Kyle Pandiscio

University of Massachusetts-Amherst, Isenberg School of Management

“Driven marketer, globetrotter and Crocs™ enthusiast, determined to build social change through business.”

Fun fact about yourself: I can ride a unicycle and solve a Rubik cube at the same time.

Hometown: Franklin, MA

High School: Franklin High School

Major: Marketing

Minor: Information Technology with a certificate in Business Analytics

Favorite Business Course: Business Intelligence and Analytics

Extracurricular Activities, Community Work and Leadership Roles During College:

Extracurricular Activities & Leadership

• UMass AdLab, a student-run advertising agency on campus (President)
• Isenberg Senior Gift Committee (Co-President)
• Chase Career Center, Isenberg’s Career Development Office (Student Assistant)
• Introduction to Marketing (Teaching Assistant)
• Alternative Spring Break 2016: New Orleans (Flood Recovery Volunteer)
• Alternative Spring Break 2017: El Paso, Texas (Immigration Education Participant)
• “Hello English!!” Salamanca (English as a Second-Language Teaching Assistant)
• Semester abroad in Salamanca, Spain (Business & International Culture Student)

Honors & Awards

• Kohl’s Invitational Case Competition (Winner)
• Project Yellow Light National Billboard Design Competition 2017 (Winner)
• Project Yellow Light National Billboard Design Competition 2018 (Winner)
• Hult Prize at UMass Amherst (Winner)
• PwC Case Challenge at UMass Amherst (Winner)

Where have you interned during your college career?

• Twitter – San Francisco, CA – Growth Marketing
• TripAdvisor – Needham, MA – Product Marketing
• TripAdvisor – Needham, MA – Product Management
• Reebok – Boston, MA – Marketing Consulting

Where will you be working after graduation? Undecided

What company do you admire most? I am a strong supporter and advocate of The AdCouncil, a non-profit organization the produces public service advertising for relevant social issues. The AdCouncil encourages the public to take action and build a safer, healthier, more inclusive society. The mission of The AdCouncil exemplifies the intersection between business and social good is not only possible but powerful.

What did you enjoy most about your business school? The mentoring opportunities available among Isenberg faculty, staff and alumni are unparalleled. The moment I became part of the Isenberg community I felt welcomed and supported. Isenberg has built an environment and network that provides students the opportunities to pursue their professional aspirations.

What is the biggest lesson you gained from studying business? Studying business has taught me the value of networking and building meaningful relationships. The business community wants to see students reach their full potentials and become the next generation of organization leaders. I am fortunate to have fostered connections across the globe and gained an incredible amount of knowledge to complement my in-class education.

What advice would you give to a student looking to major in a business-related field? A business degree opens the door to a range of professional opportunities. Don’t be afraid to get involved with in-school or out-of-school opportunities that are outside of your comfort zone. Pursue what you are passionate about and the success will follow.

What has surprised you most about majoring in business? I have been most surprised by the never-ending career paths that majoring in business offer. There are hundreds of roles and niche positions that students can explore and find a passion for. Personally, I am excited to work for a company that emphasizes social responsibility within its mission and business model.

“If I didn’t major in business, I would be majoring in or studying…Graphic Design or Computer Animation. I’m fascinated with the growing relationship between technology and traditional artistry. I respect the craft and am in awe of the unimaginable impact design and animation has had in business, entertainment, science, etc.”

Who most influenced your decision to pursue business in college? My dad most influenced my decision to pursue business in college. A marketer himself, my dad has always encouraged my passion for art and creativity. He was teaching me the 4 P’s of marketing before I even knew what the 4 P’s meant! We spent hours dissecting television commercials and evaluating product packaging at the grocery store. Most of all, my dad proved that marketing was an opportunity to mold creative aspirations with a business degree.

Which academic, extracurricular or personal achievement are you most proud of? I am most proud of my involvement with Project Yellow Light, a non-profit organization that encourages young adults to stop texting while driving. Sponsored by the Ad Council, Clear Channel Outdoor, AT&T and other prominent organizations, my teammates and I developed two winning public-service-announcement billboards that are currently being featured on thousands of billboards across the county, garnering 800+ million impressions to date. The organization is protecting future generations from unnecessary fatality and I am fortunate to be a part of this change.

Which classmate do you most admire? I admire my classmate and friend, Emma Townsend. Emma is a creative rock star. With an incredible eye for design, she continuously builds advertising and design content at a professional caliber. Her work has been featured on billboards, buses and has even promoted social change on a national level. If you ever want to have a passionate discussion about fonts or puns, Emma is your businesswoman/designer!

Who would you most want to thank for your success? I owe my success to my amazingly incredible mom. She is my perpetual support system and voice of reason. She is the person who spent hours memorizing the multiplications tables and states and capitals with me in elementary school. She is the person who drove me everywhere I needed to be in high school while juggling a full-time job. Most importantly, she is the person who encouraged me to never stop being my quirky, creative self.

What are the top two items on your bucket list?

• Run a marathon in every US State.
• Be a contestant on the Amazing Race and/or Survivor.

What are your hobbies? Marathons, Skydiving, Unicycling, Skiing, Tumbling, Drawing, Juggling, and Exploring the world

What made Kyle such an invaluable addition to the Class of 2019?

“Kyle has blazed a phenomenal and new path that has made an indelible mark at the Isenberg School of Management. When Isenberg faculty and staff identify an exceptional student in the future, I wouldn’t be surprised to hear them ask whether that student is the next “Kyle.” I look forward to learning about Kyle’s amazing contributions to business and society as a clever, caring, and brilliant marketer and leader.

He is a highly talented and wonderful person who has won several national competitions, interned for several premier companies, been highly engaged/involved within Isenberg, and has volunteered to help communities in need throughout the United States. For example, he holds a 4.0-grade point average as a Commonwealth Honors student who is majoring in marketing, minoring in information technology, and earning a specialized certificate in business analytics; and he won the 2017 Kohl’s National Case Competition, and both the 2017 and 2018 Project Yellow Light National Advertising Contests.

I am grateful to have had many opportunities to advise, mentor, and create with Kyle, and to have a fantastic and rewarding relationship with him. He served as an outstanding teaching assistant for Isenberg’s core marketing course and provided great assistance in helping me design a more stimulating, engaging, and personalized large-lecture experience for students. I enjoyed guiding him in an honors course in which he conducted research on and developed a measurement scale for, thriving (i.e., in essence, creating conditions along a variety of dimensions such that one can bring forth one’s best). And, I value his contributions in sharing his Isenberg, Commonwealth Honors, and University of Massachusetts experiences with prospective students in venues such as Fall and Spring Open House events. Kyle is a delight to be around, and I will miss dearly his presence, seemingly endless energy, and our frequent interactions!

Kyle has done much to bring additional prestige and honor to Isenberg’s Marketing Department, the Isenberg School of Management, the Commonwealth Honors College, and the University of Massachusetts. I expect that he will be one of the special shining-stars that we will enjoy highlighting as an inspirational exemplar-alum who reflects and spreads the meaning, value, and influence of our culture and experience.”

Bruce D. Weinberg
Professor of Marketing, and Department Chair