By Lee Shlomo
Allison Blumenfeld, an alumna of the University of Miami and the first president of the Media Management Association (MMA), recently spoke to members of the MMA about her professional growth and transition since graduation, including her current position at Meta. In fact, learning and growth was a significant theme behind this meeting.
Blumenfeld graduated from the University in 2014 with a B.S. in Media Management and History. During her time at the University, she first interned in a marketing role at TuneUp Media, a digital music company. Then, with a little networking and diligence, in May 2013, she began another internship at Sony Music Entertainment as a human resources intern. She worked there for one year and one month, advancing to digital marketing intern and, later, to social media coordinator, by demonstrating she could do the job and do it right. Blumenfeld told attendees that her persistence paid off because it demonstrated her strength and aspiration to employers.
Between 2014 and 2018, Blumenfeld worked in different capacities at New York-based LiveIntent, a platform serving advertisements via electronic mail, including roles as a publisher account coordinator, a platform development coordinator, a platform development manager, a senior platform development manager, a senior sales solutions engineer, and, finally, a director of customer success. She let her curiosity guide her through her different roles.
After five years at the same firm, Blumenfeld wanted to take her career to the next level and continue learning. After a referral and countless rounds of interviews, she joined Meta as a client solutions manager in January 2019. Among other responsibilities, she is working with advertisers to reach consumers “at scale,” that is, to convince them to perform an action (e.g., buying a mattress). By staying positive and solution-oriented, Blumenfeld was excited and confident about her future at Meta and about her career overall.
Blumenfeld left a few final takeaways for students: First, apply, apply, and apply to help you build thick skin. Rejection is inevitable, but it should not deter applicants.
“Everyone, and I mean everyone, gets rejected at one point or another in their lives. You just have to get back on your feet, dust yourself off, and try, try again,” said Blumenfeld.
Another valuable recommendation is to use your network to secure referrals for applications. Finally, she advised attendees not to be afraid to explore new roles. Because a tech company evolves so fast, it is important to learn continuously and show an employer how you are growing professionally.
