Clemson MBA in Digital Brand Communications opens doors for Racquel Shackleford, M’24

Racquel Shackleford grew up in Greenville, South Carolina, knowing that Clemson was where she wanted to end up for her college experience. After graduating with her degree in Spanish and communications, Shackleford began her career journey working in marketing at BMW Group IT in Business Relationship Management, where she served as the face of IT to the business and managed communication between IT and business. She also worked at the Peterbilt dealer group to establish brand identity, set up social media and coordinate marketing with sales.

When she entered the point in her life where she knew she wanted to continue her education, Clemson was the only place on her mind.

“It was always Clemson for me. A lot of my undergrad experience shaped my career and helped me discover what I wanted to do,” Shackleford says. “So, I knew that I wanted to come back to Clemson for my MBA simply because I felt like I knew Clemson, the atmosphere and the expectations. It’s all been a great experience for me.”

After deciding to pursue an MBA, the next challenge was deciding which Clemson MBA degree tract to pursue. At first, she began applying for the Corporate MBA Program. However, when she received an email announcing a new MBA in Digital Brand Communications, she knew that was the program for her.

“As soon as I received the email, I knew I had to apply. The program perfectly aligned with my strengths, interests, and the areas I wanted to grow professionally. Reviewing the course guide and the topics it covered solidified my decision—it was clear this would add a valuable layer of credibility to the work I had already been doing.”

While in the MBA Digital Brand Communications Program, Shackleford connected with her cohort of 30 people. She says they made a lasting impact on her experience. “Clemson has a unique way of bringing people together. My cohort had so many talented individuals; we were all different but clicked instantly. I am very thankful for that group of people and their support both during and after the program.”

During her coursework, Shackleford received a LinkedIn message from ServiceNow, a leading software company, recognizing her pursuit of an MBA in Brand Communications and inviting her to apply for an internship. She secured a three-month role and upon graduating, was offered a full-time position. This past July, she rejoined ServiceNow as a Product Marketing Manager.

“The MBA program allowed me to rediscover my passion for building strategic presentations, which has been incredibly valuable in my career. I enjoyed the process of creating storylines, assembling supporting evidence, and creating concise, engaging decks that inform and persuade. Balancing work, school and residency weekends helped me develop the discipline and focus I rely on daily. It was the perfect preparation for hitting the ground running in a new role.”

Learn more about the MBA in Digital Brand Communications program.