Center for Customer Insight & Marketing Solutions

CCIMS facilitates interaction between industry, students, and marketing faculty to enhance classroom experiences; enable real world problem solving; and facilitate faculty research opportunities. As a result, marketing students will be prepared to exceed industry expectations upon graduation; companies will have access to fresh ideas through faculty, student, and peer company interaction; Marketing will be a leading program at McCombs; and our faculty research will be informed by industry’s pressing challenges.

McCombs Marketing Conference and Challenge 2017

Marketing in the Age of Controversy

Business, political and social issues have become increasingly intertwined in everyday conversation, creating a highly charged environment that companies must manage to remain successful. As consumers publicize their personal beliefs and take a stance on controversial subjects, they are increasingly looking to companies to follow suit. In this era of social media virality and political polarization, with vocal consumers eager to jump on the next controversy, how do companies make strategic business decisions and market effectively?

The 2017 McCombs Marketing Conference explored this subject in depth in the quest to discover the critical skills for “Marketing in the Age of Controversy,” a mindset needed to unlock growth in today's business and political environment.

This year’s annual event welcomed back distinguished McCombs alumni who are now leading marketers in their industries. Together with other industry leaders, students, and faculty, the conference helps recognize, examine, and stimulate innovation in the field of marketing. Read a write-up of the 2016 conference on Forbes.com.

McCombs Marketing Labs Program

One-year MBA program packed with valuable knowledge and skill-building opportunities

• Own a marketing role while earning course credit
• Obtain experiential learning in a real-life ongoing role
• Gain exposure to executive leadership
• Receive mentorship from a dedicated industry coach

Key Elements of Marketing Labs

• Students are provided a company orientation and given full access to data/materials
• Success criteria includes hard business results
• Students are compensated for spring and fall semesters at rate comparable to minimum wage
• Summer internship guaranteed at sponsoring company
• Executive coaching provided to students
• Earn six credit hours
• All 1st year MBA students are eligible to apply

To learn more or apply see the Marketing Labs website.