Jonathan Colbert ’16
Program: MBA Corporate
Company: Target
Position: Store Director
Jonathan Colbert, a 2016 graduate of Clemson’s Corporate MBA program, discovered his career path during an employer spotlight event that introduced him to Target, marking a turning point in his professional journey. “When Target came to Clemson, I was immediately drawn to their culture and focus on leadership development,” Jonathan recalls. This introduction led him to participate in Target’s Stores Executive internship in 2015, where he shadowed an Executive Team Leader at the Simpsonville location. This experience provided valuable insights that paved the way for future opportunities.
After earning his MBA, Jonathan accepted an Executive Team Leader position at Target, launching his post-graduation career. “I could apply a lot of the skills I learned through the MBA program to a leadership role at Target and was eager to lead a large team,” Jonathan reflects. His leadership and operations role allowed him to quickly make an impact, benefiting both the team and guest experience.
In 2018, Jonathan’s dedication and hard work earned him a promotion to store director at the Greer location, where he spent the next five years. “In that role, I was able to make significant improvements and grow the business while learning a lot about leadership along the way.” This period of growth and development helped him create more opportunities for his future.
Today, Jonathan has embraced shifting over from Greer to become the Store Director of a brand-new Target location in Boiling Springs. “I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to build the store and team from the ground up,” he says. His responsibilities include recruiting and training 200 leaders and team members, establishing operational routines, and preparing the store to serve the community. The grand opening on August 18th was a significant milestone, and Jonathan is excited to offer Boiling Springs a convenient, affordable, and seamless shopping experience, further expanding Target’s regional presence. Jonathan credits the connection made during the employer spotlight that allowed him to grow from an intern to a Store Director, and has aspirations to continue to grow within Target.
For current and prospective MBA students, Jonathan encourages them to “take advantage of every opportunity to expose yourself to different people and opportunities. Be open-minded about career options and consider what you can accomplish long-term with a company that is the right fit for you. Work ethic and a positive attitude go a very long way!”
