At SPS Ruth...
- Pursued marketing, advertising and PR
- Found that her real passion was strategy
- Designed surveys and ran focus groups
- Created a path from research to messaging
- Landed a job in communications strategy…
You were a successful talent agent, booking actors for television and voiceovers. What brought you to Columbia SPS?
I was at a talent agency for about six years, working as a rep for actors and connecting them with clients in television, commercials and voiceover. While it was a great experience, I realized that I never had a role in communications strategy. I came across the Strategic Communications Program at Columbia and it really spoke to me. I wasn’t sure if I wanted marketing, PR or advertising, and SPS allowed me to explore all three.
How did you manage a full-time job and your classes?
I basically made a commitment to complete the program. I focused and just put everything else aside—no hanging out with friends. Once you structure your time, it’s amazing what you can accomplish. And the variety of classes at Columbia was outstanding. I was able to add both summer and online classes to my schedule, which made it a lot more flexible.
