MSU AD+PR Alumna, Carolyn Lam, Empowers Others While Growing Her Business
Lam, shares her journey working for NBCUniversal and explains the benefits of starting a business as a passion project after graduation
By: Belle Kokales
When it comes to pursuing passions, advertising management alumna, Carolyn Lam, says the more the merrier. Lam was studying psychology at Michigan State University and realized she also had an interest in advertising. She decided to add a second major to her degree: advertising management with minors in public relations and cognitive science. Lam says she knew that she could support multiple passions in her college career instead of only choosing one. As a student and as a professional, Lam didn’t choose between passions, she pursued both!
While at MSU, a professor anonymously selected Lam for a mentorship program. This program impacted her journey to get her current job as a digital service representative at NBCUniversal. Getting involved with the mentorship program led her to meet Barrett McCree, vice president of portfolio ad sales at NBCUniversal Media. He brought her to the position she obtained right after college.
Landing a big job title right after college was a bit nerve-racking for Lam. She explains that experiencing imposter syndrome isn’t uncommon for recent graduates in their first job. She realized she needed to change her mindset when she was having these thoughts.
“There’s always someone who has more experience, someone that’s better at something, but it’s about recognizing your value and what you bring to the table,” said Lam
Lam expresses how being confident in your skills instead of comparing yourself is important as you start a career.
After Lam graduated, she said she knew she needed a creative outlet outside of her day job. She took her photography hobby to the next level by opening a successful photography business. As she has built her portfolio, more people have shown interest in her work for weddings, graduations and other photoshoot occasions. A sample of her work is this photo she captured for a couple’s engagement.
“Having a side hobby, whether it’s like a business or not, is really important,” said Lam.
Lam says that because of her education in advertising, she gained an understanding of the structure required to build a business. Along with her education amplifying her small business, she says photography has impacted her skills for her job at NBCUniversal.
Lam notes that in her day job, it is easy to lose touch with people when much of the work is conducted over email. Her business allows direct work with people, which has strengthened her ability to connect with others at NBCUniversal.
Lam’s networking connections, gaining confidence in her skills, and prioritizing her side business has brought her to where she is now. She encourages students to pursue their passions, follow their hearts and have the confidence to put themselves out there.