Caitlin Chou

University of Southern California, Marshall School of Business

“I’m an actor-turned-product manager, but my best role is Lauren and Zoe’s big sister.”

Hometown: Irvine, CA; Singapore

Fun Fact About Yourself: I’m a powerlifting enthusiast (50 points to Gryffindor if you can guess my 1 rep max).

Undergraduate School and Major: University of Michigan, Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theatre Performance

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: 30 Minutes to President’s Club, Product Marketing & Growth Manager

What makes Los Angeles such a great place to earn an MBA? As someone who has done their fair share of moving around, I’ve learned to use a rule of three for any place I call home…

1. Do I love what I am doing there?
2. Do I love the people there?
3. Do I love the place itself?

And spoiler alert, Los Angeles answers “YES” to all three. I’m here to be at the beating heart of the entertainment industry. Not only is the network I need here, but most of my family is here – and LA weather, food, vibes…need I say more?

Aside from your classmates and location, what was the key part of USC Marshall’s MBA programming that led you to choose this business school and why was it so important to you? Hands down, the Business of Entertainment Graduate Certificate and the pivot-focused Career Launchpad program were paramount for me. I wasn’t interested in getting an MBA for the sake of the capital letters; I wanted a program that would wholly prepare me to lead within evolving industries, not just learn about them. It became clear to me after looking into the Career Launchpad program, especially that I’d be challenged to keep up with industry trends, form strong perspectives, and practice walking the walk.

What course, club or activity excites you the most at USC Marshall? The PRIME Program is all the way up there, but it’s a close tie with the Business of Entertainment Association, High Tech Association, and Marshall Pride (how am I supposed to choose just ONE). But if I had to elaborate on just one, in today’s world, understanding global markets and international business practices isn’t just an advantage, it’s necessary. PRIME is the opportunity of a lifetime for immersion and forging the kind of deep bonds that only happen when you travel with people internationally.

Looking at your recruitment, what was the moment when you realized that USC Marshall was the right program for you? Why? I’m pursuing a pivot back into the entertainment industry. While USC was always only 1 of 2 of the choices I was gunning for, it was after my interview that my heart became completely set. I walked away from my conversation with Graduate Admissions (shout out to Nirav Mehta!) genuinely touched by the Marshall mission. I understood then that this program cultivates leaders with heart. Yes, you will leave here being downright dangerous at all of the hard skills, but more importantly, in my opinion, you will become a more ethical, empathetic and forward-thinking leader.

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: Before starting my MBA, I was actively working in the career I had always wanted. I had originated roles, been reviewed by the New York Times, and even once performed for Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg (she sat front row, center in a hot pink scarf. *Squeals*).

But it was while working on an original Filipino American musical that I had a realization: I didn’t just want to feel seen, I wanted to help others feel seen, and I was too impatient to wait for the stories to come to me. So no matter what I accomplish in a few years or fifty years from now, coming to that realization and acting on it is one of the biggest accomplishments of my life. I’m proud to have had the courage to pursue a non-traditional career and then pivot from it to make an impact where it matters most to me.

What is your long-term career goal? I plan to apply my blend of product skills and empathy for creators to the next generation of content discovery and personalization. I believe that by applying cutting-edge technology in the right places, we can shift the entertainment industry beyond traditional content gatekeepers to build an ecosystem where authentic storytelling can find its audience (no matter how niche) – and every audience member can discover content that truly resonates with them.

DON’T MISS: MEET USC MARSHALL’S MBA CLASS OF 2027

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