Some students enter a master’s program with a precise career destination in mind. Others hope the experience will help bring their next step into focus. And then there are those who arrive with one plan, only to discover that the skills they gain open doors they never expected.
That was the case for Victoria Makanjuola, who graduated from the online Master of Science in Integrated Design, Business and Technology (MSIDBT) program at USC Iovine and Young Academy in spring 2025.
Originally intent on building a career in media and the creative industries, Makanjuola found herself pivoting into the tech world after completing the program — a shift that felt less like a departure and more like an evolution.
USC had long been a dream for Makanjuola.
“I was drawn to USC for a myriad of reasons — the alumni, first and foremost,” she said. “People like LeVar Burton. I watched him on The View! It was always a school I had in mind.”
Makanjuola earned her bachelor’s degree in communications and media studies from Sam Houston State University in her home state of Texas, then went on to receive a master’s degree from George Washington University. She worked in production and social media, continuing down a media-focused path — yet something still felt unsettled.
“My parents actually encouraged me to go back to school and keep searching,” she said. “I knew I was already drawn to USC, so I did a virtual campus tour.”
At first, she considered traditional communications and journalism programs, given her professional background. But the fit didn’t feel quite right. Then she discovered the MSIDBT program.
“It just felt like a really cool opportunity,” she said. “Not just one lane in media, but technology, design, business — hands-on creativity. It was something completely different, and I realized I wanted to explore that.”
Makanjuola enrolled in MSIDBT in 2023. She began the program fully online while living in Texas, but later moved to Los Angeles to take advantage of the hybrid format. That flexibility allowed her to balance coursework with further engagement on campus.
She was able to access resources like the podcast studio, which proved invaluable as she co-hosted Feel Your FeelingZ, a podcast that began as a bridge between mental health and Gen Z and has since evolved to focus on high achievers. The overlap between her coursework and her creative projects allowed her to apply new skills in real time.
Reflecting on her time in the MSIDBT program, Makanjuola credits its interdisciplinary structure for helping her develop both technical and interpersonal strengths.
“Some days I was focused on soft skills, other days I was learning how to code,” she said. “One of my favorite classes was ‘Improv Strategies in Movement and Materiality.’ It taught me how to collaborate with people who had completely different visions and strengths.”
Another standout course was “Tech Essentials,” where she learned to code her own portfolio website — skills she employs today in her AI and emerging technologies career.
“I had very limited coding knowledge before,” she said. “But that class required patience: restructuring, restarting, sticking with it. That foundation is directly connected to what I do now.”
Beyond the coursework, Makanjuola says the people she met made a lasting impact.
“What I loved most was being able to show up as myself and apply my experience across different areas, especially technology, without being boxed in,” she said. “My ideas mattered, and I could approach projects in ways that felt authentic to me.”
She graduated with a 3.95 GPA and was selected as the graduate commencement speaker, delivering a speech one school staff member described as “heartfelt and powerful.” While she once imagined her post-graduation life unfolding solely in media or the arts, her MSIDBT experience led her in a new direction.
After moving back to Texas, Makanjuola accepted a role at Mercor, a San Francisco-based tech company, where she works as an audio model trainer and digital annotation expert.
“I’m evaluating AI models and helping improve them using human insight,” she explained. “I was very afraid of tech and AI before. Now I see how essential human judgment, emotion and creativity are in shaping these systems.”
Looking ahead, Makanjuola hopes to continue building her career in technology while staying rooted in creativity. She’s currently developing a new season of her podcast, Take Off, which explores moments of personal and professional pivot, a theme that closely mirrors her own journey.
“I see myself continuing to build my creative platform as a podcast and creator while also helping innovate in tech,” she said.
For prospective MSIDBT students, Makanjuola encouraged bravery and self-confidence.
“Trust yourself,” she said. “Don’t be afraid to try something different. Come in with an open mind.”
Learn more about the MS in Integrated Design, Business and Technology (MSIDBT) online program today.