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Countdown to Commencement: Jerel Jordan

Jerel chose to pursue his Evening MBA at Scheller College of Business because "it is the perfect place for an engineer transitioning into business."
Jerel traveled to Brazil as a part of the International Practicum while pursuing his Evening MBA at Scheller.

Jerel traveled to Brazil as a part of the International Practicum while pursuing his Evening MBA at Scheller.

As part of our Countdown to Commencement series, we interviewed a few soon-to-be graduates from our undergraduate and MBA programs to learn about their backgrounds, why they chose Scheller College, and what they plan to do after Fall 2018 Commencement.

Meet Jerel Jordan:

Jerel is from Fayetteville, North Carolina, and finishing up his Evening MBA with concentrations in Marketing, Strategy & Innovation, and Entrepreneurship, and describes himself as a “dream chaser defying the odds.” After graduation, Jerel will take the leap into entrepreneurship with the startup Whyze (which he co-founded), instructing others how to invest, manage, and save money.

Where did you intern/co-op and when? What projects did you work on during your internship? 

I worked full-time as an Evening MBA student. While completing my degree, I completed the Operations Leadership Development Program at Lockheed Martin and am now an industrial engineer there. 

Why did you choose Scheller College of Business?

At the unique position at the intersection of technology and business, I chose Scheller College of Business because it is the perfect place for an engineer transitioning into business. The immersive tracks and various concentrations also provide an opportunity to quickly diversify your business knowledge.

Who was your favorite professor and why?

Jonathan Giuliano was my favorite professor. I completed multiple classes under him in strategy and entrepreneurship and truly enjoyed them. I have immediately applied a great amount of his teachings in my entrepreneurial ventures and honestly believe they have saved me a lot of time, money, and headaches.

What was your favorite course and what was the biggest insight you gained about business from it?

Marketing Management was my favorite course throughout the MBA program. This class opened my eyes to a new world. Since taking this class, I have new perspective on products and how they are marketed. Because of this class, I chose to concentrate in marketing.

As a business student in the heart of Tech Square, how do you think Scheller College embodies the intersection of business and technology?

Scheller College embodies teaching business in ways that are relative to current times. Each course equips you with the necessary business knowledge to lead in today’s technology-dominant world.

What is your best piece advice to an applicant hoping to get into Scheller College?

Contact the Scheller staff! They are very friendly and responsive. Also reach out to current students. These types of things go a long way.

What is the biggest myth about Scheller College?

That Scheller and Georgia Tech are just for engineers. This is absolutely not true. Scheller students are very diverse which gives you the opportunity to hear unique student experiences and stories of application throughout your journey.

Who most influenced your decision to pursue business in college?

My parents. They’ve always taught me to reach for greatness and to continually push myself.

How did the extracurricular offerings at Scheller College help you during your time here? Is there anything Scheller didn’t offer that you feel would’ve helped you succeed?

Every event aimed at socializing with your fellow peers, which was great. It allowed me to learn about the diverse pool of students at Scheller and make for lifelong relationships. We even had a Scheller kickball team. (Naturally, we made it to the playoffs!)

What activities were you involved with on or off campus, and did your business education impact those activities in any way?

I served on the board of Blacks in Business, a Scheller organization, which allowed me to further network with my classmates while promoting minority participation in business.

Did you participate in any hands-on/experiential learning opportunities? If yes, which projects/companies did you work with and how did you help them?

I worked on a few hands-on projects with companies. I was a part of a team that created a brand strategy for the 14 Hands wine company. I was also part of a team that created a digital marketing strategy for Clean Hands Safe Hands, an Atlanta hygiene monitoring company. We helped redesign their website and social media marketing content. Finally, I also was a part of a team that created a traditional and digital marketing strategy for a small business ice-cream shop owner in Brazil.

Did you travel abroad during your time at Scheller? What were some of your key takeaways from the experience?

I traveled to Brazil as a part of the International Practicum. This was an amazing experience filled with exploring a foreign country, culture, and business practices. This experience made me realize that the business principles taught at Scheller can be applied all over the globe. Assisting a small business owner in Brazil was also very rewarding as just a few months of our work provided a tremendous amount of value to the owner.

“If I hadn’t gone to business school, I would be…"

If I hadn’t gone to business school, I would be ordering regular coffees still. Thank you Barnes and Noble Starbucks (next to Scheller College of Business) for making me a coffee pro!

What are the top two items on your bucket list?

To travel to the largest 100 cities in the world and to be a contestant on either The Price Is Right, Deal or No Deal, or Who Wants to Be A Millionaire?

In one sentence, how would you like your peers to remember you?

I would like to be remembered as someone who used innovation to help others.

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