Career success story with 84.51° and the importance of case interviewing


Named after the longitude of its Cincinnati headquarters, 84.51° is an innovative data analytics and marketing company that provides customer insights and strategy for The Kroger Company and over 300 consumer-packaged-goods companies across the U.S. 84.51° uses a sophisticated, proprietary suite of tools and data from over 60 million households to forge new ways to analyze shopper behavior, uncover customer insights, and develop winning marketing strategies resulting in sales growth and an enhanced customer experience.

84.51° is also an innovator in how they interview candidates through "case interviewing" whereby the applicant is presented with a challenging business scenario that he/she must investigate and propose a solution. The case is often a business situation or a business case that the interviewer has worked on in real life. They are ultimately designed to test the candidate's analytical skills and soft skills within a realistic business context.

"Case interviewing allows for us, as the employer, to test critical thinking and problem solving in a simulated, job-like setting," says Stephanie Leuck, University Recruiting Program Manager at 84.51°. "We can better determine the candidate's practical approach to problem-solving rather than a scripted answer."

Erika Penrose, One Year MBA student at the University of Kentucky's Gatton College of Business and Economics, had first-hand experience in case interviewing with 84.51° while she was enrolled in the UK MBA program. Through the support and help of Gatton's career team at the Graham Office of Career Management, Erika was well prepared for her interview with 84.51°. After Erika graduates from the UK MBA program, she will be starting in 84.51's Consultant Development program. 

"I am so excited to begin my career with 84.51° after graduating from the UK MBA program," says Erika. "Their 10-week training program will surround me with other young professionals and great mentors. This will be followed by a year of working under a professional consultant before taking on the actual role myself."

The Graham Office of Career Management at the Gatton College of Business and Economics provide comprehensive career management services to students and employers, and is dedicated in student's career development process and employment success. Graham works closely with many reputable employers, like 84.51°, who seek to hire world ready interns and graduates.

Erika says, "Graham has been with me every step of the way as I entered the interview process this year. The availability of the career counselors, combined with their resources and real-world knowledge, makes them perfectly positioned to provide whatever help students need in the UK MBA." 

Many companies and organizations, like 84.51°, work diligently in establishing a solid recruitment pipeline with the UK MBA program and matching the talent coming out of the program to their available career opportunities. 

Stephanie Leuck says, "Students in the UK MBA program display strong critical thinking and data analytics skills, which are very important to skills to us. In addition, they present themselves very professionally and are adaptable." 

Erika Penrose will be graduating this year from Gatton's One Year MBA, which is the full-time program option designed for young professionals and recent graduates across all majors.

"For me, what stood out most in the UK MBA was the connections you make in the program," says Erika. "The strong bonds that I formed this year with the faculty, staff and classmates are long-term relationships that I will always hold close. The variety of people in this program provides an outstanding education, both in business and in life lessons."

84.51° knows customers, and we know how to connect you. Using a sophisticated, proprietary suite of tools and technology, 84.51° turns customer data into actionable knowledge. With unique customer data and predictive analytics capabilities, 84.51° delivers personalized marketing strategies to ensure the best experience for customers of Kroger and more than 300 consumer packaged goods companies. 84.51° puts the customer at the center of everything they do, resulting in a more dynamic, informed and personal approach to driving customer loyalty.