By Will Wieters
As General Manager of SkyMiles Engagement at Delta Air Lines, Katie Smigelski (MBA’20) oversees how millions of members connect with the airline’s loyalty program. Her path to that leadership role wasn’t straightforward. Before Delta, she worked in consulting at Boston Consulting Group (BCG), including a year in London, and began her career in loyalty at Walgreens. Each step forward was guided by skills, confidence, and connections she built at Vanderbilt.
From Consulting to Corporate Strategy
Katie Smigelski
Smigelski joined Delta in 2023 on the corporate strategy team. “It was a nice weave into the role…thinking about high-level, what are the different aspects across the enterprise that can use support,” she said. Projects ranged from digital transformation to investment strategy.
But her passion for loyalty pulled her in a new direction. “I had a strong interest in loyalty, as prior to my Vanderbilt MBA I had been on the loyalty team at Walgreens,” she explained. “And throughout my time at BCG, I focused on work that involved the customer. I wanted to get back to really focusing on that customer space.”
That led her to the Delta SkyMiles team, where she now manages engagement strategy. “That entails anything from how we communicate to our members, how we recognize them, how we put promotions to drive different engagement across the board,” she said.
Global Perspective
Beginning her career at BCG while in the Vanderbilt MBA program, Smigelski started in Atlanta before making the transition to London post-grad. She continued to focus on retail and consumer goods but also gained international exposure. One highlight was leading change management during a supply chain transformation. “It was a really good opportunity and a challenge,” she said. “Being put into a culture I wasn’t super familiar with and asked to lead that effort pushed me to get up to speed quickly.”
Those experiences gave her the confidence to navigate new environments. “Exposing yourself to a new area” became a theme in her career—one of which she still carries in her work today.
The Vanderbilt MBA Advantage
Looking back, Smigelski credits her Vanderbilt MBA for helping her pivot into consulting and setting her up for long-term growth. “The support you get from both second-year students and the program and the professors…I thought when I first went in, recruiting for consulting could be super intimidating, but Owen sets you up for success,” she said.
She also valued Vanderbilt’s smaller program. “It gives you the opportunity to actively participate in class, get a little bit more out of your shell, and build those relationships with professors,” she said. “That’s one of the most valuable things coming out of the MBA.”
International opportunities and immersion experiences made an impact, too. She recalled an innovation strategy program in Vienna that brought students together from across the globe to work with an Israeli startup. “Those different opportunities to get exposure to different opinions—whether it be a culture, a different industry, or a different professional—were really pivotal,” she said.
Redefining Success Five Years Out
Katie Smigelski (center) with colleagues
When she started her Vanderbilt MBA, Smigelski defined success as landing a consulting role and accelerating her career. “It was kind of a career pivot from what I was doing at Walgreens, plus the chance to build skill sets and a network for the long term,” she said.
Today, her definition has broadened. “Now it’s about how you lead a team and refine your leadership skills to make an impact,” she said. “And from an organization perspective, it’s about your impact to the company overall.”
One key realization: “How many skills translate across the board,” she said. “Structured thinking, planning, and teamwork…those things can be carried from one role to the next.”
Advice for Future MBA Candidates
Smigelski encourages future students to take full advantage of the program. “I’m glad I took advantage of all the different opportunities the Vanderbilt MBA offered,” she said. “Case competitions, international travel, consulting prep…you only get one shot at those experiences.”
Her advice: “Take advantage of everything, because you won’t regret it. Keep a long-term perspective, especially when the first semester feels overwhelming. And don’t be afraid of change. The MBA is all about getting out of your comfort zone.”
For Smigelski, that willingness to embrace change has defined her post Vanderbilt MBA path from Walgreens to BCG, from Atlanta to London, and now into leadership at Delta.
Not being afraid of change has been the biggest driver of my growth.