MSM-IB Testimonials (Alumni)

My experience in the MSM-Integrated Business program has been truly transformative. I entered with little business knowledge and graduated with a strong foundation in management, teamwork, and practical problem-solving. The program’s collaborative projects and real-world learning experiences helped me develop the confidence to apply what I learned in professional settings. In my last semester, I volunteered in the HR department at AdventHealth, which strengthened my interest in human resources. I now serve as an Administrative Assistant III at AdventHealth, where I support the HR department and continue to apply the skills and insights I gained through the program.

Hanifa Bakar
MSM-IB Cohort 24-25
Administrative Assistant III at Advent Health

Bachelor’s Degree: Interdisciplinary Studies

The MSM-IB program at UCF was truly transformative for me. It bridged my 20-year military leadership experience with the strategic, analytical, and cross-functional skills needed to excel in today’s business environment. The integrated curriculum and collaborative projects pushed me to think more critically about organizational behavior, innovation, data-driven decision-making, and strategy. Most importantly, the program gave me the confidence and practical tools to transition successfully into my civilian career in program management. It continues to influence how I lead, solve problems, and create value across every project I take on.

Gustavo Pineda
MSM-IB Cohort 24-25
Program Coordinator (New Products and Services)
Orlando Utilities Commission (OUC – The Reliable One)

Bachelor’s Degree: Leadership

The MSM-IB program was an enriching experience that allowed me to strengthen my business acumen and apply it immediately through its immersive, flipped classroom format. From pitching business policies for local Orlando organizations, to participating in negotiation roleplays, and consulting on real business cases using data analysis in Excel; I’ve gained practical, hands-on experience that directly translates to the workplace. The program provided countless opportunities to expand my skillset and become a more well-rounded professional, all while being surrounded by a supportive cohort and faculty that made the journey even more meaningful.

Angela Le
MSM-IB Cohort 24-25
Organizational Excellence Specialist at Mitsubishi Power Americas

Bachelor’s Degree: Psychology

Salvador Perez: “The MSM-IB program has made my transition to the Deloitte LLP (US) work environment one of the easiest onboarding and adjustment periods I have ever had. Because of the applicable skill set that focuses on soft skills I learned in the MSM-IB program, becoming a Solution Analyst at Deloitte was second nature. The focus on impactful presentations and internal networking to attain goals for both internal and external stakeholders has allowed me to take full advantage of my opportunity at Deloitte. My future projects at Deloitte will have me changing communications styles, management methods, and roles/responsibilities often, but thanks to the thorough knowledge imparted to me by all the wonderful professors in the program, I feel more than prepared, I feel empowered. Thank you very much and Go IB!”

Salvador Perez

Solution Analyst at Deloitte LLP (US)
UCF MSM-IB Class 2023-2024
Bachelor’s Degree: Hospitality Management

Lauren Swaine: “Completing my Master’s in Integrated Business was transformative for my career. The rigorous curriculum and hands-on projects taught me essential leadership skills and strategic thinking. The MSM-IB faculty supported my professional networking, which opened the door for me to work with JW Marriott. I use the resources and knowledge I gained from my MSM-IB program daily to enhance operations. These insights proved invaluable as I transitioned into my role as a Housekeeping Manager. Combined with a Bachelor’s in Psychology, I feel well-prepared to tackle the challenges of my role and drive success in my organization. Go IB!”

Lauren Swaine
Title: Housekeeping Manager
Company: JW Marriott
MSM-IB Class 2023-2024
Bachelor’s Degree: Psychology

Brandon Herrera: “Having being apart of this amazing program has not only opened up new doors and opportunities for me, but it also helped me to hone more of my interpersonal skills and soft skills. As a professor here at UCF now, these soft skills (and business knowledge) actually helps me a lot to be able to help more students know about the business world and how to effectively sell themselves. As a person who obtained their undergraduate degree in Game Design, I was able to use the business knowledge I’ve gained from this program to start my own Game Studio and give others the opportunity to pave their own path. Go IB!”

Brandon Herrera
Title: CEO and Game Developer/Visiting Instructor
Company: University of Central Florida
MSM-IB Class 2023-2024
Bachelor’s Degree: Digital Media

Meggie Keung: “My favorite thing about the MSM-IB program is the amazing connections I have made throughout the program. This includes my relationships with professors, colleagues, and industry professionals. They are the most supportive people I have ever met. With their help, they have helped me practice my soft skills. I have become more confident in myself with public speaking and networking. The best example of my improved skills through the IB master’s program was participating in the 3rd annual Orlando Magic Innovation Challenge and receiving third place with my team. This is all thanks to the support from my family, friends, and IB professors.”

Meggie Keung
UCF MSM-IB Class 2023-2024
Bachelor’s Degree: Music – Integrated Studies

Pamela Hernandez: “My journey began with a background in psychology from the University of Central Florida, and the transition into the Masters in Management with an Integrated Business Track has been nothing short of transformative.
What sets this program apart is the seamless integration of business concepts with real-world applications. Coming from a non-business background, I was initially apprehensive, but the program’s comprehensive curriculum and dedicated faculty made the learning curve enjoyable.
The emphasis on practical skills and strategic thinking has not only expanded my knowledge but has also equipped me to tackle complex business challenges confidently.
One of the highlights of the program is the Integrated Business Track, which provides a unique opportunity to bridge theory and practice. The hands-on projects, collaborative exercises, and industry interactions have been instrumental in honing my decision-making skills and enhancing my business acumen. These experiences have given me a competitive edge in the job market and have opened doors to exciting career prospects.”

Pamela M. Hernandez Rivera
CEO at TravelingSola.net
MSM-IB Class 2023-2024
Bachelor’s Degree: Psychology

Robert Goldstein: “Joining the MSM Integrated Business program was one of the best decisions I have made for my professional future.
Among the many lessons, mastering effective teamwork became a clear center point.
Now armed with strategies to navigate group dynamics, from fostering motivation to using properly constructive feedback, I have become a well-trained in working in and leading a team.
This experience was furthered by an amazing faculty that was always there and ready to ensure we truly got the most out of this program and a brilliant cohort that I am happy to all call my friends.
I will always be grateful for what an amazing experience this program was and for how it has changed me.”

Robert Goldstein
MSM-IB Class 2023-2024
Bachelor’s Degree: Entertainment Management

Seher (Sissi) Tass: “My experience with the MSM-IB program has been very engaging and empowering. For my undergraduate degree, I studied Film and Women’s and Gender Studies, and after graduation I wanted a program to help shaping my professional career as an aspiring professional. The experienced faculty provided valuable guidance during class while the cohort worked on team-based projects to apply the extensive business skills obtained. I’m grateful for the support of my peers, faculty, and staff. I recommend the program to anyone with non-business degrees, seeking a hands-on business education. Go IB”

Name: Seher (Sissi) Tass
Bachelor’s Degree: Film
MSM-IB Class 2022-2023

Shannon McLeod: “The MSM-IB program has helped me evolve in so many ways within my professional and personal life. I have had the opportunity to take so many wonderful classes that made me think outside the box and look at situations within the workplace from a different perspective. This program has also helped me develop skills in time management, teamwork, and organization. While it may feel challenging at times, it will feel rewarding once you walk across that stage with your master’s degree! I got to meet some amazing professors and long-time friends. Go IB!”

Name: Shannon McLeod
Bachelor’s Degree: Hospitality Management
MSM-IB Class 2022-2023

Michael Duca: “The MSM-Integrated Business program has been both demanding and gratifying for me. I was interested in learning a range of business skills, and the UCF curriculum has exceeded my expectations. The program is built around using teamwork along with applying critical thinking to know and master business applications. I’ve been able to enhance those skills through this program and pick up new ones along the way, thereby maximizing my chances of succeeding outside of UCF.”

Name: Michael Duca
Company: Department of Veteran Affairs
Bachelor’s Degree: Psychology
MSM-IB Class 2022-2023

Kenya Carter: “The MSM-IB program prepared me to become the businesswoman I aspired to be! This program allowed me to practice and demonstrate my knowledge through case studies and projects. I learned how to communicate effectively with team members. I also learned how to lead teams and productively connect with real business owners. The connections I made through this program, along with the skills I developed, helped me earn an analyst position at a great company. I’m satisfied with this program, and I strongly recommend it to anyone aiming to transition into a business career.”

Name: Kenya Carter
Title: Campus Operations Analyst
Company: BNY Mellon
Bachelor’s Degree: Entertainment Management
MSM-IB Class 2022-2023

Taylor Filoramo: “The IB program has been a challenging and transformative experience that significantly impacted my personal and professional growth. The dynamic “flipped classroom” and cohort learning environment fostered my intellectual curiosity and equipped me with valuable skills for success. Through engaging in various activities and group projects, I was able to develop strong leadership, public speaking, communication, and teamwork skills. Overall, the IB program has comprehensively prepared me for success in all aspects of my life.”

Name: Taylor Filoramo 

Title: Management Trainee Intern

Company: Enterprise 

Bachelor’s Degree: Psychology 

MSM-IB Class 2022-2023

Kristin Quarnoccio: “The MSM-IB program has helped prepare me for the business world outside of college. Albeit challenging and very intense at times, I have met many new people that have helped me achieve success using teamwork and diverse class material. Through projects and the flipped classroom style of instruction, I have been able to face adversity with a confident attitude. I secured an internship in a professional office where I am applying my business writing skills, combined with my sales and marketing knowledge. I am excited to graduate and continue my career with new opportunities. The program is great for those who want to build a business education foundation after undergraduate studies.”

Kristin Quarnoccio
Title: Business Trainee
Company: State Farm
Bachelor’s Degree: Technical Communication
MSM-IB Class of 2023

Julia Tavares Amorim: “My favorite part of the MSM-Integrated Business is the connections you make with the professors. It is truly a fantastic opportunity to establish a professional relationship with experienced professionals in a variety of areas of business, such as business intelligence, project ownership and management, and marketing/branding. This program provides an ever-growing network in many different fields, locally and nationally.”

Julia Tavares Amorim
Bachelor’s Degree: Public Relations
MSM-IB Class of 2023

Meghna Mewlani: “The MSM-IB program is an amazing path for people who do not have prior knowledge of business. I had 6 years of work experience prior to enrolling in this program, and yet there were multiple instances where I learned something completely new. Coming to the US for this program and adapting to a completely new country had its own challenges. However, all the professors are very supportive, and encouraging and guide you to do your best throughout the program. There were some courses that surprised most of us in ways that we had not expected. I gained a lot of knowledge, friendships, great connections, and an amazing mentor from this program. It’s true that everything happens very quickly and can be stressful, but in the end, it all seems worth the persistent efforts and sacrifices. Go IB!”

Meghna Mewlani

Intern at Syneos Health
Bachelor’s Degree: Pharmacy
MSM-IB Class of 2023

Isabelle Bianca Sampaio: “Being a master’s student at UCF in the Integrated Business program has been an adventure, mainly because I’m in a career change to an area completely different from my undergrad. Having graduated in Law in Brazil, I challenged myself by joining a program focused exclusively on business and I can say the learning is vast, such as networking with highly qualified professionals, including professors and guest speakers; applying what we learn in projects with real companies; and, developing new skills such as, in my particular case, data analysis and business intelligence. I highly recommend the Master’s program in Integrated Business to anyone looking for a career change like me. It’s a game changer!”

Isabelle Bianca Sampaio

Bachelor’s Degree: Law
MSM-IB Class of 2023

Cristian Aviles: My path through the MSM-IB program is truly unique. I discovered the MSM-IB program through an email, during my last semester as an undergraduate in health sciences at UCF. My goal since beginning college was to continue school and become an optometrist. So how did I end up pursuing a Master’s in Integrated Business? I knew after my graduation in 2021, I was looking at a long gap year and had no idea what to do with it. After careful consideration, I decided if I ever wanted to operate my own practice in the future, having a business background would go a long way. This program ended up being the best decision I could have made for my academic and professional career.

This program not only allowed me to continue my journey as a student and not lose any momentum academically, but it also provided me with countless opportunities to grow as a student and professional. I learned the value of developing my soft skills, which ultimately helped me get into optometry school. As a program, MSM-IB is an investment in yourself, no matter what your next steps look like.

Name: Cristian Aviles
Student Optometric Physician
Nova Southeastern University

Bachelor’s Degree: Health Science
MSM-IB Class 2021-2022

Caroline (Carly) Rasmussen: The MSM-IB program allowed me to develop many essential skills for the professional arena. Along with building a foundation of all facets of business, I was able to expand both my network and awareness of potential careers. When I began in the MSM-IB program, I wanted to continue to progress through a management track in hospitality operations. However, through the program, I found I had a passion for Marketing & Sales and decided to pursue an internship with Universal Orlando in their Segment Strategy department. The internship allowed me to use many hard and soft skills taught in the program, such as public speaking, Excel, and project management. I am immensely grateful I was able to go through this program and that it gave me a new career path. Above all, the lasting relationships I made are what I consider the most valuable part of the program. The MSM-IB professors continued to support me past graduation through the interview process, a testament to how much they care about their students. I also found forever friends with cohort members who continue to push me to be the best version of myself.

Name: Caroline (Carly) Rasmussen
Title: Marketing Representative 
Company: Universal Parks & Resorts Vacations

Bachelor’s Degree: Hospitality Management
MSM-IB Class 2021-2022

Drew Brasiel: “The experiences of the Master of Science in Management in Integrated Business program have enabled me to find early career success in the Financial Services industry as a mortgage banker and now in business-to-business sales. As a previous Health Sciences graduate, I never anticipated pursuing a career in business, however, this program allowed me to discover a great interest in finance and sales. This program delivers significant value in the form of business acumen and communication skills but the most valuable asset of all is the exceptional faculty. The relationships I have formed and the wisdom I have obtained from the likes of Dr. James Brown, Dr. Christopher Leo, and Dr. Carlos Valdez, will provide me with a lifetime of value. As always, go Knights and go IB!”

Name: Drew Brasiel
Title: : Account Representative | E-commerce & B2B Payment Processing |
Company: TouchSuite
Bachelor’s Degree: Health Sciences
MSM-IB Class 2021-2022

Danielle Levien: “In my current role, I create communication strategies that help drive our business goals while maintaining our brand standards and reputation. The MSM-IM program was instrumental in providing me a well-rounded knowledge in key business areas that allows me to understand and meet my partner’s needs – whether they work in human resources, operations, marketing, or sales.”

Name: Danielle Levien
Title: Communications Manager
Company: Walt Disney World Resort
Bachelor’s Degree: International Relations
MSM-IB Class 2020-2021

Emily Wlash: “The MSM-IB Program was pivotal in my career success. I developed a wide range of skills that allowed me to launch into the HR world with an amazing company. The flipped classroom design and small cohort allowed for a deeper understanding of topics. I am forever grateful for the opportunities the MSM-IB program granted me!”

Name: Emily Walsh
Title: Talent Acquisition Business Partner-Campus Recruiting
Company: ADP
Bachelor’s Degree: Psychology
MSM-IB Class 2020-2021

Lucas Leon: “My experience in the MSM IB program was an overwhelmingly positive one! The instructors were extremely knowledgeable, and the coursework was almost always hands-on and interactive. During my time as a student, I became a better public speaker, analyst, and (perhaps most importantly) interviewer! From day one, the goal is to get you career ready. I can confidently say that the Integrated Business program multiplied the value of my undergraduate degree and positioned me for success.”

Name: Lucas Leon
Title: Solution Analyst
Company: Deloitte
Bachelor’s Degree: Political Science
MSM-IB Class 2020-2021

Dima Taher: I am extremely grateful for this master’s program as it has greatly impacted my professional and personal life. It introduced me to many opportunities and possibilities available in the business world and guided me to finding my passion in consulting. Because of the skills I learned during this program I was able to pursue my career in consulting at Deloitte, a leader in the professional services industry in the world. I was able to integrate and leverage both my degrees, B.A in Political Science and MSM in Integrated Business, in my career as a Strategy Consultant serving clients from The Government and Public Services Sector and making an impact that matters.

Name: Dima Taher
Title: Strategy & Analytics Solution Analyst
Company: Deloitte

Bachelor’s Degree: Political Science
MSM-IB Class 2020-2021

Emily Allen: The MSM-IB program enabled me with all the tools necessary to thrive in today’s business world. 
The multifaceted structure of the MSM-IB program is realistic to the diverse and fast paced culture of major consulting organizations. 
The MSM-IB program has given me the knowledge and confidence to talk the talk and walk the walk in professional business settings.
The variety of courses in the MSM-IB program allowed me to be competitive and agile when entering the workforce upon graduation. My experience in the program allows me to stand out. I am continually grateful to be a proud alum of the University of Central Florida’ MSM-IB program.

Name: Emily Allen
Title: Senior Consultant
Company: Deloitte

Bachelor’s Degree: Hospitality Management
MSM-IB Class 2020-2021

Giorgi Beruashvili: “One of Amazon’s Leadership Principles states – “Hire and Develop the Best,” which means they not only develop but hire no other than the best candidates world-wide. MSM-IB program not only prepared me to get to the best but also gave me the right resources to stand out among those best with knowledge and confidence.”

Giorgi Beruashvili
Title: Operations Manager III
Company: Amazon
Industry: North American Customer Fulfillment (NACF)

Bachelor’s Degree: International and Global Studies
MSM-IB Class 2020-21

Milica Dragoljevic: As I was completing my bachelor’s at UCF, I knew that I would want to continue my education into a Master’s degree at the same university, and the MSM-IB program was the exact route I am blessed to have taken. It provided me with not only a greater understanding of multiple areas of the business world but also a greater understanding of the importance of accountability and leadership. The MSM-IB program provided me with the skills needed as a business professional and allowed me to form connections with other business professionals which in turn led me to my current employment at Insight Global, where I am a contractor for Microsoft. I am beyond thankful to have been a part of this program, and I am a better person because of it. GO, IB and GO, KNIGHTS!

Name: Milica Dragoljevic
Job Title: Microsoft Project Manager/Customer Success Specialist
Company: Insight Global, LLC.

Bachelor’s Degree: Interdisciplinary Studies
MSM-IB Class 2019-2020

Saxsen Norton: The MSM-IB program has been an integral part of my professional career. The hands-on experience and knowledge I have gained throughout the courses have given me the necessary skills I use everyday in my professional life. I would recommend this program to anyone, because it truly encompasses all aspects of business. I am thrilled with the success that this program has had and will continue to have. GO IB!

Name: Saxsen Norton
Title: Account Manager
Company: Tews Company

Bachelor’s Degree: Public Affairs and Commerce
MSM-IB Class 2019-2020

Jessica Gelband: “There were so many beneficial things I learned during the MSM Integrated Business program, but the most was learning how to work in a team effectively. Group work and teamwork are rarely easy, so learning how to navigate certain obstacles, such as avoiding group thinking and social loafing, giving constructive feedback, motivating group members, and using effective communication techniques, was beneficial.”

Name: Jessica Gelband
Title: Medical Education Program Coordinator
Company: Ogilvy Health
Bachelor’s Degree: Psychology
MSM-IB Class 2019-2020

Nalini Harripersad: “The IB MSM allowed me to polish my soft skills, specifically communication, teamwork, networking, and consistency. It equipped me with the technical and practical knowledge required to succeed in any business environment.”

Name: Nalini Harripersad
Title: Consulting Analyst
Company: Deloitte
Bachelor’s Degree: Sport and Exercise Science-Human Performance
MSM-IB Class 2019-2020