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Grayson Stepanek had his sights set on astronomy when he enrolled at the ��˾�������� as a math major. But the stars aligned to take him in a whole new direction.  

He’d always loved math, but as the curriculum advanced from calculations and analytics to theory, he realized that it wasn’t his passion. Meanwhile, he was completing his first course in marketing fundamentals and testing the waters of graphic design with a clothing line concept.

“I thought, ‘there’s something here with marketing,’ so I made the switch,” he says. “It was an intuitive but strategic choice.”  

Marketing soon shaped how he engaged with student organizations and presented himself both online and in-person.  

“Everybody has a personal brand; it’s your reputation. Whether you’re intentionally building it or not, you have it. Everyone has to market themselves at some point to get to where they want to go,” he says.  

“That’s why being a marketing practitioner – someone who does it as a career – is so beneficial. You're better able to understand how to market yourself in this noisy, chaotic world to move yourself forward.”

That ethos has served him well. Today, Stepanek holds an MBA degree, serves as director of marketing and communications for Goodwill Acadiana, and has earned recognition as a 20 under 40 honoree, a Leadership ��˾�������� Class of XXXVIII alum, and president of the705.  

Why Marketing

Stepanek’s role with Goodwill Acadiana, like many marketers, is multifaceted and multidisciplinary.  

He plans and executes campaigns that include social media, digital advertising, and physical signage, while also serving as the public face of the organization through news interviews, community appearances, and relationship building.

“Everything I do is to spread our message and mission so we can increase donations to further our impact,” he says.

The UL ��˾�������� B.S.B.A. in Marketing degree program, offered online and on campus, is designed to prepare students to make that impact, regardless of industry.  

“Marketing answers the question: Why does one firm outperform another?,” says Dr. Michael Levin, marketing department head and professor. “Every firm, for-profit or nonprofit, exists to compete in the marketplace, and marketing is central to that process of competition.”

Courses in business fundamentals, analytics, and writing help students build the skills needed to tell an organization’s story and advance business goals.  

“I think of marketing as a way of sharing information. Serving that role in the community is an exciting opportunity,” Stepanek says. 

He had no exposure to the field until taking MKTG 345: Principles of Marketing with instructor Stacey Bergeron, a class that continues to energize him today.  

"Marketing is a proactive, creative business function. You create your content, messaging,  and campaigns, then iterate based on how that performs, and you aim to make something better,” he says. “The creative aspect of coming up with something in your head and turning it into something real — I’ll never get over that feeling.”

Turn your dream of a marketing career into a reality through the ��˾��������’s bachelor’s in marketing online. Request information today!