Alyssa graduated from Duke in 2023 with a BA in Psychology and Visual & Media Studies as an interdepartmental major (IDM), and a certificate in Markets & Management. During college, she completed research with the Department of Political Science, the Center for
Health Policy and Inequalities Research at Duke University, and the Duke Identity & Diversity Lab in the Psychology department. She completed internships with Brand Assembly, a fashion trade show company, and Paramount. She also participated in leadership summits for Bain & Company, Goldman Sachs, and DaVita Kidney Care. Alyssa currently resides in Los Angeles, where she is completing a rotational program for NBCU as part of their West Coast Page Program. There, she has worked in Multiplatform Planning for Bravo and Content Creation for NBC. At Duke, Alyssa was involved with Duke Climate Coalition, DUU, theater, Mi Gente, NAISA, Brownstone, and Duke In Madrid.
1. Thinking back, what led you to join BOW?
When I was a freshman, I met so many upperclassmen who were part of BOW, so I decided to look into it. Because I was interested in learning more about business and career development, I decided to apply. I found it extremely helpful in building my network, increasing my industry knowledge, and preparing myself for the workforce.
2. What is your coolest accomplishment and/or favorite memory from Duke?
In classic Duke fashion, one of my favorite memories was Black Tenting during my senior year. Two of my friends had to sit out of tenting at night due to medical reasons, so I ended up taking extra shifts and spending A LOT of time in the tent. However, it was a great way to become closer to my tent group and feel the school spirit of Duke.
3. What led you to pursue a career in the entertainment industry and ultimately at NBCUniversal?
I had grown up doing theater and watching a lot of TV, so I knew I was always interested in entertainment. However, I didn’t see it as a realistic career path until I attended DEMAN weekend during my freshman year at Duke and met alumni who worked in the industry. After I interned with Paramount in my junior year, I could see myself doing this kind of work long-term. However, I only had one internship in the industry and felt that there were so many career paths in Entertainment that I didn’t know about. This drew me towards NBCUniversal because it had a rotational program. I love that I can test out different departments and roles within the span of a year.
4. What has your experience been like in the Page Program?
I have had such an amazing time in the Page Program so far! My first rotation was in Multiplatform Planning with Bravo. This was a very technical role where a lot of my work consisted of scheduling commercial breaks and graphics for Bravo, E!, and Oxygen, as well as tracking promo performance for Bravo shows. My favorite memory from this rotation was being able to join the live studio audience for an episode of Watch What Happens Live With Andy Cohen.
My current rotation is Content Creation with NBC Entertainment Marketing. Here, I create TikToks for the NBC account. I have been able to meet with and interview talent for a few different NBC shows as well as create content for the Olympics. I learned a lot about the creative approval process and how to balance creativity amongst the many restrictions of posting on a brand account.
I am about to enter my final rotation in Publicity for Focus Features, NBCU’s independent film division. For this role, I will learn about prepping movies to get nominated for awards, the logistics of running screenings and premieres, and brainstorming film campaigns.
This has been a great program for me to explore the different roles within Entertainment. It has also been helpful to go through this program with a cohort of other Pages as it made the transition from college to the workplace a lot smoother.
5. Could you talk a little bit about your different summer internships and how they influenced your career path?
I came into college not knowing what I wanted to do with my career. Because I was interested in diversified industries, I joined the Duke in New York: Creative Industries program. Through this, I got my first internship as a Marketing Intern for Brand Assembly, a fashion trade show company started by a Duke alum. While I learned a lot in this role, I realized that the fashion/retail space fit more as a hobby than a career path for me and that I prefer working in larger companies with a little more structure.
I did programs with DaVita Kidney Care, Bain Consulting, and Goldman Sachs, but I personally wasn’t passionate enough about these industries and wanted to find a job that gave me more joy.
My Consumer Insights Research Internship with Paramount solidified that I wanted to work in Entertainment. In preparation for the application process, I talked with two BOW members in classes above me who had interned with the company to get their advice. I also attended Paramount’s Multicultural Media Summit which I found out about through their early careers Instagram page which prepared me for my interview. Even though I don’t think research is the best fit for me, I learned so much about the industry through panels that the company hosted and through networking during my internship. I love television and film, so it felt right to be doing work that I cared about.
6. What advice do you have for current BOW members trying to navigate their job search?
It’s a tough job market, so don’t get discouraged! One of the best ways to break into a role is through strengthening your network. Look through the Duke Alumni database or the organization charts of any companies you interned at, and reach out to anyone who has a job that is interesting to you! Come prepared to informationals with at least 8 questions (can be about the company culture, their career path, etc.), and try to make the questions specific to the person or company if possible. A lot of times you can reference your discussions from informationals during job interviews to come up with reasons why you are interested in that role specifically.
I would also look through the job description and make sure that you have certain skills or buzzwords mentioned in your resume. If they say they want strong written skills, for example, make sure you have something about writing in your resume. It is good to alter your resume slightly for each job to make sure your most relevant experiences for each position are conveyed.
I would also check out the company’s website or socials (especially if they have any early career socials). It is always good to reference recent achievements or initiatives from the company during interviews or cover letters to demonstrate that you are knowledgeable about their work.
Lastly, if you interviewed for a job that you didn’t get, stay in touch with the interviewer! If you show continued interest over time, they are more likely to consider you for a role in the future. It is okay to apply for roles in a company more than once! In your cover letter, I would outline how you have grown / what steps you took to improve your candidacy between the different application cycles.
7. Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
Honestly, I don’t know! I feel like I am still finding my footing in my industry, and I think it’s okay not to have everything figured out quite yet. Once I finish my program, I’m going to do some self-reflection on what I liked or didn’t like from each of my rotations and see which path leads me down!
Comments