Guest speaker encourages students to rocket their potential
Professor Luke C. Ng (center left) & Graduate Marketing Association members posing for a photo with Phyllis Ehrlich (center right) as they hand over a thank-you plaque. // Photo Courtesy of Muhammad Maaz.
On Nov. 29, the Hofstra Graduate Marketing Association (GMA) organized an Executive Guest Speaker Event featuring Phyllis Ehrlich at the Sondra & David S. Mack Student Center. The event transformed it into a hub of inspiration and professional wisdom.
Ehrlich, a former group vice president for Spectrum Reach, shared her new venture as a career coach as the president of Rocket Your Potential, LLC. Her plethora of experience includes her time as a former executive at the Walt Disney Company and Time Warner Cable Media.
Ehrlich shared her experience with a mix of undergraduate and graduate students from the Frank G. Zarb School of Business and provided advice on how to best navigate their careers.
Attendees were not only treated to Ehrlich’s advice but also had the opportunity to receive autographed books from the speaker, adding a personal touch to the event.
The event included a discussion about crucial aspects of professional development, urging attendees to embrace self-awareness, recognize the power of networking and trek the intricacies of the LinkedIn landscape.
“We often hear about how we should always give our best and run the extra mile, but very few times we are given the necessary tools to accomplish this goal,” said Sarah Rivera Rios, a freshman marketing major. “[Ehrlich] made sure that everyone in the room took with them a little of her extraordinary knowledge.”
Ehrlich emphasized the importance of adding value to one’s network. According to Ehrlich, students need to consider personal branding and the importance of the “unique selling proposition,” a marketing technique involving making clear how one brand is better than competitors.
In the era of artificial intelligence, Ehrlich provided a unique perspective, encouraging students not to fear AI itself but rather wield its power effectively. Her keynote shed light on the buzzwords of the day, urging students to be “realistic, resilient and relentless” in the face of evolving technological landscapes.
Carla Hamilton, the co-op director of the Zarb School of Business, was excited to attend Ehrlich’s event and hopeful for the continuation of the Executive Guest Speaker Event series in the future.
“It truly was such an honor to have [Ehrlich]. Her advice motivated the students and her published book served as an inspiration to all that attended,” Hamilton said. “Bravo to the [Hofstra] Graduate Marketing Association student leadership for organizing such a fantastic event. I felt so proud to be present at such a wonderful event.”
The event culminated with an atmosphere of inspiration, and attendees felt equipped with newfound knowledge and a drive to implement these insights in their academic and professional journeys.
“The event left attendees with enriched perspectives and a sense of purpose,” said Lalitha Shree Basode, a graduate business operations and healthcare analytics major. “As a participant, I am grateful to be part of the GMA and to have contributed to such a noteworthy event.”
