How Identity Has Influenced a Global Marketing and Communications Intern at Sonoco Products Company's Career
Precious's experience as a first-generation international student fostered "resilience," enabling a successful transition from five years of Zambian marketing experience to a new US-based role. The confidence gained from prior success, coupled with a commitment to "hardworking, inquisitive, [and] curious" principles, allowed Precious to overcome initial anxieties and thrive in their unfamiliar environment.
Resilience, International Student Experience, Marketing, Global Business, Confidence
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Precious Gozwa
Global Marketing and Communications Intern
Sonoco Products Company
Copperbelt University
Arizona State University (ASU) - W. P. Carey - MBA with a major in Marketing
Business & Related, Business Management & Admin
Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG)
Communication and Marketing
International Student
Video Highlights
1. Precious's journey as a first-generation international student highlights the importance of resilience and adaptability in navigating a new career landscape.
2. Her pre-existing marketing experience provided a strong foundation, showcasing the value of transferable skills.
3. Precious emphasizes the significance of core personal attributes like hard work, curiosity, and a willingness to learn in overcoming challenges and achieving career success in a new environment.
Transcript
As someone who identifies as a first-generation international student, how has that impacted how you've navigated your career?
This has, in a way, given me a sense of resilience. Coming to the US, I wasn't sure what to expect in the work industry, how work is done, or what tools were used. I had five years of marketing experience, which gave me confidence.
I was working in an environment I was familiar with, where I knew my market and my customers. I'm Zambian, and my customers were Zambian. This gave me confidence and awareness that I knew anything around Zambia. I knew how to market, who to talk to, and who the suppliers were.
Coming to the US and navigating being a first-generation international student, pursuing an MBA, and moving into a totally new industry was a little scary at first. I wasn't even sure where to start.
But just having the confidence that I'd come so far, I could use what got me into the MBA program. It was being resilient, being true to myself, and being hardworking. If I applied the same principles, I would thrive anywhere.
It gave me confidence that even though I'm working in an unfamiliar, much bigger territory serving a wider range of customers, I have to keep my same principles: values, being hardworking, inquisitive, curious, and willing to go above and beyond and be open to learning.
This has really helped me thrive. It has helped me drown the voices of doubt that I can't do it or I can't make it. Knowing that I'm a hardworking person, I keep my values, and I'm a curious person open to learning has helped me succeed in my career in the US.