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Tandeika Johnson

Marketing Strategist, Copywriter, Social Media Marketer, Podcaster (self-employed)

Class of 2020
MS in Social Media and Mobile Marketing

Member Of: IDM Lab

Meet Tandieka Johnson '20, a Guyanese native in her second year of the MS in Social Media and Mobile Marketing program. Tandieka is an aspiring writer and non-profit marketer who has her own blog. Within the last academic year she has been a Graduate Assistant in Lubin's Office of Communications and External Relations, a member of the IDM Lab, and now, a Social Media Marketing Summer Intern for Endeavor. Tandieka knows exactly how to take advantage of the opportunities offered at ÌÒñ«ÉçÇø, and that is what we discussed.

Why did you choose ÌÒñ«ÉçÇø and the Lubin School of Business?

I chose ÌÒñ«ÉçÇø and the Lubin School of Business for several reasons. First of all, I wanted to study in NYC and I wanted to do a program of study that focused on social media marketing, which is pretty unique. Additionally, the Lubin School of Business has a great track record of helping students to find employment post-graduation and has a great Graduate Assistantship program. Lastly, as an international student I wanted to be in a community that had a diverse international student body.

What type of opportunities and resources have you been taking advantage of as a graduate student at Lubin?

I've been a part of the IDM Lab where we get the opportunity to work as a real advertising agency functioning inside of the school, coming up with creative ideas to promote real companies.

I've also participated in the Dean's Roundtable Series where I have been able to listen to and ask Lubin alumni questions related to how they became successful. This is an occasion where alumni share their wisdom with us. Additionally, I've had the opportunity to serve as a panelist offering my insights on the international student experience in New York. The panel was hosted by President Krislov and Assemblywoman Yuline Niou of the District 65 of New York.

As a Graduate Assistant in Lubin, the opportunity to work on the planning and execution of Executive in Residence events has been really significant. Being able to attend these events, listen to the executives, and ask questions in a larger setting, as well as at the smaller student leaders meeting, is very impactful. This is a valuable experience that I think more students should be taking advantage of. The opportunity to hear the first-hand stories of executives about how they attained their success is invaluable. EIRs Chris O'Leary and Heidi Davidson were excellent in their presentations and willingness to network with students and to provide career advice.

Finally, I have also been utilizing Career Services' resources. I completed online training for international students and met with a counselor for advice on my resume. I have also attended numerous career and internship fairs and applied to internships through Handshake, the tool through which I found my current summer internship with the Wilson Center.

Tell us a bit about your internship experience and working with the Wilson Center.

I'm currently interning at Endeavor Global as a Wilson Center intern. The experience has been great so far. My business and entrepreneurial background as a Global MBA graduate and working professional has made the internship a perfect fit for me. Endeavor Global works with entrepreneurs in global markets helping them to scale up their companies. The company believes that it is possible for smaller companies to obtain success outside of the US and the Silicon Valley area. As the Social Media Marketing intern, I've had the opportunity to work with the Marketing Communications Manager to develop social media strategies and create content to promote the brand and the entrepreneurs that they work with. The Wilson Center has been very supportive throughout the internship. They have checked-in with my supervisor and I to ensure that both our needs are being met through our partnership. And I am excited about the opportunity to network with other Wilson Center interns when we all meet.

Being able to attend these events, listen to the executives, and ask questions in a larger setting, as well as at the smaller student leaders meeting, is very impactful. This is a valuable experience that I think more students should be taking advantage of. The opportunity to hear the first-hand stories of executives about how they attained their success is invaluable.

How will you apply what you learned there to the rest of your career? What comes next?

I've always wanted to work in the non-profit arena, and I've been looking for an opportunity to do so for quite some time. As I enter my graduation year, I am very happy that I had the opportunity to work with a non-profit this summer because it has helped me to really understand how my social media skills can fulfill the needs of a non-profit organization. Upon graduation, I hope to find employment with a non-profit that is making strides to improve the communities in which they exist.

What motivates you to work hard?

I am constantly motivated by the opportunity to make an impact through the work I do. Long after I've left any work environment, be it as an intern or a full-time staffer, I want to be remembered for bringing forth ideas that created a positive impact or for helping to meet KPIs and seeing a positive ROI for an organization.

Do you have any advice for other Lubin students looking for internships?

Don't underestimate the usefulness of Handshake and the Career Services office. Take advantage of the resources that are available to you there. It is also important to understand that it requires work to find an internship. Set a target for yourself on the number of resumes you want to send out weekly, and work to meet or go over that target. You can't send out one or two resumes during the entire semester and hope to get a response; the search requires effort on your part.

What does #LubinLife mean to you?

To me #LubinLife means taking advantage of the opportunities that are presented to you at Lubin and making the most of them. Because of my schedule as a graduate student, I can't always attend every club meeting or participate in every organization that I may have an interest in; but, when I have the time, I do. If your schedule permits while you're a student at Lubin, make the most of every opportunity that is available.