College Experiences That Helped a VP Retail Partnerships at Blendjet Succeed
Erin, VP of Retail Partnerships at Blendjet, advises college students to focus on developing strong work habits—"managing a schedule, meeting deadlines, working on group projects"—rather than solely on specific coursework. The transferable skills gained from consistent class attendance and assignment completion are, in their experience, more valuable for career success than a particular academic major.
Time Management, Self-Discipline, Group Project Skills, Meeting Deadlines, Transferable Skills
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Erin Kristovich
VP Retail Partnerships
Blendjet
Washington University in St. Louis
NYU Stern Business School
Spanish & Other Languages, English
Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG)
Sales and Client Management
Video Highlights
1. Engage in classes that genuinely interest you to foster better engagement and learning.
2. Develop strong time management, meet deadlines, and collaborate effectively on group projects.
3. Cultivate the habit of consistent attendance and high standards for yourself, as these are transferable skills crucial for success in the professional world.
Transcript
I took classes just based off of what I was interested in in undergrad.
I tried to find professors that I knew were really good. I think that actually ended up serving me well because I was more engaged in those classes since it was what I was interested in.
I didn't feel a ton of pressure to take a business class or a computer science class in order to have success later on. I really think using that time in undergrad to learn how to manage a schedule, meet deadlines, work on group projects, and participate in class were the most transferable skills to working.
It doesn't necessarily matter what classes you're taking; it's just about getting into good habits. Don't skip classes or assignments, because you can't do that in real life. It's better to just get in the habit of showing up in undergrad. Then, you'll be expected to have high standards for yourself coming into your first job out of undergrad.