From social media management and copywriting to data research and account planning, Center for Communication alumni have landed some very impressive advertising and marketing jobs. Hear about their career experiences and what excites them about the future of the industry.
Presented with the Mayor's Office of Media and Entertainment and SVA Theatre
This program is supported, in part, by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council.
The Center's programs are made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.
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JUAN CANO, BRAND MANAGER, WE BELIEVERS
Born in Medellin, Colombia, and raised in NYC, Juan always dreamed of being an "Ad Man." After 15+ years in the industry, most of it working with the founders of We Believers, Cannes' 2022 Independent Creative Agency of The Year, he's grateful everyday for being a "Believer."
Juan graduated from Baruch College in 2007, and began working at top NYC ad agencies, including the Kaplan Thaler Group, Young & Rubicam and The Vidal Partnership, helping to win and manage notable brands including; Colgate oral-care LATAM, Nivea USA, Rémy Martin Global, TD Bank, Optimum, and Coors Light USA.
As a proud Believer since 2016, he's helped develop, execute and deliver impactful campaigns for Charter Communication's Spectrum, E6PR, Burger King, Bacardi's Stillhouse, Wasa, DoorDash, Boston Beer's Truly Hard Seltzer, Gran Centenario Tequila, and Vix (Univision + Televisa's new spanish-language Streaming platform)
When he's not helping to launch We Believers' next big campaign, he enjoys taking his wife and 15-month old son on adventures near and far.
ALEXIS NOWICKI, PUBLICIST, ASTRA HOUSE
Alexis Nowicki is a publicist at Astra House, an indie book publisher specializing in international literature and works in translation. Prior to that, she worked as an account supervisor at boutique PR agency RVD Communications, where she handled PR for clients such as WashBar, Seattle Chocolate Company, and Small Door Vet. Before that, she spent four years at Farrar, Straus and Giroux publicizing fiction, nonfiction, and poetry.
VANESSA SANTANA, ASSOCIATE BRAND MANAGER-DOVE, UNILEVER
Vanessa Santana is a purpose-driven marketer, culture enthusiast, and inclusion advocate. She currently manages global product innovation for Dove's haircare business; prior to joining Unilever, she worked at General Mills, NBCUniversal and Nielsen. She is a proud alum of Baruch College in NYC where she earned a BA in Corporate Communications & Journalism, was a dual sport NCAA athlete and co-hosted a radio show. When she's not marketing big brands or speaking at events, she enjoys traveling, podcasting, and quality time with loved ones.
MODERATOR: ALEXANDRA MERCERON, EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT, RUBENSTEIN STRATEGIC COMMUNICATION; LECTURER IN DISCIPLINE, STRATEGIC COMMUNICATION, COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY
Alexandra M. Merceron is a strategic communication professional, educator, and scholar with more than 20 years of experience helping organizations use the power of digital, social, and traditional media to influence publics and manage reputations.
Since joining Columbia’s faculty in 2017, Merceron has taught and developed courses in Strategic Communication Management, Public Relations & Corporate Communications, Communication Research & Insights and Digital Communication Strategy. She is the 2020 recipient of the Dean’s Excellence Award for outstanding teaching and embodiment of Columbia SPS values. Merceron has more than 10 years of teaching experience at the graduate, undergraduate and executive levels, and has won multiple awards for her work at Georgetown University, Boston University, Johns Hopkins University, and the University of Connecticut.
Merceron is the Executive Vice President, Communication Science & Insights at Rubenstein Strategic Communication, one of the most influential public relations and reputation management firms in the world. Prior to that, she was the first Digital Communication Research Scientist at the FDA’s Center for Tobacco Products in Washington, DC, where she worked on digital communication strategy and campaign measurement for national anti-smoking campaigns. She was also a recipient of the National Academy of Medicine’s prestigious FDA Tobacco Regulatory Science Fellowship in Communication. Prior to that, Merceron held management posts and consultancies at a diverse array of organizations, including The Intersector Project, IBM, Ipsos, Harvard Business Review, The Boston Globe, The New York Times Co., Boston Public Library System, Harvard Education Publishing Group, Billboard Magazine and AOL/Time Warner, among others.