Brandon McCutchen, MM '15
Entering the Michigan Ross MM Program, Brandon McCutchen was confident that he would emerge with an offer for a great job, though he didn’t have a clear vision of what or where. Ten months later he enthusiastically accepted a position at Google, and he says he owes it to the skills and experiences he gained as an MM student.
After studying biopsychology, cognition, and neuroscience as well as music in his undergrad years, Brandon wanted to gain a foundation in business so that wherever he went, he would have the assets to propel the business forward. In choosing the Ross MM, the school’s boundaryless approach resonated with Brandon. “I live by a mantra of dreaming big and never settling for less than that dream. I need to dream big about the projects I take on and ideas I develop, so having an education that challenges you to remove borders is an incredibly powerful tool.”
Brandon’s experience as an MM student met that benchmark in two ways. First, diving into the program with the Impact Challenge, he and his winning team were pushed to think critically about business in the context of improving the community, not just the bottom line. “I knew I was in the right business school when I saw how much socially-just business was pushed compared to the stereotypical ‘money over ethics’ business that so many people assume is taught in business school,” he says.
Then, in the classroom, Brandon’s perspective on what he could do with business continued to expand and evolve. “I don’t think I was aware of the limitations I had put on my abilities. I felt that to be successful in business that you needed to be an industry expert, but the MM Program completely flipped that. Being challenged almost daily to apply the concepts you’re learning to a company you’ve never heard of, or industry you have no prior experience with, is an invaluable way to learn how to be a successful contributor to any business.”
Along with his rigorous coursework, Brandon was also highly active in his career search, attending corporate presentations, networking with recruiters, and meeting with Ross Career Services to prepare for interviews. Even his professors took the time to talk through how he shared his story in interviews and networking events.
Approaching the end of the program, Brandon learned just how beneficial potential employers saw his Ross MM education, as he considered job offers from Google, Quicken Loans, and CBS Radio. Ultimately, he chose Google as the best cultural fit. “I knew I would get the opportunity to make meaningful contributions, grow professionally, and further develop myself in a business that’s relevant to the needs and culture of the 21st century,” he explains.
As an online talent channels specialist, Brandon meets with hiring managers and other members of Google’s recruitment team to identify their hiring needs. Then, he develops criteria to find the best candidates who applied online, looking at them holistically to make the best career match. “Sometimes, incredibly talented individuals have applied to the wrong position, and I get to provide them a magical experience and reach out with a position that’s much more in line with their experience.”
For students who want to make their own career magic, Brandon shares this advice: “Having your business acumen developed at Ross is one of the greatest gifts you can give yourself to supplement your undergraduate education. The truth is, it’s hard to stand out on a resume these days, but having the Ross MM degree makes you shine, and it makes companies want to get to know you. You’ll still have to impress them, but with all the coursework and career development you get from the MM Program, you’ll be ready for that.”