<p>Isa Gutierrez applied to the <a href="https://www.sps.nyu.edu/content/sps-nyu/explore/degrees-and-programs/executive-masters-in-marketing-and-strategic-communications.html">Executive Master’s in Marketing and Strategic Communications</a> program at NYU SPS three months after giving birth to her daughter. A year later, that leap has transformed her life.</p> <p>“I didn’t expect to be getting my master’s degree,” says Gutierrez, “but I had just become a mom, and something about that gave me the confidence to go for it. I wanted to keep learning, for myself and my career. And this program turned out to be exactly what I needed.”</p> <p>Gutierrez has more than a decade of experience as a broadcast journalist, with a career that started behind the scenes at NBC News and eventually led her on-camera as a national correspondent. From reporting through the pandemic to covering major elections and social issues, Gutierrez has seen it all.</p> <p>“I loved storytelling, but I reached a point where I was burnt out,” she says. “I was newly married, having a baby, and I wanted something that aligned better with this new chapter of my life.”</p> <p>Strategic communications seemed like a natural transition; Gutierrez wanted to shift from reporting the narrative to shaping it. “I had no idea how much [the Executive Master’s program] would change my life,” she says.</p>

<p>One of the program’s biggest strengths, Gutierrez says, is the people, both in the classroom and at the front of it.</p> <p>Curriculum explores the tools and trends transforming the field today, from the rise of AI to the ethics of corporate reputation. “We’re not learning from outdated case studies,” she shares. “We’re talking about what happened this week in the news and how it affects our roles as communicators.”</p> <p>“My cohort is incredible,” Gutierrez adds. “We come from so many industries: tech, nonprofit, fashion, and media. The perspectives we bring to class are so rich.”</p>

<p>Beyond skills in media strategy, analytics, and martech, Gutierrez credits the program with rebuilding her confidence and helping her feel prepared to speak up in strategic conversations and leadership discussions. Gutierrez attributes this shift to the stories and strategies shared by instructors and guest speakers adept at navigating the complexities of brand leadership at the highest levels.</p> <p><i>Managing Corporate Reputation and Thought Leadership in a Digital World</i>, taught by Kathryn Metcalfe, made a particular impact on Gutierrez. Metcalfe, an instructor and seasoned chief communications officer who also started her career in journalism, gave her a new sense of direction and illuminated how Gutierrez’s storytelling skills could be leveraged in a new context.</p> <p>Metcalfe’s class helped her picture what the next phase of her career could look like. It showed her that she didn’t have to start over, and that she could build on what she already had. Gutierrez then landed a part-time advisory role at a strategic communications firm in New York City. The role allows her to work with tech and healthcare clients on executive messaging and brand storytelling, while still having time at home with her daughter. It’s a setup that gives her both purpose and flexibility, something she hadn’t experienced in her previous career.</p> <p>Gutierrez values the way the Executive Master’s program meets students exactly where they are–whether they’re pivoting, changing careers, or simply trying to rediscover their confidence. With a renewed sense of purpose and the strong support system the program has fostered, she’s excited for what comes next!</p>