The Arctic Circle with Al Roker, the TODAY Show & Finishing an MBA during COVID-19 with Cate Gropper

Cate Gropper is a fellow classmate in the Executive MBA program at Duke University. Cate works as a Production Manager at NBC News' TODAY Show. Cate is the primary contact for NBC teams in the field, handling all the logistics for live-broadcasts, including managing all on-site crew, communicating with the Control Room and handling any location-specific challenges. Having worked on projects in Northern Alaska and Greenland with Al Roker, we discuss the struggles of filming in such remote locations. Cate also discusses her time working as an NBC Universal page, meeting Leonardo DiCaprio and adjusting to working in a newsroom during COVID-19.

Cate and I also discuss what it’s like to be MBA students with full-time jobs adjusting to online classes while under quarantine, and we provide advice for those about to start a program.

Discussion Topics:

(1:28) Cate discusses her role as a Production Manager at NBC.

(5:13) Working on “Al in the Arctic” with Al Roker in Northern Alaska.

(15:05) Filming “Climate in Crisis” in Greenland.

(19:50) Working as an NBC Page during Saturday Night Live’s 40th Anniversary special.

(23:53) Has Kenneth Parcell helped or hurt the page program at NBC?

(25:45) Working in NYC broadcasting during COVID-19 lock downs.

(32:15) Advice to students entering MBA programs during lock downs and quarantine

(38:15) Cate discusses why she selected an Executive MBA over a daytime program.

(44:01) Applying an MBA education to work.