1. What was your major/minor and when did you graduate?
Business Administration
May 2015
2. What is your current position (title, company, location)? Can you describe a typical day?
Associate Tennis Product/ Marketing Manager Mizuno USA, Atlanta GA
As the product manager I am in charge of product development, inventory management, forecasting, marketing and sales. At this moment in time I am focusing much of my energy on preparing for the launch of our 2019 Spring/Summer range. At the same time, I am working on finalizing the forecast for the 2019 Autumn/Winter season and also finalizing the shoes for the 2020 Spring/Summer seasons. From a marketing side of things, I am working with our digital marketing team to finalize all of the assets for the upcoming launch.
3. How did your major prepare you for your current job?
All of the business classes helped to give me the basic understanding of how businesses work and think. When I was hired I was able to understand the finances of my business division, how consumers think and why they think that way and most importantly how to sell and I would not have known any of that if it weren’t for the many business courses I took along the way.
4. How did you become interested in your field?
I have a strong passion for the sport of tennis and I wanted to take that passion to the professional world.
5. What’s the best career advice you ever received?
Listen more than you speak.
6. Was there a professor, advisor, or fellow student who made an impression on you or helped you when you were at UMW?
In Dr. Lynne Richardson’s Professional Selling course she taught us not only how to sell products/ services but also how to sell ourselves. She taught me how to truly be a professional in the working world and I cannot thank her enough for that. Thank you Dr. Richardson!
7. What’s your fondest memory of UMW?
Watching the student body and athletic department rally behind Wesley Berry at the Win 4 Wesley games.
8. How would your family or friends describe you in seven words or less?
Humble and hungry
9. In one sentence, what advice would you give current business students?
Don’t be afraid to fail.
