CONGRATULATIONS CLASS OF 2020!
DAY 1
MARKETING | SOCIAL MEDIA
TODAY'S SPEAKERS
DANIELLE ALVAREZ
CEO | The Bonita Project
JESSICA WINANS
Spirituality Coach
CHAE KIM
Business & Marketing
MATTHEW CARDENAS
Digital Production
SUHAILAH YOBA
Marketing
DARYA ZOZULYA
Social Media
BROOKE HAMROFF
Digital Strategy
YARI BLANCO
Digital Communications
SHAUN KING
Journalism | Communications
DANIELLE ALVAREZ
Graduating when the future seems uncertain is scary but it doesn’t mean you’re alone or that opportunities aren’t near. Danielle Alvarez opens up about her own experience when she graduated during the recession. With the anxiety brewing through the air it’s easy to fall into a mindset that leaves you feelings like all of your hard work, plans and dreams will never be reached. But the important thing is to remember is that relying on your friends, family, and network will get you through this. Danielle shares tips on staying motivated, creative, open to opportunities, and relying on support.
Danielle Alvarez is the founder and CEO of The Bonita Project. Where their primary focus has been supporting the Latinx community. Through publicity, event production, influencer marketing campaigns, and so much more The Bonita Project has successfully given these brands a platform and voice. Danielle graduated from the University of Florida, before making the big move to New York City, where she knew she could make her dream career in public relations happen. Much like the graduating class of 2020 she felt the fear of potentially not landing a job. So she reached out to her college network and found a community that was supportive, along with her first job.
Danielle Alvarez - Even in Uncertain Times, Opportunities Are Near | Couch Commencement | Day 1
IG: @danialvarezpr
JESSICA WINANS
Like many other Millennials, Jessica Winans wanted to pursue something more soul driven and aligned with a higher purpose. She started sharing videos on Instagram about authenticity, enlightenment, and using the divine feminine voice. Soon, enough she accumulated followers and created a company. Find that spark, that makes work a simple followup to an overriding passion and positive intention. She has her own clients for spirituality coaching programs she designs and markets, as well as a podcast where she shares her truths. Her whole line of work is social media and web oriented and she shares on every single platform.
Jessica Winans - Shining a Light on Alternative Career Paths | Couch Commencement | Day 1
IG: @_jesswinans
CHAE KIM
Chae Kim, successfully living her life as a business woman, learning how to take chances and believing in her guts to chase what comes next in her life. In this talk, we get to learn what it’s like after graduating, and not knowing what to do in the next chapter of your life, where Chae talks about her experiences in her career. Kim graduated from Georgetown University majoring in International Business and Marketing in 2016. Just like many of recent college grads, she didn’t know what was going to happen in her next chapter of life. However, that didn’t stop her from taking all the opportunities given to her. After years of working, and figuring what works for her and doesn’t, she learned how to take chances and believing in herself for a possible new career path. Leaving her hometown, and moving to a new place to start a new job, she was not afraid, but rather used it as an advantage in her career and took full potential out of it.
Chae Kim - Learning How to Take Chances | Couch Commencement | Day 1
MATTHEW CARDENAS
Digital editor Matthew Cardenas tells of his life-long affinity for broadcast journalism and his journey into the media industry. Matthew will speak to the difficulties of working in news media during times of crisis, as well as the highs of the job. Staying both well-informed and sane in the time of COVID-19 can be challenging, but Matthew gives insight into how he keeps his cool, especially with the vast amount of misinformation and breaking news surrounding all of us. Upon his graduation from Texas Tech University in 2019, Matthew Cardenas packed his bags and headed west. Having studied journalism at Tech, Matthew gained insight into the world of media, acquiring expertise within the realm of writing, storytelling, social media and video production.
Due in part to his wide array of skills, he has worked as contributor and editor for local Texas papers, as well as international sports websites, such as The Dallas Morning News and LastWordOnSports.Com. Today, at just 23 years old, Matthew has worked as a digital producer for both ABC13 Houston and, currently, ABC30-KFSN News in Fresno, California, where he assists news reporters both in the field and in the studio. Matthew contributes his fair share of content to the ABC30 website, as well as runs a successful Twitter account, reporting on sports and breaking news.
Matthew Cardenas - Working and Keeping Cool in News Media | Couch Commencement | Day 1
IG: @Matthew_cardenas
SUHAILAH YOBA
Suhailah Yoba’s #CouchCommencement speech discusses today’s new normal for the graduating class of 2020, how to awaken your light and life's passions during unprecedented times and beyond. She covers topics of career during corona, wellness within our mental and physical spaces, and much more. Suhailah Yoba currently is a brand marketing executive, entrepreneur and business woman. She developed her platform AWAKEN THE BRAND in 2018 and launched a 6-week marketing masterclass which she offers in one on one coaching services.
Starting off in the music industry her birthplace NYC she went on to work in advertising at a multinational agency, one of the largest in the world, where she oversaw large and blue-chip brands/campaigns for brands such as The Coca-Cola Company (managing work in over 90 countries) and L’Oréal Paris. As a Vice-President, she went on to run an award-winning experiential marketing agency – overseeing teams in 4 major cities (NYC, Atlanta, DC and LA), building and operating the NY office, and launching and overseeing campaigns for brands like Guinness and HBO, and both in the U.S and internationally. In 2013 Suhailah Yoba launched her brand & entertainment marketing consulting firm – lanier global group with American Express as one of her first clients and more recently her client list includes NBC Universal, USA Network and The Millennium Tour 2020. Aside from operating her company, at the end of 2018 she took on a role of Chief Brand and Strategy Officer for the Film and TV Production company of Anthony Hemingway – a Global Globe and Emmy Award Winning director.
Suhailah Yoba - You Are Born For This | Couch Commencement | Day 1
IG: @awaken_the_brand
DARYA ZOZULYA
Darya Zozulya is the co-founder of New York City-based social media agency Very Social and the influencer behind the @mysecretavenue blog. In this talk, Darya discusses her advice for forging your most self-fulfilling career, while diving into the effects of her own journey’s successes and failures. This motivational video serves as both a guide and encouragement for anyone who is seeking true happiness in their career. Darya is not only an Instagram influencer. She is also a one-of-a-kind force within the agency side of social media marketing. After working as a social media director for years, she recently started her own social media agency with a focus on clients in the real estate industry. Darya's background includes fashion, beauty, health & wellness, advertising, social media, and real estate. She has successfully combined all of her passions into a career that is uniquely hers.
Darya Zozulya - Find A Niche Career Path That is Uniquely Yours | Couch Commencement | Day 1
IG: @mysecretavenue
BROOKE HAMROFF
Editorial Strategy Manager at Facebook Video, Brooke Hamroff discusses how to find your place in the workforce. Brooke talks about balancing your 9 to 5 and a side hustle, being true to yourself, and provides insight on working your way to the top in your career in this inspiring talk.
Brooke Hamroff, a born and raised New Yorker, is making strides and conquering the workforce as a young woman. Since graduating from Washington University in 2014, Brooke has worked at multiple media companies ranging from small startups to one of the largest and most powerful in the industry. In just 6 years Brooke has worked her way up from entry level jobs to her dream position at Facebook. Aside from her 9 to 5 job, Brooke also dabbles in the world of microinfluencing on Instagram in the beauty community working with brands such as Shiseido and NudeStix. Brooke’s Instagram, @brookehamroff features content about travel, beauty, curly hair, fashion, and jewelry. Brooke shares her life with her audience and posts about being a 20-something in New York City.
Brooke Hamroff - Finding Your Place in the Workforce | Couch Commencement | Day 1
IG: @brookehamroff
YARI BLANCO
In New York City, the hustle is real. Branding expert Yari Blanco is here to tell the Class of 2020 to leverage that New York hustle. She celebrates and shares her story on the importance of hard work and choosing multiple career paths to get you to where you are meant to be. Yari Blanco is the Sr. Manager of Multicultural Partnerships at Twitter. She’s also the Founder/Editor-in-Chief of theGIRLMOB, a digital community aimed at uniting women of color, encouraging self-love, and creating solidarity across social lines. She's worked for companies like BET, The Wing and People en Espanol magazine.
Born in the Dominican Republic and raised in New York City, Ms. Blanco grew up around an eclectic mix of people, cuisines and inspiration. It wasn’t until she attended a predominantly white college that she realized her upbringing was far from the norm, and thus made it her mission to build inclusive spaces and a diverse media platform. You can find Yari enjoying thrift shopping and her fiancee's cooking during her weekends in Brooklyn.
Yari Blanco - Tap Into That “New York Hustle” | Couch Commencement | Day 1
IG: @theyariblanco
SHAUN KING
Shaun King is an American writer, civil rights activist, and co-founder of Real Justice PAC. King uses social media to promote social justice causes, including the Black Lives Matter movement. He takes great pride in his family life, being a husband and father of five. His social media presence is recognized by nearly two million followers, and his articles are shared amongst numerous outlets including the New York Daily News. In this talk, King shares advice about the power of being kind, generous, and strategic during this pandemic and any further difficult points in life. In this inspiring speech of clarity, he encourages graduates to dream bigger than any limitations they may have.
Shaun King - Finding Purpose in Your Dark Times | Couch Commencement | Day 1
IG: @shaunking
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