Career Acceleration Modules give students a powerful edge

Students apply real-world learning across marketing, finance, analytics, and supply chain.

This fall, MBA students at the Raymond A. Mason School of Business immersed themselves in a series of Career Acceleration Modules (CAMs) that pushed them beyond classroom learning and into the realities of professional practice. Through intensive, hands-on projects with industry partners, students in Marketing, Corporate Finance, and Business Analytics and Supply Chain gained a deeper understanding of how businesses operate and how leaders solve complex challenges.

Although each CAM offered a distinct experience, the Marketing CAM’s partnership with Colonial Williamsburg was particularly resonant because it allowed students to support a foundation that shapes daily life in Williamsburg and lies right across the street from the university.

Marketing CAM: Real Clients, Real Impact

Led by Professor Kurt Carlson, the Marketing CAM centered on an in-depth engagement with Colonial Williamsburg. Students were divided into three teams focused on Brand, Visitor Experience, and Donor Journeys. Each team worked closely with leadership from the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, conducting research, gathering visitor insights, and preparing recommendations designed to strengthen one of the region’s most iconic and well-visited foundations.

Professor Carlson explains that the intensity of CAMs is what makes them so transformative. “By tackling real business challenges for real companies, students move beyond theory into action. They learn to navigate ambiguity, collaborate under pressure, and deliver solutions that matter,” he said. “This immersive approach accelerates their professional readiness and builds confidence and adaptability. These are skills that will serve them for a lifetime.”

Throughout the module, the students also partnered with peers in the Business Analytics CAM during sessions on corporate affairs and professional selling. This shared experience, Carlson noted, reflected the collaborative spirit that defines the CAM structure and helped students from various cohorts broaden their perspectives.

The module culminated in a 90-minute presentation to the leadership of Colonial Williamsburg, including CEO Cliff Fleet. Carlson said the team’s performance exceeded all expectations. “The students delivered strategic insights with such clarity and conviction that Fleet told them afterward, ‘You blew me away.’ It was a powerful moment that reflected not only their preparation but the growth they experienced throughout the course.”

Student Insights

Students described the experience as both challenging and energizing, but also deeply rewarding.

Jennifer Rykaczewski, MBA '26 who emerged as one of the Marketing CAM’s most fearless team leaders, noted the value of applying learning directly to the complex realities of the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation.

“This experience was outstanding. I was honestly sad when the class ended because I enjoyed both the content and the course structure,” she said. “Professor Carlson set up a structure where teams tackled different parts of a large problem while still being accountable for understanding the big picture. It is a useful model for any multifaceted project.”

She also emphasized how interconnected systems can complicate straightforward solutions. “Within CWF, everything is interdependent. It is very difficult to change one aspect of the organization without creating issues in another. That reality challenged us to think more holistically.”

If she had to summarize the impact, she put it simply: “We did not know what to expect at the beginning, but we were consistently engaged, challenged, and never disappointed.”

Ryan Feczko, MBA '26 recognized for his analytical strength and ability to synthesize insights, found the behind-the-scenes access especially eye-opening.

“My biggest surprise was the willingness of everyone associated with Colonial Williamsburg to let us see into the organization. Viewing it from the Foundation’s perspective made my appreciation for the site grow significantly,” he said.

Ryan’s team focused on identifying visitor pain points. The findings surprised him. “We expected visitors to offer a long list of changes, but most responses said ‘Nothing’ or ‘Everything is great.’ It forced us to get more creative in our conclusions, and it ended up going extremely well.”

For Ryan, the project offered meaningful preparation for high-stakes communication. “This project helped me polish my presentation skills in front of executives and gave me the confidence to deliver a welcome or introduction without anything to lean on. The real-world application and confidence it gave me going forward cannot be overstated.”

Corporate Finance CAM: Immersion with industry leaders

Professor Lou Rossiter’s Corporate Finance CAM blended rigorous academic preparation with firsthand exposure to top financial organizations. Over the course of seven weeks, students completed Harvard case studies. They engaged with accomplished guest speakers in class, including Dan Draper, President and CEO of Standard & Poor Indices, this year’s McGlothlin Lecturer.

The CAM culminated in two days of site visits across McLean and Washington, D.C., arranged with the support of alumni and industry partners. Students met with leaders at Freddie Mac, toured the trading floor for mortgage-backed derivatives, and connected with consultants at Analysis Group at the William & Mary Washington Center. President Katherine Rowe stopped by briefly during one of the sessions, offering encouragement and taking a photo with the group.

Earlier in the module, students traveled to Richmond to meet with Stephen Ridge, Chief Financial Officer at Dominion Energy, and participated in additional discussions with leaders at New Richmond Ventures and the VCU College of Health Professions.

The Corporate Finance CAM provided an in-depth view into how financial decisions shape organizations at every level, illustrating the broad range of career paths available in the field.

Business Analytics and Supply Chain CAM: Operations in the real world

Professor Matt Dean led the Business Analytics and Supply Chain CAM, which took students inside major logistics, operations, and manufacturing environments across Virginia. Through visits to Estes Express Lines, the Port of Virginia, Smithfield Foods, Walmart’s Import Distribution Center, and local producers such as the Virginia Beer Company and Anheuser-Busch, students observed how data, technology, and operational strategy converge in real-time.

This CAM enabled students to observe complex supply chain systems, analyze operational challenges, and meet leaders who applied analytics to drive efficiency and innovation.

A semester of growth and professional readiness

Across all three CAMs, students left the experience with sharper skills, deeper industry insight, and greater confidence in their ability to contribute meaningfully in professional settings. For Professor Carlson, that is the true power of the CAM structure.

“Students experience the intensity of modern business in a way that lectures alone cannot replicate,” he said. “They emerge more capable, more adaptable, and more ready for the careers ahead of them.”