College Experiences That Helped A CEO And Co-Founder At Nuñez The People's Agency Succeed
Ray maximized the college experience by immersing themself in extracurriculars, from the newspaper to student government, and leadership roles like president of multiple clubs, which exposed them to diverse networks and professional development opportunities that "catapulted this accelerated track to run [their] own business 10 years later." Unlike classmates who just wanted to go home after class, Ray emphasized the importance of being active and proactive, investing time to build connections and gain valuable experiences.
Extracurricular Activities, Leadership, Networking, Professional Development, Time Management
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Ray Nuñez
CEO, Co-Founder
Nuñez, The People's Agency
Johnson & Wales University
Film, Media Arts, Visual Arts
Advertising, Communications & Marketing
Business Strategy
Honors Student, Scholarship Recipient, Pell Grant Recipient, Took Out Loans, Immigrant, Worked 20+ Hours in School, First Generation College Student
Video Highlights
1. Join clubs and organizations to expand your network and gain diverse experiences. Ray joined the newspaper, student government, a design club, and a product development group, eventually becoming president of several.
2. Take advantage of professional development opportunities recommended by professors. Ray emphasized his eagerness to participate in these programs.
3. Be proactive and invest your time in campus activities. Ray noted that active engagement is crucial for making connections and gaining recognition, contrasting it with classmates who just went to class and went home.
Transcript
What did you do in college to set you up for success?
Everything. I got my money's worth out of college. As I mentioned earlier, I was in and out in three years with my bachelor's. They had an accelerated track, and I didn't want to stay longer than I needed to.
From the first day I went to the club fair, where you start meeting all the organizations, I joined the newspaper. I was a photographer and a writer for them. I also joined student government, as I've always been very politically active.
I did it all. That was the best way to get my money's worth and absorb the experience. I became the president of the Student Government Association, president of a design club, and president of a group that did product development. All of that exposed me to different communities and networks on campus.
Anytime a professor recommended a professional development opportunity, I was on it. I was always the one who signed up for those things. That's what catapulted this accelerated track to running my own business 10 years later. My first job out of college was because of a leadership program I participated in.
It was obvious to me because I knew what I wanted, but I saw so many classmates who just wanted to go home after class. That's not enough. You have to be active and proactive in that space, and your professors and people on campus will remember that. It's the easiest thing because it's just your time. You're not spending money; you're putting yourself out there and investing your time.