After applying and being accepted to Wake Forest’s Business School in the middle of my sophomore year, I realized that I wanted to pursue a career that stands at the intersection of business and entertainment.
I took the opportunity to study abroad in Barcelona during my junior fall but was relentless in my pursuit of stateside relationships that would expand my professional network. Countless academic classes contributed to my successful career search, including Brand Management and New Product Innovation with Roger Beahm, Strategic Management with Ben King, and Sports Marketing with Brian Lodigiani. These classes were filled with engaging material but it was the community-focused nature of Wake Forest that ultimately led to my offer letter from United Talent Agency. Conversations outside the context of the classroom whether in leadership positions, group projects, or even a fireside chat contributed to my ability to build relationships in an intentional and thoughtful way.
Particularly when pursuing a role in entertainment it’s all about “who you know,” and you have full autonomy over the connections you create and the network you build. During my internship and job searches, LinkedIn became my go-to platform, cold-calling and cold-emailing became a new norm, and emailing or chatting with alumni dominated my Google Calendar. While a student, be sure to enjoy your four years; networking does not have to be a full-time job. You can (and should) be strategic in your scheduling and the selection of alumni or points of contact. Yet, learning how to navigate informational interviews and how to follow up effectively leads to building connections that turn into relationships or even mentorships, and this only comes with practice.
I am incredibly lucky to be in the role I am today, but it didn’t happen overnight and it didn’t come without hard work, discouraging moments, and plenty of unanswered messages. Wake Forest is a particularly special place to spend four years, not just for the opportunities that exist on campus but for the ways in which your time prepares you to secure remarkable opportunities in the real world. Don’t forget to take advantage of the resources around you, to leverage the devoted community of Demon Deacons, and don’t give up a pursuit of passion, especially when it aligns with your God-given giftings.