Competencies

Communicate Properly and Effectively

I was previously enrolled in the Business Communications course at Towson University. While taking the class we worked on our resumes and 90-second elevator speeches. This taught me to emphasize my best qualities in a concise manner. I also worked on a SWOT analysis of Starbucks and a financial analysis of Nike versus Lululemon with a business memo. I learned to quickly and clearly identify my point and then explain how I came to that conclusion. We did presentations in class either individually or in groups. I became a more confident speaker and learned how to convey my message in a better way. In my internship this has helped me be more comfortable when I give a presentation to executives and other senior leaders. I have included presentations from my Business Communications class that showcase how I make brief, but comprehensive oral presentations.

Apply Critical Thinking and Problem-Solving Skills to Organizational Decision Making

In my Principles of Marketing course I created a marketing plan to address an actual marketing opportunity. I created an original product, a reverse microwave that makes items cold quickly, and did in-depth research on the kitchen appliances industry. I decided which customers to target, created a marketing mix, identified potential competitors, produced a SWOT analysis, determined pricing, distribution, location, promotion, and strategy, and created mock-ads, package designs, and product logos. From this, I learned the time and effort that goes into creating a product and marketing it for production. There are many problems that can arise internally and externally when marketing a new product and my marketing plan identifies potential issues. During my internship this has helped me become a better problem-solver because I think strategically with a well thought out plan before making a decision.

Use Technology Effectively in Business Settings

Through a Problem Solving in Business course I received my Microsoft Office Specialist Certification in Excel. This certification signifies I have mastered these skills and more:

• create, edit, and format spreadsheets

• create charts, use styles and templates

• manage data, create, modify, and analyze PivotTables

• manage large worksheets, use functions, and create models

I furthered my skills in Excel when I enrolled in Business Analytics where we analyzed data, built and used models to make decisions, performed quantitative analyses, and discovered patterns through data mining. This course taught me how to use data to support and explain my solution. I have used the information I learned throughout my internship whenever I analyze data and have to come to conclusions about past and current activities.

Work Effectively Toward Achieving Common Goals within Diverse Teams

In my Investments and Equity Security Analysis course I worked in a group of five people to create a security and industry analysis of a company, Columbia Sportswear. This paper had to be completed in three sections, so I decided to be the group leader for the first section. I organized a meeting so that we could all meet together and discuss our ideas and concerns. I constantly communicated with my team when their sections should be done so that it could be submitted on time. After everyone completed their section, I combined, proofread, and submitted it. When we received our grade, I communicated it to the rest of my team. For the next section, someone else took over as group leader. I communicated that I would be away from the internet the day section two was due, so I completed my part early and another group member was able to proofread and submit the assignment. We worked very effectively as a team and it reflected in the grade that we received. In the future I will try to re-implement these strategies when I work with a team again. It is important to be accommodating to everyone’s circumstances in order to be consistent and fair.