Class of 2015 Alumni Update: Where Are They Now?
Prior to the end of each spring semester, the faculty at the Fowler College of Business selects the top students from each degree program to be honored during the commencement ceremony.
We caught up with four of Fowler’s top students from the class of 2015 to find out where their paths have taken them and how their education and SDSU experience shaped their journeys.
Here’s what they had to say:
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Nicholas Holeman
Master of Science in Business Administration
Double Aztec Nicholas Holeman (’13, international business/’15 MSBA) was named the top student in the Master of Science in Business Administration in the financial and tax planning program. He chose finance lecturer Frank Ryan as his most influential faculty member.
Holeman serves as the director of financial planning for Betterment, an automated wealth management company headquartered in New York City.
Q: What is your favorite memory from SDSU?
A: I can’t choose just one. From studying abroad in Spain, watching the Aztecs in March Madness, setting a Guinness World Record for eating chicken nuggets, meeting my future wife or going on a cross-country road trip, I feel like a squeezed every ounce of joy out of my years at SDSU.
Q: What was the most important lesson you learned at SDSU?
A: I had several internships that helped me decide the industry I wanted to pursue for my career. One of those internships even turned into a full-time position. I also joined the Delta Sigma Pi business fraternity where I learned how to write a resume, dress professionally and interview.
Q: What advice would you give current SDSU business students?
A: Don’t put your money in high-risk investments right away. Build up an emergency fund, pay down credit card debt and choose low-risk investments for short-term needs like an engagement ring, a wedding, a new car, etc.
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Hong An Nguyen
Finance
Hong An Nguyen was chosen as the most outstanding finance graduate in 2015. Chamu Sundaramurthy was her most influential faculty member.
Nguyen is a lead data scientist for the Automobile Club of Southern California, where she is responsible for providing solutions to business problems through the use of analytics and AI.
Q: What is your favorite memory from SDSU?
A: During the spring of 2015, one of our student clubs hosted an on-campus Holi celebration which was a fun showcase of culture and diversity. I had to attend classes afterward covered in colored powder!
Q: What was the most important lesson you learned at SDSU?
A: One of the most important lessons I learned was to balance your academic and social life. Of course, it’s important to keep up with your coursework since academic success is one pathway to a thriving career, but you should also join clubs, participate in campus events, or catch a game! The friends you make at state can have a lasting impact on your post-graduation life.
Q: What advice would you give current SDSU business students?
A: My advice is to stay current on emerging technologies and be flexible in your career choices. As a business student at state, you will be taught many skills that are transferable to multiple industries, so be resourceful in how you apply your education.
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Amy (Liew) Esser
Information Systems
The top information systems graduate from 2015 was Amy (Liew} Esser. She chose Theo Addo as her most influential faculty member.
Esser is currently a senior technical producer for Santa Monica Studio which is affiliated with Sony Interactive Entertainment. The studio’s most notable product is the God of War franchise.
“The core of my role as a technical producer is bringing the audio, art and design teams together to figure out how we can leverage technology to make an awesome game,” said Esser. “Every day brings a new set of challenges, but it’s really rewarding to know that the thing I’m working on can bring joy to players all around the world.”
Q: What is your favorite memory from SDSU?
A: I’ll always remember the supportive culture at SDSU. The professors and TAs were always there to help and the students helped and encouraged each other.
Q: What was the most important lesson you learned at SDSU?
A: One of the most important lessons I learned at SDSU is the value and power of networking. During my senior year, I met an entrepreneur named Y’vonne Ormond and we agreed to exchange numbers and get coffee. That opportunity launched my career in ways I didn’t even imagine, including helping me to get the interview for my first post-college job at Blizzard Entertainment.
Q: What advice would you give current SDSU business students?
A: Have the confidence to try different things and see what excites you. For example, when I accepted the job offer at Blizzard, I was nervous — I didn’t know anyone in the gaming industry. But my education at SDSU gave me the technical skills to take on the role and I’m so glad I took that leap of faith. It was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.
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Mikaela Samuels Vargas
Marketing
Mikaela Samuels graduated from SDSU as 2015’s top marketing major. She chose marketing lecturer, Lois Olson, as her most influential faculty member.
Today, Samuels Vargas is the owner and founder of Pet Marketing Unleashed, which delivers branding and website design for pet service businesses. “Think dog walkers, pet sitters, dog trainers and boarding facilities,” said Samuels Vargas. “What started as a few freelance projects grew through word-of-mouth into a full-fledged design agency with clients across North America.”
Q: What is your favorite memory from SDSU?
A: Hands down, being part of The Show during basketball games. It was such a fun, electric experience — full of energy, pride, and this unshakable sense of being part of something bigger than yourself.
Q: What was the most important lesson you learned at SDSU?
A: I still reference what I learned from Professor Lois Olson to this day! She had such a captivating way of teaching the psychology behind marketing and the little things that influence our decisions as consumers, often without us even realizing it. That mindset opened up a whole new world of marketing and it’s something we apply to every client project we take on.
Q: What advice would you give current SDSU business students?
A: Be curious, take action, and don’t be afraid to try things. Every step you take — even the ones that aren’t “right” in the moment — can lead you to something even better.
