College Experiences That Helped a Loyalty Marketing Analyst at Williams Sonoma Succeed
Steve, a Loyalty Marketing Analyst, advises that college is a time for self-discovery, "learning how to be a person" and identifying "what type of work is interesting," rather than solely focusing on a specific major directly applicable to a future career. This period allows exploration of work styles and personal tendencies—a "safe place to try and figure it out"—before entering the professional world.
Career Exploration, Self-Awareness, Work-Life Balance, Quantitative Skills, Interpersonal Skills
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Steve Masline
Analyst, Loyalty Marketing
Williams Sonoma
University of Michigan, 2017
M.B.A. at UCLA Anderson School of Management, 2023
Philosophy
Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG)
Communication and Marketing
Took Out Loans
Video Highlights
1. Explore diverse majors: Steve's path demonstrates that a business major isn't mandatory for a business career. He emphasizes the importance of self-discovery and understanding one's work style and interests, which can be explored through various academic paths.
2. Develop strong work habits: College provides a safe environment to experiment with workload management, stress response, and time prioritization – crucial skills for any career.
3. Self-reflection is key: Steve highlights the value of identifying personal interests and tendencies (quantitative work, teamwork) during college to guide career choices and ensure a fulfilling professional life. Don't be afraid to experiment and have fun!
Transcript
What's interesting for me is that I didn't have a business major. Now I'm doing business, and you don't need a business major to do it.
But I came back to school to learn a lot of those skills.
I don't have a direct, applicable school major that applies to what I'm doing now. My engineer friends learned engineering to become engineers.
When I was taking notes before this, I was thinking about it. It started as a joke, but I essentially learned how to be a person. I learned how to handle a heavy workload and how to prioritize.
I explored whether I hate being overworked or get excited by having a lot to do. I considered how I react to stress – do I shy away from things, or lean into them? I learned about my tendencies and my personality.
I also discovered what type of work is interesting to me. Initially, it was quantitative work and working with people. I've adjusted that since, but taking that first stab at it in school was a safe place to try and figure things out.
For me, it was a process of growing up and learning to recognize my interests and who I want to be. It was also about having fun and not letting the need to figure out my career bog me down during this enjoyable time in my life.