Sophia Jackson, MSM’25, knows the value of a powerful combination. As an undergraduate psychology major at Indiana University, she was intrigued by human behavior, emotional intelligence, and psychology of the workplace. As Sophia neared graduation, she made a strategic, career-boosting move—she added the MS in Management from the top-ranked Kelley School of Business. Watch Sophia set up her story, then read about her dynamic career launch—and discover the momentum you can gain with a Kelley specialized master’s degree.
With an interest in human resources careers, Sophia leveraged the top-ranked Kelley School
“The MSM gave me a strong foundation to pursue a career in HR while exposing me to other areas of business. Courses like Staffing Systems, HR Management, Organizational Behavior, and Foundations of a Leader sharpened skills I now use every day, while my undergraduate degree in psychology gave me a lens of emotional intelligence.”
Sophia’s passion for human resources management finds its fit
“As HR coordinator at Airline Tariff Publishing Company (ATPCO), I work on the Total Rewards team within the People & Culture division. What excites me most is the opportunity to lead meaningful projects that directly impact our employees’ experience. For example, I developed a new Employee Value Proposition (EVP) that highlights both our culture and benefits on our corporate website. I launched a monthly wellness calendar in partnership with our Employee Assistance Program (EAP) provider, designed to support employees’ financial, physical, and emotional well-being inside and outside of work. Currently, I’m collaborating with our enterprise systems team to build a Total Rewards chatbot that will allow employees to get answers to their questions quickly and efficiently. With open enrollment approaching, this project is especially important—it will help ensure employees feel supported and informed while also easing the workload for our team. Overall, I love that my role allows me to combine strategy and creativity to enhance the employee experience and strengthen our culture.”
More than an HR specialist degree, the Kelley MSM offers business depth and breadth
“Through Kelley’s Center for the Business of Life Sciences and the MSM, I collaborated with peers who brought finance expertise and prior career experience at amazing companies, and like-minded peers pursuing careers in the medical field. Coming into a big business school without a business background, I thought coursework would be the most important. I quickly realized it was the relationships—with my peers, professors, and cohort—that truly shaped my experience.”
Preparation for real-world HR management careers
“The MSM program equipped me with hard and soft skills that I rely on daily. On the technical side, exposure to areas like coding, accounting, and data analysis gave me confidence in understanding the broader business context of my work. Equally important were the soft skills: communication, problem-solving, teamwork, and perseverance—especially valuable in HR, where building relationships, navigating challenges, and adapting to new situations are key.”
In HR hiring circles, Sophia’s array of credentials stands out
“The Kelley reputation carries weight—it resonated with my hiring manager and added credibility. They immediately recognized the value of the MSM program and the quality of my resume, which had been shaped and strengthened during my time at Kelley (shout out to career coach Birgit!). Between the reputation of the Kelley School and the skills I gained, I felt set up for success both technically and professionally.”
Interested in an HR graduate program? Unlock HR management careers—and more.
“I knew I wanted to pursue HR, and the MSM program allowed me to do that while still giving me exposure to other business areas. The program gave me business knowledge and a unique professional edge as I entered the workforce.”
Like Sophia, you can begin your career ready to lead with the Kelley MSM. Request more info and we’ll be in touch, or reach out to us at ksbgrad@iu.edu with your questions. We’re eager to discuss how the Kelley MSM can equip you to achieve your career goals.
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