College Experiences That Helped a Director of Sales and Marketing at Santa Monica Proper Hotel Succeed
Erin's strategic approach to undergraduate studies, focusing on event management internships and jobs aligned with their career goals, directly led to their first role at the New York Palace Hotel—a surprising career path given their initial aversion to the hotel industry; this highlights the importance of acquiring relevant skills early in one's career journey.
Strategic Career Planning, Internships and Experience, Skills Development, Event Management, Hospitality Industry
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Erin Bennett
Director of Sales and Marketing
Santa Monica Proper Hotel
Boston University 2008
UCLA EMBA 2023 (expected graduation June 2023)
Hospitality Administration
Hospitality, Restaurants & Events
Sales and Client Management
Took Out Loans, Greek Life Member
Video Highlights
1. Be strategic in choosing jobs and internships that align with your career goals.
2. Gain practical experience in your field of interest through internships.
3. Don't be afraid to explore different career paths; your interests and goals may evolve over time.
Transcript
What did you do in undergrad to set you up for success in your career?
I was very strategic in my undergrad to take jobs that aligned with my major and with the career I wanted after college. It's funny, but I had said in undergrad I never, ever, ever want to work for a hotel.
"That's not why I'm here. I can't imagine myself working for a hotel," and my first job was... I worked in hotels for almost 15 years now.
But I knew I wanted to be in events to start out with, so I took jobs and found internships where I could focus on the skills needed to manage, run, and sell events. That set me up for my first job and is what got my foot in the door at the New York Palace.