Amazon Program Manager Kelly Rucci named to Poets & Quants’ 2025 “Best & Brightest”

The Raymond A. Mason School of Business is proud to celebrate Online MBA student Kelly Rucci MBA ‘25, who was recently named to Poets & Quants’ 2025 list of the Best & Brightest Online MBA Students. In addition to national recognition for her academic and leadership accomplishments, Kelly was selected as the Mason School’s 2025 Trustee Award recipient—an honor given each year to the graduating student in each online program who exemplifies outstanding academic achievement.

A native of Midlothian, Virginia, Kelly is a Corporate HR Program Manager at Amazon. There, she leads high-impact initiatives such as the company’s North American Driver Appreciation Week—an effort that included a national ad campaign aired during Thursday Night Football and a special message from former NFL player Andrew Whitworth. “It was incredibly rewarding to spotlight our driver partners’ work on a large stage,” she shared.

Kelly earned her bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and Management from Virginia Commonwealth University and enrolled in William & Mary’s Online MBA program with a deep personal connection to the school. “W&M has held a special place in my heart since childhood,” she said. “Some of my fondest memories include sharing cookies at the bookstore with my grandfather and watching fireworks from the steps of the W&M law school with my family. Years later, I’ve come full circle and have graduated with my MBA.”

The flexibility of the asynchronous online format proved essential in helping Kelly balance her many roles: “I am a strategic leader, soon-to-be boy mom, loving wife, and cat mom balancing my ambition with heart and home.” While in the program, she transitioned to a new team within Amazon to lead executive-level projects—an opportunity she partially attributes to the communication and leadership skills honed in the Online MBA.

Reflecting on the experience, she said, “The program really focused on both verbal and written communication, especially through papers and coordinating projects with peers. That’s been directly applicable in my job.”

Kelly’s long-term goal is to continue growing as a leader in human resources. “Whether continuing at Amazon or not, I want to be in a people management role at a company that values innovation and growth,” she said. “My goal is to work somewhere that challenges me to think creatively and build solutions that shape the organization's future and its people.”

The Mason School congratulates Kelly on these significant achievements and is proud to count her among its very talented Online MBA graduates.