Meghan Lang of the University of Michigan-Dearborn describes her journey from shy sophomore to president of the university’s chapter of the American Marketing Association.

Meghan Lang
University of Michigan-Dearborn
Class of 2013
Major: Marketing

My sophomore year of college, I joined a student organization called the American Marketing Association (AMA). When I joined, I was a shy and lacked confidence, but today I am the president of our university’s chapter of AMA and I encounter new people on a daily basis. I am a dreamer, a leader, and overall, a thinker. I was first inspired to join the AMA after attending one of the association’s meetings. It was extremely well-organized, the members were enthused and there were countless opportunities to get involved and to manage a project.

Like I said, at first, I was shy. I was afraid to take a lead on an event, seeing as how I had never managed a project before. I did not know what to do or how to do it. I did not want to fail. Half-way through the school year, the AMA took part in the planning of Professional Development Week (PDW), a week when all student business organization work together. We have professionals from all areas of business come to our school to give advice, help with resume building, etc. This week takes a lot of organization and collaboration between the business organizations.

After attending a PDW planning meeting, I decided to volunteer to assist a project lead for the PDW “what to wear” fashion show. The fashion show was to demonstrate the appropriate business attire to wear (and not) for a business meeting or interview. Everything was going fine until the project lead decided to quit two weeks before the event. I was thrown into the position of project manager. Nothing was planned, and I had two weeks to turn nothing into something great.

Remarkably, I was able to pull it off with connections I had made through AMA. I had a successful turnout of students, and the event was well-received on campus. The PDW fashion show event was the first but certainly not the last project I managed.

This year, I am the head manager on a College of Business student organization recruitment event. The purpose of this event is to encourage more students to join student organizations — one of the most beneficial things a student can do while attending the U of M Dearborn campus.

As the president of the American Marketing Association, I encourage members to not to be afraid to take a project lead. At meetings, we work together to brainstorm fundraising ideas, marketing pitches, and beneficial opportunities. Teamwork is our number one priority. Working together, we can accomplish anything.

The AMA has given me opportunities I would have never had. Through them, I have met amazing people, gone to amazing places, and made me who I am today.

University of Michigan-Dearborn American Marketing Association: facebook.com/pages/AMA-Dearborn/377905870180

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