I have found that one of the most rewarding things I’ve had the privilege of doing has been to give someone their first job. We all have that memory – who we met, what we were wearing, the feeling of excitement and relief when we heard we got the job. Creating that memory and that opportunity for someone is truly a privilege. The young people I meet are so inspiring, their paths so different from one another’s, their life challenges so different from mine. It is daunting to enter the workforce, especially now. So we’ve thought a lot about how to make that transition easier, how to prepare people sooner, for the jobs they ultimately want and that’s how we came to be connected to AEF. We participated in the Visiting Professor Program to form connections with professors, building a bridge to their talented students, and educating them on what we are up to so that their curriculum could include subjects that address the modernization of the media world.
Be courageous. I was given many opportunities in my career that I seldom felt ready for. But the things that scared me the most turned out to be the greatest opportunities of my career.
Professor Jane Kolodinsky at University of Vermont. I had no idea what I wanted to do for a living and there’s so much pressure on choosing a major and finding your lane. I finally attended one of her classes and was fascinated. It was a class on Consumer Behavior and was one of the classes that I most looked forward to each week. I felt something click and that I finally found what I wanted to do. She was also a very dynamic teacher – early in her career, very relatable, always on her feet, running around the classroom.
Feeling as though I have a hand in helping people. Helping them land their first job, helping them navigate their career, watching them grow and succeed. It gives me purpose and fulfillment.
