The Department of Marketing spotlights Chase Kilby—a Marketing graduate who will be receiving his MBA in May 2023 here at Missouri State!

Chase was born in Saint Louis Missouri and graduated with a degree in Marketing Management last May. Chase is currently working towards his MBA with a certificate in Organizational Leadership and is expected to graduate this May. Chase currently works as a Graduate Assistant on campus who oversees the LCS (Leadership in Community Service) Program. This program gives MSU students the opportunity to work 10-12 hours a week for a non-profit organization while getting paid through the federal work study program. In this role Chase said, “We aim to develop leadership skills in all our members and align them with the 3 pillars here at Missouri State University.” Chase also works in Freelance where he helps businesses with social media content, SEO, video editing, and a variety of other tasks. Chase shared that he “loves getting to help other people and see them grow; [as well as] the way to achieve [personal] success is to help others achieve their own success.” 

The Marketing Department is proud of Chase and his accomplishments, so we decided to interview him to learn more. In this interview we asked Chase about his job as a  Graduate Assistant as well as what advice he may have for other students. Here is what Chase Kilby had to say: 

Q. How has this job shaped you?

“My graduate assistantship has taught me a lot about leadership. I oversee 30 LCS members and making sure they are successful at their nonprofit agencies is the only way I can be successful.”

Q. Do you have any advice for younger students looking to gain professional experience/ leadership opportunities?

“Don’t listen to your fears. You must put yourself in uncomfortable situations to grow as a person and professional, apply for jobs and internships you don’t qualify for. The worst they can say is no. I think so many students are afraid that they aren’t qualified or good enough for certain opportunities and the only way to find out is if you dive in headfirst and never look back.”

Chase also shared a few quotes he thought might be helpful for other students to hear: 

• • “Say yes and figure out how to do it later.”
  • “Anything in life worth doing is worth overdoing.”
  • “Better to try and fail now while we’re young, then to have regrets later in life”.

Q. How has your interactions been with the Marketing Department? 

“The marketing department has been a great resource through my time here at MSU. Whether it’s through my classes, individual meetings with professors, or interacting with members of the advisory board, I have had a great experience with the MSU marketing department.”

Over the summer upon graduation Chase will be relocating back to Saint Louis where he plans to find a position in either marketing or sales. Chased shared with the Marketing Department that he has yet to lock anything down, but is in conversation with a few companies. 

Thank you so much for meeting with us, Chase! We look forward to keeping up with your endeavors and appreciate what you had to share! We all wish you luck! 

Click here to learn more about how you can become a Graduate Assistant.