40 Under 40 panel provides advice about networking and relocating
40 Under 40 panel provides advice about networking and relocating
40 Under 40 panelists Laura Warren (ABJ ’11), Patrick Klibanoff (ABJ ’14, BBA ’14) and Renee Fuller (ABJ ’10) provided insight and advice during a discussion focusing on a Message to My Younger Self in the Peyton Anderson Forum on Sept. 11. The panel was moderated by Ericeli Garcia, an advertising major and Grady College ambassador.
View the video of the 40 Under 40 Panel: A Message to My Younger Self below
The panelists were Grady alumni in town as part of the 40 Under 40 program sponsored by the UGA Alumni Association. The program each year recognizes 40 alumni under the age of 40 who are leading their industries and communities.
After brief introductions and discussion about selecting majors, the conversation turned to what students can do to network.
“I think networking is the number one most important thing you can do,” said Warren, who is a community development regional manager for Meta, based in Augusta, Georgia. “It’s about relationship building. The groups you’re in…those connections are going to take you so far.”
She continued by telling the students that the key is to have varying experiences, meet new people and pour into them, but also remember that individual reputation and character is vital to building toward the next job.
Klibanoff, a senior product manager for Disney Streaming based in New York City, said he agreed. He encouraged students to research people in the cities where they are interested in relocating and reach out to as many people as possible. He also encouraged students not to take it personally if they don’t hear back, but to reach out again and be specific in what they are looking for.
Fuller, who changed jobs from vice president of marketing for Olly to a new job as vice president of marketing for e.l.f. Cosmetics, agreed that due diligence and follow-up is important.
“I’m very thankful for networking…because I’ve had a lot of mentors and sponsors,” Fuller said. “If it wasn’t for me using my voice, really leaning in and reaching out, I probably would have never made those contacts.”
When asked whether there was anything in the professional world that surprised them when they were starting out, the panelists discussed the importance of honest feedback from supervisors.
“I became super strong as a result of that really direct, and sometimes harsh, feedback that I received,” Klibanoff said.
He also talked about the importance of finding a mentor at the place you are working.
“Build that network of people you trust or whose input you really respect, and be sure to pull them into the work that you’re doing, as well,” Klibanoff advised.
Fuller talked about the importance of learning to fail fast so you can learn from your mistakes, pick up and move on.
Another line of discussion focused on moving after graduation and Klibanoff addressed his decision to move to New York City as scary, but one of the best decisions he has ever made.
“The best advice that I give everyone is just say ‘yes’ to everything when you move somewhere new,” Klibanoff said. “New York is huge, but everyone has had that experience of moving there. Everyone is actually so welcoming and inclusive because everyone remembers their first year.
Klibanoff just ended his term as president of the UGA New York City Alumni Chapter and encouraged everyone to seek out the closest chapter to where they relocate.
“It’s one of the quickest and easiest ways to find a community somewhere new,” Klibanoff said. “So many people are coming to that chapter’s events and programming because they need a roommate, they need a job, they just need a friend. And again, you know, you have a lot of that friendliness that you find here on campus in those community groups elsewhere.”
For more information, please see these Q&A features about each of the panelists:
To view additional pictures from the panel, please visit the UGA Grady Flickr account.
Writer: Sarah Freeman, freemans@uga.edu
The 40 Under 40 Panel: A Message to My Younger Self, can be viewed here.