Young alums thankful
for Ole Miss experiences
The mission of the UM School of Business Administration is to create a learning environment where students can achieve excellence and prepare to meet the complex challenges of the global marketplace. Even though alumni may choose different paths, they all arrive at their varied careers by way of the same learning environment. Two examples of this are graduates Parul Bajaj and Walker Jones.
Parul Bajaj, BBA 2005, MBA 2007
QUOTE TO LIVE BY: “One of the things I keep learning is that the secret of being happy is doing things for other people.” - Dick Gregory
Parul Bajaj is not one to spend much time sitting down.
A native of Clinton, Miss., Bajaj (BBA 05, MBA 07) works as a project advisor for FedEx in Collierville, Tenn., managing strategic projects.
Her time at Ole Miss was wonderful but jam packed. While at the university, she was actively involved on the board of directors for the Student Programming Board, served on the Judicial Council and was a Sally McDonnell Barksdale Honors College scholar. Bajaj graduated magna cum laude, was inducted into Who’s Who Among American Colleges and Universities and was a member of Golden Key.
She said both her undergraduate and M.B.A. degrees have helped in her short time in the workplace.
“My experiences and education at the university have been an invaluable asset in helping me carve out the career path I had imagined for myself,” Bajaj said. “I was able to leverage my curriculum of business classes and foreign language in order to obtain a career at a company with unparalleled international focus and recognition.”
Bajaj also had high praise for the Speaker’s Edge program, which shows business students the secrets of high-impact public speaking. Through the program, the students identify the strengths and weaknesses of their personal speaking style and adapt their messages to different audiences and situations.
“My experiences through campus involvement helped me develop the interpersonal skills necessary to collaborate across the various work streams here at FedEx,” she said. “I learned how to work with other people and get along, and that goes a long way.”
Giving back to the community is an important part of her life. She is a member of the Junior League of Memphis, is a volunteer for Make a Wish and is active in the United Way of the Mid-South.
“I have different quotes all over my desk and my door. One of my favorites is ‘To whom much is given, much is expected.’ Knowing I am blessed makes me want to volunteer,” Bajaj said.
Walker Jones, BBA 98
QUOTE TO LIVE BY: “Every day is kickoff and you’d better wake up running.”
As a former football player with a business degree, Walker Jones found an ideal job.
Jones (BBA 98) is director of marketing for Under Armour, the athletic apparel company. He has been employed at Under Armour’s headquarters in Baltimore for two years, managing all current high school and collegiate partnerships such as Auburn University, University of South Carolina, Texas Tech University and University of Maryland, as well as evaluating and recruiting new businesses.
While at Ole Miss, Jones was linebacker and captain for the Rebel football team. He won an SEC post-graduate scholarship award and was named Academic All-SEC four years in a row. After graduation he worked as financial analyst for Morgan Keegan in Jackson, then returned to Oxford as a member of the Ole Miss football coaching staff and as executive director of Rebel Sports Marketing.
He appreciates his time at the UM School of Business, which gave him early exposure to the corporate world.
“The Ole Miss experience was great because it teaches you about different areas in the current business climate. You find where you fit in and where your strengths can be utilized,” Jones said. “The exposure to all aspects of the business world helps you hone in on your interests, and you find where to best succeed based on your talent.”
Although Jones graduated more than a decade ago, he remembers the professors and faculty who took a sincere approach to each student.
“They have a genuine interest in all students they teach. They helped me find my niche and find my path,” Jones said. “There are so many different areas of business accounting, statistics, marketing, management, and so many ways to go. I had professors who recognized my interests and talents and got me in the right curriculum to help me succeed and get me where I am today.” Jones said he tries to get back to Oxford at least twice a year.
“I lived there for seven years and still have friends there,” he said. “We like Baltimore, but it’s not Oxford.”
