From Classroom to Company Founder

Today, Natalie runs her own marketing agency, a company she launched after gaining a couple of years of experience in different marketing roles. Her agency focuses on social media management, strategy, and influencer marketing. Because her work is so flexible, she lives in New York City, but she’s also spent the past four months living and working in Paris, France, and Sydney, Australia, while traveling to tons of other places in between. For her, travel is one of the best parts of the job because she gets to meet new people and experience new cultures everywhere she goes.

When Natalie was choosing a college, Ole Miss stood out immediately because of how welcoming it felt. She also received a generous scholarship that made the decision even easier. She still remembers visiting campus as a high school student and feeling an instant connection:

“…it just felt like family. They were so welcoming and made everyone feel at home. My family and I didn’t know a single person when we visited, but we went to a football game in The Grove and everyone was so inclusive and warm. That really sealed it.”

Natalie says the School of Business Administration played a huge role in shaping her career:

“I truly credit my adviser, Kim Phillips, for so much of it. I would not have been able to graduate early without her, and she helped me make the most out of my time at Ole Miss, especially within the business school. She honestly still helps me to this day. I also have to mention Professor Julia Welch, who really pushed me to think and dream big. She always encouraged students to think outside the box, and so much of what I learned in her classes was directly applicable in the real world.”

For Natalie, everything comes back to the people. The faculty and staff in the School of Business—and the Oxford community as a whole—create an environment where students build connections that last long after graduation. Alumni stay involved, and many instructors bring real industry experience to the classroom, which helps students prepare for future careers.

One of Natalie’s favorite parts of her college experience was the friendships she made. She’s still close with many of her Ole Miss friends, and now she even gets to live and work near several of them in New York City.