Alana Bennett DRC’20, a marketing and supply chain management major, is among the many members of the Class of 2020 who are taking on impressive positions at companies around the nation. After graduation, Alana will be off to Seattle, WA, where she will begin her career as a marketing communications manager for Microsoft. For Alana, leadership experiences at Douglass have prepared her for the next chapter of her life and career.
“Douglass taught me to take pride in my work, to stay curious, and to empower others along the way,” said Alana. “These lessons will enable me to succeed, both inside and out of the workplace.”
Since 2018, Alana has been a member of the Douglass Media Team, a group of students who work on the College’s social media accounts, photography, and other multimedia projects. While on the team, she ran the “Women in the News” campaign on the Douglass Twitter account, assisted in creating content calendars, and spearheaded the planning for three workshops in the fall of 2020. Alana has also taken on a leadership role within the team as the supervisor of the Social Media Ambassadors program. Overall, Alana’s experiences on the Media Team led her to develop a deep respect for teamwork, a critical skill in the modern workplace.
“The most important thing I’ve learned from this experience is the value of working in a collaborative environment,” said Alana. “Throughout my two years on the Media Team, we always produced the best work or brainstormed the most interesting ideas when we leveraged each other’s strengths by working together.”
"From the moment that I interviewed Alana, I knew she would achieve her highest ambitions," said Imani Johnson DRC'15, staff supervisor of the Douglass Media team and the public relations specialist for Douglass. "We will miss having her as a leader on the media team and the exceptional quality of her work."
For other students interested in breaking into marketing, communications, or other multimedia positions, Alana leaves some valuable words of advice.
“If you’re interested in a career in marketing or communications in any capacity, take advantage of any opportunity to learn! No experience is too big or small for you to pursue,” she said. “The Douglass Media Team is a great way to receive mentorship, develop your personal brand, and learn all of the end-to-end components of building a media campaign. The technical and soft skills I gained from my experience were invaluable, and are great for resume building and interviewing!”
Alana is graduating cum laude this May. In addition to her degree, she also received a Certificate in Women’s Business Leadership this past spring. Congratulations to Alana and all those graduating!
