By William H. Kelly III
(JACKSON, Miss.) – At 20 years old, Kaiden Ivey has compiled a remarkable list of notable achievements–securing over $100,000 in scholarships for college, nine job offers, and attaining her bachelor’s degree in accounting. She is also the newly hired pricing analyst in the prestigious Shell Graduate Program. Ivey will graduate from Jackson State University (JSU) on Friday, Dec. 6, at 9:00 am during its Fall 2024 Undergraduate Commencement Ceremony.
Shell, the storied oil company, started the Shell Graduate Program three years ago. The program seeks to onboard recent college graduates and college seniors from a recognized university who are able to analyze situations and propose purposeful solutions that align with the company’s strategic goals.
“I want stability. I want my own path. I wanted to know what I was doing next, and not knowing what I was doing next made opportunities that were not truly my passion or purpose seem appealing. But I knew that wasn’t necessarily what God called me to do,” Ivey said.
Presented with tempting job offers in places like Illinois, California and North Carolina, Ivey says that the months leading up to graduation were filled with doubt and called for a moment of self-reflection. She sought to discover which post-graduate path was the “perfect match” for her.
The high-achieving scholar says she watched her peers make confident decisions about their next steps post-graduation. As the clock ticked, she even considered making a premature leap but was unconvinced it was the right choice.
While attending the 2024 Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF) Leadership Institute in Washington, D.C., Ivey attempted to interview with Shell but did not receive a call back until a few weeks later.
“The interview was probably one of the most challenging interviews that I’ve had. It was two and a half hours long. There was a case study. I had 30 minutes to prepare, and I had five minutes to present the case. Then, they asked me questions about the case changing for an hour, and then they asked me behavior questions. So it was very intense,” she recalled.
That’s when a miracle happened. That evening following the interview, she received an unexpected call from Mary Briley, who offered the scholar a job and reassuring praises.
Unbeknownst to Ivey, while attending the leadership institute, she also met her future manager, Melva Martin, who reminded Ivey of her deceased mother, making the moment all the more heaven-sent.
“I think that it was by the grace of God. A lot of things were lining up,” Ivey shared. “I had never gotten an offer the same night from an interview like that, and then later on, I found out that the lady that I thought I would never see again, who looked like my mom, was actually going to be my manager.”
She continued: “It was really crazy. She looked just like my mom. She had the same demeanor. Everything just reminded me of my mom.”
The Tulsa, Oklahoma, native lost her mother to health complications on her second day as a freshman at Union High School. She would later lose her grandmother to cancer as a freshman at JSU.
Though the journey was arduous, Ivey says the loss of her two “best friends” fuelled her to achieve what some may see as unachievable.
Ivey has had the privilege of participating in numerous opportunities through partnerships with JSU’s College of Business, the Thurgood Marshall College Fund, and the National Black MBA Association. These opportunities have allowed the scholar to travel to over 20 states for free. Ivey is also involved in various organizations, including the Blue Streak, Dean’s Advisory Council, Student Government Association, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., and the Accounting Society. She is also an entrepreneur with experience as a shoe designer and hairstylist.
She encourages her peers and future JSU students to build relationships and be “undeniable” regardless of the opportunity or turmoil they encounter.
Ivey says that her accomplishments would be impossible without the support of her friends, peers, professors, and JSU staff. She thanks her mentors, professors, and advisors, such as Jennifer Steele, Brent Harris, Saundra McFarland, and others.
“Having a sponsor, someone that will actually go into a room and advocate for you, go into a room and put you in opportunities, rooms that you’re not necessarily in, is something that I feel like changed my college career,” Ivey shared. “I really cherish my friendships. I’m so grateful for my college friendships and being around people who have a similar bond. We pray. We go to church. I also have deep conversations with God. I’m still working on juggling it all, but that has truly brought me peace.”
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