Mays MasterCast

This episode of MasterCast Students Only, features Mays Business School's Professional Program in Accounting (PPA) students from the Class of '23: Kendall Kelley, Technology Track; Meredith Senterfitt, Marketing Track; Ian Wyman, Tax Track; and Jonathan Zendejas, Finance Track. Students discuss what made them choose to continue beyond a bachelor's degree with PPA and  why they chose their track. They also discuss their internships, plans after graduation and their favorite places to eat in Aggieland! Professional Program In Accounting (PPA) The Professional Program is a five-year integrated program that offers students the opportunity to simultaneously earn a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting and a Master of Science (MS) in Accounting, Management Information Systems, Management or Marketing or a Master of Financial Management.  

Julie Orzabal, Director, Mays Executive MBA Program, is a graduate of Texas A&M University with a degree in Sociology. She joined Mays Business School in 1997 to launch the Mays Executive MBA Program. She assumed the role of Director in 2004 and has since seen the Mays Executive MBA Program achieve global ranking and recognition success with a strong and dedicated alumni network.   Descriptions: In this episode of MasterCast, Julie Orzabal, Director of the Mays Executive MBA Program, discusses the program's target audience, admissions process, and curriculum. She also talks about the Aggie Network and how it can help students achieve their career goals. The Mays Executive MBA Program is designed for working professionals who are looking to advance their careers. Applicants must have a minimum of five years of work experience and a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution. The program is offered in a hybrid format, with classes held both online and on campus. The curriculum covers a wide range of business topics, including finance, marketing, accounting, and leadership. The program has a strong alumni network, which can help students with networking and job placement. Julie Orzabal is a graduate of Texas A&M University with a degree in sociology. She joined Mays Business School in 1997 to launch the Mays Executive MBA program and assumed the role of director in 2004.

Jabot' Colvin, Assistant Director of Employer Services at Mays Career Management Center,  discusses the role of the Career Management Center, the services it provides, and the benefits it offers to students. The Career Management Center is a resource for all students at Mays Business School who are looking for internships, jobs, or career advice from finding internships to networking opportunities. The center offers a variety of services and resources that can help students achieve their career goals. Bio:  Jabot' Colvin joined Texas A&M University in January 2020 as the Assistant Director of Employer Services for the Mays Business School's Career Management Center with over 8 years of hands-on experience in public management and nonprofits. Previously, he served as the executive director of The Children's Museum of the Brazos Valley. Jabot' earned a Master of Public Administration degree from The Bush School of Government and Public Service and a bachelor's degree in political science from Texas A&M University.

Lisa Burton, Director of the M.S. Marketing Program, once was a student in this program herself. On this episode of MasterCast, she reveals insights on what they look for in a student applying into the program, as well as what they don't look for. An example of an interview question that they ask applicants of the program is even revealed. This demanding program provides these students with the unique opportunity to interact with owners of companies, founders, and senior executives, while making lasting differences in their companies. She has been a key player in many initiatives at Mays Business School, as well as playing a big role in the development of the Mays Career rental closet. As Burton has been a student of this program herself, she truly knows the good that it can do for an individual and loves seeing these students flourish. Bio:  Hailing originally from Baltimore, Maryland, Lisa Burton has called Texas home for more than 35 years. Lisa is the Director of the M.S. Marketing Program at Texas A&M's Mays Business School. In her former role as Associate Director of Employment Services for the Texas A&M University Career Center, she coached students to grow professionally and network effectively. Prior to working at Texas A&M University, Lisa had a successful career in sales and marketing in the retail, special event and nonprofit areas. Lisa earned her B.F.A. in Radio-TV-Film from Sam Houston State University and her M.S. Marketing degree from Texas A&M University.

Description:  Casey Kyllonen, Director of the Professional Program of Accounting (PPA), went from being a student of this exceptional program to now leading it as the Director. In this week's episode, Casey gives advice to students considering the program and provides some insights on what they look for in an applicant. She also touches on some misconceptions of the program, like that it is not only for those pursuing accounting jobs after graduation. She desires to make a huge impact on student's lives through this program, and this is clearly seen as her positive and dynamic personality shines through her voice. In addition, she notes on the unwavering support she receives from Mays and what initially drew her to the business school. Bio:  Originally from Richardson, TX, Casey Kyllonen received her BBA in Accounting and MS in Marketing in 2008. Casey returned to Mays Business School in May 2010 to be Senior Academic Advisor for the Professional Program.  She advised students from Professional Program in Accounting (PPA) on careers and courses, worked as a liaison between the students and the firms, and helped teach the Professional Development Seminar course. Since September 2022, she has held the position as Director of PPA. Prior to returning to Texas A&M University, Casey received her CPA license and worked at the Dallas office of EY in audit and assurance business services.

Mays Business School's Master of Science in Management Information Systems (MS-MIS)  students Girija Laxmi Iyer, Saniya Farahath, Sachin Jose Varghese, and Saurabh Dawkhar, appear on this episode of MasterCast: Students Only. These students analyze key differences in the pace and new challenges that they face compared to the classes they had back home in India. They provide insight on the most important qualities to have when going into this Masters program, and how they can push a student further to succeed. They also discuss what surprised them about coming to Texas A&M and different events the department holds for the students. Listen to this week's episode to hear about the ins and outs of a student's life in the MS-MIS program.   Mays Business School's Master of Science in Management Information Systems (MS-MIS) program is a rigorous degree program offering a number of unique features and benefits: Solid technical and business foundation: Our students leave our program with a solid technical information systems foundation and appropriate business skills. Problem-solving skills: Graduates can immediately contribute to solving business problems, which makes them highly valued and respected in the workforce and sought after by top companies.

Olivia Morrison, Assistant Director of the Executive MBA Program, went from working front desk to being an advisor overnight. On this episode of MasterCast, Olivia examines the Executive MBA program that is based in the city center campus in Houston, Texas, and what the typical cohorts consist of. This program is designed to allow full time workers to simultaneously be full time students through Texas A&M. This might seem overwhelming, however, the program is very flexible with each student's unique needs. She also explains how stepping into a job that you might not believe you are qualified for, can help you grow in confidence and allow you to stretch your abilities. She also touches on what it is like to adjust coming from the small college in Dayton, Tennessee, all the way to the large campus of Texas A&M. Bio: Originally from Knoxville, Tennessee, Olivia Morrison joined Mays Business School in August 2018 as an administrative coordinator in the Graduate Programs Office. In the summer of 2019, she transitioned to the Assistant Program Director role for the Executive MBA program. Holding both a bachelor's in business & an MBA from Bryan College in Dayton, Tennessee, Olivia is passionate about business higher education and supporting students as they work to achieve their academic goals and realize all the opportunities that an MBA from Texas A&M can afford them. 

Director of the Master of Science in Analytics, Myra Gonzalez, is also an active community leader and possesses a fervent interest in the future of technology. She has also been an obliging mentor for many students while working at Texas A&M for over 20 years. She has done extensive outreach to high school students and created pipelines from areas that had never sent students to Texas A&M before. She centers her program around the students needs and enjoys watching her students go from having little knowledge in data, into flourishing digital leaders.   Bio:  Myra Gonzalez is an Aggie from Houston, Texas and the current Director of MS Analytics Program at Mays Business School. She is an accomplished higher educational professional with undergraduate and graduate admission experience. Gonzalez has a passion for life-long learning and understands that higher education is one pathway to improve oneself and the community we live in. Since 2002 she has served as advisor for the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers at Texas A&M University. She has also served on various committees in the Texas Association for College Admission Counseling and the National Association for College Admission Counseling.

Demetria Kelley, Assistant Program Director of MS Business at Mays Business School, understands that everyone can be successful with the proper support and encouragement. This is seen as she dives into how she is heavily involved in supporting campus events and the unique experiences that they offer students. These events include the TXGap Summer Institute as well as the Women's Leadership Initiative Conference, and what opportunities that these students are offered. Kelley also shares insightful advice on what is required for the MS Business program and what can give that extra push. Bio: Born and raised in Los Angeles California, Demetria Kelley moved to Texas in 2005, starting her career with the university in 2010 as an Administrative Assistant for the Registrar's Office then moved to College of Architecture as an Administrative Coordinator/Graduate Advisor. Now as the Assistant Program Director of MS Business at Mays Business School, Kelley has found her calling in higher education. Involved in TXGap Summer Institute, University Advisory Group, and The Women's Leadership Initiative Conference, Kelley continues to leave her mark on the university.

Full-Time MBA students and Mays MBA Association (MBAA) members,  Connor Reyer (MBAA President), Shrey Bajaj (former MBAA President), Erin Evans, and TJ Daly, appear on the first episode of MasterCast: Students Only. As full-time MBA students as well as serving on the MBAA student board, they have countless amounts of insights that they dive in on. They explain the day-to-day of being in their program, as well as how to fit free time into your busy schedule and how the MBA Association has pushed them further to reaching their career goals. These students exemplify the spirit and work ethic that every student requires in this program, and give advice for those who hope to apply in the future. The MBA Association (MBAA) supports academic engagement and professional development throughout the year to foster continuous growth. This group also sponsors networking events, including trivia contests, happy hours, bowling, tailgate parties, and a number of annual events – MBA Follies, Brisket Bowl, and The Big Event. “MasterCast: Students Only” brings in 3 to 4 Masters students answering pre-written questions about what it's like to be a masters student at Mays Business School.

Sarah Jaks, Associate Director for the Full-Time MBA Program at Texas A&M University's Mays Business School, is set on staying authentic throughout every aspect of life, whether work, volunteer activities, or being with friends and family. Jaks dives into her journey into student affairs and how her authentic leadership style allows her to thrive in her role. Additionally, she shares what sets Mays Business School's Full-Time MBA Program apart and how students transform during their time in the program. Bio: Sarah Jaks serves as the Associate Director for the Full-Time MBA Program at Mays Business School. She oversees the development, administration, and implementation of programs and services to provide a supportive educational environment for students in the MBA Program. She came to Texas A&M for her Masters' degree in 2009 and has since earned her PhD from Texas A&M in 2020. Prior to joining Mays in 2017, Sarah worked for 8 years in the Department of Student Life.

Description:  Serving as Dean of Mays Business School, Interim Provost, Executive VP, and CFO at Texas A&M, Jerry Strawser is no stranger when it comes to the ins and outs of this university. He has served on the academic and administrative sides, and deep dives into his countless responsibilities he has had the opportunity to obtain. Whether that be allocating money or even making high stake decisions for the students and faculty, Strawser handles his positions with efficiency and pride. He has always been keen on the Master's program at Mays Business School, and explains what key factors pull students into College Station. Strawser's passion for this university and student body cannot be contained, as he discusses what makes Texas A&M such a special school to be a part of. Bio:  Jerry Strawser received his BBA, MS, and Ph.D. from Texas A&M University, and has served at Texas A&M University since 2001, holding positions of Dean of Mays Business School, Interim Provost and Executive Vice President, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, and currently KPMG Chair of Accounting and Associate Dean for Graduate Programs. Prior to Texas A&M, served on faculty at University of Houston, Louisiana State University, and had professional experience with Deloitte and Arthur Andersen. 

Duane Ireland, Former Interim Dean, Mays Business School Description:  From being the President of the Academy of Management to the countless awards for research and service he has received, Dr. Duane Ireland has proven himself to be a distinguished professor here at Mays Business School. He dives into his experience as the Editor of the Academy of Management Journal, and the devotion that is essential when possessing this honorable position. He also discusses encouraging entrepreneurship, as well as why his family plays just as much of a vital role in his career decisions as he does. Dr. Ireland stands by the importance of continual learning, as every experience can be viewed as a valuable learning opportunity.   Bio: Dr. R. Duane Ireland completed his PhD at Texas Tech University in 1977 and started his career at Oklahoma State University. After six years, he and his wife then spent 17 years at Baylor University followed by four years at the University of Richmond prior to moving to Texas A&M University in July of 2004. He has been honored to serve as the editor of the Academy of Management Journal and as president of the Academy of Management. He is a Fellow of the Academy of Management and of the Strategic Management Society. He is a University Distinguished Professor and the holder of the Benton Cocanougher Chair in Business. He has received multiple awards for research and service contributions from Mays, Texas A&M University, and various societies.   Chapters: 0:19: NFL's $15M Man Story 1:26: Education & Start of Career 3:24: Innovation Research 6:38: Empowering Entrepreneurship 10:58: Academic Journey 14:00: Family Decisions 16:10: A Love For Running 21:06: Editor of AMJ 24:50: Active Learning 29:43: Aggie Core Values 33:35: Good Bull

Julie Hartman and Susan Repka, co-founders of B2GVictory, were determined to create something meaningful in their careers. They are driven entrepreneurs whose passion about supporting growing small businesses is hard to go unnoticed. While getting her MBA at Texas A&M, Hartman explains the many influences that Mays has had on the creation of her company. Hartman and Repka dive into the twists and turns of their career journeys, and how you can never expect what might come next. Bio: Julie Hartman is an award-winning communication and marketing professional with more than 25 years of experience in corporate marketing and internal communications. Her real estate marketing portfolio includes master developers, architects, construction companies, commercial and multi-family projects. Susan Repka has over 20 years of working with small businesses to grow their capacity, through education, connections, resources and networking. Her focus since 2018 has been assisting small businesses with government contracting opportunities. Chapters: 0:23 How Julie and Susan Met 2:42 Creation of B2GVictory 5:58 Source of Their Passion 9:20 Day To Day Operations 14:24 Supporting Small Businesses 16:33 Julie Hartman's Journey 19:43 Susan Repka's Journey 20:53 Mays connection to B2GVictory 23:17 Career Changes 26:30 Next For B2GVictory 29:34 Good Bull

Retired Navy SEAL and now Rmada United Founder and Managing Partner, Jason Hitchcock shares with Ben his life as a SEAL, the wonders of Mays' MBA Program, and the obstacles he has had to overcome to get to where he is now. By being faithful, trusting the network, and learning how to become a good leader and better follower, Hitchcock is determined to make a difference. With his experience and extravagant background, Hitchcock is already changing the world for the next generation.    Chapters:  0:25 27 Years as a Navy SEAL 4:36 Retirement & Career Goals 8:03 Rmada United 10:00 Leading Well, Following Better 11:40 Necessity of MBA 14:00 MBA Meets Rmada 17:08 Startup Struggles 20:15 Innovation and Missions  24:12 Stigmas 26:18 What's Next and Good Bull

Dr. Mac has been with the university for 42 years (A-Whoop)! During his time in College Station, he has learned from, grown with, and shaped the lives of hundreds of students from all sorts of backgrounds. Dr. Mac lives a faith-centered life and continues to impact the “special” students on campus. From being the faculty advisor for numerous student organizations to leading the Marketing study abroad, Dr. Mac has been intentional with his time here at Texas A&M, and we are glad he shares the best snippets of his life on Mays MasterCast.    Chapters:  0:30 42 years of Texas A&M University 3:35 Student Organizations 5:09 A Faith-Centered Life 11:22 Teaching 15:10 Dr. Mac's Advice to Young Executives & Academia  18:57 Interactions with Former Students  24:47 Students & Faith 29:35 Having the Tough Conversations  31:50 Study Abroad 35:20 Good Bull

As the Lead Development Officer for Mays Business School, True Brown shares his insights on various ways to give back to the university and its thriving students. As Brown believes it, Aggies helping other Aggies is not a strange concept and at the start of his journey, he wanted to know the why and how that came to be. Brown teaches us the importance and impact of different ways to give back in professional, educational, and personal ways. This long-time Aggie showcases what it means to withhold the Aggie Core Values far after graduation and Brown continues to serve his community each and every day. Chapters: 0:30 Post Graduation & Non-Profits 1:31 Philanthropy 3:32 Then vs. Now - Students 4:37 Major Gifts, Endowments, and Philanthropy at Large 8:03 Life as a Long-Time Aggie 13:54 Work and Life Balance 15:50 Selfless Service outside of Work - Kairos 22:03 Business Education Complex and the Long-term Future of Texas A&M 25:31 Real Good Bull

As the Lead Development Officer for Mays Business School, True Brown shares his insights on various ways to give back to the university and its thriving students. As Brown believes it, Aggies helping other Aggies is not a strange concept and at the start of his journey, he wanted to know the why and how that came to be. Brown teaches us the importance and impact of different ways to give back in professional, educational, and personal ways. This long-time Aggie showcases what it means to withhold the Aggie Core Values far after graduation and Brown continues to serve his community each and every day.   Chapters: 0:30 Post Graduation & Non-Profits 1:31 Philanthropy 3:32 Then vs. Now - Students 4:37 Major Gifts, Endowments, and Philanthropy at Large 8:03 Life as a Long-Time Aggie 13:54 Work and Life Balance 15:50 Selfless Service outside of Work - Kairos 22:03 Business Education Complex and the Long-term Future of Texas A&M 25:31 Real Good Bull

From Texas Tech University, Texas A&M University - Commerce, and Texas University, Isaac Munoz has finally followed his heart to join the Texas A&M family. Munoz is the Associate Vice President of Marketing, Strategy, and Insights at Texas A&M University. Originally starting in analytics, Munoz has journeyed to strategy and insights to break down a consumer's decision-making. Munoz discusses how his many ventures in his life thus far have prepared him to understand the “why” in consumer marketing and insights. From continuous learning to making informed decisions, Munoz shares his knowledge on how to market best, and what he can do for his Texas A&M community.    Chapters:  0:22: Munoz's role at Texas A&M University 5:53: Sports and media 9:15: TU (Texas University) to TAMU (Texas A&M University) 11:40: The prep time  15:48: Continuous learning 17:00: Marketing and its creativity in campaigns & case studies 24:20: Customer insights & research 29:24: Ready to launch 32:17: What's now & what's next

Growing up in Lima, Peru, Ximena Garcia-Rada has traveled across the world in pursuit of better education. From Ph.D. life at Harvard to new motherhood, and now an Assistant Professor role at Texas A&M, she has had to embrace the various cultures, the many life lessons, and the different types of growth in order to thrive. Garcia-Rada expels her knowledge and unique finds in her specific type of research, consumer behavior and caregiving. In her research, she discovered that caregivers tend to feel guilty if choosing to use something, whether that be a new tool or technology, to make their lives easier. They feel that by not putting in enough effort, they are not doing their job. Garcia-Rada dives deep into this topic during this episode of #MasterCast. Now researching and teaching at Mays, she encourages her students to be consistently inquisitive, just as she is, and to keep on growing in this “Academic Unicorn.”   Chapters:  0:29: Undergraduate to PhD journey 4:36: The struggles  8:51: Research vs. Me-Search 13:13: Exciting Finds 16:06: At Mays 19:30: First jobs and careers  21:03: Teaching consumer behavior 25:55: What students need to know

Jacob Robinson, Founder of 1 Stone Solutions, DryPort Capital, and Dig World, is moving mountains with his ideas, enthusiasm, and work ethic. From his experience being an Aggie to now being a husband, father, and CEO of three start-up companies, Jacob has never lost sight of who he is, and how he can continue to strengthen his spirit. Through the ups and downs of life and its mischievous trials, Jacob stepped up to the plate, willing to give it his all and lead the future.   Chapters: 1:20 Experiencing the Aggie Network 3:07 Diving into Entrepreneurship 4:25 1 Stone Solutions & the Workforce 9:00 EBITDA & Excel 10:58 Red Flags in Growing a Small Business 13:40 Not Just About the Money 15:06 DryPort Capital & its Surprises 17:48 Dig World & Unique Memories 22:00 Pierce's Journey 25:42 Understanding the Important 31:30 Time & Teams

Jacob Robinson, Founder of 1 Stone Solutions, DryPort Capital, and Dig World, is moving mountains with his ideas, enthusiasm, and work ethic. From his experience being an Aggie to now being a husband, father, and CEO of three start-up companies, Jacob has never lost sight of who he is, and how he can continue to strengthen his spirit. Through the ups and downs of life and its mischievous trials, Jacob stepped up to the plate, willing to give it his all and lead the future.   Chapters: 1:20 Experiencing the Aggie Network 3:07 Diving into Entrepreneurship 4:25 1 Stone Solutions & the Workforce 9:00 EBITDA & Excel 10:58 Red Flags in Growing a Small Business 13:40 Not Just About the Money 15:06 DryPort Capital & its Surprises 17:48 Dig World & Unique Memories 22:00 Pierce's Journey 25:42 Understanding the Important 31:30 Time & Teams  

Former Texas A&M and Dallas Cowboys Quarterback, Stephen McGee, joins us for an exhilarating episode of Mays MasterCast! From learning on and off the field, to helping families with financial investment, risk management, tax, college, retirement, and estate planning at Paragon Financial Advisors, Stephen has studied every play-by-play his life has offered.    2:02: The Academic Journey McGee, as any athlete, has struggled with time management when it comes to learning how to play the game. His journey to getting a degree and simultaneously playing college ball, McGee has already had an unique ride, but his determination and commitment as a quarterback to get the job done has played a significant role in learning how to persevere.    8:51: Balance Being a student athlete is never easy, and McGee shares his past struggles with finding time to have some fun. While the work-life balance seemed far from reach at the time, and McGee states that during his college career, he was never one to cut loose and relax, today, one of his main goals is to smile more, have more fun, and enjoy the moment.    16:11: One-Size Does NOT Fit All McGee reflects on his time as an NFL Quarterback: what it looked like from different teams, coaches, and angles. McGee had to figure out his mentality and learn for himself how he can continue to be successful even when it did not seem possible.    19:13: The Hardest Lessons While being coached on and off the field, McGee describes his need to be consistent during times of success and unsuccess. Drowning out the noise to lead his team of players and his team of financial advisors is a lesson he is consistently learning and rebuilding, and he shares his most helpful hacks to stay on track and in the game.    24:00: Paragon Financial Advisors Helping families through trust, transparency, and humility, McGee shares his journey to the company and how he's playing the role of “Financial Quarterback.” Taking what he has learned from years past, and what he is still learning today, McGee is consistently leveling-up to continue to help others win. 

Former Texas A&M and Dallas Cowboys Quarterback, Stephen McGee, joins us for an exhilarating episode of Mays MasterCast! From learning on and off the field, to helping families with financial investment, risk management, tax, college, retirement, and estate planning at Paragon Financial Advisors, Stephen has studied every play-by-play his life has offered.    2:02: The Academic Journey McGee, as any athlete, has struggled with time management when it comes to learning how to play the game. His journey to getting a degree and simultaneously playing college ball, McGee has already had an unique ride, but his determination and commitment as a quarterback to get the job done has played a significant role in learning how to persevere.    8:51: Balance Being a student athlete is never easy, and McGee shares his past struggles with finding time to have some fun. While the work-life balance seemed far from reach at the time, and McGee states that during his college career, he was never one to cut loose and relax, today, one of his main goals is to smile more, have more fun, and enjoy the moment.    16:11: One-Size Does NOT Fit All McGee reflects on his time as an NFL Quarterback: what it looked like from different teams, coaches, and angles. McGee had to figure out his mentality and learn for himself how he can continue to be successful even when it did not seem possible.    19:13: The Hardest Lessons While being coached on and off the field, McGee describes his need to be consistent during times of success and unsuccess. Drowning out the noise to lead his team of players and his team of financial advisors is a lesson he is consistently learning and rebuilding, and he shares his most helpful hacks to stay on track and in the game.    24:00: Paragon Financial Advisors Helping families through trust, transparency, and humility, McGee shares his journey to the company and how he's playing the role of “Financial Quarterback.” Taking what he has learned from years past, and what he is still learning today, McGee is consistently leveling-up to continue to help others win. 

Katrina Gaidry is an undergraduate Mays marketing student and the founder and president of REAL, Real Estate Aggies in Leadership. From worrying about what her future held, to building an organization from the ground up, we learn about Katrina's grit and determination to encourage Mays students to keep growing.   1:04: The creation of REAL What once was a fleeing thought, became her biggest goal to achieve. REAL started unlike any other club, and Katrina expresses the greatest influences the organization has made in just one year.   7:52: What can you get from REAL as a college student?   Katrina desires REAL to make real impacts on real lives. By joining REAL, Katrina speaks about how you, too, can continue to grow, learn, and encourage other students, no matter your major or interests.    12:14: Battling the biggest enemy: perfectionism  Perfectionism was a barrier Katrina had to overcome, and she touches on exactly how to do that: doubt less, trust more. From starting REAL, being an intern, and making relationships, Katrina has learned to trust herself and worry less about the “what ifs.”   15:56: How has Mays made this possible for you? Mays consistently encourages its students to learn and grow, and Katrina touches on its encouragement of entrepreneurs. Katrina states that Mays will build you up, and always puts the time and resources into helping others.    22:00: Katrina's goals for real estate and REAL Katrina never imagined going into real estate, but when her desire grew for a multifaceted industry, she knew she had to keep learning to make an impact on it, too. Katrina expresses what she wants for the organization, and what it can do for her, its members, and the real estate industry.   

Matthew Rother, a previous Tactical Air Control Party Officer in the United States Air Force, shares his life's greatest accomplishments, goals, and challenges. With his new role as Vice President of Sales and Operations at Oakmont group, Matthew reflects on his previous life: his takeaways and how he continues to persevere.   4:30: Applying previously learned skills to your current role Matthew talks about the major ‘jumps' of his accomplishments. From ranger school to Jumpmaster school, Matthew shares his motivations and challenges to gain his street cred. An airman taking Army classes, Matthew learns the connectivity in each of the branches; he says as long as you are a contributing member of the team, we want you there.    8:12: The blessings of active duty Matthew continues to do hard things. From one career to another, we learn how we can use our previous experiences and lessons to grow further and reach our goals.  11:09: Recognizing areas to improve

Daniel Zamarron, a former United States Marine and Former Student of Texas A&M, to talk about the values he has held with him from his past experiences to push him to create the startup, FluxWorks.  From military stories to learning the hidden magic behind electricity, we learn Daniel's motivation to receive his B.S. in electrical engineering. Learning how to be a student again was eye-opening for Daniel, and having experienced life first-hand, we hear his biggest struggles and motivators to get to where he is now.  Getting the opportunity to work on research while a student at Texas A&M, Daniel reveals the obstacles he has jumped through and getting back up when things don't go your way. Now advancing FluxWorks, Daniel shares the company's next steps and his goals to keep moving forward.

Ben sits down with Shayla Clifton, the Program Coordinator for MS Marketing at Texas A&M's Mays Business School, to talk educational growth and career development. From taking the non-traditional route into the workforce, Shayla shares the obstacles she overcame to find the happiness she has now, and the growing desire to keep learning. Through each season of life, Shayla has persevered through its challenges, its detours, and its twists and turns. From going back to school, living across the country, and working in different marketing jobs, Shayla is proud of the life she has built, and continues to strive for the future. Shayla enjoys pushing boundaries and experiencing life, and even during the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, she opened the snow cone business, SoCo Sno, in South College Station. Her side gig, educational growth, and career development continues to shape who she is today, and what she plans to do tomorrow.

Ben sits down with Keith Wilcox, the Macy's Foundation Professor at Mays, to discuss his journey to Texas A&M. Keith left his beloved New York to join Aggieland and its inviting culture and excellent teaching opportunities, all which he defines as an “academic unicorn.” Keith explains the differences in New York and College Station; their people, environments, and restaurants. All in all, Keith was able to adapt and build a relationship with the culture of College Station.  Ben asks Keith to dive into his personal research on consumer behavior; what his motivators are, the challenges he has faced, and what influences his goals. Kicking off his interest at a young age at ‘baseball camp', Keith focuses on the unexpected tendencies and self control of a typical consumer. With his current research and teaching at Texas A&M, Keith touches on his goals for his students and himself to better shape the future of business marketing.    Bio: Keith Wilcox is the Macy's Foundation Professor in the marketing department at the Mays Business School. His research examines consumer behavior and decision-making, with a specific focus on self-control and how feelings influence judgment. Keith's industry experience includes several years working as an advertising account executive and as a marketing consultant. The vision of the Mays MasterCast is to connect prospective members to our Mays community by painting the picture of Aggieland through different voices and perspectives.

Case Harris, newly elected Student Body President of Texas A&M, sat down with Ben to talk about his goals for the student body, the challenges he has faced thus far, and his personal milestones while being a student.  Not previously a die-hard Aggie, Case describes the moment he first stepped on campus as a student, and what it meant to be here. Hitting the ground running, Case was able to grow as a person and encompass the meaning of selfless service.  Case values the Aggie spirit and intends to unite the student body, the organizations, and student government so that each and every student is represented on campus. Case and Ben discuss Case's experiences and how he can use his knowledge and skill set to lead the student body to success and connectivity. 

From a B.S. in Biology to an MBA in Business Administration, Ryan Staples shares with Ben the evolution in his academic career and his motivation to influence others in the business realm. Enhancing his grit and determination, Ryan works as a buyer for Ford Motor Company and runs his own non-profit organization, Her Mighty Hands.  Ryan and Ben sit down to speak about the importance of working with a team. Ryan emphasizes communication, a vital skill in his life today, and its hand in benefiting a team, both in his case competition and professional career. Doing the right thing is not always an easy thing to do, and Ryan discusses his personal hardships in becoming an empathetic person. His grit and resilience have pushed him to be successful in communicating with others who have struggled with similar experiences, and they continue to motivate him to drive his nonprofit organization far beyond its limits.

William R. Hayes, an adopted Aggie, certified financial planner, and founder of 1 Million Cups, sits down with Ben to talk about his journey to Texas A&M and his life since first stepping foot in Aggieland. From falling in love, to the wonders of the TAMU Mays career fair, Will's faith in opportunity led him to become a part of the Aggie family.  Will's access to the Aggie culture included the Aggie's understanding of the importance of relationships and their willingness to go out of their way, and it is what led him to his ventures with Northwestern Mutual. Will discusses his opportunity to help others, both in the financial realm and connection, to become a “buffalo” in the world of business.  Already four years running strong, just like the coffee, 1 Million Cups serves to connect individuals over one million cups of coffee. Ben, an avid 1MC-goer, shares his biggest takeaways from the program, what it's like and what you gain from the business world's front porch.

From Mays Business School to civil engineering, to the U.S. Air Force, and to Catco, Travis redefines opportunity and growth. He has leveled-up from beginning to now, and with a not-so-ordinary jumpstart in the family business, Travis sits down with Ben to share his journey to Catco.  With his appetite to grow, Travis found the importance in taking risks and finding new resources to stay “Getting Better at Business.” Travis exceedingly saw the need for more creativity and a better way to do things, leading him to now be the CEO and owner of Catco.  By finding the significance between CEO and entrepreneur, Travis notes his best resources: peer-groups, mentors, and dividing time to learn, help, and teach. Travis and Ben emphasize the importance of bouncing off other's knowledge and wisdom to ultimately grow your business and team you would want to go through the trenches with.

MJ and Joaquin sit down with Ben to discuss their individual challenges and motivations, and how they have impacted who they are today. Above all else, their family background, environment and their friendship has proven to shape each of their mindsets.  As both freshman undergraduate students, MJ and Joaquin elaborate on their personal and professional hopes and desires, and how the natural environment of Aggieland has encouraged their growth in both business and academia.  MJ and Joaquin are no strangers to sacrifice and transition, yet their faith in Mays continues to grow as they define success for themselves yesterday, today, and tomorrow.

How do you find Jobs to be Done?  From working in construction, to project management, and now to facility manager, Tony Brown has applied the Jobs to be Done Theory to get to where he is now.  Jobs to be Done opens paths and doors to opportunities for service. Within the three-part theory, Tony and Ben discuss the “hires” and “fires” that lie within evolution to revolution, and measuring ideas for optimal data. Tony touches on using Jobs to be Done in everyday life: making impacts in communities and constantly finding the ‘why'.

How do we grow as a community and keep College Station golden?  Matt has been on both sides of the spectrum of an economic development corporation. Ultimately, economic development corporations help communities grow through job creation, and with the Aggie Spirit, Brazos Valley has been the place for growth.  Ben and Matt touch on the opportunities and challenges of launching, growing, and locating businesses to Brazos Valley. What is coming to town and how is it going to affect us? Amongst all, the quality of life of the community is at the forefront of expansion.  Matt touches on Texas being the best in economic development by driving success from the bottom-up, starting at the local level. With a team-first attitude, Matt speaks about Texas A&M and its community, investors, and the state government, all working together to bring a win for Brazos Valley. 

How does a set of factors relate to outcomes you're interested in? Alex shares with Ben how data analytics is seeking to understand the relationship between inputs and outputs, economics allows you to apply math in open-ended questions, and that statistics is common sense and math… but a lot of common sense – you have to get your first principles correct. Finally, Alex shares about being comfortable with not knowing with the current situation. Get a Better Gig, Today! (https://podconsulting.co/mays-mastercast/)

What guides the path of your life to create an impact? Aaron and Ben discuss Aaron's reason for choosing the Navy (the 70-80-90 rule: Water covers about 70 percent of the Earth's surface. About 80 percent of the world's population lives near the ocean. About 90 percent of all international trade travels by sea.) and managing the logistics of a carrier strike group heading to the Arctic for the first time in 30 years. With Aaron just graduating from the Mays MBA program, he is now pursuing commercial real estate development and tackling affordable housing. Throughout the pandemic, he saw – and is reflecting in his professional career – the support and culture that the Mays MBA program staff and faculty provided to students. Now, as a member of the Aggie Network, Aaron is embarking on a journey to shore up the safety and security for others – including going above and beyond for future potential tenants in areas like financial education, after-school care, and senior activities services. Thanks and Gig 'em!

How do you react to a mistake? Ben and Rick talk on innovating and advocating for student success, including pulling industry into the decision-making process of curriculum and pedagogy. They also discussed how pursuing uncharted territory revealed a passion for Rick that he's carrying on as a school administrator. On recruiting: Ultimately, employers want great workers who are going to be creative and innovative. We need more people who are solving actual market problems, asking, “How can I add value to the market directly?” Leaders constantly need to be looking for those who will have a founder mentality; those who recruit new skills as needed, deliver results despite any politics, and will take accountability for success at the macro level. On entrepreneurship: It's a difficult concept to explain and emulate. Also difficult to quantify and capture – mistakes are where the learning happens. Seeing the mistake and learning at the moment is vital to success. We need more details on the setbacks and the decisions are the crux of how to make it… or not. Advice for navigating change in an educational organization: Any change is hard and it's easy to say no to something. Finding unique solutions allows students what they desperately need: Access.

Why an MD and MBA?  Jeswin is at the intersection of public health, medicine, and business from his education and in his role as the Chief Marketing Officer for OleraCare. OleraCare is striving to provide clarity and consistency with eldercare services. Jeswin talks about how public speaking practice allows him to be a better advocate in healthcare and for OleraCare. Jeswin and Ben talk about the need to overcome the inertia or resistance of adoption and that hearing the need over and over again reaffirms the mission. Jeswin talks about being the odd man out in Saudi Arabia and India and the pinnacle of patriotism: reciting the star-spangled banner. He shares a quote from Arthur C. Clarke, “Sophistically advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic,” and shares how an episode of Mays MasterCast gave him a clearer picture of the value of an MBA from Texas A&M.

How do you define your company's "cultural fit?" A rising star in the investment community, Joseph Escobar, talks about student-managed multimillion-dollar funds, starting an online marketplace and becoming a managing partner for the Reveille Fund. Good bull to a friend of the show, Britt Harris, for his mentorship for these incoming investment professionals.  Thanks and Gig 'em!

What scares you the most right now? It's a reality check day at MasterCast, as Eli returns to the show and shares about his latest project, a book titled, “Run to your Goliaths,” and an accompanying podcast, “Victory Groove.” Ben and Eli discuss the imperfect circle drawn in his book and why; confidence, faith, and running toward your Goliaths; and using energy to help others. Eli, a drummer, talks about a drumbeat of life and how sometimes it's just all about timing. As they approach the end of the conversation, Eli shares about his joy: watching the future in action, right in front of him with his grandkids. A must-listen for those working through any loss – big or small – and how to keep going. Enjoy this episode with Dr. Eli Jones!

Can you hack experience? Returning guest David Wiggins shares about the immediate aftermath of an initial public offering (IPO) on a small, regional company maturing quickly into a large, national company. David then shares that he attributes the strong housing market to the key factors of pent up demand, lack of supply, a sharp increase in the desire for a comfortable place, and the government stimulus. David also discusses his perception that a corporate executive needs a combination of experience, education, and certification. Then, David and Ben discuss the tradeoffs of choosing between pursuing experience, education, and certification; the time necessary; and the impact. They go down the rabbit hole a little into finance, accounting, and deeper into the need and when of treasury through economies of scale. You can listen back to David's episode:https://maysmastercast.podbean.com/e/david-wiggins/

How is your time like a bucket? Take advantage of your 15-30 minutes in between. Julia Black – a graduate student athlete in the MS Business program and on the cross country team - joins Mays Mastercast and shares how she pushed through even amidst doubt brought on by injury and the pandemic. She had asked herself: why save a 30 minute assignment for 9 p.m. when she could get to sleep sooner and be a better athlete and student. Uncovering that gem, she reworked her day to take advantage of gaps. Julia shares, “ Adjust your day to fit the goals you have for your day.” Will I ever get back in shape? Comparison through and after injury almost brought her down. Though a great teammate, she focused on herself and on what she was doing in order to sustain. She talks about noticing her and her teammates – without the normal socializing times due to the pandemic – were drowning in trivial things. And with that, she was walking through mental health challenges while at the same time running a personal best each and every weekend. She had to wait for her love for the sport to return, even if it meant not training as long as her teammates. She took ownership of her running. What will you take ownership of?

Do you believe in yourself? We are joined by an award winning speaker and executive assistant professor, Dr. Daniel Usera! Imposter Syndrome: When you enter a new situation and you have Imposter Syndrome creeping in due to comparing to the achievements of others around you, how can you use that your advantage? You can think, ‘What makes me special and how can I leverage that to reflect my identity AND benefit others?' Change: We transform by challenging the norm. “The concept of change can be the compelling biography of yourself to your colleagues.” We have a tendency to talk about perfections we have… but what makes a story interesting is reversals, or imperfections; what we overcame. Communicating: Stories weave numbers together to make them meaningful, useful for decision making, and impactful. Advice: be aware of the identity goals of others. Key question for all interviews: Why should we hire you? Key reasons that make you specifically, uniquely qualified for this position.

How might transferrable skills come from unexpected industries? Shannon Deer returns to Mays MasterCast as a guest with her co-author, Cheryl Miller. They discuss women Overcomers, pride in putting kids on a school bus, and helping businesses build the context for incarcerated individuals to succeed. They go in-depth on restorative justice, explaining how it can and does go beyond the criminal justice system. Shannon and Cheryl bring expertise around circles, responsibility, and accountability. They also share about how skills learned from the drug and sex industry have applicable benefits to the business world. Their advice to businesses: See the potential. Walk alongside the Overcomer to plug them in. To listeners: View Overcomers as asset-based over skills-based to engage women and elevate communities. Good Bull to you, Cheryl and Shannon for raising our awareness about this important and impactful group of people!

How do you sell the same company twice? Eddy shares candidly about amidst competing interests and messages, you must figure out your primary mission. Plus, leverage and communication points around a lot of information in a fluid context. He talks about running a White House agency at the age of 28 with a young family at home. Eddy shares how the discovery workshop with new clients is extremely important and about seeing gaps in the marketplace for launching a business. He talks about dual minds within a business reduce focus and can destroy value. “Most business owners don't know what they want.” Eddy says that especially in failure, relationships matter. And advice for himself exactly five years ago is to get a good accountant for a solid foundation. Books recommended include “Rocket Fuel,” “Marketing Agency Blueprint,” and “The Redemptive Entrepreneur's Playbook.” Good Bull for The Bush School

What should and could food be?

In a new circumstance, do you recalibrate everything?

Where's your blue zone? What makes you see truth?  A legend in the community, director for The Experience Team at Mays, Cindy Billington! Cindy shares with us: From “How do we increase engagement?” to “How do we address what our constituents want?” A come to Jesus meetin'. Quintessential grandmas (with pie). Listening, not responding. Learning. And when respond, reflect on what you learned without pronouns. Zoom fatigue and conferences.   myMays – a portal for just us; it's personal. Connecting with people you knew and want to know. myMays is the place to understand and feel the Aggie Network. (Join free: http://mymays.tamu.edu). Women's Leadership Initiative Conference illuminating “I'm not alone” (Register now: Nov. 12, 2021, hybrid: http://tx.ag/WLIC). Strategic strengths, character strengths, and soul strengths. Good Bull: Christina Court and Miranda Bennett