Rashida Mark: A Lady Lion Connection

Name: Rashida Mark

Preferred Pronouns: She/Her

Hometown & Current Town: Brooklyn, NY/Los Angeles, CA

Graduation Year: BS 2009

Major: BS Agricultural Business Management

Additional Degree & Institution: MBA, Drexel University

Current: Senior Product Marketing Manager

Name of Employer: Intuit

Brief Description of Your Role: I work on TurboTax Business with Intuit. My team is responsible for the monetization and pricing strategy for the TurboTax Online products.

Why did you choose Penn State?

I knew I wanted to go to college out of the city and have a real college experience. I played basketball in high school and was looking to play in college. I did an unofficial and official visit prior to deciding. When I did my official visit to Penn State I got to go and tailgate with the Lady Lions and attend a game at Beaver Stadium. I loved the school spirit and attitude. I knew immediately after that visit that I wanted to go to Penn State so I committed and signed.

What inspired you to pursue your degree?

Initially I went to school and was going to do electrical engineering. After a couple of classes, I realized it wasn’t the right fit. Working with my academic advisor, we looked at other options. I decided to focus on business so we landed on the Agricultural Business Management degree for a couple of key reasons.

We knew the reputation of the college was very good and we knew the graduation rate and job placement rate was really high. I knew I wasn’t going to play basketball after college so I wanted to get a degree that I could use. It offered a lot of options, and I knew there would be jobs and a need for what I was studying.

You were a Penn State Lady Lion. Can you talk about the experience of being a student-athlete?

It was hard, but in the best way possible. It pushed me mentally in ways that I don’t think I would’ve done on my own. I loved getting to pursue the sport, getting an education, and getting to travel with my team. It really took me outside my comfort zone and instilled in me a lot of discipline, which I feel I still have.

I was not a morning person before going to college, but then with our morning workouts and rigorous schedule, I became a morning person and to this day I still get up and I’m ready to tackle the day and get my workout in before work. It really instilled in me a discipline that helps me get results. There was also the mental toughness aspect. When you’re in dark times, losing games or not getting the grades you want, you can still turn it around if you apply different strategies and think through potential solutions.

I really wouldn’t trade the experience. It’s nice to have this additional tie to Penn State as a student-athlete.

What is a favorite Penn State memory?

One that stands out is when we played Duke at home and we beat them. That was amazing and unexpected. I think they were in the top 10 at the time and we may have been unranked. I remember we went crazy on the court and in the locker room after we won the game.

Another thing I’ll mention is that we went to all the football games, especially since we helped with Lady Lion recruits. One game I will always remember is when we beat Ohio State at home. I remember all of us in the stands cheering, students rushing the field, and then everyone flooding the streets downtown.

Finally, when President Obama won the election, being able to celebrate with my classmates on campus and being able to see him speak at the school was really special.

How has your Penn State education influenced your career?

In high school, you always have people pushing you and holding you accountable. In college, you have to be able to push yourself and know when to ask for help. It took some time to mature, but it didn’t take long into my freshman year to figure out my strengths, weaknesses, and interests and use that to figure out what I wanted to study and how I wanted to show up for my teammates. I learned you don’t have to keep your head down and stay silent. Penn State is a big school, but you can make an impact. Get to know your professors, get the help you need, and be intentional with the clubs and organizations you join to make a very big place feel more like a tight-knit community.

I also really appreciate the connection with alumni. Penn State alumni are always willing to help. That was definitely a selling point. Alumni love coming back to campus. They want speak to students, have ongoing relationships, and pay it forward. I came back for the Black Alumni Reunion in October 2024 and got to talk to students in the college and in Smeal. I really appreciated those opportunities to connect with both alumni and the current student body. I feel like culture continues to motivate me in my career to mentor others and pay it forward whenever I can.

Did you study abroad as a student? How did that experience impact your life?

I loved learning about languages and new cultures. I was taking a Spanish class and I think one day the opportunity may have gotten mentioned in class to study abroad. It ended up being the perfect opportunity because it was in the summer during our off-season. Basketball wouldn’t conflict and the credits would transfer. There weren’t really any barriers.

I went to my coach and talked about how I wanted to immerse myself in the culture and learn to speak Spanish fluently. I went to Seville, Spain for six weeks. I lived with two host families for three-week blocks. The second family only spoke Spanish and that really pushed me out of my comfort zone. I met some great people who I’m still friends with to this day. I was never quite fluent, but I think if I’d stayed longer, I would’ve gotten there.

I really enjoyed seeing how different people lived. In Spain they prioritize family and take their siestas very seriously. Everything shuts down and people go home and have a meal with their families. That is something that would never happen here, even though I wish it could. It really gave me a better perspective of having a strong work-life balance.

I also loved learning about Spanish architecture and art. It all really gave me the travel bug to go back and visit other places too. I’m happy to say I was able to go back in 2017 and I visited Mallorca and Ibiza.

What has been the best advice you’ve ever received?

All you can do is your best. We can be very hard on ourselves. Give yourself grace. If things don’t go as well as you hoped, don’t dwell on it. Focus more on the path forward because that is still unwritten.

What collegiate advice or professional development tip would you give to a current student?

Take advantage of every resource you can at Penn State. It’s hard because you don’t know what you don’t know so talk to your classmates and professors. Ask them what you can use and leverage. There’s so much at your fingertips that you may take for granted. Don’t wait until you’re about to graduate.

Another thing I learned while getting my MBA, which is still applicable to undergraduate students, is to build your network. Those are connections you can count on when you need support. An easy way to build your network is by getting involved on campus. I think students should get involved in organizations outside of their classes and college. I’d suggest joining two types of clubs. Join something for fun that allows you to let loose and build relationships with people outside of your major. Next, I would recommend joining a professional or academic club. It’ll look great on your resume, but more importantly it allows you to make connections with employers or professionals that are working in the field of interest to you. That could be your pathway to a great internship or job opportunity.

Why are you proud to be a Penn State Ag Sciences alum?

No matter where I am in the world, I still try to stay tuned in to what’s happening on campus. The culture of the school was positive, inviting, and accepting. There were not a lot of Black women in the college at the time, but I never felt like I didn’t fit in. I never felt different. My ideas and thoughts were respected and valued. The culture of togetherness and how people really want to help and rally around you was greatly appreciated. That’s something to be proud of! I have so many lifelong friendships and have a great career all thanks to everything I learned at Penn State and as an AgBusiness alum.