We all embraced our idiosyncratic differences, and I am fortunate to have learned through other’s shared experiences. I would encourage anyone interested in getting their MBA to go for it; everyone has something valuable to offer.

Which MBA classmate do you most admire? My MBA classmate that I most admire is Christine Mansour. Christine plays beach handball for Team USA and still manages to be fully committed to the MBA program. She and I connected due to our competitive spirit after we won the internal case competition together. Christine is constantly traveling the world with her team and always exemplifies a go-getter attitude. However, our connection transcends the classroom. When my dad had a brainstem stroke in August 2023 and lost his ability to walk and talk, Christine checked in on me every single day. I spent many of my weekends back home aiding my dad in his recovery, and Christine was always willing to help me in any way that I needed. Through the toughest time in my life, Christine was always there for me, and I will forever appreciate our friendship.

What are the top two items on your professional bucket list?

1. Become an impactful leader
2. Be a lifelong learner

What made Jamie such an invaluable addition to the Class of 2024?

“Jamie Woodrum (UF MBA ’24) is a talented and motivated MBA student who also serves as the President of the UF MBA Association (MBAA), a student governing organization of the UF MBA Program. As president, Jamie oversees the 13 MBAA board positions and all clubs and chair positions under the MBAA umbrella who are actively planning programming. This includes Gator MBA Gear, a student-run business that sells UF MBA apparel and merchandise. Jamie’s presidential platform centered creating a supportive network to allow each student to become the best version of themselves. Her leadership was tested this year as Jamie made a difficult decision to make a change at the leadership level to further the mission of the organization. She handled this adversity with grace and continued to maintain a sense of community and collaboration amongst her leadership board and throughout the Full-Time MBA program.

Since joining the program, Jamie has represented UF MBA at one national case competition and was part of the winning team for the UF MBA Internal Case Competition where she earned the “Best Q&A Award” for her division. During her time preparing for these competitions, Jamie has sharpened her skills analyzing real-world business problems, trouble shooting, storytelling and presenting.

A true champion of the UF MBA program, Jamie also works directly with the UF MBA Admissions team dedicating her time to help recruit, attract and retain future UF MBAs. She has participated in several recruiting events and has volunteered her time to speak with prospective students. She shares her perspective and experience within a range of topics such as case competitions, academic preparedness, student involvement and more.

Jamie’s passion for animals and biochemistry degree from the University of Florida ultimately came together during the pandemic when she founded her own vegan honey company, Humble Honee. She was also instrumental in helping a local farm animal rescue increase their visibility as their Social Media Director. Thanks to Jamie’s efforts and foundational work, the organization has seen an increase in followers from a few hundred to almost 54,000 today.

Jamie secured an internship with BASF last summer in their MBA Leadership Development Program in Florham Park, New Jersey. She will return to the BASF Leadership Development Program upon graduation.”

Janin Menendez
Director of UF MBA Alumni Involvement
UF MBA Programs

DON’T MISS: MBAS TO WATCH: CLASS OF 2024