Andi Casner MPAc 25
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Profile

Andi Casner MPAc 25

I chose UC Davis because I started my accounting journey here during my undergraduate studies. It only felt right to finish that journey at the Graduate School of Management!

Current Position

  • PwC Audit Associate

Previous Work Experience

  • AATC Writing Tutor, UC Davis
  • Graduate School of Management Teaching Assistant, UC Davis

Previous Education

  • Bachelor's in economics and minor in Accounting, UC Davis

Fun Facts

  • I was a cheerleader for 13 years, including at UC Davis. 
  • In my free time, I enjoy spending time with friends and family. 
  • One of my favorite things to do in new places is to try local coffee shops.
The Startup Treadmill Is Broken for Deep-Tech Companies
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Blog

The Startup Treadmill Is Broken for Deep-Tech Companies

Why science-based startups need a different model

“That exit should have been ours.” MBA alumnus Tim Keller, founder of Gunrock Venture Studio, unpacks why deep-tech, science-based startups collapse—and makes the case for a faster, smarter venture studio model.

Tim Keller MBA 08
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Profile

Tim Keller MBA 08

I chose UC Davis because, as a winemaker, I wanted a business school with faculty focused specifically on the wine industry.

Current Position

  • Executive Director, Inventopia / Managing Partner, Gunrock Venture Studio

Previous Work Experience

  • CEO, VinPerfect

Previous Education

  • Viticulture & Enology, UC Davis

Fun Facts

  • Living in Davis, I have logged more than 6,000 miles on a one-wheeled skateboard.
  • I enjoy learning new technical disciplines and am self-taught in CAD, CNC machining and industrial automation.
  • I am also a housing activist, co-founding PlanDavis to help the city expand affordable housing.
GSM Alumni Mixer @ East Bay
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Event

GSM Alumni Mixer @ East Bay

Join us for an evening of brews and great company!

Sponsored by the GSMAA Board, this event is the perfect way to connect and celebrate the spring season. Tickets are $25 and include heavy appetizers. Don’t miss this chance to unwind, catch up with

Brett Smith MBA 24
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Profile

Brett Smith MBA 24

UC Davis is a prestigious university with a top-notch Online MBA program.

Current Position

  • Regional Vice President, Hinge Health

Previous Work Experience

  • Regional Vice President, Sales, Oshi Health
  • Regional Vice Presdient, Sales, Teladoc Health
  • Associate Benefits Consultant, Health and Pension Consulting, Segal
  • Market Director, Sales, Vision Service Plan

Previous Education

  • Bachelor's in business administration, Cal Poly SLO

Fun Facts

  • I train martial arts as a hobby including Muay Thai and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.
  • I recently relocated from Northern California to Boise, Idaho.
  • I have two kids.
Earning an MBA Without Pressing Pause on My Career
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Blog

Earning an MBA Without Pressing Pause on My Career

The power of employer tuition support

Working in healthcare benefits leadership, Brett Smith wondered if an MBA was worth it. The UC Davis Online MBA helped him build strategy, finance and leadership skills without leaving his job.

I Used to Stay Quiet in Meetings. Now I Lead Them.
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Blog

I Used to Stay Quiet in Meetings. Now I Lead Them.

An MBA journey from listening to leading and shaping strategy

From observing executives to leading a product launch at Costco, Full-Time MBA alumna Farah Shartaz reflects on the financial tradeoffs and leadership growth that shaped the real return on her MBA.

Farah Shartaz MBA 22
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Profile

Farah Shartaz MBA 22

Choosing UC Davis was one of the best decisions of my life. As a marketer passionate about food and CPG, I gained real-world exposure, strategic thinking and the confidence to lead, growing both professionally and personally.

Current Position

  • Associate Brand Manager, Laura Chenel | Marin French Cheese

Previous Work Experience

  • Marketing Specialist, Dreyer's Grand Ice Cream
  • Marketing Product Coordinator, California Closets Inc.
  • Marketing Specialist, Safeway

Previous Education

  • BBA (Bachelor of Business Administration), University of Dhaka, Bangladesh

Fun Facts

  • I love traveling and have visited 14 countries
Engineering in Germany to Business Leadership at UC Davis
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Blog

Engineering in Germany to Business Leadership at UC Davis

How the Master of Management built my global business perspective

From Germany to UC Davis, MM student Ahmad Karim Katta turned being the only international voice in class into a leadership advantage, building global perspective, community and confidence in the inaugural Master of Management cohort.

Ahmad Karim Katta MM 25
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Profile

Ahmad Karim Katta MM 25

I chose UC Davis for its vibrant student community and the opportunity to join an inaugural cohort on a world-class campus. Beyond academics, I explored diverse clubs, trained at the Equestrian Center, and leveraged its proximity to the Bay Area and Silicon Valley.

Current Position

  • Program Officer & Project Manager, Avicenna-Studienwerk

Previous Work Experience

  • Product Manager & Senior Art Director, SailyGroup AG VC
  • Art Director, Serviceplan Group Middle East

Previous Education

  • Bachelor of Engineering, Hochschule Düsseldorf (HSD) University of Applied Sciences

Fun Facts

  • I speak three languages fluently
My Journey to Become an AI Product Marketing Leader
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Blog

My Journey to Become an AI Product Marketing Leader

Practical product marketing workflows

Double Aggie alumna Elle Grossenbacher, a tech product marketing leader, returned to her alma mater to lead an exclusive AI webinar for fellow graduates and students, walking them through a mock product launch using AI tools.

Elle Grossenbacher MBA 17
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Profile

Elle Grossenbacher MBA 17

Working full time during a career turning point, I needed a flexible, high-quality MBA. UC Davis offered a top-ranked part-time program with the same curriculum, courses and experiences, plus a capstone, Leadership Fellowship and the Big Bang! competition.

Current Position

  • Founder and Host, Product Marketing Adventures Podcast

Previous Work Experience

  • Product Marketing Leader, Cisco
  • Principal Product Marketing Manager, Twilio
  • Market Strategy Consultant, Gartner

Previous Education

  • MBA, UC Davis
  • B.A. in psychology, UC Davis
  • B.A. in design, UC Davis

Fun Facts

  • I went skydiving when I was 16-years-old. 
  • I'm a
Avoiding Burnout Bingo: Reclaiming Identity, Energy and Voice in Purpose-Driven Careers
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Blog

Avoiding Burnout Bingo: Reclaiming Identity, Energy and Voice in Purpose-Driven Careers

Sharing our stories builds trust, leading to game-changing conversations

Burnout isn’t a badge of honor. Discover how honest storytelling, identity and self-awareness can help purpose-driven professionals reclaim energy, redefine success and build sustainable, fulfilling careers without losing their voice.

Navigating from Big Four Accounting to Wine Industry Finance
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Blog

Navigating from Big Four Accounting to Wine Industry Finance

Using technical accounting skills to move into investment banking and advisory

From Big Four accounting to wine industry dealmaking, UC Davis MPAc alumnus Griffin Mitchell followed his instinct over a rigid plan. His journey proves the right foundation doesn’t just prepare you—it expands what’s possible.

Griffin Mitchell MPAc 18
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Profile

Griffin Mitchell MPAc 18

The UC Davis MPAc program was introduced to me by Bob Yetman and Will Snyder. My first impressions were impactful. The professionalism of the faculty extended throughout the program. The facilities were state-of-the-art, and the curriculum was taught by experienced professionals who were also excellent educators.

Current Position

  • Vice President, Azur Associates

Previous Work Experience

  • Senior Associate, PwC (Assurance, Asset Management and Private Client Services, Wine)
  • Senior Consultant, Deloitte (Technology, Media and Telecommunications)
  • Investment Banking Associate, Skyway Capital Markets

Previous

Katja Gagen MBA 22
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Profile

Katja Gagen MBA 22

I chose the UC Davis MBA for its STEM designation, innovation-driven curriculum, IMPACT learning model and collaborative culture.

Current Position

  • Head of Communications at Bloom Energy

Previous Work Experience

  • Principal and Head of Marketing at Technology Crossover Ventures
  • Head of External Communications at Brex
  • VP Marketing at General Catalyst
  • VP Marketing at Warburg Pincus
  • Senior Manager, Executive Communications at Cisco

Previous Education

  • M.A. in political science, international relations, languages, Johannes-Gutenberg University, Germany
  • B.A. in business management, Berlin University of Applied
I Had MBA Envy for Years. Then I Just Did It.
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Blog

I Had MBA Envy for Years. Then I Just Did It.

What working full-time while earning an MBA actually looks like

Online MBA alumna Katja Gagen had MBA envy for years. Now Head of Corporate Communications at Bloom Energy, she says the payoff wasn't the credential. It was the person she became.

From Classmates to Co-Founders: How We Turned Group Projects into a Startup
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Blog

From Classmates to Co-Founders: How We Turned Group Projects into a Startup

From analytics homework to entrepreneurship, recent MSBA graduates Jeremy Twumasi Ampofo, Kyle Ayisi and Jovoney Morton transformed UC Davis group projects into Habituals, an AI-powered app making self-improvement human, data-driven and sustainable.

From UC Davis to Airline Industry Maverick: A 40-year Journey
Event flyer for a UC Davis Graduate School of Management talk by Maurice J. Gallagher, Jr. on Feb. 10, 2026, about the airline industry at Walter A. Buehler Alumni Center.
Blog

From UC Davis to Airline Industry Maverick: A 40-year Journey

Maurice J. Gallagher, Jr. on leadership and aviation

Maurice J. Gallagher Jr. returned to UC Davis to reflect on risk, resilience and reinvention, and how hard lessons and bold decisions shaped his path from student to airline maverick.