Vandy on Madison Avenue – Spring Break 2015

At the Center for Student Professional Development, we work with students to reflect on their interests and experiences and identify themes and threads that tie them together. These themes and threads are clues  – clues which help guide students in their search and help them think through their next steps.

We asked VMA students to take a photo and write a blog post to reflect on their experience on the trip.  Here are some themes and threads that emerged from the visits and conversations on the trip:

• Embracing risk and ambiguity. Students want certainty, but need to be comfortable stepping out of their comfort zone and embracing risk.
• Connections are everything. Especially in the arts/media/communications/entertainment industries.
• Be open to all of the possibilities. Twelve years ago Facebook didn’t exist.  Be open to the rapidly changing landscape in these industries.  The job you will be doing ten years from now may not even exist right now!

This photo is of an event that occurred not directly through one of the events scheduled on our trip, but rather as we were walking back from NBCUniversal to our hotel on the streets of New York. A couple of members of the group we were walking with excitedly noticed that Tim Gunn was standing a few feet away on the street, and was apparently interviewing people with a camera crew. As they walked over to see if they could be interviewed, the producer said that they could, but that they were currently interested in getting a few guys to do one as well. Being the only guy in the group at the time, I was urged to step up and did. I told the producer that first, I did not even really know who Tim Gunn was outside of seeing a few TV commercials with him on them, and second, if this interview was going to be about fashion as I assumed it would be then I would have very little value to add. I was told instead that Mr. Gunn had written a book recently about mentoring and effective teaching and guidance, and that these interviews were simply questions relating to those topics.

As he asked me about what I thought made a good mentor, and if I had experience with mentors in my life, I answered the questions as best as I could. But afterwards, I applied it to one of the lessons that we had learned on this trip. Although it may seem like all that matters at this stage is getting a job or getting an internship, so it is tempting to simply take the first decent offer you get, many of our speakers urged us to turn the tables on the job search and focus more on what organization is best for us. A large part of that comes from organizational culture, and a willingness to empower and invest in their employees, even at the lower levels and entry level positions that we will most likely start in. I thought about the importance of having a mentor, someone that cares about you and your career path and is there to help, and realized that this is exactly a criteria to judge organizations on – is the environment one where you could see a more experienced employee reaching out to help guide you, potentially as a mentor, or is it every man for themselves? I think if you can answer yes to the former, that qualifies that organization as one that is worth working at and potentially a good fit, and I think Tim Gunn would agree.

This trip allowed us to hear from some professionals with tremendous experience and insight at a number of prominent companies and organizations, and I think one of the biggest takeaways of their advice at the end of the day is to remember that chasing a job at one of the “big” name companies simply to work there may seem like a good idea during the application and search process, but its extremely important to think about your long-term career and how best to set you up for success beyond just your 20s. And finding a place with the right organizational culture, perhaps one where you could see yourself finding a mentor, is something that needs to be highly considered for the good of your long-term career.

-Daniel Abend

The Vanderbilt on Madison Avenue trip was one of the most exciting experiences I’ve had through school so far. I am grateful for the many opportunities we had to connect with alumni at various amazing companies and for all the knowledge I’ve gained about what life would be like working in the entertainment industry. Of all the incredible places we toured, Viacom was by far my favorite. I really appreciated that three out of the four people who spoke to us were Vanderbilt alumni; it made their jobs seem much more attainable. I loved the fun, hard-working, social, and intelligent atmosphere of the company, and overall, it really felt like a similar environment to Vanderbilt. Here, just like every other company we visited, I learned a really important thing that I hadn’t yet heard: getting a job in the entertainment industry is much different than getting one in any other industry. Jobs are generally not confirmed or guaranteed until after a person graduates and is able to immediately start working. As difficult and scary as that is for someone who always likes to plan one step ahead, it was a necessary realization to come to.

Other than that, I really loved that Jim Balbirer, a senior VP at Viacom, spoke to us about what made Vanderbilt students stand out among other candidates. It was wonderful to hear that being social and understanding how to develop connections is a skill that Vanderbilt students automatically learn just by being students at our incredible university. It was also inspiring to hear how much of an impact Vanderbilt has made on his life.

The photo from above is from our visit to the Facebook headquarters in New York City. I chose this photo because it really depicts how I see NYC: grand, colorful, busy, and vibrant. It was my first time in New York, and so in addition to really experiencing the entertainment industry first-hand, VMA also allowed me to explore a place that I’d always wanted to visit. New York lived up to all my expectations and more. It was just as exciting, big-city-feeling as I’d hoped, and I truly could imagine myself living there one day. All in all, VMA was the best spring break trip I could have hoped for!

-Siri Yelamanchili

This past weekend with Vanderbilt on Madison Avenue was definitely an experience that I will never forget, and I am so beyond thankful for the opportunity to participate. To summarize the trip, it was almost like an extended networking event but even better. We were able to hear from some of the most successful figures in the entertainment industry, many of them who are actually Vanderbilt alumni. Getting the chance to hear their stories and pathways to success was extremely inspiring, and I learned valuable tips that I will be able to keep for a lifetime. Despite the snow and hardships of navigating through the streets and metros of New York City, the trip was absolutely amazing.

Although I can honestly say that I loved the entire trip, my favorite part would have to be our visit to Viacom. Right in the middle of the hustle and bustle of Time Square, Viacom houses some of the largest and most prominent television networks. We were able to get a sneak peek at the Viacom building (which was amazing), and meet with the executive vice president of MTV, Jim Balbirer. Through him, I learned some amazing things that I think will continue to really benefit me in my professional life. Not only were we able to gain valuable information, see amazing business buildings and build great networks, we also had some fun. One of the most random but exciting parts of the trip was being interviewed by Tim Gunn after randomly passing him on the street. In addition, we also got to see the New York headquarters of Facebook, which was absolutely mind-blowing.

Participating in the VMA program was so much more than a learning opportunity. It helped me further pave the way to my future as well as give me an inside look at the media and entertainment industry. I truly believe that all of us who participated got the experience of a lifetime, and it was not something I would have ever been able to do if it wasn’t for the program. I cannot recommend participating in Vandy on Madison Avenue enough, and would not have rather spent my spring break any other way!

-Mackenzie Smith

After numerous canceled and delayed flights, I had finally arrived at the LaGuardia airport- ready for my Madison Avenue detour to begin. Since I had missed Monday’s events, I was eager to explore the area the next day, and create a meaningful network of people working at many different companies. On Tuesday, our day started bright and early; we started off with a lecture from the Senior Vice President of MTV Networks at Viacom and his fellow Ad Sales associates. I’ve never explored the realm of Ad Sales on a venture as large as this, so it was really interesting learning the in-and-outs of how a deal is created and why it’s hard to transcend a certain message across multiple platforms.

For lunch, we broke out in predetermined breakout groups. We had the opportunity to meet with alumni working in fields that we were particularly interested in (nice touch, Heather!) and get a sense of what a day in the life looks like in their companies. My group personally met with Greg Wizman from NBC Universal; he shared advice branching from multiple experiences including completing the NBC Page Program, past summer internship hunting, interview strategies and much more.

Lastly, we toured the NYC Facebook office (cool, right?). After touring what seemed like an HOD student’s dream office layout, we had the chance to speak to a couple Facebook employees about their own personal journeys. They pretty much encompassed the most important thing that I had learned from this trip- career wise, you never know where you will end up. Networking is so important, and most jobs in workplaces like this come straight from personal relationships that one sustains over a period of time. Having a plan for success is important, but becomes almost irrelevant as more and more people are getting jobs simply based off of personal connections with people. You could have a great resume, but if someone else has a personal connection with an employer, it is more likely that the latter will be asked for an interview. It is up to you to not rely on a resume or reputation to separate yourself from a crowd, but to separate your own self by maintaining genuine connections with people that can maybe have a big impact in your life one day.

-Morgan Miller

After two eventful days in New York, we could not have finished our trip at a better location than Facebook. Here, our 20-person group got an inside look into the office of the most famous media/communications company and the lives of the people working there. The one-floor office had a surprisingly start-up feel and laid-back culture, even as the team grew from 300 to 500 people in less than one year! This picture only shows a tiny sneak-peak into the amazing VMA trip.

Vandy on Madison Avenue (VMA) was a networking trip through Vanderbilt during our spring break. We started at NBC Universal, where we toured 30 Rock and SNL, received career advice, and were encouraged to apply to the Page Program. Lunch was held at CitiBank with a number of Vandy and non-Vandy alumns working in the CitiCards department.

Our next stop was at Ogilvy, one of the largest advertising agencies world-wide and my personal favorite. We had the privilege of hearing from one of the top leaders in the company (the father of a successful Vandy alumni). Brian was such an inspirational speaker, who helped give us perspective on our long career paths. He imparted three important lessons upon us:

• Balance your life so you don’t burn out too early.
• Gain “rocket fuel” through transportable skills.
• Find a mentor/mentee and build a sustainable network.

I had always wanted to work in the fabulous, fast-moving advertising world and this visit only reaffirmed my passion.

-Tina Luo

The Vanderbilt on Madison Avenue experience was an incredible opportunity for my peers and I to explore potential careers in media and entertainment. The guest speakers of this program are experts in their field, and they provided each of us with exceptional advice that will last long into our careers.

A few highlights included Dan Lovinger’s conversation with us at NBCUniversal, Jim Balbirer’s team presentation at Viacom, Brian Featherstonhaugh’s “Rocket Fuel” discussion at the Ogilvy office, and a tour of Facebook’s open-concept office. I felt much more confident at the end of this experience that I possess the abilities and skills needed to succeed in the media industry. The connections made on this trip will help shoot my resume to the top if media and entertainment is the route I wish to pursue.

-Tom Lovinger

My image is the view from the office at Viacom from our visit. It was one of the only and best pictures I took during the trip. I thought Viacom ended up being a company that I am extremely interested in, intrigued by, and would love to work for because of the experience that we had at their office. It seemed like such a fun and collaborative environment and one that I could see myself in in the future. Vandy on Madison Avenue taught me a lot.

First, it taught me what types of jobs are available in the media and entertainment industry. There were so many people that I met that had jobs that I had never even heard of before, and that I would never have been exposed to had it not been for the trip. Second, I was able to gain a lot of advice about working in the media industry and how to move up in the corporate world. The people that spoke gave a lot of good advice and stories about their own career paths that showed me how I should steer mine in the future. Third, I learned that communications jobs were not all that I had expected. I had no idea that there were so many marketing jobs available at Citi, which I always associated with financial institutions. This piece of information really expanded the market for my job search and opened so many new doors that I had never considered. Lastly, I learned the importance of networking. We met so many amazing Vanderbilt alumni in all different areas and they were all so willing to share their story. They were passionate, intelligent, and generous people. Getting their contact information was truly priceless as they are people that I can now always reach out to either to get advice or to try and get a position.

Overall, the trip did wonderful things for me and my knowledge of the professional world. I will definitely use all of these things to my benefit in the future and always keep them in mind when interacting with professionals.

-Rachel Kalichman

Spring Break. A time when college students flock to various warm locations and try to forget about the stresses of academia.  While this sounds fantastic, I decided to spend my spring break doing something a bit more productive.  I, along with several of my peers, traveled to New York City on a trip sponsored by the Vanderbilt Center for Student Professional Development.  The purpose of this trip was for us to be able to network with professional alumni and learn about the media and communications industry.

If I could choose one item to symbolize my experiences while on this trip, it would be a gift bag that I received from Ogilvy and Mather.  Although we visited a variety of companies, ranging from NBCUniversal to Facebook, I found the advice that I received at Ogilvy and Mather to be the most enlightening.  As of late, I have been going through a quarter-life crisis and feeling as though my life has no purpose.  Trying to identify what I am meant to do has been a very stressful process and it’s one that I can’t help but involve myself in.  However, the wise words that I heard at Ogilvy really allowed me to put my career search in perspective.  Brian Fetherstonhaugh, Global CEO of OgilvyOne Worldwide, told us to “Find our sweet spot and align it with our passions.”  Best. Advice. Ever.

Hearing this was akin to someone giving me a new lease on life. I was enlightened.  I was excited.  Applying his advice to my life caused me to realize that I was pursuing the wrong career choice. The reason that I could find no passion for my current career pursuit was because it didn’t exist.  I had been trying to market myself to the wrong people for the wrong reasons and had the nerve to wonder why I wasn’t finding success.  Mr. Fetherstonhaugh reminded me of what I ultimately wanted out of a career, and how I wanted to go about achieving it.

What I learned at Ogilvy and Mather helped to shape my thought process for the remainder of the trip. I am grateful for having had the chance to encounter such wonderful people while in NYC.  It was the greatest birthday present that I could have asked for.

-Kya Jones

This photo was taken at Facebook, the last site visit of the trip. It is the view of New York City from a window in Facebook’s cafeteria. It was one of my favorite site visits because the office was so modern and open, clearly promoting a creative, comfortable place to think and work. I also really liked the Facebook site visit because the alum and other employees who spoke to us about their careers and provided their advice were extremely helpful and really understood what we were going through in our current own job searches.

Overall, I really enjoyed this trip. I gained valuable insight into the entertainment industry and different career paths or job responsibilities that I would not have gotten otherwise. For example, many of the employees informed us that working in this industry was different from others—often times, a entertainment or media company will not give you a job offer until you are graduated and fully able to work. It was also extremely interesting to hear about how some people entered the industry or started with their career. It taught me that it does not matter what you study in school or how much you know about the industry. What matters is that you are passionate about the work and have a genuine interest.

The most helpful part of the trip was getting to network with the alumni or employees. This kind of networking is absolutely invaluable and can do nothing but help open doors for you or at the very least, give you some necessary experience talking to professional people.  I made a lot of connections and received many emails which I will be following up with later. This networking gives us a leg up on a lot of other people so I really appreciated that Vandy on Madison Avenue provided this for us.

-Katherine Huang

The most exciting and unexpected part of Vanderbilt on Madison Avenue was being interviewed by Tim Gunn from the television show Project Runway when walking from one of the program meetings to our hotel. He was interviewing New Yorkers on the street to make a short documentary for his new book, and wanted to speak to about 4 of those in our group, including our group leader. However, the topic was not on clothes or shoes, but on mentorship, which was very appropriate for the trip. Thinking more about mentorship, it was apparent in every sense on this program, and this word very much summed up our experience visiting companies such as Viacom, NBC, Citi, etc.

Traveling to New York, a huge city very far away from Nashville, it was great to see such a strong and dynamic Vanderbilt community present. Vanderbilt Alumni were eager to give advice and answer questions, and were happy to reach out to help the current students of their alma mater. Despite the snow storm occurring at the time, the Center for Professional Development was happy to set up these opportunities for students, giving us insight in to the media and entertainment industry, and was happy to donate their spring breaks to this cause. Students on the program were able to share their previous experiences in the field and discussed internships, interviews, and companies. Although this trip was focused on the media and entertainment industry, it was eye opening to see all of the different departments within this industry, encompassing public relations, advertising, and even finance. It was exciting to see alumni that we knew from Vanderbilt thriving in a professional setting, and mirroring that to our transitions that are about to take place.

Looking back, this trip was filled with mentorship, and it made all the difference when exploring the professional world we will soon be a part of. In summary, this interview with Tim Gunn reflected the whole trip in terms of focusing on mentorship, and I am lucky to have experienced this over my Spring Break.

-Nicole Fares

While in New York earlier this week with Vandy on Madison Avenue I got a broad overview of the media industry, from advertising and journalism to film. Yet the one experience that really made an impression on me was when we visited Viacom where we heard Jim Balbirer talk about his career after college.

What stood out to me was when Jim, a senior vice president at MTV, described his career path as anything but straight forward. After graduating from Vanderbilt he started off working as a paralegal but eventually ended up in television advertising sales. This retrospective gave me perspective on my future career path, which I now see as an opportunity to pursue multiple passions rather than a struggle to chart the perfect course.

I was also struck by Jim’s story about his time at Turner Broadcasting. He mentioned how he got his job at Turner and how he kept his job at Turner by taking risks. I think that risk-taking is an integral part of all success and as Jim was sharing his experiences I realized that few ventures are exhorbitantly risky early in life. Although I enjoyed listening and talking to all the speakers this week with Vandy on Madison Avenue, I believe that I came away from Jim Balbirer’s speech with the most insight into my opportunities after Vanderbilt.

-Benjamin DeMilia

Before the Vandy on Madison Spring break trip, I had no clue as to what I wanted to do with my life. Going off my schoolwork, semester abroad in China, and past summer internship, I found myself scattered in numerous directions with any number of paths to follow. Participating in this trip helped me focus one of my possible routes a ton. I had had experience working in the entertainment and media industry over the summer, and getting to go and see a number of media companies as well as meet with people who worked in the industry gave me a better sense of where I would fit in into that world.

After hearing so many great speeches and personal accounts of success and failure in the industry from leaders at companies ranging from NBC and Viacom to Ogilvy and Mather and even Facebook, I realized that this exciting business was definitely a possible career path for me.  More specifically, that I was more interested in the creative aspects and research sides of media marketing and advertisement. I also learned from a fantastic lunch with Avery Carpenter, an alumnus who currently works at the Skim, I love the editorial side of things, where I would be able to write. Writing is one of the things I’m very passionate about, and I would love a job that would allow me to do this as much as possible.

Finally, aside from getting a sense of the future, I also learned from these leaders, as well as from my fellow peers on the trip, how to focus on the present. I realized that I need to start shaping my future now, if I want a chance at my dream career. I can do this by being more involved in organizations that let me do what I love while also reflecting positively on my skills and interests that are suited for the media industry. I return to Vanderbilt really excited for what the future will hold and more confident in myself and where I want to go with my life.

-May Braverman

The Vandy on Madison Ave spring break trip was very valuable in determining the career path I would like to pursue. As a Human and Organizational Development major, I felt as if there were a variety of paths ahead of me, yet I was stuck at a standstill with very little direction. This uncertainty made it very difficult to apply for summer internships, network, and even choose courses. The VMA trip provided an inside look into the media, marketing, and advertising industry. From speaking with alumni, learning about different positions, observing the company culture, and asking questions about how to prepare for this industry, this trip was extremely useful. Creating relationships with alumni in the industry who are very willing to help and devoted to our success was especially worthwhile, as these connections can continue to strengthen throughout my career.

I really enjoyed visiting each office to get a sense of the company culture and the individuals working there. I especially enjoyed visiting Viacom as Jim, Erika, Caroline, and Eli touched upon Viacom’s position in the industry, different responsibilities within ad sales and marketing, skills that are necessary for the job, and how they broke their way into the industry. Further, Jim Balbirer’s stories were not only entertaining, but inspirational. He conveyed the importance of fearlessness and confidence in this industry.

Moreover, it was extremely beneficially having lunch with Greg Wizman, a recent Vandy grad who works at NBC. The more informal, personal setting was a great environment to ask questions and learn more about NBC’s culture. I am very grateful for the Vandy on Madison Ave opportunity and the connections it has provided.

-Alexandra Karul

New York I love you!

While heading to New York is not exactly the typical Spring Break trip – especially when the Northeast is going through a period of snowfall that is breaking all-time records – it was exactly what I needed. Working so hard during the first half of the spring semester had brought my daily energy levels to an all-time low, but the city that never sleeps really brought my back to life. Experiencing the fast-paced life of Manhattan was definitely different from what I’m used to here in Nashville, and it was fantastic.

For two full days on the VMA trip, we got to pretend to be grown-ups, professionals in the real world. We weren’t working, but the trip made me wish we were! For a long time now, I have been interested in the media industry, but I have to admit I didn’t know that much about it. I learned more than I honestly thought I would on this trip, by speaking to so many people that had such different roles in the multifaceted industry. In the two short days, we were able to visit five companies (including Facebook!), and talk to Vanderbilt alumni from at least 15 more. My favorite visit was the first visit to NBC Universal, it was informative and interesting, but we also got to take a tour of the studios, and see the SNL stage in person!

Getting to learn about these companies and the responsibilities of the employees we had a chance to talk to has changed my life. It has taught me a lot about the field I want to go into, and most importantly motivated me to continue to strive for it. I will, however, have to admit, that probably 50% of the motivation for me personally comes from the city itself, but hey, it’s New York.

-Niina Kurki

The trip to New York City served as taste of the potential opportunities that lie in wait for us following graduation. It was a perfectly timed trip in regards to the fact that it reinvigorated us following the overwhelmingly, often frustrating week of midterms. It was only poor timing in regards to the winter weather that followed us there.

Although we did our fair share of meeting, greeting, and handshaking – the trip was so much more than that. Vanderbilt alumni materialized at every office we stopped to visit. Their stories were the most valuable part of the trip.

So often in the process of career development, you are asked all the questions: tell me about yourself, about X, or how you overcame Y, and why you stopped working on Z. This trip was less stress and emphasis on us as individuals, and more of a collective learning experience centered on the group as a whole.  It was a great opportunity to listen to those who had already tread the precarious path ahead of us. And to listen without fear of being put on the stop or have one’s recent accomplishments or personal merits interrogated.

, as we do through orthodox means of study. It is one thing to take a class, to discuss the hypothetical or predetermined cases that affect the everyday business world – it is all together different to take a peak and witness this world in action.

Thus, this trip truly was a learning experience every step of the way; from learning to navigate the depths of the New York subway system, to getting exposed to various office cultures and to hearing the latest trends and developments in media from those who are responsible for making and sustaining them.

From the conversations I had with my peers, the experience most definitely relit the competitive and driven nature that defines us as Vanderbilt students. And now, of course, we all aspire to work in a corner office with views like that from Citi!

-Colleen Flynn

The Spring Break Vandy on Madison Avenue trip was truly a renewing experience. As a graduating senior, I am pursuing a career in marketing within the media and entertainment industries. However, as many seniors do, I have recently found myself a bit discouraged waiting to hear back from job applications and networking attempts. The VMA trip left me with a renewed drive and sense of hope towards my chosen career path. Heading into the home stretch of my senior year, the opportunity to connect with and learn from Vanderbilt Alumni about the job hunt process was exactly what I needed.

The VMA trip made stops to traditional media companies like NBCUniversal and Viacom. We were also able to connect with Vanderbilt alumni who work for talent and ad agencies like William Morris Endeavor and Ogilvy & Mather, as well as members of the consumer communications department at Facebook and marketing departments at Citigroup and ESPN. Each Vanderbilt Alumni passed along a unique set of advice which helped shape my understanding of the industry and job search moving forward.

Some of the most memorable advice came from speakers at Ogilvy, Viacom, and ESPN. At Ogilvy, we were able to talk to CEO of the company, Brian Fetherstonhaugh. Two things he made sure to let us know is that 1) building relationships is about quality, not quantity and 2) the job hunt process is a WAR that you can only fight through. The second statement really struck me, reminding me that persistence is key in order to reach my career goals. At Viacom, we were able to talk to three Vanderbilt Graduates from ’13, ’14 and ’89. Each told us unique stories about how they were able to reach their current spot in their career. But one thing was clear when I left that meeting — Show the companies you apply and interview with that you are hungry. Make sure they know and you emphasize what you can do for them, and how you can add value to their department.

Finally, my favorite stop of the trip was at ESPN. Myself and three other trip participants were able to have a lunchtime sit down with Willis Hulings, a class of 2012 graduate who works on brand marketing for College Football. Because we were such a small group, Willis was able to walk us through his thought process of creating a marketing campaign for the college football playoffs. Although I am pursuing a career in marketing, my coursework focuses more on rhetoric than application of media related skillsets. Being able to see how a sports related marketing campaign is developed was extremely impactful in reinforce my desire to pursue marketing. It also didn’t hurt that I was able to learn from someone experienced in the field!

Overall, the VMA trip to New York City was a spectacular way to spend my Spring Break! Connecting and learning from Vanderbilt alumni is an amazing opportunity, and as an inaugural member of this trip, I look forward to seeing how it continues to grow and help other Vanderbilt students interested in the media and communications fields!

-Lauren Cheeseborough

Vanderbilt On Madison Avenue was an incredible experience that was unlike any other Spring Break trip. Not only were current undergraduates able to visit major companies in the media and entertainment industry, but also were given multiple opportunities to network with Vanderbilt Alumni and parents working in New York City. Our group was also able to meet many individuals outside of the Vanderbilt community and hear their experiences after attending other colleges and universities such as the University of Delaware, Barnard College of Columbia, and Syracuse University. After the VMA trip had commenced I became that much more excited to be a member of the Vanderbilt community, able to share a common bond with so many inspiring, creative, and successful professionals who were Commodores before me. The Vanderbilt On Madison Avenue trip proved to me that the Vanderbilt family is a strong and connected group that extends farther than I ever imagined. So many alumni and alumnae were willing to offer critical advice and future support in order to help me become a successful young professional.

The Vanderbilt On Madison Avenue trip allows undergraduate students interested in media, marketing, public relations, and communications the chance to learn about hundreds of opportunities available in New York alone. At a major research institution we are not always exposed to the various areas of business as much as others are and it was incredible to finally meet people who represent Vanderbilt in the business world. I was extremely surprised by how many different opportunities major companies had to offer Vanderbilt graduates, particularly in the finance and banking world. Finally, not only was the VMA trip informative, but it also helped me further develop my business etiquette skills. While at NBC Universal Mr. Dan Lovinger, a parent of a sophomore undergrad, emphasized the importance of fostering relationships and keeping your word. After attending the VMA trip I learned that character and adaptability are essentials that speak to an individual’s success in the industry. Between the organized chaos of Manhattan and the incredible work and opportunities alumni and parents shared with our group I remain confident that Vanderbilt is preparing me well to achieve great success in the future.

-Jacquie Chirdo

Simply put, the Vanderbilt on Madison Avenue trip was eye opening. Going into the trip, I felt that I had set my sights on a certain kind of profession in advertising. The trip did not change my sights on advertising; if anything, it increased my desire to pursue a career in that field. More importantly, I was exposed to a plethora of careers and fields that I had never previously considered or even thought about.

My favorite parts of the trip were when we directly networked and connected with Vanderbilt alumni, such as during the reception at Ogilvy & Mather and during the Day 2 lunches when I was able to meet with Eve Attermann. I usually feel incredibly awkward during networking reception type events, but at the networking reception at O & M, I felt very comfortable and really connected with Nicole Swink, a Vanderbilt alumni who majored in Piano Performance and is currently a freelance video editor. It felt very natural for me to talk to her and other alumni, and I had wished that we had more time to connect with alumni rather than sit in information sessions. I felt that the direct networking events really pushed me to try my best and utilize my skills to make meaningful conversation. It was not only good practice in networking, but it was also the real deal itself, and I felt that I learned more from alumnus’ stories than I did from the information sessions at different companies.

That does not mean I learned nothing from the information sessions; in fact, I learned incredibly valuable lessons from Brian Fetherstonhaugh at Ogilvy & Mather and everyone at Viacom. This was because we were learning their personal stories, successes and failures, and I realized another important lesson: there is no direct path in this industry. Everyone gets to where they are differently, whether it is intentional or on accident. This was perhaps the most valuable insight I gained from the entire trip, because I always feel like there is always something that I am “supposed” to be doing, but the trip taught me that not everyone has the same path, and it is up to me to create my own. I take that insight from this trip and will apply it to every step moving forward in terms of working on my career path.

-Jenn Li