From Clemson to engineering
When Madison Kaiser graduated from Clemson in 2017 with her degree in chemical engineering, she immediately began working in manufacturing. Her journey originally took her to Louisiana as a production engineer with Dow Chemical before returning to the upstate with BASF in 2020.
A lifelong learner, combined with a desire to move into a leadership role, Kaiser returned to Clemson to pursue her MBA online. “As a chemical engineer working in manufacturing, I wanted to learn more about the business side of the industry,” she says. The Clemson MBA program, offered online and tailored for working professionals, became a launchpad, exposing her to a network of peers from diverse industries and arming her with tools that she put to immediate use at BASF.
Getting involved
Attending the online MBA Program as a part-time student did not stop Kaiser from getting involved throughout her time as a student. “As an undergraduate student, I did not participate in too many extracurriculars due to my busy schedule,” she details. “I knew how important being involved was to the experience which led me to student government and other student organizations.”
Starting as a graduate student government senator, Kaiser was involved on campus with students from other graduate programs. After taking a course in Advanced Marketing Strategy, she discovered a passion for marketing and joined the MBA Student Association to express her creative outlet. “The MBA Student Association gave me the opportunity to develop content marketing strategies and run the social media accounts,” Kaiser says. “This allowed me to gain experience in something that interests me and do something I haven’t done before.”
After two successful years in student organizations, Kaiser was selected to be the president of the MBA Student Association. “Serving as President of MBA Student Association was an incredible opportunity to lead and think more strategically,” says Kaiser. “After holding other roles in the Student Association, it was rewarding to work together in this capacity with other passionate students. As a team, we thoughtfully considered how we could intentionally create value for all MBA students through the MBA Student Association activities and experiences.”
Oxford Study Abroad
In summer 2023, Kaiser took her experience global. Through Clemson’s study abroad program in Oxford, she joined fellow MBA students—whether full-time, part-time or online—for two immersive weeks of coursework and collaboration.
“The diversity of thought that my classmates brought with us was exciting to see,” explains Kaiser. “Watching how each of us implements the concepts of what we learned in our time in the program through the group projects in Oxford was an impactful part of the trip.
In addition to classwork, the trip allowed Kaiser to visit cultural sites, engage with business leaders and bond with her classmates. “It’s one thing to travel abroad for a vacation versus as a student where you get to make formal connections in a professional setting,” she elaborates. “As a working professional, the two-week program allowed for me to still have the opportunity to experience Oxford and was a really meaningful part of the Clemson MBA Program.”
New role transition and future
Just before graduation in December of 2024, Kaiser saw the benefits of her time in the program come to fruition with a promotion at BASF to senior specialist of commercial workforce and future capabilities. In this role, she guides the development of the commercial workforce by identifying and building the organization’s future capabilities. “With my background in manufacturing and the foundation from my Clemson MBA, I am excited to make an impact in this role,” Kaiser says. “I also credit the network that I have built up from my time in the program, as there are people I know I can reach out to for advice who have been very helpful to me in this transition.”
Looking to the future, Kaiser hopes to keep moving up the ladder into a managerial role. “I love connecting with people and working as a big team on projects,” she says. “I enjoy taking ownership of a project, but what I value most is collaborating with the experts on my team to achieve our goals.”
About the Clemson MBA Program
Clemson’s MBA program is highly regarded for its innovative approach to advanced business topics. Clemson MBA students can expect engaging classroom experiences with academically qualified faculty that also boasts business experience reaching far beyond the classroom. In addition, students can expect over 30 annual career-focused events that range from employer visits to networking forums and individual career counseling with a top ranked Career Services team.
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