Antra Boyd sums it up like this: “If you can see the vision, make a plan.”
Definitely not short on vision, Boyd, a student in Kelley’s Master of Science in Accounting (MSA) program, has been working her plan since setting out in 2008 to graduate in just three years from Kentucky State University. In 2011, with a bachelor’s degree in business (specializing in accounting) and a minor in management, Boyd began looking for a job in the Midwest.
“All through college, I kept hearing that a degree is just one piece of the puzzle, so I knew I wanted to gain work experience while pursuing my master’s degree,” explains Boyd, adding that enrolling in graduate school was always a part of her long-term plan. “Four months after graduation, I was offered a position with Salesforce Marketing Cloud (formerly Exact Target) in Indianapolis, and I began researching graduate accounting programs.”
“I looked at other options, but Kelley just stood out for me,” says Boyd, who is now a global e-processing specialist in Salesforce Marketing Cloud’s accounting organization. “I grew up in Indianapolis, so I was aware of Kelley’s reputation. And my job is just five minutes from campus, so it all came together and made sense for me.”
Scheduled to graduate in December 2015, Boyd appreciates the relevancy and usefulness of the MSA courses she has completed so far.
“You want information that will be useful day to day,” Boyd says, recalling a particular moment in a state and local taxation class that reinforced the practicality and value of the MSA program. “We were doing the same type of tax review and analysis at my company that we were doing in class, so I was able to go to work the next day and literally apply what I learned.”
Boyd also likes that the MSA classes are small, allowing for a more personal experience and an environment conducive to interaction with both faculty members and fellow students. And while Boyd admits juggling the demands of a full-time job and graduate school can be challenging, the benefits she has received from the program are worth the effort.
“This is something I truly want, and when you’re determined, you make a way,” says Boyd. “I’m amazed at how fast the time has gone and that I’ll be able to complete this program in a relatively short period. Everything has gone the way I planned it, and I’m very happy.”
As for the future, Boyd says she wants to pursue management positions in corporate accounting and eventually own her own business. She’d also like to teach at the college level one day – helping to train and educate the next generation of accounting professionals.
“If you take a leap of faith and just go out there, you’ll be surprised at what you can accomplish.”