Wisdom flowed and laughter echoed at the recent Elon University Los Angeles event. The program’s once-a-semester alumni wisdom session featured six successful LA-based Elon alumni who each shared their professional journeys and offered valuable insights to students eager to channel their creativity into successful careers.
The event is aimed to inspire and encourage students, providing them with advice that can help them pursue their passions in the professional world post-graduation. Participants included Altamira Fulton ’23, Alexis Mahshigian ’19, Taylor Martin ’12, Tom Mullen ’00, Diego Pineda ’19 and Jordan Young ’22. Each brought their unique experiences and insights, creating an evening filled with great advice, diverse perspectives and wisdom for the students.
Fulton emphasized the importance of building connections with your coworkers. She spoke about how she co-founded the all-trans vocal studio Vocal Team with a colleague she worked with.
Mahshigian, a production project management coordinator at Paramount Pictures, highlighted the importance of self-compassion and personal well-being. She encouraged the students to take a deep breath, reminding them not to be too hard on themselves.
Martin, a digital account executive at Fox, spoke about the importance of staying connected with fellow alumni after graduating. As the president of the Elon Los Angeles alumni network, Taylor emphasized the value of maintaining these relationships for personal and professional growth.
Pineda comforted students by sharing his experience of moving to LA with just a suitcase and a dream; he is now an accomplished deputy editor at The Independent Español. His story reassured students about the changes and challenges that come with relocating to LA.
Mullen, a music industry veteran, helped students understand the importance of their voices, encouraging them to express their ideas. He highlighted the significance of communication within the industry.
Young, both a writer and filmmaker, reminded students that the journey to finding the career that feels right is a path with ups and downs. She encouraged students to not give up and to stay resilient in the face of challenges.
Elon University Los Angeles’ community cherishes strong bonds with students, alumni and faculty and while this event was a platform for professional advice, it also had a goal to share stories and forge lasting relationships. Students departed from the event with a renewed sense of purpose and with a tremendous amount of valuable advice. This event represented the spirit of Elon University in Los Angeles, showcasing its collective drive to achieve greatness and foster a supportive community.
For 16 years, Elon University has offered academic programming and internship opportunities for students in domestic National Campus locations, starting with Elon University in Los Angeles, under the umbrella of Study USA and the Isabella Cannon Global Education Center.