Young Alumni Offer Personal Career Advice

Sixteen Emerson College Los Angeles students received personal career and internship advice from three young alumni during the first professional development panel of the 2016 summer semester on May 26.

Panelists included Lauren Cortizo ’13, digital marketing manager at Walt Disney Studios; Kyle Haley ’14, associate producer at Walt Disney Imagineering; and Josh Woolf ‘10, a freelancer writer and former creative development coordinator at BOOM! Studios. The alumni and three faculty members sat amongst different groups of students, offering individual advice for each undergraduate. 

Josh Woolf '10, Lauren Cortizo ’13, and Kyle Haley '14 share career tips with ELA students before breaking out into smaller groups. Photo/Daryl Paranada

When asked about the most important thing they learned from their internship, Cortizo said she learned how to be a professional.

“Being fully immersed into an office space was really eye-opening,” said Cortizo, a former marketing intern at Walt Disney Studios. “You learn something that you can’t in a classroom.”

Woolf reiterated Cortizo’s advice, saying his internship experience taught him how to conduct himself in a work environment, learning lessons like when to speak up and how to not overstep. Woolf was hired by his internship site, which he credits to being in the right place at the right time — and being prepared.

“I put myself in the position to succeed,” said Woolf.  “It’s really as simple as that.”

Josh Woolf '10 told students that his first job after graduating from Emerson College was like being thrown into the deep end of the ocean. Photo/Daryl Paranada

Haley said he freelanced and relied on Emersonians to help him when he was unemployed for the first few months after graduating. He said his internship experience taught him how to think on his feet.

“When you’re at work, stuff happens,” said Haley. “You have to be able to adapt.”