Marketing that makes a difference

Marketing major Ainsley Reigler from DeWitt, Mich., knew she wanted to study marketing long before she enrolled at Central Michigan University. A high school job shadow with the marketing director at McLaren Health Care showed her that marketing could be much more than advertising products or promoting brands.

Instead, she saw how thoughtful communication could help people navigate important changes, understand new services and make informed decisions. It was the first time she realized marketing could have a meaningful impact on people's lives.

"I thought it was cool and creative, but also impactful," Reigler said. "That's when I realized that marketing could be less superficial."

That perspective ultimately led her to CMU, where a Centralis Scholarship and her sister's positive experience made Central the right choice. Once she arrived on campus, she began looking for opportunities to grow both inside and outside the classroom.

Today, Reigler serves as president of the Society of Women in Business, vice president of the CMU club soccer team and helped co-found the Business Honors Society, where she currently serves as vice president of marketing. While each role has given her new experiences, she says they've also helped her grow into a more confident leader.

"In high school, I was president of our Business Professionals of America chapter, and I was captain of the soccer team," she said. "But I'm not sure I was confident in those roles as much. Now I saw an opening and I was like, well, I think that I could be a good leader."

Her coursework has also expanded her understanding of what marketing can be.

Initially drawn to the creative side of the profession, Reigler discovered an unexpected appreciation for research and analytics through marketing faculty member Michael Garver's consumer research course. Learning how customer insights influence business decisions gave her a new perspective on the field and quickly proved valuable during her internship with SoundOff Signal.

"I was kind of surprised by how much I enjoyed the analytical part of it," she said. "It felt really good to be able to take what I was learning in the classroom and bring it to my internship."

Rather than simply observing, Reigler was able to contribute ideas from class discussions, ask thoughtful questions about customer research and see firsthand how concepts from the classroom translated into real business decisions. The experience reinforced something she has found throughout her time at CMU: the strongest learning happens when classroom knowledge and hands-on experience come together.

Looking ahead, Reigler isn't focused on finding one perfect job title. Instead, she's searching for opportunities where she can make a meaningful contribution, whether that's in health care, a nonprofit organization or another mission-driven field.

"I would like to do marketing for something that I can feel passionate about," she said.

For students considering CMU, her advice is simple: get involved.

"I feel like I truly was able to make friends, make connections and feel like I belonged after I was getting involved in these organizations," she said.

That sense of belonging, combined with faculty who connect classroom concepts to real-world experiences, has shaped the college experience she was hoping to find. And while Reigler's path in marketing continues to evolve, one thing has remained constant since that first job shadow in high school: the belief that the best marketing doesn't just promote an idea. It makes a difference.