Samantha Stoddart (IMC22)

Marketing Manager at Carelon

What are your main responsibilities in your current role?

I’d be remiss if I didn’t acknowledge the people who helped me get to where I am. Professors at Medill, sponsors during Immersion Quarter, students in the program, and friends and family. I went into the program relatively clear on what I wanted to do after, but I didn’t expect to have the exposure and career experiences I’ve had. When I started at my company, I served as a Digital Strategist and transitioned into a role on our Brand Growth Team, more recently moving over to the Product side of the business. It's been an incredible journey filled with a lot of learning opportunities, and I’m extremely grateful to everyone at IMC who supported me along the way.

What are your main responsibilities in your current role?

I partner closely with Brand, Sales, and Product Development to help drive consistency in product messaging and develop centralized business strategies. I also support our business directors develop go-to-market strategies and value narratives.

How did the Medill Integrated Marketing Communications Full Time program prepare you for your career?

Many of the courses in the IMCFT program prepared me for my career. Financial accounting has given me an edge in conversations about budgeting. Consumer insights taught me to think about how our products can solve the consumer’s problem, not just what our product does. Brand management showed me how to position a brand, and bring people along to see its growth potential. The IMCFT courses really do provide fundamental skills that support our full-time careers.

What did you do during Immersion Quarter?

During IQ, I worked for Anthem BlueCross BlueShield, developing a marketing communications plan for the company’s name change from Anthem to Elevance Health.

What is a class or experience that stick out in your mind and why?

Brand Management with Ryan Reis. I remember signing up for the course and hoping it would solidify my career path since Marketing/Brand Management was my area of focus. I’m happy to say it did not disappoint! I was so passionate about the curriculum and learned a lot in those 10 weeks. It was so rewarding to get to the end of my time in the program and feel confident I was pursuing the right career.

How can your industry be more inclusive and representative of society?

In my experience, it’s very rare to see younger individuals in the healthcare space. Most of my coworkers have been with Elevance Health for decades, or more. I’d love to see a push to engage new graduates and show them the opportunities that exist in the industry. With everyone transitioning to AI and technology-based systems, I think there will be a lot of potential in the future. 

What other types of master’s programs did you consider? 

The only other program I considered was an MBA from Kellogg. Ultimately, I knew I wanted to work in Marketing, and this program had everything I could have hoped for.

What advice would you give to someone considering the Medill Integrated Marketing Communications Full Time program?

Short answer – do it! IMCFT’s curriculum is the perfect combination of hard and soft skills and gives you plenty of opportunities to learn what you’re passionate about. Talk to your professors. Take the classes you’re most afraid of (shoutout to Financial Accounting.) And never stop learning. It will be well worth it!