What inspired you to pick your current major?

I have always been very interested in marketing from the creative side, like creating picture and video advertisements, and the analytical side, where you can specifically target a certain audience. There is so much to learn in marketing and there is no one correct answer to a question, which allows me to be myself and share my ideas freely. I am naturally a creative person, so marketing is a very important part of my day-to-day life.

How has being in the ARF WIDE Program affected your career path or university studies?

Being in the ARF WIDE Program has greatly affected my career path. It has pushed me out of my comfort zone and encouraged me to apply for internships that I would not have applied for otherwise. There is so much to learn from my mentors and everyone that my fellow scholars and I network with during our meetings. I have taken their feedback and applied it into my studies and professional roles, like networking with other professionals on LinkedIn and at work.

Tell us about your new position! What is your role and where is it? What will you be doing?

This summer, I was a Cadillac Digital Marketing Intern with General Motors in Detroit, Michigan. During this internship I touched a lot of different projects, like creating a series of videos for the Cadillac LYRIQ, creating an alternative personalization to Cadillac’s current website design, and other projects like managing weekly meetings, coordinating, and leading tours, and participating in research-based focus groups. This was an amazing experience and I learned so much not only from my manager, but from the entire Cadillac marketing team.

If money were no object, what would your dream job be?

If money was no object, my dream job would be something very similar to my last internship with General Motors. I would love to be a Product Marketing Specialist or Manager. This role would entail knowing everything about a certain vehicle and choosing how to market it to its target audience. I would love to do this type of role for cars or apparel. I learned so much from product marketers in Cadillac, and I really admired their admiration and knowledge about the products they were assigned to.

Where do you see yourself in five to ten years?

In five years, I see myself traveling around the world in my marketing role. In Spring of 2023, I studied abroad in London and did a lot of travelling to neighboring countries. I absolutely loved it, so I would love to travel more in the future in my future career. As I travel, I hope to learn new languages and explore different cultures, while learning how to market products in a completely different market.

What is your favorite hobby? Why do you enjoy it?

My favorite hobby is graphic design! I like expressing myself creatively, especially when I am taking a heavy courseload or am stressed with work. At my current apartment, I designed all of my own posters to decorate my bedroom, which I really enjoy because I can perfectly tailor my space to something that is very comfortable and perfect for me.

What is something you would tell your younger self?

I would tell my younger self to be more outgoing! As a child, I was very shy, and I was afraid to state my opinions to teachers or my peers. Sharing my ideas is never a bad thing, even if it is an unpopular opinion, so I wish I was able to do that since childhood. I know now that diverse opinions can move any project forward.