Kobe Dunn
After years of working in a restaurant and discovering a passion for leadership, Tennessee
Tech University sophomore Kobe Dunn chose business management as a way to turn experience
into opportunity.
“I chose this major because growing up I had always wanted to own my own restaurant,”
Dunn said. “I worked at a local restaurant in my hometown, Madisonville, for five
years, and when I got into the logistics and managing part of the job, I really enjoyed
it and realized that maybe that’s what I want to do when I get older.”
Frequent visits to campus before enrolling helped confirm that Tech was the right
fit for him.
“Every time I came up here, I left more excited than the time I came before,” Dunn
said. “And then when I came for SOAR, I found out about the business department, and
I was like, ‘I cannot wait to come here’.”
Within the College of Business, Dunn said the flexibility of the curriculum has expanded
his options and strengthened his academic experience.
“It’s a lot easier to double major within the College of Business because so many
of our courses relate,” he said. “Just being able to either switch your major or to
be able to combine those majors is so easy and very accessible.”
He said the College of Business has equipped him with professional development tools
that directly support his goals.
“The College of Business helps prepare me for my career through the PRL,” Dunn said,
referring to the Professional Readiness and Leadership office. “They do professional
headshots, resume workshops, mock interviews and even professional clothing, and it’s
completely free to all College of Business students.”
Dunn’s ambitions extend beyond personal success to investing in his hometown and its
youth.
“Another one of my career goals is to own my own community center,” he said. “I grew
up in a very small town, and I see so much in the youth at my high school where many
of them have fallen away. I just want to help people and be able to influence them
the best way we can.”
Through coursework, he is already gaining practical experience working directly with
local businesses.
“In my marking class we are working with a local donut shop called Big O’s, and we
get the opportunity to research their marketing and help them figure out what’s getting
viewers’ attention,” Dunn said. “Marketing is one of the keystones to getting people
into the seats and into the house that they want.”
Outside the classroom, Dunn stays involved across campus as a college ambassador,
Student Orientation Assistant, fraternity member and club volleyball player.
“Each time I add something onto my place, it has challenged me to be better,” he said.
“It helps with event planning, logistics, strategic planning and backup plans for
things that could possibly go wrong.”
For students considering business management, Dunn encourages them to move forward
with confidence.
“My biggest advice to anyone that’s deciding to choose this major is just do it and
be confident in that decision,” he said. “Ultimately, confidence is what’s going to
get you pretty far.”