After running her own photography business, Amanda Meixsell Wilmoth returned to the corporate world through the Jenkins MMA program, gaining the skills and confidence to grow her marketing career while balancing graduate school and family life.

Get to know Amanda

Program: Master of Management, Marketing Analytics (MMA)
Start date: Spring 2025
Anticipated graduation date: Spring 2027
Current location: Huntersville, NC 

Life before Jenkins

Work experience: 15 years 
Industry: Creative
Role: Area Manager
Field: Photography
Undergraduate education: University of North Carolina at Charlotte, B.A.

Career Goals

Amanda decided to pursue her master’s degree while transitioning back into the corporate workforce after spending the past five years as an entrepreneur. “Building and running my own photography business strengthened my leadership, adaptability and problem-solving skills, but it also clarified my desire to pair real-world experience with advanced, strategic training. I wanted to reenter the workforce in marketing because I believe it’s the perfect blend of my past experiences and current interests.”

Why Jenkins?

For Amanda, the Jenkins MMA program offered an ideal balance of management and marketing, which aligns seamlessly with her professional background. “The curriculum allowed me to strengthen my leadership and strategic skills while continuing to build on my experience in marketing and communications. I was also drawn to the study abroad opportunity, which added a global perspective to the program.” 

Daily Life?

On a day-to-day basis, Amanda’s life is a thoughtful balance of work, graduate studies and family. “I’m a parent to two toddlers, and being present in their daily routines and lives is incredibly important to me. That season of life has shaped how I approach my time – prioritizing intentionality, efficiency and flexibility.”

What makes it great?

For Amanda, the hands-on, applied learning that connects coursework directly to real-world business and marketing challenges is a huge advantage. Beyond that, she appreciates the flexibility of the program – allowing her to balance graduate studies with professional responsibilities and family life. “I also appreciate the opportunity to study abroad, which will give me a global perspective and practical experience working across diverse cultures and markets.”

“I also appreciate the opportunity to study abroad, which will give me a global perspective and practical experience working across diverse cultures and markets.”

Career impact 

During the program, an unexpected career opportunity emerged through a professional relationship Amanda had built as an entrepreneur. “Travis Crawford HVAC, Plumbing & Electrical hired my photography business for a year-long engagement that included multiple headshot sessions and a full branding shoot. Through that collaboration, I gained a deep understanding of the company’s culture, values and vision. After a year of working closely together, the team approached me about a newly created in-house marketing role they were hoping to fill. Although the opportunity came earlier than I had planned to formally begin a job search, the alignment between the company culture, the role and my professional goals made it a natural next step.”

Final thoughts

When asked how the program has impacted her, Amanda shared how it gave her the confidence she needed to transition back into the corporate world with clarity and intention. “Through my coursework, I was empowered to navigate the hiring process by presenting a strategic social media audit and clearly articulating my value to the business. I entered negotiations informed, confident in my worth and knowledgeable about industry standards, which allowed me to secure a role with a hybrid work schedule that supports my life as a mother of two toddlers. The program has already had a transformative impact on my life and career – and I haven’t even graduated yet.”

“The program has already had a transformative impact on my life and career – and I haven’t even graduated yet.”

Get in touch

Connect with Amanda via amanda.meixsell@gmail.com or on LinkedIn.

Learn more

To learn more about the Jenkins MMA program, including tuition, curriculum, career opportunities and more, please submit the form below. 

This post was originally published in Master of Management Marketing Analytics.