College Experiences That Helped a Brand Strategist and Business Consultant at JessKimia Consulting Succeed
Jessica, a Brand Strategist and Business Consultant, reflects that "being completely out of [their] element" in college, with diverse friends and experiences away from home, fostered significant personal growth and a new perspective crucial to their career. The internships, "key" to their development, provided valuable on-the-job learning and helped solidify their love for writing, leading to a successful career path.
Career Exploration, Networking, Internship Experience, Communication, Personal Growth
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Jessica Hekmat
Brand Strategist + Business Consultant
JessKimia Consulting
Boston University
MBA from UCLA Anderson School of Management
Communications
Consulting & Related Professional Services, Advertising, Communications & Marketing
Entrepreneurship and Business Owner
None Applicable
Video Highlights
1. Harnessing opportunities for growth, whether academic or personal, to differentiate oneself.
2. Taking advantage of internships to gain practical experience and develop professional skills like interviewing and presenting.
3. Embracing diverse perspectives and experiences by stepping outside one's comfort zone, such as studying abroad or making friends with diverse backgrounds.
Transcript
What did you do in undergrad to set you up for success in your career?
I think it's a funny question because I often think that I did not optimize the opportunities in undergrad. I graduated a year early and did a semester abroad, so I felt like my time there was very truncated. Also, I moved away from home for the first time and was so excited to have that freedom.
A lot of the learning I did in undergrad involved life skills. It was about figuring out how to make my way, meet new friends, and I did all the academic stuff. But I wish if I could go back, I would have joined more clubs and done more activities.
I also wish I had taken more advantage of the opportunities provided by the Alumni network and the career center. I went to school on the East Coast and was from LA, so I did my internships in LA. This created a bit of a disconnection between where I was going and where I was coming from. I actually wish I'd had more involvement in the academic and extracurricular aspects of undergrad.
What I do think served me very well was being completely out of my element. Most of my friends were either international or came from very different backgrounds than myself. I think that allowed me to have a new perspective on a lot of things. I also realized how much I loved writing in my PR classes, which allowed me to focus on those sorts of internships.
I think internships are key. You learn so much on the job, and also just getting comfortable with interviewing, presenting yourself as a candidate, making money, and realizing what that feels like and having that autonomy. A lot of the undergrad experience I had that set me up for success was really differentiating myself and growing as an independent person.
I didn't feel I had as much room to do that when I was living at my parents' house in my hometown with my home friends. So, I think it looks different for everyone. It's like whatever your greatest opportunity for growth is, I think that's what you should really harness in undergrad.
Advizer Personal Links
jesskimia.com, https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessicakimiabakhsh