Gabe Ceja

University of California-Davis Graduate School of Management’s MBA@UCDavis

“Challenge-loving problem solver, always looking for the perfect pairing.”

Age: 39

Hometown: Anaheim, California

Fun fact about yourself: I was lucky enough to work a wine harvest down under in South Australia. I learned a lot about the culture and wines of the Adelaide Hills and was able to bring what I learned back to the U.S. to make some great wine in Paso Robles, California!

Undergraduate School and Degree: California Polytechnic University, San Luis Obispo, B.S. in Viticulture & Enology

Where are you currently working? I’m an Assistant Winemaker at JUSTIN Vineyards & Winery, Paso Robles, CA

What achievement are you most proud of in your professional career? I am most proud of being a leader in bottling operations. I love a good challenge, especially during periods of sustained high-volume production and while leading a team under pressure. As a manager of both wine quality and operational efficiency, getting to help shape a complex operation and keeping it running with limited downtime has been a bright spot for me. This is especially true as I simultaneously work towards earning my MBA. From building operations protocols from scratch to putting wine blends together, I am very proud of being part of a team that makes award-winning wines!

Why did you choose this school’s online MBA program? UC Davis has been operating their online program since 2019, so they had a head start to online teaching before many other universities. This was a big indicator for me that I could trust them to deliver a rigorous curriculum which wasn’t lightened because it was online. In addition, many of the faculty for the online classes also develop and teach classes in person. As a result, I know the curriculum is identical to what the Full-Time and Part-Time cohorts are receiving. Also important to me is that UC Davis is a top-tier agriculture school, and has an incredible network in the wine industry. It has been great getting to know other alumni because they have all been incredibly helpful with career advice and connecting me to others.

What was your favorite part of being in an online MBA program? It was the flexibility to learn and work with peers in a way similar to how I collaborate with many colleagues at work: via online conference. Another very practical benefit was not having to add another commute or a parking pass to my routine. This allowed me to attend class without worrying about traffic or about being home on time. It also meant that I was able to learn from anywhere, so business trips or time off meant I could usually attend live classes.

Although online, the UC Davis program requires students to take several classes where meeting up with peers is mandatory. These ended up being some of my fondest classes. I found myself taking more than required because I met so many amazing people, from different industries, and while studying very interesting topics. Another plus is that the program managers are incredibly involved in your success and go the extra step to make you feel welcomed and acquainted with peers and faculty.

How did your online MBA experience compare with your in-the-classroom experience as an undergraduate student? It was very different, but familiar. Being back in an academic setting was quite refreshing. However, being online allowed for a pace of learning that was much more amenable to full time work. That said, there is not a lot of walking through campus green spaces or past the great buildings on campus since it is online.

What is your best piece of advice to an applicant for thriving in an online MBA program? Finding the right physical space and mental mindset to study is vital. Just because you don’t have to meet in person doesn’t mean there is any less work to be done. Time management was key, and a big way I was able to keep things balanced was to mix a “poet” class with a “quant” class each quarter. This helped keep my mind fresh, and ready to learn different avenues of the program.

How has your online MBA education helped you in your current job? It has allowed me to view our winery as more than just the art and science of winemaking, but as a truly impressive organization. At the end of the day, we are a business and I am a manager who has a responsibility for ensuring our department is thriving. This means both fiscal and personal leadership. The UC Davis OMBA program has helped me grow in both of these aspects.

Did you earn a promotion while in the program or immediately after graduation? I have not had a formal title change. However, the scope of my responsibilities has increased several times since starting the program. When I started, I was focused on operational functionality. Now, I am much more involved in cross-functional strategy and implementation. The KPIs I track are now measured across multiple teams instead of just one.

Why did you pursue an online MBA program instead of a full-time residential or executive MBA program? The opportunity cost of not working simply was not something I could afford to do. Further, there is never a guarantee to success or placement after graduation. I wanted to stay at my company because it’s supportive and an overall wonderful place to work. Compared to Executive MBA programs I found, the OMBA program allowed for a greater trajectory/breadth of learning as well as flexibility.

What is one way that your business school has integrated AI into your programming? Outside of offering multiple classes on AI, and even a popular residential on the topic, UC Davis has done a good job of embracing the technology. In several classes we used AI tools to help us sort through data, or even to find flaws in the AI’s logic. We learned that AI is a valuable tool which can and should be used in the real business world, but also that it has limitations that cannot replace our own good judgement and thoroughness.

What insights did you gain from using AI? In one aspect I know that AI can often overlook things that might get caught by a human reviewer. Just like humans, AI can take shortcuts and be inconsistent, but with this knowledge a user can get a lot of work done. For me, I learned I could use AI tools almost like a tutor to quickly explain topics and guide me to a better learning outcome. I also realized how helpful it could be to sort through large datasets in aggregate.

Number of Hours Per Week Spent on an Online MBA: Each class and week were different, but on average it was 20-30 hours per week. I usually took two classes per quarter. This included live class participation, asynchronous lectures, outside meet ups with peers, and readings.

What is your ultimate long-term professional goal? My long-term goal is to lead complex operational organizations at the executive level. Ideally, this is within the beverage, CPG or manufacturing industries. I’m particularly interested in combining my operational knowledge of winemaking/beverages with strategy and organizational leadership, so I can drive the long-term growth of a business. Making wine is incredibly interesting and fun. Even more rewarding is being able to manage and grow a company that can provide so much to so many dedicated employees, as well as to our local communities. This is where I want to make a difference.

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