Building relationships while in college and mentoring high school students helped Jada Moore, a marketing major from Sioux Falls, S.D., see new perspectives and develop her skills for her future after graduating from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln College of Business in December.
At Nebraska Business, she received training in building relationships and managing sales as part of the Center for Sales Excellence and served as a mentor for the award-winning DREAMBIG Academy summer high school program for underrepresented students. She also worked as a campus host representing the university while leading tours and as a student worker in the Husker Hub student services center.
“One of my favorite moments in the College of Business was serving as a DREAMBIG Academy mentor. It was incredibly rewarding to show high school students that college is possible regardless of where they come from. I made lifelong friends through DREAMBIG, and it better prepared me for my future by teaching me the importance of being inclusive and how that can change someone’s life,” Moore said.
Moore made an impact on one such high school mentee who later chose to enroll in the College of Business and get involved in its inclusion efforts, too. Ann Vu, a junior international business major from La Vista, Neb., said Moore’s impact on her and the College of Business will last beyond graduation.
“I remember on the first day, everyone was shy and quiet, but our mentor, Jada, led our team to feel comfortable and grow closer together through her encouragement and fun, competitive nature. She played a big role in making DREAMBIG memorable for me, which led to me later becoming a mentor too and getting involved in the Inclusive Business Leaders program. I want to have the same impact on others as Jada has had on me,” Vu said.
After participating in the Disney College Program, Moore learned of internships and careers in marketing within the Walt Disney Company. In January, with her bachelor’s degree in hand, Moore plans to move to Orlando, to work as a distribution marketing strategy intern in Disney Parks, Experiences and Products. In this role, she will build relationships with hotels and partners in the area to market Walt Disney World Resort and discuss with them how they use Disney’s image and ensure it aligns with their brand message.
“Disney is a company I have always wanted to work at. When I learned the company offers internships beyond the Disney College Program, I applied because the company’s values and goals align with mine,” Moore said.
She said she felt well prepared in her post-graduation employment search due to her experiences in DREAMBIG as well as in the Professional Enhancement Program curriculum in the College of Business. Unique to Nebraska, the program’s four, one-credit-hour courses focus on career and professional development so students can successfully find internships or full-time jobs and succeed in their careers and personal lives after college.
“Public speaking is one of the skills I learned as part of the DREAMBIG Academy. As a student, you present your ideas in front of a large group, and as a mentor, you constantly speak in front of groups of people. The classes led by the Business Career Center — specifically Career Development and Planning (BSAD 222) and Internship and Job Search Strategies (BSAD 333) — also were incredibly helpful during my employment search in ensuring my resume was constructed well so I could excel in interviews,” she said.
Another class she enjoys is Marketing Management (MRKT 442) with Thomas Dotzel, assistant professor of marketing. In it, students learn how to think critically about marketing and the importance of using different channels for marketing communications, such as print, TV, social media and more.
“This relates directly to my internship because I will focus on how Disney utilizes different marketing channels. What I learned in class will be incredibly helpful for my internship because I will need to know how to analyze Disney’s marketing efforts. I enjoy our projects and class discussions. Professor Dotzel challenges us to think about the fundamentals of marketing and how to become better marketers for the future,” Moore said.
