What can I do with a Management Degree?
A management degree is a valuable academic path that provides you with the skills necessary to lead people, teams, and businesses across many different career areas and jobs. The Management Department in the College of Business at the University of Nevada, Reno has a long history of graduating successful alumni who have pursued a variety of jobs across the country. To learn more about potential career paths you can follow with a Management degree, please read some alumni testimonials below.
If you are a University Management alum and are interested in providing information about your career, please complete the Alumni Career Testimonial Form.
Alumni testimonials
Helga Martell
Assistant Accountant
Degree required: Bachelors
Favorite part of the job:
I love the fact that I can put in practice everything learned in class, not only business management classes, but also accounting and communication studies courses. There is a lot of room to grow and tons of opportunities to continue learning.
How their Management degree is used on the job:
Regardless of the industry in which the company or the non-profit organization operates, a solid background in business management is essential to make tactical choices both efficiently and effectively as these decisions directly affect the company's life cycle.
Typical tasks and responsibilities:
Some of the typical tasks and responsibilities are to advise principal investigators about the financial implications of projects, as well as explain the financial consequences of their decisions. The position also covers areas such as financial control, process of budget setups, proposals, and payroll.
Bianca Johnson
Assistant Director of Young Alumni Giving
Degree required: Bachelors
Favorite part of the job:
Building lasting relationships.
How their Management degree is used on the job:
Everyday - especially, international business, Human Resources and business law. I work in development at Johns Hopkins University and as a Gift Officer my job is to build relationships and lean alumni toward supporting their Alma mater or increase engagement.
Typical tasks and responsibilities:
Successfully solicit meaningful high-level gifts from young alumni to influence our team’s overall goals pertaining to dollars and donors. This role oversees the largest portfolio of young alumni leadership prospects on the Young Alumni.
Kyle Chisholm
Assistant Planner
Degree required: Bachelors
Favorite part of the job:
Working with the public on complicated land development issues and helping make projects less impactful to the public. Working with projects through all steps of the development process and helping developments and businesses to be successful.
How their Management degree is used on the job:
- Business writing courses helped me in understanding writing technical documents, emails, memos, etc.
- Public presentation skills through business courses.
- Helped with skills in teamwork and problem solving.
- Understanding finance and business accounting.
Typical tasks and responsibilities:
- Reviewing land development and land use entitlement applications including: zoning changes, master plan amendments, special use permits, variances, etc.
- Analyzing land use impacts to surrounding uses.
- Reviewing development site improvements for compliance with city zoning codes.
- Reviewing code and finding solutions for subdivisions and parcel maps.
- Reviewing business license and building permits and compliance with codes, use restrictions, operational restrictions, entitlements, etc.
- Coordinating with numerous government agencies and internal departments for comments, concerns, and requirements.
- Working with the public and answering questions in regards to land development code and zoning requirements.
- Writing staff reports and presenting staff recommendations to City Council, Neighborhood Advisory Boards, and Planning Commission.
Lacy Trapp
Branch Chief, Mineral Resources (Solids)
Degree required: Bachelors
Favorite part of the job:
Development of employees is probably my favorite. Watching employees grow, whether that means helping them move up within my Branch or move to another area, is my favorite thing to do. Happy employees are productive so creating that buy-in is challenging since every employee is motivated differently and have different goals.
I love working with the budget. Working for the federal government we are always told to do less with more. It's a challenge to find ways to not only complete the work, but find ways to grow and improve.
I enjoy working outside of the office. I have many opportunities to collaborate with State agencies and build relationships with industry. Educating elementary school children on the importance of public lands is my absolute favorite and attending interest group meetings to help open communication is always beneficial.
How their Management degree is used on the job:
The leadership and human resources classes I took are used most. Learning how to lead and motivate people is extremely important. I have used and implemented may of the human resources skills I learned with conflict management and employee relations issues.
Typical tasks and responsibilities:
- I directly supervise senior level program experts who provide leadership for accomplishing the Bureau of Land Management's mineral resource management activities in Nevada. This includes developing and implementing strategies to maximize employee potential, using effective performance management strategies, and promoting cultural diversity. I attend to the moral and organizational climate issues, handle administrative and Equal Employment Opportunity issues and take disciplinary actions when necessary.
- I review existing national and state level policy , making interpretations as necessary and recommend changes to national policy to meet changing demands and needs.
- I maintain foster and maintain working relationships with all BLM offices in the State, Congressional delegations, State government agencies, other Federal government agencies, public land user groups, environmental interests and the mining industry.
- I review and analyze the budget and establish annual work plans and operating budgets.
- I analyze and determine appropriate levels of training within the minerals resources program statewide, developing and executing training to meet Bureau's schedules and needs.
George Del Carlo
CFO, Manager/Owner
Degree required: As an owner there is no degree requirement, but I do have an MBA.
Favorite part of the job:
Working with people both within the company and outside of the company. Helping to develop our company employees and watching them make well though decisions is well worth the time spend with them. The key is communications - being upfront with all and ensuring there is no miscommunications.
How their Management degree is used on the job:
In almost every aspect of being an CFO and in the CEO position. You need to understand the logical conclusions of each decision made. Through the concepts taught in my BS and MBA education process you need to adapt/modify your guidance based on many unknown factors.
Typical tasks and responsibilities:
As CFO duties include - all accounting functions and reporting to all regulatory agency and commercial entities (insurance, unions, etc,). Cash flow management takes the majority of my time. Ensuring HR requirements are correct and complete is another time consuming function to include the over watch of our weekly payroll. In my CEO hat then it is planning for the future of the company and looking out 2-3 years and establishing goals. This is addition to providing guidance as critical situation arise in any aspect of the company.
M. Brian O'Shaughnessy
Chairman, Revere Copper Products, Inc.
Degree required: Bachelors
Favorite part of the job:
Witnessing how well the organization is managed and deals with complex issues from foreign and domestic competition to COVID.
How their Management degree is used on the job:
Virtually every class I took at the University, from Journalism to Accounting to Policy Formulation has been very useful.
Typical tasks and responsibilities:
Provide oversight to the President and the CEO. Provide advice on a wide range of issues from culture to stock grants/ownership. Work on special projects to free up the President and the CEO to strategize and manage executive team.
Howard Espin
Colonel, US Army Retired
Degree required: Obtained Bachelors Degree from the University and a Masters in Management from Central Michigan University
Favorite part of the job:
Managing people, unit operations, in essence all aspects of managing people, money and material, planning and execution of plans,
How their Management degree is used on the job:
In all aspects of command and staff responsibilities for my 30 year career. For purposes of this requirement I have to say the United Military is unique by its very nature. Not only does one hold a position or rank, they are also responsible for the people they either command or supervise but also for their personal welfare as well as the welfare of their families. In other words as a military officer any position of command or staff is all inclusive. The management requirements of any military grade or rank is not 8 AM to 5 PM, five days a week. It is a round the clock responsibility seven days a week, 365 days a year.
Typical tasks and responsibilities:
Managing people, money and material at all levels of command and staff from 2nd Lieutenant to full Colonel. Most Recent position before retiring was responsible as the Director of Resource Management at the Theater Army Material Management Center in Germany for an annual budget of approximately $250 million for logistical support of military troops in Germany and introduction of new equipment into the European Theater of Operations.
Vickey Alvarez
Corporate Controller
Degree required: Bachelors
Favorite part of the job:
My favorite part of my current job is coming up with the policies and processes that will carry the company forward. Additionally, analyzing the financials to provide forecasting and budgets is super fun! I am working in a new industry which means a lot of learning, and who doesn't love to learn.
How their Management degree is used on the job:
The communication skills I learned are put to use every single day! In my position, I have to coordinate with other departments, vendors, banks, etc. My communication skills have allowed me to create meaningful exchanges with those I encounter ensuring a positive outcome. There are so many other skills I use on a daily basis and just don't even realize. For sure cat herding (or project management if you want to get technical), organizational skills to keep me on task, problem-solving, writing (all those papers DO prepare you for something!), and of course EXCEL.
Typical tasks and responsibilities:
Production of periodic financial reports, maintenance of an adequate system of accounting records, and a comprehensive set of controls and budgets designed to mitigate risk, enhance the accuracy of the company's reported financial results, and ensure that reported results comply with generally accepted accounting principles or international financial reporting standards.
Matthew Berg
Event Contract Manager
Degree required: Masters
Favorite part of the job:
My favorite part is that I am always constantly learning new things, and I work with a supportive and awesome team. This position can be challenging and requires a fair amount of investigation style work, which I find very enjoyable.
How their Management degree is used on the job:
Courses such as Finance, Statistics/Analytics, and Accounting have really served this position well. I am very competent in Excel and other accounting software, which my management degree was able to prepare me for.
Typical tasks and responsibilities:
Creating budgets for events is a big one, making sure all charges are done correctly and accounted for, and most importantly making sure contracts between purchasing and the suppliers are processed correctly.
Adam Wilson
Financial Advisor, AAMS
Degree required: Bachelors
Favorite part of the job:
Working with people in a small setting to create custom goals and hold people accountable to them.
How their Management degree is used on the job:
Management in large or small group settings is much the same. I now manage people in a one on one setting by working directly with clients.
Typical tasks and responsibilities:
High level written and oral communication. Ability to interpret data and trends. Sales ability.
Suzanne Turner
Graduate Community Director (Apartment Manager)
Degree required: Bachelors
Favorite part of the job:
Resident interaction- getting to know my residents and encourage, empower, and advocate for them on their journey in life. While housing can be a little boring as well, it's a necessity that everyone has! Because of this you meet all kinds of people who have different plans and circumstances. Being someone who is able to help connect them to information and resources that can help (either in education, careers, or living needs) is really rewarding.
How their Management degree is used on the job:
A lot of my management experience was a "trial by fire" when I started my previous job. You never know what sort of manager you will be until you are in the spot that you are running a team by yourself. Something really valuable about an education in management is that you learn to recognize trends and nuances to leadership approaches, and it enables you to make your own style very quickly without nearly as many blunders. Critical thinking about the situation you find yourself in as a manager is very important since, in my experience, things rarely go as planned.
Teams often requires maneuvering and accommodations to original plans, and being able to do that with everyone's interests in mind is a real strength. I find myself sometimes playing into what I imagine my "role" of the leader is on my team based on what is on TV, movies, and in other workplaces. This can be a real problem because not only is it disingenuous and stiff, but it typically means smothering other's ideas in favor of my own. My management degree definitely showed me how identify leadership styles that made sense to me (such as servant leadership), and how things are changing as time goes on. Lot's of places are flattening their organization and moving away from authoritarian approaches that might seem like an intuitive leadership style to new managers who don't know better. Something I learned about business now is that employees want to know the "why" behind every policy. If you can't give this to your staff, chances are you need to revisit that decision!
Typical tasks and responsibilities:
Administrative work! Days start with a number of emails, spreadsheets, financial transactions, leasing, answering calls and questions, processing maintenance requests, etc. But this is just the "paperwork" (in reality it's all online) that keeps things moving- the big picture is what matters more. These actions all reflect the reality and lives of people who live at the apartments, and their stories, situations, and needs. Running an apartment means getting to know who lives on site, and what will make their lives better. Often that might just mean helping people pay their rent or get signed up to live on site- pretty straightforward. What makes things rather more valuable is building a community on site where people feel at home. Programming and celebrations are two easy examples of what we do, though it often boils down to the customer service and letting them know that they've got someone to support them in the office.
Stacey Wagner
General Manager
Degree required: Bachelors
Favorite part of the job:
Interacting and collaborating with so many leaders from very diverse backgrounds.
How their Management degree is used on the job:
The skills and abilities obtained from the Management degree program in terms of critical thinking, collaboration, diving deep into problems and public speaking have been invaluable on my professional journey.
Typical tasks and responsibilities:
Responsible for complete KPI and overall business performance at two Amazon facilities in the Las Vegas valley. My org includes 100+ exempt leaders and ~4600 hourly front line associates. These site are responsible for processing ~2M units of output weekly, while maintaining the highest standards of safety, quality, productivity and continuous improvement.
IT Project Manager*
Degree required: Bachelors
Favorite part of the job:
I love that every day is something new. I don't think this job could ever become predictable or tedious. I also appreciate that my job is focused on collaboration and building productive, positive working relationships. Some people thrive in zero-sum, adversarial environments (think lawyers or auditors), but project managers are best as team builders and seekers of the win-win.
How their Management degree is used on the job:
My time in the program taught me how to think through business problems and work collaboratively with others. It gave me practice operating in professional situations and understanding how basic business techniques work and when to use them. I also began my foundation of learning leadership skills in the program. The piece of paper can also help get you an interview.
Typical tasks and responsibilities:
Project managers are responsible for initiating, planning, executing, monitoring, controlling, and closing projects with a particular set of objectives and a defined time frame. My daily tasks are largely related to communicating with various project team members and stakeholders to ensure that my projects stay focused on the objectives, remain on schedule, and operate within the defined budget. While a PM does very little (if any) of the work directly related to accomplishing the objectives of the project, he or she is critical to keeping the project's resources productively engaged and stakeholders happy.
*Example job description provided by Management alumni
Chris Boline
Lead Generation Specialist - Business Development
Degree required: Bachelors
Favorite part of the job:
I love connecting with local business owners and offering them creative solutions to their workforce administration issues. Also being able to give back to the community via non-profit boards, community events and other avenues are very fulfilling in their own unique ways. I also like how open-ended the position is and how we are able to accomplish our business goals via a variety of different avenues.
How their Management degree is used on the job:
I would say my management degree has been very valuable since it showed me how to balance my time effectively and think on my feet. In this role, you are required to wear a variety of different hats, so being flexible is key. Also knowing what a strong resume and LinkedIn looks like has given me a leg up when showcasing who I am as an individual in this community. I would definitely say understanding how to communicate and write effectively is another area where this degree has helped me get ahead.
Typical tasks and responsibilities:
- This position will be responsible for research and identification of target prospects using a variety of sales tools.
- Build lead generation campaigns that translate prospects into qualified leads.
- Determine business needs and understand the challenges facing prospects and position TAC as a compelling solution.
- Reach out to prospects via, phone, email, direct mail and other means to set sales meetings for business development team.
- Strong networking ability and can convert relationships into prospects
- Build a weekly sales activity plan to meet sales and lead quota goals.
- Utilize Salesforce to create/monitor/track reporting of qualified prospects.
- Ongoing and ad hoc individual and team sales activity projects. These activities include email marketing campaigns, social media management of Facebook and LinkedIn and ongoing involvement in community organizations to help bolster the reputation of TAC.
- Develop and report on analytics that show activity, leads, closed sales and other metrics related to lead generation.
Kelly Parsons
Office Assistant II
Degree required: No degree required
Favorite part of the job:
Helping permitting development processes to make things more streamline. With the pandemic I have learned new skills to help out with an health crisis.
How their Management degree is used on the job:
Managers have to be problem solvers, I have to figure out solutions to issues and be a critical thinker on how to improve processes.
Typical tasks and responsibilities:
Customer service; posting payments; issuing permits
John Houstan Shaw
Owner, Shaw Shooting
Degree required: Bachelors wasn't really required but getting a Bachelors from the University certainly helped my in the creation of my business.
Favorite part of the job:
Seeing my business problem solve the schedule every week and growing the clientele.
How their Management degree is used on the job:
I've got a few full-time staff and several part-time staff that my degree has help me obtain.
Typical tasks and responsibilities:
- Teaching firearm techniques to Elite Military/LEO specialized audiences
- Speeches in front of demanding audiences
- Performing task in front of same audiences
- Managing Employees
Tom Saxton
Program Manager
Degree required: Bachelors
Favorite part of the job:
Working with co-workers directly that all have a part in the program completion. I don't come from an engineering or a quality background, but I've learned a great deal in the practice by asking a lot of questions and staying involved in the entirety of the program. Every day presents its own opportunities and challenges and never presents a dull moment.
How their Management degree is used on the job:
My Management degree taught me to take ownership in my programs. I also learned how to handle tough situations and how to talk to certain employees by understanding how they respond to difficult conversations.
Typical tasks and responsibilities:
I manage the manufacturing and production of contracted based programs that involve building products for our Military. This involves managing the proposal, being involved with the contract negotiations, managing the procurement of materials, working with the engineering team on material drawings and that the parts function correctly before going into production, and working with the production line to make sure we deliver on time. I also manage financials and forecast labor and material on a monthly basis.
Kaelin Leavitt
Sales Associate
Degree required: Bachelors
Favorite part of the job:
I love being able to talk to new and different people all of the time.
How their Management degree is used on the job:
Learning forecasting in supply chain has been super helpful. I also think that the financial and accounting aspect of these classes helped me truly understand what benefits I needed to ask for. In my HR class, I learned how to counter offer and I did that with my very first job offer out of college. I use my knowledge from my degree to ask for raises, bonuses, etc. because I know how to calculate my value in my position.
Typical tasks and responsibilities:
I do outside sales for an electronic components company. I work on building relationships with new customers to then be able to sell parts to. Because of COVID, I started doing more administrative work as I am not able to travel for my role. I work on forecasting, supply chain scheduling, marketing, website work, some logistics, and quoting to customers.
Caroline Byne
Senior Account Executive
Degree required: Bachelors
Favorite part of the job:
Deal/proposal creation, opening new casinos and casino floor design.
How their Management degree is used on the job:
- By displaying personal leadership and accountability.
- Inspiring others with clear vision and direction.
- Communicates shared goals with internal team members and customers.
Typical tasks and responsibilities:
- Sets call cycles and travels throughout assigned territory to call on regular and prospective customers to solicit orders, resolve customer issues, or talks with customers analyzing sales floor and developing business relations.
- Updates and reports product forecast reports on regular basis, identifying major sales opportunities, and marketing needs.
- Maintains thorough working knowledge of product line and its application within marketplace, displaying or demonstrating product, using samples or catalog, and emphasizing salable features.
- Quotes prices and credit terms and prepares sales contracts for orders obtained. Estimates date of delivery to customer, based on knowledge of own firm's production
- Prepares reports of business transactions and keeps expense accounts.
- Complies and maintains updated account database of all customers through personal contacts, trade journals, business directories, industry ads, trade shows, Internet Websites, and other sources
- Uses electronic contact management systems to manage territories and set objectives.
- Works with internal departments to target customers, create forecasts, report account activities, marketing needs and literature.
- Tracks stock levels, coordinates customer training, enters new customer data and other sales data for current customers into computer database, collaborates to resolve delivery problems, and prepares for trade shows.
- Reports any discrepancies, changes or recommendations, and/or problems for resolution to senior management.
Mark Franklin
Senior Project Manager
Degree required: Masters
Favorite part of the job:
Accomplishing the corporate approved project on time and with in budget.
How their Management degree is used on the job:
MBA allows me to manage people and process with dignity and care. Management degree allows me to mitigate risks in all aspects of project management
Typical tasks and responsibilities:
Manage people, process, and budget.
Alice Gold
Visual Communications Manager
Degree required: Bachelors
Favorite part of the job:
I love managing and supporting a team. I love finding creative technology based solutions that help organizations reach their goals.
How their Management degree is used on the job:
My position requires a 4 year degree, and I specifically reference knowledge I gained while earning my management degree for the project management, communication, and leadership areas of my position.
Typical tasks and responsibilities:
Manage a small team of graphic and web designers, project management, create processes and procedures to help the team communicate and meet deliverables, build websites for grant funded projects, source and implement online technologies to support the communication, marketing and general operations of government lead behavioral health initiatives.
The Management Department faculty, staff, and students would like to thank our Management alumni who generously provided career descriptions to help current students understand the value of a Management degree. Go Pack!