“Follow your interests and it will lead you to the right place. If your interests change over time, embrace that. Don’t be afraid to make a career change or push yourself in a new direction.”
From her roots in Los Angeles, California, to studying film at Northwestern University, to eventually securing an MBA degree at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Kate (Doehring) Ullsvik’s (MBA ‘2017) career reflects a blend of creativity, politics, and business. Initially, Kate studied film at Northwestern, but immediately after graduation started her career as a community organizer. She worked for environmental and healthcare related nonprofits and campaigns, building an expertise in volunteer and field management. This positioned her for an opportunity to become the Field Director for NY during Barack Obama’s re-election campaign in 2012. Kate understood the power of storytelling and brand building and decided to pursue her MBA degree at UW-Madison in fall of 2015.
Kate credits much of her success in the business world to her time at UW-Madison, particularly with her involvement with the Weinert Center for Entrepreneurship and the Marketing Leadership Institute. She acknowledges the hands-on learning and real-world case studies that defined her MBA experience. As she says, “I loved the real-life marketing challenges when companies would come in and share data with us, and we would have to look at it and make recommendations. That’s literally what I do in my day job now.”
What stood out to Kate about UW-Madison, aside from the rigorous curriculum, was the supportive and collaborative environment. “The first thing that hit me was just the kindness of the community,” Kate recalls. The welcoming atmosphere she experienced during her campus visit made her feel that UW-Madison was a safe space that allowed her to take on the challenges of learning a new field.
“Even if you don’t want to start your own company, it gives you the right kind of mindset to approach your work.” The value of an entrepreneurial mindset was another key takeaway for Kate, particularly from her involvement in the Fellowship in Enterprise Development program and by taking the Weinert Applied Ventures in Entrepreneurship (WAVE) course. Kate went on to lead Intuit’s influencer marketing strategy, scaling her team from a one to a four-person operation. She credits much of her success in building this new channel to the entrepreneurial mindset she honed at UW-Madison.
Kate’s journey is a reminder that career paths don’t have to be straight and that every experience, can contribute to success. As Kate says, “It’s important to think about the totality of your career, leveraging both creative and data-driven sides — that’s the secret sauce.” Her journey is proof that with the right education, a willingness to adapt, and a mindset rooted in continuous learning, the possibilities are endless.
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