Purdue HTM - White Lodging-J.W. Marriott, Jr. School of Hospitality and Tourism Management’s Post

𝐀 𝐃𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐦 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐳𝐞𝐝: 𝐌𝐲 𝐉𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐍𝐞𝐰 𝐘𝐨𝐫𝐤 𝐂𝐢𝐭𝐲 💜 4 years ago, I set my sights on a dream – to pursue my master’s at New York University in one of the most dynamic cities in the world. Today, I’m thrilled to say that I’ve made it. Living in New York City, studying at New York University, and diving deep into the world of integrated marketing has been everything I imagined – and more. 🌆 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐍𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐒𝐥𝐞𝐞𝐩𝐬: New York has a way of pushing you to grow personally and professionally. The energy here is contagious! From the diversity in culture to the constant buzz of creativity, every day brings new inspiration. Walking the streets of NYC has taught me resilience, adaptability, and the power of keeping my eyes open to endless possibilities.  𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐟𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐨𝐫𝐬 & 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬: At NYU, I’ve had the privilege of learning from some of the best in the field such as Ranjana Choudhry, Court Stroud, Paul Wardle, and Joseph P. Truncale, Ph.D. Each professor brings a unique perspective, challenging us to think critically and creatively. Every class is an opportunity to absorb knowledge and apply it in real-world scenarios. The discussions, the assignments, and the interactions with my peers are shaping me into the professional I’ve always aspired to be.  𝐋𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐝: As a student in this incredible city, I’ve learned that dreams don't just come true overnight. They require passion, hard work, and dedication. To anyone out there dreaming big: Hold on to your vision, stay focused, and never stop believing in yourself. If I can do it, so can you! #DreamsDoComeTrue #NYU #MastersJourney #NYCStudentLife #MarketingPassion #IntegratedMarketing #NeverStopLearning #ManifestationMagic  

Milestone Reflections! Today, a rare sunny summer’s day, I had the pleasure of attending two lively graduation ceremonies in Coventry cathedral. In the process, I realised that this summer is the 40th anniversary of my own graduation, and inspired by the happy graduates embarking on a brave new world of work or further education, I offer the following reflections based on 40 years of work/life experience and ten key points that I have learned the hard-way! 1. Set yourself personal goals, review them frequently, and manage your own personal outcomes. 2. Trust your gut instinct. 3. Everything happens for a reason. 4. Keep your options open. 5. Be kind to the people you meet on your way up. 6. Work to live, don't live to work. 7. Make time for family and friends, they are (should be) constants, work is transient. 8. Frequently reflect on what you've achieved outside work and celebrate it. 9. Set life goals to achieve, then monitor and deliver them! 10. Notwithstanding the above, be adaptable, remember God laughs when people make plans!

Last Friday, I had the opportunity to present at Discover USC as my final requirement for Graduation with Leadership Distinction (GLD) in Professional and Civic Engagement. This presentation, titled "The Power of Building Strong Policies to Influence Public Health: My Insight into South Carolina's Legislation," highlights connections I have made between my degree in public health and an internship I completed as a Legislative Monitor. To successfully earn GLD in Professional and Civic Engagement, a student must: - Complete 60 hours in an approved leadership experience. - Complete 240 hours of supervised, work/professional experience such as an internship or practicum experience. - Participate in three enhancement experiences - an enhancement experience is a beyond-the-classroom engagement that increases your understanding of topics or issues related to your pathway. - Complete at least six credit hours of coursework related to the pathway. - Present a meaningful beyond-the-classroom experience at Discover USC. - Complete an ePortfolio. My ePortfolio consists of 3 key insights and a leadership section. Each key insight draws a specific connection from a within-the-classroom and beyond-the-classroom experience while at UofSC. In my leadership section, I outline a suggestion to reduce the presence of food nutrition insecurity on UofSC's campus. My ePortfolio can be viewed here: https://lnkd.in/eqijH6id Forever to Thee!

Today was a big day! It’s been one year since I joined the community at the Humphrey School. I’m struck by how the wisdom of Dr. Nisha Botchwey’s words on my first day served as my North Star…”Take care of your team.” I aim to do this on a daily basis, humbled by their commitment, grace, humor, and expertise. And so grateful to be in this heart-centered, people-first space. When I was a diplomat, I would often ask myself whether a policy or activity would be in service to the American public. At the Humphrey School, our strategic plan places student success as the school’s top priority. Now my question is whether a policy or action is in service to our students. If I don’t know, I get curious and seek out their perspectives. I have much to learn, and also am so proud of what we are doing. As a faculty member shared with me in my first week, it’s a big role. It is that! And being surrounded by bright students, faculty, staff, and alumni committed to grappling with some gnarly local and global challenges makes it all worthwhile. (On a much lighter note, throughout the day, I also kept hearing the song “one week” by the Barenaked Ladies in my head…but I digress.) #hhhproud #workanniversary #peoplecentered #studentsuccess #dreambig #northstar #grateful #nofilter

How gratitude helps us achieve our goals… 🙏 How often do we become so laser focused on our goals that we forget to appreciate what we have accomplished? Many driven professionals find themselves striving relentlessly toward their aspirations. While this drive is essential for success, it can sometimes mean we overlook the amazing milestones we've already achieved. Gratitude serves as a powerful reminder of our strengths, accomplishments, and the support we have around us. It helps motivate us to achieve even bigger goals! And this appreciation allows us to celebrate the present while keeping our eyes on the horizon. This past weekend, we hosted our bi-annual doctoral residency! We are so proud of our #1 Forbes ranked #DBA program and our students who are working so hard to achieve their big goals and dreams. And I was so grateful to all of them, to our faculty and staff and to Walsh College for being such a strong 102+ year beacon of excellence in teaching, learning and career advancement! So, as we approach this season of thanksgiving, let’s take a moment and consider how far we’ve come and appreciate the people and opportunities that we have every day! #gratitude #appreciation #goalminded #growthminded

The boundaries between segments hold tremendous potential, especially for both academic and CTE dual enrollment. Allowing this to be managed and tracked at the level of students and families, and schools and colleges is critical. However, without adequate software or personal technology these type of strategic and accessible dual enrollment options and pathways are only available to a tiny fraction of the school population and have to managed with adequate human resourcing, which is difficult in budget constrained times.

Gap Year Update: 𝟮 𝗠𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗵𝘀 In & Loving It! It’s been two months since I embarked on my gap year, and what an incredible journey it’s been so far. 🎓 Officially Graduated high school - A milestone that marks both an ending and a beginning; waving goodbye to one chapter and excited for the next to unfold. 📚 This summer, I’m set to enrich my academic journey at Columbia Business School’s Enrichment Program and explore groundbreaking research with the Lumiere Education Research Scholar Program. 🎦 Accepted the position as Head of Outreach for an impactful documentary exploring Punjab’s economy post-independence. It’s a project close to my heart, and I’m eager to bring this story to a wider audience. 💼 Amidst the hustle and bustle, I’ve had the pleasure of engaging in meaningful conversations with many of you on LinkedIn. 🧩 Of course, I’ve remained dedicated to my existing projects. They’re like puzzles, and I love putting the pieces together. 📖 In the midst of all this, I’ve been immersing myself in study for various exams in May. It’s a juggling act, but hey, who doesn’t love a good challenge? 🏋♀️ Maintained a consistent gym routine, discovering that physical wellness is a cornerstone for achieving my goals. It’s amazing how much energy and clarity you gain from staying active. This gap year is teaching me more than I could’ve imagined—about the world, about work, and about myself. Drop a comment if you’ve taken a gap year or are thinking about it. I’d love to hear your stories!

"Second Year Blues: Lessons Learned As a second-year student, I've learned a few valuable lessons that I wish I'd known as a first-year. One of the best opportunities of self improvement is getting involved in societies. I thought I'd "figure it out" later, but that turned out to be a major misstep. Remember, second year is your time to shine! It's the perfect opportunity to take on leadership roles, network with like-minded individuals, and gain invaluable experience. Don't be afraid to step out of your comfort zone and join societies that align with your interests. A little oopsie I made was underestimating the importance of continuous learning. Don't limit yourself to just attending classes. Seek out opportunities to learn from your peers, mentors, and industry professionals. Attend workshops, conferences, and online courses to expand your knowledge and skills. Remember, your college journey is about more than just academics. Take advantage of every opportunity to grow, both personally and professionally." P.s:(To my outstation juniors)Don't forget to make time to explore this amazing city! There's so much to see and do.

Changing careers and diving into something new isn't just a challenge—it's an adventure 🌍💫 On May 25th, I proudly graduated from the University of St. Thomas - Opus College of Business with a major in Marketing Management and I'm beyond excited to share this milestone with you all! 👩🏼🎓🎓 I am now equipped with invaluable knowledge, lifelong connections, and friendships that I will cherish forever (and for some of you - I probably owe coffee for life!) ☕️💜🫂 A special shoutout to my incredible professors who not only made learning engaging but also taught me the true essence of being an excellent professional in the business industry and a good person 💜 These past two years have been a whirlwind of growth and self-discovery. My personality did a complete 180—wiser, stronger, and more resilient—thanks to the amazing community at St. Thomas, you all hold a special place in my heart! Switching careers is tough, but it's often the most rewarding adventure. We frequently highlight promotions, big titles, and fancy degrees. Today, I want to celebrate the bravery of those who take the leap into the unknown 🎊 But wait, there's more! 🤩 I'm excited to announce that I'll be continuing my journey at University of St. Thomas - Opus College of Business to pursue a Masters of Science in Business Analytics! See you soon, Opus! 💜 And if you’ve read this far, congratulations—you deserve a medal! 🏅😉 • • #Acheivementunlocked #Opusgrad #Marketinggrad #MSBA #Businessschool #Professionalgrowth #Mindsetmatters #Celebratesuccess #Resilience

As part of Excelsior University's celebration of Second Chance Month, yesterday the Center for Social Justice and the Civic Engagement Rope Team had the privilege of hosting Trent Griffin-Braaf, who shared his powerful journey with us in his keynote: 'From Felon to Forbes'. Below are a few highlights of his paradigm-shifting presentation: - The value of family and intentional connection. - The importance of focusing on our health and wellness, regardless of our circumstances. - The relevance of focusing on our personal and professional development. - The power of becoming a forever learner, to learn as much as possible in all situations. - Nothing lasts forever, so put your best step forward every day and focus on learning and preparing for next steps. - Never stop looking for opportunities and pivot as needed. - Remember that an arrow needs to be pulled back before it goes forward. - Focus on identifying needs and pursuing service, leadership, and workforce development opportunities. - Find ways of helping others identify and pursue their goals. - The power of empathy as part of a successful organization and of helping others to do better. - The importance of community engagement and of giving back. Thank you for sharing your leadership, partnership, and story with us, Trent!