Student Spotlight: Jenna Griffiths
The Warrington College of Business is full of standout students. No matter their program or major, students are using their time on campus to prepare for impactful careers. This series features exceptional students from across Warrington.
Jenna came to the Master of International Business (MIB) program from the Heavener School of Business as a marketing major in January 2019. Learn more about what makes Jenna a standout student from the Warrington College of Business.
Q: Tell us about yourself.
Griffiths: “My name is Jenna Griffiths. I was born and raised in Miami, Florida, but my family is from the Bahamas, the U.S., England and China. I chose UF because I have been a Gator fan for as long as I can remember. There’s even a picture of me as a baby laying on a Gator blanket. The first time I ever visited UF, I was about eight or nine years old and after that visit, I told my dad that I was going to go to school here. I was already a Gator fan and then when I saw the school in person and the stadium, I fell in love right away. I liked the idea of staying in the state because of in-state tuition, and I also wanted to go to a big university with a good football program. It helps that we are now the #7 public school in the nation! My undergraduate major was marketing because I loved the field of business, but I still wanted a creative outlet. I just graduated with my bachelor’s in December.”
Q: Why did you choose the MIB program?
Griffiths: “I chose the MIB Program because I have family from all around the world, so I wanted a degree that would work wherever I ended up living. I also liked the idea that I could get a degree that would give me a global perspective because I think that is extremely important in any area of business. I also liked that the business school offered the combination degree option where I could graduate in four years with both my bachelor’s and my master’s.”
Q: What’s your best experience in the MIB program so far?
Griffiths: “Definitely my Global Immersion Experience (GIE)! I went last May to Malaysia and it was honestly the greatest experience of my life. Not only was I able to learn from businesses over there, but I became extremely close with the people that I met on the trip and we still hang out to this day. It was also amazing to learn so much about the culture in Malaysia and actually get to experience it first-hand. I even got to go to Thailand after, which was incredible!”
Q: Where do you see yourself five years from now?
Griffiths: “I see myself working for a large company and doing work that actually matters and work that helps people. I want a job where I can travel and meet new and interesting people, and a job that will challenge me every day. I see myself being promoted and having the opportunity to train and mentor recent graduates who will be in the same position that I am currently in.”
Q: What do you do in the time you’re not studying for your MIB coursework?
Griffiths: “I am on the Executive Board for the UF Women’s Club Soccer team, a Marketing and Promotions Blueshirts Program Intern for the University of Florida Athletic Association, on the marketing team for Spoon UF, a Warrington Diplomat, an MIB Ambassador, participate in Dance Marathon and I was a Heavener International Case Competition Ambassador.”
Q: What is one thing you wish you knew at the very beginning of the MIB program?
Griffiths: “One thing that I wish I knew at the beginning of the MIB program is how quickly seven-week classes go by. They tell you that it is hard at first when you begin the combination degree because you are still taking semester-long courses alongside your module courses, but it doesn’t get easier or slower. Modules go by very quickly, but it’s cool because you get to take more courses and learn new things.”
Q: Tell us three fun facts about you that we don’t know.
Griffiths: “1. I have played soccer since I was three years old 2. I trained with the Bahamas Beach Soccer team 3. I met Carli Lloyd when I was about 10 years old.”
