From liberal arts to CEO
Randolph-Macon College alumna Candice Cabe ’03 is putting her best foot forward.
A Wareham, Massachusetts native, Cabe is the inventor, founder and CEO of Day2Night Convertible Heels—shoes that convert from high heels to lower heels. The economics and psychology major says that R-MC was a perfect fit for her.
“I wanted a school with a small-town atmosphere—and warmer weather than New England,” she says. “I also wanted a college where a significant number of students play Division III sports and are involved in extra-curricular activities.” Cabe, who was recruited to play field hockey, was impressed by the diversity on campus, and by the fact that students stayed on campus on weekends. “R-MC isn’t a ‘suitcase school,’ and that really appealed to me,” she says.
After graduating from R-MC, she worked for several high-tech software companies, and then started her own website-design and marketing company, before enrolling in graduate school. She recently earned her MBA, with a concentration in entrepreneurship, from Babson College in Massachusetts.
These days, Cabe, whose Day2Night heels are patent-pending, spends much of her time working on new products and ideas. In her spare time, she often trades her high heels for running shoes. An avid runner who competes in marathons and triathlons, her most recent half-marathon took place in Marblehead, Massachusetts, where she mistakenly wore the wrong pair of sneakers, resulting in painful blisters at mile three.
“It was a lesson learned, but I persevered,” she says. “A long-distance run is more of a mental sport.” Besides being physically active, Candice enjoys learning about nutrition and helping others achieve a healthy lifestyle.
“One of the books I’m currently reading is Sugar Shock, a book about the massive amounts of sugar Americans consume and the detrimental effects this has on our physical and mental states,” says Cabe, who has struggled with severe non-diabetic hypoglycemia. Although she has her feet firmly planted on the ground, she also dreams of taking to the skies.
“My dad is a pilot and I’ve always had a secret desire to get my pilot’s license,” she explains. “I was accepted into Embry -Riddle Aeronautical School at the same time I got into the MBA program. I decided to get my MBA instead. I have all my required hours; I just have to take my check-ride and I’ll have my private pilot’s license to fly small Cessna planes.”
The savvy entrepreneur offers advice to students who want to make the most of their college experience.
“Take advantage of as many travel experiences as possible,” says Cabe, who has fond memories of touring castles in England when she studied abroad during her senior year. “Get involved in extra-curricular activities. Prepare for grad school or the workforce. And have fun.”
Sounds like a shoe-in for success.
Paving the Way for Success
Rather than prepare students for one career, Randolph-Macon College prepares students for a lifetime of careers in an ever-changing world. Exceptional faculty work with students to cultivate their ability to think critically and analytically and to find creative solutions for solving problems. R-MC graduates are well-prepared for successful careers, often far outside of their areas of study.
The Randolph-Macon EDGE, the cornerstone of the Center for Personal and Career Development, helps Randolph-Macon students lead the pack when competing for jobs and top graduate schools. Students have the support of faculty, career coaches, alumni and staff as they focus on their personal and academic ambitions.
Students may choose to pursue paid or volunteer internships in a wide variety of settings. The Bassett Internship Program has been successfully placing students in academic internships both in the U.S. and around the globe for 30 years. Coordinated with the Center for Personal and Career Development, the program helps students identify their interests and matches them with an appropriate internship opportunity. Randolph-Macon’s alumni provide a strong network of support for students throughout their time at the college or in assisting them after graduation with career direction and opportunities.
The college’s Four-Year Degree Guarantee guarantees in writing that freshmen who meet the Four-Year Degree Guarantee requirements will graduate within four calendar years. If not, Randolph-Macon will waive tuition costs for courses needed to complete the degree. Currently, 95 percent of R-MC graduates complete their degree in four years or less—an important value-added benefit for parents to consider when visiting colleges with their students.
Study Abroad programs offer students a beyond-the-classroom global perspective and opportunities to immerse themselves in other cultures. Students can choose from a host of travel courses during January Term and semester-abroad programs.
The Schapiro Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) program gives students the opportunity to conduct 10 weeks of original research under the guidance of faculty mentors. Many students present their findings at national and international conferences.
Read more Alumni Success stories.