College Experiences That Helped a Sales Enablement Specialist at Viant Technology Succeed
Natalie believes that "constantly sharpening [the] ability to critically think and communicate [her] ideas" during college set the foundation for success as a Sales Enablement Specialist, and that the work and internship experiences gained allowed for a faster transition to the real world. She also emphasizes the importance of developing relationships with peers, professors, and mentors, as "those relationships have got [her] much further than any grade [she] got on a test."
Critical Thinking, Communication Skills, Internships, Networking, Real-World Experience
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Natalie Paterson
Sales Enablement Specialist
Viant Technology
Chapman University
Chapman University | M.S. Food Science
Chemistry
Technology, Advertising, Communications & Marketing
Sales and Client Management
Scholarship Recipient, Transfer Student
Video Highlights
1. Focused on sharpening critical thinking and communication skills: This was seen as beneficial, even without initially realizing its direct impact.
2. Gained diverse work and internship experiences: These experiences provided real-world skills and facilitated a smoother transition into the business world.
3. Developed relationships with peers, professors, and mentors: These connections broadened perspectives, opened doors, and provided valuable support and opportunities.
Transcript
What did you do in college that set you up for success in your career?
I definitely had to think about this question. In college, I focused on sharpening my ability to critically think and communicate my ideas. I now see that this benefited me, though at the time I didn't know exactly what I was doing.
I broadened my horizons and took classes that intrigued me, beyond the core classes required for my degrees. By focusing on my ability to think critically and communicate, I was able to land many work and internship experiences throughout college.
If I had to do it all over again, I would do even more of those internships and work experiences. They opened my eyes to real-world skills outside of academia. These experiences helped me merge into the business world much faster.
I gained confidence in my ability to communicate, which allowed me to open doors that otherwise would not have opened. I was able to do this even though I was a novice, fresh out of college.
Last but not least, I made sure to develop relationships with my peers, professors, and mentors. These are the people who broaden your perspectives, open doors, write letters of recommendation, and suggest opportunities. These relationships have gotten me much further than any grade I got on a test or specific class I took. It's a "who you know, not what you know" situation a lot of times in life.