As part of the Georgia Tech Scheller College of Business Countdown to Commencement series, we interviewed a few soon-to-be graduates from our Undergraduate program to learn about their backgrounds, why they chose Scheller, and what they plan to do after the Fall 2020 commencement.
Meet Avery Silva, a fifth-year student graduating in December with a marketing concentration.
Where are you from?
I’m from Kennesaw, Georgia.
Who most influenced your decision to pursue business in college?
I was really inspired by Ted Turner to pursue business in college. To see how much of an impact he had on Atlanta with his work was so inspiring and I knew that I wanted to learn more about business because of him.
Why did you choose the Scheller College of Business?
I was interested in learning more about business and was aware of Scheller’s stellar reputation. I also found that attending school in a city with so many major corporations based here would allow me to apply what I learned to a real-world environment very easily.
What concentration did you pursue and why? How has this helped prepare you for your future?
I pursued a marketing concentration because I wanted to combine my creative interests with my interest in business. Pursuing a marketing concentration has allowed me to learn so much more about the marketing industry and has helped me feel more prepared in my marketing internships.
Where did you intern/co-op during school?
Gas South, NCR, and WarnerMedia. Also, I completed three internships, one with the NBA Marketing division and two with the TBS/TNT/TruTV Marketing division.
Who was your favorite professor (and why)?
My favorite professor is Aaron Hackett. I found his class on Strategic Brand Management to be extremely insightful and interesting, and he made every class engaging no matter what the material was that day.
What was your favorite course?
My favorite course was Consumer Behavior. The class was very informative in showing the steps brands have to make to appeal to the consumers they target, as well as what goes into the decision-making process of the consumer. It made me reevaluate my own purchasing habits when I shop.
As a business student in the heart of Tech Square, how do you think Scheller College embodies the intersection of business and technology?
I believe that Scheller does a great job of embodying the intersection of business and technology through the courses offered to their students. The technology-based courses such as Tech Communication, Information Technology, and the Computer Science courses that students take help shape them into well-rounded students. With these courses, not only do students receive education on business practices that help them in their concentration, but they are able to understand the technical aspects of business as well.
What activities were you involved with on or off-campus, and did your business education impact those activities in any way?
I was involved in the Georgia Tech International Ambassadors program, Phi Mu, and the Georgia Tech Marketing Association. In addition, my business education gave me confidence in my marketing skills to apply for and work on the Executive Board of the Georgia Tech Marketing Association for the past two years.
How did the Scheller College undergraduate career education program assist you with your job efforts? Did you end up working or interning for one of your top choice companies?
The networking skills I learned throughout my time at Scheller, especially in Stan Broome’s classes helped me get the internship to my top choice company. I had been rejected from the current internship that I am working at now five times before I finally got the job! To land my job, I expanded my work experience and networked with others in the company through coffee chats and meetings with executives in the division that I wanted to work for within the organization.
Did you participate in any hands-on/experiential learning opportunities? If yes, which projects/companies did you work with and how did you help them?
I worked with the Children’s Museum on a social media marketing campaign for one of my classes this semester. We visited the museum and figured out different ways we could help their Instagram account gain more impressions. It was definitely a fun project to work on and at the same time, I was able to gain real-world experience with social media marketing.
What is your best piece of advice to an applicant hoping to get into Scheller College?
To figure out your strengths and focus on them when thinking about pursuing a concentration.
What is the biggest myth about Scheller College?
That we have the easiest courses. Our courses can sometimes be challenging and enjoyable.
Fun fact about yourself.
I love to travel! I have been to six continents.
What are your hobbies?
Painting, running, creative writing, botany.
If I hadn’t gone to business school, I would be a....
A botanist.
What are the top two items on your bucket list?
To visit Antarctica and Greece.
In one sentence, how would you like your peers to remember you?
I would like my peers to remember me as someone who was helpful and kind to others.