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Guanyu, Digital Media Strategy & Analytics, MBA Intern at Fortune 500 Entertainment Company: Advize Career Interview
From biomedical engineering to digital media strategy, this career path showcases an inspiring journey fueled by curiosity and strategic thinking.
This individual leveraged an MBA to transition into the fast-paced world of entertainment, tackling ambiguity by transforming data into actionable strategies for a Fortune 500 company.
Interpersonal skills, a foundation in analytics, and a passion for understanding market trends are key to thriving in this industry.
This professional emphasizes the importance of communication, building a strong support system, and staying true to self, even when facing unexpected challenges as an Asian American in male-dominated fields, making this a role worth exploring for anyone who loves problem-solving and strategic innovation.
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Guanyu Liu
Digital Media Strategy & Analytics, MBA Intern
Fortune 500 Entertainment Company
University of California, Irvine
University of California, Los Angeles; MBA
Engineering - Biomedical
Arts, Entertainment & Media
Business Strategy
Honors Student, Scholarship Recipient, Immigrant, Worked 20+ Hours in School
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Career Path Of A Digital Media Strategy And Analytics MBA Intern At An Entertainment Company
Guanyu's career path began with a biomedical engineering degree fueled by a love for biology and problem-solving, leading to a manufacturing engineering role at Edwards Life Sciences. To enhance business acumen and understand company strategy, Guanyu pursued an MBA at UCLA Anderson, gravitating towards entertainment and strategy, which eventually led to "a four month stitt at an NA intern at a Japanese mobile gaming company" and the current role as an MBA intern in digital media strategy and analytics.
Main Responsibilities of a Digital Media Strategy and Analytics MBA Intern at an Entertainment Company
In the role of a digital media strategy and analytics intern, Guanyu transforms data into strategic recommendations for e-commerce and news businesses by creating visualizations that "tell a story" and developing actionable next steps; this analytical background provides valuable insights to the team, especially given "the prevalence of data".
A Day In The Life Of A Digital Media Strategy And Analytics MBA Intern At Fortune 500 Entertainment Company
An MBA intern in digital media and strategy spends "a lot of time collaborating" with data analytics teams in New York and Los Angeles, as well as meeting with producers to strategize for upcoming segments. The role also involves significant work in "Excel and PowerPoint," indicating a focus on data analysis and presentation skills.
Most Important Skills For a Digital Media Strategy and Analytics MBA Intern at a Fortune 500 Entertainment Company
Guanyu emphasizes the importance of interpersonal skills, stating that "being open-minded" and "coming from a place of understanding the other person" is crucial when collaborating with diverse partners, along with a foundation in analytics including statistics, SQL, Excel modeling, or Tableau skills, which can be acquired through resources like Coursera.
Favorite Parts of Being a Digital Media Strategy and Analytics MBA Intern at a Fortune 500 Entertainment Company
Guanyu enjoys working in ambiguity to determine the company's strategic next steps, taking market trends, industry insights, and consumer feedback as "puzzle pieces" to create solutions for leadership and the company. This passion for connecting disparate information to forge strategic paths appears well-suited to a career in Digital Media Strategy & Analytics.
Biggest Challenges Faced By A Digital Media Strategy MBA Intern At A Fortune 500 Entertainment Company
The biggest challenge for Guanyu in the Digital Media Strategy & Analytics role is "figuring out which questions to ask" due to the inherent ambiguity of the role. To combat this, Guanyu leverages structured frameworks like the "five whys" from Lean Six Sigma and consulting frameworks to add structure to the ambiguity and better define the problem-solving direction.
Favorite Parts of Working in the Entertainment Industry as a Digital Media Strategy and Analytics MBA Intern
Guanyu enjoys the fast-paced nature of the entertainment industry and the constant learning opportunities it provides, a stark contrast to the slower moving medical device field where product launches could take "like somewhere for between like 10 to 15 years." This rapid pace, especially with emerging trends like AI and the evolving streaming landscape, is what Guanyu finds most engaging.
What Type Of Person Thrives In The Entertainment Industry, According To A Digital Media Strategy And Analytics MBA Intern At A Top Entertainment Company
To thrive in the digital media strategy and analytics industry, according to Guanyu, one must "love ambiguity" and possess the ability to straddle both the strategic and data analysis aspects; a "strategic mindset" coupled with a granular understanding of how specific factors impact high-level business goals is invaluable in today's market.
What a Digital Media Strategy and Analytics MBA Intern at a Fortune 500 Entertainment Company Wishes They Had Known Before Entering the Entertainment Industry
Guanyu wishes one had known where to look to understand industry and market trends before entering the digital media strategy and analytics field. Resources like "The Town" podcast, Statista, and Pew Research Center would've been helpful to "understand...how the market is going."
Entry-level Positions for Aspiring Digital Media Strategy and Analytics MBA Interns
Guanyu acknowledges the difficulty in answering due to their unconventional background in engineering and medical devices. To break into the digital media strategy and analytics field, Guanyu recommends acquiring technical skills through online courses and certifications in SQL, Python, or R, and developing a strategic mindset through reading and internships where companies are more open to training.
Significant Career Lesson From A Digital Media Strategy And Analytics MBA Intern At A Fortune 500 Entertainment Company
Guanyu emphasizes that "communication and soft skills" have been the most significant lesson learned, playing a much larger role than anticipated, especially coming from an engineering background where technical solutions were prioritized. They highlight the importance of understanding stakeholders' positions and focusing efforts on those who are resistant to a plan, underscoring that even the smartest individuals can face setbacks if "people don't like working with you."
College Experiences That Helped a Digital Media Strategy and Analytics MBA Intern at an Entertainment Company Succeed
Guanyu attributes career success to intentionally building a strong support system by joining a professional engineering fraternity, which provided crucial resources like interview training, resume assistance, and mentorship that extended even to MBA application support; furthermore, pursuing passions like being an orientation leader helped build crucial soft skills, emphasizing the importance of "pursuing what you enjoy doing, but also...trying to surround yourself with great people."
How Identity Has Influenced a Digital Media Strategy and Analytics MBA Intern's Career at a Fortune 500 Entertainment Company
As an Asian American woman in a male-dominated manufacturing environment, Guanyu faced unexpected "backlash" for speaking up, a response partly fueled by stereotypes about Asian women being meek. The biggest challenge was realizing the importance of considering "external factors" rather than solely focusing on self-improvement and staying true to who one is and continuing to speak up even when faced with adversity.
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