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MSU StratCom alumni, Jodi Tinson, who is the Senior Manager for North America Media Relations and Content at Stellantis, made the decision to go back to school and start a master’s program three decades after she graduated from her undergraduate program.
Tinson found herself at a pivotal moment in her career; the changing digital landscape pushing her to explore the benefits of an advanced degree. Her story not only reflects a personal quest for deeper expertise and a courage for going back to school, but it also highlights the evolving landscape of online education and career dynamics in the 21st century.
Everything’s coming up Chrysler (Stellantis)
“My whole career has revolved around Chrysler in some way,” said Tinson.
Right out of undergrad she worked in various communication roles, including for agencies that had Chrysler as their client. Now for the past 20 years she’s been in-house at Stellantis. Stellantis is the automotive manufacturing corporation formed from the merger in 2021 of the Italian American conglomerate Fiat Chrysler Automobiles.
“I’m responsible for manufacturing and labor, purchasing, supply chain, human resources, and diversity, equity and inclusion,” said Tinson. “So, anything that isn’t considered product, falls under my team.”
Responsible for a wide array of critical functions at Stellantis, she explains how her role leads the team that not only find the proactive stories to promote about the company, but also handles all the reactive stories that come out as well.
Keeping up with a new generation
“Grad school was actually never in my plan,” said Tinson.
Tinson came to realize a handful of years ago that she was one of the more senior people in her department, and some of her younger colleagues seemed to have a leg up because they grew up understanding social media and media analytics.
“I was looking at the team around me and realized there was a gap in my knowledge and so my quest to a master’s program started with wanting and needing to know more about social media,” said Tinson.
Tinson’s boss at the time suggested the MSU StratCom program as something to consider. After doing her research, meeting with the program director, and applying, she was accepted and enrolled in classes.
“After my first class I drove home the entire way in tears thinking ‘what did I just sign myself up for?’” said Tinson.
She clarifies how it was overwhelming being back in a classroom environment for the first time since 1988, and on top of that having a full-time job and being a wife and mother to two teenage sons who had very busy schedules.
“With the support system of my husband and kids, and also the program’s staff, I realized I didn’t have to finish this thing quickly, I could take my time and do it at my own pace,” said Tinson.
Tinson took it one class at a time, and over the course of what turned out to be five years, she found her footing in an online world, and she found the balance to fit it into her schedule.
“The benefit of an online program is that I could fit the work into the nooks and crannies of my day,” said Tinson.
Bridging the digital gap
The MSU StratCom program’s courses did indeed help Tinson bridge that gap in her social media literacy.
“I now have the skillset to know how you measure it, and I’m able to talk to my colleagues with a much better understanding,” said Tinson.
The classes that resonated with her the most were the Crisis Communications Course, and the C-Suite course. The C-Suite course came at the perfect time for her. She had just received a promotion and was now leading a team of five other people.
“Through that course, I was able to identify the characteristics of leaders that I liked and wanted to emulate, and then the characteristics of leaders that I never wanted to be like,” said Tinson.
Tinson mentions that she thinks about pieces of these courses every day.
The importance of walking
The unique aspect about an online program like ours, is that the only time you’re ever in-person with your classmates, professors and faculty is on graduation day.
“I wanted to walk in-person at graduation commencement because my husband and kids had been so supportive throughout this whole five-year journey for me,” Tinson emotionally tells us. “They were cheering me on every step of the way when I would get frustrated or overwhelmed, so to show them that I could do this, and that they could do this, was important.”
Her graduation, marked by an emotional in-person ceremony, symbolized not just personal achievement but also a tribute to the steadfast support of her family throughout her transformative journey.
Tinson’s story underscores the impact of lifelong learning and the power of determination in shaping successful careers amidst digital transformation.
