Navigating Career Success Through Leaning on Values｜价值观驱动的职业成功之路

Tell us about what encouraged you into the degree you chose. 

I knew for a long time that I wanted to go into marketing, but I also learned early on that this career path doesn’t necessarily require a business degree to get your foot in the door. With that in mind, I wanted to make sure I got a degree that would be versatile enough to set me up well as I entered the working world. I was fortunate enough to have gotten a solid foundational knowledge of economics through Mr. Charles Tetreault’s IB Econ class, which I also really enjoyed, and this encouraged me to major in economics in college. 

You have an interesting role and want to make an impact through your career. How do you envision your future contributions in publishing?

I work in the publishing industry where I specialize in nonfiction book marketing. At my previous job, I spent almost 3 years at Penguin Random House where I led marketing campaigns for over 45 health, wellness, and lifestyle books and cookbooks. Currently, at Macmillan, I’m hoping to continue to diversify the breadth of books I work on and build comprehensive and creative marketing campaigns to bring valuable books to consumers worldwide.

I particularly enjoy my work because I know I’m marketing products that aim to help people live better lives in various capacities. I want to ensure this in my career regardless of where I work or what industry I’m in. 

What exposure or experiences at SIS shaped your character and supported you towards your goals?

I attribute a lot of what I’ve been able to accomplish to the foundational experiences that I’ve had at SIS. The ability to participate in a wide variety of unique extracurriculars and classes in a supportive environment let me explore my passions and develop the skills I needed going into university.

I had so much fun being able to participate in various clubs like the Fashion Show, Global Issues Network, and Animal Rescue while taking classes like forensic speaking and higher-level visual arts and economics. This wide range of experiences fostered a sense of confidence in myself and my goals when I graduated. While I wasn’t 100% sure which industry I wanted to work in, I definitively knew that I wanted to continue to develop both my passions for creative pursuits with analytical problem-solving in college and beyond.

What specific skills or aptitudes did you develop as a result of studying in the IBDP at SIS and through the clubs and sports you joined? 

The IBDP at SIS strengthened my ability to multitask and approach complex problems with an open mind. In the classroom, HL Econ set a great foundation for me going into university where I had a solid understanding of the concepts across my many economics classes. My other HL classes, English and Visual Arts, strengthened my communication and media literacy skills, which translated well into the leadership roles I held in university and my day-to-day life as an adult.

Participating in countless extracurriculars at SIS also allowed me to find joy in leadership and managing projects in creative, community-oriented ways. These experiences informed how I approached my extracurriculars and job hunt throughout university. 

How did these support you in your personal, academic and professional next steps? 

Overall, my time at SIS helped establish a core set of values and skills for myself, both personally and professionally. Building community and being open to new experiences has proven to be monumental for my development beyond high school and I look back on my experiences at SIS very fondly.

What insights/wisdom/advice do you have for younger students that could support them in their academic and future trajectory?

One of my biggest pieces of advice is to be open to change and stay open-minded. I didn’t get into my dream university and I didn’t get the “best” internships that I thought I needed in college, but everything still turned out fine and I’m doing things today that I never would have imagined possible when I was a teenager. As long as you’re doing the best you can and can learn to roll with the punches, then you’ll find yourself exactly where you’re supposed to be.

Also, lean on your friends and community. I’m still very close with my friends from SIS and the experiences we had throughout high school in our classes, extracurriculars, and trips have helped us form lifelong bonds that span continents. Cultivating and sustaining strong relationships is such an important aspect of life, so hold tight to the people that you care about.