The Department of Marketing at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Haslam College of Business welcomed Neil Hoyne, chief strategist at Google, for the latest installment of its Master of Science in Marketing Distinguished Speaker Series. Haslam MS in Marketing students, along with faculty and staff members, gathered in the West Wing of the Haslam Business Building for the event on February 29.
Hoyne is the best-selling author of “Converted: The Data-Driven Way to Win Customers’ Hearts.” The students read a portion of the book prior to the event.
Initially planned as a one-hour interactive discussion with students, the evening evolved into over two hours of candid conversation about a range of topics, including marketing, data, artificial intelligence and careers. Hoyne spoke at length about his education, career path and current role at Google, and provided detailed and thoughtful replies to student questions. At the end of the event, students had the opportunity to introduce themselves to Hoyne and speak with him one-on-one.
“Neil was incredible,” said MS in Marketing student Emmanuel Blackson. “I am immensely grateful for the opportunity to learn from someone of his caliber and industry experience. I really appreciated his talent for storytelling. His guidance serves as both an inspiration and a roadmap for success.”
“Figure out Your Own Tournament”
Hoyne shared his experience of being in the UCLA MBA program during the 2008 financial crisis. He applied for many jobs but received rejection after rejection until he was hired at a small Silicon Valley startup. Despite entering grad school with a specific career path in mind, he was thankful for an opportunity focused on creating value for a company more than sticking to a rigid job description.
In terms of setting career goals, Hoyne compared the corporate environment to a tournament in which not everyone needs to have the same aims. “Figure out your own tournament,” he said, urging students not to compromise on what matters most to them. In Hoyne’s case, he prioritzes opportunities that support him in spending time with his young children.
Hoyne offered insights rooted in his wealth of marketing knowledge and practical experience. He emphasized the importance of using data when making decisions and explained that his current role has led him to deeply appreciate storytelling. He advised students to practice presentations and storytelling in a risk-free environment so they can hone their skills and become more confident professionals.
Christine White, director of partnerships and growth initiatives for the Department of Marketing, said, “All who attended deeply appreciated the generous gift of Neil’s time and travels to participate in the MS in Marketing Distinguished Speaker Series. We each left the event with new perspectives and palpable excitement about the future. We are grateful to Neil for his passion, honesty and kindness and look forward to welcoming him back to Rocky Top soon.”
–
CONTACT:
Stacy Estep, writer/publicist, sestep3@utk.edu
