MIB Alumni Spotlight: Cole McKinney

Cole McKinney (BABA ’25, MIB ’25), completed his graduate business degree this past fall. He now works as a demand planner for Tesla.

Q: Tell us about yourself.

McKinney: “My name is Cole McKinney, and I am a proud Double Gator, having earned both my bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Florida. Born in Atlanta and raised in Florida, my passion for the Gators runs deep. I started at UF in Fall 2022 and completed my Master of International Business in December 2025, balancing a demanding course load alongside a full-time professional role as an analyst and project manager.”

Q: What was your undergraduate major, and why did you choose the MIB program?

McKinney: “I am a recent graduate of the UF Warrington College of Business with a BABA, specializing in sports management. I chose the online MIB program for its globally relevant curriculum, designed to navigate the complex international business world. My motivation stemmed from a growing professional interest in international strategy, and the program’s flexible structure enabled me to advance my education while maintaining my full-time job, allowing for immediate application of my coursework in a real-world setting.”

Q: What is your favorite thing about the MIB program, and how has the program helped you professionally?

McKinney: “The best aspect of the MIB program was the Global Immersion Experience (GIE), which included a wonderful week in Prague and a semester-long, in-depth collaboration project. The program’s design emphasizes substantial group work and interaction, fostering strong connections and a reliable academic and business network. The cross-functional team structure used to complete the major coursework directly replicated the teams at my workplace, sharpening my leadership and operational skills in a professional setting.”

Q: What are your plans now that you have graduated?

McKinney: “After graduating, I relocated to the San Francisco Bay Area to join Tesla in Fremont as a Demand Planner. In this role, I oversee North American sales forecasting, build predictive machine learning models, and coordinate vehicle allocations while collaborating with APAC and EMEA teams across our factories in Fremont, Austin, Shanghai, and Berlin. Moving forward, I plan to leverage my UF MIB foundation to expand my global strategic impact and drive long-term supply chain growth within Tesla’s dynamic operations network.”

Q: What is your advice to other undergraduate students looking at the MIB program?

McKinney: “I have three core pieces of advice for undergraduates considering the MIB program: time management, goal identification and strategic networking.

First, the MIB program actively engineers professional connections, so treat your enrollment as an investment in a future network. Although the MIB program does not require prior work experience, the cohort is generally composed of highly committed, career-minded professionals who often bring valuable real-world experience.

The Global Immersion Experience (GIE) is a critical component that immediately necessitates close collaboration. During the GIE, I was able to develop highly trusted partnerships with my group, which resulted in a dependable pool of collaborators for subsequent course projects throughout the rest of the degree. This experience was key to learning the true value of teamwork and leadership. Having partners you understand, trust and work well with is arguably the most valuable non-academic asset you will gain from the entire program.

Second, perfect your time management skills now. If you plan to pursue the combination degree while maintaining a full-time professional role, as I did, you must be extremely disciplined. Mastering the balance between full-time work and full-time academics is the key to successfully navigating the accelerated timeline.

Finally, identify your career goals early. The MIB program offers immense flexibility, but having a clear understanding of the industry or function you want to enter will help you select the most relevant electives and focus your networking efforts for maximum return.”

Q: Tell us a cool fact about you.

McKinney: “I’m a huge motorsports enthusiast and active participant in the SCCA (Sports Car Club of America). I’ve pushed cars past 150 MPH on Daytona International Speedway’s high banks and tackled iconic tracks like Sebring. I even build my own race cars, with my latest project being a Spec Miata, and I’m looking forward to taking on local tracks like Laguna Seca and Sonoma Raceway now that I’m in Northern California.”