Marteen Sevier ('19)

I wanted a business program that would complement my undergraduate studies in film production and prepare me for advancement in the agency world. The Career Advancement Centre at Smith was also a huge motivator for joining the program, as they provide additional support to set students up for success after graduation and help them to build meaningful relationships with prospective companies.

The GDB helped me to distinguish myself from other candidates in an interview setting. From helping me set up my LinkedIn profile to prepping me for interviews, Smith helped me put my best foot forward once I began my job search. Moreover, the GDB prepared me for navigating group dynamics and dealing with conflict, which paved the wave for me establishing stronger working relationships with my colleagues.

I would advise prospective students considering the GDB to not compare their path to others. I found myself measuring my success against those that were doing extremely well with their grades. However, at the end of the program, while I didn’t ace every one of my courses (err—Finance), I had built meaningful relationships with prospective companies over the course of four months and left the program with a job offer lined up. The GDB will be what you make of it, so make sure you go into it with the right intentions.

• Undergraduate institution: York University
• Undergraduate Field of Study: BFA Film Production
• Current Position: Account Supervisor at TAXI