Class of 2022 Career Spotlight: Leah Urena
Leah Urena, Class of 2022.
Business Graduate Utilizes Internship Opportunities to Secure Role at Torani
After transferring to SDSU, Leah Urena took advantage of all the opportunities she was exposed to in order to get the most out of her college experience. From having multiple internships to holding leadership positions on campus, Urena was able to grow her professional skills and passion for digital marketing.
Leah’s determination and early job search during her senior year allowed her to secure the role of Digital Marketing Coordinator at Torani, a drink company specializing in flavored syrups. She is ecstatic to embark on this new journey and reflects on how her SDSU experience prepared her for this new chapter.
Q: Can you describe a little bit about yourself and how/when you decided to pursue business and marketing as an area of study?
I was born and raised in Sacramento, CA in a Mexican-American family of 5. My parents have always pushed my siblings and I to pursue career goals through obtaining an education. When I graduated Inderkum High School, I graduated as one of the top 20 students in my class with a 4.40 GPA. I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do or where I wanted to go, so I decided to attend Sacramento City College where I earned an Associates of Science in Business Administration. Thanks to the California Community College Promise Grant, I was able to graduate debt free. I transferred to San Diego State University and recently graduated with magna cum laude honors and a Bachelors of Science in Business Administration with a Minor in Marketing. I graduated SDSU debt free because of the full ride scholarship I was awarded when I was first admitted.
Throughout my academic journey, I had many internships that helped guide me towards the specific area of business and industry I wanted to go into post graduation. I was a Research Assistant and Marketing Manager for TecoGuide, Product Brand Intern for Dutch Bros, PR Communications Intern for Mixte Communications, and a Digital Marketing Specialist for California Wealth Transitions. Throughout these experiences, I learned a little bit about what I liked and what I didn’t like about marketing. For example, I loved working for Dutch Bros and I really enjoyed the work I did as a Digital Marketing Specialist, so I ended up finding an amazing digital marketing role in a similar industry. I’ve always wanted to stick with marketing because it’s one of the only specializations within business that allow for creativity. You can work on anything from analytics to the creative digital assets for campaigns. With marketing, I feel like I’m utilizing both sides of my brain.
Q: Describe the position you will begin after graduation (job functions, key role).
At the end of June I will begin my role as Digital Marketing Coordinator at Torani. In this role I will create content for Torani’s social media, work on improving their search engine optimization (SEO), and utilize Google Analytics for campaigns. I will also be working with different agencies in Torani’s kitchen studio to create social media content.
An example of social media content Urena has created for Torani.
Q: When did you receive your official job offer and what was your reaction when you received the offer?
I received the job offer on May 13, 2022 - the day before graduation! After eight interviews and a content creation project, I was so excited that all of my hard work and commitment during the 2 month long interview process was exactly what they were looking for. It is so great to say that I secured a job before graduating!
Q: How did you get connected with this company and position?
During my Product Brand internship with Dutch Bros, I worked with Torani. They provided us with analytics on the top selling syrup flavors companywide and I worked with them on the product innovation side for upcoming new drink campaigns. Initially, I wanted to go back and work with Dutch Bros because of the amazing learning experience and culture the company has. Unfortunately, they didn’t have any open marketing positions during my job hunt.
I found Torani’s Digital Marketing Coordinator position on LinkedIn and because of my experience with previously working with them and my marketing experience in the industry, I knew this position would be a great fit.
Q: Are there specific skills you learned at SDSU (in class or otherwise) that helped you with the role’s qualifications?
I took MKTG-476 with Professor Grimes which gave me an introduction to digital marketing and the critical skills needed to jumpstart my career. He introduced to me the importance of being result-oriented when analyzing campaigns.
I also took two marketing classes with Professor Osinski. During those two classes, I received certifications in Salesforce and Amazon Ads which were critical to emphasize during my interview process for Torani.
Q: What advice do you have for fellow students, regardless of their field, looking to jumpstart their career and land their first job post graduation?
I always tell other students to push themselves to get internships - even if they're unpaid! Most of my skills were gained during my many internships. I learned about what I liked and what I didn't like, which helped me decide what I wanted to do with my career.
In addition, I recommend every student to apply to the Aztec Scholarships! I received over three scholarships that made my college experience stress free and gave me the opportunity to take on opportunities, including unpaid internships, without having to worry about any student debt.
Urena and fellow Hispanic Business Student Association (HBSA) executive members.
Q: What is it that you are most looking forward to as you kick start this next chapter?
I’m looking forward to learning and growing my skills in marketing. I learned so much in my previous internships and I can only imagine how much I’ll learn as Torani’s Digital Marketing Coordinator! I’m excited to work with marketers who have years of professional experience in working with high growth companies.
Q: What experience at SDSU has changed your life the most?
My time as the Fundraiser Director for the Hispanic Business Student Association (HBSA) was the most rewarding and life changing experience at SDSU. I helped raise money through creative fundraising events for scholarships that we provided to our members. With the help of the members, we were able to raise hundreds of dollars that we gave to three students. This role was important to me because I wanted to make an impact and help students with their student debt like my donor did to me when I won the full ride Aztec Scholarship.
Q: What is the best advice you have received during your time at SDSU?
“Make yourself a well-rounded person.”
This helped me understand the importance of trying out different internships to truly understand not only what I wanted to do within marketing, but also what industry I wanted to go into. This also applied to my social and campus life. I made sure to not overwhelm myself with work and academics, but to also take time to develop my leadership skills in campus organizations.
