Brysan Porterfield

University of Michigan, Ross School of Business

“I’m an empathetic leader who values authenticity, transparency, and empowering communities.”

Hometown: Branchburg, New Jersey

Fun fact about yourself: For two years after earning my undergraduate degree, alongside my role as a Project Manager at Aetna, I professionally modeled for a L’Oréal hair care line. It was one of the most exciting and rewarding experiences of my life.

Undergraduate School and Degree: University of Michigan – Ann Arbor, Neuroscience B.S.

Where was the last place you worked before enrolling in business school? Before business school, I was an Account Manager at Rakuten Advertising, overseeing strategy and execution for 12 beauty, retail, and luxury affiliate marketing programs, including YSL, H&M, and Lancôme, to drive sales and enhance brand awareness.

Where did you intern during the summer of 2024? In the summer of 2024, I interned at Mars Wrigley in Newark, NJ, as a Marketing and Brand Management Intern, where I worked on the Altoids brand to develop an innovative strategic proposal plan to drive business growth.

Where will you be working after graduation? I’ll be joining Mars Wrigley in Newark, New Jersey, as an Associate Brand Manager.

Community Work and Leadership Roles in Business School:

Awards

–          2024 The Consortium for Graduate Study Management Wallace L. Jones Fellowship

–          2024 Ross Community Impact Scholarship

–          2024 Black Business Student Association Fellowship Award

–          2024 Elite8 Brand Management Case Competition Award Recipient (2nd Place)

–          2024 Mars Wrigley Case Competition Award Recipient (2nd Place)

Community Service

–          Volunteered with Focus Hope to deliver 40 care packages to senior citizens in the Detroit Metropolitan area.

1st Year Leadership Roles

• Section 3 President

Fostered an inclusive culture through intentional programming and academic/personal support, which resulted in a high consistent participation rate of 75%

• Black Business Student Association (BBSA) Director of Social Events

Curated events like the BBSA Retreat and Rawse Nation, which provided spaces for students to learn about and celebrate Black culture.

• Michigan Marketing Club (MMC) Director of DEI

Hosted a DEI panel with representatives from Dollar General and P&G, which highlighted how business growth intersects with social equity, particularly in consumer access to essentials.

• Student Ambassador

Supported nine prospective students during the 2023-2024 application cycle with essay review, mock interview, etc. A total of seven students successfully matriculated.

2nd Year Leadership Roles

• Section 3 President

Continued leadership efforts to drive an inclusive and fun section community.

• Black Business Student Association (BBSA) Co-President

Revitalized Michigan Ross’s & BBSA participation in the National Black MBA Association Case Competition and increased club programming by 33% which in turn increased club participation by 12%

• Michigan Marketing Club (MMC) VP of DEI

Organized three DEI-centered events and initiatives, including a case competition that challenged participants to develop inclusive marketing strategies for the gaming industry.

• Student Ambassador

Supported seven prospective students during the 2024-2025 application cycle with essay review, mock interview, etc.

Which academic or extracurricular achievement are you most proud of during business school? The achievement I am most proud of during business school is receiving the Ross Community Impact Scholarship. This recognition was especially meaningful because it validated the work I’ve done to foster inclusivity and create spaces where all students feel seen, valued, and respected.

Whether it was increasing event participation as Section President, integrating DEI into the Michigan Marketing Club’s programming, or expanding opportunities for Black students through my leadership in BBSA, I poured my energy into strengthening the Ross community. The scholarship wasn’t just an award; it was a reflection of the impact I was able to make in a place that welcomed me for who I am.

Coming into business school, I knew that my experience would be shaped by the community around me, and I wanted to ensure that others felt that same sense of belonging. It was an honor to be recognized for that effort. More importantly, it reaffirmed that meaningful leadership isn’t just about holding positions, it’s about the people you uplift and the culture you help build. This experience has reinforced my passion for fostering inclusive environments, and it’s a commitment I will carry into my career and beyond.

What achievement are you most proud of in your professional career? The achievement I am most proud of in my professional career is winning the 2022 Golden Links Best Collaborator Award at Rakuten Advertising’s annual industry conference. As the lead for the Lancôme program, I developed and executed an inclusive campaign strategy for a key product launch, driving a 157% YoY increase in sales, an $8 ROAS, and a 14% boost in brand awareness. This award wasn’t just a recognition of a successful campaign, but it was a defining moment in my career that reaffirmed my ability to drive meaningful impact in the marketing industry.

Breaking into marketing, my long-desired field of interest, with a technical neuroscience background wasn’t easy. However, this experience proved that I not only belonged in the field, but could also make a lasting impact. Leading a campaign for a brand I had admired since childhood was a full-circle moment – one that validated my passion, reinforced my ability to drive change through marketing, and strengthened my commitment to pushing for greater inclusivity in the industry.

Why did you choose this business school? I chose to attend the University of Michigan Ross School of Business because of its unmatched sense of community and culture. When applying to business school, I prioritized a top program that would provide a strong marketing foundation, extensive alumni connections, and ample career opportunities. While Ross was always in my top five, I initially considered stepping outside my alma mater for a new experience. However, visiting different schools made it clear: Michigan was the place where I felt the most like me. The connections I built at Ross were deeper and more authentic than at any other school, and that sense of belonging, paired with Ross’s #3 ranking in marketing and one of the largest alumni networks in the country, made my decision easy.

Since joining Ross, my experience has exceeded expectations. The community that drew me in has become an integral part of my journey, and the opportunities I’ve had, both academically and professionally, have only reinforced that I made the right choice. Ross isn’t just a business school; it’s a place where I’ve been able to grow, lead, and build lifelong relationships while preparing for the career I’ve always envisioned.

Who was your favorite MBA professor? My favorite MBA professor is Dr. Marcus Collins, whose key insights into the intersection of culture and marketing have deeply influenced my perspective of the industry. He emphasizes that “there’s no force more influential than culture,” highlighting how our cultural affiliations shape consumer behavior and brand interactions. This perspective has reshaped my approach to brand marketing, emphasizing the importance of fostering a positive culture to build strong communities. Dr. Collins’ continuous impact and accomplishments in the industry are truly inspiring, and I aspire to emulate his ability to harness cultural understanding to drive meaningful consumer engagement and resonance.

What was your favorite course as an MBA? One of the most impactful courses I’ve taken during my MBA has been Marketing Law. While taking a law course is a program requirement, I didn’t expect it to reshape my perspective on brand marketing in such a profound way. Coming into business school, my goal was clear: I wanted to become a Brand Marketing Manager in CPG and drive more inclusivity in an industry that has historically overlooked consumers with specific needs, much like my own experience as a dark-skinned woman struggling to find the right beauty and haircare products. I initially saw inclusivity in marketing through the lens of visual representation—who is in the ads, who gets a voice in campaigns—but this course pushed me to think deeper. I gained a new appreciation for how every word in marketing carries weight, shaping consumer perception, trust, and, ultimately, the legal and financial standing of a brand.

This course highlighted that knowing the law isn’t just about compliance, it’s about impact. It taught me that inclusive marketing isn’t just about representation in imagery, but also in messaging. The way we describe products, the claims we make, and the words we choose can make consumers feel seen and valued or alienated. More importantly, I realized that a lack of legal awareness as a marketer can put both the brand and its consumers at risk. Understanding these nuances has given me an expanded toolkit to drive meaningful change, ensuring that my future work isn’t just inclusive in appearance but also responsible, legally sound, and deeply resonant with the consumers I hope to serve.

What was your favorite MBA event or tradition at your business school? One of my favorite MBA traditions at Ross is the MBA1 Colombia spring break trek. Every year, about 250 students head to Colombia for a week of adventure, sun, and celebration. While I was excited to explore a new country with new friends, this trip held extra significance for me because I was celebrating my 30th birthday. Birthdays are a time of reflection and celebration for me, but I’ll admit I was a bit nervous about how it would feel spending such a personal milestone with classmates I was still getting to know. What I didn’t expect was how my Ross community would show up for me in ways that made it my best birthday yet. My classmates went out of their way to surprise me with gifts and turned every day into a new celebration, which made me feel incredibly appreciated. It was overwhelming in the best way but also proof that even in a short time, I had built real, meaningful connections.

This experience reaffirmed what makes Ross special, which is the strength of its community. Business school is more than academics and career prep; it’s about surrounding yourself with people who genuinely support you, both inside and outside the classroom. The way my classmates showed up for me on a day that meant so much was a reminder that these aren’t just peers; they’re lifelong friends who will continue to root for me long after graduation.

Looking back over your MBA experience, what is the one thing you’d do differently and why? If I could do one thing differently in my MBA experience, it would be taking on less and being more intentional about how I allocate my time and energy. I stepped into business school with a mindset of essentially saying “yes” to every opportunity that challenged me. As a result, I found myself deeply embedded in leadership—serving as Section President, VP of DEI for the Marketing Club, Co-President of BBSA, and a Ross Student Ambassador, all while balancing case competitions, coursework, recruitment, and relationships. These roles have been some of the most rewarding parts of my MBA journey, giving me the chance to shape the Ross community, grow as a leader, and make a meaningful impact on my peers. I’m incredibly grateful for the experiences, lessons, and opportunities they’ve brought me. In trying to be everywhere for everyone, I lost part of myself. I was spread so thin that I struggled to juggle my commitments effectively. In prioritizing the needs of my peers, I unintentionally neglected my own well-being and personal relationships.

This realization didn’t come easily. At first, I told myself that overcommitting was just part of the process and that it would prepare me to be a stronger leader post-MBA. However, eventually, I had to confront the truth: I was misallocating my most valuable resource—my time. The relationships that had always been my foundation, particularly with my family and partner, started to feel distant, and I wasn’t showing up for myself in the ways that mattered most. Looking back, I wish I had given myself permission to step back and reflect on what I truly wanted out of this experience instead of moving at full speed just because I could. Moving forward, I’m taking this lesson with me—success isn’t just about impact in the workplace, but about living a life that feels balanced, fulfilling, and aligned with what truly matters.

What movie or television show (e.g. The Big Short, The Founder, Mad Men, House of Lies) best reflects the realities of business and what did you learn from it? One show that surprisingly reflects the realities of business is the Netflix TV show, Inventing Anna. While the story of Anna Delvey is extreme, it highlights real dynamics in business with relationship-building, the power of perception, and the risks of chasing prestige without substance. Anna understood that access and influence are often just as valuable as capital. She built relationships with high-powered individuals, leveraged their networks, and positioned herself as someone worth betting on. However, her story also serves as a cautionary tale that relationships in business aren’t just about making connections, they’re about maintaining trust. Once credibility is lost, no amount of confidence or networking can save you.

Beyond personal relationships, Inventing Anna also raises important lessons about risk management and disruptive innovation. Investors, banks, and executives were willing to entertain Anna’s vision because she tapped into a real market—exclusivity and experiential luxury. But no matter how bold or innovative an idea is, if the foundation isn’t solid, it’s bound to collapse. Her story is a reminder that while ambition and storytelling are powerful tools in business, they can’t replace due diligence, transparency, authenticity, and execution. It made me reflect on how easily prestige can overshadow logic and how important it is—whether in brand management or leadership—to balance bold ideas with real, sustainable impact.

What is one way that your business school has integrated AI into your programming? What insights did you gain from using AI? Ross has taken a forward-thinking approach to integrating AI into its curriculum, ensuring that students not only understand AI conceptually but can also apply it strategically in business contexts.

One of the most impactful ways this has been done is through specialized courses like Empowering Business Decision Making with Generative AI, which I’ve had the pleasure of taking. This course provided me with hands-on experience using large language models for real-world applications, from customer analytics to financial reporting and operations management. More than just learning how to prompt AI, I gained insights into how context manipulation and advanced API programming can optimize decision-making. The course underscored that AI isn’t just a futuristic tool but a present-day advantage that, when leveraged effectively, enhances efficiency, agility, and strategic thinking.

Through my experience with AI, I’ve realized that its true power lies not in replacing human judgment but in amplifying it. While there is widespread concern about AI disrupting jobs, I see it as an enabler, much like the internet revolutionized information access, AI is streamlining decision-making, making insights more immediate and actionable. It allows businesses to iterate faster, test strategies dynamically, and make data-driven decisions at scale. Perhaps most importantly, AI is democratizing access to knowledge, giving individuals and smaller businesses a competitive edge that was once reserved for industry giants. But as AI evolves, human discernment remains critical as emotional intelligence, ethical reasoning, and creativity are still irreplaceable.

The leaders who embrace AI as a collaborative tool rather than a threat will be best positioned to navigate and shape the future of business.

Which MBA classmate do you most admire? If there’s one classmate I deeply admire, it’s Andres Tineo-Paz. Throughout his time at Ross, he has exemplified what it means to be intentional by focusing on what truly matters to him and navigating this experience with a level of balance that most of us strive for. He has been a strong leader, earning distinctions like the Community Impact Scholarship, the ClimateCAP and GreenBiz Emerging Leaders fellowship, and serving as Co-President of the Hispanic Business Student Association. Even more, he has been an incredible friend. What sets Andres apart is his ability to make deep, meaningful connections with people from all backgrounds, consistently showing up in ways that extend beyond leadership titles. Whether it’s supporting a friend’s event or simply being a presence in their life, he makes sure the people around him feel valued.

Beyond his accomplishments, Andres fully immerses himself in every aspect of life at Ross, embracing the community and bringing others along for the experience. He takes building relationships to another level by showing up for others and inviting them into his world. I’ve seen him introduce classmates to things he enjoys for his own well-being, like early morning swims at Michigan’s facilities, but also push himself to experience what others love. He has cracked the code of maintaining personal and professional balance, something I hope to achieve one day. Andres moves through Ross with both grace and intention, proving that success isn’t just about what you accomplish, but how you bring others along with you.

What are the top two items on your professional bucket list? Two of the biggest goals on my professional bucket list are to work abroad for at least a year and to launch a product or brand that creates a meaningful impact. I want to gain firsthand experience in how business operates globally because I believe the U.S. has a lot to learn from different markets, whether it’s consumer behavior, supply chain efficiencies, or innovation in branding. Beyond professional growth, working abroad would push me personally. Learning a new language is something I’ve always wanted to do, and immersing myself in a different culture would deepen my understanding of consumers in ways that can’t be replicated in a classroom or corporate setting.

People’s wants and needs vary across markets, and I want to experience that firsthand to become a more well-rounded business leader.

Equally important to me is the opportunity to launch a product or brand that truly meets the needs of underserved consumers. Going into brand management within CPG, I see this as more than just a business goal, it’s personal. Growing up, I often struggled to find products that worked for me, whether it was foundation shades that matched my skin or hair care that actually catered to my texture. That experience shaped how I think about inclusivity in business, and I’ve always dreamed of creating something that makes people feel seen. To be able to bring a product to market that fills a real gap, one that makes consumers feel valued in ways I sometimes didn’t, would be incredibly fulfilling, both professionally and personally.

What made Brysan such an invaluable addition to the Class of 2025?

“Brysan is a unique combination of theory and application—know why and know how. She understands the underlying concepts of business but continues to negotiate it with the pragmatism of practice and the empathy of humanity.

That’s what I like most about her: she understands that what we’re doing is not transactional. The decisions we make in management have real consequences on people’s lives, their communities, and the planet we share. These are the stakeholders that matter, beyond those who own stock. She understands this truth and it matters to her. As an academic and a practitioner, I sleep a little better at night knowing that students like Brysan will be industry leaders and demonstrate our belief at Ross that doing good is good for business.”

Marcus Collins
Clinical Assistant Professor of Marketing

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