College Experiences That Helped a Digital Media Manager at an Investment Management Company Succeed
Lisa's extensive involvement in college rugby, initially perceived as detracting from academic pursuits, unexpectedly became a significant career asset; "almost every job interview...has been 50% of the time people being like...that's so interesting. That's so cool," highlighting the value of pursuing passions and demonstrating leadership outside traditional career paths. This experience led Lisa to advise undergraduates to "have fun, do what you're passionate about," emphasizing that time invested in personal interests is not wasted.
Leadership, Teamwork, Communication, Passion, Extracurricular Activities
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Lisa Li
Digital Media Manager
Investment Management Company
Northeastern University, 2019
UCLA Anderson School of Management
Marketing
Finance (Banking, Fintech, Investing)
Communication and Marketing
LGBTQ
Video Highlights
1. Engage in extracurricular activities and passions: Lisa's extensive involvement in rugby, including promotional work and mentoring, became a major asset in her job interviews. Employers were impressed by her leadership, dedication, and diverse interests.
2. Don't regret pursuing passions: Lisa initially worried about dedicating time to rugby, fearing it would hinder her career. However, she now sees it as her greatest strength, highlighting the importance of pursuing passions without regret.
3. Highlight transferable skills: Lisa's experience in rugby demonstrated leadership, dedication, and organizational skills – all highly valued in the professional world. Focus on showcasing how your extracurricular activities demonstrate transferable skills relevant to your career goals.
Transcript
What did you do in undergrad to set you up for success in your career?
When I was an undergrad, I didn't see this as positively as I do now. Reflecting back, I was heavily involved in sports and within the community, specifically rugby. I spent all my extra time there.
This included helping my own team with promotional aspects, like ensuring the next generation had content templates and branding guidelines to use. I also did this for teams beyond my college team.
At the time, I thought I was stretching myself too thin and giving too much time to these hobbies. It turns out that has been my greatest asset.
Almost every job interview I've had since then has involved people asking about my rugby involvement. They're often curious about what rugby is or what I did. They seem to find it interesting and cool, seeing it as a sign of leadership, dedication, and having interests beyond traditional career-advancing activities.
I almost regretted it a little in college, but now, several years removed, it's definitely been the biggest talking point. People love it. Now that I've accepted that I did what was best for me at the time, I don't regret it and lean into it. It truly has been my greatest asset.
So, for undergrads, have fun and do what you're passionate about. It really shows. It doesn't have to be that you've done ten consulting cases. What do you really like to do? It's okay if you spend time doing it. You're not wasting your time or setting yourself back.