How did you hear about the Most Promising Multicultural Students (MPMS) Program? I heard about it from an AdGrad/MAIP Alum that worked in my department during my internship at Google this past summer.

What did the MPMS program consist of? What did you do while you were there? The MPMS program is a one-week networking immersion program that connects 2 students, selected from each participating advertising school around the nation, with top industry professionals. We were exposed to agencies ranging from the Publicis Group, Omnicom Media Group, IPG Group and other private agencies, including GSD&M, Droga5, and Widen + Kennedy, and more!  Everyday we had different panelists from different agencies and heard from a few of their Chief Diversity Officers that instilled a yearning desire in each of us to continue fighting for more diversity and inclusion in this industry. Each person brought more insight about the industry, how it has evolved and how the future looks. We even had a mini Career Fair with over 30 agencies ready to network and interview the MPMS Class of 2016.

What was your favorite part about being in New York for a week? It felt like I was in Disney World for ad majors… I was in the heart of the advertising industry. Literally, our hotel was on Madison Avenue and reeked of Mad Men vibes. Everyday brought more knowledge and a burning passion to burst into the advertising industry and start brewing new ideas to help brands flourish. Until we got back to the hotel after eating dinner around 10pm, played catch up with school work, and knocked out (like a little kid after walking through all of Magic Kingdom in one day-hence the Disney World reference).  

Do you believe that being a multicultural student has benefitted you in any way throughout your career? So far, it has. Programs like MPMS, MAIP and Google’s BOLD Internship have opened their arms for a young, dedicated Latina student like me, and I could say the same for my other multicultural peers. However, I’ve seen many people neglect these opportunities, but I urge you, don’t be one of those. Take advantage of these (paid) opportunities.

Do you feel that this program has created more opportunities for you?   Definitely, I networked like I’ve never networked in my life. I met so many influential people in the industry that each inspired me in their own way to keep doing what I’m doing. The Advertising program here at UT has definitely prepped me with enough knowledge and experience. However, I now feel ready to get some experience on the field. This program has allowed me to connect with agencies I had never thought about interacting with until I was actually standing in front of their table or standing in their very own office during our daily agency visits. Within MPMS I formed life long connections with my fellow MPMS class. We are the future, and I can’t wait to see where each of us end up.

In a perfect world, what do you see yourself doing in ten years and where? Running my own department within an agency, eventually my own agency (maybe in 15-20 years)!

You are in both the Media and Creative sequences, something that not many students can say they have accomplished. What has this experience been like for you? This experience has been very rewarding and I feel very fortunate to have been accepted into both sequences. I applied to both of these on a whim. I started off with a passion for creative and ended up falling in love with media planning the next semester as well.  Now that I’ve gotten a chance to take all the required coursework for both, I have no regrets.

Can you name the one thing that you’re most proud of achieving over the course of your professional career? The proudest moment I’ve had in my career so far is being a elected as the Director of Public Relations for the Hispanic Business Student Association. I owe what I’ve learned about this industry and how to run my own little Advertising/PR agency by being in this role.  

You graduate in a few months. What’s next for you?   Hopefully some traveling before starting the full time job (TBD). I’ve got family in Venezuela, Spain and Germany that I haven’t seen in years. So, we’ll see where this summer takes me. But I’m hoping to continue leveraging all the connections I’ve made while participating in MPMS and will keep you guys updated with the agency that decides to make this girl’s advertising dream come to life. \m/

Do you have any advice for underclassmen interested in Advertising or Public Relations as a career? Don’t be afraid to pursue a career in this industry. It’s got it’s ups and downs, but ultimately there will always be a brand that needs help positioning itself in front of the right market with the right message. Also, keep in mind that the industry is going through a paradigm shift where we no longer create advertising, we create brands. And with this means, creating relationships with people that use these brands. With wearable tech, VR and AR all marking their territory in advertising, this is the perfect time for underclassmen like you to take initiative and make yourself a subject matter expert in these new topics. Prove to your future agency that you’re ready to tackle and excel at any new media form that may come your way.

And most importantly, take advantage of the opportunities you come across as an advertising student here at UT. Apply to the creative and/or media sequences, if that’s your calling, and even take BFP courses. Don’t forget about MAIP, MPMS and BOLD Internship program once you hit your last two years of college!

School teaches the media savvy part, so don't lose sight of your mad scientist. Make stuff you love for the internet. Dive into a Pinterest hole and craft all the crafts. Vine something worthwhile every day. Even though I learned tons from working at The Daily Texan — I wouldn't call myself a designer or photographer without that great basement paper* — try writing for a blog that extends past the walls of college. Making these ridiculous recaps of True Blood for Queerty was like having the reigns taken off. I got to experiment in such a free way because the editor trusted my weirdness.

What are some trends students need to be aware of? There are so many corners of the internet, so pick a part of it that you really love and learn as much about it is as possible. Don't just observe — participate! Make things!

What about this industry gets you up in the morning? Why do you love what you do? I'm lucky to work with such a great variety of clients. Working on nothing but a household cleaner for nine months is a very rough life to lead. I'm even luckier to work at a very dynamic company. Everyone here is so smart and nice and humble. It's rather great.

What’s the quirkiest thing about your job? That this job treats me like a human? That I have regular hours? That I'm not just here to fill decks for creative presentations? Sure, there are famous animals and goofy chairs and occasionally a floating shark, but it's rare for a company to actually be invested in your growth and happiness. Working here has been good for my soul.

Tell us about a time you faced failure, an uncertainty or obstacle and what it taught you. My first job in NYC was an internship at an advertising agency that worked me into a depression. There were back-to-back weeks of putting in 90+ hours. It was assumed that I'd work the weekend. I ate many meals out of the vending machine of frozen dinners (that should have been a sign). Hard work is important, but you you should be able to still have a life. When they were finally talking about offering us a salaried job, I kept thinking "Oh my god, I can't sign a piece of paper that says I want to work here!" So I turned it down, did some soul searching, and some real estate license getting. Yes, I eventually returned to copywriting, but I was able to do it with a sense of clarity of what I wanted from my career.

Lesson: don't be afraid to say no. (And if you're getting paid hourly, get clarity about overtime expectations and pay.)

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