 As Katie (Greenspon) Underwood ’15 was making her way in Los Angeles’ fast-paced public relations scene, she found herself questioning her next move: Was her career really taking her in the direction she wanted to go?
After graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communications, Advertising, and Public Relations from Saint Mary’s College in Notre Dame, IN, she had taken on a role that involved lots of event coordination and media outreach. It was a rush, but she wasn’t sure whether it was the best long-term fit. Trusting her instincts, she left her home state of California to head to Chicago to work at full-service marketing, training, and communications firm Norton Norris. One of Underwood’s most formative career influences was the mentorship and support she received during her time there. Her boss gave her autonomy and trust to do her best work, think creatively, experiment, and bring forward new ideas. “It was a great opportunity to insert my own style into my approach, and that theme has carried with me throughout my career.” As she grew in her role, she noticed that many of her friends and colleagues were pursuing graduate degrees. While she hadn’t considered going back to school, their ambition inspired her to pursue a master’s degree of her own. “It felt like the right moment to make a decisive move,” she explains. “I had enough experience to understand what energized me—and what didn’t—and I knew the right program could expand my perspective and connect me with people who would shape both my career and my personal growth.”
“In one course, we got to build a business as a dog food manufacturer from the ground up. We learned so much as we created profitable plans for a real company,” she explains. “We even went out into Chicago to ask people questions and conduct primary market research about our business ideas.” She also learned important lessons about her own capabilities, including the energy and perspective she can inject into new and demanding environments. “I discovered that I’m very adaptive and agile, which are very important traits in all aspects of life. The program reminded me that I have thick skin and can do anything I put my mind to,” says Underwood. “I realized I’m up for challenges, even if they feel untraditional or not feasible.” Her adaptability proved critical when a new opportunity came knocking halfway through the program … and it was one she didn’t want to pass up, even though it would require her to be back on the West Coast. She accepted an account manager position with DevicePharm and returned to her roots in Southern California on one condition: She would commute to Northwestern once a week, since it was an in-person-only program at the time. “Every Friday, I flew on the same American Airlines flight, went to class on a Saturday, and left either Sunday or Monday to head back to work,” she says. While it wasn’t always easy, every mile was worth it. Finding a way to finish the program while working in California gave her the room she needed to explore and define her own leadership style, identify and address her weaknesses, and play up her strengths. “I went into the program not sure of what my capabilities and limitations were,” Underwood explains. “It helped me open my eyes to what I can do, understand who I am, and how to brand myself.” That drive and self-discovery helped propel her into the next chapter. After spending several years working for healthcare marketing agencies, Underwood accepted the position of marketing manager at Edwards Lifesciences, a leading medical technology company in Irvine, CA. Today, she serves as a marketing director, focused on strengthening partnerships with physicians and empowering patients through education. A few years ago, the company encouraged her to earn her MBA through the University of California Irvine, so she enrolled in the program and now has two master’s degrees, allowing her to lead at the highest level. “I’m completely confident that I wouldn’t have reached this point if it wasn’t for the MSC program and their staff and support. This degree has been the catalyst for my entire career,” says Underwood. “Getting to spend time with entrepreneurs and professionals who had the same goals I had was unforgettable. The MSC program gave me permission to ask myself, ‘Why can’t I lead that team?’ ‘Why can’t I help drive those business goals?’ I can. And that’s something I carry with me in my marketing career every day.” Read more on our blog and follow Northwestern’s Master of Science in Communication program on Instagram, Meta, and LinkedIn. |
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