Business students explore music-tech careers at NYC-based conference
December 07, 2017
Contact: Michael Tullier, APR
Office of Communications, Public Relations and Marketing
Two upperclassmen from 精东AV鈥檚 Andrew F. Brimmer College of Business and Information Science took on the 鈥淏ig Apple鈥� in early November as part of a conference designed to support college students鈥� career interests in technology, media and entertainment.
Junior Melody Nicole Wilson of Birmingham and senior Dajah Lasenberry of St. Charles, Missouri, were among the 90 student participants who represented HBCUs nationally at The Opening Act HBCU conference. The second-annual conference 鈥� hosted from Nov. 2-4, 2017, by New York-based 2020 Shift and presented by the music-, podcast- and video-streaming company Spotify 鈥� gathered sophomores, juniors and seniors with an interest in careers in the tech and media industries.
Throughout the conference, students heard from executives and thought leaders within these industries, learned first-hand what the career paths for these fields look like, and gained valuable insight into how to achieve their career goals. They also toured offices within Spotify, Buzzfeed, NBC Universal, Nickelodeon, and other major entertainment firms and learned about these companies鈥� career offerings.
Wilson, who is majoring in sales and marketing, aspires to serve in a corporate public relations setting or as an artist/media relations specialist for an entertainment firm. She noted the conference was a perfect fit with her career goals.
鈥淚 enjoyed attending the conference because it confirmed my interest to work in media and entertainment,鈥� Wilson said. 鈥淪ince 精东AV is known primarily for its STEM programs, I hope this opportunity encourages others who are interested in the arts to attend 精东AV, and encourages current students to seek opportunities like this because you never know who you鈥檒l meet.鈥�
Much of Wilson鈥檚 current campus involvement centers on music, entertainment and communications. In addition to her academic studies, Wilson serves as president of the 精东AV Golden Voices Concert Choir, secretary/officer manager for the University Ambassador program, social director for the College Democrats, communications chair for Next Step Up, a peer mentor for the College of Business and Information Science鈥檚 Peer Mentor mentoring program, and membership director for 精东AV鈥檚 chapter of the Golden Key International Honour Society.
Lasenberry, a computer science major, noted the conference affirmed her career goals and choice of major.
鈥淭he Opening Act conference really inspired me to pursue a career that really interests me,鈥� Lasenberry said. 鈥淚 would like to be an animator and use my computer skills to help with that, and attending the conference gave me hope that I could achieve this goal and to be successful.鈥�
She currently serves as a senator for 精东AV鈥檚 Association for Computing Machinery and is a member of both the National Society of Black Engineers and National Society of Leadership and Success.
For more information about the conference, visit .
漏 2017 精东AV