North Carolina Central University Blog

The path to leadership is shaped by both academic grounding and real-world experience. Yvette Bonaparte, PhD, an associate professor of marketing in the Department of Business Administration in the School of Business at North Carolina Central University, embodies this duality.

Dr. Bonaparte shares insights from her corporate and academic experience and her vision for empowering students to lead with strategy, curiosity, and confidence. Learn more about Dr. Bonaparte and her role in developing NCCU Online’s Master of Business Administration (MBA) and Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) Flight Path programs.

Bridging Industry Experience and Academic Insight

In addition to her PhD, Dr. Bonaparte has a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Economics, an MBA in Marketing, and more than two decades of corporate marketing leadership for some of the world’s most influential companies across consumer packaged goods (CPG), technology, and health care. She brings a uniquely multifaceted perspective to the table.

A Background in Marketing

Dr. Bonaparte’s career has included developing global marketing strategies, leading international teams, launching new products, and shaping brand identities in highly competitive industries.

She’s spent a significant amount of time in the marketing industry. “I have held marketing leadership positions within the following segments: consumer health, pharmaceuticals, health insurance, and clinical research,” Dr. Bonaparte explains. She’s also passionate about analyzing and understanding the relationships between these fields. “I find the work of researching and communicating results and findings in this regard to be interesting and an area in which I can make a meaningful contribution.”

Transition to Academia

Recognizing the complexities and opportunities within private industry, Dr. Bonaparte pursued a PhD and transitioned to academia with a clear purpose: to help prepare the next generation of business leaders. She earned tenure through exceptional teaching and a rigorous, forward-thinking research agenda highlighting marketing practices in health care and the value of experiential learning in business education.

Rethinking Leadership in Any Role

With decades of experience both as a leader in industry and in training industry leaders, Dr. Bonaparte has two myths to dispel about what it means to lead.

“[There is a] myth that an individual must have people reporting to them in order to be a leader,” Dr. Bonaparte says. “The fact is that everyone is a leader. Everyone has the opportunity to engage with and inspire others in a way that motivates them to work toward achieving a goal or objective, whether there is a formal reporting relationship or not.”

The second myth centers on what leadership in marketing actually entails. As Dr. Bonaparte points out, marketers are often seen as focused only on the creative tasks people most readily recognize — picking colors, designing logos, or crafting clever taglines.

In reality, she emphasizes, the field is analytical and strategic, using data to make well-thought-out decisions. “Marketing is a broad and diverse field that is data-driven. It relies on both qualitative and quantitative analysis to develop strategies and tactics that produce positive business results,” Dr. Bonaparte clarifies.

Applied Learning in the Classroom

Dr. Bonaparte also brings the full weight of her corporate marketing background into the classroom. “My industry experience informs my teaching in a number of ways,” she shares.

She grounds theory in real-world examples: “I look for ways to intentionally incorporate brands and companies that students may be familiar with in order to provide examples of successes and challenges experienced by corporations.”

Instead of relying solely on traditional lectures, she favors applied learning. “I lean heavily on case studies rather than limiting my content to static presentations of theory and hypothetical applications,” she explains. “I have found doing so creates interest and engagement on the part of students.”

Dr. Bonaparte’s Role in NCCU Online’s BBA in Management Program

In her work as an associate professor in NCCU’s School of Business, Dr. Bonaparte plays a central role in shaping the online BBA in Management program. Her contributions span curriculum design, course assessment, course structure, and meaningful learning experiences connecting theory to practice.

A key component of that preparation begins with the program’s core courses.

As Dr. Bonaparte notes, “Within the BBA program, Management 3000 is a core course that introduces students to numerous business and leadership models … The core curriculum is in place to ensure that a foundation of skills within each discipline is established and has relevance across industries.” This gives students the versatility to navigate and excel in multiple industries.

A Community of Educational Excellence

When asked what sets NCCU Online’s BBA apart, Dr. Bonaparte points to both its community and its standards of excellence. “NCCU’s online program offers students an opportunity to be part of an educational experience and community that equips students with the skills, knowledge, and mindset for success as business leaders and innovators,” she says.

She adds that the program holds accreditation from the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), attesting to its adherence to excellence.

Through this blend of academic rigor, experiential learning, and industry relevance, Dr. Bonaparte helps ensure that NCCU Online’s BBA in Management program prepares students to thrive as the next generation of business leaders.

Fostering Community in Online Learning Environments

Because online education can sometimes feel isolating, Dr. Bonaparte creates opportunities for connection and collaboration, including open-agenda meetings.

“Periodically, students will be asked to participate in an optional Zoom meeting in which they can introduce themselves virtually and an open conversation is held regarding the course material and current events related to the course,” she elucidates.

Beyond optional virtual meetups, she embeds community-building into the course structure itself: “In addition to these Zoom calls, students are required to meet virtually, share their backgrounds and motivations for enrolling in the online program, and establish a ‘group charter’ that states the expectations they have of each other and how they will work together in an online environment on group assignments.”

Essential Skills for Today’s Business Landscape

Dr. Bonaparte believes that the modern business environment demands a blend of foundational competence along with critical and adaptive thinking.

“In addition to multidisciplinary awareness and appreciation and solid foundational skills, today’s business environment requires individuals to be agile and collaborative,” she explains.

With the rapid pace of information flow and the impact of AI in nearly every area of business and daily life, flexibility isn’t optional.

“Information comes too fast these days, so you have to be ready to adjust, and the volume of information is such that you will need others not only for their expertise in a certain area but to help you process and digest the information in order to create innovative and impactful solutions to problems,” she says.

Advice for Aspiring Leaders

For students who may not yet see themselves as leaders, Dr. Bonaparte offers reassurance — and a perspective shift.

“My advice here is simple. First, I will encourage them to work on changing their mindset,” she says. “Second, I would point out to them that by virtue of enrolling in the BBA in Management program, they are already leading.”

She reinforces this point with a powerful reference to noted author and management consultant Tom Peters: “Tom Peters is credited with saying, ‘We are CEOs of our own companies: Me Inc. To be in business today, our most important job is to be head marketer for the brand called You.’”

From Dr. Bonaparte’s perspective, investing in oneself and pursuing completion of a BBA degree qualifies as an important and noteworthy leadership activity in itself.

Invest in Your Future With a Degree in Management

Through her guidance, Dr. Bonaparte has helped develop business programs at NCCU that not only educate but also empower the next generation of business leaders. She teaches in and contributes to both the BBA in Management and MBA Flight Path programs.

If you’re ready to invest in your future and become an effective business leader, now’s the perfect time to begin. Whether you’re pursuing a career in marketing, management, or another business field, NCCU Online’s programs are designed to help you grow the skills, confidence, and leadership mindset to thrive in today’s fast-paced environment.

Explore NCCU Online’s BBA in Management and MBA Flight Path programs and start your journey today.

Recommended Readings:

Brand Manager vs. Marketing Manager: Roles Explained

Benefits of a Business Degree

How to Become a Financial Analyst

Sources:

FastCompany, “The Brand Called You”