Jared Threat, PMBA ’17

Jared Threat, PMBA ’17.

A love of challenges drove Jared Threat, PMBA ’17, to enroll in the UB School of Management’s Professional MBA (PMBA) program — a decision that pushed his boundaries and changed his life forever.

Born and raised in Buffalo, Threat was the first person in his family to graduate from a four-year college. But even after achieving this milestone, he was still looking for more. This led him to the PMBA program, which allowed him to gain work experience while earning his master’s.

Threat said that when he first began the program, his biggest concern was balancing schoolwork with rest of his life.

“Time commitment was one of my biggest struggles,” said Threat. “Thirty-three months is a long time and I was worried about life getting in the way.”

But he made the most of it by treating every interaction as a networking opportunity. He actively participated in every class and took advantage of UB-sponsored networking events and MBA happy hours.

After graduation, Threat was inspired to explore a new industry — marketing.

“The PMBA program gave me confidence,” he said. “I loved working in banking, but I wanted to see how my strengths could translate in a different field.”

Today, Threat works for Mr. Smith Agency, a marketing firm that offers a range of services, including advertising, marketing and creative design. There, he creates marketing strategies for many different business clients.

Threat says the skills that he learned in the program help him be more proactive in strategy meetings and when confronted with challenges.

“The most important thing I learned was to efficiently pivot and adapt to change,” he says. “In the advertising industry, things can change without warning, so I always prepare the necessary work to stay ahead of the curve.”

Looking ahead, Threat plans to stay in Buffalo and continue his work with Mr. Smith Agency. He says a love for his hometown is pushing him to help grow talent and small business in the area.

“There isn’t a set blueprint for life,” he says. “If you are waiting for the ‘right time’ to do something, you’re going to wait your whole life. Make a goal for yourself and stick to it.”

Experience it for Yourself

Attend an information session or visit a class to get an inside look at the Professional MBA classroom experience.