Madeline Osman
Personal and professional blog of Madeline Osman
May 24, 2012 by admin

What I’m up to: Summer and Next School Year

Summer
  • Social Media Intern with NextGen Marketing Group

    NextGen Marketing Group is a relatively new company founded by partners who are the prior CMOs of companies such as Citibank, Kraft Foods, and more. I’m excited to be working under such experienced mentors while also expanding my experience with Social Media. I literally just started this internship, so I’ll update once I’ve gotten more things accomplished!
  • Sales and Management Intern with Sherwin-Williams

    I’m also very excited to get a chance to delve into the Management side of things, consistent with my Certificate in Leadership Studies. I’m thrilled to be able to work on my Marketing/Sales skills at the same time. Plus, working at Sherwin-Williams gives me a chance to spend another summer with my family – I don’t know how many more of those I will have like this.
  • Classroom assistant for Spanish speakers and technology
    Still trying to hash out the details, but I’m hoping to assist a teacher who teaches native spanish Speakers how to use computers, once a week for a few hours. Could there be a more perfect volunteer opportunity for me?
  • Special projects for IMU and other web projects
    I’ve been commissioned to build a website for the Indian Student Alliance at school, since the president is one of my good friends. I may also be helping with blog content for orientation, but I’m not entirely sure yet. I also have a freelance project to finish up for Fiddlehead Gardens and potentially another website for a startup.
  • Trip to Florida and California!

    My cousins wedding is late July, as well as the Sony Retreat. I’m excited to go on my first “business trip” and meet my fellow student ambassadors and supervisors. I can’t say that I’m not excited to get my hands on our new products, either… :) Plus, I get to spend a week in beautiful San Diego – a first!
Fall
  • AMA Director of Technology

    As mentioned in a previous post, I was elected to be AMA’s Director of Technology for next semester. As part of my position, I will be in charge of our organization’s social media and online presence. Right up my alley! I’m excited to get a chance to work more closely with the executive board and make new connections.
  • PRSSA
    After attending the PRSSA conference this year, I’m pretty sure I’ll be adding another student organization to my commitments. Pubic Relations is so closely tied to Marketing – not something you can just ignore.
  • Sony + IMU
    I’ve worked at the IMU since Freshman year, and don’t intent to quit after all of that time. I will also be continuing on with my role as Sony Student Ambassador for one more semester.
Spring
  • Barcelona!

    My dreams are finally coming true! I’m starting to put all the pieces together so that I can study abroad next spring and I couldn’t be more excited. My original plan was to go to Madrid, but there really aren’t many Business programs there. I feel like Barcelona is a pretty fair compromise – especially since I’ve never been. More updates on the opportunity of a lifetime for me as they come in :)
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May 21, 2012 by admin

Summer Goals

  • Take a professional headshot for my social media portfolios
    What I’ve got right now is no good. And this goal shouldn’t be hard to accomplish now that I’ve got my new NEX-5N DSLR camera :)
  • Make my portfolio website
    I’ve got a basic design in mind, but I need to sit down and code it. I think having this blog is a good starting point, but I won’t be happy until I’ve created something to showcase everything I do, with my own design and code.
  • Make specialized resumes/cover letters for different kinds of positions
    I want to get a head start on my professional materials so that when I’m applying for jobs and/or internships next year, they’re just about ready to go. Besides, I need to update them anyway after my summer jobs and spring classes.
  • Complete a Marketing elective as my summer class
    This one was really a headache to make happen. I had to apply to Illinois State so that I would be on track to graduate. By some miracle, I got the class I needed approved and it just started.
  • Learn a new skill – WordPress
    Ok, so it’s not exactly a new skill. Especially since this blog is a WordPress blog. And I have worked with WordPress before, but I want to be more confident and knowledgeable about it. Especially since one of my freelance clients wants their website built on it!
  • Sign up for the Wall Street Journal (and read it!)
    I can’t tell you how many people have told me how important this is. I signed up to get it for free on RewardsGold (I’m thrifty, what can I say?), but if that doesn’t pull through for some reason, I’ll pay full (student) price.
  • Try a new recipe every week
    I’ve already gotten started! Made a delicious, creamy parmesan garlic pasta the other night, with plans to make baked oatmeal muffins as soon as we get more milk… My Pinterest Cook Book board (http://pinterest.com/maddyosman/cook-book/) is full of many more I’m just itching to try.
  • Read one book a week
    Been keeping up with this one so far, too! I’ve read two books since I got home last week and am planning on hitting up the library tomorrow for a few more :) I love to read when I actually have time – it’s addicting.
  • Hit the gym!
    Ever since coming home, I’ve been running and hitting the gym almost every day. Once I get myself motivated, it’s not hard :) Usually I’m very productive at the gym during the summer – wanna have a nice beach body!
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May 20, 2012 by admin

Spring Break Goals – REVISITED

My original goals:
  • Get all A’s.
    Grades are all in. I got 4 A’s a B+, and a B. Not exactly what I wanted, but for taking 20 semester hours (on top of 2 jobs), I think I did a pretty damn good job. I made the Dean’s List and my GPA went up to 3.23 :)
  • Get fit.
    Well… I didn’t go to the gym as often as I wanted to. However, I did train for the River Run 5K, and ran it to the best of my ability. Not my original intentions, but a commitment to fitness, nonetheless.
  • Kick ass at work.
    This year was my first working for Sony – one of the coolest jobs I’ve ever had. I’ve consistently surpassed the goals they’ve set for us ambassadors, as well as got voted April Ambassador of the Month. At IMU Marketing + Design, I brought in two new clients on my own, and designed countless new websites, e-newsletters, and volunteered for work outside of my specialty. I’d say I accomplished this one.
  • Join a student organization.
    I sucked it up and committed to weekly American Marketing Association meetings and I’m SO GLAD I did. I met a lot of awesome new people who are also passionate about Marketing and event got elected of Director of Technology for next semester :)
  • Read one book a week (on average).
    I don’t know why I always think I’m going to do this when I have school reading to do… Unfortunately, this one didn’t happen, but I still fit in a book here and there.
  • Apply to one internship a day (on average).
    Did this and the results are below!
And I added…
  • Score an awesome Marketing Internship.
    Check! This summer I will be interning with Sherwin-Williams as a Sales and Management Intern AND with Next Gen Marketing Group as a Social Media Intern. Summer of Marketing, here I come.
  • Become fluent in Spanish.
    I gotta say, I’m getting very close. I took Writing in Spanish this semester, which helped me figure out how to conjugate on the fly. I also went on a service project trip to Mexico which allowed me to practice my Spanish in a very immersive environment. I’m hoping to volunteer for an organization this summer that will allow me to continue to practice my Spanish. Regardless, I’m heading to Barcelona next spring for a semester! I think I accomplished this goal to the best of my ability.
  • Try a new recipe every week.
    Ok, so I didn’t follow this one religiously, but I really did branch out. I’m trying to be more healthy without sacrificing taste, and Pinterest is helping me get the best of both worlds. I’ve tried so many new recipes I’ve found using the site, with many more I plan to try this summer.
So maybe I didn’t accomplish all of my goals, but I came close, and they helped me get to where I want to be. Next step – summer goals!
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May 8, 2012 by admin

Share your Sony Story and Win Big

Sony is running a contest where you share a story about your experience with the Sony brand, and can win one of 45 prizes, including some of Sony’s most popular products. You can enter and view other people’s stories here: http://discover.store.sony.com/stories/?XID=F:Share_Your_Story

Meet your Prizes

You can find out more specifics at the Sony Education Store: http://www.sony.com/UIowa

I entered the contest as a Sony Ambassador who also has a student’s perspective. My story can be viewed under the “Stories from Campus” section. Here’s what I had to say:

Sony ignited my love for Photography.

photography

Ever since I was a child, I have loved to snap pictures of anything and everything, But it wasn’t until I got a Sony Cyber-shot that I discovered that pictures could be more than a treasured memory – they could be art.

I work with a lot of Photographers at school who are also in love with the Sony brand. On occasion, I have had the opportunity to use the Sony DSLRs our department owns. I don’t know how to use all the bells and whistles, but I’m hoping that I’ll learn this month – I just ordered my own!

In the meantime, I look for any and all opportunities to document what’s happening in the world around me. I bought a Flickr Pro account so that I can display all of my favorite pictures without getting cut off. I look forward to continuing to improve my skills while documenting the world around me.

You can submit a picture, video, or a quote. It’s easy and the odds are good that you’ll win something!

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