Major: Marketing
Class Standing: Senior
What interests you about your major?
I chose Marketing as my major because I believed it could provide me with the skills and knowledge necessary to work in almost any industry for a broad spectrum of careers ranging from Advertising, Marketing Research, Public Relations, Sales Management, to Human Resources. Marketing courses have helped me develop effective communication, customer analysis, business plan development, and overall problem solving skills applicable to several career paths of interest.
What was your experience like studying abroad in London?
Participating in the Business in London study abroad program was one my personal UConn goals. Commitment to a full semester abroad is consistent with many of my decisions to become involved in ways that force me to step outside of my comfort zone and independently explore opportunities as a self-reliant young woman. The Business in London program was not only perfectly aligned with my academic goals, but was also an opportunity to satisfy several personal-development goals. Experiencing international travel and learning to adapt to foreign currency, customs, and local dialect gave me personal and professional skills I could not have learned in the classroom. Traveling across Europe influenced how I think about the world and allowed me to experience global challenges firsthand, now I feel comfortable collaborating with anyone, anywhere.
Can you tell us a little about your internship with Goldie London?
While I was abroad I had an internship assisting the Director of Marketing at a London fashion design firm. As a Marketing Intern at Goldie London I updated social media outlets, conducted collection viewings for retail clients, and assembled proposals for wholesale buyers, among many other things.
How did you obtain it?
Each student in the Business In London program works with a EUSA internship placement advisor. After a Skype interview where I discussed my interests, EUSA then found what they perceived to be a good fit and emailed me the company and position details. Their first suggestion was with Goldie London and I was thrilled. I interviewed with Goldie London upon arrival in London and began working with them in the second half of the semester.
What was your favorite part?
Experiencing the work-life culture in England was one of my favorite things while studying abroad. Some of my favorite aspects while working at Goldie London were the ability to work on projects independently, such as sample sale events, and collaborating with the Co-owner/Designer, Michelle Goldie on display layout techniques, promotional site set-up strategies, and other sales management tasks.
What was the most challenging aspect of it?
As a second semester Junior I had only taken one semester of major related courses. Performing daily marketing tasks and sales responsibilities without any relevant classroom or real world experiences was the most challenging part of the internship.
What’s the best part about working with Autism Speaks “U”?
Autism has touched my family, so my involvement is personal. When the UConn Autism Speaks U organization was looking for a Financial Officer, I jumped at the opportunity. I wanted to help build awareness and support for continuing research.
Are you involved in anything else on or off campus you would like to talk about?
I am the Marketing VP for UConn’s PSE Chapter, a professional coed fraternity centered on building sales, marketing, and management skills. I joined my sophomore year and it has been one of the best decisions I’ve made during my 4 years here. Through PSE I’ve made some of my best friends, been exposed to several professional development opportunities, networked with many of PSE National Corporate Sponsors, and have enjoyed traveling to the annual Regional and National Conventions with the rest of the chapter to places like Buffalo, New York, San Diego, California, Bryant University in RI, and to Houston, Texas this spring!
I’m also a member of the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) chapter here at UConn, founded in 2014. I enrolled after a HR Training & Development internship at Liberty Mutual this past summer; it has offered professional mentoring, networking, and general education in my field of interest.
How do you balance everything on top of a full course load?
Mindful planning and weekly prioritization. After my freshman year, I took the time to plan out my remaining semesters. I set aggressive goals and mapped out the classes I would need to satisfy all of them and still graduate in 4 years. Happy to say I did it, but sad to leave behind some of the best years of my life here at UConn.
What have you found to be most rewarding from your internship and leadership experience?
My internship and leadership experiences gained while at UConn have allowed me to grow both as a person and professionally. High involvement on campus has allowed me to truly reach a place where I am comfortable expressing myself, a trait I believe to be invaluable.
Where do you see yourself 5 years from now?
Upon graduation, I will begin my professional career as a Human Resource Associate at Liberty Mutual. In 5 years, I hope to have explored the various disciplines of Human Resource Management, solidified my interests, and advanced in a role I’m passionate about.
What has been your favorite part about being a UConn student?
Everything! UConn’s School of Business has provided me with a world-class academic degree, the University’s full range of extra-curriculum activities have offered exciting opportunities to grow, and campus life has been so much fun! I’m going to miss being here.
Based on your experiences, what advice would you give your fellow students?
Get involved, push yourself, and try things outside your comfort zone. Strive to be better than you were yesterday!
