UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA / ROOTS & RELATIONSHIPS
A Georgia beginning. A lifelong connection.
My University of Georgia story began with Consumer Journalism. It continues through the people, ideas and opportunities that connect one generation of students with the next.
ATHENS → THE WORLDWhere curiosity
became a career.
became a career.
I graduated from the University of Georgia in 2010 with a BSc in Consumer Journalism. Studying people, communication and the choices consumers make gave me a foundation I’ve carried into a career in advertising and client partnerships.
My first practical lessons came through an Executive Management internship at Target. Alongside retail operations, a rotation in Human Resources and diversity workshops encouraged me to think about leadership, trust and how a team works together.
Before graduation, I was already sharing that experience with other students—offering advice on internships, job applications and CVs, and introducing interested students to Target’s recruiter. It was an early version of something that has stayed with me: when you find a useful path, leave it a little easier for the next person.
THE CONNECTION CONTINUESOnce a student.
Always part of the community.
Always part of the community.
From campus to Coca-Cola
After UGA, I joined Coca-Cola’s accelerated graduate programme in marketing and sales, taking the next step from learning about consumers to working directly with customers and brands.
Sharing the view from the workplace
I joined fellow College of Family and Consumer Sciences alumni in sharing career insights with students on the college’s New York study tour. A chance to make the professional world feel a little more tangible.
A global perspective for the next generation
I met UGA undergraduates visiting Google’s London office to discuss career development and opportunities—bringing the conversation from Athens to a different market and a new set of possibilities.
Mentoring beyond the introduction
My connection with fellow Bulldog Kara McKenna began with a request for career advice and grew into years of conversations about interviews, professional growth and navigating the workplace. It is the kind of sustained relationship I value most.
A mentee’s perspective
“It's rare to have a mentor stick with you beyond…”Read moreShow less
“It's rare to have a mentor stick with you beyond a few chats, let alone be on the journey for quite a few years now.”
Kara McKennaUX Research & Design Operations Program ManagerWHAT STAYS WITH YOUThe best connections
keep opening doors.
keep opening doors.
My former professor and mentor, Dr Anne Sweaney, has remained part of my life well beyond Dawson Hall. When I began exploring aviation, she connected me with a fellow UGA alumnus and airline captain—another reminder that a university community can keep expanding your horizons long after graduation.
That is what Georgia means to me: a place that helped me begin, and a community I can continue contributing to.
That belief in making room for others also runs through my inclusion work—from employee communities to the Global Equality Caucus partnership. Explore that part of my story ↗
Go Dawgs.
What could
we do next?
An interesting opportunity, a shared challenge or an idea worth exploring? I’d be glad to hear from you.
If you’re also a Soho House member, I’m always happy to meet for a coffee.
Email Justin Message me on LinkedInA question, an idea, or a little feedback?
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