Laura L. Mariani
Cal Poly - B.A. English, 1991
Current city/state:
San Carlos, CA
Current employer:
Intuit, Inc.
Professional website:
www.intuit.com
Job title:
Sr. Internal Comms Specialist
How long have you held your current position?
18 months
Brief description of position duties/responsibilities:
Provides internal communications support for Intuit's Workplace organization. Responsible for communicating Workplace news and information to Intuit employees around the globe using a variety of communication channels including the intranet, electronic newsletters, video, broadcast email, etc.
What specific qualities/abilities, skills are necessary for this current position?
Writing, editing, problem solving, strategic thinking, program management, strong organizational skills, proactive planning, ability to influence, ability to simplify complex ideas and communicate them to a variety of people.
While at Cal Poly, what resources did you take advantage of that have helped you in your current position?
Learn by Doing philosophy prepared me well for real-life problem-solving activities I encounter at work; Senior project requirement also prepared me for what it was like to plan, execute and deliver a large-scale project. I also wrote on the literary paper, "Hot Coffee," which helped me learn to work creatively on deadlines.
What advice would you give to someone interested in your profession?
My English degree came in handy in all aspects of my career -- if you can express yourself in writing and speech you will be successful. Critical thinking is also important. I recommend an English/Communications major/minor combo. I also recommend taking classes in speech, social media, marketing, and video. Powerpoint skills will help too!
Is there anything you'd like to personally add about how you found your way to your current career since graduating from Cal Poly as an English major? Any memorable epiphanies that marked major turning points on which path you chose?
First, any job is worth taking if the company you choose has opportunity for growth. We all have to start somewhere; I began my career as a switchboard operator, then was promoted to Admin Assistant, then Internal Comms Specialist, then Managing Editor; Now I'm back in Internal Comms. It pays to have a strong work ethic and a big mouth -- don't be afraid to self-promote! If you don't land your dream job right out of college, don't worry -- if you show enthusiasm, a willingness to do what others won't, and are reliable and committed, you will be noticed! Also, if there's something you love to do, like writing, find a way to build it into your job no matter what you are doing. When I was a switchboard operator, I offered to proofread collateral for the marketing team. Eventually, they asked me to write content for our employee newsletter, which helped me get recognized as a writer!