Finding a Place in Marketing World

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Victoria Figlia

Social Media and Brand Consultant (self-employed)

Class of 2021
BBA in Marketing - Advertising and Integrated Marketing Communications with a minor in Digital Marketing

Member Of: Advertising Club, American Marketing Association, Residence Hall Association, Japanese Language and Culture Club

Victoria Figlia is a first-generation, non-traditional student who found her way to Pace University in 2018 after taking some years off before resuming her education. Eight years after graduating high-school, Victoria followed her passion for various artistic mediums and earned an Honors Associate's degree in Liberal Art at Suffolk County Community College. Now, at Lubin, she is paving a path to becoming a successful business leader in the world of marketing. We talked to Victoria about her time at Lubin, including being a part of the Brand Marketing Team, and she provided priceless responses.

Why did you choose Pace University and the Lubin School of Business?

I chose the Lubin School of Business at Pace University because of its location and the potential I saw for the number of opportunities I would be able to take advantage of. I knew I wanted to attend a university in Manhattan, and Pace has a reputation for having a well-connected business school. Lubin has provided me with a plethora of opportunities for upward economic mobility post-graduation.

What resources available at Pace University have you been taking advantage of so far?

I visited the Tutoring Center frequently during my first year at Pace. It definitely helped me keep my GPA afloat while I was still adjusting to the workload. During my second year, I got very involved with Career Services and got a lot of help towards fine-tuning my resume and interview skills. However, I'd have to say that the resource that's been the most valuable to me thus far has been building a rapport with my professors and meeting regularly with my advisor each semester.

I look forward to hopefully returning to some normalcy on campus before I graduate, but either way it's a learning experience. We, collectively as a student body, will adapt and come out better for it. I am most looking forward to our Brand Marketing Team competition in April, though. It will be great to see two semesters of hard work finally come together to be presented.

What is your advice for other first-generation, non-traditional students?

This is tough, because everyone's experience looks so different. The best advice I could give is this: it's important to remember that in the grand scheme of things, it doesn't really matter how long it takes to get your degree or how old you are when you graduate. What matters is that you did it. Every single student here has the same goal: to better themselves. Remember to be kind to yourself! It's okay to feel overwhelmed, but treat yourself with the same compassion you'd offer your peers. Try your best to stay organized! Take each semester one week at a time and it'll be time for final exams before you know it!

What has been the most impactful experience you've had so far while being a student at Lubin?

This may be a little premature, as I'm still going through this experience, but I'm going to say that the most impactful experience I've had is being part of the Brand Marketing Team. Getting placed on the team alone took over a year of really just putting my nose to the grindstone. Now that I'm here it's been really great working with students that are equally as driven as I am. I work best under pressure and with tight deadlines, so being in this environment with my teammates makes me want to work even harder. I'm excited to see what this year holds for us.

What does the rest of this academic year look like for you? What are you looking forward to the most?

Currently this academic year looks like my backyard because that's the view I have from my window while attending classes remotely. In all honesty, it's a lot of time on Zoom between classes and meetings for group projects and clubs. I look forward to hopefully returning to some normalcy on campus before I graduate, but either way it's a learning experience. We, collectively as a student body, will adapt and come out better for it. I am most looking forward to our Brand Marketing Team competition in April, though. It will be great to see two semesters of hard work finally come together to be presented.

What does #LubinLife mean to you?

#LubinLife to me is a community of students and faculty who are as invested in your success as you are. After graduation, these students and faculty, along with all Lubin alumni, will become your network and a support system as you navigate the stages of starting your career and developing as a professional.