Humans of Kellogg: E&W Students Paige Kotecki, Sr. Category Development Analyst - Kroger, Mark Anthony Brands Inc. & Ryan Kitchel, Senior Supply Chain Planner, PepsiCo

The Gas Pedal and the Brakes

By: Nika Chugh, Staff Writer

Let’s set the stage. It’s January of 2019 at Indiana University and freshman Paige Kotecki is heading out to see some hometown friends. While out on the town, she bumps into upperclassman Ryan Kitchel, and the two get to chatting.

As Paige tells it, “Ryan introduced himself to me that night, and we have basically talked every day since.”

“I was an accounting tutor—obviously a popular topic with the ladies—and Paige was actually in the market for some accounting help, so we met the next Monday to review for her Intro to Accounting class,” said Ryan with a smirk in Paige’s direction. “What can I say? It works!”

E&W Students: Ryan Kitchel (left), Paige Kotecki (right) Credit: Gautam Chebrolu (VP of Photography)

Fast forward almost seven years later from their life-changing accounting study date (can you believe 2019 was that long ago?) and Paige and Ryan are still inseparable and now engaged. They’re now embarking on their next journey—getting their MBAs through Kellogg’s Evening & Weekend program together.

I’m interviewing the pair via Zoom, me from my apartment and the two of them from theirs. Through the screen, I can already tell how in sync they are. I mean, they’re even sharing a pair of headphones for this call.

From the start, Paige says their relationship felt different. “It was very trusting from the beginning. We’ve always been respectful and supportive of one another.” Possibly because love comes easy when you’ve already survived accruals together.

This trust was critical when they were long-distance for two years as Paige finished her undergraduate education in Indiana while Ryan started his professional life in Chicago. Despite being physically apart, Paige mentions that the strength and confidence of the relationship never wavered.

“We joke about this song by Def Leppard called ‘Two Steps Behind,’ and I feel like it really encompasses what our relationship has been. Every time I look back, Ryan is just right there.”

“We’re well balanced,” added Ryan, “We share a lot of interests but also have hobbies that are our own. We have a very even-keeled relationship, which is helpful now that we’re in a busy season of life.”

CPG Rockstars

Busy is an understatement for these two. Paige and Ryan are making their mark in the consumer packaged goods world, both coming to the industry through different paths.

Paige is a lifelong admirer of the CPG space, beginning from a childhood fascination with her mom’s love of private-label snacks. “It always bothered me that we had ‘Crispy Rice Squares’ while other kids had Rice Krispies. So I started to ask myself why I felt that way, and I became interested in how CPG products can be affordable luxuries. I wanted to know more about why consumers would choose a branded product.”

She followed this passion in college, eventually landing a sales internship with Mark Anthony Brands, the company behind White Claw hard seltzer and Mike’s Hard Lemonade. She is now a Sr. Category Development Analyst at the company, where she advises key account retailers and works directly with buyers to get big wins in the alcohol business.

Conversely, Ryan didn’t come to the industry through a love for CPG, but instead through an interest in finance and a desire to learn from a large organization.

“I loved working at Pepsi, but I found out I didn’t like finance, so I moved to operations, working on the floor of a manufacturing facility before moving into a strategy role. I like problem-solving and seeing how the work I’m doing is making a difference. There’s a visible, tangible output to every decision in this industry, so it’s easy to connect the dots and work through problems.”

Somehow, Even Busier

Deciding to come to Kellogg was an easy decision for Paige, due to her love of academia and the classroom environment.

“I think it allows for trying new things and failing without risks involved. Additionally, we have one of the best programs right in our backyard—so it was a no-brainer.”

Ryan was initially more indifferent to the prospect of getting an MBA, until Paige convinced him to come to Chicago campus for a Preview Day.

“I was like…you want me to spend my whole Saturday at school? But once I got there, I realized I actually loved it. The whole time, I kept looking at her and making excited faces, circling things in the brochure. They really got me on that day.”

So the two embarked on their application journeys, eventually both getting accepted and starting their MBA programs—Ryan beginning in the Spring and Paige following two quarters later in the Fall.

“I didn’t mind being the guinea pig, and then I knew I could be a resource for Paige when she started. I just helped her through her first bidding process, making sure she got all of the best professors for her next quarter.” Ryan joked.

Page and Ryan enjoying one of their favorite pastimes: college football!

Paige continued, “Juggling school and class was really overwhelming to start. I feel so privileged to have someone who has already gone through this and could remind me that we were more than capable of handling this busier schedule.”

Paige and Ryan are both “routine freaks” as they put it, starting the day at 6 am and running full speed ahead until they get home late at night. Their weekends are full of studying, catching up on life and this season—watching college football with their tight-knit group of friends.

“These weekly habits keep us on schedule and grounded. For us, it’s all about prioritizing. There are things we used to do that we don’t do as much, but we’re making this conscious decision to invest in ourselves and that comes with trade-offs.”

Lean on Me

The two have a palpable respect for each other. Ryan always lets Paige speak first when I ask a question and then adds on his commentary when she’s done. When Ryan speaks, Paige listens earnestly every time. This quiet support shows up in their day-to-day lives as well.

“Nothing in life can be done alone. Honestly, I can’t do anything without Paige. I had knee surgery last year and I would’ve totally been in trouble if I didn’t have her. Being with your people is what life is really about. Education is good, career is good but family is everything.” Ryan added.

Paige continued, “‘It’s important for us to surround ourselves with people that we can be really honest with. I’m the type of person that tries to do everything at all times, and this experience has really been an exercise in openly communicating with myself, my community and with Ryan about what I can actually do.”

Paige and Ryan, all smiles

The two got a kick out of that comment, reminiscing on a time when Paige had to admit she had too much on her plate to plan a Halloween party for their friend group. Ryan commented, “Sometimes, she’s doing too much!”

“Ryan is really good at reminding me when I bite off more than I can chew,” Paige added. “He’s the rational one in our relationship. I’m the dreamer, the one that wants to push to the limits, and Ryan is very grounded.”

As Ryan so aptly summarizes, “She’s the gas pedal, and I’m the brakes.”

From my point of view, their two roles are essential. No car functions without a gas pedal and brakes, and their relationship has benefitted from this dynamic. Paige dreamed and pushed them to consider Kellogg; Ryan pragmatically staggered their start dates to give them the room to support each other. This give and take, push and pull dynamic seems to be the key to this couple’s success.

As I reflect on my interview with Ryan and Paige, it’s clear to me that the two of them approach their relationship with one goal in mind: support each other, no matter what. This means making time for their weekly Thursday night dinners, giving each other advice when it’s time to bid on classes and keeping each other sane during finals week. In an environment that can feel very hectic and overwhelming, Ryan and Paige are truly a breath of fresh air. Read More Humans of Kellogg Profiles: Keanan Crasto (2Y '27): The JV Who is Basically Doing Kellogg Twice Isabelle Hofgaertner (2Y '26), Former Nike Intern A JV Who's A Boothie! Chevy Chen (Kellogg E&W), United Airlines John Gilmore (JV)