1. What w
as your major/minor and when did you graduate?
- Class of 2018 (Spring)
- Marketing
- Communications & Digital Studies
2. What is your current position (title, company, location)? Can you describe a typical day?
- Account Manager at Software AG located in Reston, VA.
- In business development there is no such thing as a typical day. My responsibility is to maintain sales and all existing/new relationships with customers in my business unit. My subject matter is Enterprise Architecture, Process Transformation & IT Portfolio Management. As our customers comprise of 70% of the Global 1000 i.e. Zimmer Biomet, Dell, and Caterpillar Inc I am constantly checking in with IT projects, writing campaigns and ensuring customer success.
3. How did your major prepare you for your current job?
- Being a business major, I had the advantage of understanding how organizations are structured, how they operate and make decisions. This makes it easier to understand which prospects to target and who is the most relevant individual for our products.
- I use the skills that I learned in Smita Oxford’s Negotiation and Business Communication classes every single day. Being an effective communicator is essential in my line of work as I am constantly sending emails and writing briefs. Oxford taught me the valuable skills of how to properly format and re-word communication to be more efficient. Additionally, I am constantly negotiating both internally and externally to progress contracts and launch campaigns.
4. How did you become interested in your field?
- A large amount of industry leaders, C-level executives, and entrepreneurs started off in sales. Sales teaches young adults a strong work ethic, emotional intelligence and a greater understanding of the market.
5. What’s the best career advice you ever received?
- Never stop learning and growing. “Once you stop learning, you start dying.” – Albert Einstein
6. Was there a professor, advisor, or fellow student who made an impression on you or helped you when you were at UMW?
- Smita Oxford, a truly wonderful and dynamic professor.
7. What’s your fondest memory of UMW?
- My fondest memories at UMW is sitting out on a ball circle on a beautiful day basking in the beautiful campus while enjoying the company of my friends.
8. Are there any special accomplishments you’ve achieved after college that you’d like to share?
- I have been named Rep (employee) of the Month four times.
9. How would your family or friends describe you in seven words or less?
- Outspoken, passionate, adventurous, creative, helpful, reliable, and trustworthy.
10. In one sentence, what advice would you give current business students?
- If you want to be successful, emotional intelligence is an investment in yourself worth making.
