Mediaboss Marketing

The spring cohort of strategists concluded their projects with a two-day event, where each team presented their research and recommended business plans to their partnering organizations. Former Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff, who joined UTSA in a non-faculty role in January, and local entrepreneur and philanthropist Harvey E. Najim, the centers namesake and primary donor, were also in attendance to support the students.

This program is so much bigger than just the projects, and we can see that these students are transforming from the first week to the last, said Erica Clark, associate director of the Najim Center. Students gain real-world work experience through these projects, but they also learn lessons in real time about conflict resolution, communication, empathy and how to effectively collaborate with diverse peers to succeed as a group. It's truly a holistic developmental experience, and seeing these students grow as individuals throughout these eight weeks is amazing.

The Najim Strategists worked with seven local organizations this semester. One partnering company was Eat Drink Local Texas, which showcases local eateries, bars and events happening in San Antonio and across the state. Students working with the company were tasked with expanding its audience and increasing its collaborations with local restaurants.

The strategist team proposed selling a marketing services package to target small businesses and food trucks. The package would include services like advertising and social media management.

This program really pushed me out of my own comfort zone. I was involved with a project based around marketing, and I never had any marketing experience in my life, said Pranav Pillai, a first-year student in University College who worked with Eat Drink Local Texas. At first, I didnt know how this would help me in my prospective career of data analytics, however I realized that the skills I learnedlike communication with executives and curating a well-presented ideawould be helpful in many corporate jobs including data analytics. Overall, it did teach me skills that I never knew I needed to learn.

Other area organizations that participated in the strategist program include:

The strategist team that worked with Community First Health Plans helped audit the insurance companys phone systems, informing an updated call flow and scripts that will improve the overall customer experience.

We had a great experience working with the Najim students. We were impressed with their professionalism, collaboration, varied perspectives and the fresh eyes they brought to our corporate challenges, which in itself was a big help, said Judy Razo, executive director of corporate communications and experience at Community First Health Plans. The Najim students presented real-world solutions to complex challenges. We were very happy working with them and look forward to applying again in the future.

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Growth in Najim Strategist program expands experiential learning ... - UTSA