April 30, 2024
Ditching rock and roll for an MBA
To say Raleigh native Altovise Gary had a full life before chasing her Arthur School MBA would be an extreme understatement.
- She appeared on the cover of Ebony Magazine with Prince
- Produced and managed the Nitro Girls of World Championship wrestling
- Produced a viral video with Vanilla Ice
- Choreographed football halftime shows for Bell Biv DeVoe, ZZ Top, Clay Walker, Darren of Run DMC, Young MC, Smashmouth, the Band and Kid Rock. Yes, she even worked on the Super Bowl halftime show that included the infamous Janet Jackson incident.
As she puts it, Gary has lived the rock and roll lifestyle.
But, what made her to want to pursue an MBA degree?
“I decided to obtain my MBA because it had always been on my mind, but I didn’t know how to make it happen,” said Gary. “When I visited Raleigh, I would see the ECU MBA signs at the airport and North Hills area. I would stare at them. But I didn’t know how life would lead me to fulfilling such a destination. My excuses were that I didn’t have the time and was in another state.”
“In 2017, my life changed forever. My mother passed, and then three months later, my father passed. My foundation of life was gone, and I had to somehow keep going. As I dragged myself through life, one day, my longtime sports and entertainment career blew up. I thought to myself, “How could life be so cruel?” I moved back to North Carolina to find comfort and tried to figure out my next steps. One day, I saw one of those ECU MBA signs and realized I had run out of excuses. I had time, and I was back in North Carolina.”
“I initially wanted to register for one course, but somehow, that turned into three courses that semester and the rest was history. The knowledge and the needed confidence began to repair my broken spirit. The skills I was learning were essential to today’s marketing and business decisions. All those unfortunate situations brought me to where I needed to be and what I needed to be doing: receiving my MBA.”
Why ECU and the College of Business and what have you enjoyed about being a business student?
I chose ECU and the College of Business because I attended ECU as an undergrad and was familiar with the culture, which made a lasting impression. Along with the personal attributes, the program needed to be AACSB accredited. I found that the energy contributed to my learning, growth, and personal development. I valued my undergraduate degree. My familiarity and great memories enhanced my desire to return to receive my MBA.
One of the standout aspects of my MBA journey was the support provided by the professors. They were not just educators but mentors who genuinely invested in my success. Their encouragement and commitment set you up to pass instead of setting you up to fail. Their approach instilled confidence and determination to overcome challenges, adopting a day-by-day philosophy to navigate the rigorous coursework.
Throughout my journey, I noticed a transformation within myself. Initially, I relied on other teammates to lead team projects, but as I progressed, I found myself stepping into leadership roles. My evolution signified my growth in knowledge, skills, and confidence. My contributions to the projects were valued, and I became instrumental in the success of our collaboration. This progression allowed me to measure my success in the growth of my abilities and the impact I had within my teams.
Being a part of ECU’s Thomas D. Arthur Graduate School of Business gave me the confidence I needed and the professional development I was lacking. The challenges, opportunities, and experiences have enabled my skills, perspective, and preparation to shape my future success in the business world.
What’s next?
My new occupational goals lean toward the marketing realm, where I can intertwine marketing and sponsorship within the corporate landscape. My experience primarily lies within the management of live entertainment, where I gained insights into marketing and branding strategies. This experience has allowed me to collaborate extensively with sponsorship departments, constructing innovative initiatives and creating content.
My goal is to leverage my intellectual capital in marketing to move towards a business-oriented position that dives deeper into marketing strategy, brand development, or sponsorship management within companies known for their innovative marketing approaches.
I am open to roles that enable me to further develop my understanding of the vital relationship between marketing, sponsorship, and overall business strategy, ultimately impacting the corporate world.
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