Marketing and Entrepreneurship Testimonials
What will you gain as a marketing or entrepreneurship student? Hear from alumni who took part in our sales, marketing and entrepreneurship classes and learn how they used their experience to build successful careers.
"Choosing to major in Entrepreneurship at Kent State was a life changer. All of the professors have real world experience and prepare you for life after graduation. Whether you want to start your own business or help an existing business grow, this program will set you up for success."
Stephen Smole
Account Executive - Roundtable Learning
BBA Entrepreneurship '19
"I love to hire Kent State sales students because I know that they are dedicated and hardworking. As a former Golden Flash, I understand the preparation and dedication the professors and advisors put into each student to prepare them for their careers. When I bring on a student from Kent State, specifically in sales, I know they are going to be a great addition to our team. What the faculty does for the students in the College of Business is unmatched and it makes the students better prepared for their post graduate careers than most.”
Rachel Higgins
Executive Director of Recruitment & Development
Northwestern Mutual, Canton District
KSU Alumna, '13
"Kent State University made a profound impact on my life while I attended. As an alum, it has been a phenomenal pleasure to be a part of the Sales Program since its inception. I have gained both personally and professionally from this involvement. The impact, knowledge, and skillset this program is giving to the students in the world of Professional Sales are assets these students will be able to utilize for the rest of their lives. I have been able to experience these skillsets, as I have personally hired 10+ students who have participated in the Kent State University Sales Program."
Tim Austin
Chief Revenue Officer
GoodJob
Chair - KSU Sales Advisory Board
BBA Business Management '94
"The Entrepreneurship program at Kent State is really outstanding because of how hands-on the classes are. I would’ve never been so confident in my abilities to run a business in the ‘real world’ without it!”
Madeleine McBride
Social Media Influencer
BBA Entrepreneurship '21
"A degree in entrepreneurship was extremely important to my success. It taught me how to be a savvy generalist in business, which allowed me to work across our entire organization rather than in a particular silo. The salesmanship, public speaking, and problem solving skills I learned as an entrepreneurship major were, and still are, critical to my success."
Mike Pekala
Director of Sales - Skopenow
BBA Entrepreneurship '12
"The entrepreneurship program kick-started my entrepreneurial mindset and enabled me to grow my startup into a full-time career post-graduation. I was able to apply my coursework directly to my business and work with entrepreneurs one-on-one to learn how to succeed in my startup. I have been in business for five years thanks to the entrepreneurship program and look forward to continuing my growth thanks to everything I learned in the Ambassador Crawford College of Business and Entrepreneurship."
Anne Skoch
Founder & CEO
Anne Cate
BS Fashion Merchandising & Minor of Entrepreneurship for Non-Business Majors, '18
"The Entrepreneurship program at Kent State University helped me not only start a successful business but outshine others while competing for a position at companies. I have worked for a Fortune 500 Company, a Top 100 Dealership in the USA, and large manufacturers all because I could think outside the norm and bring a different perspective to the table. The entrepreneurship program allowed me to learn with hands-on experience from professors who have built successful businesses."
Brock Bernholtz
Ignite Marketing Group
BBA Entrepreneurship, '15
"The professional selling class helped me prepare for the sales internship and pushed me to keep going. I got my real estate license in December of 2020 after an internship with a commercial real estate broker, making me a full-time agent and full-time student. In 2021, I sold over $3.5M and more than fifteen homes in addition to making plans to list three homes in the same week I was to graduate from Kent State."
Claire Frye
Realtor
JAMM Real Estate Co.
BBA Marketing, '21
"The entrepreneurship program at Kent State allows students to learn all aspects of what it means to start a business. The faculty and staff are absolutely amazing in ensuring students are getting the best education to run their businesses."
Charles Marin
Graduate Student
BBA Entrepreneurship, '21
"Recruiting Kent State sales students has really changed my standard when looking for an ideal candidate for our program. They are so poised, professional and clearly understand how to conduct themselves in a real-life sales environment. It is clear to me that the work that is being done in the sales program at Kent State is lightyears ahead of other universities."
Autumn Mickens
Talent Acquisition Specialist
Enterprise Holdings