Educational background: Brown University, English
Prior work experience: Co-founder/Producer: Enormous Video
Current or most recent position: Interviewing for positions in the entertainment or media consulting
After Brown, I worked in film production and then started a small production company. Most of the business functions fell to me. It quickly became clear that I didn't know what I was doing, so I sought out the most intense, most immersive business program I could find, which brought me to MIT Sloan. The fact that MIT is home to the famous Media Lab also attracted my attention.
I found that MIT Sloan was everything I thought it would be. It's a wonderful place and has given me so many valuable tools. I want to start my own business again some day and know that my time at MIT Sloan will serve me well.
When I started at MIT Sloan, I was a terrible public speaker, which is a hindrance in my line of work. That was before “Communications for Managers” with JoAnne Yates. I can honestly say she fixed me! She taped me giving speeches, and we analyzed them together. Gradually, I overcame my fears. Now, I'm much more confident delivering a speech, and I've improved in the structural aspects of speech-writing as well.
My internship experience at public television station WGBH-TV in Boston was absolutely one of the highlights of my MBA experience. I completed a business plan for the station's media library sales and performed an organizational analysis of two recently merged departments. Because they are non-profit, they absolutely needed — and valued — the work, and I felt that they truly appreciated it. I still keep in touch with two of my supervisors there.
One of the nicest surprises this spring has been the tremendous support I've received from MIT Sloan alums. I cold-called one alum who works at Warner Brothers in L.A., and he spent time with me on site, gave me a tour, and is knocking on the doors of the human resources office there almost every day for me. I feel like he's adopted me! Another classmate from L.A. put me in touch with several media-consulting firms — this is huge because it's an industry that's very close-knit. There's no question that MIT Sloan alumni are the best!
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