We asked W. P. Carey Alumni: What is the best piece of advice you would offer to a new W. P. Carey student?
Here are 5 tips they shared:
- Understand the Big Picture
- Get Involved
- Prove Yourself
- Develop Confidence
- Utilize the Resources
Understand The Big Picture
Many students feel locked into their designated major. If you choose accounting, you must be an accountant. If you choose marketing you must go into sales. I would suggest that anyone who is preparing to graduate should also be thinking about the other aspects of business that are not specifically their degree focus. Marketing majors would benefit from understanding accounting principles and Finance majors can benefit from understanding management techniques. We live in a world where specialized skills are of high value but people with an understanding beyond their core skill set are invaluable to a business.
When I was working on my MBA I noticed there were quite a few people with medical and engineering degrees in the program. I asked myself, “why would an engineer care about getting an MBA?” The answer was simple, their employers saw value in them being more well-rounded and having an understanding of the big picture.
Daniel Henderson, BS Marketing ‘05 & MBA ‘10, Relumination
Get Involved
The best piece of advice that I could share with current W. P. Carey students is to get involved and take advantage of all of the resources available to you. I recommend finding a professional Student Organization that aligns with your field of study or career interest. The opportunities to gain experience in leadership positions, collaborate with like-minded students, and network with actively-recruiting companies was essential in helping me not only solidify what I wanted to do after graduation, but finish my time at ASU in a career I have been very happy with.
Perry Pelitera, BS Marketing (Professional Sales emphasis) & Certificate in Business Leadership ‘18, Honeywell Aerospace
Prove Yourself
As a W. P. Carey graduate, I can only advise current students to believe in themselves and see each day as a new opportunity. At W. P. Carey, you have the chance to learn from the best, and for me personally, it was the milestone for my continued professional success. Try to prove yourself and always know that it is okay to ask for help and advice. The moment things get difficult and challenging, know that everything will get better. The harder you work, the better the results you will get in return.
Fatema Aldawood, BA Business Law ‘20, NEOM
Develop Confidence
One of the biggest takeaways from my W. P. Carey MBA experience was the confidence I developed as a result of taking part in the program. I learned new skills and excelled in areas I didn’t expect (I was an English major rocking Statistics!) based on the quality instruction and thoughtfully organized presentation of content. I also gained experience working with diverse teammates, and through this, more deeply understood the importance of diversity in team building and providing a platform where all voices are valid and able to be heard. This has served me extraordinarily well in my career in Media/Entertainment and Big Tech where I frequently collaborate with global stakeholders of varying levels and experience.
Morgan McCann, MBA ‘11, Amazon
Utilize The Resources
My best piece of advice to current business majors at ASU’s W.P. Carey School of Business is to utilize all of the amazing resources provided on campus to help make your life as a student easier. I spent countless hours in the library and the tutoring centers so I would not only understand the topics but also ace my homework and exams.
I also think that it is important to go to your professor’s office hours and study sessions so you can get to know them on a personal level and show them that you are giving it your all to succeed. If you don’t know the answer, seeking help is shown as a strength and not a weakness.
Gina Irwin, BA Business Communication & Internal Business Certificate ‘20, Oracle NetSuite
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