Behind the scenes in NYC: K-Staters experience the inner workings of NYC’s advertising industry
With 43 Fortune 500 companies and 66 Fortune 1000 companies in its bustling streets. NYC earns its rep as the “city that never sleeps.”
This makes NYC a perfect place to host an advertising conference for aspiring professionals, like K-State student and ad club member James Wilhoft.
Insider interactions
At the American Advertising Federation’s gathering in NYC, Wilhoft and a few other members explored the backgrounds of advertising businesses by visiting J.P. Morgan Chase, Magnolia Bakery and Paramount.
“At J.P. Morgan Chase, we got to hear from their vice president of payments,” Wilhoft said. “She talked about the different, more creative things you get to do in an advertising position – like running a podcast. It was super cool, and it also gave me clarity on my career preferences.”
At Magnolia Bakery, the K-State Ad Club members gained advice from the CMO, giving them an eye-opening glimpse into their futures.
“He was very open and relatable, unlike much of the corporate world,” Wilhoft said. “We asked him a lot of questions, and he had some great recommendations for applying to jobs and completing interviews.”
NYC exploration
Outside of the conference, the K-Staters had free time to explore their surroundings. They visited Brooklyn Bridge, watched a Broadway show, spent time in Times Square and more.
“During our time there, we managed to do a lot,” said Wilhoft. “After we finished with the career fair, we went to the Statue of Liberty. We rode the Staten Island Ferry there and back and walked across the Brooklyn Bridge right as the sun was setting, which was stunning.”
K-State support
“We received some assistance from K-State and fundraised the rest,” Wilhoft said. “Since we only had three members going, the cost wasn’t very high, but we paid for almost nothing.”
The K-State Ad Club hopes to send more members to the AAF conference next year.
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By Kate Ellwood