Susan Newman

Current Career

I am a marketing professional and instructor at Columbia College, Chicago. For the past seven years, I taught the college’s popular Marketing Yourself course, showing students how to apply sales tactics and marketing strategies for career happiness and success. The course has prepared hundreds to enter the workforce with confidence and career-enhancing tools. As an instructor I call upon my 15 years of networking and marketing experience with large and small organizations, including Leo Burnett, Playboy Enterprises, Make-A-Wish Foundation, as well as brands such as Jose Cuervo, Smirnoff and Phillip Morris. I am a native Chicagoan who knows firsthand that everyone has the potential to fulfill his or her dreams.

What was your first “real-world” job?

My first “real” job after college was with The Shand Group in Los Angeles. We partnered with movie studios to develop print advertisements (advertorials) that showcased a film and the products that were featured in the film. This was the very beginning of product placement.

Professional Accomplishments

In addition to taking many products and services to market, the professional accomplishment I am most proud of is enabling students to make a successful and confident transition from college into the “real” world. By way of the Marketing Yourself course at Columbia and school2life, I have had the privilege of working with hundreds of young adults.

What drives your professional career?

I am driven by seeing the results of the work I do.

Advice to Students

(1) You will be fine after college. You will have many jobs (even careers).

(2) Say please and thank you often.

(3) Be curious about people and their career paths. Put forth effort into creating, managing and maintaining professional relationships. As these relationships will provide opportunity.