Payal Singh
For senior Payal Singh, the marketing program at the J. Mack Robinson College of Business has proven the perfect path to a hopeful career in marketing. Thanks to the social media and marketing classes she’s taken at Georgia State and the numerous internships to which she’s been connected, Singh feels she’s prepared for what’s next. Below, she shares her story with us.
Interview by Jordan Ferguson
Tell us about yourself and how you got to Georgia State.
Coincidently, my older brother attended Georgia State, and I knew I wanted to stay in state for college and be close to home. I saw specifically that Georgia State had a lot of social media marketing and advertising classes and courses that other business schools in Georgia didn’t have. That’s primarily what attracted me to it.
Since being here, I’ve joined the Indian Cultural Club, I am participating in the Panthers in the Valley program this November, I did the Robinson Ambassador Program, I am vice president of the American Marketing Association at GSU and I am a member of The 1913 Society. Those different organizations have helped me find a community and get more involved in campus and school.
What interested you in Panthers in the Valley over the other Panther Immersion Programs?
I was born in California and lived there for a very short period of time, so I don’t remember it. I also have a lot of interest in the tech companies that we are most likely going to be visiting in Silicon Valley. I think it is a nice opportunity to network somewhere that isn’t Atlanta and to broaden my horizons.
As a marketing major, where in the industry do you see yourself going?
I like the digital social media side of marketing. This past summer, I completed an internship in international marketing. I didn’t have that many projects with the social media aspect, but I would like to be a brand manager of some sort and am open to different types.
Have you had any other internships?
Yes. I was the university marketing manager for Bumble. It was like a campus ambassador program. I managed the other ambassadors and created content. We hosted events once a month. It was an enjoyable position, and I did it for four semesters. Now, I do the same sort of thing but for other ambassador programs. This semester, I’m doing DoorDash and Margaritaville. It’s similar to tabling events around campus, but I promote events and the companies. I also deal with the social media aspect of the ambassador program, whether that is creating content for a company’s account or a personal one.
How is Georgia State preparing you for the workforce?
From learning about social media and marketing in the classes I have taken and the internship opportunities I’ve had, I’ve gained lots of hands-on experience. I can see clearly the process for content creation, analyzing the data and trends, seeing how everyone else is handling certain trends and tailoring it to fit this or that specific company. My classes have helped me become more proficient in apps like Canva or the Adobe suite, where I can create flyers and newsletters and produce high-quality photos. The professors inspire and uplift you to reach your highest potential.
What advice would you give students who just started classes?
Get involved on campus and go to the events that the university emails you about, like Convocation and anything geared toward first-years or meeting new people. That’s something I ignored my first year, and it wasn’t until my sophomore year that I really immersed myself in GSU life.
What advice would you give those experiencing Georgia State for the first time?
I would advise staying in the dorms. A lot of friends that I hang out with to this day lived either a couple of floors below me at Piedmont Central or on my floor. At the time, I was upset that my parents made me stay in the dorms because I had the layout where I shared a bedroom with someone. But I’m glad they did because I don’t think I would have made those connections with my friends otherwise.
What’s been your most memorable college experience thus far?
It’s not school-related, but it had an impact on my life. The summer before last, I didn’t land an internship and was down about it. My dad pushed me to take a solo trip to Europe. I visited 10 countries, and it was life changing. It was a good decision because now I feel I can graduate and go straight into the workforce rather than taking a gap year. Everyone may not have that opportunity, but I think if you can take some form of study abroad or time off to relax and prepare for the next phase of life, go for it.
