Testimonials
2025 Team
I feel that the greatest benefit of being a team member is the hands-on professional learning that you wouldn’t find in any other class at Pace. Being on the team helps you realize your strengths and how you can use them in the professional world. It also helps you understand your weaknesses, which is very important when it comes to growth. I have learned so much that writing it down would take up multiple pages. But, I don’t need to write it down, because the greatest part of this team is the learning itself. I could even argue that you learn how to learn on this team. Overall, letting this learning experience take hold and putting in the work required turns you into a professional marketer.
Sarah Gostkowski, President / Presenter / Co-Director
The greatest benefit in being a member of the team is the experience. Throughout this whole campaign, it has tested my ability and knowledge. Being a member of this team, allowed me to grow as a person and as a student. Under the direction of my incredible professors. Even as I joined the team in the middle of everything, I would do it all again. This team was a test to my own abilities. The experience pushed me to learn more, be more curious, want to do better, and excel. In my own vocabulary there is not many times I would use the word “can’t.” In a way this team tested that. In the end I am happy to have been a part of something and seeing the product of hours of hard work. I had an enjoyable experience, one that was filled with many emotions. There is truly nothing else like it.
It is hard to choose ONE benefit of being on the team because there really are so many. You learn professional-level skills spanning from research to creative execution. If I have to choose, the greatest benefit is that you may come into this class knowing little about what you want to do in Marketing. You may know are reallyall the different roles and positions and think you know which you like the most, but you likely have never had experience in any. When joining the Brand Marketing Team, you don’t have to guess what you want to do in Marketing/Film, instead, you get to try all of it out. You get to do the hands-on research, you get to be creative and come up with initiatives, you get to create your own storyboards, you get to work on the budget and measurement and evaluation of the entire campaign, and you get to do everything that falls in between those things. The greatest value that BMT gives its students is the ability to learn what they really are passionate about. It gives them a direction for when they graduate, and the fact it only takes two semesters, I don’t know why anyone would turn that offer down. Now, here are a few other major benefits. You get an entire campaign to put on your portfolio, one that you put blood, sweat, and tears into and one that you could talk to an employer for hours about. What could a class give you that is better than that! that On top of that, you get an army behind you of previous BMT members who are happy to meet with you and help you advance in your career (even those not at Pace). And more than that, you will have the opportunity to build very valuable relationships throughout the year, with the members of the team and with the professors, relationships that will stay with you much longer than those long weekend nights at school. BMT is not a class; it is a professional experience, and if you have the opportunity to join it, then join it.
Jamie Willix, Chief Operating Officer / Presenter
Jason Tian, Executive Creative Director / Producer
Out of the many things I’ve experienced in the team, one of the greatest is our special dynamic. The 2024-2025’s Brand Marketing Team wouldn’t be whole without one. We tested limits, wiped each other’s tears, and celebrated our small and big wins, for the one moment in the competition that ends it all. We became more than team members – we were each other’s support system. The people we leaned on and laughed and celebrated with. The last faces we saw at the end of our long working days. I’ve witnessed everyone shine in their own ways, most people bringing something special to the table – even if it was a random fact that didn’t have a play in the campaign itself. Nonetheless, it was motivating to see how different talents can create something greater than the sum of its parts. Watching my peers step into roles with confidence, grow throughout the process, and support one another has me beyond grateful to be part of this team. Aside from our dynamic, I found myself growing in unexpected and meaningful ways. Throughout the course, I had the opportunity to lead new departments and roles, taking on a variety of responsibilities that has led me to acquire and learn skillsets. One of my greatest accomplishments in this team was being able to tackle on tasks independently, especially during urgent times when it was me leading with outstanding support from Sarah and Jamie. Also, I stepped out of my comfort zone to interview 18–24-year-olds for concept testing, and we were able to successfully use a few interviews in the concept test video! All of this to say, my biggest takeaway from this team is that that you don’t have to be the loudest person in the room to have bright ideas. Quiet dedication can also build strong foundations.
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Being a member of the Brand Marketing team has given me a tremendous amount of insight into the world of advertising and marketing. I walk away with a deeper understanding of what the industry is really like—beyond textbooks and lectures. I learned how important it is to remain calm and professional, especially when things don’t go as planned. One of the biggest takeaways was the experience of building a campaign from the ground up—everything from researching how to connect with our target audience to making sure our ideas fit within a realistic budget. Another major benefit of being part of the team was the bond we formed. Many members shared how they didn’t have many friends on campus before joining, and now they’re leaving with friendships that will last a lifetime. Professionally, this team pushed us out of our comfort zones. We had to communicate and collaborate with people we didn’t know at first, and through that, we became stronger teammates and more confident individuals. I would say another benefit I noticed is that in interviews talking about this experience has helped me leverage my experience which has put me higher on the list of being hired. I got my current internship because I spoke about how I led a department where we were creating a campaign from scratch and learning the ins and outs of the marketing advertising industry. In comparison to my peers not on the team, I am walking away with a wealth of knowledge and industry experience.
Michelle Crespo-Gonzalez, Owned Media Executive Director
After these past 8-9 months, the greatest benefit of being a member of this team is that you truly grow as a marketing individual. The person who I was when I first walked in is a completely different person than who I am now. Walking in initially I felt as if I knew everything, and I had an answer to everything. However, I quickly learned that this is not the case and there is a beauty to this. Working within this agency environment has taught me the value of collaboration, the power of strategy, and the importance of staying curious. I’ve seen firsthand how creative ideas evolve through teamwork, how data and research truly drive smarter decisions, and how humbling it is to be surrounded by people who challenge you to think bigger – especially professors who push you. The exposure to real-world campaigns, fast-moving deadlines, and high client expectations has helped sharpen my skills and reshape how I approach marketing as a whole. Most importantly, I've learned that growth doesn’t come from having all the answers—it comes from asking better questions, listening more, and being open to feedback. This experience has not only made me a stronger marketer, but a more self- aware, adaptable, and team-oriented professional. This opportunity has been one of the best privileges of my college career, and I do not take it for granted.
Taygen Van, Account Planning Executive Director / Earned Media Executive Director / Presentation Co-Director
Michael Cavone, Paid Media Co-Executive Director / Presentation Co-Director
Participating in the National Student Advertising Competition was rewarding for me, as it helped me develop a passion for the creative side of advertising. It offered me the opportunity to develop original ad concepts, write scripts, design visuals, and bring full campaigns to life. As a team, we brainstormed big ideas and transformed them into full- blown commercials, social media content, print ads, and more. I got to think like a creative director, experimenting with tone, storytelling, and branding while still solving real problems, or making new opportunities for our client. It gave me a chance to push creative boundaries, practice collaborating with teammates to refine our ideas, and see them evolve into polished, pitch-ready work. The process is fast-paced and collaborative, mirroring the experience of working in a professional ad agency. I was able to sharpen my design, writing, and critical thinking skills, AND it also gave me strong portfolio pieces and the confidence to present my work in front of industry professionals!
Frankly, the greatest benefit of being a member of the team was being a member of the team. What I mean by that is that I think the experience of working in a team of great people is what benefited me most across the semesters, and I think it’s the most valuable and tangible thing that I carry on from the class. The learning moments were important, but they were more about applying what you already know to a real-life experience, improving and polishing these skills to a higher level.
Daniel Reznichenko, Paid Media Co-Executive Director / Presentation Co-Director
Jane Hammond, Creative Member / Presenter
The greatest benefit in being a member of this team was not just the experience but being surrounded by likewise uplifting members. I can say confidently that I learned the most in this class than I have in any of my other classes and prior experiences. After this class I feel more confident in my advertising skills and ideas. Throughout college I always had issues in group projects where a lot of people didn’t want to do the work and just didn’t care about their grade. The brand marketing team allowed me to work with members who were equally eager to learn and be the best just like me. I am eternally grateful for this opportunity, and it is something that I will share and recommend to students for a very long time.
Being a member of the team provided me with a valuable opportunity to grow both personally and professionally. One of the greatest benefits was the challenge of working collaboratively in a fast-paced, creative environment. I really valued the experience of building something from the ground up alongside a group of talented individuals, each bringing different strengths to the table. The collaboration pushed me to think more critically, communicate more effectively, and approach projects with a more professional mindset. It was a rewarding learning experience that I know will benefit me moving forward.
Mia Loryn Gallagher, Owned Media
Mikaela Regan, Creative Department
Mikaela Regan, Creative Department
The greatest benefit of being on this team was how close it felt to a real-life work experience out of school. This is now what I am imagining it will be like once I get a job at an ad agency. I was pushed very hard and pushed those around me very hard as well. No one took it easy on each other and if you messed up you would be told. Although at times it was hard, it taught me how to keep my end of the bargain and work as a team.
Brooke Casella, Associate Creative Director
Being a part of the brand marketing team has been an amazing experience. It has allowed me to explore the different departments of the industry in a very hands-on manner, giving me a clearer vision of what my interest is more inclined to. The dedication that goes in being in the team has taught me a lot about patience and has also emphasized the importance of collaboration to me. There have been too many benefits for me to put on paper but all in all I feel so much more confident and knowledgeable going into my senior year now after everything that I have learnt this past year of being in the team.
Eishita Gandhi, Account Planning