Insights on the Kilts Fellowship with Emma Winburne

About Emma and her journey to Chicago Booth…

After graduating from Vanderbilt University in 2019, Emma wasn’t exactly sure what she wanted to do with her life, but she knew New York City was the perfect place to figure it out. She began her career as a media buyer at Dentsu, before transitioning to Endeavor to work at their sports marketing agency, 160over90. As a member of the partnerships team, Emma managed her client’s relationships with both collegiate and professional sports organizations, which meant negotiating contracts and integrating her client’s marketing campaigns into sports-related activations. Through her work with a variety of different teams within the marketing funnel (such as influencer, PR, and event production), Emma developed a well-rounded skill set in brand and campaign management. She loved the energy of game days and the fast-paced nature of the work. As she grew in her role, however, she realized she wanted to explore more of the strategic direction behind the campaigns, negotiations, and business decisions she was working on. This realization led Emma to pursue her MBA – and she couldn’t be more excited to now be a part of the Chicago Booth community.

What are some key benefits you’ve gained from the Kilts Fellowship?

One of the most important benefits I’ve received from being a Kilts Fellow is the community of like-minded individuals who feel passionate about the same things that I do. The Kilts Center hosted a meet-and-greet for us very early into our time at Booth, and I felt immediately welcomed by all of my peers in this space. Not only have they all done incredible work in their careers before Booth, but they all have unique and exciting aspirations for their future careers as well. This community has been a huge form of support throughout my time at Booth, and I certainly could not have gotten through recruiting without having them as a resource.

Tell us more about the mentorship component of the Kilts Fellowship and how it has been of value to you.

I think of the mentorship component in two different ways. First, the second-year Kilts Fellows were extremely kind and helpful throughout my first year. Through both formal and informal channels, they read resumes, conducted mock interviews, and provided a useful perspective on the recruiting processes based on their experiences. They were some of my biggest cheerleaders throughout everything, and they truly embodied the “pay-it-forward” culture at Booth. Second, I have also had a chance to meet fantastic alumni through Kilts who have been very supportive of my career journey. It’s been incredible to have alumni who truly understand and appreciate the value of the Kilts Fellowship, and who want to see you succeed. They have provided advice and thoughtful perspectives that have truly shaped how I am thinking about the next 5-10 years of my career.

What quick piece of advice would you give to someone interested in marketing, tech, product management, or another marketing-related role who is considering Chicago Booth?

Chicago Booth will provide you with a very unique skill set, especially in the marketing field. Booth’s quant-based and results-focused curriculum will allow you to stand out in the marketing space, as it will train your analytical mindset to think about the problems you are facing as a marketer/product manager/brand manager/etc. For me, Booth has provided the perfect blend of the soft skills necessary for my future career, with the hard skills that truly allow me to have a holistic business education. That being said, I’d also say not to be intimidated by the finance/economics courses that Booth is renowned for – this is a space where you should feel comfortable learning and challenging yourself!

Fun Facts about Emma: 

• Emma’s love of sports started early – the first book report she ever wrote was about an autobiography of Peyton Manning.
• Through her work with the Army-Navy Game, she met Rob Gronkowski – she’s never been a Patriots fan, but would still consider it to be a very cool experience!
• Emma has never read or watched Harry Potter.