Kaylee Davis

Marketing Project Manager

Jacobs School of Music, Indiana University

"I was most afraid of not being able to find a fulfilling position. I want students to know that it’s okay to think outside of the box for your careers and that you are not restricted to any one field. The skills you gain in your coursework can be applied in a multitude of ways."

What was your major/minor at Purdue and when did you graduate?

I graduated in 2017 with a degree in chemistry, a minor in forensic science, and a learning beyond the classroom certificate.

What are you currently working on?

I am currently working on our campaign for our season of opera, ballet, and specialty concert performances for the 2019-2020 year. One of our goals is to engage young audiences with the operas and ballets performed by their peers. After each performance I do an audience analysis to measure our progress in this area. I also use this analysis to compare performance attendance over several years and find trends in ticket purchasing behavior.

What drove you to pursue your current carrer path?

I found during the internship I held the summer after my junior year at Purdue that I preferred working in the business environment over the laboratory environment. It was then that I changed what I was going to desire in my full time work after graduation. I wanted to work with people to achieve a higher goal.

Did you pursue internships/co-ops, research experiences, volunteer, or join student organizations while you attended Purdue?

I was a four-year member of the All-American Marching Band and performed in concert ensembles in the spring. The opportunities I had as a part of the Bands and Orchestras department are unparalleled. I joined the student advancement team which taught me important communication skills. I became a leader in the department by becoming the team leader of the advancement team and being appointed to the bands and orchestras advisory board: an organization of staff, alumni, donors, and students tasked with shaping the goals and direction of the department.

It was these experiences that lead to my internship at Stepan Company and later to my first position at Groupon. In interviews for both companies, they were interested in the collaborative efforts made as apart of the department, advancement team, and advisory board. I found that as much as companies are looking for someone with comprehension of the field, they are also looking for someone who can fit in with the current team and work with others who have diverse backgrounds. I gained these exact skills in working with my peers in the Purdue Bands and Orchestras department.

What advice would you give to prospective or current Purdue students about how to make the best use of what Purdue offers?

Don’t be afraid to try new things. Some of the best people you’ll meet are right here in West Lafayette and you won’t always meet them if you do the same things you’ve always done.