Career Path of a Marketing and Strategy Consultant as an Entrepreneur
Athena's career path, shaped by a demanding college swimming career, began post-graduation with a sports and entertainment internship where a lack of prior work experience led to a focus on website and social media management; this "sort of just fell into the marketing track," which the consultant followed through various industries, building upon a foundation of digital marketing skills.
Career Exploration, Marketing, Social Media, Digital Marketing, Overcoming Challenges
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Athena Liao
Mktg. & Strategy Consultant, Entrepreneur
Independent Consulting Firm
Yale, 2012
UCLA Anderson School of Management, MBA
Psychology
Consulting & Related Professional Services
Entrepreneurship and Business Owner
Scholarship Recipient, Student Athlete
Video Highlights
1. While she didn't have internships during college due to her commitment to swimming, she emphasizes that this is okay and relatable for many students.
2. Her first internship after graduation was in the sports and entertainment industry, highlighting how diverse backgrounds can lead to unexpected career paths.
3. She fell into marketing by starting with website and social media tasks, showcasing how initial roles can shape future career direction within a broader field.
Transcript
Could you walk me through your career path, starting with your experiences in college? Did you have any internships or jobs before your current role?
I was a student athlete in college, a swimmer on the swim team. Because of that, pretty much my whole life at school revolved around practice and training.
This meant I didn't have the opportunity to complete a summer internship any of my college years. I was so focused on practices and improving my performance.
Unfortunately, because I lacked work experience, my first internship was after I graduated. This was a bit stressful, as my parents constantly asked what I was doing with my life.
I didn't have a clear idea of what I wanted to do after college. However, with my swimming background, I decided to explore the sports industry since it was something I knew a little about.
I was involved on campus with the student athlete advisory committee and also worked at the ticket booth. I figured that was a good place to start. It's common for people to feel uncertain and just have to pick a direction.
My first internship was at a sports and entertainment company. As the youngest person there, being a recent graduate, I was assigned to handle the website, social media, and digital aspects of things.
This was partly because other company members were less willing or knowledgeable in those areas. I sort of fell into the marketing track from there, as my first job involved website duties and social media management.
My career, from that point on, went through various industries, but it always stayed within marketing. I built upon that experience and held many different roles under the marketing umbrella.