Blog Archives

How to Limit Stress as a Business Student

2/26/2023

Although it may seem that everyone you meet in college has different majors, interests, campus involvements, and jobs, there is one thing that every college student has in common– stress. Stress is something that comes along with being a student in college, and if it is not dealt with properly, it can lead to more serious issues and even possible health problems. For these reasons, it is important to find ways to manage and limit stress before it becomes too big of an issue to tackle. I’d also like to note that even though this post is geared toward business students, these tactics are extremely useful and can be applied to any student, regardless of their major.
For this post, I interviewed two current UBWA members, Ashley Goldberg and Madelyn Campana. Both women are extremely hard workers and put as much effort as they possibly can into all that they do. I truly have never met individuals who work harder all while having tons of other commitments in their daily lives. Even more impressively, they do it all with smiles on their faces. Because of this, I decided they would be the best people to receive advice from for this topic, as I look up to them and admire how well they are able to juggle all of their commitments and schoolwork.
Ashley is a second-year accounting student in the honors program at Ohio State with a minor in women’s gender and sexuality studies. In addition, she was on the Philanthropy Committee last year and is now on the Career Fair Committee for UBWA. With a heavy course load and many outside involvements, including her involvement in the Kappa Alpha Theta sorority as the Chief Financial Officer, it is often difficult to fit everything she wants and needs to do into such a busy schedule. When I asked her what she does to best limit stress, she emphasized time management. She added that “time management is the key to success and a less stressful day”,. To do this, she utilizes the Google Calendar tool to plan out her days and block off times for important events such as exams, sorority events, and other student organization meetings. In addition, another piece of advice she gave is to make sure that students are spending a portion of their day doing something they enjoy, whether that means going to the gym, cooking a meal, or going on a walk. While it is important to get work done, it is also important not to overwork yourself, and by taking time for yourself, you can complete your tasks more efficiently.
After meeting with Ashley, I spoke with Madelyn Campana, who is also a second-year student in Fisher, with a specialization in marketing. Maddie is an active member in UBWA as well as a member of the Philanthropy Committee for the Tri Delta sorority. When I asked her about what she does to limit stress, she immediately responded with “staying organized”. She added that “it’s nice that most professors utilize Carmen, so I can keep all my notes compiled on my iPad. The work can be a lot at times, but as long as I stay on top of it, I don’t find myself getting too overwhelmed.” Aside from staying organized with schoolwork, she emphasized taking time for herself and prioritizing her needs. Similar to what Ashley said, Maddie added that “listening to a podcast or simply spending quality time with friends” allows her to unwind and de-stress after a long day. Lastly, she notes that she tries to manage her time to the best of her ability, similar to what Ashley does. However, it is important to remember that “it is something easier said than done, but ensuring that assignments don’t pile up is something that [can keep you] calm.”
So, next time you are feeling overwhelmed due to schoolwork, a job, or any outside commitment, just remember to take a deep breath. While your work may seem like too much to deal with at the moment, you are always supported, and it will all work out in the end. Taking a quick trip to the gym, listening to music, a podcast, or anything else you enjoy doing for an hour of your day may help more than you realize.

Cassie kobel

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Marketing in the Digital Era

2/19/2023

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The prevalence of marketing in our daily lives may make it difficult to imagine what life looked like before the digital age. Before cell phones, marketing campaigns were limited to modes such as billboards, magazines, newspapers, sales pitches, and radio. With the creation of the internet and social media, the business industry has taken advantage of the necessity of technology to grab the attention of consumers. Marketing has made its reach both more intimate and widespread with information about businesses directly at consumers’ fingertips. Companies now must fight for consumers’ attention on highly saturated platforms, such as TikTok and Instagram. Due to this shift, digital marketing is an increasingly adaptive and reactive facet of business, as it needs to be able to change based on consumer preferences and trends while simultaneously being effective and authentic. According to Forbes, “It’s no longer about the flashiest marketing campaign.” Younger generations want authenticity from brands. Marketing is no longer a one-way communication; consumers expect that their voices are heard and engaged with through social media.
To hear from someone who deals with these challenges and engages with digital marketing in their career, I reached out to Madison Noel, an Ohio State graduate and former UBWA Vice President of Marketing. Madison currently works for Western Digital, a large technology company that makes and sells data-storing devices in their marketing and sales sector. When asked if digital marketing is slowing down anytime soon, Madison stated,“the continued growth of remote working, as well as the growth of social media, SEO, and mobile apps, will continue to [contribute] to the growth of digital marketing.” Businesses “can get their name out in front of more consumers…they are able to give consumers more touch points for purchases, such as shopping via a mobile app, a website, and in a physical store.” Social media has created a whole new landscape for consumers to buy products, and with this, a greater prevalence of digital communication has emerged. Businesses can target specific consumers much easier with the use of personalized advertisements based on internet activity which increases businesses’ reach and profits. In addition to the industry as a whole expanding, effective trends have shifted. According to Forbes, “It’s no longer about the flashiest marketing campaign.” Younger generations want authenticity from brands. Marketing is no longer a one-way communication; consumers expect that their voices are heard and engaged with through social media. Companies spend thousands of dollars per month to maintain a marketing presence on social media and achieve a transparent image to consumers.
Since digital marketing is growing substantially, I was curious if Ohio State properly prepares students for this industry. Madison expressed that “if it had not been for my business classes at Fisher and my participation in UBWA, I think I would not have gotten off on the right foot at Western Digital.” In addition to Fisher classes, Ohio State provides a variety of minors that could complement a more global-centric, digital marketing focused career path. From communication technology, journalism, media production and analysis, to psychology, consumer science, business analytics, and foreign languages, OSU offers a plethora of minors Madison personally minored in Fashion and Retail Studies, which has helped her at Western Digital, since they “sell directly to other large businesses and consumers in physical stores such as Staples, Best Buy, etc. By minoring in Fashion & Retail Studies, I was able to learn how the retail space worked and how to navigate it successfully as a business.”
If the ever-growing presence of technology hasn’t convinced you enough that digital marketing is a crucial aspect of business operations, take Madison’s word for it: “The businesses that learn to navigate the digital marketing world successfully will be able to outlast those businesses that can’t.” Digital marketing proficiency is crucial to the success of businesses and to a career in a marketing profession. Luckily, Ohio State offers an assortment of opportunities to help gain a more digital perspective in a world where technology prevails.

lacey jones

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The Transition from College to Postgrad

2/12/2023

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Coming to college is an exciting time–you have a whole four years to learn, meet new people, have new experiences, and find out more about yourself. Once those four years (or however long it takes) are over, you graduate and enter what many people refer to as the “real world.” A lot of us hear that college is the best four years of your life, and while this could be true for some people, that puts a lot of pressure on us to make college the perfect experience. It can also make graduating seem like a scary thing… because who wants to graduate and leave what is supposed to be the best time of your life?
   To find out more about this topic, I interviewed Kaylee Scarpino, a 2019 Ohio State graduate and UBWA alumni. She was able to give me some insight into life post-graduation and advice for those of us who are still in college. Kaylee was a finance major and had envisioned herself working in a bank as a financial planner or analyst after graduation, but she ended up in a position as a treasury analyst, which she didn’t even know existed. Kaylee told me she was amazed at all of the job options and positions that were truly out there and added that it was hard to even understand what some of the positions were.
   Kaylee wishes she knew about all the job options that existed before graduation. Some advice she has for those of us in college currently is to talk to people to figure out all the job opportunities there are. Another way to find out more about job options is by utilizing the Office of Career Management, which is a great resource we have here at Ohio State. Kaylee says she wishes she took advantage of this and urges anyone in college to try new things and even look into internships that may be outside of your major if it sounds interesting to you. This may not be of interest to everyone, but if you are curious about something outside of your major, then it could be worth looking into. You may find something new you really enjoy!
   One aspect of working a full time job that differs from being a student is that there isn’t always one correct answer to a problem. Kaylee says there’s often more than one way to find a solution and sometimes even more than one solution to whatever problem you are trying to solve. The best way to go about problem solving is evaluating your options and making a decision based on what you think is best, then be able to support why you chose your solution.
Another thing Kaylee wishes she had known before working full time is that a lot of learning happens on the job. Not everything you learn in your college classes will be used in your position and you won’t know how to do everything once you leave college. However, Kaylee informed me that there are a lot of people there to support you, and they don’t expect you to know how to do everything. It is important to remember that it is okay to ask for help if you aren’t sure how to do something.
   Having the weekends off was what Kaylee enjoyed most about transitioning to a full time job because she didn’t have to spend them doing homework or studying. I think this is something all of us can look forward to after graduating. Having the weekends free gives you a chance to take on new hobbies, spend more time with friends and family, or just rest.
   There will be a lot of changes after you graduate. You will likely have a full time job, you might be living in a new city, and you will have to get accustomed to a new schedule, but it can also be an exciting part of your life. Maybe the best years of your life will be after you graduate. Graduating doesn’t have to be scary. It could actually be a great time for you to grow and learn more about yourself as an individual.

Gia Kistner

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Working in Corporate Retail

2/5/2023

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Retail is a large component of the current business world. It involves the selling of goods and services to consumers, as opposed to wholesale where companies sell to other companies. Corporate retail, in particular, involves a single business entity operating multiple store locations that sell direct-to-consumer. According to Statistics, the retail space is a $30 trillion industry that includes over 1 million companies. As retail continues to grow in the modern world, it becomes increasingly likely that many of you will work in the retail industry at some point in your career.
   With this in mind, I interviewed Autumn Crum, who graduated this past fall with a major in marketing and a minor in art history. During her time in UBWA, she served as vice president of alumni relations and member relations. Since graduating, she has been working for Bath & Body Works as an intern for the Wellness and Aromatherapy merchandising team. Autumn will also start full time there as a Merchant in Training this summer. Her previous work experience in retail is what inspired her to continue pursuing a career in corporate retail. Autumn cites that there is something “so fulfilling [about] seeing a product you’ve worked on for months out on store shelves and delighting customers”.
   Corporate retail is all about the customer. Companies and their employees must “be responsive to ever changing trends… and the needs of the business”. Working in retail means being able to adapt and overcome obstacles because there are external factors that can affect a business strategy and force you to pivot. Not all projects are going to be carried out in their entirety, and even the ones that are, will often undergo several changes throughout its duration. Autumn, specifically, tries “to go in with an open mind” as she works with design, product development, and inventory to ensure the customers’ satisfaction. Once a product is out on the shelf, it is critical to monitor sales data and collaborate with other teams to gauge how the customers are responding to the product. One way Bath & Body Works likes to do this is by receiving “insights from [their] store associates and customers directly”. Corporate retail is multifaceted and complex, so it takes a lot of teamwork, communication, and planning to ensure the company is able to stick to its timelines.
As with any other industry, it is important to explore your interests and try to gain hands-on experiences. For Autumn, it was incredibly beneficial to have background experience and knowledge of retail, and she encourages others who have an interest in this industry to physically work in a retail store. Directly putting yourself in the field will give you a better perspective of the store side of retail, which will help you transition to the corporate side. Working first hand with customers will also help you better understand consumer behavior as a whole. Another thing to keep in mind is to network and reach out to people whether on LinkedIn or other platforms. Talking to others about their experiences can help you get a better feel for the industry and help you decide whether or not corporate retail is something you want to pursue. Networking is also important for getting those hands-on experiences and job opportunities.
   Autumn is super excited about her future in corporate retail, and she has graciously offered to answer questions and help those interested in entering the space! You can reach out to her via email: autumncrum2019@gmail.com.

hallie szmik

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How to Limit Stress as a Business Student

Cassie kobel

Marketing in the Digital Era

lacey jones

The Transition from College to Postgrad

​Gia Kistner

Working in Corporate Retail

hallie szmik

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Gia Kistner