These are my core stories.
How I persuaded someone to see my view:
One challenge I faced as the Marketing Manager of Campus Life is that students do not know who Campus Life is, and what we do, and I was tasked to re-brand the department. However, after consulting with entrepreneurship professors, I realized that starting the project to rebrand may overlook core issues and that the problem may lie within marketing, and not the brand itself. However, the goal to rebrand came from my manager’s manager, so I decided to persuade using data. To research, I created and distributed a survey that reached more than half of the undergraduate population and interviewed dozens of professors and Campus Life staff. The survey showed that students have a positive perception of Campus Life but revealed a knowledge gap regarding our events and services. Armed with compelling data and a well-structured proposal, I successfully persuaded my superiors to prioritize a revamp of marketing strategies before undertaking a complete rebranding initiative. This approach ensures a more nuanced and effective solution to our department's visibility challenge.
How I solved a business problem:
My proudest professional accomplishment was creating an international student webpage for my high school and seeing the impact it has made. While I was an analyst and researcher for my high school’s admissions office a year ago, I proposed an International Students’ webpage with the goal of creating a more inclusive student body. I served as the project manager and researched International Students’ needs in the school search process, designed a webpage that addresses and eases their concerns, tested the webpage with current students and parents, and navigated through restraints from the administration. The webpage has almost doubled international students’ applications within the first year. The International Students web page has brought new students, ideas, and voices to my school.
How I learned to give presentations:
Participating in Mock Trial throughout high school was my gateway to mastering the art of effective presentation in the professional arena. When I started Mock Trial, I was a flustered girl speaking at 120 miles per hour. I fidget, sway, and mutter. Determined to refine my skills, I dedicated countless nights to practicing, emulating successful speakers, and implementing strategic pauses. I was able to cover my nerves and speech loudly, and clearly. For the first time, I felt confident and powerful. After a round, the judge told me “I know you want to prove you are a great speaker, and you are. Speak to the audience, and not at them.” It dawned on me that my focus was on how I delivered words, and not on the message itself. This profound insight transformed my presentation style. I transitioned from an intense, professional demeanor to a more engaging and relatable tone. Focusing on the audience in addition to words. This has successfully equipped me to not just present, but share information in the business world.
How I took initiative:
While volunteering at Reach For the Stars, a nonprofit delivering quality education support for the underserved community, I gained invaluable experience by putting this knowledge into practice. I seized the opportunity to pioneer a HR department in one of my volunteer organizations. I tailored interview questions and department training just like I’d learned; everything went according to plan. However, soon after, I realized the path wasn’t that linear. Attracting new volunteers isn’t just about posting heart-felt testimonials and publicizing the opportunity, but also about the numbers -- for example, the number of students the organization has helped. Increasing volunteer retention isn’t just about offering more opportunities to participate in the organization or offering incentives, but also about making each person feel valued as an individual. With this understanding, I spearheaded the standardized onboarding program, created a buddy program to support new volunteers, and created training sessions to empower volunteers. With this, the retention rate doubled within one-month after implementation.
