College Experiences That Helped A Senior Growth Marketing Manager At Marketing Agency Succeed
Alina, a Senior Growth Marketing Manager, recommends undertaking "outside projects" during college to discover passions and explore career interests, citing their own experience with a modeling project that unexpectedly led to talent management opportunities and international work. Broadening perspectives through travel, even domestically, is also emphasized as a crucial factor in career development, contributing to a wider perspective.
Career Exploration, Project Management, Communication, Travel, Broadening Perspective
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Alina FItsai
Senior Growth marketing Manager
Marketing Agency
Irkutsk State University, 2013
UCLA Anderson School of Management, 2024
Creative Writing, Journalism
Advertising, Communications & Marketing
Communication and Marketing
International Student, Scholarship Recipient, Immigrant, Worked 20+ Hours in School, First Generation College Student
Video Highlights
1. Engage in outside projects to explore passions and discover unexpected career paths.
2. Travel to broaden perspectives and gain diverse experiences.
3. Actively seek opportunities to develop skills and grow in your role.
Transcript
What did you do in undergrad to set you up for success in your career?
I would say have an outside project, something going on outside of your school. It's such a good way to explore and understand what you're actually passionate about. In theory, you can find things interesting.
But once you actually start doing something, you might find that you're interested in completely different things. What helped me a lot was having this modeling project. Even though I wasn't passionate about modeling, I thought, "Okay, this is an opportunity. Let's see what it turns into."
It gave me a good opportunity to be a talent manager, travel to different countries, and grow in my role. So, I would say, have something, make a film, or try to build a website, whatever it is. Ideally, it's something different from what you study, just to try and understand what you actually like.
The other thing I would say is travel. It definitely helped me. I went abroad and had the opportunity to work and have the job I had. Travel always helps to broaden our perspective.
Sometimes, even if you don't have the opportunity for international travel, you can travel to a different state, a different climate, or a different culture. Just something a little bit different from your day-to-day life. You might not feel an immediate impact, but it definitely affects and broadens your perspective.