As a first year, you have the opportunity to lead or attend career treks around the country. With the help of second years, Career Services, and Booth alumni, you are able to visit multiple companies within a particular industry to explore your interests and network with Booth alumni and non-Booth employees. It’s a great opportunity to learn more about companies that don’t recruit on campus as well as experience firsthand the culture of companies that do recruit on campus. Here’s a quick recap of what some of the first year student leaders had to say about their treks:
Marketing Group’s West Coast Trek
Leaders: Will Shea and Eunice Lee
Attendees: 7
Location: Seattle, WA and San Francisco, CA
Companies:
- Microsoft
- Zillow
- Amazon
- Starbucks
- T-Mobile
- Constellation Brands
- Uber
- Lyft
- Sephora
- Nestle
- Levi Strauss
- Walmart E-commerce
Highlight: Our favorite memory was doing a coffee tasting at the Starbucks Reserve and hearing from Booth alumni in leadership at the company and the amazing things they were doing.
Key takeaway: The trip is a great way to explore career opportunities and learn more about a variety of companies to help you make the right career choices and set you up for success in landing a job that is the right fit for you!
Marketing Group and Retail and Luxury Group’s NYC Trek
Leaders: Matt Lieberman and Elizabeth Tudor
Attendees: 14
Location: New York City, NY
Companies:
- American Express
- Revlon
- Kohl’s
- Gap
- Diane Von Furstenburg
- Tiffany’s
- Bonobos
- YOOX Net-A-Porter
- com
- AB InBev
- Moet Hennessy
- Equinox
- Interbrand
- Blue Apron
- KIND Bars
- iHeart Keenwah
Highlight: Our favorite visit was Diane von Furstenburg. Her office is nestled in the Meatpacking district and set up as a gallery to famous artists (Andy Warhol, among many) and Diane’s favorite pieces. Diane was working during our visit, but made time to invite us to her private office and take photos with the trekkers. We also met many in her creative, brand management and talent acquisition team – making for fantastic contacts when our trekkers take the next step to enter the high-end fashion industry.
Key takeaway: While we can’t guarantee that future treks will have the opportunity to take a group selfie with Diane von Furstenberg (or any other iconic fashion designer for that matter), the trek is an educational and entertaining immersion into the marketing and fashion/luxury companies in New York City and should be tremendously helpful for anyone looking to work in the area post-MBA or just learn more about marketing and/or fashion.
Investment Management Group’s West Coast Trek
Leader: Nina Xu
Attendees: 15
Location: San Francisco, CA; Los Angeles, CA; and Newport Beach, CA
Companies:
- BlackRock
- Dodge & Cox
- Franklin Templeton
- PIMCO
- TCW
- Hotchkis & Wiley
- DFA
Highlight: This isn’t career related, but my favorite memory was stopping at a taco truck in the parking lot of a gas station for the best tacos a lot of us have ever had!
Key takeaway: It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity to engage with a wide array of companies in intimate settings so you’re positioned to make informed choices about your future careers and also a great way to get to know your classmates better outside of our native Booth/Chicago setting.
For more information about treks, check out Oren’s post about the VC Trek, Vivian’s post about leading Tech Trek last year, and Ray’s post about his experience on Tech Trek.
