A Sales and Advertising Expert
Nina Conticello
Account Executive, Effectv
Class of 2021
BBA in Advertising and Integrated Marketing Communications with a minor in Professional Selling and Sales Management
Member Of: Brand Marketing Team, Lubin Sales Team, Advertising Club
As the first-ever Account Management Intern at ViacomCBS, Nina has had some unforgettable experiences that are setting her up for success in her career. Nina is a transfer student who has gotten to know Lubin鈥檚 Marketing Department like the back of her hand and she has made sure she does not leave any opportunities on the table. She has taken on leadership positions in the Advertising Club, brought home awards as part of the Lubin Sales Team, and is getting ready to represent 91视频 at the National Student Advertising Competition as a member of the Brand Marketing Team.
Congratulations on your big win in this year鈥檚 Steel City Sales Challenge! Can you tell us what it is like to be a part of the Lubin Sales Team and your experiences in the sales competition?
Thank you so much! The Lubin Sales Team is truthfully Lubin鈥檚 hidden gem. Being on the Sales Team will teach you skills you will not learn elsewhere in your college experience; overall, being part of the team is very fun. I had been on the team for less than a month when I flew down to Tampa, Florida to compete in my first competition. At the Duquesne University Competition, which happened over Zoom, I roleplayed against sales teams from universities across the country, and my scoresheet placed in the finalist group awarding me a cash prize of $500. I wish more people knew about the opportunities you have access to by being on the team and participating in competitions. If you are a go-getter who likes to find solutions to problems, I urge you to check out the Sales Team.
What will your final semester at 91视频 look like? What are you looking forward to the most?
If I had to compare my final semester at 91视频 to a manicure, it would be the time where you just applied your top coat and now your nails are drying. I have done and achieved so much within the past three years at 91视频. I will continue to participate in competitions representing the Lubin Sales Team and finish off my classes. I would say I am most looking forward to the National Student Advertising Competition that I will be participating in as part of the Brand Marketing Team at the end of April for the campaign we are currently working on. Lastly, I am very excited about planning for my future career after graduation and I have set high expectations for myself to have a job lined up when that time comes.
What I have learned in the past six months ranges from the basics of email etiquette all the way to booking ad space for both presidential candidates (Donald Trump and Joe Biden). I had my internship, where I currently help out on deals throughout ViacomCBS and all of its subsidiaries, extended into the Fall. It is very exciting!
You have some great marketing internships on your resume. What were those experiences like and how do you think they鈥檒l impact your career?
I am very grateful for all of the internships I鈥檝e had. My first internship at Crestron Electronics helped me develop skills that I was able to transfer into my current internship at ViacomCBS. I was a Digital Marketing Intern at Creston. I liked what I did, but I felt that I needed a more client-facing role because I like talking to people. That is when I found out what Account Management is and started seeking out opportunities in that field. This past summer I interned for ViacomCBS as an Account Management intern, where I mainly worked with an advertising agency to help reach their clients鈥 goals. What I have learned in the past six months ranges from the basics of email etiquette all the way to booking ad space for both presidential candidates (Donald Trump and Joe Biden). I had my internship, where I currently help out on deals throughout the company and all of its subsidiaries, extended into the Fall. It is very exciting! I am truly blessed to be given the opportunity to intern during a time like this. As a guiding star, I always make sure that networking is a priority while at my internship; I am very proud of the network that I am building.
Do you have any advice for other Lubin students looking to get involved on campus?
Go to the career fairs. Go to class. Do the extracurricular and academic things that you might not want to do or your friends aren鈥檛 doing because the little things are what make the difference. Make it known to professors that you care about learning and talk to other students who are on the same page. For me, when I first transferred to 91视频, I made it a priority to get on the Brand Marketing Team because I knew it would help me become a better student and help me get a job. I joined the Advertising Club, went to every meeting, expressed interest, and became a part of the executive board. That is how I got to work with Dr. Chiagouris and Prof. Nankin, who run the Brand Marketing Team; they got to see my personality. Now, as an active member of the team, I have a better understanding of the industry and feel more prepared for the real world than I did two years ago.
What does #LubinLife mean to you?
I recently got a t-shirt from 91视频 that says 鈥渋t鈥檚 not where you start, it鈥檚 where you finish.鈥 I find this to be very relatable, especially to Lubin students. It鈥檚 very easy to cruise along in college and not do much to help yourself in becoming a professional. Lubin offers opportunities for you to become successful. Take a chance and become a part of it to find out!