From Coffee to Kicks: Fall 2025 OCS Treks with Keurig Dr Pepper and New Balance

The Isenberg School of Management Office of Career Success (OCS) brought 60 students this fall to the headquarters of New Balance in Boston and Keurig Dr Pepper in Burlington, Mass. The two “career treks”—visits driven by alumni engagement and OCS company partners—were designed to help students explore career paths across different industries and better understand how their degree can translate into real-world experience. At each location, students met with Isenberg alumni who now work for the companies.

New Balance Career Trek

In Boston, students enjoyed exclusive visits to the Bruins’ Warrior Ice Arena (the official National Hockey League practice facility), the Celtics’ Auerbach Center (the National Basketball Association team’s training hub), and the New Balance Track & Sports Research Lab.

Taylor West, a junior marketing major, described how the trip broadened her perspective on the many ways she can apply her degree in the future.

“Through this experience, I gained a deeper appreciation for the drive and passion that motivates New Balance employees to push for excellence continually,” West said. “It was inspiring to see how alumni leveraged their time at Isenberg to build meaningful and successful careers within the company. This trek also reinforced the importance of building strong relationships, staying adaptable, and being open to exploring different roles as you work toward finding the right career path.”

Alumni panelists reflected on their journeys from being UMass Amherst students to working at New Balance. They included Nicole Shahid ’21, global associate product manager; Jack Mullin ’18, strategy analyst; Ethan Steiner BS’17 MS’19, innovation concept manager; and Danielle Nault ’18, commercial planning manager. They highlighted the value of internship opportunities and exploring different areas of the industry. Alumni also provided advice, such as taking advantage of joining Isenberg student clubs and accepting opportunities and entry-level roles—even if they aren’t what was expected. Consumer trends—including predicting style trends and tariff impact on supply chain production—were also discussed.

Keurig Dr Pepper Career Trek

Supply Chain Analyst Michael DelSapio ’16 offered a group of 20 Isenberg students an insider experience at Keurig Dr Pepper. Students heard from the supply chain and logistics department to better understand the department’s role in the company’s overall mission. They also toured the company’s research and development spaces for a firsthand look at product testing and quality control.  

Chirag Khattar, a senior marketing student, described his experience as eye-opening.

“As a coffee lover who starts every morning with my Keurig, seeing the rigorous testing, packaging checks, and even how shelf life and prototypes are evaluated, gave me a whole new appreciation for what goes into every K-Cup,” he said. “Hearing employees share their experiences was especially valuable for someone hoping to break into the industry.”

Alumni who work for Keurig Dr Pepper shared sourcing processes, sustainable supplier relationships, and ethical ingredient sourcing. DelSapio emphasized the value he received in Operations and Information Management (OIM) courses taught by OIM Professor Nora Junaid.

Associate Director of Outreach & Employer Relations Lea Herrick emphasized the influence of treks on a student’s career aspirations.

“I’ve truly enjoyed witnessing the excitement from students as we’ve expanded the number of career treks offered through the Office of Career Success,” she said. “These visits not only provide exclusive access to exceptional companies, but they also give students a unique opportunity to explore an entire organization and discover roles they may not have known existed.

“After one trek, a student shared that they had originally chosen their major somewhat randomly, but the experience opened their eyes to a new career path and inspired them to change their major,” Herrick added. “Moments like that, and the long-term impact these treks can have, make all the planning worthwhile.”

OCS offers students the chance to hear from industry professionals about the diverse careers they can pursue with an Isenberg degree. Learn more about how Isenberg sets students up for career success.